“If Murong Qiao comes looking for you someday, ask her who your father is. If she is right, I will come and take you back to the Yun family to acknowledge your ancestors.”
If my father is Yun Zhifei, then Yunzhou really is my brother. I've always called him brother, and it's truly a self-fulfilling prophecy. My heart ached, and I stood up, leaning on the table, to take my leave, afraid that if I stayed any longer I would faint.
"It's getting late, shall I send someone to take you home?"
"No, Jiang Chen is waiting for me downstairs. Take care, Lord Yun."
I forced myself down the stairs, holding onto the handrail, descending step by step, my steps unsteady as if I were walking on clouds. In that short distance, leaving Qiyue Tower, I felt as if I had used up all my strength.
Jiang Chen came over and asked, "Xiao Mo, what's wrong? Why did you come down so quickly?"
I smiled wryly and said, "Quick? I feel like it's an agonizingly long time."
He paused, taken aback.
"Just now, Yunzhou's father told me about my background in person."
Jiang Chen's expression hardened, and he asked in a low voice, "You didn't see Yunzhou?"
"It is the clouds that know it."
What did he say?
He said, "I am Murong Qiao's daughter from Jinbo Palace."
He paused, looked at me quietly, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Mo, I don't care about your background. You are now the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. You didn't know your background in the past and lived a good life. Now that you know, you should live even better."
I gave a wry smile, somewhat dazed: "Yes, that's right."
My background is indeed so shameful. I am from the Jinbo Palace, an evil sect despised by everyone in the martial arts world, and the so-called demoness Murong Qiao in the mouths of the martial arts world...
Along the way, I felt as if my soul was detached from my body, in a daze, like I was dreaming. I couldn't help but pinch myself hard, which unexpectedly made Jiang Chen scream.
This is not a dream. All of this can only be attributed to fate, and I am powerless to change this cruel twist of fate. There is no other way but to forget.
The pain of knowing the truth is like a sharp sword, constantly stimulating the nerves. It's impossible to become numb; one just keeps consciously suffering.
As the sedan chair passed by, I felt reluctant to leave. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind, startling me.
"Jiang Chen, stop for a moment, I want to go in and take a look."
Jiang Chen said softly, "Do you want to pick out clothes? How about I come with you tomorrow during the day?"
He looked at me with concern, as if he thought I had been traumatized and was not quite right in the head. In fact, I had never been so clear-headed before. The doubts in my heart were suddenly resolved, and I even felt that life was like a dream, like a play, which was perfectly normal.
I lifted the sedan curtain and said, "I'd like to go take a look now."
Jiang Chen stopped the sedan chair and walked to the gate to knock.
When Aunt Gu opened the door and saw Jiang Chen and me, she was taken aback: "It's so late, young master and young mistress, what brings you here?"
"She wants to look at the clothes."
Aunt Gu said "Oh," and hurriedly greeted us with a smile, leading us into the back room. I walked to the place where I had tried on clothes last time, picked up a few pieces of clothing, and examined them carefully; sure enough, they were there.
I smiled slightly at Aunt Gu and said, "I'm so sorry to bother you so late."
“Young Madam, you’re too kind. This is the Jiang family’s shop. It’s not a disturbance for you to come here whenever you want.”
I grabbed a piece of clothing and went out the door. Before leaving, I couldn't help but look back at Aunt Gu. She was about thirty years old, with a decent but ordinary appearance, and didn't seem to have any martial arts skills.
Once inside the sedan chair, Jiang Chen said in a low voice, "Aren't you going to try this dress on?"
"No need to try."
He remained silent, looked at me carefully for a few moments, and said, "Xiao Mo, you must tell me if you have anything on your mind. No matter what it is, I'm happy to help you."
I didn't look at him, I just nodded silently.
Back at Guiyun Manor, I said to Jiang Chen, "I want to see Madam. You should go back and rest first."
"I'll go with you."
"I have some private matters I'd like to ask you, Madam. You...you should go back now."
I took the clothes and went into Lady Qi's bedroom.
Lady Qi was drinking tea when she saw me come in. She paused for a moment and said, "Xiao Mo, you're back so soon?"
I took a deep breath and cut to the chase: "Madam, you know about my background, right?"
Lady Qi's smile faded slightly: "Xiao Mo, why do you think I would know about your background?"
I placed the clothes I was holding on the table and pointed to the neckline, saying, "As far back as I can remember, I've received four pieces of clothing every year for my birthday. The materials and workmanship are all of the highest quality. A few days ago, I went to Yi Yi Bu She and also took three dresses. I'm usually careless, and if it weren't for Xiao He Bao's unintentional reminder, I wouldn't have noticed that these clothes all have one thing in common: an auspicious cloud embroidered on the neckline. I suppose it represents Guiyun Manor. If I'm not mistaken, the clothes from previous years were sent from Guiyun Manor to Xiaoyao Sect. I'd like to know, did you have them delivered, or was it someone else?"
Lady Qi paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Xiao Mo, it was me who sent it."
How did you know my birthday?
"Because I know your mother."
My heart tightened instantly, and I asked anxiously, "Who is my mother?"
I still harbor a last glimmer of hope, perhaps it's not Murong Qiao.
"Murong Qiao".
There was no longer a shred of doubt; Murong Qiao was indeed my mother. I took a deep breath, calmed myself slightly, and asked, "I heard she disappeared from the martial world several years ago. Do you know where she is now?"