“That’s correct,” Mei Yanran confirmed.
For a Mei daughter to marry outside the family required the emperor’s approval, so very few were allowed to do so.
Besides those who married out, the Mei family was permitted to keep a few children at home to maintain the family’s continuity.
Mei Yanran possessed exceptional martial arts talent. In her youth, she was unaware and didn’t know how to conceal it. As she grew older and learned the family’s secrets, she began hiding her abilities. She cleverly used reverse psychology on her half-sister, encouraging her to train diligently and surpass her in every way, while Mei Yanran focused on showcasing her leadership skills.
Eventually, things went as Mei Yanran had planned. She was kept in the family compound to take a husband and assist the clan leader in managing family affairs, while her half-sister was sent to the Crane Control Army.
From then on, her stepmother despised Mei Yanran. To exact revenge, she plotted to kill Mei Yanran’s husband less than six months after their wedding. After laying her husband to rest, Mei Yanran discovered she was already a month pregnant.
Children in the main branch were few, so Mei Jiu’s fate was almost sealed even before birth—she was destined for the shadows. When Mei Jiu was just over a year old, the Old Madam proposed to the family head that she help raise the child.
Mei Yanran has been kept in the family for her exceptional management skills. She couldn’t stay at home like ordinary women to support her husband and educate her children. Therefore, she had no reason to refuse the Old Madam’s request.
The Old Madam wouldn’t harm Mei Jiu’s life, but would she turn her into a fool? Would she raise her not to recognize her mother? Would she push her to train diligently, ensuring she couldn’t escape the fate of being sent to the Crane Control Army? Mei Yanran didn’t know, but she was certain the Old Madam had no good intentions. So, after two years of planning, she fled the Mei family with young Mei Jiu, hiding for ten years.
The hardships of those ten years were beyond description, but Mei Yanran felt it was worth it.
“An Jiu’er, no matter what has happened to you recently, you must not show any martial arts talent,” Mei Yanran said, her gaze returning to its usual gentle calmness. “I will ensure you marry out like girls from other families.”
A mother knows her daughter best. Mei Yanran was fully aware of Mei Jiu’s abilities and temperament. So when she heard about Mei Jiu killing two martial arts masters with arrows, her first reaction was disbelief. But the series of events involving Mei Jiu in recent days left her no choice but to believe.
She knew her daughter was stubborn and wouldn’t speak about certain things no matter how much she was pressed.
Mei Jiu was now in tears. She wanted to tell her mother about An Jiu but remembered An Jiu’s threat and dared not speak.
“Don’t be afraid, my child.” Mei Yanran stood and embraced her.
The warm embrace brought a moment of peace to both souls.
In the void, An Jiu’s ears still echoed with Mei Yanran’s words. The determination in her voice suddenly triggered another memory:
“An, we’re about to go home, back to China. Look, I’ve got the passports. We’ll soon see your grandmother.”
“She’s a wonderful person. She’ll surely love you.”
“An, leave, now, immediately, please!”
“Promise me, promise me…”
…
At that time, her mother had looked so frantic, desperately trying to hide the despair in her heart with hope. Later, when An Jiu could travel the world freely, China was the first place she visited.
There were no relatives there at all.
She lived in the alleys of Jiangnan for a while, finding brief peace in its gentleness.
In her previous life, these experiences had been erased from An Jiu’s memory. She only remembered the thrill of hitting a target, feeling alive only when killing. Even at the end of her life, she never recalled the poor woman who had tried with all her might to take her away from danger. Yet, for some reason, at this moment, the past became vivid in her mind.
An Jiu had violent tendencies. After losing her home, she was in a state of mental breakdown, extremely agitated. Even the slightest frustration could trigger an outburst. It was at that time someone taught her to vent her emotions through killing.
So whenever she couldn’t touch a gun, she became restless and anxious. If she hadn’t killed for a while, the overwhelming emotions in her heart couldn’t have been released.
Now, An Jiu could feel Mei Jiu’s tears surging.
Mei Jiu’s crying made her uncomfortable, but that frenzied feeling rushed away like water from an opened floodgate.
It turned out that some emotions could find release through means other than violence and killing…
Mei Jiu looked up at Mei Yanran through tear-filled eyes. “What will happen to you if I marry out?”
Mei Yanran took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “I’m still useful to the family. I’ll continue to help the family head manage the Mei clan. When I’m old, I’ll be like Elder Qi and the others—a clan elder.”
“Can women also become elders?” Mei Jiu asked, confused.
Mei Yanran’s eyes darkened slightly, but she nodded firmly. “Yes, our Mei family is different from others. Women can also become clan elders. What I’ve told you today must not be shared with anyone else.”
“What about Ashun…”
Mei Yanran interrupted her, “No, not even him. If you speak of this, you’ll harm yourself and both me and Mei Ruyan. I have my plans for this matter.”
Having been at odds with the Old Madam for so many years, Mei Yanran understood her nature quite well. Since she had taken an interest in Mei Ruyan, if she couldn’t use her, she would surely destroy her. Mei Yanran appeared gentle and sensitive, but her heart wasn’t soft. Apart from Mei Jiu, no one could make her take risks. She wouldn’t risk confronting the Old Madam for Mei Ruyan’s sake.
Mei Jiu believed her mother completely and obediently agreed.
An Jiu, her emotions now calm, carefully considered Mei Yanran’s words. If appearing as timid as Mei Jiu could help avoid repeating the path of her previous life, then she would lie low for now. It would give her time to figure out how to take over the body.
An Jiu had never heard of two souls sharing one body and didn’t know how to possess it completely. She had tried many methods with Mei Jiu’s body, the most effective being to strike at Mei Jiu’s confidence, weakening her will.
Today was such an instance. When Mei Jiu’s will was low, she could easily control her body.
Mei Yanran took Mei Jiu back to Yuwei Residence and called Mei Ruyan to join them for dinner.
As dusk fell, in Yongzhi Hall, Elder Zhi, clad in black robes, sat cross-legged on a couch, manipulating the chess pieces before him.
A shadow appeared at the doorway. “This subordinate is incompetent. I was injured by Lady Yan.”
Elder Zhi’s hand paused, his frost-white eyebrows slightly raised. “Mei Yanran was able to injure you?”
“Yes. I was hidden in a tree when Lady Yan shot a concealed needle. I couldn’t dodge it,” the shadow’s voice was weak.
“Heh heh heh.” Elder Zhi’s laughter was as dry as an owl’s hoot. “It seems Lady Yan’s skills have improved rather than deteriorated during her years away. No wonder she could hide from our net for ten years. Such wisdom, such martial talent—no one of her generation can surpass her.”
Elder Zhi was pleased. If Mei Yanran was a genius, it wasn’t surprising that Mei Fourteenth had exceptional martial arts talent. However…
“The hidden weapon was poisoned. Go to Elder Qi for the antidote,” he dismissed the shadow and fell into deep thought.
The lamplight flickered, and a gust of wind dimmed it momentarily.
When it brightened again, Elder Zhi had vanished from the room.