"Wen Cui." Mei Jiu didn't know how to make up for her mistake, so she obediently asked, "Does Cousin have no family left?"
Wen Cui observed the delicate girl before her, feeling something was off. In large families, it was common for people to wear different masks in public and private. That Mei Jiu didn't hide her true self in front of her should indicate complete trust, yet Wen Cui found Mei Jiu's dual nature too extreme—one moment violent and unrestrained, the next timid and cautious. Could two such unrelated personalities truly coexist in one person?
Weighing these thoughts internally, Wen Cui maintained her gentle expression. "I'm not certain. Lady Dan passed during childbirth when delivering Young Master Mo. The master came from a prestigious medical family and served as an imperial physician in the Imperial Hospital. Later, he was dismissed for some unknown offense. They say he felt too ashamed to return home, so after leaving Bianjing, he took poison at a roadside pavilion in the suburbs."
When not on missions, An Jiu sometimes took freelance jobs. Having seen many such cases, she immediately sensed Mo Sigui's father hadn't committed suicide upon hearing this account.
Mei Jiu didn't think so deeply, merely sighing, "How could he abandon his young child just for pride?"
"Indeed!" Wen Cui lamented. "The master's family had only one male heir for two generations, leaving just this sole descendant. How could he bear to? What a waste of Lady Dan sacrificing her life to continue their lineage."
Mei Jiu asked curiously, "But don't our family's daughters not marry out? How could Aunt marry externally?"
"Not entirely." Wen Cui chose her words carefully. "Lady Dan was Second Madam's biological daughter, said to be a peerless beauty. A century ago, Mei Shi suffered a curse—none of its descendants live past thirty. Thus the family decree that all Mei Shi descendants must practice martial arts to strengthen their bodies. Those truly unsuited for martial arts had to marry out, becoming members of other families to escape the curse."
A chill crept up from Mei Jiu's feet.
"Full of holes!" An Jiu scoffed. "Only an idiot like Mei Jiu would buy this."
Mei Jiu stiffened, thinking, Some thoughts you should just keep to yourself! Why must you voice them?
"My mouth, my choice. Your ears, your choice," An Jiu retorted.
Growing irritated, Mei Jiu challenged, "Do you never consider others' feelings?"
"You don't know me. Don't accuse blindly without understanding!" An Jiu's voice turned frosty.
Thinking she'd hurt An Jiu, Mei Jiu guiltily apologized.
Somewhat mollified by Mei Jiu's contrition, An Jiu said, "Back then, I calculated extensively—bullet velocity, angle, impact point—to determine which body parts would cause least pain upon penetration. Dare you say I disregard targets' feelings?"
"You're too cruel!" Mei Jiu turned deathly pale. Though she didn't understand An Jiu's terminology, she grasped the meaning.
Standing nearby, Wen Cui couldn't hear the souls' internal dialogue but noticed Mei Jiu's worsening pallor, assuming the "curse" talk had frightened her. "This servant speaks too freely! Young Miss, these are just rumors. Nothing will happen."
Mei Jiu snapped back to reality with a forced smile, her mind a muddle about how to cover up. "I'm fine, just... just feeling for Cousin..."
Profound pity and guilt.After being frightened for so long, Mei Jiu's courage had gradually grown a little. Moreover, her soul was connected to An Jiu's, and she could sense that An Jiu meant no harm.
"It's all fate, don't blame yourself, Niangzi," Wen Cui comforted her.
"I want to be alone for a while," Mei Jiu said, sitting up with her knees drawn to her chest and burying her face in her legs.
Wen Cui stood up and reminded her before leaving, "Very well, Niangzi. Don't blame yourself. According to the rules, you must spend these three nights in the Listening Pine Courtyard. Tomorrow morning, there will be the apprenticeship ceremony, and the day after, the ancestral hall will be opened for worship. This servant will come to fetch you for dinner."
"Mm," Mei Jiu responded.
Once Wen Cui had left, Mei Jiu murmured, "Is there really no way to fix this?"
