“Lu Xianyi, my daughter… she should be alright, right?”
In the main bedroom of the Shangguan family’s main courtyard, Shangguan Hongzhi was helping an elderly man sit down, his face full of worry.
Behind them, Lin Yayue sat at the bedside, tightly holding Shangguan Qiuyue’s pale, sickly hand, her face streaked with tears.
“This incurable bone disease has been with Qiuyue ever since she was born. Before, we could ease it using Yun Mu’s blood, but now…”
The white-haired elder, known as Lu Xianyi, shook his head and looked up at the man pouring tea for him.
“Hongzhi, the Liu Li Bone might manifest earlier than expected, but…”
“But?”
Shangguan Hongzhi pushed the nearly full cup of hot tea in front of the elder and sat opposite him.
“Xianyi, please speak freely. This is, after all, a matter of my daughter’s life.”
“Sigh… come closer. Look at Madam’s condition—I fear any more shock might harm her.”
At the whispered words, the Shangguan patriarch hurriedly stood, leaving the still-cooling stool, and respectfully bent closer to the elder’s side.
“It will require… the Heart’s Blood of a pair of Tongnan Tongnv as a catalyst, to be given to Qiuyue before the Exchange Bone Technique.”
“Tongnan Tongnv?”
Shangguan Hongzhi covered his mouth, nearly letting his doubt slip out.
“Lu Xianyi, are you looking down on me? You know this isn’t difficult for me. Could there be any other special conditions?”
The white-haired elder shook his head, stood, glanced once at the mother and daughter on the bed, then sighed,
“Let’s discuss this outside.”
With that, the two men left the room, one following the other.
“Sir, please instruct me…”
After closing the door, Shangguan Hongzhi cupped his fists and bowed.
Though the head of one of the capital’s greatest families, he was unusually humble in this moment.
“You should understand the great risk involved in the Exchange Bone Technique, or rather, forcibly transferring the Liu Li Bone into Qiuyue’s body.”
“Of course. The Liu Li Bone is an innate immortal bone. My daughter is but an ordinary mortal. Forcing such a change would only harm her.”
“Exactly. That’s why I planned for the procedure to take place during her Xingxing Day’s first week. By then, she would have stepped onto the path of cultivation, greatly reducing the risk,”
Lu Xianyi turned to look at him,
“Not to mention, you also wish to replace her eyes. At that point, even exchanging her Meridians wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Meridians…?”
Hearing this, Shangguan Hongzhi’s eyes gleamed sharply as he suddenly looked up.
“Lu Xianyi! Is it possible…?”
“No. It’s no longer a question of whether the Meridians can be exchanged, Hongzhi. Don’t be too greedy!”
The elder’s voice grew passionate after a long silence, catching the patriarch off guard.
“Ap… apologies…”
“Enough. To put it simply, finding Tongnan Tongnv is not difficult for you, but what the young lady needs are Tongnan Tongnv whom the original owner of the exchanged bone cared about.”
He stroked his beard and looked up at the bright moon, a complex emotion flickering through his deep eyes.
“The Liu Li Bone is naturally more sensitive to emotions; it’s an inherent trait of this bone. That’s why I’ve been advising you not to overly interfere with the relationship between Qiuyue and that wild boy Yun Mu all these years.”
“Because the Liu Li Bone grows closer to Qiuyue due to his feelings, which benefits the Exchange Bone?”
“Exactly. But since the exchange is being done earlier than planned, the risk is greater. So—if the Liu Li Bone senses the Heart’s Blood of someone the previous owner cared for, it will suppress part of that risk. Thus, the expected outcome can still be achieved, with minimal error.”
“The most important part is that the Tongnan Tongnv’s Heart’s Blood balances yin and yang, protecting Qiuyue’s nature from changing due to such a sudden event after the exchange. Do you understand?”
“Her nature… being corrupted?”
Shangguan Hongzhi mulled over the words, then suddenly grabbed the elder’s arm, his face darkening.
“Why was this never mentioned before? If the illness hadn’t flared up now, would the Tongnan Tongnv’s blood have been unnecessary to find? Would Qiuyue then… become a different person?”
His tone grew heavier and his grip fiercer.
Seeing the middle-aged man about to lose control, the elder snorted coldly and slapped him hard on the abdomen.
A muffled groan escaped.
The already tense Shangguan Hongzhi’s face twisted in pain as he collapsed to his knees.
“Boy, I’m doing this out of respect for your father and for Qiuyue. Make your position clear, understand?”
