"The sect was recently approached with an unusual matchmaking request," Warden Mu began. "It concerns the Senior Sister of yours who brought you and Disciple Su Yao into the sect. Little Ling has been away from the sect for a few years and during that time, she became good enough friends with you two to invite you both into the sect. Since you're close to our little treasure, I wanted to discuss the matter with you a bit."
"Someone has come to match with Br-Sister Ling?" Yao Meifeng said, her eyes wide in shock. "Sister Ling would never accept a matchmaking," she added quickly. As much as she'd worked to encase her heart in ice since joining the sect, when it came to matters involving Wu Ling, her defenses melted like snow.
Just the idea that the sect might force Wu Ling into some kind of strange match terrified her. Did this Warden know the truth of Wu Ling's identity? Was it unusual because they were going to match him with an outstanding woman from outside the sect? The idea terrified her!
"Oh, you seem very certain of that," Warden Mu said, taking in the nuances of Su Yao's reactions and assembling them into a larger picture as though they were stones on a chessboard. "You attended a school for mortals together," she continued. "During that entire time, did Little Ling ever tell you what kind of man she fancied? I'm sure she had several suitors during those years."
"No, never," Yao Meifeng said quickly, barely suppressing the desire to sigh in relief. It seemed they didn't know, which meant that this was doomed from the start. "During that time, Sister Ling was very focused on caring for her mother. She worked very hard and spent much of her time on study. She had no time for romance in those days," she said, being as truthful as she could.
"You call your Senior Sister very intimately," Mu Shien observed. "Perhaps the two of you have been sharing a pillow in the time she was away from the sect?" Warden Mu didn't even wait for the young girl to make up an excuse or deny her question. The instant heating of her cheeks and ears, the widening of her pupils, and the sharp intake of breath told her everything she needed to know.
"I understand," Mu Shien said gently, reaching out to place a soft hand on top of Yao Meifeng's hands. "You don't need to look so surprised. It isn't uncommon for sisters in the sect to share a pillow from time to time. People outside may frown on it, but you won't face judgment for it here. I'm actually happy to know it."
"You're happy about it?" Yao Meifeng asked, trying to keep up with the Warden. "Then, you understand why Sister Ling wouldn't accept a matchmaking."
"I'm happy because I know these years that she was forced outside with her mother were hard on her," Mu Shien said, sitting back and sipping her tea. "Knowing she had someone she could be close to during that time, it relieves an old ache in my heart about how she must have suffered. Hall Master had to be very ruthless at the time to ward off Elder Phantom's enemies. They were cast out with next to nothing, not even allowed to return for the possessions they left behind."
"You know, I actually pleaded with the Hall Master more than once to allow Little Ling to return to the sect before she awakened," the Warden continued. "Elder Phantom may have been guilty of provoking a great enemy but our Little Ling did nothing wrong."
"You, you care for her a great deal, don't you?" Yao Meifeng asked as she felt the sincerity in the older woman's words.
"Many of us do," Mu Shien admitted easily. "Few women will raise a child in the back half of the sect and many sisters will never have the chance to have children of their own. Once a person has dipped themselves in enough darkness, it becomes difficult to find real love. Elder Phantom was a rare example of someone who could."
"That's why I take this matchmaking very seriously," the Warden continued. "I've already helped Little Ling plan her expedition in the mountains. She's bound to follow in her mother's footsteps to some extent. Right now, however, she hasn't followed us too far down this bloody path. There's still time for her to find normal happiness in the arms of a loving husband."
"Moreover, this gentleman is an Inner Disciple of the Purple Thunder War Hall," Mu Shien added. "It's the kind of extraordinary identity that would give Hall Master Bian a reason to allow the marriage. It's not often we can place a spy in an Inner Sect, so even the Hall Master may permit things if it both advances the sect's goals and gives Little Ling a chance to know the happiness that was stolen from her mother."
"But, even then," Yao Meifeng said hesitantly. "I do not think Sister Ling has any interest in men. She, she has only ever, ever…"
"I understand," Warden Mu said gently. "But please understand that matters between a man and a woman are different from matters between two sisters, no matter how close you've become. There are some things that a man can offer that a woman simply can't, and the ability to start a family and raise children of her own is one of those things. You mustn't look down on Little Ling or feel betrayed by her if she chooses that happiness for herself."
"But, but she won't," Yao Meifeng said, trying to figure out how she could convince this other woman without exposing a truth that she clearly wasn't aware of!
"She may surprise you," Mu Shien said gently. "But we've wandered off the topic and it may become irrelevant anyway. I have a mission for you Disciple Yao," she said formally. "In five days, this young man will visit the sect to play a game of chess with me. His elder sister, who also attended your Pure Virtue Musician's Hall by the way, said that her younger brother is an excellent player. Since I taught Little Ling how to play, I want to see what I can learn about this young man during a game."
"While we play, I would like you to bring your zither and play for us," Warden Mu explained. "But afterward, I'll be very interested in your observations about this young man from the Liang family. It would also help if you could attempt to attract his eye while you entertain us. I'm curious to see if he has truly set his heart on Little Ling or if he simply doesn't encounter extraordinary and refined women very often."
"This is a test for you, Disciple Yao. As someone who cultivates the Frozen Heart Requiem, I'm certain that you can separate your personal feelings from the mission to learn what we need to learn. I know that, given your close relationship with Little Ling, this may be difficult for you, but if you're as exceptional as Little Ling says you are, I'm sure that you're up to the task, aren't you?"
"Of course," Yao Meifeng said, standing to bow over cupped hands. "Disciple will follow Warden Mu's instructions." After all, what other option did she have? At least this way, if she could tempt this young lord from the Liang family away, it would prove he wasn't a worthy suitor and matters could stop there before things became any worse. Since she had the chance to end this before it could bother Wu Ling, she would do her best.