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Xiao Xingxing sang from one end of the village to the other. Just when Chu Zhaoyou was feeling disheartened, he finally spotted the trace of the woman.
She seemed to have difficulty walking, carrying a burden as she prepared to leave. Upon hearing Xiao Xingxing’s voice, she stopped and, with a puzzled expression, followed the sound.
It was Xiao Xingxing who first noticed that he had an audience, immediately waving and smiling at her, much like how Chu Zhaoyou enjoyed receiving praise from others.
Anyone who saw Xiao Xingxing would suspect he was the son of the Regent, especially if seen by Xiao Man, the person who saw Xiao Heng from childhood.
Xiao Man’s temples had grayed a bit, and upon seeing Xiao Xingxing, who was so well cared for, her eyes slowly turned red.
This child resembled Xiao Heng in some ways, but in many others, he did not.
Xiao Xingxing sang for his own joy, carefree and lighthearted. It was evident that he saw singing as a means to impress his father.
At seven years old, Xiao Heng was different. He clearly didn’t enjoy singing. It contradicted the principles instilled in him by Xiao Congwen, but due to his fear of being expelled, and in an effort to fit in with the opera troupe, he forced himself to learn.
Xiao Man stared at Xiao Xingxing, but as she looked up, she noticed the sharp gaze of the child’s father.
“Sorry,” Xiao Man lowered her head, fearing being mistaken for a trafficker, and turned to leave.
Chu Zhaoyou examined her face, and despite the weathered appearance, he could faintly discern her once youthful and beautiful features.
Setting Xiao Xingxing down, he sneered, “I heard there is someone here with unparalleled singing talent, willing to give away their seven-year-old child so as not to squander their own operatic gift. Well, I also sing, and I consider myself the best in the world. However, I would never let Xiao Xingxing leave my side for a moment. I wonder if this person is still around; I’d like to challenge her.”
Chu Zhaoyou closely watched her reaction and saw her appear to be in tears, further confirming his suspicions.
As he felt guilty for potentially causing distress to the Regent’s mother, he also felt indignant on the Regent’s behalf.
After entrusting her life savings to someone to be delivered to Mr. Ding’s household, Xiao Man planned to quietly await her end in Yangzhou.
Having abandoned her son and committed numerous wrongs, she felt she didn’t deserve to live, fearing that her savings would be depleted, leaving nothing for her son in the end.
Even she was surprised at her own luck in encountering a reliable traveling physician. This physician roamed the land, treating patients based on fate. Xiao Man’s illness required time and effort, and the physician, unwilling to stay, told her that if she could keep up with him, he would treat her as they traveled.
When she neared death, Xiao Man desperately wanted to see her son again. For this, she followed the physician for three years, assisting him. Once Xiao Man had recovered considerably, the physician sent her away, saying, “You seem to have a son. Go find him; don’t follow me.”
Just as Xiao Man was contemplating quietly catching a glimpse of Xiao Heng, she suddenly heard on the road that the Regent was named Xiao Heng.
Having abandoned her son during difficult times, Xiao Man now felt hesitant. Xiao Heng had become the Regent on his own merits. Going to find him now might seem ill-intentioned.
Xiao Man hesitated for three months, fearing Xiao Heng might think she was seeking to rely on him, thus eroding the last remaining bond between them.
Later, just as she planned to sneak a look at her son’s current appearance, earth-shattering news reached her.
Xiao Congwen’s cheating case in the imperial examinations was reopened, revealing a different mastermind, none other than the household of General Luo, second only to the Xie family in military standing at the time.
The descendants of General Luo lacked notable military talent. Consequently, the old general, with a forward-looking vision, urged his descendants to pursue scholarly pursuits, aiming to maintain the glory of the Luo family through civil service examinations.
However, the Lou’s, despite their efforts, failed to achieve distinction in their studies, instead resorting to cheating. They attempted to obtain examination questions from Xiao Wen, who, being upright and honest, did not entertain such illicit activities.
Later, somehow, the Lou’s acquired the exam questions, pre-arranging for someone to ghostwrite essays, resulting in the success of the old general’s eldest grandson, Luo Fei, in the examinations.
