On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 48

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire audience was shocked.

Yan Mo even forgot to continue struggling, looking dazed as she watched Liu Qinglan help the old woman up from her feet.

Jiang Wenwen ground her teeth and spoke using her demonic power: “Everything was going fine, why on earth are you randomly claiming me as kin! How could I give birth to a FeiFei (a leopard-like spirit)!”

Liu Qinglan leaned over, patting the dust off the woman’s knees with her hands while replying: “You’re the one who told me to let you stay. This is the best way.”

Jiang Wenwen thought about it, it seemed she was right. She said awkwardly: “With this appearance, I could be your grandmother. You shouldn’t call me Mother; you should call me Great Grandmother.”

That would be much more satisfying!

“Mother!” Liu Qinglan insisted on calling her that. She pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her tearless eyes, her voice sounding tragic and miserable. “Years ago, you were abducted from the mountain forests. That kidnapping lasted for years; I thought you had died in some corner of the world. I never imagined you were still alive and had come back to find me. This is wonderful!”

The more Jiang Wenwen listened, the more she felt something was off. You’re the one who was abducted from the forests! Am I really that easy to fool?

Xie Xuanzhao, listening from the side, was initially confused as to why the orphaned Liu Qinglan suddenly had a mother. Hearing her speak so sorrowfully now, she felt a pang of pity. She couldn’t help but step forward and say gently, “Qinglan, your mother’s experience is truly sympathetic. Now that you mother and daughter have finally reunited, you should spend time catching up. However, I see your mother’s clothes are tattered; it’s better to let Tao Xi take her down to wash up first.”

While saying this, Xie Xuanzhao was thinking: Perhaps this big white cat was taken from the forest to be kept as a pet back then! Poor thing, who knows what kind of master she encountered to be devastated to this extent.

Ignoring the people around her, Liu Qinglan wiped away her non-existent tears and leaned naturally against the beautiful Empress. “This mother of mine is very naughty. When I was very young, she didn’t care much for me and would secretly run to the foot of the mountain to play. Now that she’s finally back, I didn’t expect her to still be so mischievous, even grabbing onto Yan Mo. It’s truly impolite.”

Jiang Wenwen: “…” She really wanted to smack the little Liu cat with her tail right now!

Xie Xuanzhao patted the back of the little beauty in her arms and whispered in her ear: “That’s why I’m having Tao Xi take her away, not Yan Mo.”

After saying this, she looked up again, her face perfectly calm as if she wasn’t the one who had just whispered.

Yan Mo quickly took the hint from the Empress’s gaze and retreated. The scene by the stream was thinning out; everyone was full and ready to set off.

Tao Xi went back to her quarters to find a set of clothes, leaving Jiang Wenwen to sit by the water and tidy herself up.

Sitting on a rock and feeling her wrinkled face, Jiang Wenwen wondered if the “Little Jiang Girl” (Yan Mo) disliked her old face and thus refused to recognize her. But she had always looked like this before, and the girl had been so polite to her then!

Suddenly, a black egg fell into the stream with a thud and began to float.

Jiang Wenwen’s attention was instantly caught. Snakes are always sensitive to eggs. Furthermore, this egg had a perfect contour and was pitch black, it was the king of eggs!

Jiang Wenwen even felt that its every movement was a provocation! It was so alluring, it was forcing her maternal instincts to flare up!

The black egg floated down the stream in an “enchanting” manner in Jiang Wenwen’s eyes, as if calling out: Come on, come chase me~~~

Jiang Wenwen quickly scanned her surroundings. Tao Xi was still searching for clothes by the small carriage in the distance, and the guards were busy packing up. Hardly anyone was watching.

So, regardless of the consequences, she hissed and slid into the water, transforming back into her original form and swimming resolutely after the round egg.

When Tao Xi returned to the stream, the old woman was nowhere to be found. Her face paled as she looked at the water, but the ripples showed no sign of someone drowning.

“Tao Xi, go back and report to Lady Yue. Tell her that her mother was lured away by an egg.” A gentle female voice spoke at the right moment. “She will understand.”

Tao Xi trusted this voice implicitly and ran back without hesitation.

The “younger sister” (the darker personality of Yan Mo) sat on a rock downstream, composed and calm. She finally saw the little patterned snake swimming toward her after the black egg…yes, that familiar swimming style.

The wet black egg jumped onto her lap and lay down, as if the egg that had just seduced the snake wasn’t itself.

The little patterned snake had eyes only for the plump, beautiful egg. Failing to stop in time, it bumped right into the girl’s knee.

The “sister” reached out, picked up the snake, and narrowed her eyes. “Wenwen?”

Jiang Wenwen stared at her blankly. Wait, she was just in front of the Empress, how did she appear here now!

She had always known this girl had a “problem” specifically, a split personality. Sometimes she was as gentle as water, sitting in the courtyard for hours with a brush and ink. Jiang Wenwen would curl up by the desk, watching her write all afternoon. Sometimes, the girl would even use a brush to paint patterns all over her body.

The girl said her patterns were beautiful and that since she didn’t bite, she made her a small tag with the character “Wen” (Pattern) on it.

