Qin Xiangru brought Xiaoman before Shangguan Xi, then gently rolled up Xiaoman's sleeve to reveal a red string tied around her wrist.
Strung on the red string were nine black beads.
Qin Xiangru signaled for Shangguan Xi and Yan Weichi to take a look.
Both of them were somewhat puzzled.
This material was neither jade nor stone—what on earth was it?
Just as Yan Weichi was feeling bewildered, Shangguan Xi seemed to remember something.
He looked at Xiaoman's wrist, his eyes gradually widening as memories he had long forgotten flooded back into his mind.
...
[Flashback]
A pregnant Mu Taoqing, accompanied by the young Shangguan Xi, went to the Zhaozhen Shrine to pray for blessings and a safe pregnancy.
They arrived every day at the hour of Mao and returned to rest in the small cabin in the back mountain by the hour of Wei.
On this particular day, Mu Taoqing suddenly went into labor and smoothly gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Shangguan Qing.
Shortly after Qing's birth, a Daoist nun from the Zhaozhen Shrine came to the small cabin and delivered an item wrapped in red cloth.
The young Shangguan Xi stood beside the cradle, looking down at his adorable baby sister with a face full of smiles.
Seeing someone deliver a package, he hurried over to his mother's side and asked, "Mother, what is this?"
Leaning against the head of the bed, Mu Taoqing unwrapped the red cloth as she said softly, "This is a custom from your mother's hometown, where newborn girls are given a red string t…
Chapter 410