Goodbye, Birth Mother

The next day, Liu Rushuang went to a peaceful and beautiful place outside the nation of Nanli's city, where the peach blossom trees bloomed all around like clusters of red clouds, shining life upon the vast land.

Liu Rushuang stood beneath the peach blossom tree in front of a small hill.

She stared at the words on the gravestone with a soft smile, as tears started to well up.

She didn't understand her own mother or why she had lost her dignity forever over a man who she loved.

For him, she lived such a menial and tragic life. In her final moments, she passed away with tears in her eyes.

Madam Liu originally wanted Wu Xiyu thrown into a mass grave, but the young Liu Rushuang devised a plan to bury her mother here instead.

This place was very far from Minister Liu's manor, so Wu Xiyu could rest in peace.

Liu Rushuang stared at the gravestone with solemn eyes filled with endless emotions too difficult to put into words.

She loved this person who showed her motherly love and protected her at every turn through hard times.

Just then, Liu Rushuang balled her hands into fists at the thought of just how Minister Liu received Wu Xiyu's sincerity.

The corner of her lips curved into a mockingly cold smile. "Mother, I'm here to visit you. An ambassador from Beiming will come tomorrow and I'll soon have to leave this country. You must be disappointed, right? This was all the idea of that so-called Minister who's revered by many," she said flatly.

All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew the leaves on the floor into a swirl.

Liu Rushuang raised her hand and placed it upon the gravestone. "Mother, are you heartbroken for your daughter?" she asked with a voice that sounded slightly choked up.

She couldn't forget how much her own mother loved her!

To protect her, Wu Xiyu was tortured to death by Madam Liu's hired help!

Liu Rushuang scowled, as she softly but firmly continued, "Mother, I can't forget how people in that manor tortured you to death. I'll definitely avenge you!"

A gentle Spring breeze blew in, causing several petals to fall and softly graze Liu Rushuang's ordinary-looking face. It felt as though the petals were comforting her pain, and consoling this crying girl.

Liu Rushuang merely stared silently at her mother's name on the gravestone in a trance.

She thought about how Wu Xiyu taught her to dance, read, and sing... She taught her everything.

She though Wu Xiyu was quite wise, but why did she choose a man with multiple wives?

All Liu Rushuang could do was feel heartbroken and sorry for her mother.

As she sat down and gazed out towards the forest of peach blossom trees, her vision began to blur.

'Is mother's spirit here right now?' She wondered.

With that very thought, she suddenly saw Wu Xiyu smiling warmly at her and waving her over.

Liu Rushuang slowly reached her hand out to touch her but before she could, a gust of wind dissipated the mirage.

Liu Rushuang smiled bitterly. She just wanted affection from her family, but the heavens doomed her to not possess that in two lifetimes!

She lowered her head and stared at the withered, fallen petals on the floor.

After a long while, Liu Rushuang stood up and started dancing the Rainbow Feathered Gown Dance that her mother taught her in the peach blossom forest.

Then, she gradually started to use her martial arts.

The peach blossom petals bounced non-stop from the ground like countless dancing pink butterflies.

Liu Rushuang's white silk dress rose with the wind and moved to her heart's content in the peach blossom forest. She merged with the plum blossoms with feminine grace.

Her hand slowly reached out, then elegantly withdrew it. She swayed, leaped and shifted, as her floating body didn't stop dancing for a long time.

If any mortals caught sight of her, perhaps they would take her for a celestial!