Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 231 | A Legacy and a Mate | Novela.app

When Chu Ruo returned, the study was pleasantly cool. she leaned in close to her beloved. "You really don't seem to care at all, do you?" Ever since she had told Nan Muxue that Nan’er might be of the Nan family bloodline the other night, the woman had responded with a calm, indifferent "oh." It had left Chu Ruo feeling quite deflated. Was an "oh" really all she got? Nan Muxue stroked her hair. "And you seem to care quite enough for the both of us." "I—" "Is there a result yet?" Chu Ruo shook her head. "Actually, I already wrote to Fenghuang and asked her to check with her aunt. I haven't heard back yet. Miaojiang is far, after all. Whether there’s a result or not, the reply is bound to be slow." A slender finger traced the bridge of Chu Ruo’s nose. "If Bai Xue had known, she would have told us before she left. Besides, with Mother’s temperament, how could she have let anyone who posed a threat to her survive?" "But that jade pendant is indeed a Nan family heirloom, isn't it?" This was the root of Chu Ruo’s suspicion. Nan’er had previously lied, saying the pendant had fallen into the lake. Later, as their master-disciple relationship improved, Chu Ruo had asked to see it on a whim. To her surprise, it looked incredibly familiar. She then remembered that her "Little Scorpion" had an identical one, said to be passed down through the Nan generations. Since Muxue rarely wore it, Chu Ruo figured such a coincidence was unlikely. "Yes. That pendant has been passed down for generations. While the thumb ring and the Ice Soul are symbols of the Hundred Flowers Palace, the jade pendant is a personal heirloom of the Nan family." "I checked again," Chu Ruo continued. "Nan’er’s background matches the records from when she entered the palace. Father unknown; her mother died when she was two. A kind neighbor, an elderly woman, took her and her brother in and buried their mother." To her surprise, Nan’er even had a twin brother. However, men were never seen in the Hundred Flowers Palace, as they only took in girls. "It does sound like a possibility. However..." Chu Ruo picked up the thread. "However, if you really had a sister, given your mother’s nature, she would have broken anyone who didn't obey. Even if Nan’er’s mother died, she should have groomed Nan’er. But she didn't. Instead, she was desperate to force you into marriage. I have a theory." The two were so in sync they could practically finish each other's sentences. "Nan’er belongs to a collateral branch of the Nan bloodline," Nan Muxue said. "Exactly. I’ve been thinking—the Nan family only ever wants daughters, and only one successor at a time. But what if there’s an accident? Or what if a son is born? They must have a backup plan, a secondary branch kept in reserve. If something happens to the main line, the other steps in. It reminds me of something—didn't you say your mother spent fifteen years purging the old disciples? Maybe she was afraid someone would discover this secret. Knowing her style, she wouldn't have left Nan’er and her mother alive. Perhaps the previous Palace Master intervened in secret?" "It is indeed possible." Chu Ruo let out a smile. "Then I can finally rest easy." "Rest easy?" "Mhm. To be honest, whenever I’m with you, I always feel like I’m holding you back..." "Ruo'er..." Nan Muxue murmured her name. "Xue'er, I often feel that following me has been hard on you. By being with me, the Nan line at the Hundred Flowers Palace ends with us. I’ve always felt I owed you for that. But heaven has always looked out for me; it brought us Nan’er. Once I realized she might be of Nan blood, I was so happy. At least this way, you’ll still have a relative in this world, and the Hundred Flowers Palace will remain in the Nan family’s hands." Nan Muxue smiled and leaned in to kiss her lips. "So, this is why you’ve been so preoccupied lately? Even sneaking off to brothels behind my back?" "And I even got smacked a few times for it," Chu Ruo whispered against her lips. "Brothels are the easiest places to gather information." "How many times must I tell you? You are