Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Daddy, my mother is still alive...

Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Daddy, my mother is still alive...

To go to Chengjiayuan from Yunnan Palace, first go north to the lower street in front of Zhengyang Gate, then go east, pass Zhengyang Gate and Chongwen Gate, then turn north for a while.

The carriage changed course from Xiadajie to the east, and when it reached Qipan Street in front of Zhengyang Gate, Lu Xusheng jumped on.

"Why are you going to Cheng's house so late at night?"

It was early evening, Lu Xusheng had dinner in Lu's study and was about to return to the Duke's Mansion. When he left Fengtian Hall, he received news that something had happened to Cheng Yian.

It turned out that the secret guard found out that Cheng Yian had followed Princess Yunnan, and he felt uneasy. He was suspicious about the appearance of Princess Yunnan. After all, Cheng Yian had never seen his mother. In order to prevent someone from impersonating her with ulterior motives, he reported to Lu Xusheng, who was waiting for him halfway.

Cheng Yian naturally pulled him, unable to contain his joy, "Xu Sheng, my mother...my mother is still alive, can you believe it?"

Cheng Yian was still immersed in an unreal joy and briefly told him how his mother was rescued.

Lu Xusheng sat down with her in his arms and looked at her seriously, "Are you sure it's your mother? Did you recognize the wrong person?"

Cheng Yian rolled his eyes at him and said, "You can't be wrong. You will believe it when you see her."

Lu Xusheng was not too worried. Who would dare to deceive Cheng Yian under his and Cheng Mingyu's noses? Knowing that she was going to Cheng's house, Lu Xusheng looked gloomy.

"Are you going to tell your father-in-law?"

"Of course I will tell my father about such an important thing." Cheng Yian said without hesitation.

Lu Xusheng looked at her with mixed feelings, "I advise you to go again in a few days."

Cheng Yian was stunned for a moment, "Why?"

Lu Xusheng laughed, "I'm afraid your father won't be able to sleep well tonight if you go."

Cheng Yian: “….”

Although she couldn't figure out what her father was thinking, she didn't think it would be the case. After all, more than ten years had passed.

"My father is a man of great character. He has always taken the blame for my mother's death on himself. Now that he knows that my mother is still alive, he must be overjoyed."

What could be more important than being alive?

Lu Xusheng gently pinched her soft hands and said lightly, "It's okay to be happy, but it's also inevitable to be sad."

Cheng Yian still doesn't quite understand men.

Being a man means possessiveness.

Thinking back to when Cheng Yian handed him a divorce letter, he signed it with great pleasure, mixed with pride and conceit, believing that he didn't have to be with her, and that she had someone else in her heart to fulfill her wish.

When his mother asked him to remarry, he did not hesitate.

Who can't survive without him?

But the truth is, I don't feel good.

My woman ran away with someone else.

Who can bear it?

They divorce on impulse and remarry on impulse, only to regret it for the rest of their lives.

Cheng Yian was silent.

Which child doesn't want his parents to be together? But Cheng Yian has never had such a dream.

Her birth was truly unusual. Her mother had suffered so much persecution, and her father had not acted out of emotion. If it had not been for her grandmother's "ambition", she would never have come into this world.

She didn't dare to think about the happy family relationships of other people.

After twenty years of twists and turns, it is not easy to meet each other alive.

The Yunnan Palace family is my mother's savior. They have known each other for many years, and to my mother, they are even more familiar with each other. If it weren't for her, my mother would probably not have returned to Beijing.

This was mother's choice, and she had no reason to interfere.

As a daughter, I can only support her.

"As long as I keep in touch with my mother, my father will know sooner or later. Rather than waiting for him to find out from somewhere else, it's better for me to tell him."

"If I knew and didn't tell him, I would be doing him a disservice."

Lu Xusheng nodded, "That makes sense."

The couple rushed to Cheng's house, but found that there was a lot of noise and bustle in front of the North Palace.

The housekeeper led the two of them in, and Cheng Yian pointed to the side door and asked, "What's going on?"

The housekeeper smiled and said,

"After hearing that our eldest daughter was getting divorced, matchmakers in the capital heard the news and came to propose marriages one after another."

It’s just been one day since we got divorced.

Cheng Yian was really surprised, "Why can't you be quiet at this late hour?"

