Chapter 81: Xiao Yujing
“What’s this?”
Upon seeing the thoughtful gift prepared by Zhao Bo, Li Hao opened the gift box. Inside was a delicate and finely crafted Dragon Horn Comb, along with a small bottle.
Li Hao picked up the porcelain bottle and gave it a shake. Zhao Bo hurriedly explained, “Inside are God-Forge Pills. They can enhance one's soul force. I heard that Miss Wushuang has already reached the Spiritual Wandering Realm, so I thought she might find these useful.”
“As expected of you, Zhao Bo—so considerate and thorough,” Li Hao praised with a smile.
Li Hao was familiar with the God-Forge Pill. It was suitable for those in the Spiritual Wandering Realm, with each pill increasing the range of spiritual wandering by approximately 100 meters. A person could consume up to ten pills before reaching their limit, after which further consumption would yield no results.
When accumulated, ten pills would allow an additional range of one kilometer—a benefit equivalent to four or five years of arduous cultivation.
The only downside was that soul force enhanced by pills differed slightly from that gained through personal cultivation. While imperceptible in ordinary combat, this disparity could become a critical flaw in battles between top-tier experts.
This phenomenon was often summed up in the martial world as relying on pills to advance, which led to an unstable foundation and a body lacking solidity.
Li Hao himself could not absorb the effects of pills, rendering their use ineffective for him. But even if he could, he wouldn’t choose to consume them. He’d heard that both the Second Master and Elder Feng never relied on pills, opting instead for nutrient-dense spiritual foods or rare medicinal treasures to fortify their muscles and blood energy.
Neither of them were Body Refiners and didn’t devote effort to cultivating their physical bodies. Thus, using external resources to enhance physical strength was harmless and even beneficial. However, in terms of their cultivation realms, they remained untainted, with not a trace of medicinal power mixed in.
Zhao Bo smiled faintly, clearly understanding that Li Hao wasn’t overly invested in the matter. Still, he earnestly advised:
“In the years to come, if Young Master continues to tolerate Miss Wushuang’s temperament, it would be good to strengthen ties with your cousin. After all, she is a disciple of the Thousand Mechanisms Gate, and having her as a connection could be useful in the future.”
“Noted,” Li Hao replied with a light laugh.
Zhao Bo sighed softly and followed behind Li Hao like a loyal old servant.
Before long, Li Yuanzhao arrived at Shanhe Courtyard, calling out Li Hao’s name from a distance as if entering his own home.
“It’s Young Master Yuanzhao,” Zhao Bo said with a kindly smile.
Over the years, Li Hao’s carefree nature and lack of martial talent had led to reduced interaction between Shanhe Courtyard and the other courtyards. Even Li Yun and his sister had grown distant, something Zhao Bo observed with a heavy heart.
Among the third-generation direct descendants close to Li Hao’s age, only Young Master Yuanzhao still came to Shanhe Courtyard to keep him company.
Zhao Bo couldn’t blame others for being pragmatic. As the steward of Shanhe Courtyard, he had his own network of acquaintances and informants in the other courtyards. He understood that the reasons might not lie entirely with Li Hao.
Rather, it was likely due to certain rumors and messages that had spread from the Yanbei Battlefield, influencing the attitudes of the other courtyards.
Decades of persistent warfare had birthed many rumors and whispers.
Even though the Li family was a Divine General Mansion, wealthy beyond imagination, they weren’t without political enemies or envious rivals at court.
Moreover, with yearly campaigns in Yanbei, the Li family had suffered heavy losses in soldiers and resources. Since the war was still ongoing, there was no one to listen to their grievances, even though they bore the burden of exhausting the populace and draining the treasury—matters that provided others with ample ammunition for criticism.
One should never assume that just because soldiers fought far from home, no one dared to speak ill of them at court. Quite the opposite—it depended on the political climate and the hearts of people.
...
