On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 71

The heavy curtains fell. After a busy night, Yan Mo rubbed her shoulders, took off her boots and socks, and turned over to pull up the quilt to rest.

A sweet and seductive scent drew near her.

Yan Mo hurriedly leaned back. When she saw the charming beauty reclining on her bed, she nearly fell off.

“You… who are you?” Yan Mo struggled to steady her mind, stammering as she looked at the exquisite woman before her.

Jiang Wenwen, having reverted to her true form, was a woman radiating flirtatious charm. She lay limply on the bedding like she had no bones, slowly crawling toward the pale faced Yan Mo with an incredibly enchanting posture.

Yan Mo felt as if she were facing a beautiful snake that might coil around her at any moment.

“Let’s talk things over properly, shall we?” Yan Mo tried her best to maintain a gentle smile to steady her nerves, attempting to talk the strange woman down.

Noticing her fear, Jiang Wenwen felt that things were different from what she had imagined. She stopped, propped up her chin, and looked at her playfully. She curled her legs, her red gauze revealing snowy-white skin, a highly seductive sight.

“You haven’t introduced yourself yet,” Yan Mo said, feeling somewhat relieved seeing that the woman harbored no ill will and was willing to listen.

“I am Jiang Wenwen! The one you named and bought eggs from. Didn’t you say by the stream that day that you wanted to see my true face? Now I’ve changed back for you to see. Do you like it?” After speaking, Jiang Wenwen winked at her.

Yan Mo clutched her heart. She understood now, this was her sister’s “peach blossom” (romantic entanglement).

She hurriedly got up from the bed, put on her shoes and socks, and stood by the bedside. With a solemn expression, she met Jiang Wenwen’s confused eyes. “I have an identical twin sister. We look exactly the same. You have likely mistaken me for her.”

Jiang Wenwen found this hard to accept. “How could that be…” She clearly smelled the familiar scent on her, and she had looked at that handwriting and drawing style countless times. She couldn’t be wrong.

“Though we share the same face, her personality is colder; she doesn’t like to talk. She is quite different from me. If you truly admire my sister, you should be able to tell us apart,” Yan Mo patiently pointed out.

Recalling their interactions, Jiang Wenwen realized it was indeed true. “I thought it was because you had two sides to your personality.”

“Now you know. Based on your description, everything you long for is related to her. It’s clear the one you like is my younger sister. She has already left the capital to travel the world,” Yan Mo looked at her. “If you truly like her, go find her. It’s better for her to have a companion so she won’t be lonely on her journey.”

Hearing this, Jiang Wenwen felt a sudden sense of loss. Had she mistaken the person all these years? To think she had fallen for two “different” people at once… the way she had left heartbroken back then due to the misunderstanding seemed like a laughable old story now.

She climbed down from Yan Mo’s bed and put on her clothes. As she brushed her hair, she exuded effortless grace. Jiang Wenwen turned back with a calm yet charming expression. “I understand. You don’t like me. I get it now.”

Yan Mo hesitated to speak, but since she hadn’t said anything wrong, there was no need to explain. She stood her ground with sincerity. “I don’t know when you met us, but now that we know it was a beautiful misunderstanding, it’s not too late to mend the fold.”

Jiang Wenwen suddenly broke into a smile. “Alright, I understand. Don’t be nervous. I think that girl named Lu Lu is a good match for you. You two stay well. I’m going to find her.”

“Mhm.” Yan Mo very much wanted her to find her sister. “If you have news of my sister, please send a letter. I would be most grateful.”

Jiang Wenwen agreed. Carrying a complicated mix of emotions, she left the palace to truly search for the younger sister.

As the children grew older, Liu Qinglan woke up from a nap one afternoon. Rarely having a moment of peace, she thought of the unresolved matter from before. She told Xiao Bai to look after her two younger sisters and ran to the Imperial Kitchen to find the Peach Blossom Demon.

The Peach Blossom Demon sensed Liu Qinglan’s aura from afar. She smiled and said, “You haven’t visited in a long time. What a pity, you missed the season when this peach tree truly bloomed.”

At that time, Liu Qinglan had been busy giving birth to the cubs.

“Thinking that I can see it every year from now on, I don’t feel it’s a regret. Next year, I’ll bring the babies to see you,” Liu Qinglan skillfully leaped onto a branch.

The Peach Blossom Demon was the first friend she met after entering the palace. Back then, not knowing her true identity, Liu Qinglan even tried to make the demon acknowledge her as the “boss.” Thinking back on it, the little cat demon felt both amused and warmed.

“What’s wrong with you today? So sentimental, thinking of the past,” the Peach Blossom Demon said, unable to handle the sudden tenderness. Every time this happened, she would think of herself and Tao Xi. There were too many stories between them, and every memory tugged at her heartstrings.

Liu Qinglan said, “Speaking of which, I’ve never actually seen what you look like.”

The Peach Blossom Demon parted the leaves, and her face emerged amidst the blossoms.

It was a face both elegant and seductive. Beneath her soulful eyes was a faint tear mole. Much like her voice, she seemed gentle and lingering, a woman with many secrets and stories.

Liu Qinglan leaned in close, blinking her emerald cat eyes. “You don’t seem very happy.”

“I know you came to see me for the method I mentioned before, how to make a human and a demon share the same lifespan,” the Peach Blossom Demon changed the subject with a smile. “Now that you have already merged your bloodlines (through the children), only the final step remains.”

