The crown prince wishes to learn martial arts

Just as the two of them were talking, the Xiao Mansion also began to bustle.Tat tat...A slightly hurried footstep sounded.Xiao Yi and Biyuan looked in the direction of the sound, and a group of people was approaching them.The person at the forefront had white hair, and he was leaning on a crutch. His face showed both joy and anxiety. He was none other than the nearly ninety-year-old matriarch.Naturally, Xiao Yi couldn't stand still and do nothing. He quickly greeted her along with Biyuan.The matriarch, upon seeing Xiao Yi from a distance, couldn't wait for him to approach and handed her crutch to a maidservant. She grabbed Xiao Yi, overjoyed, and said, "Yi'er, you're finally back. Taller and thinner, these years have been hard on you. It's all your father's fault for being an unfilial son."Xiao Yi was both moved and somewhat amused. When he left, he was only seven or eight years old, so how could anyone tell if he had grown taller or thinner?"I greet the matriarch.""I greet His Highness the Crown Prince."The people behind the matriarch and Biyuan each bowed in respect.Xiao Yi didn't pay much attention to these curious servants and waved his hand, signaling them not to be overly formal."Grandmother, it's my filial piety's fault for worrying you," Xiao Yi said, feeling guilty in his heart. Although he had left for cultivation with a reason, causing an old woman like her to worry was not filial.The matriarch was overjoyed to see Xiao Yi and said, "It's good that you're back. You're back! But from now on, you're not allowed to leave again."Xiao Yi nodded with a smile. "Grandmother, rest assured. I'll stay at the mansion this time and keep you company."The wrinkles on the matriarch's face eased as she smiled and said, "Good, let's go inside first. Tell me what you've been doing all these years in Qingping County."As they spoke, the matriarch noticed Biyuan's beautiful appearance and asked, "Who is this young lady?"Xiao Yi was about to speak, but Biyuan, hearing that the matriarch had noticed her, cast aside her previous shyness and confidently stepped forward, bowing gracefully. She said, "Biyuan pays her respects to the matriarch. I am the young master's maidservant."The matriarch, upon hearing this, examined Biyuan from top to bottom. Although she was young and slightly immature, her figure was attractive, and her beauty was beyond ordinary.The matriarch nodded in satisfaction and allowed Biyuan to join them.Xiao Yi naturally didn't object.As they chatted and entered the house, someone followed them in."Mother, I heard that Yi'er has returned."It was a woman in her thirties, well-dressed and equally beautiful as any young woman.Seeing the newcomer, the matriarch's smile remained unchanged as she continued to hold Biyuan. She said, "Yes, he's back."Xiao Yi stood up and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Second Aunt."Xiao Shi had already seen Xiao Yi when she entered the room, and upon hearing him speak, she took a few steps forward. Her eyes showed a hint of surprise, and then she lightly laughed, "I didn't expect that after all these years, Yi'er has grown so big."Xiao Yi had a very favorable impression of his second aunt. Despite her noble lineage, she didn't act haughty. She was gentle in her interactions and had treated Xiao Yi like her own son because she only had a daughter and no sons."I've been away for so many years, and Second Aunt must have had a lot on her plate," Xiao Yi said with a clear voice.Xiao Shi smiled gently, "I heard that the little phoenix from the Jiang family has returned to the capital. I wonder how Yi'er plans to handle it?"Mentioning Jiang Qiongyao, the matriarch also wanted to hear Xiao Yi's thoughts.Xiao Yi already had some plans in mind and didn't intend to hide them from everyone. He replied, "I'm still young and have no plans for marriage at the moment. Besides, I don't know what the Jiang family's intentions are. Although I've been staying at the ancestral home for these years, I've heard about Jiang Qiongyao."The matriarch, while a bit disappointed, understood that Xiao Yi was still very young, only seventeen. Although many people married at that age, she didn't want to rush him.Biyuan had been quietly listening beside the matriarch.Xiao Shi finished her thoughts and said, "Yi'er, if you have any plans, Second Aunt's family has many outstanding young ladies in terms of both appearance and upbringing."Xiao Yi was moved. Xiao Shi's background was not simple; her maiden name was Wang, from the Wang family, one of the two prominent families in the current dynasty. They held significant influence, and many high-ranking officials were their disciples or associates.Therefore, marrying into the Wang family was no easy task. Xiao Shi was probably mentioning this to ensure that Xiao Yi wouldn't feel too upset if the Jiang family rejected him.Xiao Yi was touched. In his previous life, he had never experienced family affection, but in this life, even though he was born into a marquis's household, it was filled with warmth and lacked the usual power struggles of noble families."Thank you, Second Aunt," Xiao Yi said.Then he asked, "During this visit, I intend to practice martial arts. Grandmother and Second Aunt, do you have any guidance for me?"The matriarch and Xiao Shi exchanged glances and then nodded. They were pleased that Xiao Yi wanted to learn martial arts.The matriarch furrowed her brows and said, "Ideally, your father should be guiding you in martial arts, but he can't do that now. Your second uncle is busy with affairs and not at home, and Yi, the maidservant, is not here either. So, your second aunt and I will give you some guidance for now."Xiao Yi nodded. The matriarch had accompanied her grandfather, Xiao Pujun, on the battlefield in her early years, and her cultivation was not weak. Although her skills had declined over the years, her knowledge remained.Xiao Shi, being from a prominent family, was also quite skilled.Xiao Yi listened attentively as Xiao Shi began to explain, "In the path of martial arts, the foundation is in training the body, cultivating the entire body's vital energy, and forming true qi. With this, you can move mountains and seas, connect with the heavens and the earth, and every action you take will be infused with the power of the heavens and the earth, capable of affecting celestial phenomena."Xiao Yi nodded. He had lived for more than ten years and was well aware of the prevailing martial culture and the various realms of martial arts.