Chapter 545: One of the Choices

Ji Yuan was no longer in a hurry to question the Sun family. Instead, he directly took the calligraphy scroll from Sun Yayue's hand and examined it closely.

The more Ji Yuan looked, the more he felt the calligraphy was extraordinary. Its lively and gentle strokes contained a hidden power. This matched the saying "seeing the character is like seeing the person." The words on the scroll seemed to subtly hint at Sun Yayue's own being: an inner longing for tranquility, yet with ripples of ambition stirring within. This spiritual quality not only signified a desire for transformation but also indicated the potential for it.

"Mr. Ji, what do you think of my calligraphy?"

Sun Yayue asked with a hint of pride, and indeed received Ji Yuan's approval.

"It can truly be called the work of a master! I imagine many people have asked you for samples of your writing, haven't they?"

This seemingly complimentary remark was actually Ji Yuan's restrained assessment. Sun Yayue's calligraphy had absorbed some of his true essence, making it a rare find in the world, even surpassing Yin Zhaoxian's. It had far exceeded Ji Yuan's initial expectations.

Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Sun Yayue smiled.

"Some have, yes, but not many. Ever since I wrote this scroll, I've rarely written outside. When practicing privately, I always feel unable to make a breakthrough, just like my current predicament. If I were a man, perhaps things wouldn't be this way..."

Ji Yuan looked around at the Sun family members, who were all admiring Sun Yayue's calligraphy. None of them were literate, but they found the writing beautiful, though they inevitably failed to grasp its true value.

Sun Fu saw that after Mr. Ji glanced at the family, he merely continued admiring the scroll, while his precious granddaughter's words carried a hint of melancholy. With the atmosphere growing a bit awkward, he quickly spoke up.

"Uh, Dongming, quickly go to the kitchen and get some more Huadiao wine from the jar; the one on the table is almost empty. Yulan, you go get some more stewed meat; there's still some in the clay pot."

"Alright!" "Okay, Father!"

Sun Yayue's father grabbed an empty wine pot and her mother took an empty large patterned bowl, leaving the table together. Meanwhile, Sun Fu used the wine pot on the table to pour wine for Mr. Ji and his two elder brothers, all while praising his granddaughter to lighten the mood.

"Come, come, Mr. Ji, let me fill your cup. And second brother, third brother, everyone, fill 'em up, hehehe... Our Yayue truly brings honor to our family; her scholarship is genuinely excellent! There's no way others would pick Yayue; she'll be the one picking others!"

Seeing her grandfather smiling apologetically at her, yet clearly hoping she would marry, Sun Yayue, with a pained expression, felt both annoyed and amused. There was a sense of understanding the reality but being unable to accept it.

"Grandpa, Second Grandpa, Third Grandpa, Mr. Ji can hold his liquor well, so you all should drink less. You're getting old!"

"It's fine, it's fine! We're happy today, happy!"

"Yes, yes, fill 'em up!"

The old men chuckled, and the more affection she saw in their eyes, the more stifled Sun Yayue felt. She could only look towards Ji Yuan, who was still intently examining the calligraphy scroll. His gaze seemed to drift on and off the paper, and his fingers tapped rhythmically.

This feeling reminded Sun Yayue of when she was a child, showing her calligraphy to her teacher in the small study. Thus, she instinctively straightened her posture.

Sun Yayue's parents went to the kitchen together. Her mother took a large patterned bowl to serve meat, while her father unsealed the Huadiao wine jar to ladle out wine. Her mother glanced towards the brightly lit reception hall, then approached her squatting husband and nudged his back with her elbow, whispering beside him.

"Honey, do you think if our family asked Mr. Ji for great wealth and prosperity, he could make it happen?"

Sun Yayue's father was slightly tempted. He also raised his head and craned his neck to peek into the reception hall, then turned his head and whispered to his wife.

"Of course he could! Don't you remember a few years ago, the Emperor's son-in-law and the princess themselves went to Ju'an Pavilion to invite Mr. Ji? Great wealth and prosperity are just a word away for Mr. Ji..."

Although Sun Yayue's parents had limited contact with Ji Yuan, one thing was very clear: Mr. Ji definitely possessed great power, and his friendship with Prime Minister Yin had never faltered. This became increasingly evident from the time Sun Yayue began learning calligraphy at Ju'an Pavilion years ago. Therefore, both of them held Ji Yuan in great respect, though their reverence differed slightly from Sun Fu's.

At this moment, the couple grew excited. Sun Yayue's mother couldn't help but tug at her husband again.

"What do you think Mr. Ji meant by what he said earlier this evening? Was he implying..."

Sun Yayue's mother paused, looking at her husband.

"...that Mr. Ji could actually find a genuinely influential and noble family for Yayue? Oh, right, I heard Prime Minister Yin has a second son!"

"Hiss..."

Sun Yayue's father felt his scalp tingle, and an even stronger sense of excitement inevitably surged within him.

"If that's the case, who cares about that young master Feng!"

Full of excitement, the two returned with the wine and meat, their attitude towards Ji Yuan even more attentive.

"Come, come, the meat's here, and the wine too! Mr. Ji, please have a few more cups!"

Sun Yayue's father, holding the wine pot, was about to pour for Ji Yuan. Seeing that Ji Yuan's cup was still full, he thought for a moment and then dripped a few drops in. However, Ji Yuan remained completely absorbed in examining the calligraphy, oblivious to his surroundings. Only his right index and middle fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, as if a melody accompanied his study of the characters.