The housekeeper said helplessly, "Yes, we have set up a roadblock at the entrance of the alley. If the carriages and horses outside are not allowed to come in, please come in."

When we reached the main hall, Cheng Yiyan came to greet us upon hearing the news.

"Third sister, Shenzhi, why didn't you come to have dinner earlier?"

In fact, Cheng Yiyan and Lu Xusheng had just parted ways in the government office area. Lu Xusheng pointed at Cheng Yian and said,

"An An is looking for his father-in-law for something."

Cheng Yian saw that Cheng Yiyan looked exhausted and asked with a smile, "Second brother, what are you busy with?"

Cheng Yiyan pointed to the flower room in the backyard with a headache.

"Today, many relatives and friends came to discuss my eldest sister's marriage. Some of them are from aristocratic families that I am friendly with. They came to inquire about the news under the guise of visiting, so I have to entertain them."

Cheng Yian knew that her elder sister would not be interested in remarrying at the moment.

"What did Grandma say?"

Cheng Yiyan said, "Grandmother refused outwardly, but privately she asked me and your sister-in-law to keep an eye out for it and tell her if there were any good families."

Cheng Yian winked at Lu Xusheng and said, "Look, the girls in our Cheng family are very pretty. If you want to divorce me someday, I won't have to worry about not being able to get married."

Lu Xusheng's eyes twitched. He squeezed her hand hard through his wide robe and said through gritted teeth, "Is it possible for us to get divorced?"

Haven’t you struggled enough in your last life?

Cheng Yian chuckled, "What if your mother wants a big grandson, but I can't give birth to one?"

Lu Xusheng: “….”

At this time, Cheng Yiyan also responded seriously.

"That's right. After what happened to my eldest sister, my father secretly prepared a house for each of my three younger sisters. He said that men are unreliable and we have to rely on ourselves."

This is to prepare a retreat for my daughter.

Lu Xusheng was so angry that he laughed.

Suddenly I felt that the appearance of King Yunnan was also very timely.

Let the father-in-law's old house burn down so that he doesn't have to worry about dealing with his son-in-law.

He looked at Cheng Yiyan and smiled, "Brother-in-law, you are also a man."

Cheng Yiyan patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "I am more aware than you. I took the initiative to buy a business for my wife to remind myself."

All the men in the Cheng family are beyond help.

Lu Xusheng didn't want to talk to him, and looked around, "Where is my father-in-law? An An has something to ask him."

Cheng Yiyan put away his smile and said to Cheng Yian, "Dad is in his study, you can go directly. Grandmother and sister-in-law are entertaining guests, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for them to see you at this time."

Then he asked Lu Xusheng, "Are you going too?"

Lu Xusheng shook his head, "I won't go. Please arrange a study room for me. I want to write a few letters to Jiangnan."

If I go to see my father-in-law with Cheng Yian at this time, I will be laughed at by my father-in-law, and I won't be able to even enter the Cheng family's gate in the future.

Cheng Yiyan personally took Lu Xusheng to his study and told the housekeeper and Cheng Yian to go to Cheng Mingyu.

Cheng Yian had been to Cheng Mingyu's study several times. When he reached the hallway, he asked the nanny to leave. Compared to the bustling places nearby, this place was quiet and silent, as if no one was there. Even the lights were dim, like a wisp of smoke floating in the night.

Thinking of what Lu Xusheng said, Cheng Yian couldn't help but slow down his pace when he walked outside the building.

I felt a little nervous and worried, but I didn't hesitate.

How can three months of reluctant companionship be compared with more than ten years of friendship?

What's more, my mother was once the daughter-in-law of the fourth room, and my father was the head of the Cheng family.

They are separated by the sky, human ethics, and secular perspectives.

It was doomed to be impossible from the beginning.

The old servant who had always taken care of Cheng Mingyu's daily life bowed respectfully and quietly retreated into the darkness.

Cheng Yi calmed himself down and slowly opened the door.

The first thing that caught my eye was the bamboo forest outside the east window, which was at its densest. A large bamboo leaf brushed against the window lattice, and some green branches poked out. On the left side of the window hung a snow-white silk scroll, and in front of it stood a man, wearing a tea-white robe with fluttering sleeves, standing like a tall and straight pine tree, with an air of being unmoved by the wind from the east, west, south, or north.

