(Second update delivered)
"My time is precious, and I won't waste it on idiots." An Jiu's words were as cutting as ever.
Mei Jiu noticed her voice sounded weak and asked urgently, "What's wrong with you?"
An Jiu ignored her, but Mei Jiu persisted, "Are you alright?"
"Damn it! What good comes from being stuck with a pig? What do you think?!" An Jiu snapped coldly. "Instead of asking stupid questions, why don't you work on improving your IQ? Shut up, or I'll kill your whole family!"
So fierce. Mei Jiu pouted, her eyes misty, murmuring softly to comfort herself, "You're in a bad mood. I won't take it to heart."
An Jiu said seriously, "You better take it to heart. I never waste words."
Mei Jiu pressed her lips together tightly and curled up on her side.
This fetal position wasn't conducive to vigilance, but it was comfortable. An Jiu didn't have the energy to argue about sleeping postures with Mei Jiu right now—after all, Mei Jiu's emotions could affect her too.
The snowy night was silent.
Early the next morning, Yao Ye pulled Mei Jiu out of her warm bed and sat her before the dressing mirror to comb her hair.
"Young Miss still needs to practice martial arts. No slacking," Yao Ye said as she worked on Mei Jiu's hair.
Mei Jiu dozed with her eyes closed, mumbling, "I slept too late last night."
An Jiu had strained to control her body to shoot arrows, requiring ample sleep to recover. Mei Jiu had taken a long time to fall asleep and now felt exhausted under An Jiu's influence.
Mei Yanran entered the room without making a sound.
Her footsteps were inaudible, and Mei Jiu remained oblivious until she was right behind her.
Yao Ye noticed her, but Mei Yanran raised a hand to silence her, taking the comb to style Mei Jiu's hair.
Half-asleep, Mei Jiu caught a familiar scent and opened her eyes to see Mei Yanran in the mirror, jolting awake. "Mother, how did you get here without a sound?"
Mei Yanran set the comb down and examined the hairstyle. "You were just too out of it."
"Was I?" Mei Jiu wanted to argue but stopped when she saw Mei Yanran's face. Her heart ached. "Mother, you've lost weight."
Mei Yanran hadn't just lost weight—she'd aged noticeably. Her temples were streaked with gray, and the lines around her eyes had deepened. Despite her youth, she showed signs of premature aging, unusual for someone with her martial prowess.
"Don't be silly. Mothers grow old—it's natural." Mei Yanran smiled warmly, taking Mei Jiu's hand. "The Hua Clan's heir is a bit older, and being a stepmother won't be easy. Marrying him is a compromise, but it's better than a life of bloodshed."
Mei Jiu's cheeks burned, and she turned away. "Why are you saying this, Mother? Elder Zhi promised that if I show talent in archery, he'll keep me out of the Crane Control Army."
Mei Yanran sighed.
"Mother... did you go to Elder Zhi?" Mei Jiu suddenly realized the timing of Elder Zhi's approach was too coincidental.
"Yes." Mei Yanran didn't deny it. "I had to do something for him in exchange for his help."
Mei Jiu's mind reeled, her body stiffening.
Yao Ye burst out angrily, "Elder Zhi deceived Young Miss! He threatened that if she couldn't hit the bullseye with her arrows, he'd send her to the Crane Control Army next year!"Mei Yanran was not surprised, smiling faintly as she spoke, "I guessed this outcome when he detained me in the Hall of Eternal Wisdom. Elder Zhi wouldn’t bear the title ‘Zhi’ (Wisdom) for nothing—how could he suffer a loss in such matters? Even if you can’t marry into the Hua Clan, Elder Zhi will protect you. He is cunning and unscrupulous, but he always keeps his word. My child, you’ve passed his test. That’s excellent."
Mei Yanran stood and walked to the window, hiding her sudden tears.
"Mother," Mei Jiu approached and took her hand. "Are you keeping something from me?"
"Don’t overthink it. I just feel powerless." Mei Yanran wiped her tears and turned back with flawless gentleness. "I was wrong. You were meant to be peerless, but I held you back. In the future, you must learn strength and many skills under Elder Zhi’s guidance. Fight with your own strength. Didn’t I also evade the Net of Heaven and Earth for over a decade?"
Had it not been for Mei Jiu, Mei Yanran might have hidden for much, much longer.
Mei Jiu understood this and vowed firmly, "I will work twice as hard from now on."
Mei Yanran smiled tenderly and stroked her head. "I know you will."
"I have matters to attend to. Have breakfast on your own."
Mei Jiu’s heart inexplicably raced, but she replied, "Yes, go ahead, Mother."
She had just promised to be strong—she couldn’t show weakness so soon!
Mei Yanran paused, embraced her lightly, then turned to leave.
"This servant will escort you," Yao Ye said, following her out.
"Something feels wrong," An Jiu murmured.
Mei Jiu felt the same, her heart inexplicably uneasy. "Is Mother going to handle something for Elder Zhi? What exactly did she agree to?"
"Follow her," An Jiu commanded, her tone leaving no room for debate.
After a brief hesitation, Mei Jiu hurried out.
A dark figure landed before her in the corridor. Mu Qianshan spoke lifelessly, "Young Mistress need not attend the Clan School today. After breakfast, this subordinate will accompany you to Elder Zhi."
"Step aside!" Mei Jiu glared at him. "I order you to step aside!"
Something gave her unprecedented courage—this was the most assertive she had ever been in her life. Mu Qianshan hesitated briefly before yielding.
...
Yao Ye escorted Mei Yanran far.
In a secluded spot, Mei Yanran stopped and turned. "Yao Ye, Jiu’er is my only concern. Take good care of her for me. Tell Dan Yue to keep a close eye on Mei Ru Yan. If she shows any disloyalty, kill her immediately."
"This subordinate understands," Yao Ye replied solemnly.
With Elder Zhi’s favor, Mei Jiu would be nearly untouchable, yet Mei Yanran still reminded uneasily, "Be wary of Old Madam."
"Yes. This subordinate swears to fulfill your trust with my life."
As Mei Yanran turned to leave, Yao Ye asked, "Yan Niangzi, why not tell the young mistress?"
"Better a short pain than a long one. Jiu’er takes after me—timid by nature. Even if I fear neither killing nor death, I still dread seeing my daughter’s reluctance and tears at parting." Mei Yanran’s eyes filled with sorrow. "In the end, I was too clever for my own good."
Yao Ye said, "You did nothing wrong. Raising her that way was meant to save her. The young mistress will surely understand your good intentions.""But I forgot—I can't protect her forever. In the end, one must walk their own path in life, only then is a journey through this world worthwhile." Mei Yanran smiled bitterly. "For all my pride in being clever, it took me until now to understand this."
She drew a Ghost Mask from her sleeve, her slender fingers caressing it for a long moment before finally placing it over her face. Before Yao Ye's eyes, she left only a fading shadow as she vanished.
"Mother!" Mei Jiu ran over, finding only Yao Ye standing alone. "I just heard my mother speaking—where is she?" she asked anxiously.
Upon an ancient pine clinging to the cliffside stood a woman wearing a Ghost Mask, her gaze fixed intently on Mei Jiu below. (To be continued...)
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