The Spoiled Heiress Who Wasn't Spoiled

In front of Mingwang Manor, a crowd gathered. Besides the ragged beggars, most of the people were modestly dressed common folk. They formed an orderly line, their eyes fixed on the grain ahead. Mingwang Manor was situated in a border town and founded by the Elder Lu Youjiu of Ghost Valley. Lu Youjiu was dedicated to creating all kinds of divine weapons and tools. Over his lifetime, he poured his heart into crafting two legendary treasures of the martial world: the Mingwang Sword and the Mingwang Cauldron. The Mingwang Sword could slice through iron like mud, a bloodthirsty sword that, when thrust into a body, could instantly drain its blood, causing death from exsanguination. The Mingwang Cauldron was used to practice the Mingwang Palm. Anyone struck by the Mingwang Palm would gradually suffer organ failure, dying in a manner akin to a desiccated corpse. After creating these two items, Lu Youjiu found them to be extremely malevolent and unsuitable for righteous individuals. Therefore, he personally built a secret chamber to hide them, ordering future generations to guard them and never use them. Mingwang Manor had passed through several generations, with the current head being Lu Youjiu’s great-grandson, Lu Qian. Lu Qian was a hearty and sociable man, well-connected across the martial world. His wife, Xiao Jingwan, was the current Emperor’s younger sister. Gentle and kind, she had a serene disposition. Mingwang Manor was not only a major sect in the martial world but also a royal residence. Thus, it held significant status both in the martial world and at court. Lu Qian and Xiao Jingwan were devoted to each other and had a son and a daughter. Their son, Lu Tianqi, was ten years old, capable in both literature and martial arts, and handsome. Their daughter, Lu Xiyao, was seven years old, lively and charming, with an endearing nature. This year, a nationwide drought had led to the deaths of thousands of people. The border town's residents, lacking food, were starving and falling ill in the streets. Lu Qian dispatched grain and medicine to relieve the suffering. Hearing of Lu Qian's benevolence, refugees from various places flocked to the border town. The owner of Yuhu Mountain Manor, Shangguan Hong, was a master of medicine and extremely wealthy. He had three daughters and a son. His eldest daughter, Shangguan Yue, was married to the Emperor’s second son, Xiao Yunqi. His second daughter, Shangguan Jing, was made a princess by the Emperor and married off to a foreign country. His third daughter, Shangguan Wan'er, married the son of the King of Yong'an, Xiao Zicheng. His youngest son, Shangguan Yunting, though only ten, was already surpassing his elders in medical skill. Shangguan Hong and Lu Qian were sworn brothers. Shangguan Hong’s wife, Hua Lianyi, was a close friend of Xiao Jingwan. To strengthen the ties, even before Lu Xiyao was born, they had arranged a marriage between Shangguan Yunting and Xiyao. After Hua Lianyi’s death from illness, Shangguan Hong was busy with family affairs, and Shangguan Yunting lived at Mingwang Manor, cared for personally by Xiao Jingwan. With the refugees causing unrest and epidemics spreading, Shangguan Hong and Lu Qian, under imperial orders, traveled to various places to treat the sick and distribute relief. Under the scorching sun, the crowd gathered. Xiao Jingwan stood at the entrance of Mingwang Manor, looking at the suffering people with mixed emotions. Accompanying Xiao Jingwan were Lu Tianqi, Lu Xiyao, and Shangguan Yunting. Lu Tianqi helped with the grain distribution, while Shangguan Yunting took pulses and administered medicine. Their mature demeanor was notably impressive compared to Xiyao’s childlike innocence. "Someone has fainted!" A cry from the crowd attracted everyone’s attention. Xiao Jingwan, holding Xiyao’s hand, approached the person who had collapsed. Lu Tianqi and Shangguan Yunting exchanged a glance and hurried over. The refugees parted to make way for Xiao Jingwan. The collapsed man was a middle-aged man. Although his attire was similar to the other refugees, he seemed different, as if he were disguising himself among the others. Beside him knelt a middle-aged woman who seemed similarly out of place. She shook the man’s body and cried out in distress, looking utterly helpless. “What happened to him?” A clear child’s voice made the woman look up at Xiyao. Xiyao’s lively eyes blinked innocently, captivating anyone who met her gaze. “Auntie, why aren’t you speaking?” Xiyao asked again, and the woman, snapping back to reality, looked at Xiao Jingwan and continued to cry. “Kind madam, please save my husband! He’s about to die!” Xiao Jingwan frowned in worry at the ailing man. Xiyao flashed a charming smile and said, “Auntie, don’t worry. With Yunting brother here, he’ll surely get better.” “Yunting brother?” The woman repeated in confusion. Xiyao turned to Shangguan Yunting, who smiled gently and patted Xiyao’s head. “He is Yunting brother. He’s very skilled. With him here, he will definitely help this uncle.” Xiyao spoke confidently as Shangguan Yunting knelt to examine the man’s pulse. The woman’s gaze followed Yunting, returning to the man. Xiyao took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the woman’s tears. The woman, previously alert, now looked at the handkerchief with a softer expression. “You?” The woman’s brows furrowed in confusion. Xiyao wiped the woman’s face with the handkerchief and said, “Auntie, don’t cry. Uncle will be fine.” The woman’s eyes showed genuine gratitude as she looked at Xiyao, quietly receiving her care. “Thank you, little girl.” The woman’s tone was mild but sincere. “You’re welcome!” Xiyao’s voice was like a clear bell. The woman smiled warmly. As Xiyao was about to put the handkerchief away, the woman gently asked, “Can I have this handkerchief?” The woman looked at Xiyao with longing. Xiyao glanced at Xiao Jingwan for permission. Xiao Jingwan nodded with a smile, and Xiyao handed the handkerchief to the woman. The woman took the handkerchief as if it were a treasure, carefully folding it and placing it in her sleeve. “He’s fine. He just fainted from hunger,” Shangguan Yunting said as he stood up. Xiyao tugged at Xiao Jingwan’s hand, saying, “Mother, this auntie is so pitiful. Can we take them in?” “Ah…” Xiao Jingwan hesitated, and the woman said, “Madam, please, we fled from Xiangyang to here, with no relatives or place to go. If you could take us in, we would be forever grateful and would repay your kindness. Please, madam, help us!” The woman bowed deeply, drawing blood from her forehead. Xiao Jingwan, feeling a pang of sympathy, relented, “Alright then.” “Thank you, madam. Thank you, young lady.” The woman expressed her gratitude happily. Xiao Jingwan turned to the steward, Lu Zhong. “Lu Zhong, find two sets of clean clothes for them to change into, and prepare some food.” “Yes,” Lu Zhong replied, leading the woman away. The woman, carrying the man, followed Lu Zhong. Other refugees, seeing Xiao Jingwan’s arrangements, began shouting. “Madam, please take us in!” “Madam, I’m also homeless. Please have pity on me!” “Take me in, madam!” “…” The crowd surged, and Xiao Jingwan carried Xiyao back inside the manor. Lu Tianqi and Shangguan Yunting followed. Servants with sticks blocked the advancing refugees. Xiyao’s cloth doll fell to the ground, trampled by the refugees’ feet...