Hidden Shadow – CH 029

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mei Yanran

“Not bad,” Mei Yanran said.

Marrying a daughter of the Mei family required the Emperor’s personal permission, so very few daughters could actually marry.

Besides marrying out, the Mei family also allowed a few children to remain in the home to maintain the family line.

Mei Yanran possessed exceptional martial arts talent. As a child, she was immature and did not know how to restrain herself. Later, after learning the Mei family’s secret, she began to conceal her strength and cleverly used reverse psychology on her stepsister, making her diligently practice and surpass her in every aspect, while she focused on showcasing her ability to manage people.

Later, things went as Mei Yanran wished. She was kept in the household to find a husband and assist the clan leader in managing the family, while her stepsister was sent to the Konghe Army.

From then on, her stepmother hated Mei Yanran. In revenge, she plotted to kill Mei Yanran’s husband, to whom she had been married for less than six months. After sending her deceased husband away, Mei Yanran discovered she was already a month pregnant.

The eldest son’s family had few children, and Mei Jiu’s fate as a member of the Shadow Clan was almost sealed even before her birth. When Mei Jiu was a little over a year old, the Old Madam asked the head of the family if she could help Mei Yanran raise the child.

Mei Yanran was kept on because of her exceptional talent for managing people; she could not stay home like an ordinary woman to be a wife and mother. Therefore, she had no reason to refuse the Old Madam’s request.

The Old Madam would not harm Mei Jiu’s life, but what if she turned her into a fool? What if she taught her to disown her mother? What if she forced her to practice martial arts diligently, making it impossible for her to escape being sent to the Konghe Army in the future? Mei Yanran did not know, but she was certain that the Old Madam had no good intentions. So, she plotted for two years, then fled the Mei family with the young Mei Jiu, hiding for ten years.

The hardships of those ten years were untold to outsiders, but Mei Yanran felt it was worth it.

“Jiu’er, no matter what has happened to you recently, never show any martial arts talent.” Mei Yanran’s gaze returned to its usual serene tone. “Mother will definitely let you marry like other girls.” No one knew a daughter better than her mother. Mei Yanran knew Mei Jiu’s talents and personality perfectly well, so when she heard about Mei Jiu killing two martial arts masters, her first reaction was that it was not Mei Jiu’s doing. But Mei Jiu’s actions over the past few days left her no choice but to believe it.

She knew her daughter was stubborn and unwilling to talk about certain things, no matter how much she asked.

Mei Jiu was already in tears. She wanted to tell her mother about An Jiu, but remembering An Jiu’s threats, she dared not.

“My child, do not be afraid.” Mei Yanran rose and stepped forward, embracing her.

The warm embrace brought a moment of peace to both their souls.

In the void, An Jiu could still hear Mei Yanran’s words and that unwavering resolve, and suddenly another voice echoed in her ears:

“Ann, we will be home soon, back to China. Look, I got passports. We will see your grandmother soon.”

“She’s a very good person. She will love you very much.”

“Ann, leave. Now, immediately, please!”

“Promise me, promise me…”

…At that time, her mother seemed so frantic, desperately hiding the despair in her heart with hope. Later, when An Jiu was able to travel the world, the first place she went to was China.

There, she had no relatives at all.

She lived for a while in the alleys of Jiangnan, where the gentleness of the region brought her a brief moment of peace.

In her previous life, these experiences had been erased from An Jiu’s memory. She only remembered the thrill of hitting her target; only killing made her feel alive. Even at the end of her life, she never thought of the pitiful woman who had fought so hard to get her away from danger. Yet, for some reason, at this moment, the past was vivid in her mind.

An Jiu had violent tendencies. After losing her home, she was in a state of mental breakdown, extremely manic. Even the slightest inconvenience could trigger an explosion. It was during this time that someone taught her to vent her emotions through killing.

Therefore, whenever she could not touch a gun, she became restless and anxious. If she did not kill someone every now and then, a certain pent-up, maddening emotion within her could not be released.

And now, An Jiu could feel Mei Jiu’s tears welling up.

The sight of Mei Jiu crying made her very uncomfortable, but the manic energy quickly dissipated like water released from a dam.

It turned out that some emotions could not be relieved solely through violence and killing…

Mei Jiu, her eyes blurry with tears, looked up at Mei Yanran. “If I marry out, what will Mother do?”

Mei Yanran took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. “I will still be useful to the family. In the future, I will assist the head of the family in managing the Mei clan. When I am old, I will be a clan elder, like Elder Qi and the others.”

“Can women become elders?” Mei Jiu asked doubtfully.

Mei Yanran’s eyes dimmed slightly, but she nodded firmly. “Yes, our Mei family is different from other families; women can also serve as clan elders. What I am telling you today must not be told to a second person.”

“Then Ah Shun…”

Mei Yanran interrupted her: “No, if you tell anyone, you will harm yourself, and even more so, harm Mei Ruyan and me. I know what I am doing.”

Mei Yanran had been enemies with the Old Madam for so many years and understood her personality fairly well. Since she had taken a liking to Mei Ruyan, if she could not bring her under her control, she would inevitably ruin her. Mei Yanran appeared gentle and sensitive, but her heart was not soft. No one but Mei Jiu could make her give her all; she would not risk going against the Old Madam for Mei Ruyan.

Mei Jiu believed her and obediently nodded in agreement.

An Jiu’s emotions calmed down, and she seriously considered Mei Yanran’s words. Since only by acting like Mei Jiu, a coward, could she avoid repeating the mistakes of her past life, she would lie low for now and use the opportunity to figure out how to take over the body.

An Jiu had never heard of the concept of two souls in one body, nor did she know how to possess someone. Of the many methods she had tried on Mei Jiu, the most effective was to attack Mei Jiu, causing her to lose her will.

Today was no exception; when Mei Jiu’s will was low, she could easily control her body.

Mei Yanran brought Mei Jiu back to Yuwei Residence and invited Mei Ruyan to have dinner together.

Dusk fell.

In Yongzhi Hall, Elder Zhi, dressed in black robes, sat cross-legged on a couch, fiddling with a Weiqi board.

A shadow landed at the doorway. “This subordinate is incompetent; I was injured by Lady Yan.”

Elder Zhi paused, slightly raising his frosty white eyebrows. “Mei Yanran actually managed to injure you?”

“Yes, this subordinate was hiding in a tree when Lady Yan attacked with a hidden needle; this subordinate could not dodge it.” The shadow’s voice was weak.

“Hehehe.” Elder Zhi’s laughter was dry and hoarse, like that of a night owl. “It seems that Lady Yan’s skills have not diminished but rather improved over the years since she escaped. No wonder she was able to hide in the inescapable net for ten years. Such intelligence and martial arts talent are unmatched among her generation.”

Elder Zhi was pleased. Since Mei Yanran was a genius, it was not surprising that Fourteenth Young Lady Mei possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts. However…

“The hidden weapon was poisoned. Go find Elder Qi to find the antidote.” He dismissed the shadow and fell into deep thought.

The lamplight flickered, and a gust of wind dimmed it.

When it lit up again, Elder Zhi was no longer in the room.