Chapter Thirteen

At the end of March, Jiangzhou was engulfed in endless rain, a persistent drizzle that made it rare for anyone to show a genuine smile.

Shi Juxing returned from outside, folding up his oiled-paper umbrella. A female servant standing in the corridor hurriedly took the umbrella, while another handed over a handkerchief. “The rain outside is really heavy. Third Young Master, wipe yourself quickly.”

Shi Juxing responded with a hum. The young man, just over twenty, was handsome and refined. Like his mother, his skin was as translucent and fair as jade, making the dark circles under his eyes all the more pronounced.

“How is Mother feeling today? Has she taken her medicine?”

The servant who had just handed him the handkerchief, named Juirui, had been attending Shi’s mother since their time in Bianjing. She nodded promptly.

“Yes, Madam has taken her medicine today. It didn’t rain this morning, and her spirits were good. She even asked us to accompany her for a stroll in the garden.”

Shi Juxing felt some relief upon hearing this.

A few days earlier had been the memorial day for his second elder sister. He and his father, afraid of upsetting his mother, had prepared the offerings themselves without involving others, yet still failed to keep it from her. As a result, his mother’s condition, which had been improving, suddenly worsened considerably.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Juxing stepped over the threshold and adopted a demeanor as gentle and refined as polished jade.

“Son pays respects to Mother.”

He half-kneeling before the bed, gazed upon the woman’s pale and haggard face. His eyes brushed past her temples streaked with silver, and swallowing the lump in his throat, he saw his mother reaching out her hand. He hurriedly clasped her slightly cold hand, smiling, “Mother, do you have any instructions for your son?”

When lucid, Shi’s mother looked weary but peaceful. She regarded her youngest son gently and said slowly, “Just now, I dreamed of your second sister.”

Shi Juxing was taken aback.

“I dreamt she called me Mother, coquettishly, saying she was craving the pickled bamboo pork stew I used to make.” Recalling the vivid image of her youngest daughter in the dream, lively and adorable, the gentle smile lingering at her lips was tender beyond words. “Even as a mother, that clingy way she used to act hasn’t changed.”

Shi Juxing lowered his head, swiftly masking his sorrow. Noticing a pause in his mother’s words, he looked up and teased, “Second Sister has always had a big appetite! When I was little, she loved snatching my chicken drumsticks. Even our eldest sister would give in to her. She could eat three drumsticks in one sitting.”

His mother smiled faintly. “Yes, indeed…”

Seeing the nostalgic expression on her face, Shi Juxing was about to change the subject when she sighed deeply.

“I’m old now, often confused, but there are still duties that cannot be neglected, cannot be neglected at all.”

“In a couple of days, Junyan and Junting will turn twelve, won’t they? My body is weak; I’m afraid I won’t be able to see them in person. You must go on my behalf. Let the two children know that we care for them as well.”

Due to her long illness and bedridden state, her voice was weak, a sign of chronic blood deficiency, but Shi Juxing could still hear the overflowing affection behind her words.

He nodded in agreement.

When the Shi family moved from Bianjing back to Jiangzhou, it was partly for her health, but also due to other complicated and thorny reasons.

Regardless, they truly owed those two children.

Ten years had passed, and the uncle and nephews had met only a handful of times. Their mother, now elderly and unable to travel, had never seen them even once.

Shi Juxing gripped his mother’s emaciated hand firmly and nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother. I will carry your wishes to them. The two children must miss you dearly as well.”

His mother showed a relieved smile. After a pause, she hesitated, “If your brother-in-law is displeased, don’t argue with him. Just come back early.”

Mentioning Xie Zongwei, Shi Juxing’s expression turned cold, but unwilling to worry his mother, he simply smiled and nodded.

…

Following Jue Ming’s advice, Xie Junyan went upstairs and turned left to the third room.

Before knocking, he sighed softly. If it were possible, he wouldn’t want to handle such an embarrassing matter personally.

But Xie Junting was recklessly wild—only twelve years old, yet imitating others by keeping a secret concubine!

When the servant stammered this news, Xie Junyan was so shocked that he accidentally dropped a teacup, shattering it.

He never imagined his younger brother would be so disgraceful!

To prevent this from escalating, Xie Junyan had Jue Ming clear the inn’s guests early. After he spoke clearly to the woman inside, as long as she cooperated, he would pay her enough silver to keep her far from Bianjing’s troubles.

Naturally, this money would be deducted from Xie Junting’s own secret stash.

Taking a deep breath, Xie Junyan calmly raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Shi Lingyao lay on the bed. Hearing the knocking, she assumed it was Xie Junting’s chosen caretaker and hoped they would just come in. But her voice was hoarse and barely audible.

After trying hard, Shi Lingyao could only manage a rough, low “Come in,” her face flushing even deeper.

Xie Junyan frowned slightly.

Did he just hear a duck’s quack?

The strange noise quickly ceased. After waiting a moment, his patience wore thin.

He needed to resolve this woman’s situation before Xie Junting returned in a fury and made matters worse.

Deciding not to wait any longer, he knocked again and said, “Excuse me.”

Then he pushed the door open.

The room was small. An arrogance and disdain he hadn’t realized he possessed flickered in Xie Junyan’s eyes—he saw no reason to respect a woman who courted a boy not yet twelve by spending silver on her.

A child herself, not yet twelve.

But having been raised strictly by his father and tutor, he was accustomed to appearing gentle and polite. He restrained his feelings, scanning the sparse furnishings before his gaze settled on the woman leaning half-upright on the bed, her face flushed bright red.

That single glance stunned him, instantly dissolving all his displeasure, leaving only deep bewilderment.

“Mother…”

Almost instinctively, he moved to the bedside, drawing closer. The face so familiar it seemed etched into his very bones became clearer, reflected in his amber eyes.