“Young Master Hao, I’ve purchased the dishes you requested. They’ve already been delivered to Grand Madam’s courtyard,” Li Yuanzhao said with a smile as he rushed over.
Zhao Bo was surprised to hear this and glanced at Li Hao, his eyes reflecting a trace of relief as he realized that the young master had prepared in advance.
“Well done.”
Li Hao patted Li Yuanzhao’s shoulder. “Let’s head over together, then.”
“Alright.”
Zhao Bo followed the two young masters, along with Li Hao’s personal maid, Qingzhi, as they set off for the banquet.
...
As the carriage rattled out of Shanhe Courtyard, Li Yuanzhao mentioned they needed to stop by Linglong Courtyard first, where his foster mother, Fourth Madam Xiao Yujing, resided.
Li Hao naturally didn’t object and instructed the family guard driving the carriage to change course toward Linglong Courtyard.
Upon arrival, Li Yuanzhao jumped down from the carriage and asked Li Hao and Zhao Bo to wait briefly. He then hurried into the courtyard.
Before long, Li Hao saw Li Yuanzhao returning with a gracefully poised and dignified woman by his side.
This was Fourth Madam Xiao, whose name was Xiao Yujing. Her family, the Xiao clan, had once produced a supreme expert of the Fourth Pillar Realm. Xiao Yujing’s husband, the Li family’s Fourth Master, was summoned to the battlefield on their wedding night. Tragically, he never returned.
Since then, Fourth Madam Xiao had lived as a widow, childless and alone. Consequently, when Li Yuanzhao lost his parents, the family matriarch decided to place him under the care of the fourth branch, making Xiao Yujing his foster mother.
As Xiao Yujing approached, she noticed Li Hao and Zhao Bo waiting in the carriage. Her expression darkened, and a faint scowl crept onto her otherwise serene face.
When he was younger, Li Hao remembered that Fourth Madam Xiao had been kind to him, often holding him in her arms. But in recent years, she had grown increasingly aloof, her temperament cold and withdrawn.
Every time she saw him, there seemed to be an undercurrent of anger in her gaze, though Li Hao couldn’t figure out what he had done to offend her.
“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Your cousin Shuang’er is returning. I asked you to prepare a gift for her, yet here you are, wasting time with him,” Xiao Yujing reprimanded Li Yuanzhao without acknowledging Li Hao’s presence.
Li Yuanzhao scratched his head sheepishly and replied, “Mother, I did prepare a gift with Hao-ge. It’s already been sent to Grand Madam’s courtyard.”
“What gift did you prepare?” Xiao Yujing asked with a frown.
“A crispy roast goose from Hongxiang Pavilion...” Li Yuanzhao began to explain.
Before he could finish, Xiao Yujing’s expression soured further. She interrupted him sharply, her tone tinged with anger.
“Are you really that clueless? Your cousin has spent years traveling and has even made it onto the Qian Kun Ranking. Do you think she’s never had fine food before? A roast goose? How cheap and embarrassing!”
Li Yuanzhao glanced at Li Hao, then straightened his back with a newfound confidence. “Mother, our family lacks nothing—be it weapons or techniques. Cousin Shuang’er can take whatever she desires. What she hasn’t experienced in a long time is the authentic taste of Qingzhou’s local delicacies.”
“She may not have eaten it, but do you think she cares?” Xiao Yujing scoffed, rolling her eyes with an elegance that still carried the charm of her youth.
“Whether she wants it or not is one thing. But giving such a paltry gift reflects poorly on you. If word gets out that you only gave food, won’t you become the laughingstock of the family?”
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to the gift box resting beside the carriage’s curtain. Spotting it, she sneered.
“And what’s this? Another pitiful attempt at a gift?”
Before Li Yuanzhao could respond, Zhao Bo stepped forward hurriedly. “Fourth Madam Xiao, this is something I prepared for Young Master Hao to present to Miss Shuang’er. It’s not his doing.”
