Old Matters

Unfilial sons are common everywhere, but mothers who don't cherish their children are rare in this world.

Li Yan understood his wife's feelings. He reached out and patted her shoulder, signaling her not to get angry. He said, "If you treat Mu Yang as your son, do you think I don't? Even after we had Sinian later, did our feelings for him lessen even a bit? Back then, we were worried Mu Yang would be neglected, so we treated him even better than before. Between Mu Yang and Sinian, what difference is there in our hearts between our biological child and the one we raised?"

"But you know as well as I do, Mu Yang is a blood descendant of the Lu family after all. Back then, they thought Mu Yang had no chance of survival after being struck by lightning, and they worried he might be a deformed child. That's why they pulled that 'weasel for a prince' stunt. To prevent the matter from being exposed, they forced us to leave Tiandu overnight and flee to Jiangnan. You didn't want to switch them either back then. Who would willingly give away their newborn daughter? But in the end, didn't we have to agree?"

"Later, they discovered Mu Yang was still alive and turned their attention back to him. When Mu Yang was five years old, the Nameless Old Daoist came to visit. Wasn't it the Lu family who invited him? Otherwise, how could he have found us? How would he have known we had a child who had been gravely ill? Without that Daoist's medicinal treatments for years, it's uncertain whether Mu Yang could have pulled through or even be alive today—you know his condition back then. We were filled with anxiety every day, woken up by nightmares again and again, fearing Mu Yang's heartbeat would suddenly stop. He was so fragile, so weak, as if he could leave us at any moment—"

"The Nameless Old Daoist stayed in Jiangnan City for six years. Only after Mu Yang's condition stabilized and he had slightly recovered did he take his leave. After the Nameless Old Daoist left, did the Lu family's gaze also break off? Impossible. I fear the Lu family is still monitoring Mu Yang's growth. But with Mu Yang's current health still concerning and him not showing any extraordinary talents, they haven't brought him back yet—"

"Of course, they can't bring him back now. If they were to bring Mu Yang back to the Lu family, under what pretense would they settle him? A distant relative? An illegitimate child from outside? Or perhaps—the eldest son and grandson they abandoned? Wouldn't that be slapping their own faces? Old Master Lu is such a proud man; he would never do something so unwise."

Luo Qi understood her husband's analysis made a lot of sense. She said in a low voice, "Since the Lu family can't bring him back, Mu Yang is still our son. What else are you worried about?"

Li Yan let out a wry smile, a hint of unresolvable bitterness on his resolute face. He said, "I'm naturally talking about the best outcome. If the Lu family doesn't want him, Mu Yang will forever be our son. Although our life by his side is simple and ordinary, it's also peaceful and content, without the schemes and deceptions of the nobles in Tiandu."

"And the cold-blooded heartlessness," Luo Qi snorted. "What are they incapable of doing?"

Li Yan smiled at his wife. He knew Luo Qi harbored a long-accumulated resentment towards the Lu family.

"But what if the Lu family wants to take him back? Old Master Lu is getting older every year. Doesn't he want to see his grandson before he dies? Lu Qingming is now the Provincial Governor, a high-ranking official. His influence within the Lu family is growing. Doesn't he want to bring back his biological son? Most importantly, there's Miss Gongsun—Miss didn't understand what happened back then, but surely she understands later?"

"In that case, if the Lu family wants to take him back, it would be a natural progression. At that time, what power would we have to resist? Not to mention the Lu family is a prominent and powerful clan in all of Tiandu; their strength ranks among the top few in the entire Xifeng Empire. And then there's Miss Gongsun. Miss is longing for her son, and I'm sure her heartache hasn't been resolved for years—If she comes to ask for him, will you give him to her?"

This time, Luo Qi fell silent.

She was hostile towards the Lu family, believing the men of the Lu family were cold and cruel, resorting to any means to achieve their goals.

But she didn't hate Gongsun Yu. She knew that if Gongsun Yu knew the truth, she would likely be ten times more heartbroken than herself.

Moreover, she was originally Miss Gongsun's maid. Miss Gongsun had also helped clear her parents' unjust case. Otherwise, she might have fallen into the hands of her enemies long ago.

It was precisely because of this that she, an outstanding student from the Imperial Academy of Arts, was willing to become a servant and vow to serve Miss Gongsun Yu for life. Miss Gongsun Yu was truly the most gentle and kind woman she had ever met, but—

"Miss has a hard life," Luo Qi said softly.

"Yes, Miss has a hard life, and our lives are also hard. But none of us have a harder life than Mu Yang—look at the life he's lived since birth. From childhood to adulthood, he's practically been raised in medicinal baths. As soon as he learned to drink milk, he had to drink medicine. For over ten years, he had to drink three large bowls every day—his appearance is not good, and he's mocked and ridiculed everywhere. And because of his illness, his intelligence is less than a tenth of that of a normal child. Although his health has improved slightly in recent years, and his intelligence has also recovered somewhat, this is precisely what worries us the most—"

Li Yan looked at Li Mu Yang, who was laughing and playing with Cui Xiaoxin and Li Sinian in the yard, with a face full of tenderness. He said, "Children his age are the most sensitive and have the strongest self-esteem. When he was little, others called him dark and ugly, and he could just ignore it, or he didn't even understand what was happening. Can he still ignore it now? If he likes a girl, would a girl like this Mu Yang?"

