Volume One, Chapter Nine: Dumbfounded

Unable to persuade her, Long Yu had no choice but to retrieve the carefully packaged snow lotus.

Nanny Liu, having just regained consciousness, learned of the matter from Si Rui and immediately rushed over.

“Stop! Nobody is allowed to touch that snow lotus! What are you all standing there for? Put it back at once!”

Unable to wrest it from Long Yu’s grasp, she shouted angrily at Yun Jin and Xia Guang.

But the two had already pledged allegiance to Xiao Yuanyi and paid her no heed.

Liu Nanny was beside herself with frustration. She had been reluctant even to sell the precious snow lotus for money; such a rare treasure might prolong one’s life. She had hoped to keep it for herself.

“You’re truly foolish! How could you gift it to the Lou family? If Old Master Jiang knew in the afterlife, he would surely be livid enough to come back to life. You…”

Xiao Yuanyi’s gaze sharpened. “Cover her mouth!”

To dare curse her grandfather was unforgivable, even if it meant death.

Si Rui slipped away quietly. Yun Jin hesitated but then stepped forward, swinging her arm in a wide arc to deliver a harsh slap to Liu Nanny’s face, loosening several teeth.

Dizzy and disoriented, Liu Nanny staggered momentarily before realizing the tide had turned. She collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly.

“Damn it! I am an elder of the mansion—how can you treat me like this...?”

Xiao Yuanyi snorted coldly. The cruelty Liu Nanny showed her must have been at the behest of Xiao Baopan. Were it not for needing her as a witness, she would have dealt with her long ago.

Meanwhile, Long Yu remained calm and unhurried, ordering Xia Guang to quickly escort the woman away, and warning those outside that if Liu Nanny dared to come back out, she would strip Si Rui alive.

Yun Jin and Xia Guang swallowed nervously. Seeing Xiao Yuanyi’s composed demeanor, they realized she wielded such decisive authority even within the Wangfu.

Originally martial arts academy slaves sold to the Prince of Nan’an’s household as part of the dowry, they had thought Xiao Yuanyi a pampered, pliable daughter of the mansion—an easy mark. They never expected such ruthless tactics, and now regretted having conspired with Liu Nanny.

Xiao Yuanyi made another visit. Night had fully fallen by then, and various households had come upon hearing that Lou Siyuan had been injured.

Standing at the doorway, she exhaled deeply. The memory of morning tea offerings was vivid, but to reclaim her dowry, she had no choice but to act as she did. She still harbored selfish hopes that this snow lotus might make amends for the humiliation dealt to the Lou family.

Lou Siyuan was not seriously hurt and sat conversing with them.

Shen Suyun’s face was streaked with tears. She had only one son, Lou Ziqi; after his death, she had treated the seventh and ninth sons as her own. If anything happened to either of them, she felt she could not survive.

“Even if you want to kill Helian Yi to avenge your uncle and eighth brother, you must not act rashly!”

“I did not…” Lou Siyuan bowed his head, speaking softly.

The seventh brother had failed to slay the cunning thief, only managing to kill the man’s own younger brother in frustration. How could Lou Siyuan have such capability?

Today was truly unexpected. He had been patrolling outside the city as usual and could not understand why the Beidi tribesmen had ambushed him.

Lou Hejing stood nearby, his facial wounds scabbed and fallen away, leaving only a small scar at the brow’s edge that made him look even more difficult to approach.

“Rest well at home and don’t go out these days.”

Others echoed the sentiment, and Lou Siyuan could only respond with repeated affirmations.

At that moment, Xiao Yuanyi entered. The servant outside had heard she was bringing the snow lotus and let her in disdainfully, as if waiting for some spectacle.

The lively room instantly fell silent. Xiao Yuanyi glanced briefly toward the general direction before stepping forward to bow.

“Greetings to Grandmother and Second Aunt.”

Her manners were impeccable, flawless from any angle. Yet the elaborate etiquette practiced in Yanjing became mere formality here on the remote frontier.

Shen Suyun wiped her tears. Qin Zhiyin glanced at her, seemingly suppressing something.

She sneered. Since their family could do nothing to her, then outsiders might as well take their turn.

“Seventh Young Mistress, what a surprise! Oh right, you’re here to deliver medicinal herbs. I’ve never seen the Tianshan snow lotus before—just the thing to open my eyes.”

“Tianshan snow lotus?” Qin Zhiyin frowned in confusion.