“Hmph.” Xiao Yujing turned back to Li Yuanzhao. “Do you see that? You treat him like your elder brother, but does he truly care for you? He’s out here preparing impressive gifts while leaving you to scramble with nothing.”
“You’ve come empty-handed. What will you present to your cousin now?”
Li Yuanzhao opened his mouth, feeling aggrieved. “But Mother, this was prepared by Zhao Bo for Hao-ge. It’s not Hao-ge’s fault...”
“You!” Xiao Yujing raised a hand as though she might smack him but restrained herself, exhaling in frustration. “You’ve been completely led astray by him, haven’t you? Why won’t you listen to me?”
Ultimately, she relented, likely aware of Zhao Bo and Li Hao’s presence, and suppressed her anger. She called out, “Zhuxiang, bring the gift I prepared for Yuanzhao.”
A maid stepped forward, gracefully presenting a gift box to Li Yuanzhao.
Li Yuanzhao eagerly reached out to open it, but Xiao Yujing glared at him. He withdrew his hands reluctantly, clutching the box obediently as he trailed behind his mother.
“We have our own carriage. There’s no need to travel together,” Xiao Yujing said curtly to Li Hao and Zhao Bo.
“Mother...”
“Enough,” she snapped, cutting off further protest.
Li Hao sighed quietly. It was clear that Fourth Madam Xiao harbored an inexplicable animosity toward him, leaving him puzzled.
“Yuanzhao, we’ll head there first. You follow along with your mother,” Li Hao said with a smile, winking at the chubby young man to ease the tension.
Li Yuanzhao nodded quickly. “Hao-ge, we’ll catch up shortly.”
As his mother turned, Li Yuanzhao snuck a quick grin at Li Hao, his teeth gleaming white.
Li Hao chuckled and, along with Zhao Bo, departed ahead of them.
...
“Why do you always stop me from spending time with Hao-ge?” Li Yuanzhao asked as he followed his mother. “Hao-ge is actually—”
“Be quiet,” Xiao Yujing snapped, her patience clearly fraying. “I’ve told you to socialize more with the people from Piaoxue Academy. Why waste your time with him? He’s only recently cleared his meridians, and his cultivation is far behind. I’m not being snobbish, but I won’t let you invite trouble upon yourself. Do you understand?”
“Trouble? What trouble?” Li Yuanzhao looked baffled.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you,” Xiao Yujing replied curtly. “Just do as I say and spend more time with Zhi Ning.”
Though curious, Li Yuanzhao had learned from experience not to press further. He nodded obediently and replied, “Understood.”
...
...
“Fourth Madam Xiao harbors resentment against the Li family because Fourth Master fell in battle right after their wedding,” Zhao Bo explained quietly as the carriage rocked gently.
Such matters were typically beyond a servant’s place to comment on, but Zhao Bo feared that Li Hao, being young and impressionable, might harbor grudges or speak rashly, creating more trouble.
Li Hao nodded slightly. He had already suspected as much. After all, a widow’s heart often carried grief, and he could empathize.
Still, he bore no ill will toward Fourth Madam Xiao. Her displeasure toward him was always expressed openly, and she never resorted to scheming behind his back.
In contrast, the Second Madam of Shuihua Courtyard always greeted him with warmth and kind words, which made him deeply uncomfortable.
Moreover, since Li Yuanzhao was involved, and Xiao Yujing treated him genuinely well, Li Hao saw no reason to let her hostility affect him.
...
When they arrived outside Changchun Courtyard, several carriages were already parked along the lane. It seemed that other family members had arrived ahead of them.
Before they even entered, they could hear the lively chatter from within, with phrases like “Our Shuang’er is truly remarkable” faintly audible. The voices of the women inside seemed full of pride and admiration for the celebrated young woman.
Carrying the gift prepared by Zhao Bo, Li Hao stepped into the courtyard at a leisurely pace.