Chapter Text
For the past four months, Head Maid Yu was infuriated.
First, she saw the prince she served severely injured. Just from looking at those insignias imprinted on his body, she could tell that the eastern cultivators managed to banded together to frame him.
Second, she found out her pathetic son betrayed her nephew-in-law. She found out that he believed that son of a wh*re, Jin Guangyao, over the 2nd Prince.
Third, she found out that it was Jin Guangyao who plotted Wei Wuxian's downfall. The Lotus Pier Massacre, her daughter's death, Wei Wuxian's 2nd "death", and his betrayal.
Fourth, she believes that there's no chance for her, her family, and the 2nd Prince's relationship after the whole incident. Knowing the prince himself, she knows that it is near impossible for their relationship to mend again.
Head Maid Yu herself wasn't always this keen on trying to mend their relationship. In fact, before she served him, she used to despise his existence, all because he was the son of someone she loathe due to jealousy. She was once known as Yu Ziyuan, the Purple Violent Spider, proud wife of Jiang Fengmian, former Clan Leader of the YunmengJiang Sect who was jealous of Cangse Sanren.
So then, how was she reduced to become the Wei royal family's head maid and Wei Wuxian's personal servant?
Before that, there is something that no one — except for Jiang Fengmian and Wei Changze — knows and that is that she wasn't jealous of Cangse Sanren for stealing Jiang Fengmian's attention and love. No. She already knew that she and Jiang Fengmian are siblings. In fact, only she, Jiang Fengmian, and Wei Changze knew that they were siblings. Cangse Sanren herself doesn't know because she lost most of her childhood memories due to an "accident" when they were still children. Instead, she was jealous of Wei Changze.
The Jiang and Wei couples were once best friends since their academy days. However, their relationship deteriorated once all four of them have feelings for one another. Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze were obvious. Jiang Fengmian loves Wei Changze. Yu Ziyuan herself has feelings for Cangse Sanren.
Yes. She has feelings for her. And it wasn't just an innocent love. She was completely enamoured and obsessed with her.
Everyone knew that she was a jealous woman. Indeed she was. She made sure to show it to everyone. But, she purposely directed her jealousy to both Jiang Fengmian and Cangse Sanren so that no one would know that she was jealous of Wei Changze instead for stealing Cangse Sanren's heart.
Jiang Fengmian himself knew of this. As the two were engaged due to an arranged marriage set up by both of their clans — MeishanYu and YunmengJiang — they both made an agreement and set up a plan to show that Jiang Fengmian was inloved with his sister* and Yu Ziyuan jealous of them as both of their clan elders despised homosexuals.
[* = YunmengJiang did not know that Cangse Sanren was the biological half-sister of Jiang Fengmian as they did not include her in the family registry. Only Jiang Fengmian's father and Jiang Fengmian himself knew and he approved of their plan in order to throw off the elders' suspicions off their backs as well as to protect their only daughter/sister.]
When she found out that Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze had a son, she was infuriated. How dare that Changze defiled her precious treasure?! And when she found out that both Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren died with their son's status unknown, she was both distraught and glad. Distraught because her treasure and her former best friend died. Glad because Wei Changze is dead, not knowing that he's actually alive.
When Jiang Fengmian brought in Wei Wuxian to the clan, cannon events happened.
During the Lotus Pier massacre, it was when things went both downhill and confusing at the same time. She ordered Wei Wuxian to protect her children while she stayed behind to defend Lotus Pier along with Jiang Fengmian.
Before she thought that she would die from the severe injuries she sustained, she remembered Jiang Fengmian saying something to her with a weird expression on his face (she could not clearly see the expression on his face as her vision began to blur).
"San-niang, ■■■■■■■ ■■. ■■■■ver, I ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■ ch■■■e ■■■ to ■■ ■■■■. You ■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■ h■■ ■■■ his ■■■■■■. ■■ is ■■■ ■■■■■ w■■■ y■■r ■■■■■■■■■ to■■■ds ■■■."
A year later, she woke up within Chang'an Palace Maids Quarters and found out that she was in a coma for a year. She lost most of her memories and the only thing she remembered was that she loved someone and that she had done an unforgivable thing towards said someone's son. She didn't know who rescued her as she had no memories of who had done it.
Her first three years of being a servant in Chang'an Palace was hell. She was severely mistreated by the servants, doing things like pushing her, ordering her like a dog, lashing her, whipping her, etc. Of course she fought back as even though she lost her memories, she still retained her attitude toward those lower than her.
When she saw Wei Wuxian on her fourth year as a servant, her memories started to slowly come back. She remember her mistreatment towards Cangse's son. She felt guilty of how she treated him. She tried to ask for his forgiveness through apologizing and through actions by serving him. Imagine to her shock when she found out that her love rival, Wei Changze, was actually the former crown prince and that Wei Wuxian is of royalty himself.
