Wang Simu instinctively picked up the wine cup. At this moment, she noticed something unusual about it. It was amber-colored with a faint tinge of crimson.
At first glance, Wang Simu thought it was an ordinary jade cup, but upon holding it, she realized it was crystal glass.
The color was like jade, but with a blood-like crimson inside… Wang Simu’s hand trembled, causing Aunt’s sweet wine to spill on the table and splash onto her dress.
“Oh my, how careless!”
Aunt quickly put aside the wine pot and cup, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the wine stains on Wang Simu’s dress.
Dragon blood crystal glass?!
Wang Simu was stunned. Crystal glass itself was precious, but dragon blood crystal was an extremely rare type made from soil in the Western Regions, with very low production.
When relations between the Western Regions and Central Plains were close, dragon blood crystals often came as tribute, flowing into the Central Plains. It was usually made into vessels and wine cups, used only when the Emperor hosted banquets for his ministers.
As relations between the Western Regions and Central Plains gradually cooled, dragon blood crystal hadn’t flowed into the Central Plains for many years. It was extremely hard to obtain even for noble ladies in the capital. Most families kept them as treasures, occasionally using them themselves.
But they would never use them to entertain guests.
She quickly scanned the table and found that all the cups were dragon blood crystal glasses. It was a complete set of crystal cups, worth enough to buy two Xu mansions.
After Aunt wiped her clean, she refilled the cup and said, “Are you tired?”
Her tone carried a hint of concern.
Testing aside, is this about stance? She values me quite highly. Is this what the Xu family matriarch wants to express?
Wang Simu pursed her lips without speaking. She felt somewhat moved, understanding the respect and importance the Xu family matriarch placed on her.
“Come, try these dishes. They’re unique to our Xu mansion, you can’t find them outside.”
Aunt enthusiastically introduced the dishes on the table, fully playing the role of a hostess and future mother-in-law.
Indeed, there were a few dishes Wang Simu had never tasted before, which brightened her eyes.
Crispy roast duck with a browned exterior, sliced and wrapped in thin pancakes, both delicious and filling; ugly-looking but tender and perfectly seasoned braised lion’s head meatballs; fragrant, melt-in-your-mouth braised pork belly…
Although the Xu family was a newly risen “noble family,” their financial power couldn’t be underestimated… Just as Wang Simu thought this, her gaze suddenly focused, staring intently at the small porcelain bowl containing chicken soup!
She thought to herself: Something’s not right!
Coming from an official family and being extremely talented herself, Wang Simu had a keen eye for appreciation. She quickly realized that the porcelain on the table was no ordinary ware. Each piece was an antique.
Antiques of extremely high collection value…
This can’t be normal, right? How could anyone use antiques as daily utensils?
In the quiet atmosphere of the meal, Miss Wang’s heart was struck with immense shock.
Calming herself, Wang Simu turned to observe the women at the table. Miss Susu wasn’t seated at the table for the meal, indicating that even if she married into the Xu family, she could only be a concubine.
Li Miaozhen’s personality was bland, neither cold nor warm, fitting her status as the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect.
Xu Lingyin and this young lady from the Southern Frontier surprised Wang Simu. She thought to herself, is this how people eat? Aren’t they afraid of choking? Aren’t they afraid of burning themselves? Are they putting on an act for me?
If such young children could act so well, it would be terrifying.
But if it wasn’t an act, how could the strict Xu family matriarch tolerate such improper behavior…
Lost in her thoughts, Wang Simu finished the meal.
She summarized in her mind that although the Xu family matriarch was highly skilled, she wasn’t an overbearing mistress. On the contrary, most of the time she was very gentle and genuine, just like a young girl.
What a terrifying woman.
Xu Lingyue had inherited at most three or four-tenths of her mother’s skill level. In Wang Simu’s view, she was an expert, but not a formidable opponent.
As for this Xu family’s little sister, she hadn’t yet had the chance to test her.
So, after lunch, Wang Simu saw the little bean playing in the courtyard. She found an opportunity to come out alone, holding a plate of pastries, and beckoned, smiling:
“Lingyin, come here to sister.”
