"By order of Mistress XueLi of Frozen Cloud Palace you the Shi family are to take in and raise this baby as one of your own, you will not be penalized if the child dies during her upbringing nor will you be responsible for caring for her after her 16th year or until she manifests her bloodline. In addition you will be paid 1000 crimson spirit coins per year she is within your household. That is all." A servant finished reading off a scroll.
Mei still holding me in her arms looked as if she had already grown slightly attached in the few hours since my birth.. during this time I realized I already had a fully formed consciousness more or less since being reborn but I decided to just be this new life and observe since I am currently unable to speak anyways..
Mei felt warm, warm like my mother ought to be.. instead my birth mother was cold and distant.. uncomfortable.
My thoughts were interrupted as Mei looked down at me and her beautiful face seemed conflicted, "Little Elsi..." as she waved her hand summoning an aquamarine tear shaped pendant in her palm, my eyes grew wide amazed at her action. "Magic?" I thought with amazement. In my past life magic only existed within the upper class the lower class and peasants were forbidden to learn magic.
Mei proceeded to place the pendant around tiny wrist tying what would be a necklace into a bracelet. That seemed to be the smarter choice since it may be a bit dangerous putting something like that around the neck of a babe..
"Nice one Mei!" My inner thoughts praised the better choice of Mei.
After tying the pendant Mei looked to me sweetly, "I'll make sure you are properly taken care of.. regardless of the Mistress' order.."
A servant approached Mei with their arms out stretched to me as if they were trying to take me from Mei, however Mei hesitated before showing a bittersweet smile and with one last look she handed me over. She silently watched as a servant took me away into the Shi mansion alongside the patriarch of the Shi family whose facial expressions shifted from displeased then to greed when he heard how much coin he was to be paid for the trouble.
I chose to ignore everyone apart from Mei.. her long brown hair tied back, her pretty sea green eyes watched me as I vanished into the mansion.
Once inside the patriarch and his two wives almost completely ignored my presence as they chatted about the vast sum of wealth they would aquire in the coming years.. if I could scoff at them I would have..
The servant proceeded to take me into a plain room with a single crib inside, the servant gently placed me down and a second servant entered the room both of them looking down at me as if silently gazed at them, "Ugh.. so creepy... she hasn't made a peep.." Servant one said.
"I know she just stares at us with those pink eyes of hers.. it's quite unsettling..." said servant two.
"Maybe she's cursed.. probably why Mistress Xue Li kicked her out.." servant one said.
"No no don't be ridiculous I heared a rumor that this child's father was a demon!" Servant two exclaimed.
"Huh.. that makes since... but doesn't she have the royal bloodline of an ice serpent?" Servant one asks.
"I guess we will have to see.. when she matures, and it's not impossible for someone to have multiple bloodlines.. but to be a demon... that's horrible." Sevant two responds.
"Then do ya think she with have a talent for cultivation?" Servant one asks.
"We won't know until her 5th birthday when er if she's tested.." servant two said.
The servants continue to waffle on about me as i close my eyes and find a well needed rest.. however before I drift off a question lingers within my mind, "Cultivation? What's that..."
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Back within the walls of the Frozen Cloud Palace Mei enters a bedroom within a beautiful woman sits casually drinking tea while thumbing through some scrolls, "Welcome back Mei.. I trust you have gotten rid of that.. spawn of mine?" The beautiful woman said coldly.
"Indeed, I delivered your daughter-" Mei's sentence was cut off as Xue Li shattered her teacup in her hand, "That is not my Daughter. Have care how you speak next Mei."
Nodding Mei continued albeit a bit more carefully this time, "My apologies Mistress... I have sent her to the Shi family to look after.." Mei said.
Nodding Xue Li, "Very well you are dismissed."
After a moment of silence, "What is it Mei, I can feel your anxiety from here..." Xue Li commented not even bothering to look up from her readings.
"Mistress.. i have a request.. may I be assigned to become the personal maid of the girl?" Mei spoke bowing her head at a near 90 degree angle.
Cold air filled the chamber as a strong killing intent erupted from Xue Li forcing Mei to her knees, causing Mei to have trouble breathing.
After a few minutes sweat started beading on Mei's head as her labored breathing intensified then the killing intent faded, allowing Mei to catch her breathe.
"I won't ask your reasoning but I shall allow you to act as her maid.. but once 16 years have past or she activates her bloodline you are to return to my side understand?" Xue Li said slightly amused by Mei's condition.
"I understand and thank Mistress for her generosity." Bowing again as she leaves the room to pack some of her belongings.
Sighing Xue Li returned to her scrolls as a voice spoke from the shadows, "Was that wise my Mistress? An unknown monotone voice said.
Sighing again Xue Li responded, "Probably not.. but I've never seen Mei'er so animated or determined about anything.. it's just 16 years.. it will go by in a blink of an eye.. just let me worry about it and you focus on your tasks and stalling Fei."
"It shall be done Mistress.. though you know as well as I can not keep him away forever.." The male unknown voice spoke.
"Just stall for 17 years.. so we can marry off my spawn so I won't have to worry about it anymore..." Xue Li said coldly.
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A few hours later after packing up the rest of her belongings, Mei made her way back to the Shi family mansion setting up her room next door to mine.