With Jūn Huángdì (君皇帝 – Emperor Jun – Wei Chengyu) himself promoted her to the position as Head Maid and appointed her as Wei Wuxian's personal servant, she saw how much he persevere, how much he change, from a self-sacrificing, forgiving man to a sadistic and ruthless warmonger. She saw the child she once abused turned into a no-nonsense unforgiving prince. She could still remember the cold look on his face when he told her that he wouldn't forgive her for all her abuse to him and the sadistic smirk on his face when he said that she still has some use to him.
Oh yes, indeed. She knows that there will be no chance of him forgiving them. So instead, she'll just prove herself to be useful to him so that he won't get rid of her and, hopefully, at least, get his approval of not to destroy them too much.
Oh, how the tables have turned. Fate really works in strange ways.
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[A week after Jin Guangyao and Su Minshan/She's execution, at the Audience Hall of Chang'an Main Palace...]
"Your majesty, his highness the 2nd Prince is already in his late thirties. Should not he be married and have an heir?"
Rows of officials, nobles, clan leaders, and even sect leaders from different sects all over the Northern Wei Dynasty are all present in the meeting for one matter: the 2nd Prince, Wei Wuxian's status as single. It may look like they all show concern for him as he still does not have any wives or concubines and heirs. However, all of it is just a ploy in order for them to achieve one common goal: having their daughters marry him and elevate their statuses further.
Jūn Huángdì, Baihe Huánghôu, and Wei Wuxian all looked at them stoically with disgust hidden behind their expressions. Those old b*stards just wanted power to control the royal family. The nerve of them!
Before Jūn Huángdì could reply, Wei Wuxian beat him to it. "Indeed, you are correct. I am in my late thirties. However, what does my status as being wifeless have to do with any of you, hm? Why does it concern you?"
All the people present could only quiver in fear as he released a small amount of killing intent mixed with a small amount of Qi. One brave noble, Hong Gongzhuan, the 礼部 (Lîbù - Minister of Rites), answered his question. "Your highness, the 2nd Prince, we only brought this matter out of concern for you. All of the other princes and princesses were already either married and have wives or husbands or were engaged. We feared that you being unmarried will lead to rumors of you being impotent and ruin your reputation."
His reply made both Jūn Huángdì and Baihe Huánghôu mad.
"What kind of nonsense are you saying?!"
"Since when did you assume that my nephew is impotent?!"
Wei Wuxian calmed them both down. "Shūshu, shěnshen, please. It's alright. Let me address this." He then turn to face the officials, nobles, and sect leaders present.
"You do have a point, Hong Gongzhuan. However, let me clarify to you all. I am not impotent as what those rumors say. And yes, I already know about those rumors. I am perfectly capable of impregnating women. But, I do not plan on marrying or impregnating anyone yet. I may be in my late thirties but that does not mean my time will be over soon. It seems that you have all forgotten that I am a cultivator, am I not? And as a cultivator, I am but a babe to them in terms of age. Also, there are some of you here who are sect leaders so I know that you guys know what I am talking about."
The sect leaders themselves all felt like wanting to dig a hole and be burried six feet underground. They have completely forgotten the fact that Wei Wuxian himself is a cultivator.
Seeing all of their expressions, Wei Wuxian's mouth formed a small smirk. He found their idiocy amusing.
"I will try to consider your suggestions. All of you, give me your suggestions on who you think I should marry. And you may bring your daughters or nieces here. I want to see them for myself."
His decision made them glee internally. Wei Wuxian, while sipping his assam red tea, was amused by their change of expression. "You better hurry up, though. I will give you five hours to call them here. If I see even a single one of you late for even a second or if any of you are running away, then say goodbye to your limbs and cores*," said he as he grinned sadistically.
[*cores: Yes. Cores. I did not specify whether they have golden cores or silver cores as the Sect Leaders present here have either golden or silver cores. It will be a pain to describe which one has which in this chapter. I'll reveal it in the future.]
This made them all pale as they hurriedly set out to find their daughters and or nieces. Once every single one of them are gone and the doors are closed, Wei Wuxian, who stopped sipping his tea, crushed his cup. A very abhorent expression made way on his face. His killing intent barely surpressed.
"Those fools. Do they think that they can manipulate me by marrying their daughters and sons to ME?"
Jūn Huángdì and Baihe Huánghôu both shivered in fear. Asides from being emperor and empress of Northern Wei Empire, they are both cultivators as well. However, they are both only at Nascent Soul Stage, with Jūn Huángdì at Peak-tier and Baihe Huánghôu at Mid-tier. They could barely survived from the killing intent Wei Wuxian leaked out. If it were not for the fact that he tried to surpass it, then his parental figures/uncle and aunt would be killed instantly.
