Chapter 28: A Widower’s Hallucination?

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Gao An glanced at the writing on the torn paper. It was nothing more than a few fragmented words expressing sorrow, without even revealing who the tribute was for. Yet Yan Bei, whose mind was usually as clear as a mirror, claimed from these few words that Alì’s mother, never before mentioned, had appeared!

Gao An had never met Alì’s mother. Not only had he never met her, but Yan Bei hardly ever mentioned her. Having served as a eunuch in the royal residence since Yan Bei was still a toddler, Gao An often doubted whether such a person even existed.

After the old prince passed away, Yan Bei naturally succeeded as head of the Jingyang royal household. On the very first night of his succession, he killed his poetry tutor. Soon after, the late emperor issued an edict ordering them back to the capital to assist in governance.

At the time, everyone thought Yan Bei’s act of killing his tutor was so shocking that the late emperor must have been punishing him. But Yan Bei did not see it that way. With the crown prince yet undecided, appointing regent ministers was already questionable—let alone the emperor’s promise to entrust Yan Bei as the head of military affairs.

If it were a punishment, Yan Bei would never have been allowed to return to such a crucial post. But if it were true favor, then why break precedent and still let the Jingyang royal household retain command over the troops?

With both powers concentrated in his hands, the Jingyang household’s influence was unmatched. As king, wouldn’t he fear that Yan Bei, assisting the young lord, might harbor rebellion?

Thus, Yan Bei quietly entered the capital. Three months later, he returned to the residence. There was nothing particularly surprising about the capital’s news, but his behavior became strange. He would often become distracted while reading documents, sometimes grinding his teeth with resentment, other times tending to flowers with a sorrowful expression.

The dowager princess had arranged a marriage for him, but he ruthlessly rejected it.

Unconsciously, the time came to obey the imperial order and enter the capital. Where once he had done everything to delay returning, he now grew impatient. Nearly a month before the set date, he took a group and left ahead of schedule.

The first time anyone saw Yan Bei in the capital, he was awkwardly feeding milk cake to a skinny, injured infant wrapped in swaddling—Alì.

Where did the child come from? Where was the mother? What kind of person was she?

Yan Bei said nothing.

Two months after settling in, he petitioned the palace to confer upon Alì the title of heir.

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Though the Jingyang household remained the late emperor’s influence within the king’s power, the Shen family was clearly not foolish enough to offend them. The process of conferring the heir’s title went smoothly.

Upon hearing the news, the dowager princess and three county princesses rushed overnight from the northern lands to the capital, both shocked and fearful to see the little grandson who had seemingly fallen from the sky—but none could extract a word from Yan Bei.

In the following three years, he never revealed a single word.

Had there been any miscarriage of justice in court during these years, Gao An would have suspected the child was the orphan of some wronged loyal minister.

Unexpectedly, just when he had given up on pursuing the matter, Yan Bei suddenly mentioned Alì’s mother aloud.

“Could it be a mistake?”

Having lived over forty years, Gao An’s mind still couldn’t grasp it immediately. “This is a trap set by the Du family to kill Zhang Shaode and He Hui. How could there possibly be any trace of the lady in a place like that?”

Alì’s mother had never been granted the title of princess consort, at most she was called “madam.” But that did not matter.

What mattered was that the one person Yan Bei was most unlikely to mention had appeared in this trap set by the Du family—an intersection that seemed utterly impossible.

The matter was so absurd that Gao An scrutinized his master with skeptical eyes.

Yesterday, Cui Xun said Yan Bei was staring at a passing woman’s waist on the main road.

Today, he claimed to have found a memorial written in the handwriting of his ex-wife in the Du family’s trap—

Could it be hallucinations from long widowhood?

“The handwriting on the marriage certificate she gave me and the divorce papers she wrote is exactly the same as this!” Yan Bei turned around, a storm rising in his eyes as vast as the night sky. “If I don’t recognize my own handwriting, I would never fail to recognize hers!”

Gao An was once again speechless.

Divorce papers?

For the mighty Jingyang prince, this was an entirely fresh term!

So, their lord had kept silent about Alì’s mother all these years because he had been abandoned by his wife?

“My lord, may I ask what exactly is going on?” Gao An couldn’t help but step forward.

As steward eunuch of the residence, knowing the origins of the young master’s mother was necessary.

“What’s going on?” Yan Bei snorted coldly. “I want to know too! If I ever see her again, I will hang her up to reclaim the humiliation of being cast off!”

Gao An hesitated, then mustered courage to ask, “Then why didn’t you try to find madam and get the truth?”

“Couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“She died when she left me.”

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“……”

Gao An was at a loss for words.

Before he could think of how to ask further, Yan Bei stepped past him and the carriage, walking alone into the night.

…

Wei Zhang had returned earlier and, upon hearing from Lan Qin that Yuetang and the others had gone to Feiyun Temple to kill Zhang Shaode, rushed there without delay.

After bringing Yuetang back to the residence, Lan Qin, who was waiting at the door, nearly collapsed. Without a word, she had him laid on the bed. Meanwhile, Hua Lin, who had just arrived, prepared to take Yuetang’s pulse.

“Why did he suddenly faint again? It’s been a long time since this happened,” Lan Qin asked, clutching her hands and watching Hua Lin’s every move.

Huo Run returned silently, tears streaming as he knelt down. “It’s my fault. I deserve to die!”

Lan Qin sighed and helped him up.

Wei Zhang said, “Let him kneel! If the man doesn’t wake up, he can’t get up either!”

Lan Qin complained, “At least hear him out before punishing. It’s not necessarily his fault.”

Wei Zhang’s face darkened as he watched Hua Lin take Yuetang’s pulse and administer acupuncture.

When Yuetang woke, dawn had broken.

Little Huo was alone in the yard practicing horse stance; from the side chamber came voices of Lan Qin and the others.

Yuetang walked over. “Your master is back?”

Huo Run nodded happily and called her again.

Yuetang took out a silk cloth to wipe his sweat. “Why practice kung fu in the middle of the day?”

“My master punished me for failing to protect the princess. From today on, I must practice an hour morning and evening.”

Yuetang paused, then sighed. “An hour each morning and evening—your legs will be worn out.”

The people inside were startled and came out one by one.

Wei Zhang stood three paces away, his face sullen as he glanced at Huo Run. “He failed in his duty. Why pamper him so much?”

“Pamper?” Yuetang smiled. “If his mother were still alive, she would surely feel sorry for him.

“Wei Zhang, you know in your heart that my fainting wasn’t his fault, and we didn’t recklessly take risks. Why be so harsh?

“Actually, Little Huo is doing very well. The one who personally trained him—I believe he will not be inferior to you in the future.”