A mistiness gathered in Yun Xiao's eyes, blurring her vision, the humid air thick. At this moment, nothing she said would matter, only the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
She knew her mother-in-law had no children of her own and must have come to see her as her own daughter. All she could do was try to bring her some happiness in her remaining years.
"Enough, don't be so motherly, you're still pretending to be a boy," her mother-in-law chided softly, her heart warmed. Yes, in her eyes, Xiao'er had become her child. If her own daughter, who was also a girl, were still alive, she would surely be as lovely and kind-hearted as Xiao'er.
In the room, wisps of ethereal smoke rose from above their heads, dispersed by the wind that blew in. It wasn't until her mother-in-law withdrew her hands that everything returned to a tranquil state.
Yun Xiao felt an abundance of inner strength, her eyes shining with brilliance, her entire being filled with a sense of boundless freedom. But looking at her mother-in-law, her face was somewhat pale. Having transferred so much of her internal energy to Yun Xiao, she was clearly unaccustomed to the sudden depletion and appeared somewhat weak.
"Mother-in-law, please rest for a while."
"Alright," her mother-in-law agreed. Yun Xiao wanted to help her to her own bed to rest, but her mother-in-law adamantly refused, insisting on finding another place. Yun Xiao gave orders for Wanwan and Yanmei to prepare a room immediately for her mother-in-law to rest in.
During breakfast, Wanwan and Jingyun couldn't help but inquire, "What happened to Mother-in-law?"
Yun Xiao raised her head, her eyes filled with concern, a smile gracing her lips. "She transferred thirty years of her cultivation to me."
"Thirty years of inner strength."
Jingyun immediately reached out and felt her mistress's pulse. Upon sensing it, he instantly knew that his mistress had indeed gained thirty years of cultivation, bringing her power almost on par with his and Liu Xing's. This was truly a divine gift!
Thanks to Mother-in-law, no wonder she had rushed day and night; she had been afraid her mistress would be harmed and was eager to transfer thirty years of her inner strength.
"Congratulations, Mistress. Now you are sufficiently able to protect yourself."
"Yes, but Mother-in-law has lost thirty years of cultivation for no reason."
Although Yun Xiao was happy, the thought of how many years her mother-in-law had painstakingly cultivated this inner strength, only for her to receive it so easily, made her heart ache for her.
Wanwan smiled sweetly and said, "Mother-in-law sees you as her own child. She is actually very happy to do this, so please don't be troubled, Mistress. We will take good care of Mother-in-law from now on."
"Yes, that's true."
Yun Xiao felt a little better. While eating breakfast, she pondered and looked up at Jingyun beside her.
"Go and help Mo Chen manage the affairs of the restaurant. Send word immediately if anything happens. Although Mo Chen has some martial arts skills, his cultivation is too shallow, and he cannot deal with powerful individuals. It would be better for you to go and help him, but do not reveal your true appearance."
"Alright."
After breakfast, Jingyun went to the restaurant to assist Mo Chen with its management, while Yun Xiao and Wanwan headed towards the Su Manor. Yun Xiao wanted to test her newfound inner strength but was afraid of exposing her identity.
The entire city of Yan Jing was now on high alert, like every blade of grass and every tree was a soldier. Therefore, it was best to be cautious.
The Su Manor occupied a vast expanse of land. Apart from the people previously hired, there was no one else.
Wanwan gave orders that no one was to enter the back courtyard.
The back courtyard was empty, with lush green trees stretching as far as the eye could see. The flowers and plants exuded a faint fragrance.
Along the high walls, verdant vines climbed, dotted with small purple flowers, resembling a dark green, patterned carpet that completely enveloped the entire back courtyard.
Yun Xiao stood beneath a tree. With a slight tap of her toes, she floated as lightly as a willow catkin, as nimble and agile as a skylark. Her hair was tied with a silk ribbon, three thousand strands of ink-black silk resembling spilled ink and blooming peach blossoms, enhancing her snow-white robes and unparalleled beauty.
Wanwan stared in amazement and couldn't help but clap her hands in admiration.
"Mistress, such exquisite Qinggong!"
With the addition of thirty years of cultivation, her Sixteen Steps of Cloud Piercing Qinggong had reached the level of perfect mastery. She moved like an ethereal bird, flitting between the high branches, light and agile.
Wanwan immediately brought out a zither and began to play beneath the tree.
The resonant notes flowed gently from her fingertips, like murmuring water, enveloping the entire Su Manor. The melody was ethereal and melodious, like a cascading waterfall with splashing white waves, tinkling like jade beads falling onto a plate, each one clear and crystalline. It was like a beauty's soft hum, tender and light, the notes emanating from her fingers seeming to come alive.
The melody was winding and intricate, both poignant and moving.
Yun Xiao danced gracefully through the branches, landing softly. She quietly closed her eyes, enjoying the pleasure brought by the music.
When the song ended, she clapped her hands twice, praising, "Wanwan's zither skills are truly superb, having reached the level of perfect mastery. It seems I will be blessed with good music from now on."
"Wanwan learned the zither precisely to play for you, Mistress."
The little maid giggled charmingly, her beauty surpassing that of flowers by more than three parts.
The Rouge Pavilion, closed during the day, stood grand and magnificent like a pavilion in the clouds, immersed in a tranquil silence.
On the second floor was Mo Ruyan's room.
Ethereal incense rose from the bronze cauldron, and the glazed bead curtains, refracting the sunlight, cast brilliant rays. A graceful figure lay reclined on the soft couch within the bead curtains.
Her face was slightly pale, her eyes vacant, fixed on a corner of the room, lost in thought.
The sound of colliding glass beads echoed from the doorway, a pleasant tinkling like water flowing down a mountain.
A figure in red entered, and the little maid's respectful voice was heard.
"Miss, Miss Bai Shui and Miss Qiao Ling are here to see you."
"Let them in," Mo Ruyan sighed, her heart aching uncontrollably. The thought of her master's resolute demeanor the previous night, the ferocity in his eyes, made her tremble.
Being stripped of thirty percent of her cultivation was not a big deal, but it also made her realize a stark reality: her master cherished that Young Master Yue as his own heart, and anyone who dared to touch him would face dire consequences.
But the thought that her master preferred men's attire over women's clothing was something she could not accept. She, Mo Ruyan, might not be a world-shattering beauty, but she was still a celestial beauty.
Despite being in a brothel, she had maintained her purity, preserving her chastity solely to let her master know that she was not a lowly person.
However, her master favored men. Regardless of whether she was lowly or not, in his eyes, she was as good as nonexistent.
The sound of light footsteps approached. Mo Ruyan raised her head, seeing several figures in red and green robes entering from outside the door. They were all renowned courtesans of the Rouge Pavilion, and also her sisters in arms.
"Sister, what happened? I heard you weren't feeling well."
A clear, slightly worried voice. The woman, dressed in white, was elegant and beautiful, graceful and poised. This woman was Bai Shui, leading several others to check on what had happened to Sister Ruyan.
Had last night's events angered Sister? That Prince Shangguan was truly detestable, forcing himself upon Sister. These women, as Mo Ruyan's subordinates, naturally knew that their sister's affections were still with the Palace Lord.