However, Luo Fei’s incompetence was soon exposed, leading to the old general’s immediate death out of frustration. With the only righteous member of the Luo family gone, the entire household firmly accused Xiao Congwen of leaking the exam questions. They claimed Xiao Wen intended to use the examination papers to sabotage the marriage of Xiao Man, as several of the Luo family’s sons were unmarried and stationed at the borders.
Unable to prove his innocence, Xiao Congwen chose to die with dignity.
Over a decade later, the new Regent unearthed this old case. The Luo family’s steward confessed to infiltrating the Xiao household and stealing the examination papers.
The Regent showed no mercy, publicly executing the main culprit of the Luo family and exiling the others far away.
Upon hearing this news, Xiao Man fell ill once again.
She knew how the Luo family had obtained the examination questions.
A few days before the imperial examinations, the Luo family’s steward requested to meet Xiao Man, presenting a token from Luo Yan.
Luo Yan had encountered Xiao Man while she was performing outside. He was injured at the time, and Xiao Man had taken care of him for a few days, and the two of them developed a secret affection for each other.
Just returning from the border, Luo Yan initially thought Xiao Man was a courtesan. Conversely, Xiao Man, having read many opera scripts, was deeply immersed in romantic tales. Both of them were indifferent to traditional gender norms.
Luo Yan wanted Xiao Man to accompany him. Upon learning that Xiao Man was Xiao Congwen’s daughter, he was overjoyed. Initially concerned about parental opposition and unable to give Xiao Man a formal status, he promptly stated his intention to return home and propose marriage.
Luo Yan, an unappreciated illegitimate son of the general’s household, possessed military talent but had always been suppressed by his legitimate siblings. With few capable successors in the Luo family, they feared that the general might hand over the household to Luo Yan. On his way back with military achievements, Luo Yan faced numerous assassination attempts.
After that, there was no news of him.
It wasn’t until Xiao Man received the token from the Luo family’s steward that she learned of Luo Yan’s true identity.
Realizing that Xiao Heng might have a formal status, Xiao Man called the steward for a private discussion within the inner courtyard.
The matter was kept discreet; Xiao Man made sure the steward never disappeared from her sight, thus not linking him to the examination papers.
After parting ways with Xiao Man, Luo Yan died and never even made it to his home. Before his death, he confided in the steward who came to fetch him, unaware that the steward was the perpetrator.
Years later, using those previously disregarded words, the steward knocked on the doors of the Xiao residence. After locating the study late at night, he stole the examination papers.
No one informed Xiao Man about what happened at the Xuanzheng Hall. She left the capital in a daze, taking Xiao Heng with her, until the case was reopened, and the Regent’s proclamation was spread throughout the country. It was then that she understood the entire sequence of events.
She had not only abandoned her son but also caused her father’s death.
Xiao Heng had avenged their family, and Xiao Man’s son had avenged Luo Yan.
From then on, Xiao Man dared not entertain thoughts of returning to the capital. Like the members of the Luo family, she was to be perpetually exiled.
Privately, Chu Zhaoyou had asked Lu Huai about the speculation that Xiao Heng was Xiao Congwen’s grandson. Xiao Heng had vehemently denied it, and gradually, the matter was never brought up again.
The steward might not have initially known that Xiao Man had a child, but when Xiao Heng came to settle scores, he likely figured it out. Due to the Luo family’s military background, Lu Huai, with some ties to the old General Luo, voluntarily acted as an assessor.
After a round of questioning, Lu Huai was certain that the Regent had shown no favoritism, although the punishment was severe. The Luo family had erred. He also inadvertently overheard the steward cursing Xiao Heng and his family, but upon realizing that the old General Luo had such a grandson, Lu Huai fell silent.
Upon hearing Chu Zhaoyou’s unrelenting interrogation and recalling past events, Xiao Man felt overwhelmed. After evading for twenty years, she no longer had the courage to face her son.
Chu Zhaoyou, holding Xiao Xingxing, saw her intending to leave and sarcastically remarked, “As a son, plastering nationwide proclamations about the case’s overturn, hoping to show it to the mother who dared not face him for twenty years. As a mother, you haven’t dared to see him for twenty years, not even praising him for doing well. Are you—worthy of him?”
Chu Zhaoyou, seeing the Regent appear at the alley’s entrance, felt a sudden tightness in his scalp. He had just confronted the Regent’s mother in front of him.
The Regent looked past Xiao Man and crouched down in front of Xiao Xingxing, asking, “Are you tired from walking, Xiao Xingxing?”
