142 A Sisters’ Night Talk
The Clan Head’s room was even larger and more luxuriously furnished, but it also felt colder and more impersonal.
The two sisters sat on a soft couch, a low table between them with an incense burner, a wisp of smoke curling upwards.
Grand Elder Yu Yan had changed into a new, dark-colored nightgown with a rather alluring low-cut neckline, revealing a hint of cleavage.
Since there were no men in the Yu family, they were more relaxed with their attire at home. She had chosen a more conservative outfit earlier because of Yan Zhen’s presence.
Clan Head Yu Lu gracefully prepared tea, asking, “Did you have something to discuss, Elder Sister?”
Grand Elder Yu Yan opened her light blue eyes slightly and smiled at her beautiful younger sister. “If Xiao Lu hadn’t taken over as Clan Head and given birth to Xuan’er, you would probably have reached peak Mystic Ancestor by now, right? Your cultivation talent is the highest among our generation.”
Clan Head Yu Lu paused in her tea-making, then continued pouring the hot water, the rich aroma of tea filling the air. “There are no ‘what ifs.’ As I said, I don’t regret becoming the Clan Head, and I don’t regret giving birth to Xuan’er. As for cultivation, I can take it slowly.”
Grand Elder Yu Yan lowered her head.
Because of her injury, which affected her ability to bear children, her younger sister had become the Clan Head, shouldering the responsibility of continuing the family line.
During pregnancy, a Yu family woman’s cultivation would advance rapidly, then slowly regress.
From the alchemical gestation process to the embryo transfer, then ten months of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, it took a full year.
And that year was a period of cultivation stagnation.
Moreover, childbirth would damage a woman’s vital essence, further hindering cultivation.
This combined effect often resulted in a regression in cultivation level.
This was one of the reasons why Yu family women weren’t fond of having children.
Whether direct or collateral branches, they would only have one child if possible. Having three sisters like them was extremely rare.
Grand Elder Yu Yan always felt guilty, as if she had shifted her own responsibilities onto her younger sister’s shoulders.
And her sister, without any complaints, silently fulfilled her duties, supporting the family as the Clan Head.
She had been a terrible older sister and always wanted to make up for it.
“Xiao Lu, do you… resent me?”
“Sister, you’ve asked this many times. My answer remains the same.”
“But I haven’t taken good care of you and Xiao Qing…”
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Sister, yet you always blame yourself. That’s not right.” Clan Head Yu Lu placed the prepared tea before her older sister and said seriously, “Because it hurts you, and it hurts Xiao Qing and me to see you like this.”
“I’m glad you both feel that way, but I’m still your older sister—”
Clan Head Yu Lu frowned, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “You’re just overthinking things, Sister, not considering our feelings at all.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t mention it again.” Grand Elder Yu Yan smiled again and changed the subject. “Xiao Lu, is your… condition truly as Xuan’er described?”
Clan Head Yu Lu, who was sipping her tea, almost choked, quickly putting down her cup and wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Why do you ask, Sister?”
“Naturally, it’s because I’m concerned about you. According to Xuan’er, your condition is quite serious. How can I not ask?”
“It’s not that serious, just a minor… inconvenience. Since we know the solution, it’s not a problem.”
“That’s true. Just a few sessions of co-cultivation with Little Yan Zhen, and you’ll recover.”
“No, I don’t want to trouble that child. I plan to buy some Solar Essence and slowly recuperate.”
Clan Head Yu Lu picked up her teacup again, took a sip, and a faint smile touched her usually indifferent face.
Her hobby was brewing, tasting, and studying tea.
“I knew you would say that.” Grand Elder Yu Yan said reproachfully, then raised an objection. “But Xuan’er said that most commercially available Solar Essence is mixed with Fire Essence, making it less effective. Your condition is quite serious, Xiao Lu. What if it doesn’t work?”
Clan Head Yu Lu put down her teacup and said calmly, “It will work. If not, then I’ll search for a better pure Yang substance. I’ll find one eventually.”
“Are you just embarrassed, Xiao Lu?”
“…”
Clan Head Yu Lu blinked and took another sip of tea. “No.”
“Then why are you unwilling to co-cultivate with Little Yan Zhen?”
“I’m simply avoiding any… impropriety.”
“There’s no shame in seeking treatment for an illness, even outside the family, let alone within the Yu family.”
“Please don’t interfere in this matter, Sister. I know what I’m doing.”
Clan Head Yu Lu poured herself another cup of tea and sipped it delicately, like a kitten.
Grand Elder Yu Yan also took a sip of tea and asked, smiling, “Xiao Lu, you are embarrassed, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Because Little Yan Zhen is your highly valued son-in-law, you don’t want to… lose face in front of him, right?”
“Since you know, Sister, why bother asking?”
“Little Yan Zhen doesn’t have any ill intentions. He wouldn’t look down on you, his mother-in-law. He would be more likely to feel… concerned.”
“I know… but that child is extraordinary. Even Xuan’er, despite being reborn, can’t fully control him.”
Grand Elder Yu Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. “So, Xiao Lu, you want to be the strict mother-in-law, helping Xuan’er keep her husband in check?”
A faint blush colored Clan Head Yu Lu’s face. “I’m keeping him in check as the Clan Head, overseeing the second heir. And you, as his Elder, also have a responsibility to do so. Stop trying to deflect.”
“That’s true, but your health is also important, Xiao Lu. If something happens to you, the Yu family will be in chaos.”
“It won’t be a problem anytime soon.”
“So stubborn, just like before. You haven’t changed at all.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you, Sister.”
“Then how about this? We’ll find a way for you to receive treatment without… any embarrassment. How does that sound?”
Clan Head Yu Lu was intrigued.
She had advanced to three-star Mystic Ancestor almost two years ago, and that embarrassing condition had also persisted for two years. Each episode was incredibly uncomfortable and time-consuming, taking a long time to… resolve.
If there was a way to cure it quickly, she would gladly accept it.
“If there truly is such a method, then I wouldn’t be opposed…”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Wait, Sister, you haven’t told me what the method is.”
Grand Elder Yu Yan gestured for her sister to lean closer and whispered her idea.
Clan Head Yu Lu hesitated. “Will that… really work?”
“Of course it will! Little Yan Zhen won’t see or hear anything, and any… traces will be washed away by the White Jade Spring. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“But Xuan’er will see.”
“Then we won’t let them be present. After everything is ready, I’ll take them back to the shore, leaving only the three of you.”
“But Bailan is still there.”
“Don’t worry about Bailan. We have… leverage against her.”
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