With temples streaked with white and a face etched with wrinkles, her past unparalleled beauty was still faintly visible, a testament to her reputation as the foremost beauty of Liang in her prime.
Alas, such a beauty had spent her life hidden behind a mask, presenting herself as a man, with a temperament so volatile that she was unapproachable, and now she was over fifty.
Yue Wenxin shared about four or five parts of Yue Hongxiu's resemblance.
Liang Xiao had, of course, also inquired. Back then, Yue Hongxiu was the second daughter of the Yue family. Her elder sister was a widow, and later married Zuo Wuji. Yue Wenxin was born when she was forty years old, and she died unexpectedly.
It was said that the old patriarch had intended to betroth Yue Hongxiu to Zuo Wuji, which ultimately led to Yue Hongxiu becoming the way she was, and even becoming the commander of the Northern King's Imperial Guard and the General who Pacifies the North. The process behind it was known only to Yue Hongxiu herself.
The old patriarch had no sons, and the Yue family had no reliable direct male heirs. In the end, Zuo Wuji successfully managed to become the head of the Yue family, even changing his surname to Yue.
Luo Qingxue and others stood quietly behind Liang Xiao, observing Yue Wenxin and Yue Hongxiu from a distance with him.
The two first offered sacrifices to the Twelve Righteous Men before proceeding to the Northern King's tomb at the center.
Yue Wenxin knelt down, while Yue Hongxiu slumped before the tombstone, lost in sorrow.
"Uncle Northern King..."
With his extraordinary hearing, Liang Xiao heard Yue Wenxin's unusually obedient call, tinged with a hint of tears.
"I know you won't bless me anymore, but I also realize it was my fault for almost harming the Marquis of An Guo, who is your son. Please don't be angry. From now on, you will fully bless the Marquis of An Guo. Thank you for always blessing Wenxin~" Yue Wenxin tried hard to put on a façade of acceptance, but as she spoke, she began to cry like a four or five-year-old child, completely losing her composure.
"The Marquis of An Guo is so amazing. At my age, I should be as infatuated with him as Sister Li Xin. But... but... I don't believe in men anymore! Even a great figure like my father is hypocritical, always slapping me and wanting me to marry into the Yan family. It terrifies me... Now my sister is missing, and only my aunt cares about me."
"My aunt gave me your sword back then and told me you had passed away. I always thought that if your spirit in heaven felt my sincerity, you would definitely help me fix my father a hundred times over. I never expected that I would actually fix my father~"
Hearing Yue Wenxin's childish mutterings, Liang Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. As he laughed, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow.
So that's how it was...
Being subjected to Zuo Wuji's domestic violence since childhood, it was a Northern King's sword that gave the child a psychological suggestion, allowing her to overcome her fear-inducing father, thus causing her confidence to swell immensely.
However, her inflated confidence and self-protective personality were destroyed by his single move, and she reverted to her former immature, timid little girl persona, perhaps even more naive than Zhuo Xun was when they first met.
Although she was only Zuo Jing's half-sister, she still cared about Zuo Jing, which meant she was his family.
He and Zuo Wuji had another debt to settle.
Yue Wenxin rambled to herself for a long time before wiping away her tears and standing by.
Yue Hongxiu then picked up a pot of wine and poured it before the tombstone.
"You said you would come to Liang to atone in ten years. I thought you would become the pillar of Da Qian, just like you were in Liang, and come back to Liang to marry me grandly, for an alliance between the two countries. But you never came again, and even urged me to marry someone else soon. Later, you settled down and built a career in Da Qian. You liar!"
"Do you know how hard I tried to avoid being married off by my father... I stayed at the Northern King's mansion, waiting for you to come back and marry me. I thought, even if I waited until I was eighty, you would still come, and I wouldn't blame you. But what I waited for was news of your death. You knew I would never marry anyone else for you, so why did you die in Helan Mountain! You liar!!"
Yue Hongxiu did not cry, only murmured to herself.
"But I never regretted my choice. I only resent that you never married me. We should have had a child as excellent as Liang Xiao. I also knew calligraphy, chess, poetry, and painting, and I even learned swordsmanship from the Sword Master, so I definitely wouldn't lose to her..."
Liang Xiao's feelings became even more complex.
So, the reason she became like this was also due to his father?
But she was clearly more difficult to deal with than Lu Xue, after all, she was a person of Liang and an official of the court.
Just as Liang Xiao and his group were sighing, a gaunt figure slowly walked from a distance.
"Teacher~" Yue Wenxin called out obediently, and together with Yue Hongxiu, they went forward to help him.
Liang Xiao sized up the person and immediately concluded that he must be the Sword Master.
So he was the one who taught Yue Wenxin swordsmanship?
