81. Xiao Yujing

Chapter 81: Xiao Yujing

"What's this?"

Seeing the thoughtful gift that Uncle Zhao had prepared, Li Hao opened the gift box and found a delicate and intricate dragon horn comb. Additionally, there was a small bottle inside.

Li Hao picked up the small porcelain bottle and shook it gently. Uncle Zhao quickly explained, "Inside is a Shaping Pill, which can enhance the power of the soul. I've heard that Miss Wushuang is already at the Divine Wandering Stage, so this should be useful to her."

"Uncle Zhao, you're so considerate and thorough," Li Hao praised.

Li Hao knew about the Shaping Pill. It could be taken by those at the Divine Wandering Stage, with each pill increasing the range of the divine soul by about a hundred meters. Each person could take up to ten pills before reaching their limit, beyond which they couldn't absorb more.

Accumulating ten pills would provide a range increase of one kilometer, which could save four or five years of arduous cultivation.

The only downside was that the divine soul enhanced by the pill differed subtly from that cultivated naturally. In regular battles, this difference was negligible, but in top-tier duels, it could be a noticeable flaw.

This was what martial artists often meant when they said relying on pills made one's foundation unstable and body weak.

Li Hao couldn't absorb the pills himself, and even if he could, he wouldn't choose to take them. He had heard that Second Grandpa and Old Feng never relied on pills. At most, they consumed energy-rich spiritual foods to strengthen their bodies and energy levels.

Second Grandpa and Old Feng weren't body cultivators and wouldn't waste effort on body refinement. Therefore, relying on external aids to enhance physical strength was beneficial without the drawbacks, but their own cultivation remained untainted by any medicinal power.

Uncle Zhao smiled faintly. He knew that Li Hao hadn't given this much thought and kindly advised:

"It's been many years. If you still find Miss Wushuang agreeable, you should spend more time with her and strengthen your relationship. After all, she's a disciple of Qianji Sect, and having her support in the future could be advantageous."

"Sure," Li Hao replied with a smile.

Uncle Zhao sighed softly, following behind Li Hao like a loyal old servant.

Not long after, Li Yuanzhao arrived at the Shanhai Courtyard, calling out for Li Hao from a distance, as if it were his own home.

"It's Young Master Yuan Zhao," Uncle Zhao observed with a kind smile.

Over the years, with Li Hao's laid-back nature and lack of evident martial talent, other courtyards and the Shanhai Courtyard didn't interact much.

Even Li Yun and his sister distanced themselves from Li Hao, which Uncle Zhao had noticed.

Among the few close in age and lineage to Li Hao, only Yuan Zhao remained a constant companion.

This wasn't entirely about others being opportunistic. Uncle Zhao, as the steward of Shanhai Courtyard, had his sources of information and knew that the reasons might not all lie with Li Hao.

Other courtyards had caught wind of certain rumors from the northern battlefield, leading to their current attitude.

Decades of prolonged warfare had spread many rumors. Even though the Li family was a renowned military household, they weren't without political enemies or envious peers.

With constant warfare in the north, the Li family's soldiers had suffered, and although the battles weren't over, the financial burden and need for reinforcements gave others plenty of fodder for criticism.

Don't think that just because soldiers are fighting abroad, no one dares to talk about them. It all depends on the environment and people's hearts.

"Li Shao, I've got all the dishes you wanted. They've been delivered to the First Madam's courtyard," Li Yuanzhao said cheerfully as he approached.

Uncle Zhao was surprised, glancing at Li Hao. He hadn't expected him to be so well-prepared, which brought a look of satisfaction to his face.

"Well done."

Li Hao patted Yuanzhao on the shoulder, "Let's head over then."

"Alright."

Uncle Zhao followed the two young masters, along with Li Hao's personal maid, Qingzhi, to the banquet.

The carriage left the Shanhai Courtyard, and Li Yuanzhao mentioned he wanted to stop by Linglong Courtyard first, where his foster mother, the Fourth Lady, lived.

Li Hao had no objections and instructed the family guard driving the carriage to make a detour to Linglong Courtyard.

Upon arrival, Li Yuanzhao jumped out, asking Li Hao and Uncle Zhao to wait briefly, before running inside.

Soon, Li Hao saw Li Yuanzhao emerging with a graceful and dignified woman by his side.

Fourth Lady Xiao, whose full name was Xiao Yujing, hailed from a family that had once produced a supreme master. Her husband, the Li family's Fourth Master, had been called to the battlefield on their wedding night, leaving behind his bride to defend the borders.

Unfortunately, he never returned.

Thus, the Fourth Lady was left to live in solitude, with no children of her own.

When Li Yuanzhao's parents passed away, the family matriarch decided to have him adopted into the Fourth household.

Seeing Li Hao and Uncle Zhao waiting in the carriage, Xiao Yujing's initially furrowed brow turned into a frown.

