"I had no idea this was a show".
Caihong started. She had been so absorbed in watching Lanfen work that she did not even realize it when the woman noticed her.
"Lanfen Tianshi"she bowed respectfully.
Lanfen tilted her head.
"Why would GuangZhiShou-jun bow to me? Nevermind that, how did you even find this place?".
"I remember it well. I could never forget".
"Oh?".
"I've been here before. Years ago, I watched you make a very powerful tonic right here in this room, and I vowed to become a healer".
As Caihong spoke, she lifted the veil from her face. Lanfen's eyes widened in recognition.
"Oh my, if it isn't little Caihong. So you are the GuangZhiShou-jun? Looks like your dream came true".
Caihong smiled, delighted with the praise from her lifelong idol.
"And while I know that our touching reunion is long overdue,"Lanfen continued, turning back to her vessels"you are definitely not here just to see me".
"You are right,"Caihong leaned on the wall"I have questions".
"Out with them,then".
Caihong wished she could ask for an antidote for the poison killing her lord, but not only had he forbidden her from saying a word about his ailment, she also knew that it would be no use. Lanfen excelled at making poison, but not at providing antidotes.
"I was just at the Aurum Pavilion. XiuzhenWang-jun is dying, and I heard your name on the lips of the servants. They say you are responsible for his condition".
"Do they, now?".
"To be honest, I cannot put it past you. I know better than many just how powerful you are, and I have heard of your...feud with the Wang sect".
Lanfen busied herself with pounding leaves in a small mortar.
"You are by no means dull, little Caihong"she replied finally.
"You do not deny it,then".
"I see no need to do so. There isn't any solid proof, is there?".
"There is not".
"Exactly".
Lanfen placed a small pot on the fire and turned to face Caihong, dusting her hands.
"Would you like to join us for lunch, little Caihong?".
"I would love that"she replied politely.
"Good. Right this way".
They stepped out the open door, which Lanfen made sure to shut on her way out, before leading Caihong up the stairs.
"Lanfen Tianshi".
Lanfen paused.
"I find myself wondering,"Caihong began"you are clearly one of the most powerful cultivators our world has ever known. Tales are told of your feats, and in the days of your youth you were a force to be reckoned with. Then all of a sudden you dropped under the radar, and most people actually thought that you might have lost your touch. Then you did that to the Wang sect...".
Caihong looked up, only to see Lanfen watching her attentively. She nearly stumbled in her words.
"Well,"she said hastily"I guess my point is, you had all that power at your fingertips, yet you more or less seized to function as a cultivator. Why is that?".
Lanfen drummed her fingers thoughtfully on the closest wall.
Why had she seized to function as a cultivator? That was a very good question, one that many had asked her already, without receiving any answers. As a teenager, she had descended from Mount Tianshi armed with sky-high aspirations, exceptional talent and a lofty spirit.
She had arrived at the Mist Oasis determined to fulfill those goals, and had worked very hard towards them, making an unforgettable name for herself. Every single thing she had done, even the very smallest actions, had all been to nourish these goals of hers.
Then came the day when a new life slipped out of her. She had looked upon that tiny bundle, and felt a rush of love so powerful she could hardly speak. Before then, she had thought that nothing mattered more to her than her goals. She had been wrong.
That girl meant more to her than her goals. That girl meant more to her than her life.
"Let's just say..."Lanfen smiled at Caihong over her shoulder"I sort of relaxed, that's all".
*
*
*
Lanfen's latest project was finally done, and she congratulated herself inwardly as she walked back to her bedchamber.
Their bedchamber, actually, she and her husband. It was a place meant exclusively for the two of them, which was why she totally did not expect to hear two voices coming from behind the closed door.
Zhipeng had returned from his trip just in time to hear the latest news about her "feud" with the Wang sect, and their relationship had not gotten any better, especially since she was not letting anyone see the still unconscious Yingyue, not even him.
He had behaved himself during lunch with Caihong, though, so she bore no grudges.
Although it looked like she was going to start bearing them now. She stopped at the door, listening. Soon, she discerned whom the voices belonged to- Zhipeng and Xinyue.
For a regular, mediocre woman, this would be the time to start suspecting her husband of having an affair with his beautiful foster daughter. But Lanfen was neither regular nor mediocre, and anyway, she knew Zhipeng well enough to be certain that he was totally incapable of infidelity.
Something else was going on, though. Something important. So she listened.
*
"What troubles you, father?"Xinyue asked with concern as she watched Zhipeng stare out the window with a faraway gaze.
Zhipeng started, turning to meet her warm eyes.
"A-Xin"he called.
"Father. Do you need me to do anything?".
"No, not exactly..."he sighed"A-Xin, dark clouds are gathering".
"Dark clouds?".
"Yes. No matter how hard I try, I cannot shake off this feeling of premonition. There is something I must entrust you with".
"Yes, father".
Zhipeng took off the ring on his left index finger and held it up to the light. It sparkled in the sunlight. Like a prism. Like crystal.
Xinyue knew that ring. Her foster father never took it off, because it was a symbol of the clan leader's authority.
Zhipeng imbued energy into his hands before taking hold of the stone, and a tug was all it took to separate it from the ring.
"Father?"Xinyue asked.
She was pretty sure that wasn't allowed.
"A-Xin, I want you to have this"he said, extending the stone to her.
"I'm honored, father, but I really don't think...".
"I believe you will lead the sect well, A-Xin".
Xinyue blinked, wondering if she heard that wrong.
"Lead... the sect?".
"Yes. I am naming you my successor, A-Xin".