Seeing the food, Xu Lingyin trotted over immediately.
She loves to eat. As long as there’s food, she’s easy to control… Wang Simu was delighted inwardly and said softly, “I heard from your sister that you were bullied at school?”
Xu Lingyin’s attention was all on the pastries. While eating, she said pitifully, “A fat boy stole my food…”
She then declared loudly, “But Big Pot helped me get revenge!”
Xu Lingyue wasn’t lying, someone did bully her, and that’s why she stopped going to school. Poor child… Wang Simu stroked her head and said gently:
“Do you still want to go to school?”
The little bean shook her head.
“Then how about sister teaches you?”
The little bean looked at the pastries and nodded.
Wang Simu showed a gratified smile. She could teach the child some quick knowledge, and when she returned to her mansion, this child would “inadvertently” show off her newly learned knowledge in front of her parents.
The Xu family matriarch would surely ask, and Xu Lingyin would reveal that I had been quietly teaching her to read.
As expected, when the Xu family matriarch learns of this, she will feel grateful towards me, yet I haven’t sought credit…
“Come, sister will teach you arithmetic.”
…
After having lunch at the Imperial Academy’s dining hall, Xu Xinnian rode his horse out of the Imperial City, galloping towards home.
He felt uneasy. Wang Simu had a rather strong personality and her ideas, while Mother wore her emotions on her face.
If Wang Simu made certain probes and upset Mother, Mother might lose her temper on the spot.
Moreover, the mansion was full of a bunch of monsters and ghosts: Lingyin, Lina, the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect, the ghost girl Susu, and the most sarcastic eldest brother…
The Second Young Master Xu felt he needed to return to control the situation.
Entering the mansion, he looked around the outer and inner halls but didn’t see Wang Simu. However, he found her two maids standing in the hall.
So he asked, “Where is your young miss?”
“In the courtyard, sir,” the maid respectfully answered.
The Second Young Master Xu left the inner hall and turned towards the inner courtyard. Sure enough, he found Wang Simu sitting by a stone table, looking like a lifeless paper flower, staring blankly.
Xu Lingyin stood to the side, taking a bite of pastry, then glancing at her future sister-in-law, thinking about finishing quickly and leaving.
The Second Young Master’s heart sank. He thought, what happened? Did they have a falling out? Did I come back too late…
“Simu, Simu…”
He walked over and gently shook Wang Simu’s shoulder.
Wang Simu slowly raised her head, her lackluster eyes looking at him blankly.
A few seconds later, Wang Simu burst into sorrow, tightly grasping his hand, and tearfully said, “Second Young Master, your sister has angered me to death!!”
“Did you and Lingyue have a conflict?”
The Second Young Master Xu frowned deeply. He instantly imagined the process: Wang Simu and Xu Lingyue had a clash, and Xu Lingyue, with a “wronged” face, went to complain to her eldest brother.
The eldest brother must have said something infuriating to upset Wang Simu like this. That guy is the most sarcastic of all.
Wang Simu shook her head and looked at the carefree Xu Lingyin, sobbing, “It’s her… I had the best intentions to teach her arithmetic, but, she insisted on angering me.”
The Second Young Master Xu drew in a sharp breath, looking at her with a complex expression: “You, why did you bring this trouble upon yourself? The school teachers, Taoist Li, and Chu Yuanzhen, have all been greatly upset by Lingyin. How could you be an exception?”
Wang Simu didn’t believe it and said, “But, but Lingyue said Lingyin doesn’t study because she was bullied at school, and this is true, so I thought I’d teach her…”
She seemed to realize something and stopped talking.
The two looked at each other in silence.
On a distant rooftop, Xu Qi An laughed like a pig squealing.
Li Miaozhen kicked him, but she was also struggling to hold back her laughter.
“I, I finally understand why Chu Yuanzhen was so angry. Haha, this guy also tried to teach Lingyin arithmetic. I can’t take it, I can’t take it, my stomach hurts from laughing…”
Xu Qi An held his stomach, laughing till tears came out. He finally understood what Chu Yuanzhen had faced at the Cloud Deer Academy.
