Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 127 Using the methods of a nephew to punish a nephew

Duan Zhengchun was both amused and exasperated: "This palm technique was passed down to your master by me."

Mu Wanqing was stunned, took a step back, and looked Duan Zhengchun up and down: "Then you are my master's master... my great-master?"

Duan Zhengchun gave a wry smile, his eyes overflowing with tenderness, and said softly, "You're eighteen this year, your birthday is in September, right?"

Mu Wanqing was greatly surprised: "How did you know? Did my master tell you?"

Duan Zhengchun sighed and shook his head, saying, "I...I'm sorry to your master, and I'm sorry to you...Wan'er..."

Mu Wanqing's expression turned solemn, and she said righteously, "Although you are my husband's uncle, you can only call me Miss Mu. Wan'er, Qing'er, and Wanqing are all names that only Jiang Lang can use."

Azi couldn't stand it anymore and jumped up, saying, "That blockhead is ten times dumber than that stupid girl! Can't you tell? He's your father, your biological father, and you were born to him and your master!"

Mu Wanqing was taken aback and stammered, "My master and great-great-master gave birth to me? You...you're talking nonsense!"

Azi laughed and said, "I didn't fart! I never thought you, you blockhead, were actually my sister! Let me tell you, our father is a womanizer! He had you with your master, so your master isn't your master, he's your mother!"

Mu Wanqing frowned and shook her head repeatedly: "You're talking nonsense, you're talking nonsense. My parents didn't want me anymore. I was abandoned on the road and my master picked me up."

Duan Zhengchun listened with a sorrowful expression and said in a low voice, "Then... do you hate your parents?"

Mu Wanqing stared at him blankly for a moment, then suddenly turned around and grabbed Jiang Mingzhe's sleeve, saying in a panic, "Please take me away, okay? I... I don't want to talk right now."

Jiang Mingzhe sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of heartache.

This wooden girl has lived in a secluded valley since childhood, and is much more dull-witted than Azi. Her mind is probably a complete mess right now.

She whispered to Duan Zhengchun, "Why don't we wait until we find her mother and let her tell her? It's terrible that her master of so many years has suddenly become her mother. Even I would find it hard to accept."

Duan Zhengchun sighed, nodded, and two tears slid down his cheeks.

Seeing him cry, Mu Wanqing suddenly felt an indescribable sadness in her heart and whispered, "Jiang Lang, why is he crying? Do men cry? I thought only women and children cry."

Ah Zi loudly announced, "Look, my dad is crying again! Wooden Doll Sister, you've made both my dad and your dad cry."

Originally, when discussing family matters, the four guards and others would walk away, but now they couldn't help but look over. Duan Zhengchun was greatly embarrassed and quickly wiped away his tears, saying, "Nonsense! How could I be crying? It's just that the wind and sand got into my eyes."

Azi angrily said, "Big Ginger, look at my father! He doesn't like his old daughter anymore now that he has a new one. I was clearly telling the truth, but he said I was talking nonsense. If you dare to do that to me, I'll die with you! I don't even want this brat anymore."

Jiang Mingzhe quickly replied, "Don't worry, I'm not like your father."

Mu Wanqing said, "But she's clearly talking nonsense. I'm obviously older than her. Even if she really is his daughter, I should be the older sister!"

Ah Zi said smugly, "Hmph, you call yourself a martial arts practitioner, yet you don't understand any rules. The Duan family's rule is that those who join first are superior, and the Jiang family's rule is the same. In the Duan family, you're the younger sister, but in the Jiang family, you're just a concubine who washes my and Da Sheng Jiang's feet!"

Zhong Ling was both angry and shocked. She thought to herself, "Do I not even have a place to wash my feet? These women in the Duan family are really awful!"
Duan Yu's head was about to explode. He thought to himself, "I used to know that girls were sweet and soft, and very cute. But my sister A Zi is also very beautiful, and this Mu Wanqing, who is probably also my sister, is even more beautiful. Why are they so noisy? When they speak separately, their voices are pleasant to hear, but when they speak together, they become two... no! two flocks of ducks!"
He couldn't help but shout, "Stop arguing! Whether you're older or joined first, I'm still your elder brother. Now, your elder brother has given you orders: you must stop arguing!"

Mu Wanqing scoffed, "I'm just a child abandoned by my parents, how could I have any older brothers?"

Azi grabbed Duan Zhengchun and yelled, "Hey, your legitimate son is bullying your illegitimate daughter! As a prince, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Duan Zhengchun's body stiffened, and he shouted, "Yu'er, how can you be so disrespectful to your sisters?"

Jiang Mingzhe laughed heartily and pulled Duan Zhengchun aside, saying, "Uncle, we can discuss the sisters' matter later. We're in Suzhou now, so it's more important to resolve the Murong family's issue first."

Duan Zhengchun said, "That's right! There's no need to say anything more. Wanqing should be my daughter. Among siblings, whoever is older is the elder sister. When I find her mother Hongmian, I will let Wanqing recognize her ancestors and return to the family. Azi, she is your elder sister. This is not a joke."

Azi pouted and said, "So my sister is gone? I don't care. You have so many daughters, there must be another sister wandering outside. You find her for me. I think Zhongling doesn't look like her father at all, but her eyes look a bit like mine. Maybe she's my sister."

Zhong Ling laughed happily, "Then I'm older than you too, I'm also an older sister." Duan Zhengchun's body trembled again. He had previously asked Zhu Danchen to inquire when Gan Baobao had married Zhong Wanchou, and the result was already known. The two were married in June of the year Yimao, while according to Gan Baobao, Zhong Ling was born on the fifth day of the twelfth month...