Xie Junyan doubted he had opened the door of the inn at all.

It felt as if he had entered another world, where she was still vibrant, young, and radiant.

The boy half-kneeling by the bed looked at her earnestly, as if wanting to imprint her image into his memory.

His expression was serious, yet tinged with a heart-wrenching innocence.

Shi Lingyao was somewhat surprised, but the overwhelming feelings that followed were excitement and tenderness.

Big Treasure—she could not mistake him—this was indeed her Big Treasure.

The twin boys did not resemble each other much. Little Treasure resembled her, but Big Treasure was the living image of Xie Zongwei.

Struggling slightly, Shi Lingyao raised her hand. Instinctively, Xie Junyan leaned in, feeling the warmth of her fingertips brush across his brow and eyes.

“Big Treasure has grown up, truly handsome.”

Though ill and with a voice no longer clear and melodious, she spoke with effort, enunciating each word. Xie Junyan’s heart surged as if spring snowmelt flooded his senses, sweeping away the pride he took in his rationality and calmness.

Whether illusion or witchcraft, he did not wish to think of anything else at that moment.

“Mother, hold me.”

The exquisitely handsome youth knelt before the bed, lifting tear-glimmering phoenix eyes to his mother, who had been absent for ten years, and gently opened his arms.

“Just like when I was little, please?”

Shi Lingyao did not want to burden him with her illness, but the tremor and uncertainty in his voice were too heartbreaking.

Without hesitation, she gently wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The slender boy threw himself into his mother’s embrace.

Though she still had a fever, her embrace was unusually warm. Xie Junyan buried his face in her neck, unconscious tears slipping down his cheeks.

He held his mother tightly, like a child who had finally obtained his cherished treasure, unwilling to let go for even a moment.

Shi Lingyao wanted to pat his back but lacked the strength.

Her heavy breathing sounded in Xie Junyan’s ears. He bit his lip, released her, pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, and whispered, “Mother, don’t be afraid. I’ll send for a Daoist healer right away.”

Shi Lingyao was momentarily stunned, then smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a ghost returned from the dead.”

She felt embarrassed—a son treating her like a ghost, a child thinking she was a peach blossom spirit.

Why was there not a single one among them connected to the living?

Xie Junyan blushed, biting his lip, realizing his foolishness.

But to Shi Lingyao, her son was adorable no matter what.

She raised her hand, touched his face, and smiled. “You’re burning up so much; if I were a spirit, I would have long since vanished.”

She meant to tease him to make him smile, but Xie Junyan frowned, clenched her hand, and shook his head.

“Mother, don’t say such things.”

Shi Lingyao was momentarily taken aback, then softened even more. “Alright, Mother won’t say it.”

Seeing her dry lips, Xie Junyan poured her a cup of warm water and carefully fed it to her with a respectful and practiced manner that made Shi Lingyao feel as though she were drinking honey, her heart filled with sweetness.

“Big Treasure, I…”

Shi Lingyao had intended to explain her strange experience, but Xie Junyan shook his head and whispered, “Nothing is more important now than your health. You can tell me everything later.”

“You won’t leave me again. We have so much long time ahead, don’t we?”

Shi Lingyao nodded.

What a thoughtful, good child.

Xie Junyan took the cup and was about to leave to have Jue Ming fetch a doctor when a commotion erupted outside, mixed with a shouting voice he knew all too well. He realized his brother had returned.

Seeing him standing by the bed, deep in thought and casting a faint chill around him, Shi Lingyao instinctively said, “Little Treasure, go fetch the doctor…”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to stay by her side.

Xie Junyan smiled, understanding that he had brought the doctor with him.

“All right, I’ll tell them to have the doctor come up right away.”

As for Xie Junting…

Recalling his recent strange behavior, a hint of joy lingered in Xie Junyan’s eyes. He thought perhaps…

Mother had returned. But he hadn’t told him. What did that mean?

Suppressing his anger, Xie Junyan smiled gently and lovingly at his frail mother. “Mother, wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

Shi Lingyao nodded, watching that tall figure leave, feeling deeply fortunate.

Big Treasure and Little Treasure were both filial and intelligent children.

Later, walking beside her on either side while she shopped—how proud and enviable that would be!

Shi Lingyao thought happily of taking her two children out, completely unaware that the brothers, meeting just outside the inn, were already at each other’s throats, nearly coming to blows.

Xie Junyan easily caught a furious punch from his brother, letting the wind of the blow skim his pale cheek, his tone still calm. “Junting, I hope you understand what’s important. Right now, the doctor should see her and prescribe medicine.”

Seeing his eternally composed demeanor, Xie Junting was so angry he wanted to spit on him.

Such a selfish, hypocritical man who always assumed the worst—Mother wouldn’t like him one bit!

Recalling how Jue Ming had awkwardly explained that the eldest young master was upstairs “clearing the household,” Xie Junting was furious to the point that his hair stood on end.

That was Mother—his most beloved, most beloved Mother!

How could Xie Junyan so easily suspect and insult her?!

But hearing Xie Junyan’s words, Xie Junting’s hot-headed mind cooled momentarily. He nodded to the trembling doctor beside him. “Doctor, please hurry and…”

Just as he was about to say “Mother,” Xie Junyan gave him a sharp pinch, expression impassive.

Xie Junting clutched his backside, nearly yelling out.

His angry “What are you doing?” died in the face of Xie Junyan’s cold glare.

In that instant of locked eyes, the brothers felt a faint sense of twin telepathy.

Neither was completely sure they could keep this secret from their father. If news that Mother was still alive reached him…

While Xie Junting was still pondering, Xie Junyan was already leading the doctor upstairs. “Please, follow me.”