My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

Inside the elegant hall, the banquet dishes were neatly arranged, with simple and elegant delicacies, without any extravagance, fully demonstrating the family's refined and unpretentious style.

Yet the atmosphere in the room was anything but relaxed.

More than a dozen elders from the Pei family stared intently at Li Xuancang, an invisible pressure enveloping him.

Ordinary people sitting here would be extremely reserved and dare not say a word.

Li Xuancang, however, sat upright with a calm expression.

Without trying to please or feigning superiority, he calmly took his seat and waited for the questions asked at the table.

The first to speak was the old patriarch of the Pei family, who sat in the main seat.

"Commander Li became famous at a young age. Within a few months, he repeatedly defeated evil spirits, brought peace to his hometown, and his great reputation shook Anzhou."

"Having suddenly achieved great merit and gained the support of the masses, have you ever felt arrogant? Have you ever felt that the veteran generals in the army are mediocre and bound by rules?"

The old man's voice was aged and slow, yet each word was weighty and carried the authority of decades of experience in judging people and situations. His words struck at the heart of the matter, extremely sharp.

This question was extremely tricky.

Any slightly biased answer will result in being labeled as "immature and arrogant, hypocritical and deliberate, disrespectful to elders, and unruly."

The elders in the room all focused their gazes on Li Xuancang.

Li Xuancang remained calm, raising his hand with composure and steadiness.

"Grandpa, you are wise."

"I fought bravely on the battlefield and was fortunate enough to achieve merit. It was the result of the bloodshed of my soldiers, not my own ability."

His eyes showed no pretense or affectation, and his face was completely at ease.

"I am young and inexperienced, but after being instructed by the commander, I dare not disregard the rules."

Li Xuancang neither denied his achievements nor became arrogant, but rather directly admitted that he had changed from being young and shallow in the past to having a transformed mindset.

A hint of approval flashed in the eyes of all the clan elders.

Honest and straightforward, clear-headed and self-aware.

Immediately afterwards, an elder of the Pei family, who was skilled in governance, spoke up, pointing directly to the most sensitive conflict within the military.

"Commander Li recently sought permanent positions for wounded and disabled soldiers, which was an overreach of his authority and an act of breaking with convention. The whole army was grateful, but it also aroused resentment among the generals."

"Your actions have won you the hearts of the soldiers but lost you the hearts of your officers. How do you plan to conduct yourself in the army from now on? Will you continue to act unilaterally, or will you tone down your brilliance?"

This is the most fatal dilemma.

Continuing to go it alone will only lead to making enemies everywhere and never having a peaceful day.

Complete restraint is hypocrisy and abandonment of comrades.

The entire room fell silent, everyone waiting for Li Xuancang's answer.

Li Xuancang lowered his eyes slightly, then raised them, his gaze clear and firm.

"I am aware of the gravity of the situation. My good intentions stem from seeing the suffering of my soldiers and my inability to bear the thought of them being injured or left helpless. In the future, when I conduct military affairs, I will certainly abide by the rules and regulations."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.

All the elders were shocked and surprised.

This young man is only nineteen years old. He has fought on the battlefield and become famous at a young age, yet he understands the art of balance and survival.

This mindset far surpasses that of most veteran officials who have spent decades in the bureaucracy.

"Du Tianfeng really values ​​this boy and has taught him a lot."

The Pei family members exchanged glances, knowing that Li Xuancang's insightful understanding must have come from Du Tianfeng's sincere guidance.

Du Tianfeng enjoys high prestige in the army and is a powerful expert in the late stage of the Gangqi Realm. Even the Pei family, a top family in Anzhou, treats Du Tianfeng with respect.

Li Xuancang's future is promising, given that Du Tianfeng values ​​him so highly.

The Pei family members kept probing him with their words, and Li Xuancang responded to each one with composure and tact.

All ten or so core elders of the Pei family nodded in agreement.

Pei Hongwen sat upright at the table, his eyes no longer probing, only filled with admiration.

The old man in the main seat stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his eyes full of appreciation.

"This young man's character, vision, conduct, and magnanimity are entirely worthy of my Pei family's eldest daughter!"

"This marriage is settled!"

In short, the marriage was finalized.

