Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 5

Yan Zhi’an had been gifted since childhood. Her parents were people who loved romance and extravagance, and Elder Yan, fearing his granddaughter would be led astray, took her away from Jinling to keep her far from those two irresponsible disasters. Consequently, she was separated from her mother from a young age and only began living with her again three years ago.

By then, she was already twenty-four, long past the age where she needed a mother’s shelter or affection.

Thus, the word “mother” felt quite distant to her.

The moment she held Xun Qi, she felt the warmth radiating from the young girl, much like a charcoal stove. She could not help but think that raising a child was truly difficult.

Providing food and clothing was one thing, but one also had to attend to their spiritual well-being.

Yan Zhi’an felt a touch of helplessness. However, Xun Qi, nestled in her arms, was so sleepy she could not keep her eyes open; she had simply found a comfortable spot and closed her eyes.

The mother and daughter each had their own thoughts. Yan Zhi’an felt the frustration of motherhood, while Xun Qi felt the happiness of being a daughter.

Just then, the carriage came to a sudden halt. Yan Zhi’an tightened her grip on the girl and, thinking of something, covered her ears with her hands.

In an instant, the clashing sounds of swords echoed from outside. Xun Qi was startled, but because the embrace was so warm, she could not help but drift back to sleep.

An incense stick’s time later, the carriage door opened. The guard, Wushuang, poked her head in to speak, but Yan Zhi’an placed a finger to her lips, signaling her to remain silent.

She moved her lips to form the word: “Go!”

Wushuang understood, gently closed the carriage door, and stepped away.

The world outside was filled with a murderous atmosphere. Several corpses of assassins lay on the cold, hard winter earth, with blood winding its way to the carriage wheels.

Wushuang mounted her horse and raised a hand, ordering, “Continue moving.”

The group resumed their journey, traveling by day and staying at post houses by night.

Upon reaching their destination, Xun Qi hopped off the carriage, sniffed the air, and looked down at the wheels. “Why is there blood?”

Yan Zhi’an stepped down slowly, her skirt trailing behind her. Leaning on Wushuang’s hand, she glanced at the wheels. “Human blood.”

“Human blood?” Xun Qi’s eyelid twitched. She could not understand how she could say the words ‘human blood’ so casually.

“If people want to kill me, I naturally fight back. Should I just let them?” Yan Zhi’an smiled lightly, her eyes playful. “Are you afraid?”

She was surprised, but not afraid. Xun Qi rubbed her nose and shook her head. “I am not afraid.”

She had killed people before, too. In a fit of rage, she had beaten a person to death with her bare fists. Therefore, she felt no fear of death.

The “Madman” once said: “In this place, lives are as cheap as grass.”

Yan Zhi’an’s eyes deepened, and she could not help but look at her again. At this moment, she did not find panic on that youthful face; instead, she only found confusion.

Who exactly was this “Madman”?

Yan Zhi’an had sent people to investigate, but they knew nothing because they did not even know that person’s name.

That person was like a sage from the outside world, living in seclusion in the deep mountains, unknown to anyone.

Xun Qi followed closely behind Yan Zhi’an into the post house. The building had already been cleared out; it was occupied by their own people, and the Yan family staff had arrived early to clean it, throwing out the post house’s furniture and replacing it with their own.

At a glance, the furnishings in the room were familiar and extravagant. The corners of Xun Qi’s mouth curled up. Her mother was truly extravagant.

With such wealth, others simply could not compare.

Xun Qi lay comfortably on the bed and rolled over. Yan Zhi’an frowned and shooed her off. “Change your clothes.”

“I am clean,” Xun Qi explained.

Yan Zhi’an looked at her. “Change!”

Xun Qi wanted to meet her gaze, but the underlying fear was too deep; she had no choice but to take off her outer garment. The maids swarmed forward, serving her by putting on soft loungewear.

Xun Qi frowned, looking at the number of maids. Her hands would really become useless at this rate. Could she not dress herself? She felt indignant and it showed on her face. A chill flickered in Yan Zhi’an’s eyes. “Do not let your emotions show on your face.”

“Isn’t that stifling?” Xun Qi blurted out, feeling it was absurd. “Aren’t emotions meant to be vented? If you bottle them up, you will get sick.”

Yan Zhi’an sat on a couch, listened to the young girl’s rebuttal, and gave a faint smile. “That is why you must cultivate the habit of not showing your emotions. An outward display of emotion could cost you your life. Enough, I will explain it to you slowly later. Come here and stand properly.”

Her words were such that Xun Qi had no choice but to listen. She took two steps forward and stood before her.

The young girl was tall, already reaching Yan Zhi’an’s shoulder. She was at the age where she was growing rapidly, and in another two years, she would grow even more.

Yan Zhi’an looked at the girl. Over the past few days, her skin had become much fairer, her cheeks pink and delicate, glowing like pale moonlight.

In terms of appearance, Yan Zhi’an was very satisfied. She took after her mother, who had the bad habit of judging people by their faces.

She said, “Kneel for me to see.”

Xun Qi raised her eyebrows. Kneel? Yan Zhi’an explained, “The Yan family has many annoying rules. People are expected to kneel or bow at every turn. You must learn them so they will be useful later.”

Then, she began to talk about the ways of etiquette. Xun Qi listened with wide, earnest eyes, diligently kneeling as instructed.

Yan Zhi’an walked down and took her hands. “Place your hands here. The etiquette for meeting elders is different from that for peers.”

The girl’s hands were small and soft, her nails trimmed neatly, but there were some calluses on her palms from doing rough labor in the past.

