"My thanks to Master Zong."
Lady Bo’s voice rang out nearby, snapping Xiao Nanhui back to her senses.
*Master Zong?*
In the capital, the only people a member of the Prince’s household would address as "Master" with such reverence were either Imperial Preceptors or Clan Priests. Yet Xiao Nanhui had never heard of an Imperial Preceptor named Zong, nor did she know of any priest who would attend a royal blessing ceremony wearing a cloak that looked like a tattered rag.
Furthermore, when had a martial arts master named Zong emerged in the world of the *jianghu* without her ever catching wind of it?
"There is no need for such ceremony, My Lady."
The hunched figure beneath the brown cloak spoke again. His voice had returned to a low, raspy drone, sounding no different from any ordinary old man.
Clearly, he had witnessed Bolao’s earlier display. He had deliberately used his internal energy to project his voice directly into their ears as a warning.
Though she did not know his identity, Xiao Nanhui’s instincts told her this was not a man to be offended. She was about to step forward when someone suddenly grabbed her from behind.
She turned to find Bolao, whose face had gone a sickly shade of grey.
This was the first time in her life Xiao Nanhui had seen Bolao tremble with genuine fear. Though they hadn't been together since birth, they had been companions for a long time and had weathered many storms. Bolao was true to her name—simple by nature, but fierce, untamable, and rarely willing to bow to anyone. If she met a powerful foe, she wouldn't shrink away; she would only fight harder.
Xiao Nanhui had already gathered from the subtle clues that the old man was a formidable master, but she hadn't expected him to make Bolao retreat without a fight, let alone strike such terror into her heart.
There was perhaps another possibility.
Bolao had crossed paths with this man before. They knew each other.
"Don't go over there..." Bolao whispered, her eyes fixed intently on the brown-clad elder. "He is from the Andao Academy."
In the Andao Academy, aside from the Head, Xie Li, those who completed their studies were assigned to serve a master, while those who had not were forbidden from stepping a single foot outside the gates. This man traveled alone and appeared to be of a similar age to Xie Li—how could he be from the Academy?
Moreover, the people of the Andao Academy lived to defend the righteous path. Even if there was friction between disciples, surely they wouldn't treat each other with such dread?
Xiao Nanhui’s doubts deepened, but Bolao clearly had no opportunity to say more.
Over by the stage, Lady Bo was speaking in low tones to the old man. A moment later, his gaze shifted and landed directly on Xiao Nanhui.
"So, she is from the Great General’s manor."
Having been singled out, Xiao Nanhui could no longer remain still. she gave Bolao’s hand a reassuring pat before walking toward the man.
"Greetings, Master Zong."
Even standing this close to him, she could not hear the sound of his breathing. His cultivation was unfathomably deep; she wondered if it might even surpass Xiao Zhun’s.
After a long silence, the voice sounded above her.
"You know me?"
Xiao Nanhui looked up and saw a pair of clouded eyes. Time had left indelible marks upon this body, yet it could not erase the underlying aura. Those eyes seemed capable of piercing through a person from a distance—the sharp, murderous intent found only in those who had spent a lifetime in martial arts.
Xiao Nanhui’s breath hitched, and she immediately lowered her gaze.
"I do not. I simply heard the Lady address you as such and took the liberty. If I have overstepped, I ask for your forgiveness, Master."
The man’s gaze seemed to hover over her head for a long time before finally shifting away.
"All guests visiting today must receive the blessing at Yi Garden. Do not forget."
It was unclear whether he was speaking to her or to Lady Bo. The latter, however, was clearly treating Master Zong with extreme deference and was quick to answer.
"Please rest easy, Master Zong. Miss Xiao is with us; she certainly won't be absent."
The old man did not respond. Instead, he walked straight toward the floral stage used for the *shefu* game.
The stage was still littered with silk ribbons, silver cups, and fresh fruit. A few apricots had been crushed underfoot, splashing pale yellow juice that stained the floor. The old man stared at the mess for a moment, then suddenly flicked his sleeve. The delicate finery was swept away as if by a gale, tumbling off the stage and into the lake in an instant.
