Chapter Eighteen
"It was Elder Qi who insisted on refusing," Wen Cui said with a smile. "This servant must go to the Fragrance Avoidance Residence to fetch Yan Niangzi, so I won’t be able to attend to you, Shishi Niang. Please make yourself at home."
Mei Ru Yan forced a smile. "Very well, go ahead. Don’t mind me."
Wen Cui gave a slight bow and left.
Mei Ru Yan suppressed a surge of frustration, but with Wen Bi still by her side, she couldn’t vent her emotions.
Wen Cui carried herself with an air of superiority, while Wen Bi was taciturn. Rather than serving her, it felt more like they were keeping watch over her—neither of them regarded Mei Jiu or her with any respect. Unfortunately, both were Old Madam’s personal maids, and Mei Ru Yan couldn’t afford to offend them.
Suppressing her indignation, Mei Ru Yan decided to seize the opportunity to gather information. "Wen Bi, could you go back and fetch my embroidery frame for me? I’d like to stay here tonight to personally care for my sister."
Just as Wen Bi was about to delegate the task to someone else, Mei Ru Yan interrupted, "I’d prefer if you went yourself. I’m afraid others might not be careful enough."
Seeing Wen Bi hesitate, Mei Ru Yan added, "I know I’ve just arrived and have no right to order around Old Madam’s people, but you’re the only one I trust."
Wen Bi glanced at her, then bowed slightly. "As you wish."
...
The setting sun cast a golden-orange glow upon the shimmering lake.
Lanterns had already been lit in the Fragrance Avoidance Residence, and swarms of moths desperately flung themselves toward the light. A breeze swept across the lake, causing the swaying lanterns to knock down clusters of the fluttering insects.
Mei Yanran sat motionless beneath the corridor, her downcast gaze fixed on the struggling moths on the ground, resembling a painting of a noble lady.
"Pathetic, aren’t they?" Old Madam’s voice abruptly shattered her thoughts.
Mei Yanran turned and saw the old woman clad in a dark blue jacket. Her face, fair as frost and snow, didn’t look a day older than Mei Yanran’s.
Mei Yanran rose and softly greeted, "Mother."
Old Madam sat on the railing, following Mei Yanran’s earlier gaze. "You’re just like these moths—obsessed with things that don’t belong to you." She scoffed, her eyes distant as she watched the fading sunset. "Not everything can be reborn from fire. Stop deluding yourself."
"I never taught Jiu Martial Arts, much less taught her what it means to be strong. She’s just a timid, ordinary girl..."
Old Madam chuckled softly and slowly stood, looking down at her. "Is that so? I heard she killed a second-rank Martial Arts master and a third-rank Martial Arts master with nothing but an ordinary bamboo bow."
Martial Arts ranks ranged from one to nine, ascending from weakest to strongest. Though second and third ranks were considered low, killing two men in an instant with such crude weapons was no feat an ordinary person could achieve.
"Impossible!" Mei Yanran was hearing this for the first time. "Jiu wouldn’t even dare kill a fish—she could never kill a person!"
Old Madam smiled faintly. "Believe it or not, it makes no difference. Even if cowardice runs in her bones, I’ll crush them and reshape her anew."
Mei Yanran felt dizzy. Gripping the corridor pillar, she ground out through clenched teeth, "I’ve always regarded you as my mother—why must you push me so relentlessly? If you hate me, direct it at me! Why torment my daughter?"
Old Madam was the second wife—Mei Yanran’s stepmother. Stepmother-stepdaughter relationships were rarely harmonious. In the past, Old Madam had treated Mei Yanran decently, fulfilling a mother’s duties, though never with warmth. But that fragile peace had lasted only until Mei Yanran turned sixteen.“Don’t struggle needlessly, or the pain will only worsen.” The Old Madam offered what seemed like a kindly reminder.
The courtyard fell into dead silence.
Just as the Old Madam was about to leave, a maid hurried in to announce, “Old Madam, Wen Cui is here.”
She halted. “Let her in.”
“Yes.”
…
Moments later, Wen Cui entered hastily and bowed to the Old Madam. “Greetings, Old Madam.”
“What is it?” the Old Madam asked.