Xinyue tried and failed to feel elated at the news. All she felt was shock.
"If this is about A-Yue's condition, I'm sure she'll recover soon. And...".
"This has nothing to do with A-Yue. I have the power to make this choice, and I've chosen you".
He rested his hand fondly on Banlu's hilt.
"Do you remember when I had this sword made?".
Of course she remembered. No one could ever forget. Zhipeng had sent for the best sword maker the cultivation world knew, and the amount of money and resources that had gone into making it amounted to a sizable fortune.
"I remember, father".
"While it was being made, I had it fashioned a certain way. Draw your sword".
Confused, Xinyue drew Banlu out of its sheath and held it up. Zhipeng held her wrist lightly as his eyes searched the surface. Finally, he located the only spot where the silver was hollow, and pushed the stone into it.
The effect was immediate. Banlu glowed, flooding the room with what could only be described as celestial light.
"Beautiful"Xinyue breathed, entranced.
"Isn't it? This is Banlu's true form. So you see, I have always had you in mind as my successor".
"But...is this... did A-Yue do anything wrong?".
"No. A-Yue has done no wrong. But I'm sure you know her as well as I do. It would be for the best that she never leads our people, both for her and for them. She is a good girl, but I don't think she would make a good leader. You, on the other hand, are just what the Meng sect needs, after I'm gone".
Xinyue was still shocked, but made no further attempts to protest.
"I'm glad you found me worthy, father. I will do my best to make you proud".
Zhipeng's arms came around her in a hug, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Oh, A-Xin, when have you never?".
It was a touching moment, but Lanfen did not share the sentiment at all. Her lips were tight as she walked away in stony silence.
*
*
*
When Xinyue left her father's bedchamber, she considered going to give the news to Lanfen.
Not that she was naive enough to believe that Lanfen would be delighted or anything, but she could not deny that she would like to have her foster mother's blessing. Besides, Lanfen had the right to know.
And so, with these noble intentions in mind, she set off to find the woman. However, contrary to her expectations, the mistress of Peony Halls was quite difficult to find.
Eventually, her search led her to Lanfen's workshop. At the closed door, Xinyue hesitated, even with a hand lifted to knock.
She had never been allowed into the workshop, although she was completely intrigued with the things Lanfen could create out of simple herbs and regular plants.
Was this okay, she wondered. She wouldn't be interrupting, right?
She knocked.
"Excuse me, Madame Meng".
No answer.
"Are you in there?May I come in?".
When she still didn't get a response, she opened the door and peered in curiously.
She was floored by the sight her eyes met. Lanfen was there, alright, but she was not there, not really. She was staring vacantly into space, several jars of liquor before her.
Xinyue stared.
There was no denying that Lanfen had been through a lot in the past few days. She had nearly lost her daughter once, had singlehandedly nursed her back to health, only for her to get kidnapped and tortured, and now she wasn't waking up, despite Lanfen's best efforts. But she had appeared so strong on the outside, carrying herself with the same stately dignity that belonged to the self-confident.
Xinyue could not deny, though, that she had seen the signs other people overlooked. Lanfen's declining appetite, the dark patches that had made a home beneath her eyes, her gradual loss of weight, the hours she spent down here, neglecting her sleep.
And now... this. Lanfen never drank. Ever. Not even the first time Yingyue had been comatose. She must really be going through more than anyone knew.
"Madame Meng..."Xinyue drew closer, but Lanfen did not acknowledge her presence.
She hesitated,then rested a hand on her shoulder and mumbled.
"Mother?".
That shook Lanfen out of her reverie. She looked up at Xinyue with blank, red rimmed eyes,then her expression clouded.
"You,"she snarled"it's all your fault. He doesn't give a damn about her because of course he has you. It has always been you. Always...".
Her voice trailed off, but the hatred in her eyes remained, burning through Xinyue.
"I don't understand,"she said with some difficulty"what do you mean?".
The question only seemed to enrage Lanfen further, and the woman threw all of her strength into a slap on Xinyue's left cheek.
"It's your fault".
Shocked, Xinyue blinked back involuntary tears, clutching her cheek even as her ears rang. Lanfen blinked too, slowly,as if she couldn't quite believe what she had done.
Then she suddenly slapped herself with equal force, before covering her face with both hands.
"What am I saying?"she mumbled"it's all my fault. It has always been my fault. All of it...".
Xinyue's heart could not take it anymore. She drew closer and enveloped Lanfen in a healing hug. She felt the woman stiffen in her arms, then the tears came in torrents. Lanfen sobbed in small gasps, her whole body shaking, and suddenly she seemed so small.
She was not as tall as Xinyue, and she did not have a large figure either, but somehow she had never seemed petite and delicate until this moment.
Xinyue lost track of time as she sat there with her foster mother, and eventually, Lanfen's sobs began to quieten. At last, she fell asleep, and Xinyue cleared a space so she could lean on the table,then stood watching her.
When Lanfen slept, she looked as if she had never known sorrow. Xinyue had not gotten to tell her about the succession, but that didn't matter right now, so she proceeded to leave, looking around in fascination as she did.
However, before she neared the door, something caught her attention. It was a small pot on a cooling hearth. Xinyue walked to it and curiously lifted the lid. Wood-scented steam rushed out to meet her face, and Xinyue stumbled backwards, coughing.
What was that?A failed project?
Still coughing, she covered it and left the room immediately, pausing only once in the doorway to watch Lanfen for a short while.
What she had seen tonight was something private, and Xinyue vowed never to speak of it.