Nian Jiaojiao returned home and roughly explained her plan to go on a long trip.
"The specific return date cannot be determined yet, as my trip is quite covert. I hope my husbands will help me keep it a secret."
It wouldn't be good for her to be absent from the academy for too long, so the Qiu family would arrange for someone disguised as her to occasionally appear there.
Although the five husbands were reluctant, they obediently nodded.
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao took out the "Le Dao" cultivation method copied from Senior Sister Qiu and handed it over.
"Chuan'er, you keep this book and study it. To cultivate the Dao of Joy, one must first fully comprehend the true meaning within music."
After saying this, Nian Jiaojiao turned to Tong Ziyao and said,
"Ziyao, if you are also interested in this, you can ask him for guidance after Yuchuan comprehends the true meaning and begins his cultivation."
Although Tong Ziyao was Yuchuan's introductory teacher for playing the zither, he had not grasped the threshold of the true meaning.
Tong Ziyao glanced curiously at the book in Yuchuan's hand and nodded gently.
Nian Jiaojiao then looked at the other three and said,
"I'm going to the Royal City this time, and I'll also look for cultivation methods that can help you start your journey."
Xuan Yi was the first to respond, saying,
"Wife, the cultivation method is secondary. What's important is that you return safely."
Nan Qing and Xing Yun stared at Nian Jiaojiao, their eyes conveying the same sentiment.
Nian Jiaojiao smiled and nodded,
"Everyone, don't worry. I'll develop discreetly outside and won't be reckless."
Yuchuan:???
Xuan Yi:???
Nan Qing:???
Xing Yun: (+_+)?
Tong Ziyao:???
...
Since Nian Jiaojiao would start replacing the younger generation at the Qiu family the next day and wouldn't return for a considerable period, she suggested,
"Why don't we all come to my room tonight?"
Upon hearing this, the husbands' expressions became "colorful."
Yuchuan's face flushed.
This was against the rules...
Xuan Yi pursed his lips, his emotions unreadable.
Nan Qing sneered.
Heh, her wild nature was clearly exposed.
Xing Yun looked excited.
Was this day finally here?
He would definitely wash himself thoroughly today!
Tong Ziyao fell into thought.
So Jiaojiao liked this kind of...
Unaware of their thoughts, Nian Jiaojiao wondered why no one responded. She asked curiously,
"What? Don't you want to hear me tell stories? I thought you liked my books."
The smile on Xing Yun's face gradually faded,
"Sto-stories?"
"Yes," Nian Jiaojiao nodded matter-of-factly and retorted, "What else would you think we're doing?"
Then Nian Jiaojiao realized.
It seemed these men had misunderstood...
So, she teased meaningfully,
"Of course, if everyone wants to deepen your brotherhood tonight, I will definitely 'strongly' support it~"
Xing Yun didn't grasp the meaning behind this.
The other four men shuddered and repeatedly shook their heads in denial.
Yuchuan: "Wife, I'd rather hear stories..."
Xuan Yi: "Stories."
Nan Qing: "I don't know what misunderstanding you're talking about."
Tong Ziyao smiled gracefully and gently: "There is no misunderstanding."
...
An hour later.
On the bed.
Nian Jiaojiao sat in the middle, surrounded by her five husbands.
Due to the large number of people, they were all quite close, close enough to hear each other's breathing.
Only a single oil lamp provided dim light in the room.
Nian Jiaojiao's heart stirred; this atmosphere was perfect for telling ghost stories.
So, Nian Jiaojiao said in a low voice,
"Today, I'm going to tell the story of 'Painted Skin'."
After Nian Jiaojiao spoke the title, Nan Qing's eyebrows slightly raised.
Judging by the name, it seemed different from the books she had written before.
Although the Great Yue Dynasty had some stories of demons and monsters, compared to the ghost stories from Nian Jiaojiao's previous life, they were child's play.
After all, creatures like fox spirits turning into beings were only enough to scare children in her past life.
To enrich everyone's entertainment, Nian Jiaojiao told the story with great care, occasionally enhancing the atmosphere.
"The scholar Wang Chongwen passed the provincial exam but always struggled to succeed in the imperial examination. For this exam, determined to pass, she feared another failure and began to consult oracles. One day, guided by a Taoist priest, she arrived at a dilapidated temple named Kui Xing Ge.
Upon reaching the temple, she did not meet the noble person the Taoist priest had mentioned. Instead, she encountered a beautiful man weeping..."
...
The next day.
Nian Jiaojiao bid farewell to her five husbands, who had dark circles under their eyes, and left home.
After seeing Nian Jiaojiao off, Yuchuan and the others went to the main hall one by one.
Xing Yun served tea to his elder brothers and said weakly,
"To calm your nerves."
After thanking Xing Yun, they silently picked up their teacups and began to sip the tea.
Yesterday, after Nian Jiaojiao mentioned the weeping beautiful man, everyone unanimously believed the story was about the love between a scholar and a handsome man.
They never expected that the subsequent terrifying scenes, one after another, would leave them all in a state of distress.
Even sending Nian Jiaojiao off today, they didn't feel much reluctance. Instead, they were still deeply affected by the previous night's story.
In the main hall, they remained silent, only the "crisp" sound of the teacup lid colliding with the rim could be heard.
After a long pause.
Tong Ziyao finally spoke, saying,
"As expected of our wife, she pursues perfection in every genre of story."
Yuchuan:......
Xuan Yi:......
Nan Qing:......
Xing Yun:......
...
Qiu Family.
Qiu Hezi, Lei Juan, Nian Jiaojiao, the Qiu family head Qiu Shu, and the Qiu family's younger generation gathered in a room.
Qiu Hezi said,
"Alright, Junior Sister Nian, you can open your eyes now."
Hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao slowly opened her eyes.
At this moment, Lei Juan handed her a mirror, "Junior Sister Nian, take a look for yourself."
Nian Jiaojiao looked at the unfamiliar face in the mirror and gently touched her cheek with her right hand.
Her skin felt as if it were covered with a film of water, which was truly magical.
She then made several expressions in front of the mirror.
The person in the mirror's expressions were very lifelike, showing no unnaturalness.
Nian Jiaojiao put down the mirror and looked at the younger generation of the Qiu family.
The latter seemed somewhat surprised, glancing at Nian Jiaojiao twice before fixing her gaze on her own toes.
Her timid demeanor made the Qiu family head unable to resist patting her back forcefully:
"Such a fine daughter, what's with always shrinking yourself? Lift your head! Stick out your chest!"
The girl, startled, trembled and looked up, replying in a high-pitched voice,
"Ah... Yes!"
At this moment, Qiu Hezi looked at Nian Jiaojiao and said,
"Junior Sister Nian, no, you should be called Qiu Yu from now on. This disguise on your face will last for two months. How is it?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded with satisfaction,
"Very good."
Lei Juan pointed at Qiu Yu herself and said to Nian Jiaojiao,
"We, along with Senior Sister Qiu, will take this junior to our miscellaneous studies sect. While you are impersonating her, she will stay there."
Qiu Yu's eyes darted left and right.
She did not know what the miscellaneous studies sect was.
Nian Jiaojiao entered her role, stood up, and timidly asked Lei Juan and Qiu Hezi for permission,
"Two, two grandmothers, can I, can I go to the academy now?"