I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Pei Youyi nodded.

"I know it's sword dance."

He paused for a moment.

"My question is, what kind of sword dance are you performing?"

Pei Yuran fell silent.

She didn't speak.

He just stared at Pei Youyi.

Pei Youyi was also looking at her.

The two looked at each other.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

Gu Yan stood to the side, sensing that something was wrong.

But he didn't know what was wrong.

Several seconds passed.

Pei Youyi then spoke.

"Yu Ran".

"The sword dance you performed is the Pei family's thousand-year-old tradition."

He paused for a moment.

"Do you know who this sword dance is for?"

Pei Yuran remained silent.

But her icy blue eyes flickered slightly.

Pei Youyi continued.

"This sword dance is performed by women of the Pei family for their husbands before they get married."

"Each generation of women in the Pei family will only perform this dance once."

"Only one person will be chosen for this performance."

That's her husband.

Gu Yan was stunned.

He looked at Pei Yuran.

Pei Yuran also looked at him.

Those icy blue eyes were as calm as a deep pool.

But Gu Yan saw something else in that calmness.

That thing is called...

serious.

Seeing her daughter like this, Pei Youyi felt an even stronger, indescribable emotion welling up inside her.

She took a deep breath.

"Yu Ran, do you know what you're doing?"

Pei Yuran nodded.

"Know."

Pei Youyi frowned.

"You know?"

"Then why are you still jumping?"

Pei Yuran looked at her.

"Why can't I jump?"

Pei Youyi was stumped by her question.

Why can't I jump?

Because this dance was performed for her husband to see.

Because Gu Yan is not her husband.

Because she is still young.

because……

Because there are many.

But she couldn't say it.

Pei Yuran continued.

I want to dance for him.

So I jumped.

He paused for a moment.

"Is there a problem?"

Pei Youyi remained silent.

She looked at her daughter.

Her daughter was looking at her too.

The two of them just stared at each other.

No one will let anyone.

Gu Yan stood in the middle, feeling like she had become a sandwich filling again.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But I don't know what to say.

I can only stand.

Playing dead.

Several seconds passed.

Pei Youyi then spoke.

"Yu Ran".

"You're still young."

"I don't understand these things."

Pei Yuran shook her head.

"I understand."

He paused for a moment.

"Mom, you don't understand."

Pei Youyi was stunned.

"I don't understand?"

Pei Yuran looked at her.

"You danced for Xiaoyan that night."

"What are you dancing?"

Pei Youyi's face turned red instantly.

It was burning red.

She opened her mouth.

I want to explain.

But Pei Yuran didn't give her a chance.

"Mom, the dance you did."

"Who is it for?"

Pei Youyi fell completely silent.

She stood there, her face flushed red as if it were about to bleed.

Can't say a word.

Pei Yuran continued.

"Mom, you can jump for yourself."

"Why can't I dance for Gu Yan?"

Pei Youyi took a deep breath.

"I...I was..."

Pei Yuran interrupted her.

"What is it?"

Pei Youyi was speechless.

Because she herself didn't know what it was.

That night.

She just wanted to jump.

I wanted to jump for Gu Yan to see.

I want him to see my most beautiful side.

think……

What are you thinking?

She dared not think.

Pei Yuran looked at her mother like this.

A strange emotion suddenly welled up inside me.

That emotion is called...

Complex.

She spoke.

"Mother."

"Go back now."

He paused for a moment.

"Gu Yan and I have other things to do."

Pei Youyi raised her head.

Looking at her daughter.

Then he looked at Gu Yan.

Finally, she sighed.

"it is good."

"I'm leaving."

She turned around.

I took two steps.

He turned back again.

Looking at Pei Yuran.

"Yu Ran".

"Xiao Yan is the jewel of the empire."

"So many people are watching him."

"Don't..."

She paused.

"Don't go too far."

Pei Yuran looked at her.

"Mother."

"Can I choose once?"

Pei Youyi was stunned.

Yu Ran had never experienced anything like this before.

She looked at her daughter.

Her daughter was looking at her too.

Those icy blue eyes were as calm as a deep pool.

But Pei Youyi saw something else in that calmness.

That thing is called...

determination.

She remained silent for a few seconds, sighed, stepped aside, and looked at Gu Yan with a hint of resentment.

The courtyard fell silent again.

Only Gu Yan and Pei Yuran remained.

Gu Yan stood there, her mind still reeling.

He looked at Pei Yuran.

Pei Yuran was also looking at him.

Several seconds passed.

Gu Yan then spoke.

"Yu Ran, you..."

Pei Yuran interrupted him.

"Gu Yan".

"How do you like it?"

Gu Yan was stunned.

"What do you like?"

Pei Yuran looked at him.

"Sword Dance".

"I jumped."

Gu Yan opened her mouth.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

He nodded.

"It's alright."

Pei Yuran's eyes lit up.

Then she reached out her hand.

He took Gu Yan's hand.

Gu Yan was taken aback.

"Yu Ran?"

Pei Yuran didn't say anything.

She just held his hand.

They were holding hands very tightly.

There's no sign of relaxation whatsoever.

Gu Yan stood there, feeling her palms sweating.

He wanted to pull it back.

But Pei Yuran gripped it even tighter.

He gave up.

Fine, let's just go with it.

It's not the first time anyway.

A long time passed.

It's been so long.

It went on for so long that Gu Yan felt her hands were going to go numb.

A voice suddenly rang out.

"Yu Ran, it's done."

It is Pei Youyi.

She returned at some point.

I stood at the entrance to the courtyard, watching them.

Those gentle eyes held a complex mix of emotions.

There was helplessness, reluctance, and a little bit more...

Something that can't be explained.

She walked over.

He stopped in front of the two people.

He watched Pei Yuran holding Gu Yan's hand and remained silent for two seconds.

Then he opened his mouth.

"Yu Ran, Xiao Yan won't run away."

"Aren't your hands tired from holding my hand for so long?"

Pei Yuran looked at her.

"Not tired."

He paused for a moment.

"He won't run away."

Pei Youyi: "..."

She took a deep breath.

"Okay, whatever makes you happy."

Then she looked at Gu Yan.

"Xiao Yan, I have something to tell you."

Gu Yan felt as if she had been granted a pardon.

He nodded quickly.

"Okay, Aunt Youyi, please go ahead."

He took the opportunity to try to pull his hand back.

But Pei Yuran still wouldn't let go.

He looked at Pei Yuran.

Pei Yuran was also looking at him.

Those icy blue eyes were as calm as a deep pool.

But Gu Yan understood that look in his eyes.

She didn't want to let go.

He sighed.

"Yu Ran, that's enough."

"Aunt Youyi said she has something to do."

Pei Yuran remained silent for two seconds.

Then he slowly let go of her hand.

But her eyes were still fixed on him.

Gu Yan felt that gaze was like two laser beams.

He felt extremely uncomfortable under their gaze.

Pei Youyi felt even more conflicted when she saw her daughter like this.

But she didn't show it.

She coughed lightly.

"Aren't you going to a banquet this afternoon?"

"I prepared a few clothes for Xiaoyan."

She clapped her hands.

Soon, several servants came over.

The one in the lead was wearing a dark uniform and had his hair neatly combed.

He was holding a tray in his hands.

The tray was covered with a black velvet cloth.

You can't see what's inside.