Chapter 69: Listening to the Sword, Meng Xinque

As noon approached, Jiang Yuerou, accompanied by her personal maid, headed toward the West Courtyard.

In the maid's hands rested a delicately crafted box of pastries.

Known as Snow Moon Crisp, they were baked using pristine snow from Mount Tianhe and fine wheat from Blue Valley.

They were available only during this specific time of year.

Compared to other pastries, the Snow Moon Crisp was slightly less sweet and possessed a richer flavor.

The difference from ordinary pastries was actually not all that significant.

Yet, precisely because of this subtle change, the scions of wealthy and noble families were willing to pay ten times the price to acquire them.

"Mistress, we are bringing such a small amount. Young Miss might not even finish tasting it before these Snow Moon Crisps are gone."

The speaker was Jiang Yuerou's personal maid, Rurong.

Having served Jiang Yuerou since her youth, Rurong was considered a veteran by her side.

Hearing this, Jiang Yuerou could only wave her hand helplessly.

"Bringing this much is already enough. Xinshu's palate is quite picky.

Perhaps she will only take a single light bite of this small portion."

While conversing, the two had already arrived at the entrance of the West Courtyard.

Seeing the withered wintersweet blossoms surrounding the area, Jiang Yuerou immediately instructed Rurong to arrange for someone to come and clean up the grounds.

Just then, a maid from the West Courtyard hurried forward to greet them.

"Mistress, Young Miss is currently concentrating on listening to the sword's voice. She instructed this maid that no one is to disturb her..."

The maid lowered her head, speaking in a timid whisper.

Although she was merely relaying a message, she knew that uttering such words was an affront to Jiang Yuerou.

Therefore, she kept her head bowed low the entire time.

Hearing this, Jiang Yuerou smiled bitterly and shook her head.

"This mother of hers truly holds little status. To catch a glimpse of my own daughter, I must endure such a bitter wait.

Sigh, waiting it is then..."

Sitting down on a stone chair in the courtyard, other servants hurriedly brought over some clear tea.

After all, Jiang Yuerou was the mistress of this estate; how could the servants dare to let her stand and wait like this?

Taking a sip of the clear tea, Jiang Yuerou suddenly looked toward the maid in the courtyard and asked,

"When her father comes to see her, does Xinshu make him wait out here as well?"

Upon hearing Jiang Yuerou's question, the maid's body trembled slightly, her face filled with anxiety.

Fretting over how to reply, she abruptly dropped to her knees.

"Mistress, please forgive me..."

"Never mind, never mind. What those two children think of their father is clear to me.

I shouldn't have been meddlesome and asked that question.

The day they treat me the way they treat their father, I would wake up smiling even in my sleep."

Jiang Yuerou waved her hand, dismissing the servants back to their duties.

Rurong, who had been busy making arrangements, happened to walk back at that moment.

She had also overheard Jiang Yuerou's recent sentimental remark.

"Mistress, you mustn't take these things to heart.

Children have grown up and must walk their own paths; naturally, there will be some distance between them and their parents.

The more promising the child, the greater the distance from their parents.

Surely, Mistress, you wouldn't want the young master and young miss to still cling to your side, wanting you to dote on them and protect them, would you?

Though Rurong knows nothing of martial arts, I have heard others mention Miss Xinshu comprehending the art of 'listening to the sword.'

That is an extraordinary skill. For Mistress to feel vexed over this—little do you know how many mothers across the Great Xia envy you."

Rurong had managed to stay by Jiang Yuerou's side all this time because she possessed a certain cleverness.

Her words always struck the right chord, making Jiang Yuerou feel much more at ease.

Prompted by Rurong's remarks, the expression on Jiang Yuerou's face visibly improved.

"Indeed, that is true. How could a child destined for greatness constantly cling to their parents?

It is only natural that Xinchen and Xinshu maintain some distance from me, their mother, as they ascend to the pinnacle of martial arts in the future.

