Seek medical advice

“Master Lu, is my daughter going to be alright?”

In the main bedroom of Shangguan Manor, Shangguan Hóngzhì was helping an elderly man sit down, his face etched with worry. Behind him, Lín Yǎyuè sat by the bed, her hands tightly gripping Shangguan Qiūyuè’s pale, sickly hand, tears streaming down her face.

“This bone disease has plagued Autumn since birth,” the elderly man, known as Master Lu, shook his head. “We used to alleviate it with Yún Mù’s blood, but now…”

“Now?” Shangguan Hóngzhì pushed a cup of tea towards the old man and sat opposite him. “Please speak freely, as this concerns my daughter’s life.”

“Sigh… Come closer, I fear disturbing the lady’s state,” Master Lu whispered. Shangguan Hóngzhì quickly stood up, leaving his warm seat, and moved beside the old man, bending down to listen with respect.

“We need the heart blood of a boy and a girl as a catalyst, to be given to Autumn before the bone replacement.”

“A boy and a girl?” Shangguan Hóngzhì nearly exclaimed, his voice trembling. “Master Lu, are you underestimating me? You know this isn’t difficult for me. Do we need any special conditions?”

Master Lu shook his head, stood up, and glanced back at the mother and daughter on the bed, sighing. “Let’s talk outside.” With that, they both left the room.

“Master, please enlighten me…”

Shangguan Hóngzhì closed the door and bowed respectfully, even though he was the head of one of the most prominent families in the capital.

“You know the risks involved in this bone replacement, or rather, forcibly transferring the jade bone to Autumn.”

“Indeed, the jade bone is a heavenly bone, while my daughter has ordinary bones. Forcibly replacing them will only harm her body.”

“Exactly. That’s why I scheduled the bone replacement for the week after her star-viewing day, when she would have begun her cultivation, significantly reducing the risk. And you even wanted to replace her eyes, which would be possible even if we replaced her meridians.”

“Meridians…?” Shangguan Hóngzhì’s eyes flashed with a glint of excitement. He abruptly looked up. “Master Lu, could it be…?”

“No, it’s no longer a question of whether we can replace the meridians. You’re being too greedy, Hóngzhì!”

The old man’s voice was unusually excited, causing the family head to be taken aback.

“Forgive me…”

“Enough talk. You can easily find a boy and a girl, but what the lady needs is the heart blood of those the previous owner cares about.”

He stroked his beard, looking up at the full moon, his deep eyes flickering with an unknown emotion.

“The jade bone is inherently sensitive to emotions, a trait of this bone. That’s why I’ve advised you not to interfere too much between Autumn and that boy, Yún Mù.”

“Because the jade bone will be drawn to Autumn due to that boy’s feelings for her, aiding the bone replacement?”

“Correct. But if we need to advance the bone replacement, the risks increase. Therefore, if the jade bone senses the heart blood of the previous owner’s loved ones, it will negate the risks, achieving the previously planned outcome with minimal error.”

“The most crucial point is that the heart blood of a boy and a girl balances yin and yang, protecting Autumn from a change in her nature due to the bone replacement. Do you understand?”

“Nature… being corrupted?” Shangguan Hóngzhì repeated the words, grabbing the old man’s arm, his face darkening. “Why was this never mentioned before? If not for this illness, would we have needed to find the boy and girl’s blood? Would Autumn have… changed?”

His tone grew heavier, his actions more intense. Seeing the middle-aged man on the verge of exploding, the old man coldly hummed and struck his abdomen.

A muffled groan escaped Shangguan Hóngzhì, his expression instantly contorting as he fell to his knees, clutching his stomach.

“Boy, I’m only doing this for the sake of my friendship with your father and Autumn. Know your place, understand?”

“Forgive me, Master Lu. I was impulsive. I’ll go prepare now.”

He stood up, grimacing with pain, and bowed before leaving.

