Chapter 59: White Stone Chess Piece
In the early morning, Xilutiya wore a plain white dress and stood in the small garden, holding a watering can and watering the flowers and grass beside her. Today was a rest day, so she didn’t need to go to Scholar Heide’s place and leisurely stayed at home.
Water droplets turned into mist, refracting a faint halo in the morning sunlight, hazy and beautiful.
This was her exclusive small garden, where she had placed the swan orchids she transplanted, bubble flowers, and the newly planted ‘fire cloud orchids’ and ‘white camellias’. These two were seeds provided by Madam Fran.
After she learned the branch combing method, this madam went out again, asking Xilutiya to help look after the flower field. The free time after it ended was when she focused on her own small garden.
Observing the condition of the newly planted flowers and grass and confirming they were fine, Xilutiya dispersed the emerald color in her eyes and stood up.
“Tiya, breakfast is ready~” Talil trotted over to notify Xilutiya.
Working in Madam Fran’s mansion, Talil’s task was to share the affairs on Lining’s shoulders, and recently she started with the simplest breakfast.
‘It’s perfect that Madam is not home during this time. Even if what you make is hard to eat, it won’t affect Madam, but it depends on whether Miss Tiya is willing to endure it.’
That was how Lining instructed her that day. Such words immediately aroused Talil’s competitive spirit, and she swore to make breakfast no worse than Lining’s.
“Okay, I’ll come right away.” Xilutiya put down the watering can, looked again at the flowers and grass swaying in the morning breeze, and then left.
Breakfast didn’t take much time. Though it couldn’t be called tasty, Talil’s progress was very obvious. Today’s breakfast was already edible and not too hard to eat.
“The egg is too burnt.” Lining coldly criticized from the side, one of the fried eggs having a somewhat blackened back.
“It’s fine, Lining, don’t be too harsh.” The maiden comforted Talil.
“I’m harsh because this concerns Madam’s face.” Lining turned her head away, but she indeed didn’t criticize Talil further.
Compared to the nearly perfect maid Lining, Talil was indeed still too inexperienced and youthful, so it was no wonder Lining looked down on this clumsy and rash girl.
“People always need to grow. Please give her some time, Lining. At least in the future, you can hand over errands to Talil.” The maiden soothed Lining.
In the morning, Xilutiya walked in the flower field, observing the growth of these sunflowers while practicing her newly learned ‘branch combing method’ to familiarize herself with this new ability.
After lunch, she moved a lounge chair to the backyard of the mansion. This place was shaded and cool, with a distant view of the vast sea of flowers, fresh air, and a bright blue sky, making it a good spot for napping and reading.
Taking off her shoes, the maiden curled her legs up on the lounge chair, then held her favorite gardening knowledge book and flipped through it, occasionally stopping to look at the distant scenery.
Even though it was approaching December, the climate here was still warm, and the autumn of Xu Feng Season was exceptionally long.
When Xilutiya thought the day would pass peacefully like this, a bell rang from afar, from the main gate of the mansion.
Someone came? She slowly sat up.
……
Outside the main gate, a properly dressed old man paced back and forth, followed by several guards and young retainers.
Soon, Lining arrived at the door with steady steps, and the old man approached her as if seeing a savior.
He handed over a handwritten recommendation letter, and the group waited patiently outside the door.
After glancing at the recommendation letter briefly, Lining returned it and then informed them to wait a moment.
“No problem. Please ask Madam Fran, miss.” The old man pressed one hand to his shoulder and bowed.
The chirping of insects in the trees continued, and the slanting sunlight made the group somewhat uncomfortable, but fortunately, the wait wasn’t too long. After more than ten minutes, the maid returned to the main gate, unlocked the iron lock, and let them in.
Respectfully passing through the front yard of the mansion, the group was led by the maid to the living room to wait.
“Madam is not home today.” Lining turned and told them, which startled the old man.
“However, Miss Anluo’er is here. She is Madam’s student and can currently handle some matters on behalf of Madam.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, the old man nodded, indicating understanding.
They waited a second time in the living room. About three minutes later, a silver-haired maiden in a bright yellow summer dress slowly walked down the stairs. This sixteen-year-old-looking maiden, upon appearing, captivated everyone’s gaze with her stunning appearance and temperament.
Fair skin, a well-proportioned and healthy figure, slender ankles and wrists, and that dreamlike visage. When Xilutiya changed into an elaborate dress and fully displayed her charm, she immediately left people awestruck by her beauty.
It was as if their breathing slowed. When Lining led this maiden from the staircase entrance and helped her to sit on the sofa, the visitors hurriedly bowed in greeting.
“You may sit as well.” The maiden nodded slightly and then spoke, her clear and captivating voice delivering a second impact.
The leading old man carefully sat down, while the others remained standing behind his sofa.
“Miss Anluo’er, please forgive our abrupt visit…” The old man explained the reason for their visit.
They came from the farther Lin Tai Fort, the residence of Baron Beto, surrounded by several villages and small towns.
“So you’re requesting herbs?” The maiden responded softly.
It turned out that Baron Beto’s wife was seriously ill. After treatment by the physician, it was still difficult to eradicate, only barely suppressing the condition, but the situation remained precarious and could worsen at any time. After discussion and consultation between the physician and the local scholar, they believed some ‘blazing sun’ nature herbs were needed to replenish vitality and dispel the illness in the baron’s wife.
