Having been brought out by Madame Falan to attend her first social gathering, spending a long morning and afternoon, Xilutaiya could finally bid the noblewomen farewell.
"Until next time, Anluo'er~" Waving their fingers, they smiled and said goodbye to the young girl.
In response, Xilutaiya lifted her skirt once more in a curtsy, then stepped into the carriage.
When she finally leaned back against the seat, the girl let out a long breath. Only now did the tension that had gripped her mind throughout the day finally ease.
Madame Falan sat opposite her, thoroughly amused by Xilutaiya's reaction.
"A bit exhausted, are you? After all, you were the only junior there today, tee-hee." Concealing a smile behind her folding fan, she naturally understood what Xilutaiya had gone through today.
"Still, now that you know them, even if I am occasionally away from home, you can turn to them for help rather than being left completely on your own."
"Furthermore, as my student, you were bound to become known to everyone sooner or later. Hiding away would only arouse suspicion, so it is better to step forward openly."
"I understand, Madame." Xilutaiya knew this had all been for her own good.
Calming her thoughts as the carriage rolled forward, the roadside scenery shifted once again. Through the slit in the window curtain, she caught sight of a few noble classmates passing by.
Baron and Tuosi were riding horses, accompanied by several attendants. It looked as though they had just returned from a hunt; several kills, including foxes and wild geese, hung from the sides of their mounts.
Upon seeing Madame Falan's carriage, the two seemed to recognize it. They pulled slightly on their reins and guided their horses to the side of the road to let the carriage pass undisturbed, making Madame Falan's standing in the city all the more apparent to Xilutaiya.
"Burnt Stone City is not very large. The most exalted person here is Viscount Xuefeng himself, followed by his family," Madame Falan explained to Xilutaiya.
"However, his household is small. Aside from his wife, he has only a son and a daughter, and neither is currently in Burnt Stone City."
"Where are they?" Xilutaiya asked curiously.
"At the Royal Academy in the royal capital, White Cliff City. Heirs to many prominent nobles gather there, and through socializing, one can make connections with the aristocratic circles of the entire Raygas Principality. That is why most nobles send their children there to study."
"Iona, who is in your class, used to be a student there as well."
"Aside from Viscount Xuefeng, those of higher standing in Burnt Stone City are a few nobles of actual influence, such as Baron Quide, Baron Kenny, and the knights serving under Viscount Xuefeng. After them come those who lack noble status but still wield considerable influence, such as the owner of the Oak Barrel Merchant Association, the head of the Adventurers' Guild, and the guildmasters of the major trade guilds."
"These figures make up the key pillars of Burnt Stone City, and clustered around them are their relatives, friends, and subordinates."
"Madame Poliya, whom you met today—her husband owns the Oak Barrel Merchant Association and manages an organization of nearly a thousand people."
"Kali is the president of the Gardener Guild. Although her strength is modest, you will likely have many dealings and collaborations with her in the future."
"Molan is Baron Kenny's wife—the noblewoman from earlier who wore the sea-blue dress and had burgundy hair. She was originally the daughter of Viscount Woshan in central Raygas and has been married here for nearly ten years."
One by one, Madame Falan introduced the backgrounds of the noblewomen Xilutaiya had met.
"As for me... how much can you guess?" Madame Falan offered a teasing smile.
"Well, during the gathering earlier, you mentioned that you came from the distant Wind Chime Nation," Xilutaiya replied, her memory quite sharp.
"You remember well indeed. Yes, I was born in the Wind Chime Nation, located in the central continent slightly toward the north. It is a rather small country nestled in the grasslands, covered in endless, lush wind chime grass. The climate is pleasant, and life there is peaceful and stable." A reminiscent look crossed her face.
"Yet those are memories from twenty years ago. I left that place long ago."
...
"You ask why I ventured so far from home? The reason is not so clear-cut. Perhaps one day I simply took a notion to wander about, and after that, I never went back."
...
"I have traveled through many places—not just the Raygas Principality, but also the Winter Kingdom to the north, the Merchant Cities Alliance to the east, the Hot Rain Marsh further south, and more."
"In each place, I stayed for a few years, familiarizing myself with the local flora and unique cultivation techniques, before moving on to the next."
"Many gardeners remain in one place, devoting their minds entirely to their gardens. I believe doing so easily makes one set in their ways and limits their horizons."
"Still, everyone makes their own choice. Just as I sometimes tease Kali, telling her she should visit the distant Merchant Cities Alliance to see the many new varieties she would adore, she rarely takes such advice to heart." Madame Falan gently waved her folding fan.
"The more places you visit, the more friends you make. The lovely formal dress you are wearing was tailored by an acquaintance of mine in Valley City at my request. Although it cannot match the intricate splendor of the merchant cities, it is an exquisite piece rarely found even in White Cliff City."
Madame Falan's words drew Xilutaiya's perspective away from her repetitive academy routine, allowing her to view her current life through a far broader lens.
*More distant lands...* Xilutaiya silently committed those names and traits to memory.
...
When the carriage arrived at Madame Falan's residence, Xilutaiya stepped down, took a short stroll through the courtyard, and returned to the parlor.
After she rested for a moment, Lining came over to inform her that Madame Falan was waiting in the fields.
"All right, I'll go right away." Putting her hat back on, she headed toward the fields in the backyard.
The sunflowers here remained radiant, their pale yellow and golden petals overlapping like waves, swaying gently under the sunlight and radiating waves of warmth.
Gently brushing past the stems and leaves in front of her, Xilutaiya walked along the path through the field. Before long, she spotted Madame Falan sitting in the middle of it.
She was seated on a wooden chair set among the flowers, with a small round table beside her and an empty chair that was clearly meant for Xilutaiya.
"Sit, Tiya."
"Yes." The girl answered softly and sat down beside her.
"How is the scenery here? Quite comfortable, isn't it?" Overhead, the sky was a clear azure, while the rustling whisper of wind through foliage occasionally brushed past them.
"Now that you are my student, I will teach you your first lesson today: the combing and regulating of flora and vegetation, namely the 'Branch Trimming Method.'" Raising her teacup, Madame Falan spoke in a leisurely tone.
"Unlike the Dew Prayer Method, learning it requires you to hold at least the rank of First-Order · Emerald Honey."
"Just as the name implies, it is like combing through hair, allowing you to clearly regulate and balance the internal state of flora and plants." Madame Falan then began explaining in detail the function, principles, effects, and precautions of this secret technique.
Every now and then, she demonstrated it directly before Xilutaiya.
Unlike Scholar Haide, who merely conveyed the theoretical knowledge of secret arts, this one-on-one, direct demonstration of power allowed Xilutaiya to comprehend it at astonishing speed, gradually grasping several nuances of its true rhythm.
Over the course of roughly an afternoon, under Madame Falan's guidance, Xilutaiya mastered the Branch Trimming Method.
[Branch Trimming Method Lv. 1] (Emerald Honey): Combs and regulates a plant's nutrients, moisture, fibers, structure, and more; an ability to actively adjust a plant's condition.
In the past, relying on observing a plant's condition and striving to create the most suitable environment was a relatively passive approach. For instance, to achieve optimal humidity, one had to repeatedly adjust the surroundings, sprinkle water, and so on. With the Branch Trimming Method, one could directly guide the plant to absorb moisture or expel excess water, and the same applied to the intake of trace nutrients.
Cultivating plants this way made it far easier to bring them to their peak condition—or even surpass it, reaching a state beyond perfection.
Chapter 58