Chapter Five: Acknowledging One’s Ancestry and Returning to the Family

“You are the daughter of the Yu family by birth. To be acknowledged and return to your ancestral home is a blessing that people could pray for their whole lives and never receive—yet you want to run away? Under the watchful eyes of the Yu family guards, do you really think you can escape?” Mu Qingxi reached out anxiously to touch her daughter’s forehead, as if checking whether her mind had been burned.

Yu Youwei took her mother’s hand and scolded softly, “I’m perfectly clear-headed. When something happens out of the ordinary, there’s always a reason. Mother, the Yu family has ignored me for years, and now suddenly they want me to return and marry in someone’s stead? If there’s nothing shady about this, then I must be mad.”

“I’ve asked around. They say you are to marry far away, and Fourth Madam can’t bear to part with her daughter,” Mu Qingxi replied, revealing a secret she had kept from her daughter all these years: the Yu family had actually provided living expenses befitting a legitimate daughter, even her nursemaids and attendants were sent by the Yu family. The elders hadn’t summoned her back simply because they didn’t want to upset Fourth Madam.

“It’s always about Fourth Madam. Because they fear she’ll be upset, I couldn’t be acknowledged by the Yu family and had to live at Mu Manor as an illegitimate child. Now, because she can’t bear her daughter to marry far away, I must return and marry in her place. Did I owe them something in a previous life?”

“My daughter, at least return to your ancestral home before you flee, alright? Your father also hoped…” Momentarily forgetting herself, Mu Qingxi mentioned Yu Youwei’s father, then realized her mistake and hurriedly drank from her soup bowl, only to scald her tongue and stick it out in pain.

Yu Youwei’s mood, so gloomy moments ago, was brightened by her mother’s adorable antics. She shook her head and laughed, “Don’t be nervous. I won’t force you to talk about my father.” She took the teacup from her mother’s hands and gently wiped away the stray tears from her beautiful face. “Knowing the Yu family is a fire pit, even if my father’s spirit watches from the afterlife, he wouldn’t want me to jump in.”

“Your father really did say that once you were born, you should be registered under Madam’s name, and if you were a girl, you should be married off as the legitimate daughter of the Yu family, with all due honor,” Mu Qingxi persisted, her lovely, childlike face clouded with sorrow.

“Yu Shiyu told me my name was already added to the family register before the Ning family came. Look, this is my identity token, I’ve already bound it with my blood. I am now the Ninth Miss of the Yu family.” Yu Youwei produced a maple leaf-shaped yellow jade, its veins clearly visible within. She infused it with spiritual power and a “Yu” character appeared on the front, with detailed personal information on the back.

The identity tokens of the Yu clan could not be forged. Mu Qingxi recognized it, and after examining it, was so moved she clutched the token and turned to kneel at the door, kowtowing, “It’s the spirit of Fourth Master watching over us—Youwei has finally returned to her family!”

This had nothing to do with her late father, Yu Youwei thought with a wry smile. Clearly, the Yu family had discovered her value and wanted to use her. Still, she couldn’t help but admire how her mother remained loyal to a man gone for so many years.

“Youwei, you must return to the clan. Marrying into the Ning family isn’t a bad thing. Seventh Lord Ning is honorable and Seventh Madam Ning is kind-hearted. Even if Fourth Young Master is somewhat unsuitable, it’s still better than marrying a commoner,” Mu Qingxi suddenly jumped up and grabbed Yu Youwei’s hand, her eyes full of unspeakable worry.

Yu Youwei took a sip of the wild mushroom soup, set down her spoon, and wiped her lips with a handkerchief, speaking slowly, “Even if it’s to marry a fool or an invalid, does it not matter?”

“Listen to your mother—just marry,” Mu Qingxi pleaded, her moist eyes revealing her panic. She wanted to say more, but swallowed her words.

“Is Fourth Madam so formidable?” Yu Youwei asked, curious but not expecting an answer. To her surprise, her mother replied unexpectedly.

Mu Qingxi compared herself to a rough porcelain bowl, and Fourth Madam Yu to a flawless jade vase—precious, fragile, beloved by all. After marrying into the Yu family, she was doted upon by elders and protected by sisters-in-law and uncles. When Fourth Master Yu passed away, for fear that his widow would be saddened by memories, the matriarch sent away all the maids who had served in his quarters, including Mu Qingxi herself, who was already confirmed to be pregnant. Even though Fourth Master had only one daughter.

“If you refuse to marry into the Ning family, then Miss Rushuang will have to marry in your place, and Fourth Madam will be heartbroken. Our whole Mu family will suffer,” Mu Qingxi murmured.

Yu Youwei grasped her mother’s hand. Years of sword training had left heavy calluses, and an old scar stretched across her palm, ugly as a centipede. Rolling up her sleeve revealed several wounds, old and new, on her arm. Yu Youwei, changing the subject, said, “Don’t work so hard. Learn to care for yourself—live for yourself.”

“Wei’er, I…”

“I’ll go with Yu Shiyu tomorrow. Mother, go tell them,” Yu Youwei said, releasing her mother’s hand and smiling. She rose and returned to her own room, closing the door and leaving her mother’s complicated gaze outside.

Yu Youwei’s room was small and sparsely furnished—not because her mother begrudged her comforts, but because she preferred simplicity and openness. The bookshelf opposite her bed spanned the entire wall, filled with books of every kind. In the center of the room stood a carved rosewood desk, with a double-eared vase holding freshly cut osmanthus.

A red-billed sparrow chirped and hopped along the desk, unafraid as she approached, its beady black eyes lively and intelligent. Sitting at the desk, Yu Youwei caught the bird and removed a tiny paper scroll from its leg. Unfurling it, she found a palm-sized map with a red line drawn across it. One end was marked “Mu Manor,” the other “Dongling City.” Along the line, three red dots appeared, but they were unlabelled.

After a brief glance, Yu Youwei sandwiched the map between her fingers, summoning two blue-white flames from her fingertips. The map burned quickly to ashes. She tossed the ashes into the ink on her writing table, then walked to the window and threw the red-billed sparrow outside, before returning to her bed and lying down fully clothed.

Soon, a faint red glow began to radiate from Yu Youwei, pulsing gently with her breath, forming ripples centered on her. This strange phenomenon lasted until dawn, when the red light faded and she opened her eyes, exhaling deeply.

She tugged the cord by her bed, and a bell sounded outside. The maids promptly brought water for her to wash, and the nursemaid came in to pack her belongings. Having been betrayed by her maidservants in a previous life, Yu Youwei was cold and distant to those around her, and they were always cautious in speech and action. Even today, knowing that she might never return, not one of them uttered a single unnecessary word.

“Leave me be,” Yu Youwei waved her hand, dismissing the maids before returning to the couch.

“Wei’er, it’s time to set out,” Mu Qingxi entered, her eyes swollen and red like a bruised peach, clearly sleepless all night.

Yu Youwei stretched lazily and sat up, glancing at the misty morning outside. She yawned, “It’s early. Yu Shiyu, that incorrigible flirt, would never rise so soon.”

“Second Young Master is diligent in his cultivation, just like Fourth Master was—always up before dawn. He’s already having breakfast,” Mu Qingxi came and sat beside her, head bowed like a remorseful child, choking out, “Youwei, am I very cold-hearted? Knowing there is something wrong with marrying into the Ning family, yet still forcing you to do so.”