“Sigh… Truly a teachable moment…”

The old man shook his head, stroked his long beard, and disappeared in a wisp of green smoke.

****

In the northwestern corner of Shangguan Manor, Shangguan Ce sat in his room, his face grave. A tall woman, her breasts half-covered by a thin, pink gauze, stood before him, her body swaying sensually. “Master, why haven’t you favored me today? Is something troubling you?” She stepped forward, her slender waist swaying, her long, white legs glimpsing beneath her skirt. “Perhaps I can help you with your worries…”

She lifted his chin, her eyes filled with longing, like a spring breeze. “You can tell me, and perhaps… I can ease your troubles…”

“Ease my troubles? You?” He brushed her hand away, a mocking smile on his lips. “This concerns Shangguan Qiūyuè. What can you do? You’re just a plaything I keep for my pleasure.”

His words cut deep, but the woman still smiled. She pushed him onto the bed, her hands roaming over his body. “I know my place, but I know how to please you,” she whispered, nibbling on his earlobe. “Once you’re satisfied, you’ll forget all about Shangguan Qiūyuè…”

But before her hands could continue their exploration, a loud slap echoed through the room. The woman, who had been full of desire, now lay on the side of the bed, her face swollen and bruised. She trembled, pushing herself up to face Shangguan Ce.

“M-Master, I…”

“Be quiet. You think you can talk freely just because we’re in bed?” He grabbed her hair, slapping her twice more. “Shangguan Qiūyuè is the family head’s daughter and the future head of the Shangguan family. What right do you have to call her by name? Get out, and don’t let me see you again, or I’ll kill you.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll leave now.” She knelt on the floor, not mindful of her pain, and bowed several times before limping out of the room. But within moments, the sound of rustling leaves was heard, and a young woman’s body lay in the courtyard. Two black-clad figures entered the room, kneeling before Shangguan Ce.

“Master, what shall we do with the body?”

“Dispose of it, and make sure it’s far away. Also, go to the brothel and buy me another girl…” He paused, licking his lips. “No, buy two. It’s too troublesome to wait for one if I break the other.”

“Yes, Master!”

Two shadows disappeared, and Shangguan Ce lay on the rumpled bed, his mood complex. He sighed and lay down.

This is truly unlucky…

If Shangguan Qiūyuè dies, it would be a good thing, as the other male heirs in the family have lesser talents than me. The only one with greater talent than me is Shangguan Xúnyī, but she’s a woman. Plus, there’s the choice we both made.

She chose to go to the Ancient Country Academy, while I stayed with the family. Compared to that, she’s naturally closer to the family head than I am. Eventually, for the family’s prosperity, the family head might choose me, an outsider, as the heir…”

But—

He clenched his fist, his face twisted with cruelty.

This short-lived girl had to die right next to me, damn it. It’s all because of that Cloud Shepherd always hanging around Shangguan Qiūyuè—

Another fist slammed into the bed.

Oh, right. Speaking of that bastard, why hasn’t he returned yet? He couldn’t have died outside, could he? I remember the family head saying he absolutely must not die…

If something happens, it’ll definitely involve me.

He sat up, his eyes flashing with cruelty.

“Forget it. I’ll go to the stables to make sure, and take out my frustrations on him. After all, he’s quite durable, and I’ve been beating him for years without killing him. That’s one of his few redeeming qualities.”

He got off the bed and went to his cabinet, opening it and examining the contents. He took out a gray whip, testing its flexibility, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Yes… This whip has a great feel. I should buy a few more to keep on hand.”

As he spoke, he closed the cabinet and turned towards the door.

But suddenly—

Before he could take a step, a stern voice echoed in his mind.

[Ce, come to the study.]

Shangguan Ce shivered, desperately channeling his starlight energy to suppress his inner turmoil.

“Yes, I’m coming, Family Head.”

He bowed to the empty air, dropped the whip, and hurried towards the family study.