The noblewomen standing nearby couldn't help but cry out in alarm, their expressions filled with dread. No one dared to whisper another word. The side courtyard fell into a sudden, heavy silence, broken only by the sound of bubbles rising as the cups and jade ornaments sank into the water.
The old man slowly withdrew his sleeve back beneath his cloak. He bent over and coughed heavily twice before hobbling toward the unsettled Lady Bo.
"Since ancient times, games of *shefu* and *canggou* have led to bitter partings. You should exercise self-restraint and observe the rites, My Lady. Fewer games might bring more peace and joy to the Prince’s inner court."
Lady Bo’s face turned pale. Rarely did she remain silent, but she stood still for a moment before turning to sharply scold the maids on the stage, ordering them to lead the young ladies away in a hurry. Wanwan was clearly unwilling to let matters go; before leaving, she shot Bolao a vicious glare, hiked up her skirts, and stomped off in a huff.
Witnessing this, Xiao Nanhui felt a strange sense of schadenfreude, though her curiosity regarding the old man’s identity only grew. Even as a royal priest, he shouldn't have been so bold within the Prince’s estate. Furthermore, if he were merely a priest, he wouldn't require such extraordinary martial skill and internal power.
She wanted to investigate further, but when she turned around, the man had already vanished as silently as he had arrived.
Lady Bo remained by the stage, her back still elegant and straight, showing no sign of weakness. Xiao Nanhui knew her "punishment" for the day was likely over. After quietly taking her leave, she pulled Bolao away from the side courtyard.
The garden, which had been filled with the chirping of voices and the clamor of the crowd, was now left with only the blooming flowers in their fleeting, brilliant prosperity.
Lady Bo surveyed her surroundings, a flash of unmistakable loathing crossing her face.
She did not like these plants; she liked jade and gold. These flowers consumed nearly half of her annual allowance, only to eventually turn into a pile of filth, leaving nothing behind.
Yet she needed them. She knew the Prince loved these useless, inedible things, and his favorite among them was that priceless plum tree. She didn't need to think hard to know the reason why.
She often stared at that tree in silence, felling it a thousand times in her mind and burning the wood as fuel ten thousand times more.
But she knew she couldn't do it. And so, she required the brightest flowers and the strongest scents. She would use every means possible to mask the existence of that plum tree.
"My Lady."
Lady Bo snapped out of her reverie and looked up to see her personal nanny approaching at a brisk pace. The mistress of the Prince’s manor resumed her soft, dignified posture, her lips pressed thin as she stared at a crushed apricot beneath her feet.
"How is it?"
Only when she was very close did the nanny speak in a low voice.
"Those who came from the palace are still at the ancestral hall."
"Why has it taken so long?"
"The Prince... he..."
The nanny’s face showed a hint of hesitation. A cold sneer curled Lady Bo’s lips.
"Speak."
"The Prince seems to want to establish a memorial tablet for that woman of the Mei clan in the ancestral hall..."
The nanny’s voice trailed off into silence. The side courtyard grew quiet again, until the woman’s voice rang out, slightly out of tune.
"Since ancient times, no woman has been permitted to enter the royal ancestral hall. Does she, Mei Ruogu, think she can overturn the very heavens?!"
She spoke with intense hatred, only realizing she had lost her composure after the words had fallen. Taking a deep breath, Lady Bo’s distorted features smoothed out once more.
"Let us not speak of it. When you came just now, did you see the Xiao family’s foster daughter?"
The nanny nodded quickly. "I did. She is as overbearing as before. It seems she provoked Miss Wanwan so much the girl hasn't recovered; she'll likely be grumbling about it for days."
Lady Bo gave a soft huff of contempt.
"She served as an official for a few days; Wanwan is no match for her. I don't know what kind of bewitching spell a low-born creature who plays with spears and clubs could have cast to make that boy Su Pingchuan so obsessed."
The nanny stole a quick glance at her displeased mistress. Steeling herself, she whispered, "In my humble opinion, no matter how fierce or warlike she is, she is still a woman. If one wishes to destroy her spirit, one must start with her body."
Lady Bo remained motionless, but her eyes shifted toward the woman beside her.
