Mistress of the Underworld and Her Little Celestial Wife - Chapter 98

Along the way, Si Lingqing cooperated well with Mu Yin, listening to her chatter about Yu Luo and Si Muzhou’s situation. In truth, there was no need for her to explain, Si Lingqing already knew everything. But she found Mu Yin’s incessant talking amusing and wanted to hear her say a few more words.

When they reached the courtyard gate, Mu Yin spotted Yu Luo from afar, dressed in dark green robes, standing beside Si Muzhou and eagerly looking their way.

Mu Yin quickly waved at them. As the two approached, she whispered to Si Lingqing, “Remember what I told you earlier. Be on your best behavior.”

Si Lingqing turned to look at Mu Yin, then tugged at the corners of her lips, revealing a somewhat awkward smile.

But at least it was a smile.

Mu Yin gave a slight nod, signaling her to maintain that expression, before turning back with a bright smile to greet Yu Luo and Si Muzhou. “Father, Mother, we’re back.”

“You’re finally back,” Yu Luo said, taking Mu Yin’s hands. “You must have had a hard time these past few days. Come inside and rest.”

After speaking, Yu Luo turned to look at Si Lingqing. Her eyes reddened instantly, and she released Mu Yin’s hands to embrace Si Lingqing instead, burying her face against her shoulder and sobbing.

Si Muzhou’s eyes also reddened as he patted his wife’s shoulder in silence.

Mu Yin mused that if she had a phone, she would definitely capture this moment. After a moment’s thought, she conjured a mushroom in her palm to serve as a temporary storage device.

Si Lingqing maintained the same smile, though it seemed somewhat detached. Her gaze remained cold, but Yu Luo and Si Muzhou were too emotional to notice anything amiss.

Yu Luo cried for a long while before realizing it was inappropriate to weep at the entrance. Wiping her tears, she led Si Lingqing and Mu Yin into the courtyard, which had already been tidied up. The four of them sat at a stone table beneath a peach blossom tree as a disciple brought over a pot of tea.

“Ah Qin, what exactly happened?” Yu Luo asked, holding her hand. “I saw you buried with my own eyes. How did you come back to life? Are you really my Ah-Qin?”

Si Lingqing glanced at her. The beautiful woman still carried an air of grace, but though Si Lingqing retained memories from her past life, she now felt more like an observer, calmly watching everything unfold.

Seeing her silent gaze, Yu Luo’s nose stung, and she nearly burst into tears again.

Si Lingqing reached up to wipe the tear tracks from her face and said, “Mother, don’t be sad. Isn’t your daughter perfectly fine now?”

Yu Luo clutched her hand and wept.

Meanwhile, Mu Yin noticed Si Muzhou staring intently at his daughter, a faint trace of suspicion in his eyes. When he caught Mu Yin looking at him, he turned slightly and poured her a cup of tea.

“Thank you, Father,” Mu Yin said, accepting the cup. Glancing at Yu Luo, who was still crying, she whispered, “Crying too much will hurt her eyes. Father, you should comfort her.”

Si Muzhou nodded, walked over, and patted Yu Luo’s shoulder before pulling her into his arms.

By the time Yu Luo had calmed down, the sky had darkened. She held Si Lingqing’s hand and asked question after question, while Si Lingqing sat on the chair like a puppet, answering whatever was asked except when it came to how she had been resurrected. At that, she simply closed her eyes and claimed she didn’t know.

Si Lingqing didn’t remember how she had revived Yu Luo, nor did she care. As long as her daughter could return to her side, she was naturally overjoyed.

That evening, Yu Luo had a banquet prepared.

“Although we’ve all long practiced Grain Avoidance, Mu Yin still needs to eat,” Yu Luo said, grabbing one person in each hand and pulling them to the dining table. “This time, let’s have a happy and harmonious reunion meal, just like the common folk in town.”

Looking at the sumptuous spread before her, Mu Yin could tell great effort had gone into this feast, it might even have been prepared by a chef brought in from town.

After the four of them sat down, Hong Zhuang entered with servants carrying wine. She dutifully poured wine for Mu Yin and Si Lingqing before standing quietly behind them, truly resembling a maid from a wealthy household.

Mu Yin glanced at her twice and couldn’t help but smile. Then she turned to look at Si Lingqing and was the first to raise her cup.

“This toast is for everyone,” Mu Yin said. “This is our family’s first reunion, so we should drink to it.”

Si Lingqing looked at her and smiled as well, picking up her cup with proper decorum. “Exactly so,” she said.

Yu Luo exchanged a glance with her husband and also raised her cup.

Like her father, Si Lingqing wasn’t much of a talker, so the conversation at this reunion feast was mostly between Yu Luo and Mu Yin. Having little else to discuss, Mu Yin shared stories about her time in the Valley of Clarity.

When Yu Luo heard that Mu Yin had lived alone for half a year, hiding and afraid to see anyone, her heart ached for her.

“You’ve suffered, child,” Yu Luo said, grasping Mu Yin’s hand. “Money is just worldly possessions. I’ll give you some more later. A girl should have money to feel secure. Otherwise, seeing things you can’t bear to buy would truly be heartbreaking.”

Upon hearing she would receive another sum of money, Mu Yin’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. Clutching Yu Luo’s hand, she said tearfully, “Thank you, Mother. Let me toast you again!”

None of the four were heavy drinkers, and after one round, they hadn’t even finished half a pot of wine just pleasantly tipsy. The other three sat chatting, occasionally nibbling on side dishes, while Mu Yin alone ate until her belly was round, contentedly wiping her mouth afterward.

