Chapter 180: A Mysterious Note

Hua Qiyue was thoroughly disappointed. She really wanted to trace that man and hack himself into a thousand pieces to alleviate the hate in her heart. But the moment she recalled he was Tianci’s father, she became quite vexed.

Two hours later, the horse carriage arrived at Bright Hill Village. It was a small village with a scenic view of hills and rivers. A desolate spot by the village entrance was the site of Hua Qiyue’s parent’s graves.

Her father and mother had been hacked to death by the Princess’s men. Their funeral and burial were arranged by their neighbors. Although Hua Qiyue did not return for the funeral, she got her men to investigate it.

Her feud having been avenged, and as the trouble over the Gnawing Devils Sect was terribly urgent, she wanted to return first and pay respects to her parents at their graves.

Hua Qiyue alighted the carriage, pulling Tianci’s hand. They walked slowly toward the three solitary graves.

Youshui was carrying a basket full of incense, wine and other sacrificial items.

Green grass was growing lushly here.

“Mom, whose grave is this?” Tianci widened his eyes. Hua Qiyue was about to say it was her mother’s, when she stopped suddenly. After all, Tianci had lost his memory. He had long forgotten the past.

“It’s a relative of Mom, who is also your relative. Come, let’s kneel down and pay our respects!” Hua Qiyue said quietly. She pulled Tianci to kneel. Youshui and Lv Xin laid out the sacrificial offerings and also silently knelt down.

Hua Qiyue looked at the stone tablet, engraved with her parents’ and her name. Her rims of her eyes reddened and she nearly sobbed quietly.

The desolate grass was melancholic. Her kin were gone. Someone appeared to be scraping her heart, so pained and unbearable it was feeling.

But then she couldn’t weep aloud in front of Tianci…

“Youshui, two of you take Tianci over there to take a look.”

Hua Qiyue said softly. Youshui saw that her eyes were red. She thought that her Miss wanted to cry out of empathy, but was too embarrassed to. So, she dragged Tianci hurriedly away.

When they had sat down under a nearby banyan tree to rest, Hua Qiyue finally stretched out her hand, caressing the stone tablet slowly.

“Father, Mother, your daughter’s back to see you. I’ve been reborn. I hope that the two of you are doing better than me in Hades…. Father, Mother, your great feud has been avenged. You can both rest!”

Hua Qiyue whispered. Her slender fingers trembled slightly. She controlled the pain inside her and stopped the tears in her eyes from falling.

It was all her fault. If she hadn’t be so stubborn as to marry Zhou Zhicheng, this tragedy would never have happened.

Her parents did not quite like Zhou Zhicheng. They said that his eyes were shifty and sinister, and that he was a very scheming man. But she chose not to believe them.

Hua Qiyue shed tears silently until Tianci called out to her twice. Then, she recovered.

“Mom, Tianci’s hungry. We didn’t seem to have brought food to eat!”

Tianci was starving and had to interrupt the silent Hua Qiyue. Hua Qiyue had to wipe her tears, sniffing. Then, she walked toward them slowly.

“Let’s go into the village.”

Into the village?

It was the first time little Tianci was in the countryside. Everything had seemed so novel to him. He joyfully tugged at Hua Qiyue’s hand and entered the village. He did not notice Hua Qiyue’s red eyes.

Some people were farming close by. They saw the company dressed in finery and started to discuss among themselves who Hua Qiyue and her people were.

When they entered the village, they saw giant trees towering into the sky everywhere. Under the old banyan tree at the village entrance, several old folks were sitting there, taking shelter from the heat. Young women were in their kitchens, preparing lunch.

When they saw the strangers enter the village, the villagers became even more curious. They saw a young woman with a six-year-old boy at the head of the company. Tears glistened in the woman’s eyes. They were fixed intently on an old woman.

Hua Qiyue naturally could remember this granny in purple robe as a neighbor, Fourth Granny. Her husband was the blood brother of Hua Qiyue’s grandfather. They were the closest of kin.

