Lilium {Mo Dao Zu Shi}

Lunaria Annua [Chapter 29]

"Shijie..." Yu ZiYuan looked up from the book she was reading, her lipa curling up into a blooming smile. Her eyes crinkled, "Come in."

Even this little action seemed to cause her such great disturbance for some reason. However, she didn't show it.

Jin Ling entered, his golden gaze torn, somewhat red. He had cried. How much, she didn't know.

Slow steps made its way to the bed, and sat softly beside her. Jin Ling at times really looked like Jiang YanLi, especially his eyes had a striking resemblence to his mother.

Yu ZiYuan softly inquired, "How have you been?"
"That's my question!" He erupted, but instantly controlled himself, as this was the healing quarters, and his Shijie was ill. He looked down, at her frail hands. Her previous vigour was gone. Gone was the strength that she had developed in the last few months. The only thing remained were the visible blue veins.

Yu ZiYuan was deathly pale now, having lost a lot of blood. Too much, to be exact. Jin Ling slowly put his hand over hers, and suddenly tears rolled down his cheeks again. For some unknown reason, he could not control them.

Yu ZiYuan was startled, "Jin Ling...?" She forgot to even call her by his title. The said person called shook his head, wiping his tears, "Nothing just- we were just- Heavens, we were so unsure if we would see you alive again." His breath hitched. A soft sigh. Yu ZiYuan placed her other hand over his now slightly bigger hands, "Well, I am here now." She smiled.

She did not dare to linger on that sentence too long. There was no telling of anything.

Jin Ling discreetly wiped his tears, giving a small, but lovely smile instead, "And that's all that matters." Truly. All is well that ends well.

If only it ends well though...

Yu ZiYuan didn't want to take risks.

"Have you been eating well? You look thinner than last time." Yu ZiYuan was concerned. She didn't want Jin Ling to be worried enough to not eat well, when she was. The Jins didn't spare anything to appease her.

"No no I have been eating well. It's just the strain of the work." Ah right. Jin Ling was an aspiring sect heir. Soon to be a sect leader. He had already started to manage some bits of the sect.

However, this arguement made no sense as of the moment.

Yu ZiYuan frowned, "Don't lie to me. You're in Cloud Recesses studying right now. You can't do sect work."
"It's not sect work. It's been a while. After the death of...what was it...ah whatever demon that was...there was a huge need for some damage control." A small sigh escaped his mouth, which showed the exhauation he felt, "It was a busy while we had. The juniors were all piled with work here and there everywhere."

Damn.

Yu ZiYuan nibbled the inside of her cheek. She contemplated whether it was the right time come clean or not.

'It's sooner or later. There is no point in chewing this further. He has to know. He deserves to know.'

"Jin Ling." A curt call. Demanding attention.

Jin Ling snapped his heard towards her, startled at her sudden curt call.

Yu ZiYuan isntantly reprimanded herself, she did not mean to sound harsh. The next time she spoke it was a much softer tone.

"I am sorry. Did I startle you?"

A shake of head. Yu ZiYuan knew it was a blatant lie. She could clearly see it in his large eyes.

The lady sighed, her gaze momentarily closing.

She the blinked. Once, twice.

"Jin Ling, if I told you I am actually someone you think I am not, would you believe me?"

It started out rather simple in her mind. Straight to the point. But Yu ZiYuan couldn't bring herself to do it so suddenly.

"Huh?" As expected, the Jin sect heir was confused, his expression shifting to one that showed it.

"Just...Jin Ling, just answer please."
She sounded harsh to her own ears, but she wanted this off her chest. 'Sound softer. He should know this.'

Jin Ling noded. He believed her.

She winced a little, to which he put a hand over hers, worry clear in his gaze, "Shijie? Are you okay? What happened?"
"I am fine, I am fine. Don't worry." She quickly shifted the tone of the conversation. It wouldn't do to worry him.

Jin Ling almost got up, hand on his sword, "Hold on, I am calling the healer in charge." Yu ZiYuan swiftly held his wrist, though it pained her to have such a big and sudden movement, "Don't-ugh- don't go. I am fine, just sit here..." She pleaded, "Please...it's important."

A widening of eyes, and then he sat down, very evidently shifting into a much more serious mode. He registered the last words in his mind.

It's important.

Yu ZiYuan looked at the white bed sheets, and then lifted her head up, boring her gaze straight into his eyes. Stern, but affectionate. Unyielding but loving.

It was now or never.

"If I told you, I am similar to Wei WuXian, would you believe me?"

Silence.

A cacophony of emotions shifted in Jin Ling's eyes. Yu ZiYuan could practically see the gears turning in his head. It wouldn't take long for him to put two and two together.

A mirade of different thoughts were swimming in Jin Ling's head. The boy bit his lip, much too harshly for Yu ZiYuan's liking. Was it too early to let him know?

But if she didn't get another chance...who knows?

She wanted him to know the truth from her mouth.

Yu ZiYuan's free hand unconsciously twitched in tensing nerves. Her eyes never left his turning ones, now looking slightly dazed.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, seemingly not knowing what to say. Yu ZiYuan let him take his time,let him coerce his words.

At last, after a long while of silence, he finally spoke, "Who are you?"

And there it was. She knew she didn't have to beat around the bush anymore.

"I am sure you've heard of the title 'The Violet Spider', have you not?" A discreate hint. She didn't know why she didn't outright say it. Stalling it like this meant nothing.

But deep down, the lady knew what she was afraid of.

His reaction.

Especially after seeing how her son reacted to knowing her identity. It was definitely not a pretty picture, and took a while to settle down quietly in the Jiang sect leader.

"The Violet Spider...was the title of my grandmother." Jin Ling blurted out absentmindedly.

"Exactly." Yu ZiYuan affirmed.

Jin Ling braced himself.

"A-Ling. I am your grandmother, Yu ZiYuan."

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Note: Lunaria Annua, also known as honesty flower, symbolises honesty, as the name suggests.