“We searched the apothecary guilds in surrounding cities and finally learned that only Madam Fran here has the required herbs.”
As one of the higher natures, blazing sun nature herbs were already rare, and gardeners who could cultivate them were even rarer. Not only in the southern area, but probably in the entire Regas Kingdom, there were few like Madam Fran who could cultivate blazing sun nature plants on a large scale.
“Could you tell me the specific condition of your lady? Although I have blazing sun nature materials here, we must consider if they suit the patient.” The maiden thought for a moment and responded thus.
She didn’t know medicine, but she knew some symptoms after being eroded by ‘nature power’.
Ordinary people practicing various abilities guide and control nature power themselves, operating and absorbing it orderly, so there are no major issues. But if ordinary people who know nothing of related skills and knowledge rashly come into contact with ‘nature power’ from the outside, various situations can occur.
The most common in Xu Feng Season is sunstroke from prolonged sun exposure, being tainted by faint blazing sun nature, leading to persistent fever, coma, shock, and even death in severe cases.
Secondly, occasionally some people walking in the mountain forest might encounter hidden extraordinary things or be attacked by extraordinary beasts, becoming tainted with hard-to-dispel nature power.
“This is the physician’s handwritten medical record, with notes from the scholar.” The old man had the accompanying retainer take out the letter preserved in a copper box.
Handed to the maid Lining, who then spread it out in front of Xilutiya for viewing and reading.
After a few minutes, the maiden nodded slightly and had Lining put away the letter.
“I understand.”
From the description in the letter, that lady was likely infected by some mosquitoes or birds in the forest. Such illnesses often came on suddenly, and without targeted treatment, one could only strengthen oneself to endure it.
“Lining, could you help me get two bottles of ‘sunflower seed oil’.” Xilutiya looked toward the maid beside her.
“Yes, Miss.” The maid bowed and withdrew.
Not long after, amid the tense and curious waiting of the crowd, the maid appeared holding two glass bottles filled with amber liquid.
【Sunflower Seed Oil】（First Order·Blazing Sun）: Pure oil extracted from sunflower seeds, rich in ‘blazing sun’ nature power, usable for alchemy, potion making, dispelling cold, and killing spectral creatures.
Such a bottle, about 300 milliliters, had a pure golden hue like liquid amber, leaving the opposite group stunned.
“The bottle mouth uses a special crafting seal. If opened, the blazing sun power inside will slowly dissipate, so be careful when using.” Xilutiya reminded.
“We noted it.”
The old man respectfully and gratefully accepted the two bottles of sunflower seed oil. Only then did he remember that the maiden before him hadn’t mentioned any reward.
Whether out of respect for Madam Fran or gratitude for the aid, he couldn’t just leave empty-handed; that would make Baron Beto a laughingstock in noble circles.
“I wonder how we can thank you and Madam Fran’s generosity. This is the gift money we prepared in advance. Please accept it, Miss Anluo’er.” He had the accompanying retainer bring over a small box again and placed it on the tea table, opening it.
Neatly arranged in the velvet box were 20 gold coins, imprinted with the exquisite pattern of a cold-feather bird, reflecting shining gold.
Even though blazing sun nature was a higher nature and a first order extraordinary item, the price wouldn’t exceed three times that of other natures, at most 3 gold coins, so two bottles about 6 gold coins. Giving 20 gold coins at once showed full sincerity.
This was probably due to the sudden visit without prior notice to Madam Fran, fearing bringing too little would offend her.
Should she accept? The maiden pondered slightly.
Accepting should be fine, but she also knew the market price of the items and felt somewhat unaccustomed to such an extremely high premium.
It seems I’m not cut out for making money, the maiden thought to herself.
Wondering how Madam Fran usually handled this, she shifted her gaze to the maid beside her. Lining seemed to understand Xilutiya’s current dilemma and stepped forward half a pace, bowing as she spoke.
“Thank you for the lord’s gift money. Our miss rarely receives guests and is not yet familiar with these procedures.” She explained first.
“Yes, yes, it was my rudeness.” The old man seemed to realize something and quickly had someone put away the box.
It was indeed too straightforward, making Madam Fran and this miss seem greedy, which wasn’t appropriate even for thanks.
After thinking for a few seconds, the old steward took out another small box from his bosom, wrapped in red silk cloth. Placed on the table and opened, it revealed a white stone chess piece inside, somewhat resembling the pawn from international chess in Xilutiya’s past life memory.
【White Stone Chess Piece】（First Order·Castle）: A chess piece condensed by a noble with a nobility title using their own rank, possessing ‘castle’ nature power. It can allow someone with bearing capacity to advance to ‘First Order·Castle’.（Granting this chess piece often represents enfeoffment）
“This is a castle chess piece granted by my master, Baron Beto. Since there’s no suitable candidate in the territory for now, it’s been vacant. We didn’t bring a suitable gift for Madam Fran this time, so please accept it, Miss Anluo’er.”
At this moment, Xilutiya saw Lining nod slightly to her, so she agreed.
“I only helped a little. Lord Beto is too generous.”
Then both sides exchanged pleasantries again, and the old man took his leave.
“Since the lady of the house is still ill, please forgive me for not staying longer. After she recovers, we will visit Madam Fran again to express our thanks.”
At this time, Xilutiya also stood up to see off the group.
