After Zhang Wei’s letter was sent out, it wasn’t long before she received a reply from Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others.
They seemed to be operating in a Great City near Luoshui City, and it took them less than half a day to arrive.
Zhang Wei was a little confused.
Didn’t Senior Brother and the others say they were going out to explore the world?
But she was eager to find someone to confide in now, so she didn’t dwell on those thoughts.
The group soon met in a private room at a tavern inside Luoshui City.
Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others were now fugitives wanted by the city—they had to be extremely cautious about where they appeared.
Zhang Wei poured out all her recent hardships, finally saying helplessly:
“Senior Brother, what do you think I should do now? I’ve been living freely at Tianxing Academy, and all of a sudden I’m being called back to marry. Am I really going to be trapped in a cage for the rest of my life?”
Senior Brother Jin Liang and the others exchanged glances.
They all understood clearly—Zhang Wei’s status meant she couldn’t avoid this marriage.
How could she have freedom in this matter? Her privileged life was supported by the City Lord before, by Spring-Cold Madam behind the scenes, and in the future, it would be her husband who took over the City Lord’s position.
But Zhang Wei obviously lacked Spring-Cold Madam’s boldness to govern Luoshui City.
She thought everything she enjoyed was her due.
As if money would just grow out of her purse by itself.
This kind of “naivety” was acceptable before.
If her senior brothers became the City Lord, they would naturally take care of her as their sister.
But the current situation was different.
“Junior Sister, Senior Brother really can’t help you much now. You should understand clearly yourself—if you refuse one outer disciple, Spring-Cold Madam will just find another. Otherwise, who would manage Luoshui City?”
“Then what am I to do? Is my fate really this bitter?” Zhang Wei said, discouraged.
Senior Brother Jin Liang shook his head and sighed, speaking gravely:
“Honestly, whether Luoshui City has a new City Lord or not no longer matters. Since Master’s unexpected death, Luoshui City has been in decline, deteriorating day by day. It will eventually fall to a third-rate minor force.”
“How many of us senior brothers have left? How many can still shoulder the banner in Luoshui City? Without strong fists and stable hearts, it will all scatter sooner or later. But we can’t go back either. Junior Sister, you know Spring-Cold Madam’s temper best.”
Of course, for these disciples who had rebelled, it was difficult to return even if they wanted to.
They were no match against the elders in strength, and assassination attempts were out of the question.
Now they only dared to appear near the city gates of the Outer City, ready to run at a moment’s notice.
But once they approached the Inner City, they would soon be discovered and trapped with no escape.
Zhang Wei nodded in agreement after hearing her senior brothers’ words.
At Tianxing Academy, she often overheard discussions about her own Luoshui City, which always made her feel ashamed.
The City Lord being assassinated at his own wedding was a public humiliation for the faction—outsiders would think the family was weak.
After hearing such talk so many times, Zhang Wei felt like a fallen noble daughter.
When making new friends, she didn’t even dare to tell them she was the Young Miss of Luoshui City.
“…Senior Brother, is there any other way?”
“If you don’t want Spring-Cold Madam to control your lifelong affairs, you have to take charge of your own life,” Senior Brother said solemnly.
“How could I ever be a City Lord? All the subordinates belong to my mother—how could they listen to me? And Senior Brother just said that Luoshui City will continue to decline, going downhill…”
The senior brothers thought hard for a moment, then came up with an idea:
“Junior Sister, you are the rightful heir of Luoshui City’s future. Why not, while Luoshui City still ‘holds value,’ pledge allegiance early to Tianxing City? That way, you have leverage in negotiations to secure your position.”
Another agreed:
“Yes, then you would be a Great Noble of Tianxing City. Your status won’t be any worse than now. You could push aside Spring-Cold Madam, have Senior Brother handle the city’s affairs, and no one in the future could control your life at will!”
“Pledge allegiance to Tianxing City…” Zhang Wei murmured thoughtfully.
Spring-Cold Madam’s style was decisive and efficient.
She soon arranged with a matchmaker and preliminarily selected several auspicious dates.
Then she and Chu Yin left the city to relax at a countryside manor in the nearby outskirts.
Unlike women who needed elaborate clothes and makeup to highlight their beauty, Spring-Cold Madam remained striking and outstanding even dressed plainly in a thorn-pin and cloth skirt.
She stood out like a crane among chickens and had to wear a bamboo hat and veil, covering herself tightly before she could accompany Chu Yin outside with peace of mind.
