Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
“Xiu Xiu? Don’t worry, young lady, the next part will be about her.” Mo Xuyou lowered his head and continued with his previous statement.
“This is a secret technique that has been lost in the Central Plains region for a long time. It involves turning the face of a deceased beauty into Rouge. The girl who applies this Rouge will gradually transform into the original appearance of that face over time. However, beauties are already rare in this world, and the conditions for making this Rouge are exceptionally harsh. It requires fresh facial skin from a beauty, preferably still warm. If the skin is left for too long, it becomes hard, stiff, and may even develop many spots. Therefore, Rouge made from such stale skin will have the same issues. As a result, hunting has become a byproduct of this trade. A fresh beauty's facial skin can fetch a price on the black market that could buy a prime piece of real estate in Luoyang City. Although it is very expensive, buyers continue to flock to it.”
Xing Ruyi listened intently and quietly poked the fox beside her, asking, “Why didn’t we think of doing such a profitable business?”
The fox tapped Xing Ruyi on the nose. “Would you do something as gruesome as cutting off someone’s face?”
“Of course not!”
“Then that’s settled. We at Ruyi Workshop can’t engage in such business because the heart of our female shopkeeper isn’t dark enough.”
Xing Ruyi rolled her eyes in annoyance and then pointed at Mo Xuyou, asking, “Do you know any hunters who specialize in cutting off faces? If this deal goes through, we can split it fifty-fifty.”
Mo Xuyou shook his head, knowing that Xing Ruyi was joking.
“Do you still want to know about Xiu Xiu?”
“Yes, yes! Hurry up! If you don’t, it’ll be dawn soon.” Seeing yet another profitable opportunity slipping away from her grasp, Xing Ruyi became disheartened and leaned against the fox as if to feign sleep. Meanwhile, Yin Yuan, feeling self-aware, tilted his head and leaned against Xing Ruyi, contentedly rubbing his belly before drifting off.
Mo Xuyou cleared his throat and continued, “Xiu Xiu is a child that the village chief of Wei Village found outside; she is also the only girl in the entire village who does not share the surname Wei. Her surname is Xu, which is embroidered on the blanket the chief used to wrap her when he found her. That blanket is made of Shu brocade and features extremely precious golden threads. There are many rumors about Xiu Xiu’s origins in the village, but one thing everyone agrees on is that she must come from an extremely wealthy family. Thus, in those early years, the chief’s family treated her very well, hoping to gain some benefits when Xiu Xiu’s family eventually came looking for her.”
“Her family must never have come!” Xing Ruyi shifted uncomfortably. “If her family had come, her soul wouldn’t be wandering around that desolate grave.”
“That’s right! Xiu Xiu’s family never came. As time passed year after year and as Xiu Xiu grew more beautiful, the patience of the chief’s family gradually wore thin. This once-favored girl began to face criticism from them and became the object of desire for many unmarried young men in the village.”
“She got married!”
"Once again, the young lady guessed correctly! Xiu Xiu was married at the age of fourteen, arranged by the village chief, to the wealthiest family in the village. That Lord Wei had once held an official position and was praised for his forging skills by Gaozong and Wu Zetian. Even after retiring to his hometown, he received a substantial reward. Xiu Xiu's husband was the son of this lord, a foolish and simple-minded man."
"The village chief must have done it on purpose!"
"Yes! Because the bride price offered by that lord was extremely high, and the village chief had his own selfish motives. The lord had two sons. The eldest son was not only handsome but also exceptionally talented; although he came from a family of blacksmiths, he mastered various weapons and military strategies. Within just a few years, he became a general. This eldest son had also shown interest in Xiu Xiu, planning to marry her once she turned fifteen."
"But then, when General Wei returned, the beloved girl had become his sister-in-law." Xing Ruyi smirked, "What a cliché story."
Mo Xu You shook his head: "No! By the time General Wei returned, Xiu Xiu was already gone. So what he saw was not just his sister-in-law but someone he loved who had been stripped of her dignity."
"Wow, what a twist! There’s more to this story!" Xing Ruyi opened her eyes wide, looking eager to hear more.
"Mo Xu You, please continue!"
The fox urged Xing Ruyi while gently ruffling her hair. He pulled out a fruit from his sleeve for her and also produced a water pouch. With water, fruit, and a charming middle-aged storyteller, even in the gruesome setting of decaying corpses, Xing Ruyi felt as if she were on an outdoor adventure camping under the stars.
Mo Xu You was slightly surprised but soon relaxed upon seeing this "family of three."
