15: Su Yunniang

West Courtyard.

In a garden within Liu Xuaner's courtyard.

At this moment, the early summer breeze swept across the vermilion lacquered corridors of the West Courtyard, whirling the petals on the wisteria trellis into snowy waves.

Beneath the flower trellis, Liu Xuaner sat on a white marble stool.

Under the sunlight, her jade-white, translucent insteps were tantalizing, her ankles smooth and delicate, the bones rounded and exquisite.

The hem of her skirt, embroidered with silver-threaded peonies, was lifted by the wind, revealing glimpses of her snow-white, slender calves, drawing sidelong glances and stirring the soul.

A simple white palace dress cinched at the waist accentuated her figure, making her appear like a lotus flower emerging from water.

On the fullness of her chest, silver floral clusters were embroidered; combined with her graceful posture, it made her whole person appear even more charming and alluring.

At the moment, she was idly eating snacks and sipping flower tea.

And sitting opposite her was a peerless beauty, whose appearance and figure were no less than her own.

The beautiful woman's figure was full and tall, her temperament serene and gentle, her heart as pure as an orchid, her charm still evident, fully displaying the allure unique to a mature woman.

Dressed in a light green, luxurious gown, her face was exquisitely beautiful, a faint, radiant charm sparkling between her brows and eyes.

The beautiful woman elegantly lifted a lotus-patterned teacup with her jade-like hand, took a small, gentle sip, raised her eyes to look at Liu Xuaner, and her soft, honeyed voice sounded:

"Sister, you seem... different from usual today."

"Hmm? How am I different?"

Liu Xuaner was taken aback for a moment, a trace of a smile appearing on her charming face as she asked curiously.

The beautiful woman examined Liu Xuaner and said:

"Sister, your entire essence, spirit, and energy seem renewed today, becoming radiant and dazzlingly beautiful. Like a newly sprouted magnolia branch, even the corners of your eyes are glowing."

She chuckled lightly and continued:

"Although sister has always been peerlessly beautiful and captivating, I could still see a faint trace of melancholy and gloom between your brows. But today, your complexion is rosy, and your eyes are filled with joy and satisfaction. This expression... it's like a malnourished flower that has been fertilized and watered, becoming delicate and vibrant."

"Pah!"

Liu Xuaner lightly spat at the beautiful woman, a hint of discomfort flashing across her face.

The memory of the Bei Batian's sudden visit last night, his warm breath brushing past her ear, had not yet faded, and now she was startled by the beautiful woman's words, her face turning as crimson as the evening clouds.

She said shyly:

"Sister, what nonsense are you saying? How can you use such a metaphor?"

"Sister Xuan'er, I'm just telling the truth. How is that nonsense?"

The beautiful woman smiled faintly and stopped teasing Liu Xuaner.

Liu Xuaner's beautiful eyes darted away, her face slightly flushed with shyness as she said:

"Perhaps it's because I finally managed to settle all the bad debts and uncollectible accounts from the manor's shops recently. Seeing the business turn a profit makes me happy, so my mood is better, and the gloom has dissipated."

"Is that so?"

The beautiful woman was momentarily stunned, her elegant brows lifting slightly before she nodded:

"That is indeed good news. I imagine even our husband will praise sister for being capable when he finds out, hehe."

The two continued chatting.

The beautiful woman gazed at the swaying wisteria in the distance, the golden-threaded bamboo leaf patterns on her light green skirt flickering in the shifting light and shadow. She took a gentle sip of tea, the bitterness rising in her throat even stronger than the tea's taste.

The beautiful woman sighed, shook her head, and said:

"Sister can still help our husband manage the manor's business affairs. But I, a mere woman, am of no help at all. All I do every day is tend to flowers and plants, idle and unproductive. Ah!"

"If our husband hadn't taken pity on me back then, taken me in, and made me his concubine, who knows what would have become of me. Perhaps I would have remarried and had a child or two by now..."

As she spoke to this point, the beautiful woman's expression turned sorrowful, filled with heartache and loneliness.

This beautiful woman was Su Yunniang. Originally, she was the Dao Companion of a Cultivator. Her husband was killed while competing for treasure during an exploration of an Ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave, and she herself narrowly escaped death.

When she drifted into the territory of the Northern City Manor, she happened to be encountered by the Bei Batian, who pursued her vigorously. Not long after, the two were married.

But over the decades, their feelings gradually faded. Moreover, they never had any children, which caused Su Yunniang constant bitterness and resentment.