My heart is filled with worry: Old Zhong is a rather pitiful person, but Zhong Ling is, after all, my daughter. How can she share his surname? Alas, I'm afraid we'll have to fight sooner or later.

Ah Zi was secretly saddened, thinking to herself, "Why are they all older than me? Humph, it doesn't matter if they're older. If I want to marry Da Sheng Jiang, I can only be a concubine. Even if they're my older sisters, they'll still have to call me 'older sister'!"
She was extremely possessive of Jiang Mingzhe and refused to share him with anyone. However, among the disciples of the Xingxiu Sect who got married, many had taken concubines. Azi had been influenced by this and thought that it was only natural for a man to take concubines. She also knew that concubines were lowly and could never be compared with wives. Therefore, she didn't care whether Jiang Mingzhe took concubines or not.

Duan Zhengchun was so embarrassed by Azi's words that he quickly looked at Jiang Mingzhe and asked, "Nephew, how should we plan this trip to Suzhou? Have you considered it?"

Jiang Mingzhe smiled and said, "I have some ideas, and I was just about to ask Uncle for guidance."

He then said, “The Murong family of Gusu acts strangely. They make enemies everywhere. Why is that? I want to find out. But more importantly, they took the secret manuals from Langhuan Jade Cave and Shishui Pavilion! Therefore, we must be clear about priorities in our actions. Haven’t I made friends with Yan Longyuan? This identity is very useful.”

Duan Zhengchun nodded and said, "Your thinking is clear, I have no objection! So, my dear nephew, will you be taking Azi or Wanqing with you on this mission?"

Jiang Mingzhe was stunned and looked at Duan Zhengchun in disbelief.

Old Duan smiled amiably, his face full of innocence. He thought to himself that it was indeed interesting for the Murong family to use their own methods against them. No wonder this family was so happy to do it.

Azi and Mu Wanqing both stared wide-eyed at Jiang Mingzhe.

While Zhong Ling was feeling frustrated, she suddenly spoke up: "Brother Jiang, if you take Zi Yatou, the wooden man will get angry, and vice versa. You might as well not take either of them and take me instead. I promise I will behave and not cause trouble."

Azi shouted, "Don't even think about it! You blockhead, we, the White and Green Demons of Kunlun Mountain, are used to working together. Why don't you keep your father company after all these years?"

Mu Wanqing said, "Don't even think about it. Only when we, the Black and White Duo, are on the move can we be invincible."

Jiang Mingzhe shouted, "None of you three envoys, Bamboo, Flower, and Wood, need to go. This time, Brother Duan and I will go!"

Duan Yu exclaimed with delight, "Me? Great! I'll accompany you, brother!"

Seeing that Azi and Mu Wanqing were about to get angry, Jiang Mingzhe quickly said, "Have you not heard that if two people are truly in love, it doesn't matter if they are together day and night? I'm taking my sworn brother with me because I plan to use Kumārajīva's excuse as a banner to offer sacrifices to the elders of the Murong family with the Six Meridians Divine Sword. In this way, we can not only prevent Kumārajīva from causing trouble with this excuse in the future, but also show that the Duan family of Dali is very righteous. The Murong family will definitely treat us as honored guests. It will also be much easier for me to find out more details and even spy on the location of Huanshi Water Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun, Hua Hegen, Zhu Danchen, and Cui Baiquan all cheered: "What a brilliant plan!"

Duan Yu exclaimed, "What a wonderful line! 'If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together day and night?' It's truly a peerless masterpiece!"

Duan Zhengchun, Zhu Danchen, and Cui Baiquan all possessed refined tastes, and upon reflecting on this now, they all praised it highly.

Jiang Mingzhe was taken aback, thinking, "Isn't this Qin Guan's poem? Wasn't Qin Guan a Northern Song Dynasty poet? Such a famous poem would surely be widely circulated once it was written, how come they hadn't heard of it?"

Little did he know that this poem, "The Magpie Bridge Fairy," was written by Qin Guan on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month in the fourth year of the Shaosheng era, which is 1097, several years ago!

Ah Zi's eyes narrowed with pride as she shook her head and said, "What wonderful words! Great Ginger truly deserves to be called a peerless talent. Hey, you blockhead, you keep saying you want to be his wife, but Great Ginger is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and his talent is boundless. I can accompany him to compose poems and exchange verses, but can you do that?"

Mu Wanqing said in surprise, "You can compose poems? I don't believe it, you must be lying to me!"

Azi sneered and asked, "Big Ginger, do you still remember the poem I wrote for Little Ginger?"

Jiang Mingzhe nodded and said, "I remember, freedom is indeed precious..."

As soon as the sentence was uttered, Azi immediately shouted, "Stop, stop! The wooden doll doesn't understand anything. If you read it to her, I'm afraid she'll be so angry that she'll die. Forget it, she is still my father's daughter after all."

Duan Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Did Sister Zi really write this? What a wonderful line, 'Freedom is indeed precious.' Although the language is simple, the idea is very profound!"

Mu Wanqing realized early on that Duan Yu was an honest man, and thought to herself that he would never cooperate with A Zi in lying to her. So, A Zi really is well-versed in literature? Oh dear, I've been outdone by her!
Feeling ashamed of himself, he lowered his head and remained silent, grieving in silence.

Duan Zhengchun was overjoyed and leaned closer to whisper, "Wan'er, it's very easy to learn to write poetry. Your father and brother can teach you. You're so smart, you'll definitely learn it in no time."

Mu Wanqing was delighted to hear this and turned her head. She saw Duan Zhengchun with a kind face and eyes full of sincere concern. Suddenly, her heart softened and she thought to herself: If he really is my father, it doesn't seem so bad. But why did my master lie to me?
(End of this chapter)