Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 727 - 728: The Past (Part 1)

Since the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Miaojiang region has been driven out and recovered numerous times. Now, the Three Miao live secluded in the ravines and high mountains, their paths extremely difficult to traverse. Some Miao people have even moved deep into the heart of the mountains to live in seclusion, avoiding contact with the Central Plains.

The Miaojiang is divided into the Three Miao, with seven clans and seven branches. The Miao people living in the Wu Luo area are later referred to as Xiang Miao. The Three Miao further divide into White Miao, Flower Miao, Qing Miao, Black Miao, Red Miao, and others.

The Xiang Miao, also known as the Red Miao, are skilled in witchcraft. Because the Red Miao reside around the edges of Miaojiang, an area contested by both Miao and Han, they have the most opportunities for confrontation and war with the Han people. They are considered the most knowledgeable and courageous among the Miao people.

Near Wu Luo, there were initially three large Miao villages with the strongest power. When Marquis Xuanning, Xiao Bo, led the army to recover Miao Land, one village resisted fiercely, known as the Old Cave Mountain Miao Village. Its village chief, Na Ya, was rumored to be the reincarnation of a Heavenly God, able to summon exotic beasts and command ants and insects. The locals worshipped him as a deity.

The Miao soldiers who ambushed Marquis Xuanning back then belonged to Na Ya’s faction. Na Ya had a sister named Naduo, whose beauty was stunning and her voice heavenly...

But Naduo fell in love with Marquis Xuanning, Xiao Bo, during that ambush. Xiao Bo initially hid his identity and grew close to Naduo. Under Na Ya’s supervision, the two even married in the village. Later, with Xiao Bo’s consent, Naduo planted a love poison on him. Together, they swore under the moon to live and die together, never to be apart! 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

After their marriage, their love grew stronger. In the second year of March, Naduo gave birth to a son for Xiao Bo, whom he named Cheng.

Naduo believed that the three of them could live happily together for the rest of their lives. However, she awoke one day to find Xiao Bo missing without a trace. Despite searching the entire village, she could not find him. Na Ya comforted Naduo, saying that with the love poison in him, Xiao Bo would return within three days.

Three days later, Xiao Bo indeed returned. That time, Naduo learned Xiao Bo’s true identity. He was Marquis Xuanning, Xiao Bo. He had a wife and child, and his wife was even camped right outside the Wu Luo Mountain Range.

Naduo plunged into despair. In her agony, remorse, and regret, she removed the poison from Xiao Bo, letting him go!

Xiao Bo truly left. Naduo lived alone with her child, thinking it was the end. However, a year later, Xiao Bo returned, asking her to help his wife, who was having a difficult pregnancy...

Naduo, inherently kind, eventually agreed to follow Xiao Bo to the Han army’s camp.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Bo was a faithless and unscrupulous man. After Naduo saved his wife and child, he imprisoned her and led an army to attack the Old Cave Village, capturing Na Ya and slaughtering numerous Miao people.

Naduo was cruelly disabled, severing her tendons and disfiguring her face, abandoned in the mountains. She barely survived with grievance for twenty years, only to avenge the betrayal of those years.

Xiao Yancheng’s mind was filled with what he heard as "facts" back then, and what Naduo told him, word for word, when he met her!

How could he not hate Xiao Bo, that two-faced, dishonorable, and despicable villain?

Thoughts swirling, Xiao Yancheng looked at the Grand Dowager, filled with suspicion: "What’s your proof for saying that?"

"Third." The Grand Dowager sighed and shook her head: "I haven’t uttered a single lie. Do not be deceived by those with ulterior motives. Think carefully. In all your years at the Marquis Mansion, how has your father treated you?" She sighed deeply: "Even I, I’ve treated you and the Fifth fairly without any guilty conscience."

Xiao Yancheng gave a slight shudder, acknowledging the Grand Dowager’s words. Back at the Marquis Mansion, both the Old Marquis and the Grand Dowager treated him no differently than his second brother and fourth brother.

"Your father had his own difficulties and considerations. Try to think from his perspective. If you were faced with that situation, what would you have done?" She continued, "Moreover, he did not kill her clan. It was Xianglan who truly massacred Old Cave Mountain Village in a blood sacrifice."

Xiao Yancheng’s expression changed. What would he have done?

He couldn’t help but think of Danlan. Was he using her, like Xiao Bo used Naduo, to protect himself, helpless yet not devoid of feelings?

People are not grass and trees; who can remain unfeeling?

Xiao Yancheng once again fell into thought. Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows, looking at the Grand Dowager and then at Xiao Yanyi: "I’ll have someone prepare the carriage. You go to Zhenyuan first to rest for a while!"

"That’s fine." Xiao Yanyi nodded, looking towards Xiao Yancheng, still trying to persuade: "Third brother, no matter the circumstances back then, that’s all in the past. We cannot always linger in the past. Both mother and I hope you can turn back and stop making more mistakes."

"Impossible!" Xiao Yancheng squinted his eyes, sharply looking at the Grand Dowager: "Even if the truth is as you say, so what? I’ll tell you. There’s no turning back, and I definitely won’t turn back!" With that, he turned and left, unwilling to look at Mrs. Xiao’s mother and sons even for a moment.

"Someone!" Fourth Master Xiao squinted his eyes, looking at the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi: "Escort them to Zhenyuan!"

"Fourth." The Grand Dowager understood Fourth Master Xiao’s intentions. Xiao Yancheng wouldn’t rest until he had avenged his hatred, but after so many years, for her, a harmonious family mattered more than anything. The grudges of the past have blown away with the wind, no longer matching the peace of the whole mansion.

"Don’t dwell on the past." The Grand Dowager walked a few steps to hold Fourth Master Xiao’s hand: "Over the years, I admit that I haven’t treated you as well as your brothers, because every time I see you, I’m reminded of everything from the past, feeling heartbroken and humiliated. I should’ve died long ago, Fourth..." The Grand Dowager stared intently at Fourth Master Xiao: "Don’t blame your father’s death on the Third. You don’t understand. Maybe for your father, death was a relief."

Hearing this, Fourth Master Xiao squinted his eyes, questioning the Grand Dowager: "So, when he killed Father back then, you just ignored it?" His voice was stiff and full of suspicion.

Years ago, he accidentally discovered the cause of his father’s death. In extreme anger, he confronted Xiao Yancheng, who then revealed his "origin," claiming he was the progeny of the Grand Dowager’s indiscretion. Overwhelmed, he thought of his father’s life full of bitterness, and in a fury, he severed Xiao Yancheng’s arm.

She had thought the Grand Dowager would never spare Xiao Yancheng after knowing the truth of the Old Marquis’ death, but she didn’t foresee her merely sending him to recover at another manor. During an argument, she spoke words that hurt him deeply, driving him to Miaojiang to investigate the events of that year personally.

Only then did he learn the whole truth!

Although he regretted the hurtful words spoken to the Grand Dowager in rage, the pain and anger he carried couldn’t be less than anyone else’s!

The Grand Dowager was greatly shocked when she heard this. She stepped back, looking incredulously at Fourth Master Xiao, who furrowed his brows and looked away. Xiao Yanyi quickly stepped in to persuade: "Fourth, how could you speak to Mother like that?" His voice sank with solemnity: "Mother has worked hard raising you all these years, only to be treated like this in return?"