Wen Cui replied, “The two young ladies were entered into the family registry this morning. While steaming crabs by the lakeside pavilion this evening, one of them became emotionally unstable and fainted. Before losing consciousness, she mentioned wanting to see Yan Niangzi.”
The Old Madam chuckled. “Yan Niangzi, go and check on her. Could it be that she’s too excited about suddenly becoming a noble young lady?”
Ignoring the sarcasm in her words, Mei Yanran turned and left without a backward glance. She knew the Old Madam all too well—a formidable woman who had never understood mercy. Since their relationship was already beyond repair, there was no point in feigning deference.
She took a boat alone and hurried back to Jade Serenity Residence.
Mei Jiu had just woken up and was sitting by the window in a daze. Spotting Mei Yanran from afar, tears welled up in her eyes. She lifted her skirts and rushed out, throwing herself into her mother’s arms. “Mother!”
“Don’t cry, my child. Tell me, under which elder have you been placed?” Mei Yanran asked urgently.
Mei Jiu, tears still clinging to her lashes, paused in surprise. “Elder Zhi.”
Mei Yanran’s face paled. “How… how could this be…” Suddenly recalling the Old Madam’s words, she asked, “Did you truly shoot a martial arts master with an arrow?”
“I…” Mei Jiu hesitated. Nearly everyone in Mei Manor knew of the incident by now, and there were witnesses. She couldn’t deny it, nor could she expose An Jiu…
“Speak!” Mei Yanran pressed.
Inwardly frantic, Mei Jiu thought, An Jiu, I’ll confess now. If there’s ever an archery test in the future, you’ll have to take it for me, alright?
An Jiu remained silent.
Under Mei Yanran’s stern gaze, Mei Jiu clenched her teeth and admitted, “Yes.”
“You… ah!” Mei Yanran sighed, tilting her head back to hold back tears.
Thinking she had upset her mother, Mei Jiu quickly explained, “Mother, I didn’t mean to kill anyone. Those people were trying to kill us, I—”
“It’s alright,” Mei Yanran said.
This reaction was the last thing Mei Jiu had expected. “But the Chu laws clearly state that murder demands retribution.”
Mei Yanran offered no opinion, only saying, “Let’s go inside.”
Uneasy, Mei Jiu followed her into the main hall and poured her a cup of water.
Mei Yanran took the cup and set it on the table. “Tell me, aside from the family registry and apprenticeship, what else has happened these past few days?”
Mei Jiu trusted others easily, and in this world, there was no one she relied on more than her mother. So she recounted everything—how she had angered the Second Madam into fainting and how Mo Sigui had been barred from the family registry because of her.
After listening, Mei Yanran studied her carefully before saying quietly, “You’ve changed somewhat from before.”
Mei Jiu guiltily lowered her eyes.
Mei Yanran gently stroked her hair. “Don’t overthink it. Rest and recover. There are some matters I need to consider. I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”
“Mother, why won’t you tell me about Father? Why won’t you explain the Mei family to me?” Mei Jiu couldn’t help asking.
“Your father… he was a kind man.” Mei Yanran stood. “I’ve forgotten many things. Once I’ve sorted them out, I’ll tell you everything.”Mei Jiu followed her out the door, wanting to press further, but when she looked up and saw the glimmer of tears in Mei Yanran's eyes, she swallowed her words.
When Mei Jiu was left alone in the room, she suddenly realized An Jiu had been unusually silent. "Are you there?"
No one answered.
"An Jiu," Mei Jiu called softly again.
Still, there was no response.
Unease settled in Mei Jiu’s heart. Over the past few days, she had grown somewhat accustomed to An Jiu’s presence. Though most of the time that person only made sarcastic remarks, they were incredibly capable—like a protective shell. Whenever Mei Jiu was scared or bullied, someone could stand up and shield her.
"An Jiu..."
"Are you asking for trouble? Get into bed and sleep, stop bothering me!"
Hearing An Jiu’s irritable words, Mei Jiu finally relaxed. She called for servants to help her wash up and obediently went to bed.
The lamp was extinguished, plunging the room into darkness.
The silence was unsettling. Mei Jiu began hearing all sorts of strange noises again. "An Jiu, can we talk? Are you in a bad mood?"
"Piss off!" came An Jiu’s simple and crude reply.
OpenNovel