The First Volume of Unparalleled Journey to Another World Chapter 40: Origin

  Jin Niang spoke clearly and logically, every word was to the point. It made me reevaluate her expressive abilities. She didn't rush to tell me about the Tai Shi Fu and Gu Tai Shi, but instead carefully described the general situation of this time and space I found myself in.

  Originally, in their concept, there were three countries in this space-time. The country I am in now is called Qiguo, located in the southeast, with fertile land and rich products, a strong country and a strong people, somewhat similar to the atmosphere of my original country, Yuan. The customs and habits are also similar to those of the ancient Han Chinese culture, and there are various religious sects such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The royal family of Qiguo is surnamed "Xiao", and the current emperor is Xiao Yu, who ascended to the throne at the age of ten and has been in power for ten years now. To the east of Qiguo lies the vast and boundless "Yuanhai Sea", and until now, no one knows what place lies on the other side of the sea; to the west is the Xiangyue mountain range, which stretches for hundreds of miles, and it is said that its highest peak, Xiangyue Peak, can reach the heavenly court, where immortals often appear and disappear, and it is considered a sacred mountain by the people of Qiguo.

  To the west of Qiguo lies a vast and desolate land, where Wuchen country was established. Although this land is poor in resources and has harsh weather, it gave birth to a nation that grew up on horseback. The people of Wuchen take wolves as their totem, living in the vast lands where sand and grass intersect, they are skilled at riding, fierce and powerful, often launching surprise attacks on the border towns and villages adjacent to Qiguo, and robbing merchants' goods, being viewed by the Qi people as a flood beast.

  The southwestern border of Heqi is our destination, Fengming Country. The people of Heqi have always regarded Fengming as "Southern Barbarians" because their culture and customs are vastly different from those of Heqi. Most of Fengming's territory is located in the highlands, with long days and a subtropical monsoon climate (this is my analysis based on Jin Niang's description). The east is cool in summer and hot in winter, while further southwest it becomes a tropical rainforest climate, similar to the geography of my hometown, Yun-Gui Plateau. Due to the many mountains and hills in Fengming, transportation is inconvenient, resulting in various tribes forming due to self-governance. Conflicts and clashes between tribes are frequent, leading to a sharp decline in population, causing widespread panic and reflection. It wasn't until a hundred years ago that the tribes of Fengming followed Heqi's example and elected a common leader, after which they experienced continuous struggles before establishing today's royal family, with "Feng" as their main surname.

  I curiously asked: "Then what kind of person is the current Emperor of Fengming Country?"

  Jin Niang looked at me with a somewhat strange expression, "The Emperor of Feng Ming Country, 'Feng Xi', is a rare and unusual woman."

  "Ah!" I exclaimed, "Female Emperor? Matriarchal Clan?"

  "It's a female emperor, what is this 'matrilineal clan'?" Jin Niang looked at me with curiosity.

  "Oh," I finally came to my senses, also surprised at my own fussiness. In the history of my world, there was once a female emperor, but in this completely unrelated space-time, it's impossible that it's just a coincidence again. Combining with Jin Niang's mention of Feng Ming country's geographical environment earlier, I immediately thought of the Mosuo people of Lugu Lake.

  I said to Jin Niang: "This matriarchal clan is actually a matriarchal family system, where children follow their mother's surname and women are revered."

  Jin Niang smiled and nodded at me, saying: "That's right, but it's not that women are revered. In Fengming country, both men and women can enter the court as officials, and women can also take husbands and concubines like men, even divorce and remarry. All identity systems are the same as those of men."

  I was stunned, this is indeed a country with gender equality, women's rights are fully represented here. I looked at Jin Niang in puzzlement and said: "Then why didn't you think of staying in Feng Ming Country and doing something for yourself?"

  Jin Niang shook her head and sighed, "I'm actually not a citizen of Fengming Country. I was originally from Qi Guo's Qu County. Over a decade ago, Qu County suffered a severe drought that occurred only once in a hundred years. While escaping the disaster, I was starving and on the verge of collapse when I coincidentally met Madam and her entourage. She took me in, which is how I ended up in Fengming Country."

  "Madam?" I looked at Jin Niang in surprise.

  "Madam is Qingying Miss's mother." Jin Niang smiled.

  "Oh, no wonder Jin Niang is Qing Ying's nanny, I'm so envious of her." I pouted and pulled on Jin Niang's hand. After spending time with her these days, I had grown accustomed to talking to Jin Niang like this, watching her occasionally reveal a loving expression, although I knew it was an unintentional thought for Gu Qing Ying, I secretly took it as my own, because motherly love is the most luxurious fantasy for me.

