I wanna know her
“No,” the First Wife interjected at once.
“She still requires close supervision while suppressing her Qi. Even the slightest surge of emotion could cause her Yin energy to erupt.”
“Oh, Great Mother…” Bajie immediately began employing her most effective tactic—acting sweet and pleading. She moved closer to her father, softening her voice until it was almost syrupy.
“She has done nothing but train ever since she arrived here. Surely that is far too stressful. When I saw her at the pavilion, she looked so terribly lonely… Wouldn’t allowing her to rest and relax for a while be beneficial to balancing her Qi as well?”
Wei Balong listened and nodded thoughtfully, already beginning to agree.
“Hmm… Fourth Child does have a point.”
“But it would be inappropriate, my Lord,” the First Wife quickly objected. “Her Qi is extremely volatile. If she loses control, every Zhenyuan attending the banquet could be placed in danger.”
Balong paused for a moment before nodding along with his wife.
“Hmm… you are right as well. Safety must come first.”
Seeing her father waver from one side to the other, Bajie brought out her final weapon. She puffed out her cheeks like a sulking child and muttered under her breath.
“Have Father and Great Mother forgotten that the Roulings possess a certain magical artifact capable of temporarily sealing Qi? If we let her use it for a short while, wouldn’t that settle the matter?”
“Absolutely not!” the First Wife insisted.
“That artifact can only seal her Qi temporarily. Worse still, it carries the risk of causing her energy to recoil afterward.”
Balong listened to his beloved wife and nodded vigorously.
“That is true… If her Qi recoils afterward, the risk would outweigh the benefit.”
“Oh, honestly! The banquet celebrating my return will only last a short while,” Bajie complained with a long sigh, shaking her father’s arm. “Please allow her to relax for a little while. Meeting other people is also an important part of training, is it not? It is just like martial cultivation. One must occasionally rest before the mind can become truly calm. Don’t you agree, Father?”
Balong’s resolve crumbled beneath his daughter’s coaxing, and he nodded once again.
“Hmm… what you say is not entirely wrong. A little rest might prevent her mind from becoming overly strained.”
The First Wife let out a sharp sigh as she stared at the troublesome girl who always had an answer ready. Seeing his wife’s reaction, Balong immediately hurried to support his daughter’s argument.
“My dear, perhaps you should reconsider. Would it truly be so improper to invite our guest out to relax, drink some fruit wine, and enjoy the performances? Allowing Lanyi to leave that empty room and spend some time among others might do her a great deal of good.”
The First Wife released a heavy sigh. Her gaze shifted between the innocent-looking face of her troublesome daughter and the kindly expression of her husband, who was plainly prepared to indulge his beloved youngest child in virtually anything.
No matter how I look at it, Fourth Child will never give up until she manages to invite Lanyi to the banquet.
Yet another thought soon followed.
Still… perhaps allowing a young woman of Lanyi’s age to meet others and relax would ease some of the melancholy within her heart. That, in turn, might help her control the Yin energy that responds so sensitively to her emotions…
Back at the guest residence, silence filled the cultivation chamber.
Lin Lanyi slowly opened her eyes. The frigid aura that had once surged wildly around her had now settled, becoming as calm as a lake untouched by even the faintest ripple. A-Ling and A-Lan, her two trusted maids, stood nearby attending to her, their eyes filled with concern.
“Excellent… you did considerably better today than on the previous days,” Second Lady Yufan praised with a warm smile.
“If you continue progressing at this rate, you may be able to control yourself before the arrival of Yao Yuan Feng Xi.”
Lanyi herself was secretly surprised. Only moments earlier, she had suffered through the provocations of that red-haired Zhenyuan.
Strangely, however, her irritation had become a source of motivation, allowing her to focus on suppressing her power more effectively than ever before.
“Yao Yuan Feng Xi…? What is that?” she asked.
A trace of concern crossed Yufan’s face, but she quickly returned to her usual composed expression.
“Yao Yuan Feng Xi is the period when a Rouling enters womanhood. It is the time when your Qi will become more powerful and volatile than ever before.”
The answer caused Lanyi’s heart to tremble.
Qi even more powerful than what I have already experienced!?
“And…” She swallowed nervously. “When will that happen?”
“The first occurrence cannot be predicted. However… once you have experienced Yao Yuan Feng Xi for the first time, it will return every month. For now, you must not allow this knowledge to place additional pressure upon you.”
While Lanyi was still absorbing this new information, the First Wife entered the chamber with her usual composed and dignified bearing.