"Initially, the marriage seemed quite harmonious. Xiu Xiu was intelligent, and the simple-minded husband was kind; they got along well as a couple. However, the lord's wicked heart grew as he gazed at the beautiful Xiu Xiu day and night. In a drunken state, he took advantage of her. Unable to bear the humiliation, Xiu Xiu attempted to take her own life that very day but was forcibly saved by the Wei family, barely preserving her life. Though she lived on, her heart died; she became silent and withdrawn, always looking at Lord Wei with eyes full of thorns. Once someone harbors malicious intent and commits wrongful acts, they can hardly contain themselves. One night, Lord Wei sneaked into his son's room again. Although the simple-minded husband was foolish, he sensed something from Xiu Xiu's cries. In his panic, he grabbed a candlestick to drive away his father; during their struggle, his father seized the candlestick and stabbed it into his chest, resulting in his death."
"The foolish husband is dead? That's it for Xiu Xiu!" Xing Ruyi forcefully broke open the fruit while revealing spoilers with an air of arrogance under the fox's indulgent gaze.
Mo Xu You did not mind Xing Ruyi's spoilers; he merely nodded lightly and continued with his narrative.
"The loud noise attracted the household servants. Although they were aware of what Lord Wei had done, with a death involved, even if the Wei family had some influence, they still needed to account for it at the Government Office. Clearly, Lord Wei's son’s death was no accident; thus, Lord Wei shifted all blame onto Xiu Xiu, claiming that she bore resentment and deliberately caused her husband's death. Fearing that Xiu Xiu would cause chaos in court, Lord Wei bribed officials to force her to take mute medicine."
"Unable to speak or write while being covered up by corrupt officials, Xiu Xiu's grievances would be solidified."
"After a simple trial, Xiu Xiu was sentenced to execution after autumn. However, before autumn arrived, the Wei Family received a letter from the Eldest Son, who had achieved merit at the Border Defense and would soon return to the capital to receive his reward. At that time, he planned to stop by home for a visit. In the letter, the Eldest Son specifically mentioned Xiu Xiu's situation. Master Wei and the Village Chief were already feeling guilty, and after reading the Eldest Son's letter, they felt even more uneasy. They worried that, given the Eldest Son's temperament, he would take the initiative to investigate the truth and seek to overturn Xiu Xiu's case in prison."
"Most likely, these two bad guys are planning something sinister," Xing Ruyi sighed and shook her head. "Poor Xiu Xiu, no wonder she has turned into a ghost with such great resentment. It turns out she has been burdened with so many grievances."
Xing Ruyi said this while handing a few fruits to Moxuyou.
Moxuyou glanced at them and accepted them without hesitation.
The fox looked somewhat displeased and cast a faint glance at Moxuyou.
Moxuyou focused on peeling the fruit and did not notice the fox's displeasure.
"The girl is mistaken this time! Xiu Xiu indeed fell victim to foul play, but it wasn't Master Wei and Village Chief Wei who orchestrated it; it was Village Chief Wei's own daughter, Wei Xiuhua. Wei Xiuhua was of the same age as Xiu Xiu and was the only daughter of the Village Chief. However, ever since Xiu Xiu was brought home by her father, the affection she received was halved, and in earlier years, she was even less favored than this adopted Xiu Xiu. Moreover, Xiu Xiu was beautiful while she herself was plain, which often led to feelings of resentment. In her youth, when the Eldest Son of the Wei Family frequently visited Xiu Xiu and treated her kindly while she received no attention from him as the Village Chief's daughter, her heart began to harbor jealousy. With thoughts of the Wei Family's son returning home and her father's previous intention to betroth her to him, the vines of resentment in her heart began to grow unchecked. Thus, Wei Xiuhua devised a cunning method. She bribed the jailer under the pretense of visiting and cruelly had Xiu Xiu's face skinned."
Xiu Xiu bled to death and was carelessly discarded in the wilderness. Wei Xiuhua took her skin and asked a Southern Border Shaman to make Blood Rouge from it, which she applied daily. By the time the Eldest Son returned, she had already transformed into Xiu Xiu's likeness.
Although the villagers knew the truth, they buried it deep within due to Master Wei and Village Chief's power. The Eldest Son had inquired about his brother and sister-in-law but was misled by Master Wei with claims of an accident; even his daughter-in-law’s name was changed from Xiu Xiu to Xiuhe on the marriage certificate. Although he loved his brother dearly, he silently accepted the fact of his unexpected departure; as for his sister-in-law named Xiuhe, he only vaguely remembered her as Village Chief Wei's daughter who used to timidly follow him around in childhood.
The two most powerful and wealthy families in Wei Village finally formed an alliance again through marriage. The bride carried out from Village Chief Wei’s house still appeared as that stunning "Xiu Xiu." Yet in an unseen shadow, the real Xiu Xiu opened her eyelids devoid of lashes and stared intently at that bridal sedan chair. On their wedding night in the bridal chamber, just as everything seemed perfect for the new Wife, she suddenly went mad and cut her own face with a ceremonial knife."
Comment 0 Comment Count