In his left hand, he held a cup of ink and splashed it onto the silk surface. In his right hand, he held a brush and drew an ink painting with great skill.

But in the blink of an eye, the ink was all gone and his painting was finished.

This is a freehand landscape painting. Looking down from above, it seems as if a huge rock stands in the world. The fine moss, dense branches and leaves, the welcoming pine trees standing in the wind, and some mountain farmers carrying heavy loads are all vividly depicted on the paper.

The ink flows very quickly. To complete an exquisite painting or calligraphy with conception, artistic conception, sharp brushwork and magnificent style in such a short time must require many years of skill.

Dad is really a person who can do everything to the extreme.

If Lu Xusheng was so perfect, she would also have to worry about the flowers and plants outside.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Cheng Mingyu took a step back and admired his work. He seemed very satisfied.

"Ping Ping, what do you think of Dad's painting today?"

Cheng Yian closed the door gently and did not respond. Instead, he said playfully,

"How did Daddy guess it was me?"

Cheng Mingyu was really sharp and noticed that Cheng Yian's tone was slightly different from usual, as if there was a little more flattering and obedient tone in his voice.

"Daddy can recognize your footsteps."

He didn't tell her, and the old servant never informed her when she came.

Cheng Mingyu turned his head, put down the brush, washed his hands, and looked at his daughter, and asked in a gentle voice,

"Why are you here so late? Is there something wrong?"

The smile in Cheng Yian's eyes could not be concealed.

She was in a good mood, and Cheng Mingyu's eyes were also somewhat warm.

"Sit down, Daddy will make you some tea."

Cheng Mingyu has always doted on his darling little daughter to the point of not wanting her to do anything.

But Cheng Yian still insisted, "Come on, daughter."

The tea table was placed next to the desk under the south window. There was a set of exquisite Ru kiln sky blue glaze teacups. The tea was still warm. Cheng Yian had no intention of making tea, so he simply poured two cups with the tea. Under the west wall was a large antique display cabinet. In front of the display cabinet was a long rosewood table, which was Cheng Mingyu's desk. Under the north wall was a six-fold screen. Under the screen was a square table and two armchairs. Cheng Mingyu had walked around the table and sat on the left side of the table. In the past, Cheng Yian sat with him on the right side of the table. But today, after Cheng Yian handed him the teacup, he chose to sit on the brocade stool opposite where he sat when father and daughter met for the first time.

There was nothing between the two people, and this distance made Cheng Mingyu feel a little uneasy.

It seemed that his daughter had something important to tell him.

Cheng Mingyu adjusted his posture and faced her, "Ping Ping, what's wrong?"

The night light was soft, and it looked like a hazy halo when it fell on her cheek. She smiled softly, and even her eyebrows seemed to be covered with a layer of glow, just like her mother.

After drinking his tea, Cheng Mingyu put his hands on the table and looked at his daughter gently.

Cheng Yian held the teacup in his palm and didn't rush to drink it. "Dad, I'm here because I have something to tell you."

Her eyes were serious when she spoke, and one could sense her seriousness.

Cheng Mingyu stared at her for a while, his clear eyes seemed like a deep pool that could not be shaken, calm and peaceful.

"You talk, Daddy is listening."

Then Cheng Yian blurted out,

"I saw my mother today..."

Cheng Mingyu's slender fingers trembled noticeably, and his usually agile mind fell into chaos.

Each word is clear, but the combination of some parts is incomprehensible.

He looked at Cheng Yian blankly and puzzledly, without any reaction.

Seeing his expression, Cheng Yian guessed that he didn't react, so he explained further,

"Dad, can you believe it? When I went out to burn incense today, I actually ran into my mother. She is not dead, she is still alive."

Cheng Mingyu's heart suddenly started and his mind went blank for a moment. The arm that was resting on the table involuntarily slid down and fell on his knees. His hands were slightly bent, and he was obviously at a loss.

"An An, are you serious?" His voice was too deep, like a taut string that was in danger of breaking at any time.

In his heart, he actually still had a little bit of disbelief. After all, the news was too sudden. But it was not impossible that no remains were found that year.

Tears welled up in Cheng Yian's eyes, and he said,

"How could I lie to you about this? I saw her with my own eyes. She is still alive. She was rescued that year and was injured. She took many years to recover... I rushed to tell you as soon as I knew about it."