"Then what should we do?" Luo Qi clenched her fists, her heart aching terribly. "We need to find a way to help our child. Should we talk to him? Guide him properly?"

Li Yan shook his head. "Mu Yang's sudden request for leave this time has made me suspicious. When I went to school to request leave for him, I was careful and asked a student by their classroom door—Mu Yang is unwilling to go back to school because the teacher suspected him of cheating on the exam."

"What?" Luo Qi was furious and exclaimed, "Which teacher said my son cheated? Don't I know my son's personality? He's always last in every exam—does someone last in every exam need to cheat?"

"It's not like that. I heard Mu Yang did well on this exam—"

"And that means my son cheated? We, as parents, see how hard Mu Yang has been working lately. Even in such a state, he carries his schoolbag around all day, studying, doing several test papers a day—No, this matter cannot be left like this. I'm going to school to find their teacher. My son is foolish and bullied; we, as parents, cannot be foolishly bullied by them, or how stifled our child must feel—"

Li Yan grabbed the agitated Luo Qi. "Don't be impulsive. Going to school to make a scene now won't help. The most important thing now is the child's academic performance—did you see it?"

"See what?" Luo Qi asked.

"Hope."

"What?"

"Hope. The hope on Mu Yang's face." Li Yan said. "Look at Mu Yang's eyes. Has he ever been this eager to study before?"

Luo Qi looked carefully and found that her son's face was always beaming with a bright smile, his eyes sparkling, like the stars that often hung in the night sky.

"Mu Yang wants to go to university," Luo Qi said.

"Mu Yang not only wants to go to university but also wants to go to Xifeng University," Li Yan said.

"How do you know?" Luo Qi looked shocked. "Xifeng University is the best prestigious school in the empire. With Mu Yang's grades—it'll be hard to get in, right?"

"I overheard Sinian mention it casually, saying that her brother should go to Xifeng University first to explore and get familiar with the situation, and she'd get in a year later—" Li Yan gestured with his chin towards Cui Xiaoxin. "I heard that young lady is also going to Xifeng University."

"What are we going to do?" Luo Qi was full of anxiety. "If Miss Cui gets in, but Mu Yang fails, how devastated will he be? He's finally putting all his effort into doing something; we absolutely cannot let him fail."

Li Yan sighed. "Man proposes, but God disposes. This matter can only depend on Mu Yang's own efforts."

Luo Qi's eyes flickered. After a long period of contemplation, she said in a low voice, "Why don't we ask the Lu family for help?"

Li Yan was greatly alarmed. "Don't you hate having any contact with the Lu family the most? You were just worried they'd snatch your son away, and now you're thinking of actively sending your son to them?"

"If the child doesn't have to suffer—" Luo Qi's eyes reddened. "What does it matter if I suffer a little?"

"—"

Cui Xiaoxin closed her textbook and said to Li Mu Yang, "Imperial History can be put aside for now. This is the subject you've mastered the best and are most familiar with. Starting tomorrow, we'll review the Yin Yang Calculation Scripture. This is your weak area and will require more time—"

"No problem," Li Mu Yang said with a smile. "I'll listen to Teacher Xiaoxin."

Cui Xiaoxin stood up. "It's getting late. I'll come again tomorrow."

Li Sinian ran over and took Cui Xiaoxin's hand. "Sister Xiaoxin, won't you stay for dinner at our house?"

"No, thank you," Cui Xiaoxin refused, smiling. "There are elders waiting at home; I can't make them worry."

"Sister Xiaoxin—"

Cui Xiaoxin just smiled, not agreeing to Li Sinian's request. She came to the Li family every day to help with tutoring but had never eaten a meal at Li Mu Yang's house.

Luo Qi and Li Yan also came out to persuade her, but Cui Xiaoxin politely declined their kind offer and walked out the door with her bag.

"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi grabbed her son's ear, saying with disappointment, "Silly boy, what are you busy packing? Hurry up and see off classmate Cui."

"Oh, oh—" Li Mu Yang finally reacted, dropping his books and chasing after Cui Xiaoxin.

He rushed to the courtyard entrance and saw a luxurious carriage parked beside Cui Xiaoxin.

A man in a blue robe quickly pulled aside the brocade curtain of the carriage door, shielding Cui Xiaoxin's head as he invited her inside.

The curtain closed, and the blue-robed man glanced in the direction Li Mu Yang was standing. The luxurious carriage slowly drove off into the night.

Li Mu Yang stood beneath the dim light and shadows of the smoke willow trees, feeling a sense of loss.