“I… I’m sorry, Lu Xianyi. I was impulsive. I’ll go prepare the people now.”
He clenched his abdomen, stood with effort, bowed apologetically, and left.
“Sigh… such a child is truly incorrigible…”
The elder sighed, stroked his long beard, then vanished like blue smoke.
In the Shangguan residence, in a western courtyard of the northern section, Shangguan Ce sat inside, his expression grave.
Before him stood a tall woman swaying like a willow in the wind, her bosom partially veiled under a light, sheer crimson gauze, rising and falling like waves.
“Young Master, why haven’t you favored me at all today?”
she purred as she stepped forward, swaying her slender waist, revealing glimpses of two snow-white legs beneath her skirt.
“Is something troubling you?”
She lifted Shangguan Ce’s chin with slender fingers, her eyes filled with longing like spring water melting in mist, seductive and clinging like silk strands.
“You can tell me. Maybe… I can help ease your troubles~”
“Ease my troubles? You’re not worthy,”
he slapped the hand away from his chin, a mocking smile curling his lips.
“This concerns Shangguan Qiuyue. What can you do? Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just a toy who pleases me with your looks.”
His words stabbed like knives to the heart, but the woman still smiled sweetly.
She chuckled and pounced on Shangguan Ce, pushing him onto the bed, her hands slowly roaming over him.
“I know my lowly birth, but I also know how to please you,”
she leaned down, biting his earlobe softly, breath like orchids.
“Once you’re satisfied, you’ll forget all about Shangguan Qiuyue… hehe…”
But before her hands could continue undressing him, a loud “smack” rang out.
The blushing woman was suddenly slapped hard, crashing against the edge of the bed and slumping against the headboard.
She clutched her already swollen right cheek, trembling all over, fighting through the pain to lift herself and face Shangguan Ce.
“Yo… Young Master, I…”
“Shut up. You don’t think you can say whatever you want just because we’re in bed, do you?”
He grabbed her hair, delivering two more slaps to her face.
“Qiuyue is the family head’s own daughter and the unquestioned future head of the Shangguan family. What do you think you are, daring to call her by her given name?”
He released her and kicked her off the bed in disgust.
“Get out. Don’t let me see you again, or I’ll kill you.”
“Y-Yes, Young Master. I’m leaving now.”
She knelt despite the pain, kowtowed several times, then limped away.
Only moments later, faint rustling sounds came from the courtyard, where the body of a young woman lay.
Shortly after, two black-clad figures entered on one knee.
“Young Master, the body…”
“Dispose of it, make sure it’s thrown far away. Also, go to the Brothel and buy a woman for me…”
He paused, licking his lips.
“No, get two. It’s too troublesome if one breaks down and I have to wait for another.”
“Yes! Young Master!”
Two shadows vanished into the night.
Shangguan Ce stared at the mess on the bed, emotions tangled.
He clicked his tongue twice and lay down.
What bad luck…
Originally, Qiuyue’s death would have been good.
After all, none of the other Shangguan men were as talented as I, and the only one more gifted was Shangguan Xunyi—and she was a woman.
Plus, with the choices we made years ago—
She chose to attend the ancient kingdom’s academy, while I stayed in the family.
Naturally, she is less close to the family head than I am.
Then—
For the sake of the family’s prosperity, the family head might choose me, this branch, as the heir…
But—
He clenched his fists, his face hardening with cruelty.
That short-lived brat just had to die right next to me.
Damn it, all because Yun Mu kept pestering Shangguan Qiuyue—
He slammed his fist against the bed again.
By the way, speaking of that bastard, why hasn’t he returned yet?
He can’t have died outside, right?
I remember the family head said he absolutely mustn’t die now…
If anything happens, it’ll just burden me.
He sat up, a ruthless gleam flashing through his eyes.
“Enough. I’ll check the stables just in case… and give him a beating. After all, he’s tough. Even after all these years of beating, he’s still alive. That’s one of his few merits.”
He got off the bed, went to his cabinet, opened it, glanced inside, and pulled out a long gray whip, tugging it twice before nodding in satisfaction.
“Hm… this whip really feels good. I’ll buy a few more next time as backup.”
As he spoke to himself, he closed the cabinet and turned to leave.
Suddenly—
Before he could step out the door, a commanding voice exploded in his mind.
[Ce’er, come to the study and see me.]
Shangguan Ce snapped to attention, wildly suppressing the fear surging within by channeling the power of the stars.
“Yes, I’m coming, Family Head.”
He cupped his fists and shouted into the air, dropped the whip, then hurried toward the main courtyard’s study.
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