“Your little sister has quite a dark heart,” Li Miaozhen said with a smile.
“Go on, you’re the one with a dark heart,” Xu Qi An retorted.
Li Miaozhen put on a straight face.
The Second Young Master Xu looked around, seeing only the little bean nearby, and sat down. He steeled himself to say some sweet words, finally comforting Wang Simu.
Then, he recalled what Xu Lingyue had secretly told him last night.
“Simu, I thought for a long time last night.”
When Wang Simu looked over, he took a deep breath and continued, “Ever since my elder brother offended His Majesty, the Xu family has been teetering on the edge of a cliff.
“My elder brother intends to take the family and leave the capital together. As for me, whether I stay or not is my own choice. I’ve studied hard for over a decade and finally achieved my current rank. I won’t leave the capital no matter what.
“But I want to wait a bit longer, until I have a higher position and a larger estate, before marrying you. It wouldn’t be good to let others laugh at your choice of man.”
Wang Simu held his hand, all her grievances gone, her gaze softer than ever before.
Before dusk arrived, Aunt gave Wang Simu a large number of return gifts and even gifted her a jade bracelet she had worn for many years.
Wang Simu left with her maids. Looking back, she saw the Xu family matriarch with her two daughters seeing her off, and Xu Lingyin happily waving.
Her gaze swept past the three of them to the rooftop, where Xu Qi An stood at the high point, nodding and smiling at her, with Li Miaozhen and a disheveled girl on either side of him.
For some reason, although she had suffered setbacks today, she could feel a sense of ease from this family. They lived in this ease.
Ease of peaceful times.
…
After dusk, at the Wang mansion.
At the dinner table filled with rare delicacies and fine dishes, Prime Minister Wang looked at his daughter and said:
“You seem lost in thought. What are you thinking about? Oh right, you went to the Xu mansion today. How did you find it?”
The second brother Wang chimed in, “The Xu family has only recently risen to prominence. I’m afraid they can’t satisfy you in many aspects, sister.”
The eldest brother Wang frowned, “If that’s the case if you marry Xu Cijiu in the future, we’ll need to provide a more generous dowry.”
Hearing this, the two sisters-in-law immediately felt a sense of superiority.
“They drink from dragon blood crystal cups, serve dishes in precious antiques, have fourth-grade experts guarding their home, and all the chicken essence workshops in the country have to give one-tenth of their profits to the Xu mansion every year,” Wang Simu said calmly.
“What? All the chicken essence workshops in the country give one-tenth?”
The second brother Wang, who was in business, was shocked. This was an unimaginably huge fortune.
“Using dragon blood crystal cups as wine glasses…” The eldest brother Wang’s face froze.
The two sisters-in-law looked envious.
Madam Wang showed a satisfied smile and asked, “How about the Xu family matriarch? With Simu’s skills, it shouldn’t be difficult to suppress her, right?”
Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen nodded slightly, agreeing with his wife’s words. He knew his daughter’s capabilities.
Wang Simu said softly, “The Xu family matriarch… is unfathomable.”
The Wang family members looked at each other.
The eldest brother Wang sighed, “The Xu family is not simple. Oh right, Father, how are the negotiations going?”
He didn’t expect his father to answer, because, over the past few days, he had asked the same question, but due to state secrets, Wang Zhenwen wouldn’t disclose anything even to his son.
“In three days at most, we’ll have results,” Wang Zhenwen said calmly.
The negotiations between Da Feng and Yao Man were about immediate benefits and future benefits. Future benefits were just extras, immediate benefits were the most important.
What the Yao Man side could offer were war horses, iron ore, furs, and ceded territories.
…
At night, in the study.
After listening to the daily records of the previous emperor, Xu Qi An casually picked up the Second Young Master Xu’s “draft” and found it was a strategy against the Jing Guo Iron Cavalry.
The Second Young Master Xu, drinking tea, said, “This is just my wild guess.”
