Chapter Fifty-Five: Returning to Her Parental Home

Hello! Just look at all this English—if she hadn’t transmigrated here herself, Liu Ling’er would never have believed it, not in a thousand years.

She read the letter from beginning to end, then from end to beginning, and its general message went like this: “Dear Ling’er junior sister, I am your senior sister, Ma Ling’er.

You may not have heard of me, but I have foreseen that, three hundred years from now, someone like you would exist. I also foresaw that my father, whom you call that lecherous master, would take you as his disciple. So, that makes us fellow disciples, and I’ve long felt a kinship with you, even across time!

You must be very confused to receive this letter. Why would your senior sister go to such trouble to write to you? To be honest, I didn’t want to write it either, but I am ninety-nine this year. Though the Ma family’s merit in subduing demons and exorcising evil is vast, and our members live to a ripe old age, I won’t last more than another year before I ride the crane to the heavens.

One day, while basking in the sun, a sudden impulse came over me. I cast a divination on the future of the Eastern Chu kingdom and, to my surprise, discovered your existence. At the same time, I foresaw a civil strife in Eastern Chu. Both sentiment and reason compel me to help you, and I hope you can help me ensure that the descendants of the Bai Li clan do not turn on one another during that chaos.

Of course, you might wonder, why should your senior sister help you? Don’t deny it—I can tell, you’re thinking exactly that as you read this. But Ling’er, by helping me, you’ll be helping yourself. If you don’t bring balance to that turmoil, you’ll perish as well.

Alas! I don’t wish to burden others, but the Bai Li bloodline is a bit peculiar. Though men may have several wives and concubines, only the primary wife can bear children. This is connected to me, but I won’t elaborate—heh.

Three centuries from now, my descendants and those of A’Ying may slaughter each other for that wretched throne, to the point where both sides could be destroyed. Although by then my body will have returned to dust, blood is still blood. How could I bear to let such a calamity unfold?

Besides, you are both my junior sister and the granddaughter-in-law of my great-great-great-grandson. I can’t expect you to do this for nothing. In the wooden box I sent you, there is a porcelain bottle with a single pill inside. It will not only restore your inner strength but also elevate your cultivation to new heights.

There is also a jade dragon hairpin, a token of the force I established, ‘Heavenly Law,’ and the key to the inheritance hidden in the Cold Palace. As for why I left my organization in the Cold Palace—well, that place is discreet.

Inside the palace is a dried-up well. Climb down and you’ll find a mural; press both hands onto the eyes of the figure in the painting, and a secret passage will open. With your Phoenix Jade Pendant and my Jade Dragon Hairpin, you’ll be able to claim my legacy.

A word about my right-hand man, Xu Fu—he’s neither human nor demon, existing outside the Three Realms and beyond the Five Elements. Don’t be fooled by his harmless appearance; he’s actually a zombie, but I have him under control. He’s the chief enforcer in Heavenly Law, so feel free to order him as you wish!

Finally, your senior sister wishes that her brilliant, valiant, universally adored junior sister will soon escape her troubles and live with flair in this other world.

Written in the eighty-first year of the Heavenly Spirit era by Ma Ling’er.”

After reading the letter, Liu Ling’er was weeping uncontrollably. Could she curse the heavens? Was there any justice or law left in this world? This old woman had manipulated things so that only the primary wife of the Bai Li clan could bear heirs, then worried they would turn on each other for the throne, and now, after causing all this, she simply dusted off her hands and departed this life. She could rest in peace, but why did Liu Ling’er have to be so unlucky?

They say the previous generation plants the tree, and the next enjoys the shade—but this was clearly a case of the previous generation making a mess and the next cleaning it up!

All she wanted was to live quietly, drifting through life—not play the savior to the suffering masses. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone? Despite her misery, Liu Ling’er carefully put away the porcelain bottle with the pill. This was her key to restoring her inner strength—if she lost it, who could she cry to?

When the carriage gets to the mountain, there’ll be a road—she’d rest for now and wake early to visit her family tomorrow. Of all the things in the world, sleep was paramount. Liu Ling’er was naturally cheerful and open-hearted; how could she be troubled by events that hadn’t yet come to pass?

The next morning, Little Tao hurried into Liu Ling’er’s room. It had to be said, the medicinal herbs of ancient times were truly effective—no chance of counterfeits like nowadays.

After dressing and washing, Liu Ling’er let Little Tao handle her hair. Now that she was a married woman, there were rules for how her hair should be styled. With Little Tao’s skillful hands, her hair was arranged into a proper bun in the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

In the main hall, Bai Li Xian was already seated, sipping tea. Since there were no outsiders present, Liu Ling’er sat down, ignored Bai Li Xian, and poured herself a cup of tea.

Just as she raised the cup to her lips, Bai Li Xian suddenly said, “You can’t drink that tea.” Liu Ling’er asked in surprise, “Why not? Is it poisoned or something?”

He shook his head. “No, it’s just that I used that cup yesterday.”

Bai Li Xian thought she would put the cup down, but instead, Liu Ling’er ignored him, didn’t put the cup down at all, and took a sip. “Don’t worry. Even if the whole world shuns you, I never will.”

Bai Li Xian: “...”