But sometimes, the girl was silent and cold, even capable of killing. Jiang Wenwen had once seen her in the middle of the night fighting a group of masked men, blood sprayed everywhere in a world-shaking battle. Occasionally, the snake would join in, fiercely biting a masked man’s wrist. After the fight, the girl would carry her back in silence to a dark little room and sit quietly to tend her wounds.

Once, on a whim, the girl picked her up to examine her and finally saw the tiny tag. She gave a scoffing laugh and said, “What a strange name. Just ‘Wen,’ not cute at all. From now on, you’ll be called Wenwen.”

The Sharp Nosed Viper liked this name better and took the girl’s surname for herself. From then on, she was Jiang Wenwen.

Whether it was the “Little Jiang Girl” of the day or the one of the night, Jiang Wenwen loved them both! She was even touched, the girl was willing to show her both sides without reservation, proving she trusted her!

The “sister” stared at the snake, her fingers tightening slightly. “That old woman selling eggs on the street… was you? The old woman who tripped in front of the Xie Manor every night… was also you?”

Jiang Wenwen wondered: How did she find out?! Her tail went stiff.

Back then, to create opportunities to meet the “Little Jiang Girl,” Jiang Wenwen had exhausted her wits! She followed her, turned into an old lady, and tripped in front of her just to be helped up. It became an addiction. Jiang Wenwen wasn’t satisfied, so she went to the Xie Manor every night specifically to wait for the girl to come out so she could fall and be gently helped up. This girl was just so kind and patient!

Later, Jiang Wenwen saw her coming out during the day to do errands, so she guarded the street corner every day selling eggs. The girl bought her eggs every single day. Success!

What Jiang Wenwen didn’t know was that the person leaving the manor for errands wasn’t the gentle sister writing in the courtyard, but the “younger sister” in disguise! So, every time she staged an accident, she was running into the “sister.”

If the “sister” hadn’t seen a patterned snake enter the kitchen with her own eyes today, only for a hobbling old woman to emerge moments later, she would never have connected the two!

So, this was a little snake demon who had been appearing before her eyes for years.

The “sister” placed her on the rock. “You look like a small snake. How come you look so old when you turn into a human?”

Jiang Wenwen blinked her snake eyes flirtatiously. “Little sister, I am actually very big.”

Her voice changed from its previous croak to something very seductive and enchanting.

The “sister” stared at her, her gaze cold.

Seeing she wasn’t believed, Jiang Wenwen reverted to her true size. The stream water surged violently as a gale blew dust and stones through the air. The “sister’s” eyes widened slightly as she looked at the giant serpent before her, its girth was as thick as a century-old tree.

If it weren’t for the familiar patterns still visible on the snake’s body, the “sister” (Yan Mo’s darker persona) would never have believed that this was the same little flowered snake from before.

As its body enlarged, the snake’s eyes even grew long eyelashes, which it blinked flirtatiously yet, no matter how one looked at it, the sight was terrifying.

For the first time, the sister swallowed nervously. What kind of demon have I summoned!

Sensing her stiffness, Jiang Wenwen quickly shrunk back into the form of the little flowered snake, and in the blink of an eye, transformed back into the old lady from before.

The black egg, which had been hiding in her sleeve, hopped out, only now daring to look directly at her.

The sister asked, “Then what was your original appearance when you cultivated into a human form?”

Jiang Wenwen gave a mysterious smile. “Do you want to see?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Wenwen covered her mouth with her hand. It was meant to be a smile full of charm and elegance, but paired with her current face full of wrinkles, it only made one’s hair stand on end. “If you look, you have to marry me.”

The sister immediately replied, “Then I won’t look.”

While the person, the snake, and the egg were talking, Xie Xuanzhao was leading Liu Qinglan to the Emperor’s quarters.

“Later, just insist on keeping your mother by your side. Stand to one side and wipe your tears with a handkerchief,” Xie Xuanzhao instructed.

Liu Qinglan quickly got her handkerchief ready, feeling incredibly nervous, it felt like she was following a “palace boss” to fight a monster, while she was just the little henchman being brought along.

Xie Xuanzhao took her hand, steadying her heart. “Don’t be afraid. I am here for everything.”

Looking at the beautiful Empress who smiled with such gentle certainty, Liu Qinglan felt a warmth in her heart. She nodded back. I will do my part well, too; I definitely won’t hold you back!

The Emperor was currently playing chess with the Head of the Xie Family.

The Emperor had only found out after Lady Yue (Liu Qinglan) left that Lin Yulang had been kneeling in front of his bedchamber that night. He suppressed his anger, knowing that Lin Yulang must have actually gone to Lady Yue’s residence. Finding out she was attending to the Emperor, he had panicked and run back to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

The Emperor raised a finger and rubbed his brow, headache mounting. He valued the beauty of these male favorites, but he never intended for them to act so recklessly. He had indeed been too indulgent with them at times.

The Head of the Xie Family placed a piece, his expression cold. “Your Majesty, it is your turn.”

The Emperor looked at him, hesitating to speak, and delayed his move.

