Chapter 6 – The Letter

It had been a week since Qing Yao left, and he had never returned since then. Not that Meng Yu really care, but somehow it gave out a hint of something big was brewing in the palace. Judging from his wealth, Meng Yu felt that Qing Yao was no ordinary royal physician. He was very proper and careful, and somehow gave off a lofty aura. Not to mention the last time those royal guards came in such a hurry to seek audience with him, and even personally escorted him into the palace. It set off an alarm bell in Meng Yu's head, but she just pushed it out of her mind.

Well, it does not matter. Every empire has its own problem. Be it Mo or Yin, there will always be a problem brewing in the palace.

Meng Yu's left arm was finally freed from the casing and had regained some strength to move. No heavy work as usual, but at least she could tie her own hair and do other light mundane work with it. After changing into a set of new clothes, she stood up to leave the room. Meng Yu walked past a long corridor and stopped in front of the main hall. The majestic wooden name plate hanging right on top of the main hall entrance caught her attention. Made of solid mahogany wood and painted with pure gold, it proudly engraved the name of The Silver Sky Mansion. Such intricate workmanship was truly admirable. Meng Yu had always had an impeccable taste toward art pieces, and she gave it a nod of approval.

Seeing the name plate even further solidified her theory toward Zheng Qing Yao's identity. In the Yin country, Silver was equivalent to royalty, and only the Emperor can bestow the name of Silver Sky Mansion to him. It was usually the royalty or meritorious high-ranking officials that could earn the name of Silver. Towards her enemy, she at least had that much of understanding toward their customs and cultures.

"Know your enemy and know yourself; only then you may win the war" Someone used to remind her, but it is all in the past now.

Meng Yu shrugged her shoulder and continued on her way down the main hall. Inside the huge hall, there were around twenty servants lining up in front of Mu Yin as she inspected them one by one. Strict as ever, Mu Yin went from one servant to another, scrutinizing each of their attire and cleanliness before walking back to the center of the hall to assign their chores of the day. It was a daily routine that Meng Yu was accustomed to during her stay in this mansion. She wanted to sneak past the hall quietly, but Mu Yin's hawk eyes caught sight of her. Detecting the other person's glare, Meng Yu could only roll her eyes in annoyance before walking down the steps and sat down in a corner obediently.

After Mu Yin was done, she dismissed the servants and walked briskly over to Meng Yu. Meng Yu held out her hand knowingly, and Mu Yin took her pulse. After a while, Mu Yin nodded approvingly and said, "You may go now. Remember to write the letter." Meng Yu raised one of her brows as she thought to herself.

You really do not have anyone else to do that task, do you?

Meng Yu nodded slightly and stood up. She made her way out of the main hall and strolled past a few courtyards before arriving at another smaller building. She walked into the study room and proceeded to sit down on her usual spot. The books were stacked neatly together, and the stationary was meticulously arranged on the table. She laid a piece of white paper in front of her before grinding the ink stick lightly on the ink slab. After a while, the ink became thick and black. Satisfied, she dipped her brush into the ink before turning her attention back to the plain paper. She paused for a moment, deep in contemplation.

The bird was chirping outside, and there was the sound of windchimes jingling melodiously from afar. This feeling of peace… is really unfathomable.

Meng Yu was lost in thought when she was suddenly struck by a clever idea. Her lips curled up, and her eyes glimmered mischievously. Composing herself, she lowered her brush and began writing seriously with a deadpan face.

All well

Just two words. Meng Yu paused to admire her beautiful calligraphy, before proceeding to fold up the paper and inserting it into a white envelope. She wrote the name of the recipient on the front of the envelope.

Lord Zheng Qing Yao

She smiled satisfyingly to herself. There was a soft knock on the door, and Xiao Yun peeked inside.

"Sister Meng, I am here to pick up the daily letter to master."

Meng Yu nodded and handed her the white envelope. The curious chatter box peered excitedly at it, and asked gleefully, "What did you write, sister Meng? Did you mention Xiao Yun?"

Meng Yu smiled proudly as she nodded slowly.

"Of course. I mentioned everything including you." She replied unabashedly.

Xiao Yun blushed, and jumped excitedly before rushing off to deliver the letter. Meng Yu watched the little figure that had just left wistfully. At some point, she felt that this little girl is living a particularly blissful life. It is a very simple life with a simple goal. She still remembered their conversation a few days ago when she asked Xiao Yun what she wanted to do with her life.

She still recalled Xiao Yun had to strain her brain to think for a long while before she could come up with an answer.

"What do you mean by what I want to do?"

"Don't you have something you want to accomplish in life?"

Seeing Xiao Yun's blank look, Meng Yu tried to simplify her question.

"Why... do you wake up every day and work so hard?"

"Umm... if I don't work, then I cannot eat..." Xiao Yun pouted childishly.

Meng Yu looked incredulously at Xiao Yun.

"Is your life all about eating?" Meng Yu asked in disbelief.

"But, but... I like to eat delicious food. Eating makes me happy!"

Meng Yu let out a sigh and quickly ended the pointless conversation.

Thinking back, perhaps this was the ordinary life that Xiao Yun wanted. Working hard every day with the people she loved and enjoy the life as it was laid out for her. Basically work, eat and play. Perhaps when she grew up, she will marry an ordinary man, and had a simple family and then lived the rest of her life just like this. Life was meant to be that ordinary sometimes.

Then what am I doing now?

What Meng Yu was doing every day now was only going with the flow. She went on with the daily boring routine without putting much thought to it. Perhaps she did not dare to think about it herself, because she cannot see what was laid in front of her anymore. For the first time in her twenty-six years of life, she did not have a purpose, or a direction. Unlike the previous her whom always knew what she wanted, what she needed to do, and what was at the end of her path.

Power, wealth, and fame, she has had them all at one point in her life. Family, friends, and love, she had long lost all of them. What else was left for her now?

After pondering for a while without an answer, she decided to push it to the back of her mind. Her plan now was to walk one step at a time, just like a newborn child learning to walk all over again. Picking up one of the books in front of her, she began her mundane daily chores while humming softly to herself.

Perhaps… perhaps this kind of mundane life is not all that bad.

There was a slight smile on Meng Yu's face as she continued with her work diligently. The day had begun so peacefully, that she had no inkling what was about to come next.

Sometime later during the day, a carriage stopped in front of the mansion. A man dressed in a blue intricate robe climbed out.

"Master you are back!" Xiao Yun dashed forward excitedly. Qing Yao smiled widely as he patted the energetic little girl on the head.

Mu Yin walked forward and bowed respectfully. "Welcome home."

"I am back. It must have been tough on you, Mu Yin. Thank you for handling everything so well during my absence." Qing Yao said warmly.

Mu Yin shook her head and replied, "It is my job."

"So how is my patient doing? Is she behaving well?" Qing Yao asked casually as they began walking back into the main house.

Mu Yin followed closely behind as she replied, "She is recovering well..." her voice trailed off when they heard the thundering sound of horses galloping toward the mansion.

Qing Yao stopped and turned around. He furrowed his brow as he assessed the uninvited entourage that had arrived abruptly at his doorsteps.