Buying the Box and Returning the Pearl
Two hours ago, the Fei Household of Xuanwei City
Several young maids were practicing sword techniques in a training ground. Amidst their laughter and playful antics, the flying swords in the air were erratic and unpredictable.
It's clear that what they called practice was actually more like play.
Even so, after practicing for less than a quarter of an hour, the group of beautiful women were exhausted and drenched in sweat. They simply abandoned their flying swords and instead began to talk enthusiastically about the Fei Household's wedding that day.
When daughters gather together and talk about these things, they naturally have a lot to say.
"Twenty-Seventh Lady's life is truly miserable. I heard she cried for days at the old lady's place, but the head of the family wouldn't change his mind and insisted that she marry that young sect leader."
"What 'junior sect leader'? That's the sect leader of a small sect, almost forty years old, and he hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage yet."
"Ah, how could the patriarch be like this? Even the daughters of the main branches of the family wouldn't marry into such families. No wonder the sisters in Twenty-Seventh Lady's courtyard are always sighing and complaining."
"Who told them they were so unlucky to be born as maids to illegitimate daughters? If they were like us, serving the legitimate daughters, they would be serving princes or noblemen alongside them in the future. If only..."
"What if? You little slut, do you perhaps still wish to bear children and become the mistress of the house?"
"Hmph, Sister Yu is just laughing at me. I'm going to tell Miss on you!"
The younger maids led a group of beautiful girls, noisily flying back to a quiet courtyard on their swords, their laughter echoing along the way, their youthful exuberance unrestrained.
"Miss, young lady..." The maids' voices suddenly stopped. On the rattan chair in the courtyard, which had always belonged only to the young lady, sat a slender Daoist priest with a vast and unfathomable aura.
Even the usually fiercest disciplinarian, Nanny Sun, was now standing meekly to the side, just like an ordinary old servant woman, not daring to utter a word.
How could a man have entered Green Lotus Courtyard? This will ruin the young lady's reputation! What are the servants and guards doing?!
Some of the maids were quick-witted and were about to release a magic talisman to summon someone.
But then the beautiful young lady stood up and bowed gracefully to the Daoist priest. "Shuhe greets Your Excellency."
"Such a beautiful face, no wonder she is the eldest daughter of the Fei Household," Kuang Liuting said softly, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked Fei Shuhe up and down without any ulterior motives.
"Come with me." Kuang Liuting's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
"Shuhe, may I ask, is this about Twenty-Seventh Lady?" Fei Shuhe bit her lip slightly, her brows furrowed, revealing a delicate face like Xi Shi clutching her heart, and asked softly.
"So you all knew all along, and only Fei Nanying like a fool." Kuang Liuting sneered, stood up and walked towards Fei Shuhe.
The previously silent Nanny Sun mustered her courage and stood protectively in front of Fei Shuhe, saying in a trembling voice, "My lord, please allow me to report..."
Before Nanny Sun could finish speaking, the old woman felt a tremendous force strike her. Knowing she couldn't dodge and dared not, she was sent flying and crashed into the spirit barrier on the courtyard wall.
Having suffered countless injuries from the shockwaves of the spiritual energy, he groaned and vomited blood.
"Nanny Sun!" Fei Shuhe called out anxiously, wanting to help her up, but seeing Kuang Liuting's expression, she hesitated and dared not move.
The maids, unaware of the gravity of the situation, rushed over and helped Nanny Sun to her feet.
"None of the men in this entire Fei Household dare to utter a sound, so who are you, an old woman who doesn't know any manners, to stop me?" Kuang Liuting said with displeasure.
"Alas, Lady Fei Song greets the Earl." Amidst the chaotic weeping of the maids, a richly dressed old woman silently stepped into the courtyard.
The old woman spoke again, her face filled with sorrow. "Please, Your Excellency, show mercy!"
Kuang Liuting walked straight past the old woman without stopping. "Madam, you must be sensible now. You bear the imperial decree bestowed by the Holy Emperor, and should be self-disciplined and devoted to public service, teaching the Fei Household's sons to be loyal to the king. These good-for-nothing scoundrels of your family have done this; it shouldn't have required my personal intervention. You have failed in your duty!"
The old woman sighed again, extending her cane to stop him. "I hope Your Excellency will consider Ye Shui's sake."
Kuang Liuting didn't stop. He just glanced down and saw that the dove-shaped staff lying in front of him seemed to have been shattered by an invisible force, turning into dust.
The old woman let out a muffled groan, her eyes revealing deep fear. Her face turned pale, her legs trembled, and she dared not stop her any longer.
"Listen well, Madam. I have already shown respect to the Grand Pillar of Fei Household by not killing anyone today. Even if the Grand Pillar of State were here to my face, I would say the same thing." Kuang Liuting returned the bow and said nothing more.
The Daoist priest raised his hand, and a gust of wind Fei Shuhe, whose face was filled with sorrow. The maids could no longer contain themselves and let out a series of heart-wrenching cries.
As soon as Kuang Liuting left, all the prominent figures from the Fei Household's She Mountain Hall who had come from the south crowded into the courtyard.
"Madam, what should we do!"
"He'er was summoned by Ancestor Ye Shui back then; her future is limitless."
"Even if He'er can't become an empress or queen, she should still marry into a powerful family. How can she? Alas!"
"Our She Mountain Hall has an ancestor named Ye Shui. The Kuang Household may be emperors, but what's so great about them? They can't bully people like this!"
"Bang, bang, bang." The old woman's face was ashen as she slammed her hands on the stone table in the courtyard, silencing the clamor and noise of the men inside.
"Kuang Liuting has only been gone a short time, he's just a Foundation Establishment! Go and bring him back! Go after him! Go!" The old woman looked around, and these juniors who usually boasted of their outstanding abilities did not dare to look her in the eye, shrinking their heads down like quails.
"All you ever do is harp on about social status and family background. Look what's happened! For the sake of Twenty-Seventh Lady Sister, a mere illegitimate daughter, you've ruined Shuhe! She's the daughter of the legitimate line of my She Mountain Hall!"
"You're all useless! When you were hiding Twenty-Seventh Lady, didn't you say it was foolproof? You were all so bold! How come you've all lost your nerve now? Don't you Fei Household's reputation anymore? Aren't you afraid of being called despicable?!"
"You're all useless parasites! The Fei Household, with you Fei Household, what's the point of having any prestige? You've completely disgraced Fei Ye Shui! You're all trash! Trash!"
The old woman cursed angrily, her rage uncontrollable, and turned to go back into the house.
After the old woman left, the group looked at each other in silence for a moment before filing out.
One of the Fei Household leaders was still red with anger when he caught a glimpse of Nanny Sun, who was slumped in the arms of a maid, just before leaving the door.
His eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he walked over and pulled the maid out, causing the maids to gasp in alarm. "Fifth Master!"
The Fifth Master, his feet imbued with Gang Qi and his face contorted with Sha Qi, strode forward and stomped hard on Nanny Sun's chest, yelling, "Useless trash!"
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(Are there any easy-to-use software programs that can create clearer relationship diagrams?)