For someone's personality to change drastically and for them to suddenly become skilled in swordsmanship, their foundation must be essential.
But this Sword Master looked emaciated, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.
The Sword Master used his long sword as a walking stick and approached the Northern King's tomb, gazing at the wordless monument with deep eyes.
"An Guo, you loved watching me dance with my sword when you were alive. I also loved sparring with you the most. Watch this..."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sword Master gently pushed aside the two people beside him and inverted the long sword under his palm.
The scabbard flew up, followed by a flash of sword light and swirling fallen leaves!
The originally gaunt old man seemed like an immortal descending to earth, his steps light, his swordsmanship elegant, composed, and without any hesitation.
Jian Qinwan exclaimed softly, "What exquisite swordsmanship!"
Even Zhuo Zifang and Luo Qingxue, who had practiced swordplay before, couldn't help but nod and sigh.
Liang Xiao stared at the colorful sword shadows in the distance, his pupils contracting.
Wasn't this the swordsmanship his father taught him when he was a child?
The ground was covered with fallen leaves, and Liang Xiao examined them closely. A large number of fallen leaves had been cut in half along their veins!
When he practiced swordsmanship in private, he often used the same method taught by Liang Anguo!
At this moment, Liang Xiao finally understood where his swordsmanship originated.
However, his swordsmanship later became its own school, achieving the path of life and death, aiming for a clean and swift, fatal blow.
Autumn wind swept through the fallen leaves.
After an unknown amount of time, the Sword Master finally sheathed his sword and sat down with Yue Hongxiu and Yue Wenxin before Liang Anguo's tomb, burning paper money.
Luo Qingxue knew that Liang Xiao had astonishing hearing, but seeing his solemn expression, she dared not ask. She simply held Liang Xiao's arm and whispered, "You and Teacher should go first. Our presence here might make them uncomfortable."
Liang Xiao understood and descended from the high tower with Zhuo Zifang.
Upon hearing footsteps, Yue Wenxin and Yue Hongxiu immediately turned their heads. Their expressions changed.
Yue Hongxiu became even more flustered and quickly picked up the mask she had dropped and put it back on.
"Master, have you been well? It's me, Zhuo Zifang," Zhuo Zifang said softly.
The Sword Master seemed to be talking to himself, "The one beside Zhuo Lingjun, it seems to be..."
"Junior Liang Xiao, I pay my respects to Master!" Liang Xiao bowed with his fists clasped.
The Sword Master turned and looked at Liang Xiao, exclaiming, "You look so much like him! A tiger father has no weak son!"
He then gestured to the ground beside him, "Come and sit down!"
"The Emperor of Liang insists that I visit you, Master. Now I understand that you have provided much guidance on my father's swordsmanship, and my own swordsmanship has also absorbed the essence of your techniques..." Liang Xiao's words were filled with gratitude.
He had defeated Yue Wenxin, and the Sword Master could not have been unaware.
The Sword Master shook his head, "Actually, the swordsmanship I just displayed was taught to me by your father, which I then integrated and innovated before passing it on to your father."
Liang Xiao suddenly understood.
"Are there only the two of you?" the Sword Master asked.
Liang Xiao then waved to the distant high tower, and Luo Qingxue and the others descended and paid their respects to the Sword Master.
"Your father, Anguo, would be deeply gratified to see your achievements today," the Sword Master said, then looked around at the twelve tombs of the righteous men and added with a smile, "Of course, they would be too. After all, you have brought much benefit to the people of Liang."
Yue Wenxin lowered her head, not daring to meet Liang Xiao's gaze.
Yue Hongxiu simply turned her head away, refusing to look at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said earnestly, "The Emperor of Liang has instructed me to visit you, Master. May I ask for your opinion on the Emperor of Liang?"
"A wise ruler, but a sad one," the Sword Master replied without hesitation.
Liang Xiao mused, and then said, "It seems, Master, that you are also well aware of the matter between my father and the Emperor of Liang back then. But it seems you still have some secrets that you do not wish to reveal to the Emperor of Liang?"
"There is nothing to tell him," the Sword Master laughed heartily.
Liang Xiao was taken aback, then looked around.
"These twelve righteous men, who stepped forward with pure hearts, are truly commendable. But why did they resolutely cooperate with my father, not hesitating even in the face of certain death? Since they were all swordsmen, they must have had some connection with you, Master? And why do they have no names? Junior believes that Master must know the inside story."
The Sword Master finally quieted down, looked around at the surrounding tombs, parted his lips slightly, his expression filled with sorrow.
After an internal struggle of an unknown duration, the Sword Master finally spoke with a trembling voice, muttering to himself.
"They are my four sons and eight nephews. They are the bloodline of my entire clan."