  Jin Niang suddenly felt a little sentimental, and she sighed softly: "Miss, you're a good kid. If Qing Ying could be more like you, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way..."

  "Why?" I wondered, "Why is it that every time you mention Qingying, you always look so dejected? Except for this one time when she lost her soul, I think she should be doing better than me in every aspect."

  "Miss, you don't know..." Jin Niang paused for a moment and said softly: "Qing Ying is actually not happy, she...she's not Master's biological daughter."

  "What?" I stared at her in disbelief, this was beyond my expectation. Gu Qingying wasn't actually the biological daughter of Master Gu? Was she also an adopted daughter like Ling Yi and the others? But why did she have the surname "Gu"? As far as I knew, everyone seemed to think she was Master Gu's own flesh and blood.

  Jin Niang nodded unsurprisingly and said, "Indeed, when I first saw the madam, Qing Ying was already there. At that time, the madam had not yet married the old master, and Qing Ying was just an infant in swaddling clothes."

  What's going on, I'm starting to feel that things aren't as simple as I thought. Gu Qingying isn't actually the biological daughter of Master Gu, and Ling Yi also said that Gu Qingying and Master Gu don't have a good relationship. Then why did they ask me to pretend to be Gu Qingying this time to pay respects? Is it just for the sake of tradition or is there another reason behind it?

  I furrowed my brow and looked at Jin Niang, since she wanted to help me understand the situation and play this role well, she should have an answer. I hesitated: "You're saying that Gu Qingying is the daughter of Tai Shi's wife, but not Tai Shi's own daughter?"

  "Right," Jin Niang nodded and said, "When the lady went to Feng Ming country that time, she was actually going to seek refuge with Master. At first, the lady only lived in Master's separate courtyard, until a year later, when the lady formally married Master, and Qing Ying Miss changed her surname to 'Gu'."

  I suddenly thought of a question and hastily asked Jin Niang: "Does Gu Qingying know that she is not the biological daughter of Tai Shifu?"

  Jinyan looked at me seriously and solemnly for a moment before saying, "I think she should know."

  "Huh?" I was perplexed: "Didn't she mention it to you?"

  Jin Niang's eyes were also as bewildered as mine: "Qing Ying lived with Master and Madam until she was eight years old, after which she was sent to another courtyard. Qing Ying was a sweet and innocent girl back then, and she would tell me everything - when Zhou Chong bullied her, when she fell while catching butterflies with Shang Guan Yan, or when she won at chess against Ling Yi..." Jin Niang seemed lost in thought, a warm smile lingering on the corners of her mouth.

  "It wasn't until she was fourteen years old." Jin Niang paused, her tone becoming heavy: "I remember it was the year she turned fourteen, on her birthday, she excitedly made a kite and said she wanted to go back to the Taishi Mansion to see Master, coincidentally I had something to do that time and didn't follow her..."

  "Hmm." I indicated that I was listening, without interrupting. Jin Niang sighed and said: "As a result, she came back very late that day, looking lost and dispirited. I asked her, but she just shook her head blankly. From that day on, she changed, becoming quiet and taciturn, often staring at something in a daze."

  "Wasn't it then that she found out about her own life?" I asked curiously.

  Jin Niang shook her head: "I don't know, she's been preoccupied with worries since then and no longer confides in me. I remember that the castle owner had already left Feng Ming country at that time, but every time he came back, he would visit her in the other courtyard. Qing Ying used to love being with the castle owner, loved to act coquettishly in front of him, but starting from that year, she no longer drew close to the castle owner and instead treated him with a distant and indifferent attitude. Gradually I began to realize that Qing Ying might have discovered her own origins, but she never mentioned it, nor did she ask..."

  What exactly happened? I feel a headache coming on. I really did think this "visiting relatives" trip was too simple, if Gu Qingying knew her own origins, then Master Gu must also understand that she knows, if according to Ling Yi's words, Gu Qingying doesn't love him, then she must have married Ling Yi at the behest of Master Gu, and besides, Jin Niang said she did it voluntarily. Then, why would she agree to Master Gu's request, is it due to traditional etiquette constraints or some other reason?

  That sensitive nerve in my heart is acting up again, I need to figure it out, if I just muddle through like this in Fengming Country, how can I play the role of Gu Qingying well, what if I get exposed...

  I dare not imagine, another thought floated up in my mind. I had originally planned to slip away on the way back after successfully completing the task, because by then I would be more familiar with the terrain along the way, and Ling Yi would also relax his vigilance due to successfully deceiving Master Gu. However, the situation before me was very severe, and I couldn't thoroughly understand Gu Qingying, let alone deal with her foster father. Should I try to slip away on the way?

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Tomorrow is Labour Day, wish you all a happy holiday in advance O(∩_∩)O~