When he was younger, Li Hao remembered the Fourth Lady being kind and holding him affectionately. But over the years, her temperament had grown colder.

Whenever she saw him now, there was always a hint of anger in her eyes, though Li Hao had no idea what he had done to offend her.

"Didn't I tell you earlier that your cousin Shuang'er was coming back and you should prepare a gift? Why are you wasting time with him?" Xiao Yujing reprimanded Li Yuanzhao, not caring that Li Hao was right there.

Scratching his head, Li Yuanzhao sheepishly replied, "Mother, I went with Li Shao to prepare a gift, and we've already sent it to the First Madam's courtyard."

"What did you prepare?" Xiao Yujing asked, frowning.

"The crispy roast goose from Hongxiang Restaurant..." Li Yuanzhao began listing.

But before he could finish, Xiao Yujing interrupted with an angry tone, "Are you foolish? She's been traveling all over and even made it onto the Qianji Sect's ranking list. What delicacy hasn't she tasted? Do you think she'd appreciate that? It's just a few coins; doesn't it look cheap?"

Looking at Li Hao for reassurance, Yuanzhao said confidently, "Mother, our Li family lacks for nothing—whether weapons, martial arts techniques, or anything else. She can just choose whatever she wants. But since Shuang'er hasn't returned to Qingzhou much, she probably hasn't tried our local delicacies."

"She may not have, but do you think she'd care?" Xiao Yujing rolled her eyes gracefully and snapped, "Whether she needs it or not, your gift shouldn't look cheap. It's up to her to accept or not, but you should at least have something presentable. Otherwise, people will laugh at us for offering just some food."

Spotting a gift box next to the carriage's curtain, she sneered, "And what's this?"

Uncle Zhao quickly explained, "Madam Xiao, this is something I prepared for Li Shao to avoid any impropriety, intended for Miss Shuang'er."

"Hmph."

Xiao Yujing turned to Li Yuanzhao and said, "See? You regard him as an older brother, but he might not truly care about you. He's left you empty-handed while he prepared a proper gift for himself."

"Now, you have nothing. How will you face your cousin?"

Feeling wronged, Li Yuanzhao argued, "But this was Uncle Zhao's doing, not Li Shao's..."

"You!"

Xiao Yujing nearly raised her hand to hit him but restrained herself, remembering Li Hao and Uncle Zhao's presence. With a huff, she called out, "Zhuxiang, bring the gift."

A maid approached, handing a gift box to Li Yuanzhao.

Curious, Li Yuanzhao wanted to open it but was stopped by a glare from Xiao Yujing. He obediently held onto it, lowering his head and following his mother.

"We have our own carriage. We won't be joining you," Xiao Yujing said coolly to Li Hao and Uncle Zhao.

"Mother..."

"Quiet."

Li Hao sighed internally. The Fourth Lady seemed to harbor some unspoken animosity toward him, which left him baffled.

"Yuanzhao, we'll go ahead. You stay with your mother," Li Hao said, giving him a reassuring wink.

Li Yuanzhao nodded, "Alright, Li Shao, we'll catch up."

He then turned slightly to hide from his mother's view and gave Li Hao a cheeky smile, showing his white teeth.

Li Hao chuckled and left with Uncle Zhao.

"Mother, why don't you let me spend time with Li Shao? He's actually..."

"Enough," Xiao Yujing snapped. "I've told you to spend more time with the Piaoxue Courtyard. Why do you insist on being with him? He used to be only a body cultivator, and now even though his meridians are open, he started too late in his cultivation. This isn't about me being snobbish; I just don't want you getting into trouble."

"Huh?"

Li Yuanzhao was puzzled. How would he get into trouble?

"You wouldn't understand. Just listen to me and spend more time with Miss Zhining," Xiao Yujing said quietly.

Still confused, Li Yuanzhao pretended to agree, "Okay, Mother."

...

...

"Madam Xiao's husband died on the battlefield on their wedding night. She's had grievances against the Li family ever since," Uncle Zhao explained softly to Li Hao.

This was normally not a topic for servants, but he didn't want Li Hao to misunderstand Xiao Yujing's behavior and potentially cause trouble for himself.

Li Hao nodded slightly, understanding. A widow's grievances were understandable.

He bore no ill will toward the Fourth Lady. Despite her coldness, she never schemed against him secretly.

On the contrary, Lady Er from Shuihua Courtyard always greeted him with a warm smile and kind words, which Li Hao found unsettling.

Moreover, seeing how Xiao Yujing genuinely cared for Li Yuanzhao, he couldn't hold any animosity toward her.

Soon, the carriage arrived outside Changchun Courtyard.

Several other carriages were already parked outside, indicating that other madams had arrived before them.

Before entering, Li Hao could hear the lively chatter from the outer courtyard, with phrases like "Our Shuang'er is amazing," suggesting that the madams were enthusiastically praising the newly returned prodigy.

Holding the gift box prepared by Uncle Zhao, Li Hao walked into the courtyard.