At the sight of the newcomer, Lanyi immediately descended from her cultivation seat and offered a formal greeting, following the strict etiquette expected of a noblewoman.
“Greetings, First Wife.”
Lanyi curtsied gracefully. Behind her, A-Ling and A-Lan lowered themselves respectfully in greeting as well.
“It is an auspicious sign that you were able to calm your Qi so quickly today, Lanyi…” the First Wife said, glancing toward the bracelet she had brought with her.
“Since the Fourth Young Miss has just returned to the estate, the Lord of the House wishes for you to attend the banquet and enjoy a change of surroundings. For that reason, I have brought you this.”
With a slight nod, the First Wife approached Lanyi. In her hands, she carried an exquisitely carved wooden tray. Resting prominently upon a piece of auspicious red silk was a mysterious object.
It was the Dark Jade Bracelet, an ancient ornament as black as the deepest night. Yet a faint aura radiated from its surface, lending it an imposing and mysterious presence.
Lanyi stared at the Dark Jade Bracelet with trembling eyes.
“A gift… and a precaution for everyone’s safety?”
“That is correct. This is an ancient magical artifact passed down through generations,” the First Wife explained, her voice soft yet firm.
“It possesses the ability to temporarily seal the Qi of a Rouling. While you are wearing it, the currents of Yin energy within your body will be suppressed and kept still, preventing them from erupting and unintentionally harming anyone.”
The words seal the Qi immediately caught Lanyi’s attention.
If she possessed such an object, she would no longer need to live in constant fear of unknowingly harming those around her.
Before she could become too hopeful, however, the First Wife continued with a grave expression.
“But you must remember this well. The bracelet cannot seal your Qi indefinitely. Its power is limited, and it may only be used for a brief period of time.
“It is not something you may wear continuously. It should be treated as an emergency measure for moments when you are unable to control yourself. Nevertheless, it may be used temporarily when circumstances require you to meet and interact with others.
“If you are comfortable doing so, I would like you to wear it and attend the banquet tonight. Consider it an opportunity to rest after the intense training you have endured throughout the past month.”
Lanyi remained silent for a moment. Her large eyes rested upon the Dark Jade Bracelet lying on the wooden tray, her emotions heavy and conflicted.
Deep within her heart, she was still uneasy after what had happened at the lotus pavilion. Yet the upbringing of the Lin clan had instilled in her the utmost respect for courtesy and gratitude.
The Lord of the House had personally invited her, and the First Wife had even brought such a precious magical artifact for her sake. To refuse would be an unforgivable breach of manners.
“I gratefully accept the kindness of the Lord of the House and the First Wife.”
Lanyi curtsied before carefully accepting the tray.
“I will prepare myself to attend the banquet tonight.”
The First Wife nodded with a faint smile. When she spoke again, her voice had softened.
“Lanyi… neither the Marquis nor I wish to pressure you into doing something against your will. If you still do not feel ready to face so many people, you may tell me honestly.
“We invited you because we have seen how tirelessly you have trained throughout this past month. Spending some time outside, relaxing, and meeting others may help ease your mind. Even so, I want the final decision to be your own.”
“I understand your kind intentions,” Lanyi answered, deeply moved. “I have made my decision. I will attend.”
Once the two ladies had departed from the guest residence, the peaceful atmosphere within the room was immediately replaced by the anxiety of Lanyi’s two maids.
A-Ling and A-Lan hurried to their mistress’s side, supporting her with worried expressions.
“My Lady… that Fourth Young Miss is the same person who caused trouble for you this afternoon, isn’t she?” A-Ling asked anxiously.
“Oh, how terrible… neither of us was there to help you. I only stepped away to collect some sweets from the kitchen, while A-Lan had gone to fetch your cloak. We never imagined that something like this would happen.”
“That is right, my Lady,” A-Lan added, looking close to tears. “If you do not wish to attend, should we pretend that you have fallen ill? Please do not place yourself before that arrogant Zhenyuan again. I fear she will only cause you further distress.”
Lanyi released a quiet sigh. She reached out and took both of her maids’ hands, seeking to reassure them.
“I cannot do that, A-Ling, A-Lan. No matter what, I must attend. This invitation is an act of kindness from our hosts, and they have even offered me such a precious magical artifact in person. Avoiding the banquet would only make the Lin clan appear discourteous in the eyes of others.”
Her gaze shifted toward the Dark Jade Bracelet in her hand, and a trace of confidence gradually entered her eyes.
“I will go… but I must remain cautious. As long as I avoid standing too close to those Zhenyuans, everything should be fine.
“Especially… that Fourth Young Miss.”