The cold wind howled, the dead branches swayed, and the Xue family's ancestral tomb was shrouded in solemnity.
Hong Yingrong was dressed in plain clothes, with her hair neatly tied up in a bun. She was holding a dragon-headed cane and walking in front with heavy steps.
Following behind him were the eldest son Xue Yuanchu who had just returned from the border, the eldest young lady Jiang Shuxiu, the second son Xue Zhongfu, the third son Xue Jiyan, the fourth daughter Xue Huichun, the son-in-law Jiang Lun and the youngest daughter Xue Shanqiu.
Everyone was dressed in elegant clothes and had solemn expressions.
"Kneel down." Old Madam Hong Yingrong's voice was hoarse but majestic, with three incense sticks in her hands emitting green smoke.
Xue Yuanchu silently lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, his forehead resting on the cold stone tablet, his fingertips deeply embedded in the soil.
He closed his eyes and whispered, "Father, my son is back."
Hong Yingrong looked at the three words "Xue Yonghuai" on the tombstone, her eyes slightly red, but she tried hard not to cry.
She slowly stroked the inscription, as if she were touching her late husband's face.
"Yuanchu has returned to the right path, and the Xue family bloodline has continued, with the birth of a son. Today, I brought the children to see you."
The eldest young lady, Jiang Shuxiu, supported the old lady and comforted her softly, "Mother, please take care of yourself. Father's spirit in heaven would not want to see you too sad."
Fifth Miss Xue Shanqiu bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes: "Brother is back safely. If father knew, he would be relieved..."
Hong Yingrong took a deep breath, straightened her back, and spoke in a steady voice.
"Yuanchu, your father valued you the most when he was alive. Although you have lost your title, you must not lose your integrity. Now that you have returned alive from the border, you must shoulder the responsibility of being the eldest son."
Xue Yuanchu kowtowed heavily and said in a low voice: "Son, I understand."
The old lady turned to the crowd again and said slowly: "Shuxiu gave birth to a baby boy safely, the eldest grandson of the Xue family."
When everyone heard this, their expressions relaxed a little.
The second son, Xue Zhongfu, said softly, "This is a happy event. If father knew about it in the afterlife, he would definitely be happy."
Hong Yingrong nodded, a hint of relief finally appearing in her eyes: "This child was born during the most difficult time for the Xue family, but it also represents new hope. I have named him Xue Chong'an."
"Chong'an..." Xue Yuanchu repeated in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.
"Chong means we hope he will inherit the aspirations of the Xue family; An means we wish him a peaceful life and that the Xue family will be stable from now on." The old lady spoke in a firm tone, as if declaring that the Xue family would never fall.
Everyone knelt down together, and the cold wind blew up the ashes of paper money, scattering them into the sky, as if it were a silent response from the dead souls.
…
The gate of Xingyuan Marquis' Mansion, mottled with vermilion lacquer, slowly opened, and Xue Yuanchu was followed by a tall and straight young man named Guan Yan, who returned to the mansion together.
The skinny and timid servant who left that year has now grown into a young man as tall and straight as a pine tree.
The lines of fortitude honed in the army were engraved on his face, and the cowardice between his eyebrows faded, leaving only calmness.
"Guan Yan!" A crying voice came from the corridor.
Madam Zhao ran over tremblingly and grabbed his hand, turbid tears rolling down her wrinkles. "Good boy, you're finally back in one piece!"
Guan Yan's eyes were hot, and he knelt down and kowtowed heavily: "Madam, Guan Yan is unfilial and has caused you worry."
Aunt Zhao hurriedly helped him up, stroking the scars on his face with her rough hands, crying and laughing: "You've grown taller and stronger..."
Xue Yuanchu remembered that before Guanyan went to the border, he recognized Zhao Mama as his godmother, thinking that they would take care of each other in the future. Suddenly, he saw the head maid beside the old lady hurried over and said, "My lord, the old lady wants you and Guanyan to go to Songhe Hall immediately."
At this time, incense was burning in the meeting hall of the Imperial Household Department.
The eunuch Chen Jin, who was holding the pen, unfolded the letter. His fingertips trembled violently over the words "I found my younger brother, whose little toe on his right foot was missing", and the cinnabar pen fell to the ground with a clatter.
