Chapter 6, The Xiao Family (Part 1)

The only son of the Xiao family, the current Duke Yunji, collapsed on the ground.

* * * *

Liang Yu held the teacup, feeling her eyelids twitch. She could still maintain an air of authority, but in the past, when she had scolded the maids and smashed white porcelain bowls, they would only stare silently below, terrified to the point of weakness in their limbs. But what about ferocity? The ferocity of an elderly woman over sixty? Not to mention she had never encountered it in the world of flowers; even during the initial period when her mother brought her along, upon witnessing a vulgar woman cursing in the streets, her mother would cover her ears and lecture her for a long time.

Do not let her come back to life; as long as she is alive, she will never again be played with in a vague manner and easily killed.

Mingxia looked at the girl kneeling in front of the couch, who was wearing only a thin outer garment over her inner clothes, and hurriedly said, "The ground is cold, Second Miss, please get up quickly." The girl appeared haggard, her eyes filled with melancholy. She glanced at her and silently rose to step aside. Mingxia swiftly hung up the curtain, and then she heard the girl behind her softly ask, "Has Grandmother woken up?"

Until I touched my own withered flesh, I heard the words "Flower Goddess" from the lips of that young girl. Her voice, gentle and as melodious as the song of a warbler, suddenly resonated with the echoes of my fragmented memories. "Since this temple has succeeded to the Flower Goddess, some matters should be made clear..."

In the wake of the profound sorrow of the Xiao family, they continued to ride forth with determination, relying on the connections accumulated over many years to command troops amidst difficulties, while simultaneously raising their young son to adulthood. Only when their sole son, Yunji, was capable of handling matters independently did they relinquish military authority, thereafter retreating to the rear courtyard and no longer involving themselves in affairs.

Three days ago, the esteemed healer Lian Qi hurriedly arrived at the Marquis's residence from the palace, weary from travel. Amidst the sounds of weeping, he furrowed his brow as he took the pulse of Lady Xiao, examined her eyelids, and repeated the process for half an hour. In the end, he shook his head and said, "The injury has affected the skull; I fear there is little time left. Although I am willing to help, I lack the power to reverse this situation. My lord, please accept your grief and prepare for the final arrangements."

So... what is the matter with the Flower God Festival?

Mingxia quickly wiped away her tears and replied with her back turned to her, "To Second Miss, not yet, but she will wake up sooner or later." She comforted herself in this way, gently lifting the blanket of the Xiao family and softly supporting her slender shoulders, "May I help you turn over, Miss Mingxia?"

She has always been in good health, and at forty-nine, she was still able to lead troops. At fifty-nine, she could still ride a horse. Just after celebrating her sixtieth birthday, she suddenly felt the urge to ride again, but unexpectedly fell off the horse. It seems that time indeed spares no one

Yun Xiao was born of a side consort, of lowly status, disinterested in reading, and only fond of wielding swords and staffs. Meanwhile, the Xiao family was characterized by bravery and boldness, which greatly appealed to him. Within three months, all the hairpins were sent away, and the Xiao family donned the phoenix crown and bridal attire, becoming Yun Xiao's only legitimate wife

Her gaze was extremely sharp, a stark contrast to the previous emptiness, even faintly shimmering with a light of despair, filled with profound sorrow. Fuyue was taken aback by such a strange gaze, and after a long while, she finally murmured: "It is... it is Fuyue who was wrong"

However, the elderly Mrs. Xiao seems to be somewhat different from her usual self

The young girl did not expect that when the Xiao family heard the words "Flower God," their expression suddenly changed dramatically. She turned her head and asked in a coarse, hoarse voice, "Are you offering incense to the Flower God?"

At the moment she exerted force with her fingers, a pair of eyes suddenly opened wide in the deeply sunken eye sockets of Xiao, emitting a clear and cold glimmer, staring directly at her

Xiao is a pivotal figure in the Yun family and the entire Ying Hou residence. The old Ying Hou, Yun Xiao, passed away at the young age of twenty-nine, leaving Xiao with the iron will to raise the young Ying Hou alone and steadily support him to the position of Hou. With Xiao, there is the Ying Hou residence. It was originally thought that everything would go smoothly, allowing for the enjoyment of family bliss, but unexpectedly, such an incident occurred

Did the old lady really not say a word

The courtyard was filled with hurriedly running servants, and Ti Chun was carrying a copper basin when she collided head-on with Jian Qiu, who was holding a small heater.

Unfortunately, Yun Xiao lived only until the age of twenty-nine, suddenly losing his breath one morning.

