Phoenix Rise: XieRong

XieRong couldn’t believe it.

The Duchess Chin was her aunt.

XieRong hadn’t even known that she’d had an aunt. Or an uncle.

Her mother never spoke to her about her family or past and whenever XieRong would bring it up, a look of regret would enter her mother’s eyes, so she would end up changing the subject. Over time she completely avoided the subject altogether. XieRong had only known that she had a grandfather from what little her mother decided to share with her from time to time but now she would have an aunt, an uncle and cousins!

She couldn’t wait to tell FeiHong. However, first she had to make sure her aunt didn’t find out who she was before reaching Guo pavilion.

XieRong found FeiHong learning how to fight from some of the cultivators with the eighth prince and young lord Bai while the others ate lunch and watched.

"FeiHong, I have something to tell you, come here."

FeiHong excused herself and went to XieRong who was standing in a remote corner of the camp.

"FeiHong, I just found out that the Duchess Chin is our aunt. I don’t want her to find out we are her nieces until we are safely inside the Guo Residence. In her presence you must always hide your Phoenix ring, understand?"

"I understand, Jie."

"Isn’t it great, FeiHong? Now we have Old master, Hui Nuo, Hui Zhen, Grandpa Fa and now an aunt and uncle too."

XieRong hugged her sister.

"Jie, what about grandfather Guo? Jie is always worried that he will not accept us and exclude him when Jie lists our family. I think it’s because Jie doesn’t want to accept him."

XieRong flinched as if she’d been hit. She quickly changed the subject.

"FeiHong, let’s go practice martial arts, okay? This time, Jie will join you."

XieRong wasn’t ready to face her feelings towards the Old general Guo yet.

Qianhe city was small and quaint, a huge contrast against the bustling, noisy capital.

"This lady never asked. BaiHua, where in Qianhe city are you heading?" Duchess Chin asked looking out of her window, looking to see if anything had changed in the few years she had been away.

This time, FeiHong was in the carriage with XieRong.

"We are heading to the Guo Estate."

"Oh, what a coincidence. This lady is heading there herself. Why are you going there, if you don’t mind this lady asking?"

"Actually we have something to deliver to the Old General Guo."

The duchess smiled as she turned to look at XieRong.

"The Old General Guo is this lady’s father. You can hand over what you want to deliver to this lady and this lady will make sure to give it to him."

"This miss is extremely sorry duchess, but we were asked to give it personally to the Old General. If the duchess doesn’t mind can we travel with you?"

"Of course this lady doesn’t mind."

XieRong and FeiHong quickly told their goodbyes before while the duchess bought some more gifts for the Guo family.

It took a quarter Shi Chen before they had finally arrived at the mansion.

The mansion was huge with beautiful craftsmanship on the pillars. The floors were furnished to perfection and the corridor of the manor gave view of the flourishing green garden with a variety of flowers which also had a small koi pond.

XieRong felt knots in her stomach. She held FeiHong’s hand for comfort.

"Jie, calm down. You’re not going to have your spirit roots tested."

"FeiHong is right BaiHua, this lady’s father may look scary but he’s just an overgrown child. You’ll see," the duchess said as they were lead to the main hall.

"HuiLiang greets father," the duchess said, bending her knees and curtseying.

"Hmph!" the old general Guo harrumphed.

"Did you forget all about this old man of yours after you became the duchess? You haven’t visited me for so many years!"

XieRong didn’t know what to say. This was certainly not what she’d been expecting from the old general Guo, the man who was rumoured to be as ferocious as a mad wild bear on the battlefield.

"Ignore him little sister," a broad, well muscled man said as he came over.

"HuiLiang greets elder brother," the duchess greeted.

The man came over and picked the duchess up in a hug.

XieRong watched with wide eyes like a fish gaping out of water.

"This isn’t appropriate. Put me down!"

"From when did you start behaving like a lady, little sister? It doesn’t suit you."

This earned the man a hard kick in the shin from the duchess. The man dropped the duchess and clutched his shin in pain.

"I may have learned to behave like a lady, elder brother, but you still remain a hooligan with no manners."

"Now, that’s the sister I know," the man groaned out.

"Biyu greets sister in-law," a fairy like petite woman greeted the duchess.

"Rise. How have you been Biyu? Is my brother treat you well?"

The man on the ground had already recovered and had pulled his wife close.

"Oh, I treat her veeery well," he said insinuating a lot more than what was asked for.

XieRong shook her head. This man was looking to be hit. But, this time, to XieRong’s surprise, it was Biyu who smacked her husband’s shoulder as she could not reach his head.

"You’re absolutely shameless."

"I agree."

HuiLiang kicked her brother again.

"This is bullying. Father!" the man whined like a child.

The old general Guo turned his head away.

"Who is your father?"

HuiLiang looked around, searching for someone.

"Where are the kids?"

The man rubbed his shoulder and replied,"they’ve gone to greet the eighth prince and young lord Bai and MuLan is sleeping. Speaking of kids who have you brought with you?"

"Oh yes, Father, this is BaiHua and FeiHong. They’ve come here to deliver something to you. They say that someone asked them to personally give it to you."

"What is it? Give it to me quick!" The Old general Guo said gruffly, sitting up straighter in his chair as eager as a child waiting to open his new year’s envelope.

XieRong was glad the general hadn’t allowed her to greet him. She was confused as to whether she wanted to introduce herself as BaiHua or XieRong.

XieRong had already put the Phoenix ring in her space earlier in the day. She couldn’t let her sister be put in harms way if the Old General Guo got angry. She made her way to the general, her heart beat accelerating with each step closer she got to him.

"Old General Guo, please stretch out your hand."

XieRong dropped her mother’s ring in his rough, weathered hands.

"My mother, Fa Hua, sends me and my sister as well this ring to the old general."

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