“Does Your Majesty wish to ask about the young heir of the Prince Ding’s Manor?” The Head of the Xie Family curled his fingers and looked up at the young Emperor. “One must plan for a rainy day, surely Your Majesty can understand.”

“Sigh.” The Emperor gave a heavy sigh. Suddenly thinking of that night when he had actually favored Lady Yue, he couldn’t help but ask, “Cousin, when doing that with a woman… can one hit the mark in a single shot?”

Hearing this, the Head of the Xie Family nearly choked on his tea.

Standing by the door curtain, Xie Xuanzhao gave a cold snort, filled with contempt.

The attendant hurriedly announced, “Your Majesty, the Empress and Lady Yue are here to see you.”

The Head of the Xie Family sat to the side with a calm expression, but his gaze scrutinized the two women. He knew the truth in his heart; he simply had never exposed it.

This was also the first time Liu Qinglan had witnessed a private meeting between the Emperor and Empress.

She had been sent to the harem by the Emperor’s order, but she hadn’t fulfilled the mission he gave her. Instead, she had defected to the other side and had been “eaten” quite thoroughly. Therefore, she felt a bit guilty seeing the Emperor.

She thought: Your Majesty, I have failed you.

The Emperor, however, waved at her, looking very happy and fond. “Lady Yue, you’ve come. Quick, come sit by my side.”

Xie Xuanzhao rolled her eyes at him. “Emperor, stop acting. There are no outsiders here; we all know what’s going on.” As she spoke, she directly took Liu Qinglan’s hand and sat down in the lower seats with her. “You speak.”

Liu Qinglan peeked and discovered that the Emperor was also quite cowardly in front of the Empress. Her heart instantly felt balanced!

To think that Lu-Lu (her cat companion) used to despise her for not having the “favored consort” aura, now seeing the Emperor’s pathetic, cowardly look, it turned out everyone was the same!

The Emperor looked at the Head of the Xie Family. “Cousin, look at her!”

The Head of the Xie Family smiled but said nothing. He had heard such complaints too many times.

With her heart balanced, Liu Qinglan grew bolder in front of the Emperor. Thinking of the beautiful Empress backing her up, her confidence surged. Thus, the little “fox spirit” demon spoke in a tiny voice: “Your Majesty, my mother has suddenly come to seek refuge with me. I want to bring her into the palace to keep me company. I wonder if that is allowed.”

Xie Xuanzhao spoke up: “It is not allowed.”

The Emperor immediately countered, “Of course it is allowed! This is my beloved consort. If she wants to bring her mother into the palace for a visit, what could possibly be wrong with that!”

The Head of the Xie Family silently picked up his teacup, using immense willpower to suppress his laughter. He drank his tea calmly, knowing he shouldn’t mock his cousin.

Xie Xuanzhao gave an “oh” and said expressionlessly, “Since Your Majesty insists, then let it be so.”

The Emperor sensed something was off, but seeing the Empress looking displeased made him feel quite satisfied.

The matter was settled. Liu Qinglan excused herself first on the pretext of being eager to see her mother. Xie Xuanzhao waited a moment before slowly strolling out.

Liu Qinglan was waiting near the Phoenix Carriage. Seeing her approach, she poked her small head out from behind the carriage and gave her a cheeky grin.

Xie Xuanzhao continued walking unhurriedly, saying, “Stay right there, wait for me to come over.”

Liu Qinglan grabbed the carriage curtain and stood obediently, waiting for the beautiful Empress to stand before her.

Xie Xuanzhao raised her hand and tapped her little nose. “I’ve kept your ‘mother’ for you. How are you going to thank me?”

Under her burning gaze, Liu Qinglan’s face flushed red, and she said in a mock solemn voice, “I suppose I can only thank you with my body.”

Xie Xuanzhao was teased into a radiant smile. “Little Liu, you’ve learned some bad habits, haven’t you?” As she spoke, she reached out to tickle Liu Qinglan’s sensitive spots. The little demon immediately begged for mercy, collapsing into the Empress’s fragrant embrace. Since she couldn’t be too loud, she could only half-cover her mouth and giggle uncontrollably until her cheeks ached. Only then did Xie Xuanzhao stop.

Their eyes met, full of smiles and perfectly timed affection. Xie Xuanzhao’s eyes shifted as she leaned down and kissed her.

Liu Qinglan raised a hand. “This isn’t good… if someone sees… let’s… let’s go back to the carriage…”

“We’ll kiss quietly. Don’t be afraid,” Xie Xuanzhao said, before firmly kissing her red lips. Liu Qinglan could only let out a muffled “mm” before surrendering completely.

The two hid behind the Phoenix Carriage, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to indulge in a secret, lingering kiss. This kind of clandestine flirtation had a unique flavor to it.

A moment later, Liu Qinglan stood up straight again, her face flushed and her hair a bit messy. Meanwhile, the Empress’s collar had been tugged into disarray by the little demon. The two quickly tidied themselves up, shared a sweet smile, and stepped out from behind the carriage in perfect sync.

Just then, Tao Xi hurried over looking frantic. Finally finding the two ladies, she bowed and said urgently: “Lady Yue, this is bad! Your mother has been lured away by an egg!”