Yan Zhi’an was focused, but Xun Qi’s gaze was drawn to her hands.

Those hands were slender, long, and fair.

Xun Qi looked at them for a moment, and suddenly those hands tapped her forehead. “Where are you looking? Did you learn it?”

“No!” Xun Qi quickly adjusted her mood and steeled herself. “Please say it again.”

Yan Zhi’an was impatient, but she calmed herself and repeated it.

Xun Qi learned it, then asked, “Is the etiquette the same for parents?”

“It is different.” Yan Zhi’an shook her head and repeated the rituals for parents.

Xun Qi watched once, then turned, faced Yan Zhi’an, and kowtowed respectfully.

This action startled Yan Zhi’an, who side-stepped to avoid it. She had no right to accept such a gesture from her.

“Get up.” Yan Zhi’an broke out in a cold sweat and quickly helped her up. “Let us eat.”

Xun Qi stood up happily, holding her hand, a brilliant smile on her lips. For a moment, Yan Zhi’an felt a sense of trance.

This child. She still had much to teach her slowly.

But, when the lies were eventually revealed, would she hate her?

The main branch of the Jinling Yan clan had six houses; Yan Zhi’an belonged to the fourth house and was the ninth among her siblings.

After disembarking, the Yan family members were waiting at the pier. The one there to greet them was the eldest son of the first house, Yan Dala, who was nearly forty.

“Ninth Lady.” Seeing Yan Zhi’an, Yan Dala strode forward with a smile, but his gaze immediately shifted to the young face behind her, and his smile vanished instantly. “Ninth Lady, you must not be reckless!”

“What is the matter?” Yan Zhi’an’s tone was flat, her expression unreadable. “You should not call me Ninth Lady; you should address me as the Family Head or the Left Chancellor.”

In an instant, she drew a line between herself and Yan Dala. Yan Dala’s expression was ghastly. Xun Qi, watching his face shift between pale and angry with awkwardness, chuckled timidly.

The next second, a pale, slender hand grabbed her ear. She let out an “Ouch,” and Yan Zhi’an chided her, “Have you not greeted your eldest uncle?”

Xun Qi stepped forward and performed the elder-greeting ritual: “Greetings, Eldest Uncle.”

Yan Dala swallowed his anger and turned away stiffly.

Xun Qi froze for a moment. He hated her.

Why?

Why was there such strong hatred upon their first meeting? She looked up at her mother. Yan Zhi’an understood and said, “He thinks you are here to seize the family fortune.”

“Here to seize money?” Xun Qi understood and smiled faintly. “Then he should hate me.”

“Get in the carriage, we are returning to the Yan residence.” Yan Zhi’an mocked him, took Xun Qi’s hand, and walked toward the Yan family carriage.

The others busied themselves unloading the trunks from the boat and moving them into the carriages.

Yan Dala rode on horseback while Yan Zhi’an and Xun Qi rode in the carriage.

Upon arriving at the Yan residence, they first went to pay respects to the Elder Yan. Only the eldest uncle and his son, Yan Dala, were in the room.

Elder Yan was over sixty, his hair grey at the temples. He stared at Xun Qi for a long time without speaking. Yan Zhi’an spoke nonchalantly: “Grandfather, Xun Qi is the successor I have appointed.”

As the words fell, the teacup in Elder Yan’s hand crashed to the ground. “Yan Zhi’an, do not be so absurd! Who is her father? How is she recorded in the genealogy? You are going to ruin the face of the Yan family.”

Xun Qi lifted her eyelids, mimicking Yan Zhi’an’s nonchalance, gave a cold look, and took a sip of her tea.

“Grandfather, you may refuse.” Yan Zhi’an raised her eyes, her gaze sharp, yet a smile remained on her face. “I can exile myself from the Jinling Yan clan, return to the capital, and start a new genealogy. I will take all the properties, mines, and businesses under my name with me.”

The room went silent. The three men looked at each other. The eldest uncle quickly interjected, “Ninth Lady, we are all family. If you appoint a successor, you should have informed us. You returned suddenly and caught us off guard.”

“Must I inform you when I find my own daughter? Why did you not tell me when you took in a concubine, Eldest Uncle?” Yan Zhi’an raised an eyebrow, staring coldly at him. “She will be the successor of the Yan clan. As for whether it is the Jinling Yan clan or the Capital Yan clan, that is for you to decide. Currently, you are relying on me, not the other way around.”

With that, she stood up and glanced at Xun Qi. “The tea is so unpleasant, why are you still drinking it?”

“Oh, oh.” Xun Qi put down the teacup, hurried to stand up, and rushed to follow her mother’s footsteps.

Yan Dala was furious, pointing at her back. “Grandfather, are you not going to stop her? Bringing someone back rashly and claiming she is the successor of our Jinling Yan clan. What kind of behavior is this? The long-standing, honorable reputation of our Jinling family is being ruined by her!”

His father was very calm and said, “You go find a mine, and we will honor you as the family head and chase her away.”

Yan Dala immediately fell silent and retreated.

As they left, Xun Qi could not help but look back at the room. She leaned in close to her mother and said, “You are truly formidable.”

Yan Zhi’an’s footsteps faltered. She stopped, reached out, and grabbed Xun Qi’s ear.

“If I tell you to drink, you drink. If someone poisons you, who will see me off in my old age?”

“Ouch, it hurts!” Xun Qi frowned and hurriedly apologized. “I was wrong, I was wrong. I will not drink it next time.”

Yan Zhi’an released her, shot her a cold look, and said in a displeased tone, “Go back and face the wall to reflect on your mistakes.”

Xun Qi: “…” Why?