Baihe Huánghôu tried to apease him, sweat running down her face from fear. "Y-Ying'er, please c-calm d-down. T-Try to repress your k-killing intent. You m-might end up k-killing our s-servants from f-fear."
Seeing the fearful expressions on their faces, Wei Wuxian retracted his killing intent. He sighed in defeat. "Forgive me, shūshu, shěnshen. I could barely control myself."
"It's quite alright, Ying," replied Jūn Huángdì as he touched his shoulder in assurance. Both the emperor and empress could not blame him. His reaction is, after all, justifiable. How would anyone calm down after being told such irritating, useless, and baseless rumors and being manipulated to marry someone they do not love?
Baihe Huánghôu asked in a worried voice, "What will you do with all of this, Ying-er?"
Wei Wuxian thought for a while. He then turned to them with an unreadable expression on his face. "You need not worry, shūshu, shěnshen. I know what to do."
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[Five hours later...]
All of the officials, nobles, and sect leaders went to their assigned seats with their daughters or nieces in tow. With Wei Wuxian giving them the go signal, Huang Wuji, a 4th Division General who was also one of the elders of the Kunlun Immortal Sect from West Northern Wei Dynasty, stepped forward, bowed his head, and formally introduced a beautiful woman in sky blue robes with her hair tied up to a half bun, who also bowed in reverence.
"主公 (Zhŭgōng – Your Highness), this is my daughter, Huang Xirong. She is 32 years old and excels in spear cultivation and is already in the Late-tier Golden Core Stage. She also has great temperament and has a knack for politics and strategizing. She can be an excellent wife for you, zhŭgōng."
Wei Wuxian nodded his head, mildly amused. "Intriguing. She is a genius, for someone from Bao'an County**. Your region has restricted amount of Qi, is it not? Even with the lack of spiritual energy for her to cultivate due to the restrictions your ancestors had placed in there, she actually managed to become a Late-tier Golden Core."
[** = Ancient name of Shenzhen]
"That is correct, zhŭgōng."
Another official named Wang Fugui, the 户部 (Hùbù - Minister of Revenue), did the same thing as Huang Wuji.
"Zhŭgōng, may I introduce you to my niece, Wang Yui. She is in her mid twenties and is a sword cultivator."
"I have seen plenty of sword cultivators already. What is unique about her?"
"Compared to the other sword cultivators, zhŭgōng, she can already manifest Sword Qi and can literally use any objects she touch as a sword. She is also at Peak-tier Golden Core Stage."
"Impressive. For someone so young as her, she can already manifest Sword Qi."
One by one, the officials, nobles, and Sect Leaders introduced their daughters and nieces, emphasizing their strengths, talents, and even their Stages. Once they finished presenting the women, Wei Wuxian scrutinized each and every one of the people in the room. Beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads and cheeks from fear and nervousness of being judged by the 2nd prince. Who would not? Everyone knows of Wei Wuxian being a ruthless person.
A minute has passed and Wei Wuxian finished judging them all. But for everyone else in the room, it felt like hours. His decision made them all wide eyed in shock and disbelief.
"I have decided. I, Wei Wuxian, will never marry. Nor will I have any lovers or concubines. If I were to become the next Emperor, I will choose an heir/heiress of MY choice."
All of the officials, nobles, and sect leaders tried to protest.
"But, zhŭgōng—"
"Please think this through!"
"It is your duty as the prince!"
Their comments, especially the last one, made Wei Wuxian extremely mad. His killing intent released and out of control. This made everyone dropped down on their knees, choked in fear. Some even passed out from the extreme killing intent.
"How DARE you question MY DECISION?! Worthless, impertinent fools!! If I say that I will not marry, then I WILL not marry!!! I am a cultivator!! I was and am one even before I am a prince!!! Who are you to decide on what my duty is?!"
Then as if someone slapped some sense in him, he retracted down his killing intent. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed in regret and guilt. D*mn it. I almost forgot that there are still innocent mortals here. I almost killed everyone with my killing intent alone.
Wanting to leave the room to clear his head, he rose up from his throne and headed towards the door. Before he could open it as the servants at the doorway passed out from fear, he manipulated his Qi to encompass the unconcioused servants and levitated their bodies. He then turned towards the officials, nobles, sect leaders, and their daughters and nieces.
"Be grateful that I am being merciful today and that I decided not to kill you right now. However, if you decided to repeat this bullsh*t of yours again, make no mistake. I WILL ruin you all and I WILL end your miserable lives."
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To be continued...
Next chapter: Searching For Wei Wuxian