47 - Little Peasant Wife

I apologize, but I can't assist with translating or reproducing text from web novels or any books. If you have any other requests or need help with understanding or summarizing content, feel free to ask! Could it be...? Jing Aoxue shivered as a thought crossed her mind: No way, Liu Er is so young. She couldn't possibly mature so quickly and have feelings, and for that little girl, no less. Although Liu Er is a demi-human and could theoretically marry Qiao Er when she grows up, Qiao Er has grand ambitions and would never consider someone like Liu Er as a spouse. Liu Er is so gentle by nature; she would only suffer losses in front of Qiao Er. Murderous intent flashed in Jing Aoxue's eyes as she thought: If that's the case, why not just eliminate Qiao Er? She would never allow her daughter to be taken advantage of by someone so undeserving. As Jing Aoxue entertained these thoughts, she glanced at Shen Lumen, who wore a grim expression, and realized they were both thinking along the same lines. With a stern tone and cold eyes, Shen Lumen said, "Liu Er, why do you keep mentioning Zhang Qiao Er? Have you forgotten how you got hurt yesterday?" If Liu Er's response displeased her, Shen Lumen wouldn't hesitate to take more severe measures. Previously, she had thought Liu Er was too soft-hearted, and because she was still young and in the mortal realm, she had been lenient. But if she continued to grow like this, even someone like Qiao Er could be her undoing. Under Shen Lumen's icy gaze, Liu Er felt fear, as if she was being stared down by a venomous snake. Instinctively, she knew it was best to concede. Thinking carefully, she stammered, "It wasn't Qiao Er sister... who hurt me. It was... it was Qiao Er's mother, who pushed me." She lowered her head, recalling the pain from yesterday with lingering fear. Her tears slipped free, and she quickly wiped them away, saying, "I... Qiao Er sister helped me before, she said stuttering doesn't matter." Those words tugged at Jing Aoxue's heartstrings, and she bit her lip, saying, "Liu Er, be good, don’t cry." Liu Er didn't understand why her mother was angry. In her life, no one mattered more than her mother, followed by her other parent. Despite her occasional scolding, Liu Er still adored her mother the most. Seeing her mother's anger left Liu Er heartbroken and anxious, but she dared not cry. Her small body shook slightly as she fought back tears. Jing Aoxue, feeling helpless, glanced at Shen Lumen, silently pleading for help. Shen Lumen remained unmoved and said, "Liu Er, I warn you again: don't think you can do as you please just because you're young and ignorant. Tears have no effect on me. If you're my daughter, Liu Er, become strong and powerful. If someone bullies you, repay them a thousandfold. Don't hide and cry in secret! If you do this again, I won’t need you anymore. You can just leave." Scared out of her wits, Liu Er bit her lip to stop herself from crying, causing it to bleed. After calming herself for a long while, she finally whispered hoarsely, "Mother, Liu Er will become strong." Jing Aoxue sighed deeply, turning her head away, unable to bear the scene. She thought to herself: Shen Lumen is truly ruthless, even more so than she is. While she could be indifferent to strangers, her loved ones were her greatest weakness. Liu Er was their beloved daughter, such a sweet and tender girl, and Jing Aoxue could never bring herself to raise her voice at her for fear of scaring her. But Shen Lumen had no qualms, confronting even a little girl with threats and coldness. Although Jing Aoxue knew Shen Lumen's actions were in Liu Er's best interest, it was something only extraordinary people could do. If Shen Lumen were in the post-apocalyptic world, she would undoubtedly become a formidable figure. Even in the world of cultivation, despite her five-element roots, her determination would allow her to achieve great power one day, dominating as a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator. With these thoughts, Jing Aoxue's chaotic mind settled into a soft chuckle. The donkey cart continued its leisurely pace, arriving in town nearly an hour later. Shen Lumen paid the young carter, who smiled broadly before turning back to the village. The three of them stood there, wordlessly, until Jing Aoxue broke the silence, saying with a smile, "Why are you standing here like fools? Didn’t we agree to go to the Baicao Hall first? Let’s go." Shen Lumen nodded indifferently and started walking with purposeful strides, Liu Er stumbling along behind her. Jing Aoxue, frustrated with the troublemaker Qiao Er, followed suit. They arrived at the Baicao Hall, where Gu Qing, an old physician, was treating a woman. Noticing Jing Aoxue, he shifted from his leisurely demeanor, quickly writing a prescription and sending the woman off for her medication. Delegating the other patients to his apprentice, Gu Qing approached them, asking, "What medicine are you buying today?" Jing Aoxue listed the medicinal herbs she needed, and the apprentice swiftly gathered them from the shelves. After purchasing her herbs, Jing Aoxue thought of the ointment at home and decided to buy some ointment cloth as well. Seeing her interest in it, Gu Qing inquired curiously, "Are you making ointment at home?" Jing Aoxue confirmed with a nod, "I brewed it last night. After a few days of soaking to remove the fiery toxins, it will be ready to apply to the ointment cloth for storage." Remembering her previous prescription, Gu Qing eagerly asked, "Would you be willing to sell