Chapter 424 - 423: Contemplation
Whether one is born into a scholarly or a military family, whether they are a suitable match, whether they are virtuous and kind—all these things that need to be considered during marriage negotiations, what do they matter when faced with Mu Liankang’s safety?
The daughter born from the union of barbarians and Han people still has Han bloodline at the very least.
Moreover, despite differing customs and lifestyles, she is an upright girl, not of a disgraceful origin.
The lack of descendants in the family, with only Sister Niang and Brother Yan from the younger generation, adding two more children at once, is something Madam Wu would be delighted about.
Recalling Mrs. Xu’s painful expression, Du Yunluo blinked her eyes, suppressing her emotions, and said, "Does the Princely Heir remember? When recognizing relatives, third aunt gave me a jade bracelet.
Third aunt said that she originally intended to give it to her daughter-in-law, but unfortunately, my elder uncle’s whereabouts are unknown, and she won’t have a daughter-in-law in her lifetime, so she gave it to me instead.
And the golden lock Brother Yan wears around his neck, that’s left by third aunt’s mother for her grandson.
These two items can now be returned to their rightful owners, so why wouldn’t third aunt be willing?"
After saying this, Du Yunluo brought over Brother Yan and pulled out the golden lock from his collar: "It’s this, it should be given to my elder uncle’s son."
Mu Liankang’s eyes were deep.
He did not remember what his mother looked like, nor her personality, but doesn’t everyone miss their mother?
Especially someone like him, who had forgotten his own name for years, is more desperate to learn about his parents.
Upon hearing Du Yunluo’s words, his heart twisted.
The pain his mother endured day after day due to his disappearance; when she gave the jade bracelet and golden lock to her niece-in-law and great-nephew, her heart must have been bleeding.
With a sigh, Mu Liankang murmured, "I am not filial."
Mu Lianxiao poured more wine into his cup, raised it, and clinked it against Mu Liankang’s cup, saying, "Father is gone, but our grandmother and mother are here. Now is the time to fulfill our filial duty."
Mu Liankang’s gaze was deep as they toasted and drank together.
Du Yunluo didn’t drink; after finishing their meal, she accompanied them for a while, leaving the table for the two brothers to talk.
Long-separated reunion, countless words transformed into wine.
Du Yunluo sat in the inner room, listening to the two conversing, her thoughts rising and falling.
Mu Liankang doesn’t remember the circumstances of his disappearance, nor could he testify that Mu Yuanmou had tampered with it.
But as long as Mu Liankang appeared, it would be a heavy blow to the second house.
Memory is a mysterious thing; Mu Liankang may not remember now, but who dares say he won’t recall in a year or ten years?
Fear of his memory returning, uncertain when it will, this continuous anxiety could break the resolve of those weak-willed.
Once Mu Liankang remembers, Mrs. Xu would likely go all out against the second house with a blade.
Mu Liankang being alive is the greatest restraint on the second house.
In the worst-case scenario, even if the second house harms Mu Lianxiao, Mu Liankang cannot inherit the title due to his wife’s origins, there is still Brother Yan, who would train with Mu Liankang instead of Mu Liancheng. The second house wanting the title would need to remove the obstacle of Mu Liankang.
With this, all of Mu Yuanmou’s plans would be disrupted.
Moreover, there’s Mu Tang.
With Mu Liankang alive, Du Yunluo didn’t believe Mu Tang was unaware of the past.
Whatever the reason for his silence, when Mu Liankang stands living before Mu Tang, could he still keep his mouth shut?
Up to this day, the second house still hasn’t killed Mu Lianxiao, nor is Du Yunluo’s drugging ironclad evidence; Mu Liankang’s issue is the only sure thing.
The objective is to force Mu Tang to speak up, only when Mu Tang reveals everything will the truth be revealed, finally resolving the root of the problem.
Mu Lianxiao and his brother drank an entire jug of wine, both had a high tolerance, the wine not a concern, each had a bowl of hangover soup, and Mu Liankang went to the guest room temporarily prepared.