Hua Qiyue pulled Tianci to Fourth Granny and said softly, “Good day. Aren’t you Fourth Granny? I am Rong Qiyue’s friend, Hua Qiyue. This is my… son.”

Hua Qiyue did not dare to tell the truth in front of Tianci. She could only address him thus.

The old woman raised her head in surprise. “You’re Qiyue’s friend?”

“Yes… I heard that she has unfortunately died. I just paid her my respects. I’d like to take a look here.”

Hua Qiyue stifled her tears and said quietly. Fourth Granny and the other grannies stared at one another. They were overcome with grief.

Hua Qiyue also could recognize the other grannies. They were all neighbors staying nearby. But her closest kin was still Fourth Granny.

“I see. Follow me then. I didn’t expect Qiyue to have such kind friends… ” Fourth Granny’s expression was quite sad. Hua Qiyue’s mother could be considered her brother’s daughter-in-law. That woman was very nice, but their entire family had come to such a tragic end. Heaven must be blind!

Hua Qiyue brought Tianci to walk around her old house. Dust was everywhere inside, as well as cobwebs.

Every look made her grieve. Hua Qiyue decided not to look anymore. Youshui, Lv Xin, Caining and Caiqing could not understand her fervor for this old abode.

Upon learning that Rong Qiyue’s friend was here, many busybodies were crowding in front of the house.

When Hua Qiyue and Tianci came out, the crowd began to exclaim quietly. They saw a stunning beauty dressed in flowing white robe, with a fair, adorable boy with intelligent, bright eyes.

“Fourth Granny, is there a restaurant in this village?”

Hua Qiyue did not really want to trouble her kinfolk. Furthermore, sitting with them would make her grieve even more.

“Miss, we are a small village. There isn’t a restaurant or an inn here.” Fourth Granny shook her head. Hua Qiyue started. She was married to Zhou Zhicheng for seven years. Save for her first return to her maiden home, she had never been back. She thought that it would have developed but she was wrong.

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Hua Qiyue nodded. “Could Fourth Granny get someone to kill two chickens for our lunch? I’ve some silver with me.”

After her words, she made Caining give her ten taels of gold. For a brief moment, Fourth Granny was stunned. Ten taels of gold! She would never make this much over her entire life in this village.

Ten taels of gold was equivalent to 100 taels of silver. It could feed her entire family for years.

“Yes, yes! Hoho, please enter, Miss. Fourth Granny will get someone to cook you a lavish meal!”

Fourth Granny suddenly beamed. She wanted to return the five taels of gold to Caining but he would not take it back.

The villagers were all extremely simple folks. Hua Qiyue knew that if no news leaked out, no one would covet Fourth Granny’s gold.

Fourth Granny made her daughter in law—in other words, Hua Qiyue’s Fifth Aunt—go to the fields to pick some fresh vegetables. Then, she got her son, Fifth Uncle, to kill two chickens. She got her youngest son to buy some wine at the east of the village. The entire family treated Hua Qiyue and her company very hospitably.

Tianci was so hungry that his stomach rumbled. Fourth Granny took out the buns she had kept as her lunch and gave them to him. Tianci wanted to throw them away after two bites. After all, these buns tasted so differently from those in the capital.

However, Hua Qiyue would not let him. She lectured him, explaining that all crops were sowed and tended with sweat and toil. Every grain was hard-earned.

Tianci did not seem to understand everything, only somewhat. He did not throw away the buns. He soaked them in water and forced himself to finish them. This was the first time Tianci had eaten something which tasted so bad.

“Mom, the grannies here live a hard life.” Tianci tugged at Hua Qiyue’s sleeve and whispered.

Hua Qiyue felt a twinge of guilt. After avenging her parents, she did not return here immediately… she must have been too afraid to face them.

“In the future, their lives will improve.” Hua Qiyue remembered something and said quietly.

Before she came, she got Butler Wang to deliver a letter to the county government headquarters in the capital.

Even if this place had developed, it would not be by much. And she was right. The letter was Hua Qiyue’s petition for county officials to donate funds to help improve this place.