Although it is difficult for Cultivators to conceive, it has been decades now, and she is nearly a hundred years old.

If not for being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she would already be aged and faded. How could one even speak of bearing children? One can imagine the depth of Su Yunniang's resentment.

In this West Courtyard, she and Liu Xuaner became acquainted. Their status was the same, their circumstances similar, and their temperaments compatible. So, in their daily lives, when they had nothing to do, they would gather to drink tea, share their hearts, and chat, which led to their current closeness.

"Yun Niang..."

Liu Xuaner opened her mouth, wanting to offer comfort, but didn't know how best to do so.

After all, her own situation wasn't much better.

Similarly childless, similarly living a widowed life.

It was only last night that the Bei Batian suddenly favored her, but who knows when he might favor her again next? The days were equally difficult...

"Sister Cui Zhu, that is Su Yunniang, Madam Su, right?"

Outside the courtyard wall, Situ Jun happened to be patrolling to this spot. Seeing the voluptuous beauty sitting opposite Liu Xuaner in the courtyard, he asked curiously.

At this moment, beneath the flower trellis, Su Yunniang's radiant skin surpassed the freshness of spring snow by three parts.

"Hmm, yes. You haven't been transferred to the West Courtyard for long, so it's not strange you don't know her."

Glancing at the two Madams in the courtyard, she continued:

"Madam Su prefers tranquility. Apart from Cultivating, she tends to flowers, makes things like Daughter's Wine, and rarely moves about. In this West Courtyard, our Madam and Madam Su are close sisters who share everything. Our Madam almost comes here every few days to chat with Madam Su and relieve her boredom."

Following his gaze, Cui Zhu lowered her voice and continued:

"Madam Su is a Cultivator at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. She entered the manor twenty years earlier than our Madam. If Madam Su didn't dislike contention and competition, perhaps some of the manor's commercial firms, mines, and farmlands would still be under her management. Our Madam often comes to consult her about shop matters."

After Cui Zhu's patient explanation, Situ Jun understood much more about Su Yunniang.

These past few days, he had passed by the 'Yunxiang Courtyard' several times, but as he wasn't part of Madam Su's personal guard of Manor Soldiers, he couldn't enter. In two months, he hadn't seen her even once.

"Su Yunniang? Truly, the person matches the name."

Situ Jun stared at her. This woman was like a ripe honey peach, her entire being exuding a mature, alluring charm that was intoxicating.

She was also beautiful, and with her status as a concubine, she fully met the criteria for inclusion in the hundred flowers diagram.

She was different from Liu Xuaner's type of peerlessly beautiful and bewitching young matron. She was entirely the type of charming, noble lady refined by the passage of time.

Her demeanor was elegant, dignified, and gentle, like a well-bred lady from a great family.

She looked precisely like the type of auntie who would be caring, nurturing, and forgiving.

Her temperament was completely different from Liu Xuaner's.

If Liu Xuaner was like a crisp, sweet, and richly fragrant apple, then Su Yunniang was like a honey peach with soft flesh, abundant juice, sweet taste, rich aroma, and a tender, melting texture.

If you could also conquer Su Yunniang, then Situ Jun's vanity would be immensely satisfied.

Thinking of this,

Situ Jun opened his Eye of Detection.

[Name: Su Yunniang]

[Age: 95, Note: As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, lifespan can reach 200-300 years.]

[Status: Concubine of the Bei Batian]

[Score: 93, meets the hundred flowers diagram inclusion criteria. Host is advised to include.]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment, Ninth Layer, Perfection]

[Physique (Spiritual Vein): Unactivated Water Spirit Body or Water Spiritual Vein]

[Favorability: 0]

[heavenly luck value: 4400]

[Recent Evaluation: Wants to tend more flowers. Desires a child. Holds great resentment towards the Bei Batian for not sharing her bed in nearly ten years.]

Such a perfectly rounded, curvaceous, and peerlessly beautiful woman was actually a Cultivator at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from being a Golden Core Cultivator.

That was a level of power capable of being the lord of a city!

This made Situ Jun feel both excited and apprehensive. Could such a beauty really be someone he could pursue? Yet, the thought of not trying to win such a peerless lady left him unwilling.

Not long after, Su Yunniang walked out of Liu Xuaner's courtyard.

The sorrow at the corners of her eyes and brows was like the misty rain of the Jiangnan region, a hazy tenderness hiding a trap one would willingly sink into.

Situ Jun's Adam's apple bobbed as he watched Su Yunniang's receding figure, lost in deep thought.