An Jiu replied, "I already told you, this isn't any one person's fault. What's there to fix? With his frivolous and dissolute nature, he was bound to get into trouble over women sooner or later. Giving him an early warning is a good thing. Besides, do you really think being entered into the Mei family register is something good? I doubt it."
Mei Jiu's expression changed drastically. "Earlier, you said 'full of holes'—you didn't mean Wen Cui was lying? Then the curse..."
"If the Mei family's curse is real, then to ensure the bloodline continues, they could just have their sons practice martial arts. After all, daughters will belong to other families once they marry, and as long as they're married off, their lives would be safe. Yet the Mei family keeps all the talented daughters! Why is that?" An Jiu asked.
Mei Jiu thought for a moment and sighed. "Yes, it really is strange! I can't figure it out."
"For now, I can only think of one answer," An Jiu said, based on the information she had gathered over the past few days. "That is, the Mei family requires their children to practice martial arts only to reduce the rate of early deaths among their descendants, not to completely prevent them. Because so many children die young, if they didn't keep the daughters as well, the family might decline into obscurity!"
That was why such a large family had only sixty-some masters—and that might not even include the sons-in-law who had married in! That was why Mei Yanran had fled with Mei Jiu! That was why Mei Yanran had acted so strangely about returning home!
As for why those men in black had pursued Mei Jiu that night, An Jiu still couldn't figure it out.
Mei Jiu's mouth hung open, her heart filled with fear. Everything in Plum Blossom Village had seemed normal, nothing as terrifying as An Jiu described, but she couldn't find any reason to refute it and subconsciously believed An Jiu's words.
"If you don't believe me, go find your mother and see for yourself," An Jiu said.
Mei Jiu asked, "Why?"
"If I'm not mistaken, your mother must be against you being entered into the family register, so she's been confined. Otherwise, why wouldn't she show up for such an important matter?"
"I've been having meals with her these past two days..." Mei Jiu had been through so much recently that she barely had the energy to think about anything else. Besides, Mei Yanran had always been a mother who showed her love through actions rather than words. Though the bond between mother and daughter was strong, their communication wasn't particularly close.
An Jiu shrugged. "Then go try?"
Mei Jiu hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. After tidying herself up slightly, she called Wen Cui in.
"Take me to see my mother," Mei Jiu said, staring at her.
Wen Cui's expression was as calm and gentle as ever, her smile still warm and kind. "Yan Niangzi has gone to speak with Old Madam and will likely stay there for dinner."
"I really want to see her," Mei Jiu insisted."It's still early now, there should be enough time to visit Fragrance Avoidance Residence." Wen Cui didn't refuse, "This servant will first send someone to check if there are any available boats at the dock, and have someone inform Old Madam beforehand so as not to disturb her."
"Alright," Mei Jiu replied.
"What do you think? I warn you, my tolerance for idiots has limits—don't keep testing my bottom line!" An Jiu cautioned.
Mei Jiu silently shook her head, "If we go to Grandmother's place, there will be maids and matrons everywhere. I'm afraid it'll be difficult to speak with Mother alone."
"That's more like it." An Jiu was somewhat satisfied with her answer. "Hmm, at least you've progressed from idiot to fool. Though there doesn't seem to be much difference, I do appreciate your relentless efforts despite your feeble mind and weak body."
Mei Jiu said, "Don't tell me that's supposed to be praise."
An Jiu replied, "Isn't it obvious? Can't you tell?"
"Whatever you say." Mei Jiu wasn't in the mood to bicker. She had thought returning home would mean all her worries were over, but who knew the Mei Manor would be so strange everywhere, with that terrifying curse! Mei Jiu genuinely wanted to see her mother urgently, not just to verify An Jiu's words.
"Don't you still have a mother? Why were you sold to a brothel?" An Jiu finally seized the chance to ask.
Mei Jiu seemed to deliberately avoid this memory, so no matter how An Jiu searched, she couldn't uncover it. Previously, Mei Jiu had been both afraid and wary of her—a single word from An Jiu could frighten the girl half to death, let alone asking questions.
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