"Sit down, sit down. Don't disturb Mr. Ji."

Sun Fu quickly waved at his son. Sun Dongming instinctively returned to his seat and cautiously asked,

"Father, Mr. Ji, he's...?"

Sun Dongming's second uncle, taking a sip of wine, whispered,

"Mr. Ji has been like this for a while."

"Oh, oh..."

Sun Dongming looked at Sun Yayue, seeing his daughter sitting upright and attentively, her gaze fixed on Ji Yuan as if awaiting his guidance. With everyone else silent, the reception hall was exceptionally quiet, and the atmosphere felt rather peculiar.

After waiting for a while and seeing no change, Sun Dongming couldn't resist quietly approaching Sun Fu and whispering into his ear.

"Father, could you ask Mr. Ji if, uh, any of those influential and noble families in the capital have sons looking for wives? I heard Prime Minister Yin's second son is also..."

Sun Fu immediately turned and glared fiercely at his son.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Don't be so deluded!"

Immediately after that remark, Ji Yuan's hand, which had been tapping the table, stopped. As if having made a decision, he first looked up at Sun Yayue, who was sitting perfectly upright. After she nodded slightly, he looked at Sun Fu.

"It seems the Sun family doesn't fully grasp the weight of my words. Perhaps I should be clearer..."

Ji Yuan had taught Sun Yayue calligraphy and witnessed her grasp some of its true essence. Outside the path of immortality, it could truly be said that while they lacked the formal title of master and disciple, there was a subtle reality of such a relationship between them.

Among ordinary human families, Ji Yuan usually only spoke of worldly matters. But today, for Sun Yayue, he could make an exception.

After speaking the first half of his sentence, Ji Yuan paused. The expectations of all the Sun family members were reflected in his eyes; everyone else seemed indistinct, with only Sun Yayue appearing clear.

"You may wish for worldly wealth, or attain secular power and nobility, wield the might of martial prowess, gain the merits of the underworld, establish the image of a divine being, or acquire a destiny with immortal mountains. You could tread on the wutong tree in the morning and gaze at the East Sea in the evening, or even wander through the myriad realms, the four seas, and the grotto-heavens... The Sun family has formed a good karma with me, Ji Yuan, over several generations, and I am very fond of Yayue. From all these possibilities, you may choose one."

Sun Yayue's eyes widened, and she slightly parted her lips, looking a little dazed. She had been waiting for Mr. Ji to give a detailed critique of her calligraphy, but she never expected to hear such astonishing words.

The entire Sun family was dumbfounded, but mostly bewildered. Ji Yuan's words were like looking at a god from outside a temple or gazing at the moon from inside a well — profound and distant, understood to be wonderful, yet utterly unimaginable.

After a good while, the Sun family finally reacted. Initially, there was a sense of absurdity, but this feeling quickly faded as they met Ji Yuan's ancient eyes. What followed was a surge of excitement, accompanied by quickening heartbeats.

"Mr. Ji, this..."

Sun Fu could barely speak coherently. His legs beneath the table trembled slightly, or perhaps his whole body was shaking from extreme excitement. He had known for a long time that Mr. Ji was an extraordinary person, perhaps even non-mortal, but after so many years, hearing Ji Yuan utter these words for the first time left his mind blank.

Ji Yuan didn't expect the Sun family to recover immediately. He first looked at Sun Fu, the head of the household.

"Sun Fu, how will you choose?"

After speaking, Ji Yuan looked at Sun Yayue and said,

"Yayue, how do you wish to choose?"

To put it plainly, Ji Yuan only valued the opinions of these two, the grandfather and granddaughter.

"I, of course..."

Sun Yayue opened her mouth to speak but then forcibly held back. This fortune belonged to their entire Sun family, not just her, so she rephrased her words into a question.

"Mr. Ji, can our entire Sun family..."

"Heh heh, worldly wealth and prosperity, if one person gains it, the whole family benefits. As for transcending the mortal realm, too much desire becomes mere fantasy."

Ji Yuan's words were very clear, so clear that everyone in the Sun family understood them, especially Sun Fu. He looked at his son and daughter-in-law, then at his two elder brothers, and finally at Sun Yayue, who was biting her lip. Under the table, he clenched his fist.

"Mr. Ji, I inherited the Sun's Noodle Stall, and I am the current head of the Sun family. I will speak on this matter. Whether it's wealth and glory, or becoming an immortal or a god, I wish for Yayue to have the best possible future. Mr. Ji, you must know what is best, so we want the best!"

Sun Yayue's parents opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing. Sun Fu's two elder brothers on the side merely swallowed, also remaining silent. Tears welled up in Sun Yayue's eyes as she looked at Sun Fu, both surprised and overjoyed.

"Grandpa..."

Ji Yuan smiled. He didn't presume to know what was "best," but he certainly understood Sun Yayue's aspirations. He stood up, adjusted his clothes, and walked directly towards the door. Only when he reached the entrance of the reception hall did he turn his head and say,

"What happened tonight is to be known only by the Sun family. And Yayue, compose yourself. Continue practicing calligraphy at Ju'an Pavilion tomorrow. In a while, I will take you to a place to read. As for those marriage proposals, if you don't find any of them suitable, just decline them all."

Having said this, Ji Yuan stepped out of the reception hall and walked away with light steps. On the seat where he had been, the untouched cup of wine transformed into a shimmering stream of light, circling a few times before following him.

Sun Yayue immediately stood up, rushed to the reception hall entrance, and replied loudly,

"Understood, Mr. Ji!"