The scolding voice wasn’t particularly loud. If Lou Xingyao didn’t have unusually keen hearing, he probably wouldn’t have been able to make it out.
But to Qiu Xi and Qiu Ran, it was like a bolt from the blue, striking them so hard that their minds went momentarily blank.
Looking up in the direction of the voice, once they saw who had arrived, their faces immediately turned pale.
“Shen… Shen Momo?”
Shen Momo strode quickly to the two maids, her steps decisive, and opened her mouth again:
“Who told you to gossip inside the residence? And in the guests’ quarters, no less!”
Even though her tone no longer carried the intense anger from before, and her voice had been lowered to almost inaudible levels, the two maids’ faces showed no improvement. If anything, they looked even worse.
Thud—
Finally, under Shen Momo’s intimidating gaze, Qiu Ran couldn’t hold back and dropped to her knees, murmuring, “No… it was no one…”
Qiu Xi, however, was bolder. A hint of defiance appeared on her face as she began to retort: “Who does he think he is, he’s just Madam…”
But before she could finish, Shen Momo sealed her mouth with a muting spell.
“Repeatedly disobedient?”
“N-no… Shen Momo, we know we were wrong! Please have mercy!” Qiu Ran pleaded, sweat beading her forehead, kowtowing and tugging at Qiu Xi’s skirt, signaling her to kneel and admit fault.
Before Qiu Xi could respond, Shen Momo made another hand seal.
The next moment, Qiu Xi felt an intense pain in her mouth. Instinctively opening it, she saw a bright red tongue fall straight to the floor.
Qiu Xi wanted to scream, but Shen Momo’s muting spell was still in effect. Using all her strength, she could only spit out blood.
The severed tongue landed right in front of Qiu Ran, silencing her instantly. Even the panic on her face seemed to vanish as she stared blankly at Qiu Xi’s fallen tongue, unsure how to react.
Shen Momo paid no attention to their reactions, merely tilting her head slightly:
“Are you not taking them downstairs yet?”
With that, two young maids who had come with her stepped forward, each grabbing one of the offending maids and swiftly leaving the Bamboo Grove Retreat.
Within moments, only Shen Momo remained in the courtyard. She used a hand seal to erase the blood and the fallen tongue, then approached the door and knocked:
Knock, knock, knock—
“Young Master Lou, I have been sent by the eldest Miss to request your presence. May I trouble you for a moment?”
Clearly, Shen Momo already knew Lou Xingyao was awake.
“Please come in.”
As the door opened, Lou Xingyao casually scanned the room. His eyes immediately caught a few drops of blood in the corner.
Though he didn’t step forward to confirm, his intuition told him they belonged to Qiu Xi.
“My apologies for the oversight, Young Master. Please forgive the sight,” Shen Momo said, noticing the blood as well.
With a quick hand seal, she wiped away the remaining drops. Her gaze swept the courtyard, ensuring nothing else was overlooked, before she continued:
“The two maids have been properly disciplined. I hope Young Master Lou will not take offense.”
“Disciplined? How… disciplined?” Lou Xingyao’s throat tightened.
“In accordance with residence rules, minor offenses receive thirty strokes. As for those who repeatedly disobey, their unchangeable parts are removed,” Shen Momo replied casually. “I cut off her tongue.”
Her tone was so calm, so nonchalant, it was as if she had cut off a single hair, not a tongue.
At that moment, Lou Xingyao finally understood the true meaning of the rules that governed the Tianming Continent.
And this was just within a small estate. Shen Momo already had the authority to decide life and death for maids of lower rank. What would happen outside the He residence?
Lou Xingyao’s silence seemed to carry another meaning to Shen Momo:
“Or perhaps Young Master Lou has his own decision? If needed, I can leave these two servants for your disposal.”
“No need.” Lou Xingyao shook his head. Although he felt Shen Momo’s punishment was excessively harsh, it had nothing to do with him. He had no desire to meddle.
Besides, what good would it do to take the two maids with him? If he could barely protect himself, how could he protect others?
Having resolved this, Lou Xingyao turned to Shen Momo:
“May I ask why you’ve come?”
“I am Shen Momo, the stewardess of the eldest Miss’s quarters. I have been sent by the eldest Miss to present this item to Young Master Lou. My intrusion is impolite; I hope you forgive me.”
Shen Momo took a palm-sized embroidered box from her storage bag and placed it on the table in front of Lou Xingyao.
“What is this?” Lou Xingyao asked, and at Shen Momo’s gesture, opened it.
The moment the lid was lifted, the light reflecting from inside almost blinded him. He tilted his head slightly to adjust, finally realizing the glittering contents were a neat row of gold bars.