The subsequent interactions became much more relaxed and gentle, more like a casual chat.

The host and guests had a very pleasant conversation, and everyone was happy and in harmony.

But no one knew that the secluded inner courtyard of the Pei residence concealed completely opposite emotions.

Behind the carved corridor pillars on the side of Qingya Hall, a petite figure paused, secretly observing the banquet inside the hall, hidden by the flowers and trees.

This person was Pei Qingyuan's personal maid.

Today, a banquet is being held in the mansion to examine the groom, which is the most important event of the clan. The women of the inner courtyard are not allowed to approach the front hall at will.

But the young lady was preoccupied with this matter and could not sit still all day, so she sent her to observe and find out what was happening at the banquet.

Through the crack in the window, she took in Li Xuancang's composed demeanor and elegant bearing.

Having finished her investigation, Wan Cui dared not linger and hurriedly returned to Qingyuan Xiaozhu in the inner courtyard.

Inside the boudoir, the atmosphere was quiet and serene, with books displayed and the zither table empty, filling the room with a refined and scholarly ambiance.

Pei Qingyuan, dressed in a plain white silk dress, sat quietly by the window, her features delicate and gentle, her posture serene.

However, a lingering sense of melancholy and anxiety always remained between his delicate brows.

She was seventeen years old, and from a young age she was well-read and proud.

As the only legitimate daughter of the Pei family, she comes from a top-tier family and is exceptionally talented and beautiful. She has been pampered by her clan since childhood, and she regards marriage as her life's destiny, refusing to compromise in the slightest.

Deep in her heart, there had long been a man she secretly admired.

In her mind, her ideal partner should be a refined and elegant scholar, a kindred spirit in literature and art, rather than a bloodthirsty warrior who fights on the battlefield all day long.

Even though the world praises Li Xuancang as a young hero with a bright future.

Even though he had made great military achievements and guarded a region, in Pei Qingyuan's eyes, he was ultimately a rough and ruthless soldier full of murderous intent and who had tasted blood.

She was deeply opposed to and unwilling to accept this hastily arranged marriage.

Seeing Wan Cui return, Pei Qingyuan's eyes revealed an undisguised eagerness as she softly inquired, "How was it? How was the banquet in the main hall? What did the elders think of him?"

Wan Cui quickly walked up to her mistress, lowered her voice, and truthfully reported back, her tone tinged with helplessness.

"Miss, the important matter has been settled."

"That Lord Li had an excellent demeanor and spoke with composure. He remained calm and composed in the face of questions from a room full of elders, and every word he uttered was clear and reasonable."

"The clan elders, the great-grandfather, and the head of the family were all overjoyed, and they all praised him as one in a million."

"Grandfather has already publicly approved the marriage. We just need to wait for the banquet to end before finalizing the wedding date with the Li family and formally accepting the betrothal."

boom!

Those few words struck Pei Qingyuan like a thunderbolt.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, all color draining from her beautiful features.

"How could this be... how could this happen..."

She sat there, stunned, her fingertips trembling slightly, her heart filled with resentment and resistance.

She has someone she admires and longs for a romantic marriage. Why did her family decide her life's most important matter based on just one banquet and a few conversations?

Why should her life's destiny be forcibly arranged with a battlefield general she has never met?

Pei Qingyuan's chest heaved slightly, her heart filled with a mixture of grievance, anxiety, and resentment.

She has always been gentle, sensible, and obedient to family rules, and has never disobeyed her elders' wishes. But this time, it concerns her lifelong happiness and final destination, and she cannot obey or accept it no matter what.

"No... I will never marry him!"

She bit her thin lips, tears welling up in her eyes, her gaze unwavering.

"My marriage, Pei Qingyuan's marriage, must not be arranged so hastily or by force."

"My heart belongs to someone else, and I am deeply in love with him. I will absolutely not marry this Lord Li."

Thinking about the impending engagement, Pei Qingyuan grew increasingly anxious.

Arranged by her parents and a matchmaker, she was a sheltered young woman with no power to defy the clan's decision.

But she refused to accept her fate.

Pei Qingyuan frowned, her mind racing, and she gritted her teeth inwardly.

We must find a way to cancel this marriage proposal.