"You wicked servant, what sort of base scheme have you thought up now?"
Upon hearing this, the nanny gave herself a sharp slap across the face and said urgently, "This servant deserves to die. I only worry for you, My Lady. I cannot bear to watch another arrogant and beautiful mistress move into this courtyard. Your life would become difficult once more."
Lady Bo was silent for a moment, her expression flickering with uncertainty, but her voice returned to its thin, soft tone.
"Though your method is base, it is indeed the most effective one at hand. However, there are many eyes and ears today..."
Sensing a change in her mistress's tone, the previously dejected old servant instantly brightened, her face no longer even feeling the sting of the slap.
"Rest easy, My Lady. I will handle this personally. No one will notice a thing."
Lady Bo nodded with satisfaction, extending her slender, white fingers to examine her freshly manicured and dyed nails.
"Is Wanwan not sixteen this year? It is time she was betrothed."
"Indeed. Does My Lady mean...?"
"Chuan-er is young and full of vigor; sometimes things happen beyond one's control. But we are a family of high standing; we cannot do something as shameful as taking advantage of someone and then refusing to take responsibility. If the other party is also from a good family, we cannot slight them. We can only turn this scandal into a happy occasion—consider it a fated, if brief, romance. Wouldn't you agree?"
The nanny’s face lit up with joy as she repeatedly voiced her agreement.
"Miss Wanwan is of one heart with you, My Lady. She will surely be a great help in this manor in the future. You have thought of everything; I shall go and see to it at once."
"As for that foster daughter of the Xiao family..." Lady Bo paused meaningfully before continuing softly, "Even with the Marquis’s manor backing her, her birth is far too low to reach for the high branch of this Prince’s estate. She seems to have some self-awareness regarding this, but Chuan-er will not let go easily. We elders must put in more effort to help them see reality sooner, lest they brew a bitter fruit and live to regret it."
The nanny understood perfectly and immediately offered a plan. "I remember there is some Red Blood Crow left over from the Northern Di people. It might be just the thing to use today."
"Mmh, that would be just right. It is a way to settle both matters without taking her life."
"My Lady is truly kind. I shall go at once."
The nanny bowed and withdrew. Lady Bo gazed at the spring scenery and let out a long sigh.
"Chuan-er, oh Chuan-er. I, your aunt, am not as divinely capable as your birth mother. I can only give you this one gift. Do not refuse it; accept it well."
****** ****** ******
The name "Yi Garden" was unfamiliar to Xiao Nanhui.
But when she arrived, she realized she had been here long ago. Many years back, Su Pingchuan’s birthday banquet had been held in this very place.
At that time, she was barely taller than the stone tables in the garden. Now, she could reach up and touch the branches laden with flower buds. Back then, she had dared to beat the young prince in open court; now, she didn't even have control over her own destination, forced to exhaust herself reading the moods of others.
Had she progressed, or had she regressed?
Xiao Nanhui fell into an indescribable state of confusion. This world she had once exhausted all her strength to join was now throwing its doors open to her, yet she was beginning to hesitate. Perhaps she didn't understand the scenery on the other side of those doors. The world she once thought could give her a "home" had, from beginning to end, existed only in her imagination.
"The rites are complete! Bestow the wine!"
The ritual official’s chanting finally came to an end. The guests formed two rows on either side of the incense tripod in the center of Yi Garden. After the bell tolled fourteen times, they bowed in unison to welcome the priest’s blessing wine.
So this was the "receiving of the rite" Su Pingchuan had mentioned.
The newborn young prince, held in swaddling clothes by his wet nurse, was first in line. Xiao Nanhui stood at the very end. Bolao followed behind her, as quiet as a quail—she had been this way ever since they encountered the brown-clad elder.
Countless subtle gazes lingered on her. Xiao Nanhui had to sharpen her focus to deal with them, and she found no opportunity to question Bolao privately. She could only follow the others in performing the salutations, though her eyes instinctively drifted toward the old man in brown.
His movements were sluggish; even his fingers, as they dipped into the wine, trembled with age. Two people followed him: one was Lady Bo, who was pouring the wine, and the other was a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties dressed as a ritual official. He held a rhinoceros-horn *ruyi* scepter and wore a faint, emotionless smile.