Because cultivators and mortals coexisted on the Tianming Continent, there were two main types of currency.
One was like ancient China’s gold, silver, and copper. A thousand copper coins could be exchanged for a tael of silver, and twelve taels of silver for a tael of gold. This was the most common currency on the continent.
The other was spiritual beads, used mainly by higher-level cultivators. Generally, spiritual beads weren’t exchangeable with gold or silver, though some exceptions existed. In certain cases, about a thousand taels of gold could be exchanged for one bead.
Regardless, gold and silver still held significant purchasing power. In Pingyang County, an ordinary family earning a single tael of gold per year would be considered wealthy.
The gold bars in the box in front of Lou Xingyao totaled a hundred taels!
In other words, for the rest of his life, if he didn’t pursue the Dao, Lou Xingyao could live leisurely as a wealthy man with just this fortune.
Additionally, the box contained two small jade bottles. Lou Xingyao recognized them immediately, they were used to hold pills, similar to the Bi Gu Dan, he had obtained from Steward Lou previously.
He wondered what pills they contained.
Noticing his expression, Shen Momo spoke:
“The young lady learned of your situation from Madam. She originally wanted to find an alchemist to diagnose you, but time was tight, and no suitable candidate was found. She can only send two high-quality Xu Mai Pills, hoping they will relieve your concern.”
Xu Mai Pills! Lou Xingyao’s heart leapt.
Xu Mai Pills, true to their name, could repair meridians. Even shattered meridians could be fully restored. For Lou Xingyao’s weak meridians, this was exactly the right remedy.
Such a potent pill was far from ordinary. By rank, these Xu Mai Pills were fourth-grade.
On the Tianming Continent, even the most accomplished alchemist could only refine fourth-grade pills and only one such master existed, virtually impossible for outsiders to access, let alone obtain pills.
Earlier, Qiu Xi and Qiu Ran had mentioned that the Zhou family’s eldest master had recently demanded a top-grade Xu Mai Pill to heal himself, proving how rare these pills were.
Though these were high-quality rather than top-tier pills, they were still extremely precious and He Wanqing had just sent them to him… two of them.
Lou Xingyao instinctively wanted to decline, but before he could speak, Shen Momo blocked him:
“Young Master Lou, please accept it. The young lady already feels indebted to you for standing in for her in this marriage. At present, she can only make up for it with gold, silver, and medicine. If you refuse, it may cause the young lady’s heart to become clouded, hindering her progress in cultivation from now on.”
“How could that be?” Lou Xingyao instinctively objected. If standing in for the marriage could truly cloud He Wanqing’s heart, why would Madam He go to such lengths to arrange everything?
“In truth, Madam and the young lady were acting out of necessity…” Shen Momo let out a long sigh and revealed the hidden truth.
Although Madam He now held the position of matriarch in the He household, with power second only to the head of the family, ten years ago, things were very different.
At that time, before He Wanqing’s dual spiritual roots were discovered, Madam He had no favor from the family patriarch despite being married into the He household. Though she had the title of the primary wife, she had no real authority.
Daily life required her to endure the scheming of concubines and maids alike; even adding a dish to a meal meant having to gauge the patriarch’s mood.
Only after He Wanqing’s dual spiritual roots were discovered did her situation improve. Not only did the patriarch gradually yield power to her, but he also began to repair the relationship with Madam He after years of neglect, hoping she could give birth to a talented heir.
After five years of effort, Madam He became pregnant again. Just as the family expected a talented child, she was poisoned by a concubine.
The child was lost, and her health was severely damaged. Even with careful recuperation, it became difficult for her to conceive again.
From that point on, Madam He’s status in the patriarch’s eyes plummeted. Had it not been for He Wanqing’s dual spiritual roots and the arranged marriage with Zhou Han-shan, Madam He might have lost even her position as primary wife.
In other words, Madam He’s current position in the household depended entirely on He Wanqing’s talent and her connection to the Zhou family.
On the Tianming Continent, women’s status often depends on their child’s merit or their husband’s power. With Zhou Han-shan’s path ruined, marrying him would have left He Wanqing unable to protect Madam He.
When news of Zhou Han-shan’s ruined cultivation spread two years ago, the biggest impact fell not on He Wanqing, but on Madam He.
If He Wanqing hadn’t successfully completed her foundational cultivation and found a way to resolve the marriage, Madam He might already have been demoted to concubine.
Shen Momo sighed again: when Madam He was pregnant, so many eyes in the household were watching. If she had been demoted to concubine, who would have guaranteed her survival? How could the young lady dare to leave home in such circumstances?
