Chapter 103: Wang Yuyan: Something’s Not Right…

Wang Yuyan furrowed her brows as she studied her mother closely.

All of a sudden, she noticed that her mother’s face was lightly painted with makeup, her eyes faintly shadowed, which only made her naturally beautiful features appear even more radiant and captivating.

Looking again at the delicate hand revealed when she picked up vegetables, its fingertips tinted with finely applied fengxianhua juice, her doubts deepened even further.

Her mother had always been dignified and proper, and seldom dressed up with makeup in such a way.

In fact, for as long as she could remember since childhood, she had never once seen it.

This was…

What was going on?

She pondered for a long while, recalling what her close maid Xiaocui had mentioned to her some days ago.

Could it be… related to that matter?

“Mother, I heard that some time ago, a guest came to the manor?”

Wang Yuyan asked curiously.

She truly was curious.

For so many years, Mantuo Shanzhuang had never entertained any guests.

Even relatives from her aunt and cousin’s side—who had family ties—were not liked by her mother.

Disputes had arisen, and visits had grown rare.

Much less would she invite someone to actually stay at the manor.

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang’s palm trembled slightly, and her chopsticks nearly slipped. Fortunately, she managed to hold them steady without losing composure.

Her face betrayed nothing, and her voice was indifferent as she said: “There was a guest, yes. But you need not concern yourself with such matters.”

Wang Yuyan had always held great respect for her mother, so when she heard this, she dared not ask further.

But sometimes, the less one was told, the more curiosity was stirred.

Had Madam Wang casually explained a few words, perhaps Wang Yuyan would have quickly lost interest.

She was not, by nature, someone who had to dig to the bottom of everything.

But since her mother deliberately refused to give a clear answer, she could not help but develop the urge to investigate.

🍃

Three days later.

Wang Yuyan dismissed her personal maid, chose her timing carefully, and secretly made her way toward the pavilion where Madam Wang lived.

“Mother always delays her evening meal. That must mean she’s occupied with something during the hours between afternoon and night…”

On her face faintly appeared the excitement of a child about to uncover a grown-up’s secret.

For Wang Yuyan, who had grown up entirely within Mantuo Shanzhuang without ever touching the outside world, this was undeniably thrilling.

When she arrived near the pavilion, a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes.

She noticed that not a single servant or maid was anywhere nearby.

It was as if all of them had been sent away early.

Yet she herself was moving forward cautiously and nervously, as if treading on thin ice.

Her lotus steps lightly carried her upstairs, all the while listening for sounds.

“Hm… why is there no sound?”

Could it be that her mother wasn’t here?

Wang Yuyan felt some doubt. Then, turning the thought over, she recalled that her mother often went to the small pavilion in the garden to admire the camellias. Perhaps she was there now?

As these thoughts ran through her mind, she had already reached the door of the room, where a faint, lingering fragrance seeped through.

She stood at the doorway, hesitating.

If her mother wasn’t inside, she couldn’t just run in on her own. Should Madam Wang find out, she would certainly be scolded.

After thinking for a moment, she stretched out her little hand and knocked softly, whispering: “Mother, are you in there?”

No sooner had the words left her lips than she seemed to hear something inside—a muffled groan, faint yet audible.

Wang Yuyan frowned and hesitated: “Mother, so you are in your room. Are you unwell?”

No one replied for a long while.

She called softly a few more times, but still received no answer.

Involuntarily, her face showed some anxiety.

What was happening to her mother?

Even if she were occasionally impatient, she would never ignore her daughter like this.

Just as she was about to push open the door, suddenly, creak!—the door opened.

Standing behind it was Madam Wang, dressed in a rose-red ruqun, glittering all over with jewelry and pearls, blocking Wang Yuyan’s way inside.

Upon seeing her, Madam Wang frowned and scolded in a low voice: “You little girl, why are you shouting about nothing!?”

The sharpness of her words made Wang Yuyan feel a stab of fear in her heart.

But as she cast her eyes around, she noticed something strange.

How had her mother dressed herself up so gorgeously?

Compared to the previous evening’s meal, she was even more lavishly adorned.

A droplet-shaped pearl hairpin was pinned slantwise in her hair, her cloud-like locks arranged neatly into an elegant bun, her face painted with just the right amount of makeup. Her naturally beautiful features now appeared all the more regal and charming.

A soft blush tinged her cheeks, adding another layer of allure.

Wang Yuyan wanted to look more closely, but Madam Wang’s brows tightened as she snapped: “I’m asking you a question!”

With her head lowered, Wang Yuyan murmured: “I saw that Mother has been busy these past days, so I wanted to come and see you.”

Madam Wang’s expression turned somewhat unnatural. She gave a light hmm and said: “Mother is fine. I was only… only practicing martial arts. You mustn’t disturb me, do you understand?”

On hearing this, Wang Yuyan felt both enlightened and puzzled.

Her mother, like herself, had never had much interest in martial arts—only practicing occasionally and without much devotion.

Why had she suddenly become so intent on training these days?

But Wang Yuyan didn’t dwell too much on it. Instead, she beamed with joy and said: “Mother, you’re practicing martial arts? What style is it? Can Yuyan have a look? I—I’ve read so many martial arts manuals. Maybe I can even help you~”

Madam Wang knew well that her daughter wasn’t boasting.

She was infatuated with Murong Fu, and in order to please him, had forced herself to study every martial arts manual in the Langhuan Jade Cave from cover to cover.

Not only had she read them, but she had understood them thoroughly.

In terms of martial arts theory, Madam Wang admitted she was far inferior to her daughter.

However…

A blush spread faintly across her face, though she forced herself to stay calm. Shaking her head lightly, she said: “No need. The martial arts Mother is practicing require stillness and privacy. No one else can be present. Yuyan, you must return first.”

On hearing this, Wang Yuyan was disappointed, but could only nod in agreement.

Madam Wang’s tone carried a hint of urging: “Hurry now, don’t wander about. Do you understand?”

Wang Yuyan responded with an “Oh,” then turned and walked a few steps. Suddenly, she looked back and asked: “Mother, is there… someone else inside your room?”

She had caught, with a fleeting glance earlier, the vague outline of a tall and broad-shouldered figure.

This stirred doubts within her heart.

Madam Wang, who had just begun to relax, immediately tensed up again. Her brows knitted as she rebuked sharply: “What nonsense are you spouting!?”

Wang Yuyan pursed her lips: “But I saw it. There’s someone inside. Is it the guest who has recently come to Mantuo Shanzhuang?”

Madam Wang’s face flushed red and pale by turns, her expression extremely unnatural.

Seeing this made Wang Yuyan even more suspicious. She was just about to speak again when Madam Wang barked: “These are matters for adults. You are but a little girl—don’t meddle! Get back to your room right away! You’re not allowed to go anywhere, did you hear!?”

With that, she turned around and shut the door.

Wang Yuyan stood there in a daze, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Her vision blurred, and with sadness in her heart, she ran off in distress.

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FOOTNOTES

* * * * fengxianhua(凤仙花): Also known as balsam flower. In traditional Chinese culture, women would often crush its petals to use as a natural dye for nails, giving them a delicate pinkish-red tint.

* * * * Mantuo Shanzhuang(曼陀山庄): Literally “Mandara Villa,” the residence of Wang Yuyan and her mother, Madam Wang. A reclusive and elegant estate, isolated from the outside world.

* * * * ruqun(襦裙): A traditional Chinese garment consisting of a blouse (ru) and a skirt (qun).

* * * * Langhuan Jade Cave(琅嬛玉洞): A legendary place in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils where countless martial arts manuals were stored.