He was a geomancer.
The blessing ceremony actually followed ancient sacrificial rites. A priest would always be accompanied by a geomancer. Ostensibly, they were there to bless the new bloodline, but in reality, they were inspecting the estate to see if the flow of righteous energy was blocked or if the *feng shui* was disturbed. If any evil influences were found, the blessing ceremony would be used to exorcise them—sometimes even involving the shedding of blood.
Since ancient times, the lives of the poor and slaves were not considered lives at all. Sometimes, a single phrase like "afflicted by a calamitous star, hindering the master" was enough to easily take the life of a servant or maid.
Was that *ruyi* scepter prepared specifically to crush a human skull?
Xiao Nanhui suppressed the discomfort deep within her, forcing herself to blend into the festive atmosphere. After about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the brown figure finally arrived before her.
The old man murmured an incantation in an unknown language. Then, he dipped his fingers into a *sigong*—a rhinoceros-horn vessel—and lightly sprinkled the wine over her head.
A few drops of cool liquid landed on her temple, creating a ticklish sensation as they slowly trickled down. She wanted to reach up and wipe them away, but since the rite was not yet finished, she couldn't move. She could only endure the long, drawn-out incantations.
When she was finally able to rise, a bronze, long-tailed *jue* cup was held out before her.
Xiao Nanhui had never drunk from a *jue*. It was a vessel reserved for the nobility; she had never even seen one before.
Following the slender, white wrist holding the vessel, her gaze met Lady Bo’s.
The woman still wore that dignified and virtuous expression, yet for some reason, Xiao Nanhui felt as though a flash of cunning had darted through her eyes.
The process of bestowing the wine had to be fluid and tight; any hesitation would be seen as a sign of disrespect. In that brief moment of hesitation, the geomancer’s gaze landed on her.
Xiao Nanhui sighed inwardly. Just as she was about to reach out and take it, a hand suddenly reached from the side and snatched the cup away.
Xiao Nanhui looked up to see the wine held in Su Pingchuan’s hand.
*Clack.* The bronze *jue* was slammed back onto the tray. The perpetrator’s dark, bright eyes stared fixedly at his young stepmother’s face, his gaze filled with mockery and cold disdain.
Lady Bo’s face turned an unmistakable shade of ugly, though her voice remained soft and sweet.
"Chuan-er, what are you doing? Master Zong is still here. Do not lose your manners..."
"She cannot drink the wine you poured."
Su Pingchuan’s voice was quiet, but his tone was resolute. Many guests, hearing the commotion, looked over.
Lady Bo clearly noticed this as well, and her tone began to take on a note of long-suffering grievance.
"Does Chuan-er not trust me?"
This was a heavy accusation to level. By right, Su Pingchuan was the only legitimate son of the Prince’s manor; arguing with a secondary consort stepmother would, at most, be considered a "family matter" of the Xuanyuan estate. But the context today was different. This was a sacrificial rite. Such an action could be seen as defying the ritual system and being rebellious—offenses that could be punished under the laws of the Tiancheng era.
The old man in brown had not yet spoken, but Xiao Nanhui could wait no longer. She snatched the cup, which was now half-empty, and drained it in one gulp.
The blessing wine was a Tusu wine used for sacrifices, infused with siler, prickly ash, and aconite. It was incredibly spicy, the heat rushing straight to her sinuses, but she didn't care. She swallowed it all in one breath.
"The General was only joking. Please do not take it seriously, My Lady, lest it spoil the harmony."
As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Lady Bo’s face.
By now, the grudge between her and the inner court of the Xuanyuan estate was firmly set. She did not fear the woman, but she harbored a faint worry that her presence would harm Su Pingchuan. Ever since she learned he was Mei Ruogu’s son, she felt an uncontrollable sense of pity and favoritism toward him.
Lady Bo met her gaze directly. Her red lips parted, and she actually managed to squeeze out a few laughs.
"Miss Xiao is so poised and gracious. You must surely be favored by many young lords of noble houses. I imagine you will be a very blessed mistress in the future."