After she woke up, she lay rigidly on the bed without uttering a word, her gaze unfocused

Mingxia arrived in the kitchen first, where four or five maids were already up, carefully fanning the small fire beneath the medicine pot, which was bubbling with dark medicinal liquid. Mingxia carried the medicine into the side room, where the bronze incense burner was emitting wisps of calming fragrance, mingling with the scent of the medicinal soup, creating a rather desolate atmosphere in the quiet room

The woman lying on the bed had graying hair, and her eye sockets were lined with deep wrinkles. She was dressed in fine silk undergarments, yet her complexion remained withered and ashen. A thumb-sized scar on her forehead had already scabbed over and turned black, and her entire figure was emaciated to the point of distortion. Since the old lady, Madam Xiao, had fallen from her horse and lost consciousness three days ago, the medicinal concoction had been brought in daily only to be discarded. The second young lady, who insisted on maintaining her morning and evening rituals, would ask this question every day, growing increasingly desperate with each inquiry.

She suppressed her hostility, accepted the tea handed to her by Fu Yue, and said in a muffled voice: "After waking up from a deep sleep, I have forgotten many things"

The Yinghou Mansion, which had been silent for three days, seemed to come back to life with the sudden awakening of the old lady, Madam Xiao, regaining its former vitality.

What was thought to be a room belonging to a delicate young lady turned out to be the case where the Xiao family allowed their exceptionally talented granddaughter to reside in a small and old west wing, while leaving a grand and exquisite loft for the worship of her foolish and clumsy self

Mingxia looked at the skeptical expressions of Jianqiu and the others, almost on the verge of tears, "It's true! When the old lady woke up and looked at me, I swear I had never seen such a gaze before, that look..." According to the previous temperament of the Xiao family, the maids usually did not dare to enter and disturb, and they were all neatly lined up outside the room. "The old lady has been motionless and silent, what should we do?" The maids wore worried expressions, and the youngest among them, Jindong, whispered, "The old lady can't be... can't be 'lost in spirit', can she?"

Xiao's breathing was rapid, and her cold, emaciated hand quickly rested on her wrist, "Help me up"

The rooster outside the侯府 crowed twice, and the sky was just beginning to brighten. Mingxia yawned and got up from her small bed, while Tichun, who was sleeping beside her, turned over and groggily asked, "Is it time to get up again?" Mingxia thought she was talking in her sleep and did not respond, quickly putting on her clothes and quietly leaving the room.

Liang Yu followed the fair fingers of Fu Yue and saw a finely carved three-story pavilion, and couldn't help but blush: "I originally thought you lived there"

In an instant, the excruciating pain from her memories surged towards her like a tidal wave, as if she had been electrocuted. Flames leapt from her fingertips to engulf her entire body, the scent of charred flesh filled the air, and the sensation of her garments soaked in blood overwhelmed her. The chilling feeling of a sword piercing through her heart... Then, her heart throbbed with the sword's tip, the flesh and blood became a blur, slowly, slowly shattering apart...

Liang Yu nodded slightly. Although she did not know the specific reasons behind it, there must be some connection between her and the Xiao family. "How long has it been since I last went to offer incense?"

And she would impatiently fiddle with the vibrant flowers on the dressing table, responding loudly: "This palace knows! Aju, stop reciting!"

In the kitchen, there were a total of twelve cooks and herbalists all crowded together. The helpers were constantly adding new charcoal to the stove, where a clay pot was set up, bubbling with steam. Some of it was freshly simmered chicken soup, while other pots contained warm medicinal concoctions, each person watching carefully. At that moment, the sounds of chopping vegetables, the sizzling of stir-frying, and the conversations and laughter of the cooks and herbalists blended together, creating a festive and lively atmosphere akin to that of the New Year.

Fuyue's eyes brightened, and her tone became cheerful, "Grandmother has been ill these days. Fuyue has been following Grandmother's old ways, offering incense to the Flower Goddess every day. Once Grandmother recovers, she will be able to go herself"

Her fingertips involuntarily convulsed, and then someone took her hand, gently smoothing her fingers. His voice was resolute, "Do not be afraid, you are home now"

Liang Yu fell completely silent

Nevertheless, due to the longstanding dominance of the Xiao family over the entire Yinghou residence, both the upper and lower echelons within the household continue to hold the Xiao family in high regard and do not dare to be negligent

"Grandmother truly does not recognize Fuyue?" She knelt by the bed, her hands resting on it, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. Her voice was slow and gentle, while the face of the Xiao family on the bed appeared as still as stagnant water. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, like a bottomless dry well. Fuyue spoke until her throat was hoarse but received no response. After a moment of silence, she said, "Grandmother is not confused; she can hear Fuyue speaking, can't she?"

Grandmother originally told us that this is a tradition passed down from the Xiao family, as the Flower Goddess has bestowed grace upon the ancestors of the Xiao family. Grandmother also mentioned that when she was young and on the battlefield, she was shot off her horse by a rebel. Just as she was about to be pierced, a sudden fragrant breeze swept by, and a vine wrapped around her, throwing her back onto the horse, which then immediately disappeared. The horse, carrying its owner, ran away, thus saving her life. Grandmother said this was the manifestation of the Flower Goddess.

