Chapter 19 - Old Memories

There are so many unfilial sons, but it is rare to see a mother who doesn’t cherish her children.

Li Yan understood his wife’s mood. He stretched out his hand and patted her on the shoulder, indicating that she should not be angry because of this. He said, “Do you think you are the only one who takes Muyang as a son? I take him as my son, too. Even though we had Sinian later, we never isolated him. On the contrary, we were afraid that he would be neglected, so we treated him better than before. There is no difference between Muyang and Sinian in our hearts.

“But you know, after all, Muyang is a child of the Lu Family. At that time, they thought that there was no chance of survival after Muyang was struck by lightning, and they were worried that he was a deformed person, so they exchanged him with our daughter. In order to keep it from others, they sent us out of Capital Heaven to Jiangnan at night. You were not willing to exchange them because no one is willing to give up their newly born daughter to someone else. But in the end, we had to agree.

“Later, when they found that Muyang was still alive, they put their eyes on him again. When Muyang was five years old, the old Taoist Wuming came to visit us. Wasn’t it the Lu Family who invited him? Otherwise, how could he find us? How could he know there was a child who had been sick for a long time in our family? Without his help, we would have had no idea whether Muyang could stay alive or not. You know his condition at that time. We were so anxious that we were awakened by nightmares again and again, for fear that his heart would suddenly stop. It was too weak, as if he would leave us at any time.

“Taoist Wuming stayed in Jiangnan City for six years. He didn’t leave until Muyang’s body was stable and had recovered slightly. Do you think the Lu family had withdrawn their people after he left? Impossible. I’m afraid that they are still watching him. It’s just because Muyang’s physical condition is still bad and he is not outstanding that they haven’t taken him back.

“Of course, they cannot take him back now. If they brought Muyang back to the Lu Family, how could they settle him down? With what excuse? A distant relative? An illegitimate child? Or the abandoned eldest grandson? Isn’t that a slap in their faces? The old master of the Lu Family is such a proud person. It’s impossible for him to do such a stupid thing.”

Luo Qi understood that her husband’s analysis was very reasonable, so she whispered, “Since they can’t take him back, Muyang will be still our son. What are you worried about?”

Li Yan smiled bitterly, and there was an irresolvable bitterness on his resolute face. He said, “Of course, it is the best result. The Lu Family is not willing to take him back, so Muyang will always be our son. Although we are living an ordinary life, we are peaceful and satisfied. There are no intrigues here like those of the nobles in Capital Heaven.”

“And cold-blooded ruthlessness.” Luo Qi snorted and said, “What can’t they do?”

Li Yan smiled at his wife. He knew that Luo Qi had a long-standing grudge against the Lu Family in her heart.

“But what if the Lu Family wants to take him back? Old Master Lu is getting older and older every year. Doesn’t he want to see his grandson before he dies? Lu Qingming is now the Proconsul. He is a Provincial Magnate and he has more and more say in the Lu Family. Doesn’t he want to bring his own son back? The most important thing is that Miss Gongsun… She didn’t know what happened before, does she understand now?

“In this way, if the Lu Family wants to bring him back, it is just a matter of time. At that time, how can we resist? Let alone that the Lu Family is rich and powerful in the Capital Heaven, they are also the top ones in the Xifeng Empire. And Miss Gongsun, she must miss her son very much. If she comes for her son, will you let her take Muyang back or not?”

This time, Luo Qi was silent.

She was hostile toward the Lu Family and felt that the men of the Lu Family were cold and cruel. They would do anything to achieve their goals.

However, she did not hate Gongsun Yu. She knew that if Gongsun Yu knew the truth, she would probably suffer 10 times or even 100 times more than she did.

Besides, she was Miss Gongsun’s maid. Miss Gongsun had helped her parents to reverse a verdict. Otherwise, she would have been caught by her enemy.

It was why she, an outstanding student of the Imperial College of Art, was willing to swear to serve Miss Gongsun Yu for the rest of her life. Miss Gongsun Yu was the most gentle and kindest woman she had ever known, but…

“Miss has a hard life,” Luo Qi said in a low voice.

“Yes, she is miserable, and so are our lives. However, none of us has lived a poorer life than Muyang… What kind of life has he been living since he was born? Since he was a child, he has almost grown up in a medicine jar. Since he knew how to drink milk, he’s had to drink medicine. For more than a decade, he has to drink three big bowls every day. He is not good-looking and ridiculed by others all the time. And because of the illness, his intelligence is not even one-tenth of that of a normal child. Although his body has gotten slightly better these years and his intelligence has slowly recovered a little, this is also most worrying…”

Li Yan looked kindly at Li Muyang, who was chatting with Cui Xiaoxin and Li Sinian in the yard, and said, “The age he is at is the most sensitive and intense time. When he was a child, people called him ugly and black, but he didn’t take it seriously and didn’t even understand what was going on. However, what will he think now? If he likes a girl, will she like such a person as him?”

