Volume 3, Chapter 367 – The Cheng Family Has Two Beautiful Daughters

Watching Chi Xiyan’s expression, so resolute and unwavering, Huang Shangshang felt a flicker of surprise.

This girl figured it all out in a single night?

She snuck a sidelong glance at Lu Zhuxin.

What did Your Majesty do to make her come to a decision this quickly?

Lu Zhuxin kept her face perfectly blank.

She tapped a fingernail lightly against the edge of the table, then shifted to one side with an air of cool indifference.

Huang Shangshang immediately gave a small shudder. The tea in her hand suddenly felt scalding.

She had nearly forgotten. This cup of tea had been poured for her by Her Majesty personally.

After yesterday, her mother had told her that Her Majesty was thinking of finding her a wife, and had asked whether there was anyone she had feelings for.

Thinking about it now, the implications were terrifying.

Could it be that her performance yesterday had displeased Her Majesty?

The thought snapped Huang Shangshang back to attention. She smoothed her expression and looked at Chi Xiyan. “Since Miss Chi has found her footing, I will absolutely help you.”

“Thank you.” Chi Xiyan said. “Young Sect Master Huang’s kindness today. Xiyan will keep it close to heart.”

“It is nothing.” Huang Shangshang waved a hand. “When does Miss Chi plan to leave?”

“As soon as possible.” Chi Xiyan said.

“Alright.” Huang Shangshang said. “I will go make the arrangements.”

In truth, the moment Chi Xiyan had arrived in Qionghua Commandery, Huang Xifeng had already put everything in order.

But now, with Chi Xiyan right in front of her, Huang Shangshang still had to go through the motions.

…

Several days later.

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Shuyuan Commandery. Lijiang City.

A dust-covered carriage rolled into the city and made straight for the Cheng family’s grand mansion on the western end of town.

The Cheng household servants had received word early that morning and were already gathered outside the gate to wait.

Nearby, someone had already noticed the commotion at the Cheng residence.

“Hey! Have you heard? Today the master is bringing back the two daughters he had on the outside!”

“What? You mean the daughters of the concubine the mistress drove out over ten years ago?”

“That’s the one!”

“But what is that mistress like? Why would she suddenly allow the master to bring those two girls home?”

“Ha! Look at who’s waiting outside. Nothing but odd-job servants and guards. Not a single handmaid. My guess is the mistress doesn’t even know.”

“He’s sneaking them in?!”

“Those two girls have been living outside for over ten years. Why bring them back all of a sudden?”

“You haven’t heard?”

“Heard what?”

The speaker’s eyes went wide. “How do you not know about something this big?!”

“Her Majesty is touring the south to select consorts. The procession will reach Shuyuan Commandery before long!”

“And the selection venue for Shuyuan Commandery is right here in Lijiang City.”

“Word is that Noble Consort Wei has already arrived in Lijiang City ahead of the procession to begin drawing up the list of candidates.”

“This is the first large-scale consort selection since Her Majesty took the throne!”

“Every previous selection was controlled by the capital’s great families. They kept the spots locked up among themselves.”

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“But this time, Her Majesty has opened it to every noble family under heaven!”

“Right now, every family in Shuyuan Commandery is scrambling to enter every unmarried son and daughter they have. A single chance like this could send a family soaring to the sky!”

“So that’s why the Cheng family rushed to bring those two daughters home!”

“Exactly!”

“Noble Consort Wei is personally compiling the list for this selection. He is notoriously particular. Anyone of plain appearance, anyone of impure constitution, will be struck off immediately.”

“Who knows if these two daughters the Cheng family dragged back will be good enough to catch Noble Consort Wei’s eye.”

“Shh! Look, they’re here.”

In the middle of all the hushed chatter, a plain, unadorned carriage came to a slow stop in front of the gates of the Chi residence.

A servant stepped forward and set down the mounting step.

The carriage curtain was drawn back, and a strikingly beautiful young woman stepped down.

She lifted her clear eyes and swept a brief, unhurried gaze over the mansion before her.

So this was the place Huang Shangshang had arranged for them.

The Cheng family of Lijiang City. A perfectly ordinary noble household.

Unremarkable enough to avoid drawing attention, yet just barely meeting the threshold for the Human Empress’s consort selection.

Though judging by the residence in front of her, the Cheng family was nowhere near the Chi family’s standing.

But then, the Chi family’s wealth was not something just anyone could match.

For their current purposes, a passable identity was all they needed.

Chi Xiyan withdrew her gaze and looked back toward the carriage.

She smiled softly, her voice gentle. “Little Xue’er, wake up. No more sleeping. We have arrived.”

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“Mm…” came a drowsy, soft little sound.

Lu Zhuxin rubbed her eyes and poked her head out from inside the carriage.

“We’re here already?”

“Yes.” Chi Xiyan replied. “This is our new home.”

While they were still talking, a steward came forward to meet them.

“Two misses, the master asked me to come and receive you.”

“He asks that I bring you directly to see him.”

The steward’s tone was respectful enough on the surface, but Chi Xiyan caught the flicker of something layered and complicated in his eyes.

As the eldest daughter of the Chi family, she had long since grown accustomed to the grimy undercurrents that ran through noble households.

It seemed the identity Huang Shangshang had arranged for them carried a few minor complications of its own.

Even so, Chi Xiyan had no complaints.

She and Huang Shangshang were little more than strangers who had crossed paths by chance. That she had already taken so many risks to help them was more than enough to be grateful for.

The small troubles that came with living inside a noble family were nothing she could not handle.

“Thank you for showing us the way.” Chi Xiyan’s expression was serene. “After all, my sister and I have not seen our father in over ten years.”

“This way, please, misses.”

Chi Xiyan took Lu Zhuxin’s hand and helped her down from the carriage.

Then the two of them followed the Cheng family servants inside.

The moment the gates swung shut behind them, the crowd outside broke back into lively chatter.

“Heavens! Did you all get a look at those two Cheng misses just now?”

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“I did, I did! No wonder Master Cheng Zheng rushed to bring his daughters back. With looks like that, who would not be dazzled!”

“It seems Master Cheng is set on making something happen with this selection!”

“I only wonder what that first wife of his will say when she finds out.”

“Ha! From what I hear, the mistress’s own daughter is also planning to enter the selection. Knowing that woman’s temper, the Cheng household is about to put on quite a show.”

“Tsk, tsk!”

***

Chi Xiyan and Lu Zhuxin were completely unaware of the gossip swirling outside.

The two of them followed the Cheng family steward through the somewhat plain and modest mansion without pause.

A short while later, they came face to face with the man who was, in name, now their father.

Lijiang City. Head of the Cheng family. Cheng Zhuo.

Cheng Zhuo was a middle-aged man who had gone somewhat soft around the middle.

His cultivation was unremarkable. Peak of the Fourth Realm.

Noble family children with little natural talent tended to stall right at the threshold of the Fourth Realm.

It suited Chi Xiyan’s impression of these smaller noble clans well enough.

Cheng Zhuo sat in his chair and looked over the two daughters he had not seen in ten years.

A flash of startled admiration crossed his eyes.

These two were his daughters?

Ten years apart, and those two scrawny, plain little girls had grown up this beautiful?