As expected of someone majoring in military strategy, it was well-written with clear thoughts. The only question was whether it was just an armchair strategy or effective.
After reading it, Xu Qi An returned the “draft” to the Second Young Master.
…
Deep in the northeast, in a dark valley backed by the ocean.
Waves crashed against the reefs and cliffs, making thunderous sounds and splashing white foam like snow lions and jade dragons.
In the center of the valley was a hundred-zhang-high altar with two huge stone statues on it.
One statue wore a scholar’s robe and hat, with a long beard hanging to his chest, the image of an aged scholar.
There was a crack on his brow.
The other statue wore a long robe and a crown of thorns, with a face like jade and unparalleled grace.
As the first ray of dawn light shone on the altar, the statue wearing the crown of thorns suddenly began to tremble.
Further beyond the altar was a vast city-state, the headquarters of the Shaman Religion.
This city-state was called “Jing Mountain,” named after the mountain it stood on, which was also the source of the country name Jing Guo.
In the current world where the Shaman God doesn’t appear to humans, the Great Wizard is the highest leader of the Shaman Religion, the first grade in the wizard system: the Great Wizard!
The current Great Wizard was called Saren Agu, a top-tier expert who had existed since ancient times.
When the first Supervisor wasn’t yet specialized, he was a disciple of this ancient expert.
Saren Agu appeared as an old man wearing a cloak and hood. He didn’t live in the towering, magnificent palace in Jing Mountain City.
Instead, he built a thatched cottage at the foot of Jing Mountain, raising a flock of sheep. Every morning at dawn, the wizards of Jing Mountain City would see this great leader, singing mountain songs, and driving a flock of sheep up the mountain against the backdrop of the rising sun.
Saren Agu took the wine gourd from his waist, took a sip of ginseng wine, smacked his lips in satisfaction, then gripped the branch he used to drive the sheep and lightly tapped the ground:
“Ilbu, come here!”
A wizard similarly wrapped in a robe and hood appeared where the branch had tapped.
“Great Wizard!”
The wizard named Ilbu bowed deeply.
“Have your injuries healed?” Saren Agu asked with a smile.
Ilbu nodded, his voice low, “Great Wizard, I cannot deduce the background of that mysterious expert who appeared in Chu State.”
“If you could deduce it, you’d be the Great Wizard,”
Saren Agu said with a kind expression. “Don’t worry about him, he’s a headache for the Buddhist sect. We need to face Wei Yuan. The Shaman God just passed down an edict.”
“The Shaman God can finally exert power to influence reality?” Ilbu asked excitedly.
Saren Agu didn’t answer. He opened his palm, which now held a jade thumb ring, and said, “Go tell those youngsters in Jing Guo to conquer the northern border within three months.”
After Ilbu left, Saren Agu looked in the direction of the distant altar and muttered:
“Asking me to go to the Da Feng capital to trouble that grand disciple… I can’t beat him within Da Feng’s borders. What a headache.”
Saren Agu sighed.
With this sigh, the sunny Jing Mountain City was instantly covered in dark clouds, with howling winds and thunderstorms.
…
On the same morning, Yellow Fairy and Pei Man Xilou arrived outside the Xu mansion in a carriage as agreed.
Yellow Fairy, languid and charming with a delicately carved face, licked her lips excitedly and said, “I can’t wait to meet the legendary Xu Qi An.”
Pei Man Xilou, holding a scroll, smiled and said:
“The negotiations have ended. We’ll have to leave the capital after meeting Xu Qi An. The Jing Guo Iron Cavalry’s cooperation is unparalleled and their tactics are powerful. I have a few questions I want to ask him. As for you, just be a pretty vase. Whether you can lure him to bed depends on your skills.”
Yellow Fairy licked her seductive red lips and smiled, “Men, you know, are rarely not lustful. If they’re not lustful, it’s usually because the women aren’t beautiful enough.
“And the more lustful the man, the more tricks I have to deal with them. No matter how imposing he looks, if he gets in bed, he’ll only be able to cry and beg for mercy, calling me ‘aunty’.”
She vowed confidently, certain of victory.