“Then what should we do?” Luo Qi clenched her fists and felt very distressed. “We have to find a way to help him. Should we talk to him and enlighten him?”

Li Yan shook his head and said, “The reason why Muyang suddenly asked for leave this time is very confusing. When I went to school to ask for leave, I deliberately paid attention. I asked a student at the door of Muyang’s class… Because his teacher suspected that he cheated on an exam, he was unwilling to go to school.”

“What?” Luo Qi was angry and shouted angrily, “Which teacher said that my son cheated? How could I not know my son’s character? Every exam, he has been last. Does he need to cheat?”

“No, it’s not like that. I heard that Muyang did very well on the test.”

“That doesn’t mean that my son cheated. We, as parents, have seen how hard he has studied during this period. He was injured so badly, yet still read books all day long. He’s had to do a few test papers every day. We can’t just let it go. I’m going to school to find his teacher. My son is being bullied. We can’t let that happen. Otherwise, he will be so aggrieved.”

Li Yan grabbed Luo Qi, who was excited, and said, “Don’t be so impulsive. It’s no use for you to go to school to make a fuss now. The most important thing now is the Liberal Arts Exam. Have you seen that?”

“What?” Luo Qi asked.

“Hope.”

“What?”

“Hope. The hope on Muyang’s face.” Li Yan said, “Look at his eyes. Has he ever been so eager to study before?”

Luo Qi looked at her son seriously and found that he always had a bright smile on his face. His eyes were shining, like stars often hanging in the night sky.

“He wants to go to college,” Luo Qi said.

“Muyang not only wants to study at a university, but he also wants to go to Xifeng University,” Li Yan said.

“How do you know?” Luo Qi looked shocked. “Xifeng University is the best university in the empire. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for him to do that with his grades.”

“I also overheard Sinian say that once. She said that she wanted her brother to go to Xifeng University to explore the situation first. She will go one year later.” Li Yan used his chin to indicate Cui Xiaoxin and said, “I heard that this girl is also going to Xifeng University.”

“What should we do?” Luo Qi’s face was full of anxiety. “If Miss Cui gets into the college, how difficult will that blow be? It’s not easy for him to go all out to do one thing, so he must not fail.”

Li Yan sighed and said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It all depends on his own hard work in this matter.”

Luo Qi’s eyes flashed. After thinking for a long time, she said in a low voice, “Why don’t we ask the Lu Family for help?”

Li Yan was shocked and said, “You don’t want to have any contact with the Lu Family, do you? Just now, you were worried that they would take your son away. Now, you want to take the initiative to send your son to the Lu Family?”

“If the child is not wronged,” Luo Qi’s eyes were red as she said, “then my little grievance is nothing.”

“…”

Cui Xiaoxin closed the textbook and said to Li Muyang, “The Imperial History can come to an end for the time being. This is the best course you have mastered and the most familiar one. Starting tomorrow, we will review the Yin-Yang Mathematics. That is your weakness, and it will take you more time…”

“No problem.” Li Muyang said with a smile, “I will listen to my teacher.”

Cui Xiaoxin stood up and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll come tomorrow.”

Li Sinian ran over, took Cui Xiaoxin’s hand, and said, “Sister Xiaoxin, please have dinner at our house before you leave.”

“I can’t, but thanks.” Cui Xiaoxin refused then said with a smile, “The elders in our family are waiting. I can’t let them worry about me.”

“Sister Xiaoxin…”

Cui Xiaoxin just smiled and did not agree to Li Sinian’s request. She went to the Li Family’s home to help with the tutoring but never had a meal in Li Muyang’s house.

Luo Qi and Li Yan also came out to ask her to stay. Cui Xiaoxin refused their kindness and then walked out of the door with her bag on her back.

“Muyang…” Luo Qi grabbed her son’s ears and said with exasperation, “Silly boy, what are you busy with now? Go and see Miss Cui off.”

“Oh, oh, oh…” It was not until then that Li Muyang realized what had happened. He dropped the book and chased after Cui Xiaoxin.

He rushed to the gate of the yard and saw a luxurious carriage parked next to her.

A man in a blue robe quickly pulled open the brocade curtain of the carriage. He protected Cui Xiaoxin’s head and helped her to sit inside.

After the curtain fell, the blue-robed man looked at the place where Li Muyang stood, and the luxurious carriage slowly drove into the night.

Li Muyang stood under the dim light of the big trees, feeling lost.