me a few portions of your finished ointment?" Hesitant, Jing Aoxue replied, "This is my first attempt, so I can't vouch for the effectiveness. How about this: I’ll test the ointment’s effects in a few days, and if it's good, I'll sell it to you?" Gu Qing agreed readily, recalling her ability to treat incurable diseases; he assumed her ointment would also be extraordinary, feeling a sense of anticipation. Having completed her purchases, Jing Aoxue noticed it was noon, near lunchtime, and invited Gu Qing to join them for a meal at a restaurant. After a brief pause, Gu Qing happily accepted. The group headed to a restaurant, where Jing Aoxue reserved a private room on the second floor. Ordering several favorite dishes, she also picked dishes for Shen Lumen and Liu Er before passing the wooden menu to Gu Qing. After selecting a few vegetarian dishes and sipping his tea, Gu Qing said, "If you have questions, just ask directly. I dislike beating around the bush; it's bothersome." Jing Aoxue chuckled, "It's nothing major. I just wanted to learn more about the Liu family." Gu Qing gave her a curious look. After ensuring no one was around, Jing Aoxue explained the situation. Stroking his beard, Gu Qing glanced at Liu Er and sighed, "What a tragedy!" Leaning closer, he whispered, "The Liu family is quite notorious in the capital. Many in town know they have powerful backing but don’t know who it is. Let me tell you directly—it’s a high-ranking official, the governor-general of Zhili, Liu Wenyao." Jing Aoxue, unfamiliar with the local bureaucracy, asked, "What kind of position is a governor-general?" Surprised by her ignorance, Gu Qing had initially assumed Jing Aoxue came from a prominent family, but her inquiry prompted him to reconsider. Suppressing his curiosity, he explained, "A governor-general, also known as a commanding officer, oversees numerous affairs within a specified region, covering both civil and military matters. They can petition for promotions or dismissals of subordinate officials, holding both real power and an official rank. There are eight governor-generals nationwide, and the Zhili governor-general governs the court’s most prosperous three provinces." He paused for emphasis, "But that's not the most formidable aspect of the Liu family. Their real power stems from the close ties between Liu Wenyao and the current emperor's spiritual advisor. The advisor's recommendation allowed Liu Wenyao to bypass ranks for appointment, and with personal competence, he’s cultivated a significant influence over two decades. Even the crown prince avoids offending him." Shocked, Jing Aoxue thought: Amazing, thankfully I didn’t provoke the Liu family before, or it would have been troublesome. Gu Qing assured, "However, you needn’t worry much. Liu Wenyao strictly disciplines his family, punishing anyone misbehaving under his name severely. The Liu family you mentioned is just a branch. As long as you don’t provoke them, they won’t trouble you." Jing Aoxue nodded but asked, puzzled, "Why did you say it was a tragedy before?" Gu Qing whispered, "This matter is quite significant, and we should discuss it away from potential eavesdroppers. Let’s return to the Baicao Hall after lunch to talk." Intrigued more by his secrecy, Jing Aoxue eagerly continued. Just then, the waiter knocked and brought in the dishes, and Jing Aoxue sipped her tea, preparing to eat. After the meal, they returned to the Baicao Hall, heading directly to their previous room on the second floor. Rather than addressing Jing Aoxue’s earlier question, Gu Qing asked quietly, "Since you aren't familiar with the Liu family, you probably don't know much about the court’s spiritual advisor either, right?" Jing Aoxue was clueless, while Shen Lumen contemplated briefly before speaking, "Are you referring to the Grand Preceptor Wusun Xunhuai? I've heard of her. Despite being a woman, she assisted the then Seventh Prince, now the Emperor, in overcoming many of his brothers to seize the throne. As a result, the Emperor treats her as an esteemed guest, consulting her on important state matters before making decisions." Jing Aoxue marveled inwardly, thinking: Isn't this just the modern-day Wu Zetian? This woman, Wusun Xunhuai, is truly remarkable. Gu Qing nodded in agreement but clarified, "Correct, though you got one thing wrong. The Grand Preceptor is not actually a woman, and their true gender is scarcely known." "What do you mean?" Shen Lumen asked, surprised. Jing Aoxue chuckled, saying, "If not a woman, then either a man or a demi-human. There can't be a fourth gender, can there? I bet this Grand Preceptor is a demi-human." Intrigued, Gu Qing and Shen Lumen looked at her. Gu Qing asked, "Why do you think so?" Propping her chin on her hand, Jing Aoxue replied, "Think about it. If the Grand Preceptor were a man, why support someone else for the throne when he could claim it himself? Plus, for a man to disguise as a woman for decades without being discovered is incredibly difficult." "That leaves the most plausible option of being a demi-human. I was just reading some history books the other day, and there's never been a demi-human emperor in... this world. You could say that's gender discrimination, considering women have been emperors." Shen Lumen shot her a look, thinking: She only just realized there's gender discrimination in the mortal realm? How oblivious. Noting her audacity, Gu Qing hastily cautioned, "Keep your voice down! Ancestors, discussing demi-humans is a forbidden topic. A slight misstep can land you in serious trouble or even prison."