not allowed to keep secrets from me." "I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. What if I was wrong? You would have been so disappointed." Nan Muxue shook her head. "You silly creature, how many times must I say it? The only thing I care about is you." "Actually, I felt a bit sad when I heard Nan’er’s mother had died. I thought you might have had a sister, but..." Nan Muxue touched the corner of Chu Ruo's eye. "I have you." Chu Ruo pulled her into an embrace. "Mhm. And I have my Little Scorpion." "And don't you have your disciples now, too?" "Look at you, ruining the mood." "I just remembered something." "What?" "Investigating her background was just an excuse, wasn't it? Your main goal was to wander around the brothels." "What... wait, no! I was wrong, I'm sorry!" *** The next day... There was still no news regarding Nan’er’s lineage, but Duan Ning came to Nan Muxue, stifling a laugh, to report that Chu Ruo had a "roster" in the study and was busy picking out "girls." Nan Muxue arrived outside the study and paused to listen to the commotion inside. "Tsk, this one won't do. Legs are a bit too thin." A vein throbbed in Nan Muxue's temple. She held herself back and continued to listen. Chu Ruo’s voice drifted out again. "This one won't do either. Too small, way too small." She even made a clicking sound with her tongue. "This one isn't plump enough. And this one... too dark." *Bang!* The door flew open. Chu Ruo looked up to see her Little Scorpion standing there with a face like a frozen corpse. Chu Ruo looked utterly bewildered, one hand resting on Wotou’s head. "What’s wrong?" Nan Muxue marched up to her, hand raised as if to strike, but her gaze fell upon the so-called "roster." She snatched it up, only to see... "You..." "Great, isn't it?" Chu Ruo stood up and leaned in close. "I asked someone to get it for me." Nan Muxue threw it aside, her expression shifting from fury to flat indifference. "Boring." "Hey, don't throw it!" Chu Ruo scrambled to pick it up. "This concerns Wotou’s lifelong happiness! Right, Wotou?" Wotou wagged his tail frantically to please them. The "roster" was filled entirely with drawings of dogs. Chu Ruo sidled up to Nan Muxue. "I’m picking a wife for little Wotou. I promised him—once I got married, I’d find him a mate. Now that I’m married, he needs a wife too. Help me look, which one is best?" So that was it... Nan Muxue felt ridiculous for almost losing her temper. How could she have believed Duan Ning’s nonsense? She maintained her composure, her face expressionless. "You don't act like a Palace Master's spouse at all." And yet, as long as Chu Ruo held her hand, looked into her eyes, and called her "Xue'er," she would agree to anything. Always. "Ha! It's settled. Wotou, you’re going to have a wife soon! Go on, go play." Chu Ruo then turned back to the woman beside her. "Someone stormed in here looking quite angry just now. Did she misunderstand something?" Nan Muxue’s face didn't redden, nor did her heart skip a beat. She didn't even bother to answer. "Wife, next time you get jealous, could you at least get the facts straight?" "Get the facts straight?" Nan Muxue pinched her cheek. "Then let us get this straight: do you often hug those disciples of yours?" "Well, occasionally... ow, ow! Let go! They’re just so cute, they all want me to hug them..." Nan Muxue increased the pressure. "From now on, no one is allowed to hug you." "I know, I know!" As the hand loosened, Chu Ruo grinned mischievously. "There’s one more thing you forgot to say." "What?" "I’m only allowed to kiss you." "Mmph—" *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 苗疆 | Miaojiang | A southern region in wuxia/xianxia often associated with the Miao people, poisons, and sorcery. 凤凰 | Fenghuang | A character name (literally "Phoenix"). 冰魄 | Ice Soul | Likely a specific heirloom or high-level martial technique of the Nan family. 扳指 | Thumb ring | Specifically a jade archer's ring, often a symbol of authority. 窝头 | Wotou | The name of the dog; literally refers to a type of conical steamed corn bread. 名册 | Roster / Register | The list Chu Ruo was looking at (misunderstood as a list of women).