Seeing everyone had eaten their fill, Yu Luo took Si Lingqing aside for a private talk, leaving only Mu Yin and Si Muzhou at the table.

Watching his wife and daughter leave, Si Muzhou glanced at Mu Yin struggling to crack open a peanut nearby and asked in a low voice, “Do you need help?”

Mu Yin wanted to keep trying, but the peanut proved too stubborn. Resigned, she handed it to Si Muzhou. “Then I’ll trouble you, Father.”

After cracking the peanut and placing it before her, Si Muzhou said, “You knew all along that A-Qing was that cat, didn’t you?”

Mu Yin’s hand, about to take the peanut, froze. She quietly withdrew it and looked at Si Muzhou in confusion. “What do you mean, Father?”

Si Muzhou said, “I actually sensed it back in An-Tu. At the time, I just thought that black cat was unusual, but I never imagined it was my daughter.”

He turned to Mu Yin. “I’m not blaming you. I just want to confirm if that was indeed A-Qing. She seems different from before.”

Mu Yin felt it wouldn’t be right to keep hiding things from these parents any longer. After some thought, she decided to tell the truth: “Yes, I’ve actually been with her for quite some time. But Si Lingqing had her own reasons back then and asked me not to tell you, so I respected her wishes. She’s been accompanying me all this while and has treated me very well. As for being different from before.”

Mu Yin continued, “I don’t know what she was like before, but I can assure you she is indeed your daughter.”

Si Muzhou remained silent, calmly gazing at the dishes before him.

“Father?” Mu Yin looked at him with concern. “You’re not angry with me, are you?”

Si Muzhou shook his head and stood up. “I’m not angry, don’t worry. I’m going to check on your mother before she starts crying again.”

Watching Si Muzhou leave, Mu Yin thought the man’s retreating figure looked somewhat weathered.

Soon, Si Lingqing returned alone.

Mu Yin was sitting in the courtyard enjoying the scenery, eating peanuts and chatting idly with Hong Zhuang. When she saw Si Lingqing arrive, she set down her peanuts and asked, “Why are you alone? Where are father and mother?”

“They’ve retired for the evening and asked me to bring you back,” Si Lingqing approached, noticing the neat rows of peanut shells Mu Yin had arranged on the table. Her eyes darkened slightly as she asked, “Were you bored?”

Mu Yin glanced at her meticulously arranged peanut shells and chuckled awkwardly. “Not really. I just thought randomly throwing them would be dull. Doesn’t this look nice?”

Si Lingqing didn’t respond. Instead, she reached out, took Mu Yin’s hand, and helped her up. “It’s getting late. Let’s go rest.”

Mu Yin nodded and followed Si Lingqing to the adjacent courtyard, leaving Hong Zhuang and the others behind to clean up before returning later.

Upon entering the courtyard, Mu Yin finally felt at ease. The bed and table had been thoroughly cleaned apparently someone had been maintaining the room regularly during her absence.

She immediately threw herself onto her bed upon entering, hugging her soft pillow contentedly. “East or west, home is best! I haven’t been back for over half a year, I’ve missed this bed so much!”

Watching Mu Yin kick her legs in delight, Si Lingqing chuckled softly and sat by the bedside, gently restraining her feet. “Hold still. Let me take your shoes off.”

Mu Yin turned to look at her, then obediently hugged her pillow when she saw Si Lingqing was indeed just helping remove her shoes. “What did mother want with you earlier?” she asked.

Si Lingqing removed Mu Yin’s shoes and socks. “We just talked. Nothing special.”

“Really?” Mu Yin sat up, unconvinced.

“Why would I lie to you?” Si Lingqing replied.

Mu Yin remained skeptical but figured there shouldn’t be any issues after all, Si Lingqing was Yu Luo’s biological daughter. The kindness Yu Luo had shown her before was merely redirected affection. Now that the real daughter had returned, Mu Yin would naturally have to step aside.

“From now on, I won’t get to enjoy mother’s doting anymore,” Mu Yin said, swinging her legs. “I might even have to serve you become your little foot-washing, massaging wife.”

Amused, Si Lingqing took hold of Mu Yin’s calf and rested it on her knee. “Then shall I wash your feet for you?”

Mu Yin looked at her with a triumphant smile. “Sure.”

Si Lingqing waved her hand and conjured a foot-soaking tub. Under Mu Yin’s astonished gaze, the water in the tub gradually heated up. Mu Yin reached out to test the temperature and found it perfectly warm.

As she soaked her feet in the tub, Si Lingqing thoughtfully rolled up Mu Yin’s pant legs for her and gently massaged her feet in the water.

“It tickles a bit,” Mu Yin said.

Lowering her eyes, Si Lingqing replied, “Then I’ll press harder.”

Mu Yin laughed, “If you press harder it’ll tickle even more. Just let me soak my feet first, you can massage them properly after I’m done.”

Si Lingqing withdrew her hands, dried them, and casually tossed the towel aside. Watching Mu Yin enjoy her comfortable soak, she recalled how much Mu Yin seemed to love bathing and couldn’t stand feeling dirty.

She was such a clean little girl.

Mu Yin looked at Si Lingqing and tugged at her sleeve, saying, “You’ve been walking with me all day too. After climbing over six thousand steps, aren’t your feet sore?”

She invited warmly, “Come soak your feet with me.”

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