Only after entering the manor and stepping into a side room, confirming the door was securely closed, did Spring-Cold Madam finally let go of her anxiety.
Chu Yin saw the expression on Madam’s Yuemian and smiled:
“Madam, no need to be so nervous~ We came out to relax, why still be so tense?”
The poised and graceful Noble Lady shot him a glance, but she couldn’t voice her concerns to this young man.
Now that Chu Yin and Zhang Wei’s marriage was preliminarily settled, with the Eight Characters set, he had avoided the future bride and instead brought his mother-in-law out to play.
What if others found out?
If their whereabouts leaked, the gossip would be unimaginable…
The relationship between Spring-Cold Madam and Chu Yin was pure.
She simply liked the boy’s character and regarded him as a son.
Their actions were proper, but outsiders couldn’t understand this!
They would only think the worst—why did she and her son-in-law avoid Zhang Wei?
Why sneak around?
Why pick a manor with hot springs?
Because of these worries, when Spring-Cold Madam and Chu Yin rode the same horse, hand in hand outside the city, their hearts were filled with unease.
But now, having entered the quiet hot spring manor, alone together, they stopped thinking about those subtle worries.
“Chu Yin, get ready to take off and enter the hot spring pool. Madam brought you a medicinal bath recipe.”
The Noble Lady rolled up her sleeves, revealing snow-white, delicate arms.
In her hand was a bundle of herbs, prepared to make a medicinal bath for Chu Yin.
Chu Yin was momentarily stunned, then scratched his head with a smile and ‘produced’ his own medicinal bath pack, explaining:
“Actually, I also brought Madam a herbal bath recipe—it’s for soothing the mind.”
They hadn’t planned this before leaving, only agreeing to spend half a day at the hot spring manor.
For this unexpected mutual understanding, Madam smiled lightly, both pleased and helpless:
“Your cultivation is important, Chu Yin. You go take the medicinal bath first.”
“Normally I would obey Madam, but this trip is to reward your month of hard work. I shouldn’t put my cultivation first—please indulge me this once!”
“…Then I will listen to you this once.”
For the first time, Chu Yin showed a masculine assertiveness in front of Spring-Cold Madam, yet his tone was like coaxing an elder—not enough to offend the Noble Lady, taken as a son’s filial affection.
Since the medicinal herbs needed time to diffuse in the hot spring, Chu Yin first helped Madam soak her feet.
He brought over a steaming basin of hot water and placed it before the graceful, refined Madam.
Carefully, he took off her shoes and slowly peeled down her black silk stockings.
Underneath her robe were a pair of fleshy, lustrous Yuban.
Her thighs were plump without excess flesh, calves slender without being too thin, the curves flowing gracefully—everything perfectly balanced.
Chu Yin cradled the Noble Lady’s jade feet, soft and smooth like a young girl’s delicate skin.
Placing them gently into the water, the warm water quickly painted a cute rosy flush on her skin.
“I’ll soak Madam’s feet first. Once the medicinal effects in the hot spring spread, Madam can go relax fully.”
“How thoughtful~”
Chu Yin bowed his head and carefully massaged the jade feet.
Spring-Cold Madam gently stroked his head, her eyes full of satisfaction and affection.
“Madam has chosen good dates for you and Wei’er. Soon, you’ll be family in the truest sense—no different from Madam’s own children!”
Chu Yin sincerely felt the joy in Madam’s heart, but his own sank.
Would things really go smoothly?
He couldn’t dampen her spirits now.
Afraid Madam might sense something amiss, he lowered his head, almost pressing his face to her knee, and said:
“What if I have conflicts with Young Miss Zhang Wei in the future? What should I do then?”
Spring-Cold Madam understood this worry well.
A son-in-law marrying in often faces hardships and has to endure his wife’s family’s temper.
She had observed Chu Yin’s character—he wasn’t weak or meek, but stubborn deep down.
His filial behavior in front of her was because he valued past kindness!
“Then it’s probably because Wei’er doesn’t understand. Madam will surely side with you, no need to worry. If you have grievances later, you can always confide in Spring-Cold Madam’s Room!”
Chu Yin chuckled quietly.
When he first entered this dreamlike place, he thought Spring-Cold Madam was too stern and cold.
After months together, she had become more like Aunt Wen.
He raised his face, looking earnestly at the Noble Lady:
“No matter whether I have the relationship with Young Miss Zhang Wei or not, no matter what changes come in the future, I will still regard Madam as my closest person!”
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