Lu Xiao is certainly willing to cling and stay close, but upon careful thought, I find myself rather repelled by that."

At this point, a deeper sense of contentment seemed to grace Jiang Yuerou's face.

While the two were talking, another servant from the West Courtyard approached with lowered head.

"Mistress, Young Miss will likely be engrossed in her cultivation for quite a while longer.

You may have to wait a long time..."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuerou decided not to wait any longer.

"When Xinshu finishes her cultivation, come and inform me.

This child—it is so difficult for her own mother to see her."

With that, Jiang Yuerou rose with Rurong and departed.

At this very moment, Meng Xinshu sat composed within her spacious chamber.

Before her lay a wooden table crafted from tiger sandalwood.

Atop the table rested an exquisite long sword, its scabbard carved with patterns of heaven and earth clouds.

Though the blade remained concealed within, it continuously emanated wave after wave of chilling aura.

To hear the sound of the sword, converse with its voice, and walk alongside it.

There were countless sword practitioners in the world, and even low-ranking swordsmen knew this:

Practicing the sword is like refining oneself; one seeks the unity of person and sword.

Top-tier swordsmen inevitably sought the fusion of human and blade, striving to reach the legendary realm of sword and soul as one.

Most sword practitioners might spend their entire lifetime merely growing familiar with the blade in their hands and grasping the minutiae within it.

Yet those endowed with supreme talent could hear the sound of the sword and converse with its voice.

They could commune with the weapon in their hands, staying as close as kindred spirits.

Meng Xinshu was precisely such a favored child of the heavens, possessing the legendary Nine-Meander Sword Physique.

Regarding the concept of "listening to the sword," many within the Capital Martial Academy viewed it with skepticism.

When they first learned that Meng Xinshu practiced using the method of "listening to the sword," many of her peers in the Capital Martial Academy considered it mere pretense in pursuit of superficial fame.

However, upon witnessing her swordsmanship improve at a startling pace, propelling her into the top hundred rankings within three months of entering the academy, all rumors of pretense vanished completely.

The cultivation methods of heaven's favored children differed vastly from those of ordinary people.

Suddenly, Meng Xinshu reached out and drew the long sword, listening to the shrill hum of the blade.

The humming persisted for a moment before the sword slid back into its scabbard.

She then flicked her wrist, tossing the sword into a corner, a faint trace of displeasure flashing across her face.

Her cultivation session concluded, Meng Xinshu stood up and stepped out of the room.

Outside the door, a maid hurried forward to greet her.

"Young Miss, Mistress came by around noon wishing to see you.

She said that once your cultivation ended, we should promptly notify her.

Mistress even prepared a portion of Snow Moon Crisp for Young Miss."

While speaking, another maid hurriedly presented the box of Snow Moon Crisps.

"Go tell my mother."

After giving brief instructions, Meng Xinshu sat down on a stone chair in the courtyard.

She looked at the Snow Moon Crisp before her and took a light bite.

Just as Jiang Yuerou had anticipated, after merely tasting a tiny morsel, she lost all interest in it.

Sitting in leisure, Meng Xinshu summoned a servant standing by the courtyard entrance.

She instructed him to recount any news he had heard over this recent period.

Regardless of its scale, whatever he had picked up through hearsay could be spoken of directly.

The summoned servant appeared somewhat nervous, stammering as he spoke.

Growing impatient, Meng Xinshu dismissed him and summoned another person instead.

The Capital Martial Academy was situated in the capital, yet it remained at a certain distance from the Duke Meng Estate.

A martial academy required vast grounds, naturally placing it on the outskirts of the city.

Unless something major occurred, Meng Xinshu rarely returned home.

Consequently, she knew very little about affairs within the household.

The newly summoned servant possessed better eloquence, speaking with much greater fluency.

Seeing her mother approaching again, Meng Xinshu rewarded the remaining Snow Moon Crisps to the servant and told him to rest.