Xiao Xingxing replied, “Not tired, but I’m thirsty.”
The Regent lifted his son, saying, “Then let’s go get some water.”
He glanced back at Chu Zhaoyou and said, “Zhaozhao, come along.”
Chu Zhaoyou responded, “Okay.”
As they passed by Xiao Man, he remarked, “Regent has a son now. Aren’t you going to go see him?”
Xiao Man seemed stunned by the Regent’s sudden and indifferent presence. She had many wrinkles around her eyes, and her hands didn’t appear as well-maintained as those of someone in the performing arts.
Chu Zhaoyou looked directly at her, feeling a pang of sadness. He imagined that Xiao Man hadn’t been doing well all these years. The Regent remained composed, but undoubtedly, seeing his mother in such a state was even more distressing for him.
Both the mother and the son seemed at odds: Xiao Heng acted as if he hadn’t seen her, and Xiao Man refused to move, feeling that her son would not recognize her again.
Chu Zhaoyou added, “Since you enjoy performing, become my disciple, and I will teach you when we return.”
It seemed that anyone brave enough could become the Regent’s mother’s apprentice.
Looking at him, Xiao Man’s eyes welled up with tears. “Performing…”
To this day, she still didn’t know whether she should regret it.
Chu Zhaoyou played his trump card: “Do you know that the man you met, Uncle Ma, was an impostor? Once you left, Xiao Heng was sold to a brothel by traffickers. Do you know that the savings you brought were used to blackmail the Regent, and he almost lost his life trying to save you? Why didn’t Auntie Xiao try to persuade you to stay?”
Xiao Man finally reacted, looking at Chu Zhaoyou with disbelief, as if hoping that what he said was untrue.
Uncle Ma was a trafficker, an impostor… Xiao Heng was sold to a brothel… Xiao Man felt as though her heart was being wrung.
She regretted it.
Ahead, the Regent called out “Zhaozhao” again, and Chu Zhaoyou responded, following after him.
The Regent did not look back, and Xiao Xingxing waved goodbye to his only audience.
Xiao Man’s pupils trembled, and she saw herself by the edge of the Lingbi River, crying as she reached out to stop Xiao Heng.
“Heng’er…” She stumbled forward, trying to catch up.
Listening to Xiao Man’s labored footsteps, Chu Zhaoyou felt a sense of relief. He called out, “My leg hurts.”
The Regent paused, his expression darkening as he stopped.
Leaning against the wall, Chu Zhaoyou glanced back and said, “You’re walking too fast. Someone with difficulty walking can’t keep up.”
Xiao Han knew Chu Zhaoyou wasn’t genuinely in pain; it wasn’t his own leg that hurt.
Chu Zhaoyou wasn’t trying to play the savior; he wasn’t insisting that they reconcile. Instead, he knew that after the incident involving Miao Ruoqiu, the Regent had been searching for Xiao Man all these years.
Since they found her, they should sit down and talk, but whether or not to forgive her was another matter.
Xiao Han was sentimental. Chu Zhaoyou didn’t want him to have any regrets if anything could be resolved.
The Regent handed Xiao Xingxing to Chu Zhaoyou and, with a stern expression, crouched in front of Xiao Man. “Come.”
Chu Zhaoyou, carrying the already heavy Xiao Xingxing, asked, “If I can’t walk anymore, will you carry me?”
“Yes,” Xiao Xingxing nodded, cleverly asking, “Is she my grandma?”
Both of his dads were very good to him, so if his father had a mother, she would be good to his father, right? Being good to his father meant being good to Xiao Xingxing.
Chu Zhaoyou nodded, and Xiao Xingxing called out “Grandma,” bringing joy to his father.
The Regent didn’t stop him.
Xiao Heng owed her his life and had nurtured Xiao Heng for over eight years. Even for the sake of his grandfather, she shouldn’t be left to wander outside.
After all, the Regent’s residence was empty anyway.
As the sun cast its shadow, three generations—grandmother, son, and grandson—walked together through the rugged alleyways. The Regent carried his elderly mother, while Chu Zhaoyou held Xiao Xingxing. On their shoulders rested not only their family but also the nation.
Author’s note: Warning, in the next chapter, someone might be pregnant, whether it’s Lu Jinghuan or Chu Zhaoyou, I’m not sure.