Mei Lianhua stealthily glanced in that direction.
That was her Third Uncle's courtyard, where she often followed her uncle to practice chess and archery; she knew that at this time of the day, Mei Wangsheng should be feeding the cranes. But now the cranes danced in the sky, none daring to fold their wings and descend, just circling above.
The bamboo forest rustled, the branches and leaves rubbing against each other with a rustling sound.
She knew, as did everyone in the Mei Family, not to mention all the young members of the Noble Clans in Wanling State City, just how great the expectations the old Family Head of the Mei Family had for his grandson, Mei Wangsheng.
The elder looked in that direction.
Although the Mei Family had many branches and descendants, only the current Family Head in Heaven Capital City, a Third Rank Imperial Censor and Doctor, could truly be called the pillar of the family. And today, though the world seems calm, the Imperial Court has never been without its storms.
He didn't know just how much he wished for Mei Wangsheng to step out of that courtyard and enter officialdom.
With the military merits Mei Wangsheng had accumulated over the years and the support of the Mei Family, it was possible that within ten years, he could rise step by step from Danyang County into the heart of the Imperial Court, assuming a prestigious position in the Three Provinces and Six Ministries.
If his father was still alive by then, the Mei Family would have two Sea-Calming Divine Needles, pillars reaching to the heavens; even if he died, he could smile contently in the underworld, without any shame to his ancestors.
For this, he even satisfied all Mei Wangsheng's unreasonable demands, allowing him to live a life of leisure within the Mei Family, planting the finest gold-banded jade bamboo and keeping cranes that soared above the vermilion heavens, spending his days playing the zither and drinking tea, idly passing the time without ever reprimanding him.
He just hoped that one day the prodigal would return and step back onto the right path.
But Mei Wangsheng seemed to have truly become a hermit, his once sharp essence completely dissipated.
The old man saw the circling cranes begin to lower their feathers and heaved a sigh, withdrawing his gaze with a complex expression, a mix of defeat and relief.
Mei Lianhua was stunned, her eyes widening.
From that courtyard, a figure in a long robe slowly emerged. Just yesterday she knew her Third Uncle seemed to have sat kneeling inside the house all night, yet now Mei Wangsheng had already changed into a light crimson round-collared robe, his palm holding a sword, his hair black as ink, his attire whiter than snow.
Twenty-three years ago, the Third Son of the Mei Family, dressed in white, crossed the river on horseback amid the reeds.
He slowly walked forward.
The longsword in his palm sang out.
Zhu Yunmeng, outside, felt delighted as he watched those noble's sons face their disappointment, almost wishing he could clap and laugh heartily to feel fully contented, yet he restrained himself due to his status, his face turning slightly red from holding back.
He sneaked glances at the expressions of the spectators, and when he saw that almost everyone, like himself, was secretly pleased yet had to keep a serious and upright facade, he felt even more comfortable. The corners of his lips curled under his folding fan, unable to hide the playful smile in his eyes.
To conceal his expression, he used the folding fan to cover his lips and slightly lowered his head, catching sight of someone slowly approaching on the side of the street, wearing a white outfit with a white skirt, wielding a sword and walking with measured steps.
Zhu Yunmeng paused for a moment, then remembered the beautiful woman in white he had seen earlier when he came here, and yet she appeared so cautious as though she took a considerably delayed path despite heading to the Mei Family.
The sword in her hand was as elegantly cold as her eyes, which were like a painting.
The sword was slender like the wind on a mountain.
Remembering the whispers he had heard earlier, that these noble's sons had come here seeking forgiveness from the Mei Family, and then through them, to apologize to that loftiest of peaks, Zhu Yunmeng's eyes widened as he guessed the woman's identity, feeling an exciting buzz at the prospect of great drama unfolding.
The gates to the Mei residence flung wide open...
A figure strode out, with a hundred swords resonating in unison, rising in chorus!
PS: Two chapters delivered today...
Uh, I owe an apology, there's only around 4,500 words, because after more than 10,000 words last time, I was a bit tired, and the word count isn't high. Tomorrow will be back to the regular update...
PS2: Thanks to Lan Bai Wang for the generous support, very grateful (clasping hands)