Although the hills here were beautiful and the rivers lovely, the mountain paths were rugged and hard to walk.

If they could repair the roads, it would be easy to develop the place.

“It’s a small village here. We don’t have much funds. We have neither gold nor metals to mine. This is the best we can be. We only hope for a peaceful life. Not like… ” The moment Fourth Granny remembered her kin next door, the Rongs, she began to look downcast.

Hua Qiyue turned silent. She watched her uncle busily slaying chickens outside the door. These were her closest kin but she could not acknowledge them.

After a busy half-an-hour, lunch was finally ready. Although the atmosphere here wasn’t lively, Tianci was very interested in all his surroundings. He kept asking questions. The atmosphere became less awkward.

Finally, lunch was over. Hua Qiyue gave Fourth Granny another ten taels of gold. Fourth Granny and Fifth Uncle were flabbergasted. They could not understand why this rich Miss was treating them so well. They refused to take the gold.

Hua Qiyue gave a light sigh. “Fourth Granny, Qiyue has asked me to. She might have guessed that her family would meet with a mishap. So, she wanted me to take special care of her folk.”

Fourth Granny heard her and tears almost gushed out of her eyes. “Qiyue… was once so obedient. I didn’t expect her to encounter such a vicious man! Ah, it’s all fate!”

The company became affected by the sad atmosphere. Everyone turned quiet. Hua Qiyue chatted a little with her Fifth Uncle and his wife before leaving with Tianci and the others.

Fourth Granny and her family stood under that old banyan tree. One old granny asked, “Hey, Fourth Granny, how did that lady know that you are Fourth Granny right from the start?”

Fourth Granny was taken aback. She thought back carefully and realized that she was right. The moment she came, that young lady had come before her and addressed her as Fourth Granny. But how did she know?

Fourth Granny and the others could vaguely remember that her name was Hua Qiyue. So, her name was the same too…

——————

When Hua Qiyue returned to the mansion, it was already afternoon. After keeping company with Tianci for his Qi Art exercises, it was time for supper.

Tianci’s Qi Art was improving very fast. He had made some progress in his rune training as well. He could fight Qi Artists at the lower level of the Soaring Cloud Realm now.

“Mom, I want to continue practicing Qi Art.” After supper, the young fellow dashed over and started tugging at her sleeve again.

Hua Qiyue was a little surprised. Why was this young fellow so fascinated by Qi Art?

“I want to be strong and protect Mom!” The young fellow began to throw out his chest. He wanted to prove that he was a grown-up now. Hua Qiyue tittered. Her mood since returning from Bright Hill Village was terrible, but this boy was her greatest consolation.

Hua Qiyue started to seriously teach Tianci all the other Qi Art poses. She also asked Caining and Caiqing to observe.

The twin guards were flattered and surprised. After all, Hua Qiyue’s lethal skills were all extremely powerful.

Usually, such lethal skills were only imparted to one’s kin, not subordinates.

“You two must master a few more lethal skills. Othewise, when the Gnawing Devils Sect creates their chaos and some unforeseen incident occurs, how can you two protect Tianci?”

Her words made Caining and Caiqing blush. Their Qi Art was inferior to Hua Qiyue’s. If they faced the elders of the Gnawing Devils Sect, they would find it tough.

They stared at each other, their eyes clearly full of strange emotions. But they still nodded quietly. “Yes, madam.”

Hua Qiyue nodded. If it wasn’t too late, she could still take them along to Feng’s Yard. The whole company could try and master these lethal skills.

After an hour, Caining and Caiqing managed to learn nearly half of what they were taught. They could get more proficient with slow practice. After giving Tianci a rub-down, Hua Qiyue soaked herself in the bathing pool and then retired.

Just when she had lain down, Caining’s voice rang out from outside the window. “Madam, someone soared across the sky just now and threw down a note. It’s for you.”

Hua Qiyue immediately sat up. She received the note through the window from Caining’s hand. She opened up the scrunched note and her face color changed slightly.