Lou Hejing pressed his hand on his sword hilt, looking at Xiao Yuanyi as if she were a fool. Marrying such a woman home, even without this family grudge, would surely bring unrest.

“I merely mentioned it casually, and Seventh Young Mistress insisted on sending the snow lotus to me—how considerate of her to her Ninth Brother,” Lou Siyuan emphasized the last words heavily.

“This Tianshan snow lotus is a tribute to the court. I heard only two have been imported these years—and both used by the Emperor for medicine. Where would there be any leftover lotus to spare?” Lou Xianyue cast a disdainful look at Xiao Yuanyi.

If it did not exist, just say so. Instead, she tried to deceive them, now presenting a brocade box—was she trying to embarrass herself?

“Nonsense! The Prince of Nan’an sure knows how to raise his children,” Shen Suyun said coldly.

Xiao Yuanyi’s face paled slightly but she said nothing, merely placing the brocade box on the table.

“This is but a small token from me. Ninth Young Master is a pillar of the nation—I earnestly hope you take good care of your health.”

“Of course, I would lay down my life for the Xiao family’s realm,” Shen Suyun sneered.

Her words crossed the line, even Lou Siyuan’s expression darkened.

“I’ve never seen a snow lotus before. I heard it has a strong, unusual fragrance. Ah Yue, hurry and open it,” Qin Zhiyin raised her voice.

Lou Xianyue hurriedly opened the brocade box, but no strange fragrance escaped at first.

Lou Siyuan mocked, “Looks like Seventh Young Mistress has brought the wrong thing again. Which servant messed up this time…”

Before he could finish, Lou Xianyue lifted several layers of silk, releasing a fresh, delicate aroma that instantly filled the room. Those present felt refreshed and their expressions calmed considerably.

Lou Siyuan’s words fell to the floor, shattered. He gaped dumbfounded for a long moment.

“So it really is…” Lou Xianyue froze mid-motion, fearful of damaging the withered flower.

If appearances could be faked, this scent certainly could not.

Moreover, Xiao Yuanyi hailed from the royal lineage; it wasn’t impossible for her to obtain a tribute.

Qin Zhiyin, a woman accustomed to grand affairs, was also stunned—but not by the lotus itself.

It was Lou Hejing who moved first. He stepped forward, repackaged the lotus, and without a word, thrust it back into Xiao Yuanyi’s hands.

“Ninth Young Master was only joking. You should take it back.”

Lou Hejing assumed she was a temperamental young lady, provoked into impulsively gifting the item. Rather than let trouble brew later, he preferred to refuse the favor.

His strength was great, and Xiao Yuanyi nearly lost hold of the box. Her fingers ached faintly. She shot him a sharp glance but quickly lowered her eyes, realizing it was inappropriate to protest further.

“This has little use for me. My grandfather’s greatest regret was never setting foot on the battlefield. Consider this a way of carrying on his will.”

She pushed the brocade box back toward him. Yet Lou Hejing hesitated to take it. He was so tall that Xiao Yuanyi grew weary just looking up and signaling him with her eyes.

Besides, his features were too sharp—reminding one of a fierce wolf or a predatory eagle, and his build was as massive as a bear. Yet just looking at him made her heart race wildly.

“Accept it—it’s a token from your wife,” Qin Zhiyin said.

Lou Hejing reached out and took the box.

Xiao Yuanyi sighed in relief. Her long, dark lashes drooped, accentuating her flawless, pale complexion. Her hands rested neatly before her, fingers slightly curled, faint burn scars still visible.

Lou Hejing’s dark eyes were unreadable, and for a moment, he found no words.

“What a fine treasure. Too bad my son never saw it. Even the great general likely never did. Yet a mere royal daughter possesses one—how laughable,” Shen Suyun shook her head.

“Suyun!” Qin Zhiyin frowned. The conversation was getting out of hand.

Xiao Yuanyi naturally perceived the resentment toward the royal family in her words. But a ruler is a ruler, a subject a subject. Such reckless talk only invites trouble. She had no desire to be buried alongside them.

Besides, this snow lotus did not appear from nowhere.

She spoke up, clarifying her stance: “This snow lotus was purchased by my grandfather with half his family fortune. It is rightfully his. Second Aunt, it’s one thing to say such things in my presence—I can pretend not to hear. But should these words spread beyond this room, the consequences need not be explained by a junior like myself.”