He Wanqing feared that if she married Zhou Han-shan, she might receive news of Madam He’s death immediately after. Even at the risk of clouding her heart, she could only let Lou Xingyao stand in for her marriage.
Now that the matter was settled, the gold and the two Xu Mai Pills were less a reward for Lou Xingyao than a form of psychological reassurance for He Wanqing herself.
“The young lady should have personally expressed her apology to show sincerity. But since yesterday, she has been confined to the residence and cannot go out. That is why I have been sent instead. I hope Young Master Lou will not mind,” Shen Momo said, her tone now tinged with genuine sincerity and guilt, pushing the embroidered box slightly toward Lou Xingyao.
“Please, do not refuse these external gifts,” she added.
Shen Momo even mentioned the possibility of clouded hearts. How could Lou Xingyao continue to refuse? Regardless of how true her words were, the contents of the box clearly showed that He Wanqing had expended considerable thought.
The Xu Mai Pills needed no further explanation, they addressed his current condition perfectly. And as for the hundred taels of gold, it was a significant sum for a mortal but relatively small for a cultivator.
Even if the He and Zhou families knew about it, they would not make a fuss over such a modest amount. Clearly, it was a well-intentioned gesture.
In the end, Lou Xingyao reached out and took the embroidered box.
Shen Momo let out a quiet sigh of relief, knowing she had not failed the young lady’s instructions:
“In two more hours, the Zhou family will arrive to receive the bride. Madam He will later arrange for someone to help you bathe and dress. I will not stay to disturb you further. If you have no other instructions, I shall take my leave.”
“Please thank the young lady on my behalf,” Lou Xingyao said, nodding at the box.
“I will,” Shen Momo nodded. She turned to leave, then seemed to remember something, pausing:
“Do not mind the nonsense those two maids just spoke. It is of no concern.”
“Hm?” Lou Xingyao gave her a questioning look.
“Since his injury, Young Master Zhou’s temper has indeed changed, but he is by no means a reckless man. He will certainly not make things difficult for you,” Shen Momo explained in a low voice. If that weren’t true, He Wanqing would never have agreed to the marriage arrangement.
Lou Xingyao had not expected Shen Momo to refer to this matter, but he knew she had no reason to lie. His heart felt considerably lighter.
As Shen Momo departed, Lou Xingyao immediately heard voices from outside the courtyard:
“Young Master Lou, by order of Madam He, we have come to help you bathe and dress.”
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
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← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · Lu XioaWuChapter 3 · UncleChapter 4 · Substitute MarriageChapter 5 · Travelling Through BookChapter 6 · SpaceChapter 7 · InheritanceChapter 8 · ExplanationChapter 9 · He familyChapter 10 · CompensateChapter 11 · WeddingChapter 12 · LeavingChapter 13 · SuspicionChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 14 · Change SurnameChapter 15 · SummaryChapter 16 · Family BusinessChapter 17 · ResettlementChapter 18 · DeterminationChapter 19 · TreatChapter 20 · Enter the TaoChapter 21 · Private TrainingChapter 22 · BreakthroughChapter 23 · ExperienceChapter 24 Part 1 · Questions and AnswersChapter 24 Part 2 · Questions and answersChapter 25 · GiftChapter 25 Part 1 · GiftChapter 26 Part 1 · Sword IntentChapter 26 Part 2 · Sword IntentChapter 27 Part 1 · SelectChapter 27 Part 2 · SelectChapter 28 Part 1 · PastChapter 28 Part 2 · PastChapter 29 Part 1 · ConfessionChapter 29 Part 2 · ConfessionChapter 30 Part 1 · TradeChapter 30 Part 2 · TradeChapter 31 Part 1 · Male LeadChapter 31 Part 2 · Male LeadChapter 32 Part 1 · LuckChapter 32 Part 2 · LuckChapter 33 Part 1 · GuessingChapter 33 Part 2 · GuessingChapter 34 Part 1 · SystemChapter 34 Part 2 · SystemChapter 35 · OpportunityChapter 36 Part 1 · LingquanChapter 36 Part 2 · LingquanChapter 37 Part 1 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 