Everything happened unexpectedly in a flash, and she was already standing in hell, looking up, utterly defeated

The Yun family suddenly faced a calamity, and there was a chorus of lamentations, unwilling to give up no matter what. However, after three days and three nights, with not a drop of water consumed, the breathing of the Xiao family grew increasingly faint.

With a loud crash, the basin fell to the ground, and with a thud, the heater landed inside the basin. The two of them covered their noses and looked at each other, too flustered to speak, muttering "Hurry, hurry". You picked up the basin while I carried the heater, and we hurriedly ran into the Xiao family's side room, one in front and the other behind.

Ah! She was so frightened that her hand trembled, her whole body shook, and her tongue got tied, "She woke up... she woke up..."

She couldn't help but rub her temples with her hand

Xiao was born into a poor family, a fisherman's daughter from Donghai County of the Great Xia Kingdom. When her father found a pearl in the belly of a fish, he presented it to the lord of Donghai County, Lord Ying, which won his favor. At the age of fifteen, she was summoned to marry Lord Ying's fourth son, Yun Xiao, as a concubine.

As the moonlight gently descended, her bangs fell softly over her forehead. She replied respectfully, "I am unworthy, to be able to stay by grandmother's side is already a great fortune for me as a granddaughter"

Liang Yu comfortingly patted her shoulder, and Fu Yue instinctively flinched, looking at her in surprise. Liang Yu awkwardly withdrew her hand, pretending that nothing had happened: "Clean up a bit, at the hour of Hai today, I will go to offer incense."

In the year when the Xiao family turned eighteen, the Xia Kingdom was in turmoil, with smoke of war rising everywhere. The women of the Xiao family were no less than men, entering the camp alongside their husbands, sharing meals and sleeping with the soldiers, and repeatedly achieving remarkable feats. After the rebellion was quelled and the new ruler ascended the throne, they were rewarded for their contributions. At that time, the old Earl Ying had already died on the battlefield, and among his five sons, only Yun Xiao had distinguished merits, thus inheriting the title of Earl Ying. At the age of only twenty-one, the Xiao family became the Lady of Earl Ying, sharing responsibilities with her husband, leading troops together, and being confidants to each other, which became a celebrated tale.

She pondered in a daze, wondering if it was all just a grand dream. Upon waking, it would be another early morning, and four maidservants would drape her in the softest cloud-like garments, adorning her hair with a crown of flowers, from which pearls would dangle. The steward would be waiting outside the door, reminding her of the day's matters while gently urging her to hurry.

* * * *

When she had just woken up, her breath was terrifyingly weak, her entire soul curled up within this decaying and frail body. With each breath, it felt as laborious as working a bellows. She exerted all her strength to channel her energy, only to find that she possessed not a trace of magical power; she had become a mortal, an elderly person on the verge of death. A girl of the same age as her leaned over the bedside and called her "Grandma," how utterly ridiculous.

Before the words were finished, Ti Chun sharply poked her forehead and said, "One cannot hope for anything good!" The others fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, only able to see a vague silhouette swaying in the intricately carved window, which was none other than the Second Miss, Fu Yue, who remained inside to serve.

She has now completely lost her magical powers and does not know how much longer this body will last, but fortunately, she has survived

Since Liang Yu awakened from chaos, it was the first time she observed the entirely new world before her through the eyes of a strange body

The east wind brushed over the mulberry hills, outside the green-tiled cave, the grass was lush and verdant. On the green jade table lay a scroll, and Feng Tong held her hand, gripping a wolf hair brush, writing from top to bottom. She was just copying the phrase, "To succeed is to be king, to fail is to be captured." Still young, she tilted her head and asked, "Feng Jun, what does this mean?" The scent of ink wafted in the air as he lifted her sliding body slightly, securing her on his lap, and smiled, "It is the rule of the human world, and also the law of the immortals"

Xiao's eyes blinked very slowly

Every day after bathing at the hour of the pig, I would go to the altar located behind my grandmother's room

Come quickly, the old lady has awakened

When Fu Yue saw Xiao Shi looking at her, the gaze was no longer as imposing and indifferent as before; it even carried a hint of unease. A wave of sorrow surged in her heart: "It's alright, Fu Yue will tell Grandma."

A widowed woman is left in a state of loneliness and despair; without means, it is likely difficult for her to survive. The reason the Xiao family has attained its current status is due to her extremely tough and fierce demeanor, which commands great authority. She manages the Yinghou residence entirely using the methods she practiced in her early years of military training, so it is no wonder that the servants are very agile and their spirits are highly tense.