Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law-Chapter 573: Zhihua’s Origins

"Duke An, could you sit down and let me speak slowly?"

Zhihua tightly clutched the hem of Chen Mo’s robe, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

"You... stand up first."

Chen Mo said, reseating himself by the tea table.

Zhihua filled Chen Mo’s cup with tea, trying hard to calm her emotions, and began to speak slowly.

Zhihua was born into a family that valued sons over daughters, both her parents were rural peasants. After being married for many years without pregnancy, they sought out a well-known doctor from a neighboring village to examine them. Upon diagnosis, the problem was found to be with Zhihua’s father.

Fortunately, the issue wasn’t too serious. The doctor prescribed a remedy, saying that as long as he took the medicine on time and got proper rest, he could recover.

Although the doctor said the illness could be cured, to Zhihua’s father’s ears, it was like a bolt from the blue.

The main issue was that the news of Zhihua’s father’s inadequacy suddenly spread in the village, causing him great loss of face.

Since then, rumors about Zhihua’s father "not being a man" were rampant.

A few months later, when Zhihua’s mother became pregnant, the news spread and villagers began gossiping that Zhihua’s mother had been with another man.

After all, everyone in the village knew about Zhihua’s father’s issue.

Despite Zhihua’s parents’ constant explanations that the illness could be treated, apparently, few believed them.

Thus, Zhihua was born in such an environment.

For Zhihua’s father, who desperately wanted a child, seeing it was a daughter was a disappointment. To make it easier to raise her, they gave her a disparaging name.

As Zhihua grew up, people in the village commented that she didn’t resemble her father.

In fact, from the moment the rumors about his wife being with another man started, combined with his own inadequacy, Zhihua’s father’s mentality began to distort.

Hearing others say the daughter didn’t resemble him, Zhihua’s father started to believe that his wife had been with another man.

From the time Zhihua could remember, her father would verbally and physically abuse her and her mother. The dirtiest and most tiring tasks were left to Zhihua’s mother, who, in turn, blamed her daughter for their plight, leading to more beatings for Zhihua.

Whenever Zhihua was hungry or in pain at night and couldn’t sleep, her younger brother, just one year her junior, would offer her a share of his saved rations from the day, promising that when he grew up, he would protect his sister.

Indeed, a year after Zhihua was born, her mother gave birth to a boy.

In those early years, her brother was the only light in Zhihua’s life.

When Zhihua was seven, in that year, a rare famine occurred. To get through the hardship, Zhihua’s father sold her to a human trafficker.

The human trafficker later sold Zhihua to Prince Huai’s Mansion.

Seeing that Zhihua had good bone structure, Prince Huai’s Mansion planned to cultivate her into a spy.

They taught her reading, etiquette, cultivation, grooming...

And they gave her a new name—Flower Shadow.

"From what you’re saying, Prince Huai treated you quite well. Why are you betraying him now?" Chen Mo asked.

He hadn’t sipped the tea before him. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Despite Zhihua claiming she hadn’t added Immortal Powder, Chen Mo didn’t believe it.

He believed only a fraction of what Zhihua had just said.

Zhihua revealed a self-mocking smile and continued speaking.

Indeed, Prince Huai’s Mansion taught her reading, cultivation, gave her food, and clothes, and she felt gratitude towards Prince Huai.

But Prince Huai’s Mansion used her family, especially her brother, to threaten her.

For a spy, ability is not the most important; loyalty is.

At this point, Zhihua was of sound mind and beyond being brainwashed. To better control her, Prince Huai’s Mansion controlled her family.

"So you plan to betray Prince Huai? Prince Huai’s Mansion is merely taking extra precautions. After all, you are on missions outside, and if swayed, betrayal is easy. This way, Prince Huai’s Mansion finds peace of mind." Chen Mo said.

Zhihua shook her head and continued to speak.

When she was thirteen, Prince Huai’s Mansion sold her to the Flower Fragrance Building through a human trafficker.

Brothels are the best places for gathering information, and they provided her with a Secret Technique to conceal her Qi Refining aura.

After arriving in Jiangnan, she couldn’t see her brother every day.

So she requested to see her brother through her superior from time to time.

Her superior agreed.

Initially, she could see her brother regularly, and upon seeing him, she felt much at ease.

But later, the intervals between meetings were continuously extended.

Starting two years ago, from meeting her brother once a year, it turned into exchanging letters.

She approached her superior, questioning why she couldn’t see her brother.

The superior said because the Prince lost Huai State, it was challenging to arrange for the siblings to meet.

Hearing this, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, "And then?"

"Initially, I didn’t notice anything strange, but after more letters were exchanged, I noticed oddities. The letters contained superficial words, even if they expressed concern for me and inquired about my well-being, they felt too distant. Especially the most recent letter where my brother mentioned our parents. My brother had never mentioned our parents before me, but the letter did, even saying they missed me. Some words in the letter didn’t seem like something my brother could write." Zhihua said.

"So you suspect someone else is imitating your brother’s handwriting to correspond with you?" Chen Mo said.

Zhihua nodded, her eyes red and moist, "I am very worried about my brother, especially on this mission. I know whether I succeed in assassinating you or not, I am unlikely to survive. But I can’t stop worrying about my brother..."

Hearing this, Chen Mo was momentarily stunned, "In that case, you should be more inclined to assassinate me. If your superiors find out you didn’t follow Prince Huai’s orders and plan to betray him, in retaliation, they’ll surely harm your brother, harming your family."

Zhihua revealed a pale smile, "Before I came today, he told me that as long as I followed his orders, whether I succeeded or not, he would plead to those above to spare my brother and... parents. But I fear he’s deceiving me, especially since I haven’t seen my brother for these two years, and the letters are fake. I fear my brother might already have met with mishap.

If in the afterlife, I meet my brother, wouldn’t today’s actions have aided the enemy..."

Hearing this, Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "Your mind is indeed sharp and perceptive."

Zhihua silently wept.

"Tell me, how do you intend for me to rescue your brother?" Whether Zhihua’s words were true or false, Chen Mo intended to see the act through to determine the truth.

"You... you agreed." Crystal tears swirled in Zhihua’s eyes.

"Yes, speak." Chen Mo replied.