Hidden Shadow – CH 018

Chapter Eighteen: Hatred

“Elder Qi insisted on not accepting him,” Wen-Cui said with a smile. “This servant is going to Bixiang Residence to invite Lady Yan, so I will not entertain Fifteenth Young Lady. Please make yourself at home.”

Mei Ruyan forced a smile. “Alright, go ahead with your business. Do not worry about me.”

Wen-Cui bowed slightly and left.

Mei Ruyan felt a surge of resentment, but with Wen-Bi still by her side, she could not vent it.

Wen-Cui was quite haughty, while Wen-Bi was taciturn and seemed to be monitoring her rather than serving her. She did not respect Mei Jiu and Mei Ruyan at all. Unfortunately, both of them were the Old Madam’s personal maids, and she could not afford to offend them.

Suppressing her resentment, Mei Ruyan decided to find an opportunity to inquire about the situation. “Wen-Bi, go back and fetch the embroidery frame for me. I’d like to stay here for the night and take care of my sister myself.”

Wen-Bi was about to instruct someone to do it when Mei Ruyan interrupted her, saying, “Go get it yourself. I am afraid others will not be careful.”

Seeing Wen-Bi hesitate, Mei Ruyan added, “I know I am new here and have no right to order my servants around, but I only trust you.”

Wen-Bi glanced at her and bowed. “Yes.”

…The afterglow of the setting sun cast an orange-red glow on the shimmering lake.

Lanterns had been lit in Bixiang Residence, and many moths desperately flew towards them. A breeze swept across the lake, knocking the moths down in droves.

Mei Yanran sat motionless on the veranda, her eyes lowered as she stared at the struggling moths on the ground, like a figure in a painting.

“How foolish,” the Old Madam’s voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Mei Yanran turned around and saw the Old Madam in a dark blue jacket, her face, as white as snow, looking no older than Mei Yanran’s.

Mei Yanran stood up and softly called out, “Mother.” The Old Madam sat down on the railing, following Mei Yanran’s gaze. “You are like these moths, always clinging to things that do not belong to you,” she scoffed, gazing at the fading sunset. “Not everything can be reborn from the ashes. Do not be delusional.”

“I never taught Jiu’er martial arts, nor did I teach her what strength is. She’s just a weak, ordinary girl…”

The Old Madam chuckled, slowly rising to her feet, looking down at Mei Yanran. “Is that so? I heard she killed a second-tier martial artist and a third-tier martial artist with an ordinary bamboo bow.” Martial arts ranks from one to nine, from weak to strong. While the second and third tiers were low-level, to kill two people in an instant with such a tattered bow was something no ordinary person could do.

“Impossible!” Mei Yanran had never heard this news before. “Jiu’er would not even dare kill a fish; she could not possibly kill someone!”

The Old Madam smiled faintly. “Whether you believe it or not, it does not matter. Even if she’s cowardly to the core, I will crush her bones and mold them into a new one.”

Mei Yanran felt dizzy. She leaned against a pillar, gritting her teeth. “I’ve always considered you my mother. Why are you so relentless? If you have hatred, you can come at me; why make things difficult for my daughter?”

The Old Madam was Mei Yanran’s stepmother. The relationship between stepmothers and daughters was usually not good. The Old Madam had treated Mei Yanran fairly well before; though not particularly affectionate, she had fulfilled the responsibilities of a mother. Unfortunately, this relationship only lasted until Mei Yanran was sixteen.

“Do not make futile struggles; otherwise, the pain will be even worse,” the Old Madam said, seemingly kindly.

A deathly silence fell over the courtyard.

Just as the Old Madam was about to leave, a maidservant came to announce, “Old Madam, Wen-Cui has arrived.”

She stopped. “Let her in.”

“Yes.”

…A moment later, Wen-Cui hurried in, bowed to the Old Madam, and said, “Greetings, Old Madam.”

“What is it?” the Old Madam asked.