These teasing words sounded somewhat frivolous, but the woman had already dropped her mask; she was deliberately speaking this way to disgust her.
"You..." Su Pingchuan’s anger flared instantly, but he had nowhere to vent it given the circumstances. He had to consider his father’s reputation and the reputation of the Prince’s manor. He could not humiliate this woman in public.
"Pingchuan."
A voice rang out in the garden. Xiao Nanhui turned to see the Prince of Xuanyuan, Su Che, standing under the eaves of a nearby corridor. His face was hidden in the shadows, his expression unreadable.
"Have you finished the task I gave you? Why are you still standing there?"
Su Pingchuan’s resentment was written all over his face, but he had no choice but to withdraw. Before leaving, he gave Xiao Nanhui a deep, lingering look, as if there were a thousand words hidden within it.
But in the end, it was just a look. She did not understand the meaning behind it.
"Miss Xiao, the dust of the mortal world is cleansed. The rite is complete."
The old man’s voice sounded again. She snapped back to attention, suddenly feeling something brush past the top of her head.
She looked up, only catching a glimpse of a fading shadow.
It was a white ritual banner. Countless long, thin white pennants were wrapped around a slender frame. They were made of plain hemp, some new and some old.
Not long ago, she had seen a ribbon with a very similar texture and style. At the time, she had thought it was just a cord used to tie a garment.
Her eyes widened, her expression nearly impossible to hide.
In the blink of an eye, the banner had swept over her head and vanished back beneath the massive brown cloak.
Xiao Nanhui could not regain her composure, almost believing what she had seen was an illusion.
The last cup of wine had been poured, and the blessing ceremony came to an end. Numerous maids flooded into the garden from the sides to clear away the ritual implements. Amidst the moving figures, Xiao Nanhui could only watch as the brown figure disappeared at the end of the corridor leading out of Yi Garden.
Once she finally managed to extricate herself, she hurried to give chase, but someone grabbed her from behind.
"What are you doing?" Bolao’s eyes were as wide as copper bells, looking as if they might make a sound if she shook her head.
"I’m just going to follow him and see." Xiao Nanhui’s mind wasn't on the big-headed girl; she only wanted to confirm what she had glimpsed.
"Are you mad?!" Bolao’s voice was unusually shrill. "I told you, that man is terrifying! Why do you still want to go?"
Xiao Nanhui was speechless. she didn't know how to explain the reason in just a few words. Seeing that the figure was about to disappear completely, she didn't care about anything else. She pulled away and quickly patted Bolao’s head.
"How about this: we’ll split up. You head back to the manor now. If I’m not back in an hour, remember to bring people to fish me out."
"What do you mean split up? Who am I supposed to bring to fish you out?!" Bolao’s head seemed to grow even larger than usual. "Hey! Xiao Nanhui! Come back here! I haven't agreed to this! I won't look after you! You... you crazy woman!"
The short, stout figure stamped her feet in a fit of rage, but the woman had already vanished like a puff of smoke.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 宗先生 | Master Zong | A mysterious elder/martial arts master. |
| 安道院 | Andao Academy | A prestigious or mysterious institution mentioned in the story. |
| 懿园 | Yi Garden | A specific garden within the Prince of Xuanyuan's estate. |
| 射覆 | Shefu | An ancient Chinese guessing game. |
| 藏钩 | Canggou | An ancient game involving hiding a hook or small object. |
| 堪舆师 | Geomancer | A practitioner of Feng Shui/divination. |
| 兕觥 | Sigong | An ancient wine vessel, often made of rhinoceros horn. |
| 爵 | Jue | An ancient Chinese tripod wine vessel. |
| 屠苏酒 | Tusu Wine | A traditional medicinal wine drunk during ceremonies. |
| 赤血乌 | Red Blood Crow | A specific medicinal herb or substance, likely from the Northern Di people. |
| 旌幡 | Ritual Banner | A type of ceremonial flag or pennant. |
| 夙彻 | Su Che | The Prince of Xuanyuan (Su Pingchuan's father). |
| 梅若骨 | Mei Ruogu | Su Pingchuan's deceased birth mother. |
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