Chapter 38. Even his third uncle's son doesn't recognize him anymore. ...
(38)
"Why aren't you at home? What are you doing wandering around here?"
Shang Xinglan still felt resentful when he saw the finger marks on Chu Li's neck, but this person happened to be his own brother, so he really couldn't kill him.
Knowing he was angry, Shang Jinyue knelt obediently and explained in a low voice, "My grandmother is ill, so I came to the Southern Border to find medicine. I heard that the Heavenly Yin Maiden was visiting, so I stopped by to take a look."
The woman of the Yin month is knowledgeable about fate; perhaps she can point him in the right direction for seeking medical help.
He just didn't expect to run into someone poisoning a merchant here. He wanted to see who was so audacious, but it turned out to be Chu Li, so it wasn't surprising.
When Chu Li was a merchant, what she did was even more unbelievable.
He had never seen anyone so unwilling to suffer a loss. Whenever someone bullied her, that person would disappear without a trace in no time. Shang Jinyue didn't know how she did it, but it was clear that the disappearance of those people was inextricably linked to her.
He had reminded Shang Xinglan several times to control Chu Li's temper, but it seems to have had no effect.
This woman is far too dangerous.
Shang Jinyue thought that as long as they left the Shang family and went to live their own lives, perhaps Chu Li would change. Who knew that he would hear about Shang Xinglan's death as soon as they met, which almost scared him to death.
He looked up at the pitiful face streaked with tears and sighed inwardly.
Why is my brother so obsessed with her?
Shang Xinglan looked stunned. "Grandmother is ill? What illness? Her health has never been very good?"
“It’s those illnesses that people get when they get old. No matter how good Grandmother’s health was, she couldn’t keep up with her advanced age,” Shang Jinyue lowered her eyes, as if she wanted to say something, and pursed her lips. “In addition, the death of the head of the family caused Grandmother to be overwhelmed with grief, which is why she became depressed. But don’t worry, her illness is not serious.”
The Shang family is now shrouded in gloom. So much has happened in just a few years: first, the ascended member eloped; then the family head passed away; and the grandmother fell seriously ill. It seems that everything changed after Shang Xinglan left the Shang family. Rumors are circulating throughout the Northern Territory that Heaven favors not the Shang family, but rather the ascended member of the Shang family.
Hearing his words, Shang Xinglan remained silent for a long time, recalling the letter the sword immortal had given him. When he left the Shang family, it wasn't just for A Chu; it was mostly for himself.
His grandmother treated him very well, and only when he was by his grandmother's side did Shang Xinglan feel that there was still some warmth in this family.
Now that she is seriously ill, he should go back to visit her. But once he actually goes back, can he bring himself to leave again?
"Grandma is sick, let's go back and see her."
Shang Xinglan was stunned, because those words did not come from Shang Jinyue, but from Chu Li beside her.
She took the jade pendant off her waist and returned it to Shang Xinglan, saying softly, "Although I have never met her and do not know her, people always want to see their loved ones when they are sick. You should go back now."
Grandmother disliked living in grand mansions, so she always lived a pastoral life in a small village in the northern border. Chu Li had never seen her, and in fact, even Shang Xinglan rarely saw her after he grew up.
Not only his grandmother, but Shang Xinglan also rarely met his own parents. Each generation of ascended beings was sent to the main family after birth and personally taught by the family head.
But how could he abandon Chu Li and the child to go back alone? This family can't do without him.
"Once we've recovered our cultivation, let's go back together," Shang Xinglan said softly. "Letting Grandmother see you and Yinyin might help her recover faster."
Upon hearing that he was willing to return home, Shang Jinyue exclaimed excitedly, "You really want to come back? That's wonderful! I'll send word back right away..."
Chu Li frowned and whispered, "I'll pass on Yin Yin and me. The person Grandmother wants to see is you."
What good would it do for her to go back? That place no longer considers her a daughter of the Heavenly Yin. They would only be met with cold stares if they went back. It doesn't matter if she is bullied, but she will never let Yinyin be hurt by those rumors.
Upon hearing this, Shang Jinyue quickly said, "That's not quite right. Grandmother has been saying she wants to see you and..."
He paused, then suddenly realized something was amiss. "Who is Yinyin?"
Shang Xinglan raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "My child with Achu."
Shang Jinyue looked at Chu Li in disbelief. Back when they were in the Shang family, they hadn't gotten pregnant or given birth for a long time, and he thought it was because the two of them were infertile. He never expected that after eloping from home for several years, they would actually have a child.
"Where is the child?" Shang Jinyue stood up and asked a series of questions, "What's his name? Is it a boy or a girl? How old is he?"
Chu Li grabbed Shang Xinglan's sleeve, tugged at it gently, and pulled him close, whispering, "You can't take Yinyin back. What if they..."
“Nothing will happen. We’ll leave after we see Grandmother and won’t stay long,” Shang Xinglan said gently, understanding her concerns. “Grandmother is very easy to get along with, and you’ll definitely like her. Most importantly… I don’t want to go back alone.”
"Why?" Chu Li looked at him in confusion. "That's your home. They would all welcome you home."
Upon hearing this, Shang Xinglan fell silent, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and slowly said, "They welcome those who have ascended to immortality."
It's not Shang Xinglan.
He didn't say the second half of the sentence because Shang Jinyue was still there.
"At least acknowledge me! Where is the child? Can't I even see him?" Shang Jinyue chuckled as she watched their affectionate display. Just like at home, these two were inseparable, even if the sky were to fall.