Every word was like a flame, creeping into the earlobe and drilling into the heart, slowly warming up the heart that had been sealed in dust for a long time. Cheng Mingyu's breathing became hotter and hotter, his eyes were as heavy as cold stones, his eyes seemed to be looking at Cheng Yian, but also seemed to be looking at the void in front of him.

"Where is she now?" Cheng Mingyu asked with his hands on his knees, trying to control his emotions.

A person who has always had rules and regulations engraved in his bones, a person who regards the virtues of a gentleman as a guiding principle, has never been used to expressing his emotions for decades, or perhaps he does not know how to express his emotions.

So in Cheng Yian's eyes, he was still calm.

Cheng Yian swallowed and said, "Yunnan Palace."

Cheng Mingyu was stunned for a moment, not expecting this, and his tone fluctuated, "Yunnan Palace?"

"Yes, the old princess of the Yunnan Palace was a female doctor. When she went up the mountain to collect herbs, she ran into my mother who had fallen off a cliff and saved her. Because my mother was unconscious, they were in a hurry to return to Yunnan, so they took my mother back with them."

Cheng Yian did not tell Cheng Mingyu that Xia Fu had been in a coma for three years and paralyzed for ten years.

Daddy already blames himself enough, I don't want him to bear more burdens.

She hopes that they can let go and be well.

Cheng Mingyu now believed it completely. Going to Yunnan could explain why he couldn't find any trace of Xia Fu. Thinking of how Xia Fu must have been seriously injured after falling from such a high cliff, a burning current flowed uncontrollably through his limbs and bones, even his breathing became disordered, and his eye sockets turned red.

Just as he was about to ask her about her injuries, he heard his daughter's red lips open and softly said,

"Dad, Mom is now married to the King of Yunnan and is the Princess of Yunnan."

Cheng Mingyu swallowed all the words in his throat.

It seemed as if the world had never been so quiet.

The vast ocean is boundless, without a trace of light.

He couldn't see anything.

The burning current froze in the internal organs and gradually turned into ice that could not be melted or moved.

Cheng Mingyu didn't even know how to react. He was stunned for a whole cup of tea before he slowly responded, "Oh..."

Cheng Yian watched his face suddenly turn pale, his eyes drooping, all his emotions hidden under his long eyelashes, and his heart ached.

"Daddy?"

Cheng Mingyu didn't move.

"Dad, Mom is still alive. This is more important than anything else. We should be happy and thankful, right?"

She slowly stood up and walked towards him step by step. When she wanted to squat down, he suddenly raised his eyes. His dark eyes were like a deep pool with no bottom to be seen. The corners of his lips twitched slightly, revealing a smile. Although Cheng Yian couldn't describe this smile, she still heard him say,

"yes."

A short word.

Cheng Yian heaved a sigh of relief, tears welling up in his eyes, and he cried and laughed.

"I still can't believe it, it's like a dream. Dad, do you know that when Mom was recovering from her injuries, she made a lot of clothes for me? She was thinking about me."

"Daddy, my mother is back. An An has a mother now."

"Yes, An An has a mother..." Cheng Mingyu repeated her words numbly, a smile slowly seeping out of his eyes, like the winter sun, a thin layer of light that would break with a poke.

He scratched his knees with both hands, his white finger bones and blue veins were exposed, and he said hesitantly,

"It is a very happy thing. As a father, I am happy for you."

He was still gentle and didn't look hypocritical.

Cheng Yian's tears fell.

The wind blew in silently, ruffling his robes. He sat majestically, as if trapped in the dust of time, motionless.

The father and daughter looked at each other in silence, both with smiles on their faces, but they didn't look real.

"It's getting late, An'an. Lu Xusheng is still waiting for you. Go back and rest." Cheng Mingyu said with a smile.

In the past, he never urged her, he just wished she could stay a little longer.

Cheng Yian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and bowed to him.

"The daughter is leaving."

She really wanted to tell him that he still had her, his biological daughter, but his expression was so perfect that he didn't need any comfort at all. Cheng Yian sighed, turned around and left.

When she went out, she glanced at him. He still maintained that posture without moving. The door slowly closed, completely blocking his figure.