It turned out that eating the “Consort Seed Peach” together was one of the steps. Liu Qinglan realized the demon’s good intentions, the method for sharing a lifespan was long and complex. The Peach Blossom Demon had led her through it step by step, only revealing the truth when only the final task remained to make it feel less daunting.

“Though it is the final step, it is also the hardest. You must travel west to the Kunlun Mountains to find a divine herb. If the Empress consumes it, the spiritual energy in her body can be converted for her own use, allowing her to cultivate alongside you.” The Peach Blossom Demon signaled the little demon to stay calm. “But obtaining this herb will damage your merit. For a human and a demon to share a lifespan is an act against fate. To compensate, you must perform a good deed every day for the rest of your lives to benefit the people. In other words, if you want to be together forever and enjoy this blessing, you must also give back to heaven, earth, and all living beings. Only then can you achieve a virtuous and perfect result.”

Liu Qinglan nodded seriously. “I understand. Even if you didn’t say it, we would do that.”

“Qinglan,” the Peach Blossom Demon called out again. “You are a mother now, no longer the ignorant young girl you once were. This will be the first thing you face and complete entirely on your own. Be careful. Once you get the herb, come straight back. Do not let other matters distract you.”

Liu Qinglan reflected. she had grown up carefree on Mount Huo, and upon entering the human world, she met the Beautiful Empress and was protected by her the whole way. Any troubles, big or small, were handled with the help of her fox and rabbit friends, Jiang Wenwen, or the Peach Blossom Demon.

Lying beneath the flowers, Liu Qinglan realized she truly had the luck of having “benefactors” in her life. Her heart felt warm. She fidgeted with the small ball the cubs played with. This would be her first time traveling far away on her own.

“Meow, meow~” A few milky kitten cries pulled her back from her thoughts. Xiao Bai was leading Luo Luo and Chu’er to find her.

“So Mommy is hiding here playing with the ball by herself, how embarrassing!” Xiao Bai climbed onto Liu Qinglan and refused to come down.

Soon, Luo Luo and Chu’er climbed up too. Liu Qinglan played with them for a while before scooping them up in her arms and heading to the front hall.

Although she hid it well, Xie Xuanzhao, who knew the little demon best, saw through her immediately. This girl had something on her mind.

At night, after settling the children to sleep, Xie Xuanzhao looked at the unusually passionate Liu Qinglan and couldn’t help but catch a strand of her hair. “Tell me, what is it?”

Liu Qinglan nervously tugged at her ear. “I… I want to go on a long trip.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s fingers stilled, and her brow furrowed slightly. “Alone?”

“No, as a single demon.”

Xie Xuanzhao pressed down her fidgeting fingers. “I’m not joking. You, by yourself…” She paused and corrected herself, “A little demon like you, traveling far alone? What for? It’s dangerous. What if you’re caught and kept as a pet?”

Liu Qinglan playfully slapped her shoulder. “Am I that weak? Ah Xie, you have to believe in your wife!”

“Then tell me where you’re going, what you’re doing, and if I should send people to protect you in the shadows.” Xie Xuanzhao held her hand uneasily. “Or wait a bit longer until I’m free, and I’ll go with you.”

“I can’t. The place is very far, and it’s demon territory. Humans can’t enter. I have to go alone.” Liu Qinglan’s eyes were serious. “I’m going to pluck a divine herb for you to eat.”

“Divine herb?” Xie Xuanzhao was puzzled. “My health is fine.”

Liu Qinglan leaned against her, listening to her heartbeat. “Do you remember in Qingfeng Town, when I saw the tragedy of human death? That impacted me deeply. I’ve been brooding over it. I don’t want to watch your face grow old and eventually have you die in my arms.”

Xie Xuanzhao tightened her grip, pulling her closer. “Don’t talk nonsense. That’s a long time from now.”

“But for us demons, several decades pass in a blink. It’s not far. I also don’t want the children to see their mother leave early and miss seeing them grow up and marry.” Liu Qinglan was rarely this sentimental, her fingers clutching Xie Xuanzhao’s sleeve. “Even Ah Yin is different from normal humans; she has my demon blood, so she will live as long as her sisters. Only you, my Beautiful Sister… only you…”

Xie Xuanzhao was moved. In the past, she had viewed life and death quite indifferently, flowers bloom and fade, people are born and die. But things were different now. “Alright, then I’ll listen to you. But you must promise to come back safely. The children and I will be waiting for you.”

“Mhm, okay!” Seeing that she finally had support, Liu Qinglan cheered up again. She hooked her arms around Xie Xuanzhao’s neck. “I might be gone for quite a while. For many days, I won’t be able to… with you…”

Xie Xuanzhao couldn’t help but laugh. No wonder she was so passionate tonight. She yielded to her. “Then let us enjoy each other’s company to the fullest.”

Liu Qinglan was a demon of action. Having received permission, she packed her things the very next day, ready to depart.

The thought of being apart for many days made Xie Xuanzhao feel uneasy. Ever since they met, they had been together almost every day.

Before leaving, Liu Qinglan handed a bell infused with demon power to Xie Xuanzhao. “This is a Sound-Transmission Bell. Even from thousands of miles away, you can hear my voice. So don’t worry! I’ll tell you my status along the way. Just wait for me in the palace.”

Xie Xuanzhao touched her ears and then her hair, reluctant to let go. “Come back as soon as you finish your business. Don’t delay.”

“I know! I’ll be back very soon, don’t worry~” After saying her goodbyes, the little demon set off with great anticipation.