Du Yunluo instructed Jin Rui to prepare water to assist Mu Lianxiao in washing up.
Mu Lianxiao’s face was lightly flushed, his eyes cool like moonlight, eyes full of laughter.
After wiping his face, he threw the cloth back into the water basin and embraced Du Yunluo joyfully, saying, "Yunluo, finding elder brother truly makes me happy."
"I know," Du Yunluo hugged Mu Lianxiao in return, looking up at him, "Did you write a letter to the Capital? When do you plan to return to the Capital?"
Mu Lianxiao pecked her forehead: "I’ve been too absorbed in speaking with elder brother, haven’t written yet, it’s too late to send, I’ll write first thing tomorrow morning. I can’t go back to the Capital right now, and I can’t let elder brother return alone."
Du Yunluo pursed her lips, contemplated, and said, "Princely Heir, was elder uncle’s disappearance an accident then? If it was intentional, now that elder uncle has appeared and wants to return to the Capital, would that person just sit back? Even if elder uncle remembered nothing, they’d fear he might recall."
Mu Lianxiao didn’t speak, his gaze was deep as he looked at Du Yunluo intensely: "Yunluo, what are you trying to say?"
Her breath caught, for a moment, Du Yunluo wanted to reveal everything she knew, but she held back eventually.
It’s not the right time to discuss these things.
Du Yunluo hesitated and said, "I simply recalled mother’s letters.
When aunt passed, mother mentioned in her letter that aunt referred to elder uncle, the interests of the first and second houses.
At the time, we couldn’t understand what aunt meant, but now I wonder, why did mother write it?
If aunt spoke thoughtlessly and without sense, mother, given her disposition, would dismiss it entirely, not to mention including it in a letter.
Mother wrote it, indicating some agreement with what aunt said.
So, what did aunt really say?
She mentioned elder uncle, could she have claimed his disappearance was accidental?"
Mu Lianxiao’s throat tightened.
Mu Yuanjing was scatterbrained, even as a junior, Mu Lianxiao couldn’t stomach listening, nor did Mrs. Zhou pay attention.
Mu Lianxiao knew Mrs. Zhou’s nature well, Du Yunluo was absolutely right; if Mrs. Zhou disagreed with Mu Yuanjing, she wouldn’t mention it in her letter.
But this time, she did...
Setting aside the first and second houses’ interests, looking only at Mu Liankang, if Mu Yuanjing spoke of childhood matters, Mu Liankang’s disappearance impossible to trace, unpleasant as it sounds, with him presumed dead, whatever Mu Yuanjing said wouldn’t be recorded by Mrs. Zhou.
The only thing Mrs. Zhou might worry about would be Mu Liankang’s disappearance being deliberate rather than accidental, enough for her to mention it in a letter.
Mu Lianxiao inhaled deeply, lowered his eyelids: "Did you bring mother’s letter?"
Du Yunluo shook her head: "It’s kept in Guishu Alley."
Mu Lianxiao released Du Yunluo, sat at the bedside, and took off his shoes.
Du Yunluo climbed onto the bed as well, lying down after Mu Lianxiao blew out the lamp.
The room was quiet.
Neither could sleep.
After a long time, Mu Lianxiao said softly: "Yunluo, when we returned the remains from the Northern Border, I cannot remember anything about elder brother’s disappearance.
I asked second uncle several times, he said he rested early, only Mu Tang was guarding the mourning hall outside.
What reason would Mu Tang have to harm elder brother? Though a servant, he’s like a brother to us.
When Mu Tang came to us, aunt had gone to Shu, she likely didn’t even know who Mu Tang was. What she could say, what she possibly could say, isn’t me, it has to be second uncle.
I never harmed elder brother, mother wouldn’t believe I did, so that leaves only..."
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Regarding yesterday’s mention of the side story, having seen the Taiwanese readers’ comments, here’s an explanation: the side story is a free bonus for subscribers, the main story will continue and will not end quickly~~