"It's really..." His throat rolled, and the snowy night more than ten years ago appeared before his eyes.
During the famine, he fled with his infant brother on his back, but lost him when the mob dispersed.
Later, he entered the palace after being castrated, and crawled all the way to the emperor, but he could no longer find any trace of his brother.
The letter paper was wrinkled, and Chen Jin suddenly laughed softly, but tears came out as he laughed. Mrs. Hong's letter clearly stated that the injury on Guanyan's toe was caused by a part of it being cut off when he was young!
"Prepare the sedan!" He stood up, his scarlet python robe sweeping across the golden brick floor. "Let's go to the Xingyuan Marquis' Mansion!"
In Songhe Hall, Guanyan stood awkwardly in the hall.
Suddenly, I heard a commotion outside the door. I looked up and saw a eunuch in a dragon robe walking in quickly, with a jade belt around his waist and a majestic demeanor.
The moment their eyes met, they both froze.
The same phoenix eyes, with the tails slightly upturned, as if drawn with an ink pen.
Chen Jin's breathing stagnated, his eyes fixed on Guan Yan's face.
The old lady understood and said softly, "Guan Yan, take off your boots and socks."
When the scar of the old broken toe was exposed to the light, Chen Jin suddenly stumbled to his knees, choking with sobs and unable to speak.
"Dad and Mom are in heaven... your son has finally found his younger brother!"
Guan Yan looked at the old lady blankly, but saw Hong Yingrong nodding with tears in her eyes: "Eunuch Chen asked me to secretly look for your relatives. Today I found out that you have been in my Xue family all this time."
It was dusk outside the window, and a ray of sunset shone obliquely on the brothers hugging each other.
Xue Yuanchu silently retreated to the corridor, and suddenly saw Chen Jin take out something from his sleeve. It was a faded longevity lock with the words "Chen bloodline, never separate" engraved on the lock core.
In Songhe Hall, candlelight flickered.
Hong Yingrong watched Chen Jin tightly grasp Guan Yan's hand and said gently, "Eunuch Chen, now that we have found our brother, would you like him to recognize his ancestors? I can order the household registration documents to be prepared immediately."
Chen Jin's body stiffened and he slowly let go of Guan Yan's hand.
He raised his sleeve to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said with a wry smile, "I appreciate the old lady's kindness. But I am now a disabled person. Guanyan's household registration is in the Marquis' Mansion, and I have just earned a future in the army. If people knew that his brother was..."
The words stopped abruptly here. A gust of wind blew outside the window, making the candlelight flicker and casting a dark shadow on his face.
Hong Yingrong's heart was shocked. She was shocked to realize that this powerful eunuch who was in charge of the Imperial Household Department and could make things happen in the Forbidden City with a wave of his hand was actually feeling inferior at this moment.
The curses of "eunuchs" and "jesters" that were cursed behind the backs of those upright censors were eventually engraved into their bones.
“Big Brother!”
Guan Yan suddenly grabbed Chen Jin's wrist, the young man's rough palm pressed against the eunuch's pale skin, "You have suffered."
Chen Jin's eyes were red again, but he smiled and patted his brother's shoulder: "Silly boy, I want you to make achievements in an upright manner."
"Of course!" Guan Yan's eyes were as bright as stars. "I want to make a future on my own, just like my big brother."
The two brothers smiled at each other.
Guan Yan went back to his room to rest first. Chen Jin suddenly straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Hong Yingrong.
"The Marquis' Mansion has shown me kindness in finding my brother, and I will never forget it."
When he stood up, his voice was already very low, "But there is something I must remind the old lady - the alliance between the Marquis' Mansion and Nurhadu should be severed."
The teacup in Hong Yingrong's hand trembled.
Chen Jin took a half step closer, and the scent of ambergris brushed past the old lady's ear. "Nurhatu is the only heir to the throne of Xirong. Your Majesty is most afraid of border generals having too close contact with foreign nations."
Old Lady Hong Yingrong was shocked and felt uneasy when she thought of Nurhadu's feelings for his youngest daughter Xue Shanqiu.
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