37 Part 2 · Hundred Flowers PartChapter 38 · Worth itChapter 39 · SaintessChapter 40 · ExperimentChapter 41 · Vampire SystemChapter 42 · NotesChapter 43 · WarningChapter 44 · PlanChapter 45 · Fellow VillagersChapter 46 · AssimilationChapter 47 · IlliterateChapter 48 · Pak WahChapter 49 · Sudden EnlightenmentChapter 50 · Wen ZhiChapter 51 · CarrierChapter 52 · LeavingChapter 53 · Follow UpChapter 54 · OutrageousChapter 55 · OnceChapter 56 · TeasingChapter 57 · Playing aroundChapter 58 · Beast fireChapter 59 · Watching a PlayChapter 60 · Extermination of the entire clanChapter 61 · ChoiceChapter 62 · PossessionChapter 63 · CalculationChapter 64 · GuaranteedChapter 65 · Grand OpeningChapter 66 · Grand OpeningChapter 67 · Protecting one’s ownChapter 68 · Secret RealmChapter 69 · BetrayalChapter 70 · DetailsChapter 71 · FramedChapter 72 · MeetingChapter 73 · KillChapter 74 · MapChapter 75 · FoundationChapter 76 · Strange Phenomenon!Chapter 77 · ExchangeChapter 78 · LetterChapter 79 · ShortcutChapter 80 · God of Slaughter!Chapter 81 · Poison PillChapter 82 · Lou ShuChapter 83 · ProgressChapter 84 · An attemptChapter 85 · Movement and StillnessChapter 86 · Good intentionsChapter 87 · ChangeChapter 88 · Childhood friendChapter 89 · ThoughtsChapter 90 · Old storiesChapter 91 · HeritageChapter 92 · TestChapter 93 · LoverChapter 94 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 95 · MasterChapter 96 · TeachingChapter 97 · IllusionChapter 98 · Mutual RestraintChapter 99 · ObstructionChapter 100 · PalaceChapter 101 · Core TechniqueChapter 102 · OathChapter 103 · Dual cultivationChapter 104 · AccessChapter 105 · VulnerabilityChapter 106 · DensityChapter 107 · WantedChapter 108 · EntrustChapter 109 · RevisitChapter 110 · MonitoringChapter 111 · Secret RealmChapter 112 · NourishChapter 113 · InventoryChapter 114 · Get Rich QuicklyChapter 115 · ElderChapter 116 · Grand FormationChapter 117 · Heaven’s WillChapter 118 · BountyChapter 119 · GainChapter 120 · BlameChapter 121 · ChattingChapter 122 · GuessChapter 123 · Zheng TianChapter 124 · SparringChapter 125 · Sword intentChapter 126 · KenshinChapter 127 · Auditing a classChapter 128 · CoincidenceChapter 129 · ContradictionChapter 130 · RouteChapter 131 · CostChapter 132 · ConfiscatedChapter 133 · Holding a grudgeChapter 134 · SupportChapter 135 · DeteriorationChapter 136 · Unable toChapter 137 · PriceChapter 138 · VariantChapter 139 · Start AnewChapter 140 · ShamelessChapter 141 · Black PotChapter 142 · Benefiting fromChapter 143 · PieChapter 144 · DifferencesChapter 145 · DetoxificationChapter 146 · Current situationChapter 147 · TeasingChapter 148 · IntelligenceChapter 149 · Returned GiftChapter 150 · Old debtChapter 151 · FleshChapter 152 · OpeningChapter 153 · GrudgesChapter 154 · RegretChapter 155 · Gang fightChapter 156 · GentleChapter 157 · ComplaintChapter 158 · ScreamsChapter 159 · GeniusChapter 160 · ConcernChapter 161 · Hidden StoryChapter 162 · StingyChapter 163 · Guilty conscienceChapter 164 Part 1 · StruggleChapter 164 Part 2 · StruggleChapter 165 · Win or LoseChapter 166 · TasteChapter 167 · Shifting The BlameChapter 168 · MoonlightChapter 169 · Past EventChapter 170 · RegretChapter 171 · RetributionChapter 172 · Cause and EffectChapter 173 · BackgroundChapter 174 · FlatteryChapter 175 · HonestChapter 176 · BookkeepingChapter 177 · FarewellChapter 178 · GuidelineChapter 179 · BottleneckChapter 180 · HabitChapter 181 · Casual ChatChapter 182 · Flowing WaterChapter 183 · RumoursChapter 184 · Seeking AdviceChapter 185 · PityChapter 186 · FormationChapter 187 · BasicChapter 188 · Fake TombChapter 189 · BewareChapter 190 · TraceChapter 191 · DiscussChapter 192 · Ancestral preceptsChapter 193 · Loose CultivatorChapter 194 · AllocationChapter 195 · Thank you for your kindnessChapter 196 · ExplanationChapter 197 · ErrorChapter 198 · Culinary skillsChapter 199 · Starry SeaChapter 200 · ComparisonChapter 201 · FrustratedChapter 202 · Don’t watchChapter 203 · LonelinessChapter 204 · NoChapter 205 · Exposing ShortcutsChapter 206 · CraftsmanshipChapter 207 · Bottom LineChapter 208 · StrikeChapter 209 · Ten GoldChapter 210 · Pretentious