"According to my guess, he is an extremely arrogant person. He left Qi Binglong because he mistakenly thought that she only married him for the Chongshan Sword Manual. Later, seeing that Qi Binglong was managing Guiyun Manor very well and that she didn't care about finding the master of the house, and seeing that she never sent anyone to inquire about his whereabouts, he naturally refused to come back on his own initiative."
I sighed and said, "It seems the misunderstanding between the two of them needs to be cleared up in person."
“People are different. These two people are very similar in temperament. They are both aloof and proud. Neither of them is willing to lower their pride and face. They are unwilling to say anything and only keep it in their hearts, hoping that the other person will understand.”
"Madam Qi is indeed strong and capable, able to stand on her own and proving herself to be just as capable as any man. Uncle Jiang, watching from the shadows, probably feels even more that he has no place in her heart. She lives a very comfortable life without him."
My mother smiled and said, "Being too proud will only lead to suffering. Your grandfather told me long ago, if you want something, you have to go get it yourself. What's the use of just thinking about it?"
As she spoke, a confident and proud look appeared on her face, which was truly enviable. It's a pity that I inherited my father's temperament. If I were as impulsive as my mother, I'm afraid Yunzhou and I wouldn't have missed each other... Thinking of him, I couldn't help but sigh softly.
Father was indeed very swift, returning late the following night. The next morning, Lady Qi and Mother came to discuss the wedding arrangements.
The mother laughed and said, "You guys are so materialistic. My husband and I already have a daughter, why would we need to have a wedding? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock?"
Lady Qi smiled and said, "Sister, it's good that you and his daughter have a child, but it's still improper not to perform the proper ceremony."
"Etiquette and such are all formalities, I don't need them. From now on, he is my husband."
Having said that, the mother raised her chin and said to the master, "What do you think?"
Master chuckled and said, "Ah Qiao, of course I'll listen to whatever you say. Whatever you say goes."
Lady Qi teased, "Oh my, you're so obedient to me."
After dinner, I followed my mother to her bedroom. She was still wearing a mask, and I felt a little sorry for her. I whispered, "Mother, you must be very uncomfortable wearing this all the time."
"No, you can try it."
I took the mask and placed it on my cheek. The mask was as thin as a cicada's wing, soft and transparent. I could hardly feel it on my skin. It was truly amazing.
Have you ever seen a cicada's molted shell? This is what's made from that.
"My grandfather's cooking skills are truly amazing."
"Yes. Your grandfather was an extraordinary man. Poisoning, hidden weapons, traps—no one could rival him in any of them. People in the martial arts world hated him to the bone because he was unrestrained, arrogant, and willful. The more you spoke ill of him, the worse he would treat you; if you went along with him, he would be so good that you couldn't find a single fault with him. He lived a carefree and unrestrained life, and his greatest pride was that, in the entire martial arts world, no one could surpass him."
As the mother spoke, her expression was a mixture of relief and regret: "He was a villain in the eyes of the martial arts world, but he was definitely a good father. He didn't blame me at all when I had you. Instead, he praised me for my courage, ability, and honesty. He said that life is short, like morning dew, so we should live it to the fullest. He hated those hypocritical gentlemen and righteous people the most."
After hearing my mother's words, I felt extremely conflicted. Having been taught the difference between good and evil, right and wrong for more than ten years, it suddenly came down on me, and it was directed at my own maternal grandfather. It was really hard to understand.
"I will pass on some of your grandfather's skills to you later. His mask-making skills are unmatched in the world. I have worn masks for more than ten years and have met countless people in public, but I have never been recognized."
"Back then, when I first met your father, I was also wearing a mask and pretending to be a teenager."
Father coughed and strolled in from outside the house.
"Father, Mother, you should rest early. I'll come to pay my respects again tomorrow." I walked out the door, closing it behind me. I inadvertently caught a glimpse of my master's face; it was truly rosy. Sigh, even Mother isn't embarrassed, why are you blushing?
Back in my room, I was so happy I couldn't sleep. Little Hebao was as excited as a little sparrow, chattering away, "The sect leader looks so handsome today, Miss. So the sect leader is your father. No wonder he likes you so much. When I saw you today, you really do look a lot like him, even your tempers are very similar."