Wen-Cui said, “The two young ladies were registered in the family genealogy this morning. This evening, while steaming crabs at the lakeside pavilion, one of the young ladies became emotionally unstable and fainted. Before she fainted, she said she wanted to see Lady Yan.”

The Old Madam smiled and said, “Lady Yan, go and see her quickly. Perhaps she’s too excited about suddenly becoming a young lady of a prominent family?”

Mei Yanran ignored the sarcasm in her words and left without looking back. Mei Yanran knew the Old Madam too well; she was a strong woman who never knew the meaning of being soft-hearted. Since the facade had already been broken, no amount of flattery would be of any use.

She ferried alone, hurrying back to Yuwei Residence.

Mei Jiu had just woken up and was sitting by the window in a daze when she saw Mei Yanran in the distance. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she rushed out, throwing herself into Mei Yanran’s arms. “Mother!”

“My child, do not cry. Tell your mother, which elder did you become an apprentice to?” Mei Yanran asked urgently.

Mei Jiu, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, paused for a moment, then said, “Elder Zhi.”

Mei Yanran’s face paled, and she murmured, “How could this be, how could this be…” She suddenly remembered the Old Madam’s words, “Did you really kill the martial arts master with a bow and arrow?”

“I…” Mei Jiu stammered. Now, almost everyone in Mei Mansion knew about this, and someone had witnessed it. She could not deny it, and she could not implicate An Jiu…

“Tell me!” Mei Yanran urged.

Mei Jiu was secretly anxious. “An Jiu, I will confess. If there’s an archery test in the future, you will come and take it, alright?”

An Jiu did not answer.

Faced with Mei Yanran’s stern gaze, Mei Jiu could only grit her teeth and say, “Yes.”

“You…sigh!” Mei Yanran sighed, tilting her head back to force back her tears.

Mei Jiu, thinking she had upset her mother, quickly explained, “Mother, I did not kill them intentionally. Those people were chasing us, I…”

“It’s alright,” Mei Yanran said.

Mei Jiu never dreamed her mother would react this way. “But the Song Dynasty law clearly states that murder is punishable by death.”

Mei Yanran did not respond, only saying, “Come inside.”

Mei Jiu then nervously entered the main room and poured her a glass of water.

Mei Yanran took the glass and placed it on the table in front of her. “Tell me, besides the apprenticeship and inclusion in the family register, has anything else happened these past few days?”

Mei Jiu easily believed others, and in this world, the person she trusted most was her mother. So she recounted how she had made the Second Old Madam faint and how she had prevented Mo Sigui from being included in the family register.

After listening, Mei Yanran carefully examined her, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “You are somewhat different from before.” Mei Jiu lowered her eyes guiltily.

Mei Yanran gently stroked her hair. “Do not overthink it. Take care of yourself. I have some things to think about. I will come see you again tomorrow.”

“Mother, why did you not tell me about Father? Why did you not tell me about the Mei family?” Mei Jiu could not help but ask.

“Your father… he’s a kind-hearted person.” Mei Yanran stood up. “I’ve forgotten many things. I will tell you after I’ve thought things through.”

Mei Jiu followed her out, wanting to ask more, but looking up, she saw tears glistening in Mei Yanran’s eyes and swallowed them back.

When Mei Jiu was alone in the room, she noticed An Jiu was silent. “Are you there?”

No one answered.

“An Jiu,” Mei Jiu called softly again.

Still no response.

Mei Jiu was filled with unease. Over the past few days, she had grown somewhat accustomed to An Jiu’s presence. Although that person mostly made sarcastic remarks, he was powerful, like a protective shell. When she was afraid or bullied, someone could stand up for her.

“An Jiu…”

“Are you asking for trouble? Go to bed and do not bother me!”

Hearing An Jiu’s irritable words, Mei Jiu finally relaxed. She called for someone to help her wash up and then obediently went to sleep.

The lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.

The silence was unsettling. Mei Jiu then heard many strange voices. “An Jiu, can we talk? Are you in a bad mood?”

“Get lost!” was An Jiu’s simple and rude reply.