Parasol Tree

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Parasol Tree (梧桐)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Xie Manor; Xie Guan's little courtyard
Occupation/Role	Xie Guan's maid, household caretaker, and longtime companion
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 247

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Primordial Spirit cultivation; out-of-body projection	452	After Xie Guan regulates her meridians and has her take a Jade-Nourishing Pill, she successfully cultivates a Primordial Spirit and can project it outside her body.

Background / History

Parasol Tree was sold into Xie Manor at the age of seven. She grew up alongside Xie Guan in the main courtyard and came to regard his family as kin. By the time Xie Guan's mother died, Parasol Tree was eleven and remained in the impoverished little courtyard to care for him through his mourning period and temporary blindness 247.

Xie Renfeng attempted to recruit her as a close maid for the second courtyard, offering Xie Guan better medical care and education in exchange. Parasol Tree firmly refused despite the promise of a more secure future, choosing to remain with Xie Guan when he had no other reliable support 247 248.

Her beauty later makes her a target within Xie Manor. During a major banquet, Gan Zhi summons her on Madam Yuan's orders, while Physician Hua An warns Xie Guan that Zhao Yang has taken an interest in her. Xie Guan delays the summons by claiming that Xie Yuan had already requested her, giving Parasol Tree tea leaves and a xiangqi “General” piece to carry as part of the ruse 269. She is brought to Grand Vista Courtyard but ultimately returns safely with Xie Guan 270 286 287.

At the Gathering of Beauties Banquet, her jade hairpin appearing in Sima Pan's possession alerts Xie Guan that she may be in danger. She later reunites safely with him after the banquet’s conflict concludes 352 402. A later encounter reveals Parasol Tree waiting inside a carriage, hinting at an unexplained connection to the immortal realm 381.

Xie Renfeng's attack on the little courtyard places her in danger again. Afterward, Parasol Tree declares that she would rather die than live without Xie Guan, emphasizing that the two have depended on each other since childhood 419.

She is kidnapped from the little courtyard and used to force Xie Guan to attend a meeting at Misty Wave Lake alone. Xie Guan ultimately rescues her; she is returned safely after Liu Yuan's plot collapses 439 447 450. Following this incident, Xie Guan strengthens her body and guides her into Primordial Spirit cultivation 452.

By the final part of the story, Parasol Tree travels to the Far North Glacier with two divine birds and a fish-gilled girl. Having seen much of the world, she still considers being at her young master's side the finest place 483.

Appearance

Parasol Tree grows from a girl with formerly charred skin into a slender and notably beautiful young woman. Her appearance is repeatedly considered exceptional even among the carefully selected maids and young ladies of Xie Manor 247 322 324.

• Usually dresses simply and rarely adorns herself 407.
• Has a graceful, slender figure and a lovely face 247 407.
• Her beauty draws unwanted attention from Xie Renfeng, Zhao Yang, household servants, and guards 247 274 322.
• Wears a jade hairpin left to her by Xie Guan's mother on special occasions 352.
• Is particularly striking when dressed for the Gathering of Beauties Banquet, where Dew Bud compares her to a lotus rising from water 324.

Personality

Parasol Tree is loyal, diligent, and emotionally sensitive. She tends the little courtyard's plants, prepares meals, manages household expenses, helps other courtyards with needlework, and worries constantly over Xie Guan's health, studies, and safety 247 304 324.

Although cautious around the Xie Manor hierarchy, she can be perceptive and practical. She recognizes the changed attitudes of stewards once Xie Guan gains influential connections, saves money for books and his eventual marriage, and stocks grain when food prices rise 287 302 408.

As Xie Guan becomes stronger and more capable, Parasol Tree gradually becomes brighter, more open, and more confident in voicing her thoughts. Her attachment to him remains absolute even as their relationship grows more intimate 324 406 407.

Abilities & Skills

Household Management

Parasol Tree maintains the little courtyard while Xie Guan studies and cultivates.

• Prepares meals, handles firewood, rice, oil, salt, and household purchases 304 324.
• Tends flowers and plants in the courtyard diligently 247.
• Helps other Xie Manor courtyards with needlework and receives payment for her work 304.
• Manages gifts, silver, and emergency grain supplies 287 408.

Needlework

She learned needlework from Xie Guan's mother and is valued by the manor's mistresses for her deft hands 304.

Primordial Spirit Cultivation

With Xie Guan's assistance, Parasol Tree begins cultivation after he regulates her meridians and provides a Jade-Nourishing Pill 452.

• Successfully cultivates a Primordial Spirit 452.
• Can project her Primordial Spirit out of her body 452.
• Her cultivation is supported and protected by Xie Guan rather than shown as independent combat training 452.

Relationships

• Xie Guan / Guan Yu — Her young master and lifelong companion. They grew up together in Xie Manor, depend on one another as family, and later develop mutual affection 247 406 419 454.
• Xie Guan's mother — Former mistress and benefactor who treated Parasol Tree like family; the jade hairpin Parasol Tree wears belonged to her 247 352.
• Hua An — Physician concerned for both Parasol Tree and Xie Guan; he warns of the danger posed by Zhao Yang and later continues visiting their courtyard 269 404.
• Dew Bud — Close childhood friend and fellow maid. They help each other with manor work and attend the Gathering of Beauties Banquet together 324 412.
• Madam Ruan — A companion in the little courtyard. Parasol Tree feeds, clothes, and teaches her ordinary domestic tasks, while Madam Ruan is assigned to protect her when she goes out 451 452 454 455.
• Xie Renfeng — A Xie Clan young master who tried to take Parasol Tree into the second courtyard and later endangered the little courtyard 247 419.
• Zhao Yang — Zhao Clan young master who sought Parasol Tree during the Xie Manor banquet 269 274.
• Xie Yuan — Xie Guan's supportive cousin/brother figure; Xie Guan uses Xie Yuan's name to protect Parasol Tree from Gan Zhi's summons 269.

Notable Quotes

“As long as I follow Young Master, anywhere is fine.” 454

“Parasol Tree is willing to die once in exchange for Young Master being safe and unharmed. If Young Master is gone, Parasol Tree does not wish to live alone in this world either.” 419

Trivia

• Her name echoes the parasol trees growing in Xie Guan's little courtyard, which are repeatedly associated with the household's endurance and renewal 248 310.
• She loves money and carefully counts household silver, but frames saving it around Xie Guan's books and future marriage 287.
• She initially mistakes Xie Guan's cultivation-related exhaustion or unconsciousness for ordinary sleepiness or illness 404 407.