I happily hummed in agreement: "Little sachet, do you think I'd be more likable if my temper were like my mother's?"
Xiao Hebao scratched her head: "Well, I don't know much about Madam Gu's temper, but speaking of appearance alone, Miss, it's truly a blessing from heaven that you are so beautiful."
I understand what she means. To avoid attracting attention, my mother wore such an ordinary mask that it would be easily lost in a crowd. Alas, little purse has no idea what my mother's true appearance is like; she is as beautiful as a fairy.
I casually picked up the bronze mirror and looked at myself carefully. My eyes and lips were very similar, but my eyebrows lacked my mother's delicate and lively features; I definitely resembled my master.
Looking at that face, my heart overflowed with joy. I had been an abandoned child for more than ten years, but now I have a father and a mother. I am so happy that I feel like I'm about to burst.
Little Purse stared wide-eyed and said, "Miss, this is the first time I've ever seen you looking in the mirror and secretly smiling. What, you finally realize you're quite beautiful too?"
My face flushed red, and I quickly said, "I'm not being vain, I'm just looking to see where I resemble my father and where I resemble my mother."
“Miss, you and your husband are both very beautiful. I estimate that your baby will be so beautiful that it will be unrealistic.”
I was both ashamed and angry. How could he say such a thing!
As fate would have it, Jiang Chen just happened to peek in at that moment, frowning as he said, "Little purse, that's not how you flatter someone. Sigh, like master, like servant."
I may not be good at flattery, but I'm not that bad at it.
Jiang Chen smiled and said, "Xiao Mo, who do you think our future baby will look more like?"
I felt my ears burning, so I ignored him.
He walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looked up at the moon, his expression dreamy. Several slender bamboo stalks stretched out from the window, casting dappled shadows on the wall. He, dressed in a white shirt, tall and dashing, was a striking figure against the backdrop of the moonlit flowers. I sat under the lamp, squinting at him, feeling a deep sense of peace and tranquility.
He gazed at the moon for a long time, then crossed his arms and cleared his throat. I thought he was inspired to write a poem and was about to listen attentively when he said quietly, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here."
Childhood sweethearts, lost their virginity to aphrodisiacs
My mother continued working as a caretaker at "One Clothes, No Reluctance." She said that once Jiang Chen and I got married, she and my father would leave and buy a house in the suburbs of Beijing. My master always obeyed my mother's words without question, and immediately took the order to start inquiring about houses in the suburbs of Beijing.
Lady Qi was strong-willed and single-mindedly focused on making her only son's wedding a grand and lively affair. Therefore, she entrusted the business of Guiyun Manor to Jiang Chen and concentrated on wedding preparations. Jiang Chen was kept busy with business matters by his mother, leaving me as the only one with free time at Guiyun Manor. Xiao Hebao sighed enviously, saying that fools have their own kind of luck. I smiled silently, secretly believing that Heaven had indeed been very kind and benevolent to me.
That day, I was idly flipping through a book in my room when Xiao Hebao suddenly ran in mysteriously from outside and whispered in my ear, "I just went out and met Young Master Yunzhou. He asked me to pass on a message to you. He wants to meet you at Yaoyue Tower by Mingshi Lake outside the manor tonight at 7 PM. He says he has something important to discuss with you."
I was taken aback. Yunzhou had invited me. What was it about?
Xiao Hebao paused and then stammered, "Miss, if you want to go, don't tell the young master. You're getting married soon, it's not good to have a secret rendezvous with another man behind his back."
Xiao Hebao meant well, and I didn't say anything, but I wasn't convinced. If I were going to see someone else, whether I told Jiang Chen or not might be irrelevant. But seeing Yunzhou was different. He knew perfectly well that Yunzhou and I had once shared a hazy, fleeting romance, like a dream, though it was brief and ephemeral. If I went to see Yunzhou without telling him, it would seem as if we had some unspeakable secret. If he remained unaware, that would be fine, but if he found out later, he would surely harbor resentment. I felt it was better to tell him.