Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Upon hearing these words, Nanny Su stopped trying to persuade Mrs. Zhou.

Mrs. Zhou was gentle in nature, but she had a core of resilience. Nanny Su knew that she was just temporarily confused. After a few days, when her mind cleared, Mrs. Zhou’s steps would become more determined.

"Madam, it’s late. Write the letter to the Princely Heir and rest early."

Mrs. Zhou nodded, picked up her pen, and carefully wrote her instructions before placing them in the envelope.

She extinguished the lamp and lay in bed, tossing and turning for a quarter of an hour before finally falling into a deep sleep.

However, Mrs. Xu couldn’t sleep. She stayed awake all night, fearing that if she drifted off, she would awaken to find her son gone again.

As daylight broke, Mrs. Xu hurried to find Mrs. Lu.

"You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?" Mrs. Lu greeted her with a smile and asked a servant to set another place at the table. Noting the dark circles under Mrs. Xu’s eyes, she remarked, "Didn’t sleep well, did you?"

Mrs. Xu smiled sheepishly, "Don’t laugh, but I was too afraid to sleep."

"How can that be?" Mrs. Lu said as she placed a slice of pickled cucumber on Mrs. Xu’s plate. "I know you’re happy, but it’ll probably be New Year before Lian Kang and Lian Xiao return—about six months from now. If you keep this up and don’t sleep well, Lian Kang will be worried when he gets back."

Mrs. Xu nodded vaguely, hastily finished her meal, and after much hesitation, said, "Sister-in-law, I am thinking of making a trip to Lindong. It’s been over eight years, and waiting one more day feels too long."

Mrs. Lu was slightly taken aback, seeing the earnestness in Mrs. Xu’s eyes. It wasn’t just idle talk; she sighed inwardly.

Even though she had never been a mother, she could still understand these feelings.

If she were Mrs. Xu, she would also wish to turn into a bird and fly straight to Shanyu Pass.

Mrs. Xu had come to see if she could say a few good words to Madam Wu on her behalf, hadn’t she?

Mrs. Lu understood but was unable to offer help.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to help; it was that she couldn’t.

Mrs. Lu said softly to Mrs. Xu, "Our household’s menfolk, except for Second Uncle in the Capital, are either at the Northern Border or in Lindong. Sister-in-law, who would guide you to Shanyu Pass?"

Mrs. Xu hesitated, "There are still the young servants..."

"It’s not that," Mrs. Lu shook her head. "Those servants could drive you around the Capital, but a long journey to Lindong? Even Madam Wu wouldn’t rest easy with that."

Mrs. Xu sighed deeply, knowing the outcome, yet her heart refused to accept it.

To ask Mu Yuanmou to take her to Lindong would leave her without a single male family member at home and none to attend to the outside affairs. Such audacious words, Mrs. Xu dared not utter.

"If I really have to wait..." Mrs. Xu was deeply conflicted.

Mrs. Lu patted her hand and offered comfort, "Lindong is far away, and we women aren’t like the menfolk who can ride off on horseback.

Sister-in-law, you’ve endured over eight years without news—surely another six months isn’t impossible?

Before long, why don’t we go to Potuo Mountain to make offerings to the Buddha for peace? The time will pass in the blink of an eye."

Furrowing her brow, Mrs. Xu finally asked, "What if I ask my maternal family for help and have them accompany me..."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lu realized that Mrs. Xu was relentless in her determination. She glanced at the maids and servants in the room.

The maids and servants exited quietly, leaving Mrs. Xu with a heavy heart: "What’s happening?"

Mrs. Lu whispered, "Before Yuan Jing swallowed the gold, I went with Old Madam to see her, and she said something then.

You know how she is—seven out of ten things she says are hurtful, two stir up trouble, and only one might hold some truth.

Since she had no proof and was just making wild accusations, I pondered over her words but didn’t trouble you with them.

Now that there’s news of Lian Kang, and you’re anxious, I’ll let you know so you can be prepared."

Mrs. Xu was perplexed and urgently asked, "What exactly did Yuan Jing say?"

"Yuan Jing said that when they went to Lindong, why was it that only Lian Kang did not return and that only Lian Kang was unable to return."

Mrs. Lu’s words struck Mrs. Xu like a thunderbolt. She sat there stunned, her eyes wide as she repeated the phrase over and over.

"Was Lian Kang’s disappearance not an accident but deliberately caused?" Mrs. Xu murmured.

Mrs. Lu feared that her emotions would be overwhelmed, so she patted her on the back and said, "Yuan Jing has a habit of imagining the worst in everything, spewing nonsense that even Mrs. Shan began to question.

After all, her words were so alarmist; who would dare to believe them?

If Lian Kang recalled past events, and you went there, and someone trying to protect themselves started trouble, what then?

It’s better to wait in the capital; if Lian Kang returns and recalls nothing, it’ll be peaceful. If he remembers, he’ll do so in front of Old Madam, and no one would dare stir up trouble here, in this small estate."

Mrs. Xu bit her lip tightly, unknowingly drawing blood.

Even when Mrs. Lu called her, she didn’t respond.

After a long time, with eyes full of tears and chest heaving, Mrs. Xu took a deep breath, grinding her teeth: "If they want to fight their battles, that’s their problem. Why drag my son into it?

What did we, as mother and child, do to them? To rob Lian Kang of his life and separate us for eight years!

Think we’re in the way? Fine, when Lian Kang returns, I’ll show them what being in the way looks like!

It must be those heartless ones in the Second House, right?

They reckon without Lian Kang, and by finding ways to overthrow the family, it would fall into their hands?

As if! Heaven sees all—my son is destined to survive; he will support me in my old age. I’ll see if those despicable people have sons to send them off in the end!"

Mrs. Xu trembled all over, every word coming out with seething intensity.

This involves a struggle for the title, and since Mu Lianxiao is the legitimate eldest grandson, whether or not Mu Liankang returns doesn’t threaten Mu Lianxiao’s position.

Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Zhou were on good terms; with Mrs. Zhou’s disposition, such troubles wouldn’t originate from their branch.

Moreover, if it were really from their side, Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t have bothered to send news of Mu Liankang back to the Capital; he could have settled it quietly, and who in the house would have known?

Only the Second House would fear Mu Liankang blocking their way.

If it wasn’t for her last shred of rationality, Mrs. Xu would have wanted to charge at the Second House, sword in hand, and spill their blood.

But she couldn’t act recklessly.

She wouldn’t let those vile ones get off so easily!

If her child truly couldn’t return, and she learned the truth, she would have no hesitation in rushing out.

But now, she had to wait for her son’s return, wait for her grandson and granddaughter’s return. She wanted to embrace her beloved children, couldn’t let them smell the stench of blood on her hands.

"The wicked will meet their match!" Mrs. Xu clutched Mrs. Lu’s hand tightly, "I’ll just have to wait and see!"