It seems their relationship is even better after eloping, which makes their determination to leave the Shang family even after removing their immortal bones worthwhile.
Chu Li was still discussing with Shang Xinglan when she heard this and looked up at Shang Xinglan, "Right, where is Yinyin?"
Didn't you say you were going to chant sutras at the Chanxin Hall? Why did you suddenly come looking for her?
“He’s much happier seeing his master than seeing his father,” Shang Xinglan said with deep resentment.
Chu Li imagined the scene of the little cub happily jumping into Xie Liyi's arms in front of Shang Xinglan. She chuckled softly, "Take your brother to see Yinyin first. We can talk about going home after you recover your cultivation."
Shang Xinglan nodded slightly, glanced at Shang Jinyue, and said in a calm voice, "After you have resolved the matter of the Tianhe branch, you should have already succeeded as the head of the family. The branch is so arrogant and domineering, wantonly provoking sect disciples, bullying men and women. It is because you have not managed it properly."
"Yes," Shang Jinyue replied.
He would naturally investigate this matter thoroughly. In recent years, the various branches in the Northern Territory had become increasingly unrestrained. Those fools thought he was too young and inexperienced, and taking advantage of the fact that the emperor was far away, they acted arrogantly and domineeringly in private. This was a good opportunity to punish the Tianhe branch.
However, there was one thing he needed to clarify.
"Did those people really bully the disciples of the Cangshan Sect?"
Chu Li immediately sat up straight, glaring at him and saying, "What do you mean by that? Do you think I would harm someone without a reason?"
He had no idea.
Shang Jinyue awkwardly looked away. "Sister-in-law, please don't take it to heart. It was just a routine inquiry. I'll investigate it myself later."
After saying this, he quickly grabbed the sword sheath and left, eager to see Yinyin.
"He still doubts me. I went to help rescue people, and you forced me to go. Why didn't you explain for me just now?" Chu Li looked at Shang Xinglan angrily. She had started to become a good person and had done many good deeds. Why didn't she help her tell Shang Jinyue?
Shang Xinglan covered her mouth and whispered, "I asked you to rescue people, not to kill them. We are indeed in the wrong, so don't make a fuss."
Chu Li: "..."
She pulled her hand away from Shang Xinglan and muttered defiantly, "They deserved to die. What's wrong with me killing those who deserved to die?"
Shang Xinglan was so angry she almost laughed. "Do you even know what the phrase 'not deserving death' means? They were just arguing, but you went straight for the poison. That's way too extreme. That's not how you do good deeds."
According to her logic, there are too many people in the world who deserve to die, and Chu Li is the first one who should be punished. She even killed her husband, so isn't she even more heinous than those troublesome businessmen?
Chu Li didn't want to listen to his grand principles. Shang Xinglan was just too soft-hearted and kind to everyone. He was much more decisive when he fell into demonic ways, killing the second son of the Zhao family without hesitation.
"I'm not going to talk to you, you're always right anyway." Chu Li got up to leave, but Shang Xinglan stopped her.
"Achu, come back with me."
He bent down and hugged her from behind, saying in a low voice, "I want Grandma to see Yinyin; perhaps this is their last time together."
Chu Li paused slightly, turned her head to look at him, and the sadness in her eyes was undeniable; he was very sad.
Grandmother must be very important to Shang Xinglan, just as important to her as Shang Xinglan is to her.
The people left behind after someone dies are the ones who suffer the most. If they want to talk to the deceased again, they can only do so through a small grave, and no one will be there to respond.
She's been through it, so she knows better what that feeling is like.
Chu Li lowered her eyelashes and softly agreed.
"good."
*
"Is this child Yinyin?"
Xie Liyi and Xie Yunge looked at each other in dismay. Seeing Shang Jinyue coming forward to take the child away with a smile on her face, she didn't seem like a good person. Xie Liyi quickly protected Yinyin behind her.
What are you going to do?
He didn't have a good impression of the Shang family, especially since this person was on Shang Dingchun's side.
Xie Liyi stared at him warily. Before Chu Li and Shang Xinglan returned, he would never let Shang Jinyue get close to Yinyin.
“He’s my nephew, and I’m his uncle.” Shang Jinyue frowned as he stopped her. “What right do you have to stop me?”
Xie Liyi sneered, "I'm still his master."
Upon hearing this, Shang Jinyue's expression darkened slightly, but when she turned her gaze to Yinyin's fair and lovely little face, her anger subsided considerably.
He looks about seven or eight parts like Chu Li, but his eyes are more like his older brother's. He has a timid expression, like a pitiful kitten or puppy, which is really endearing.
"Don't be afraid, Yinyin, I'm your third uncle." Shang Jinyue patiently waved to the little boy, "Come to your third uncle, I'll take you to have some snacks."
The little boy hid behind Xie Liyi, clutching Xie Liyi's clothes tightly, and whispered, "I don't have an uncle. He's a liar and a bad person. Master, don't believe him."
Shang Jinyue: "..."
Just then, Shang Xinglan and Chu Li came out of the hall. He turned around and looked at Shang Xinglan, saying with a puzzled expression, "You've never mentioned your son's third uncle?"
They are brothers, born of the same mother, yet they never even mention it?
Upon hearing his question, Shang Xinglan's lips twitched slightly.
He also mentioned his third uncle, whose son no longer even acknowledges him.
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Author's note: I'm adjusting the update schedule. I haven't been feeling well lately, so I'll start with 3,000 words a day for now.
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