☆, Chapter 221 You are Li Tian?
The white-browed old man suddenly stood up and grabbed Zhao Yunjing: "Where is she?! Where is your wife?!"
Just then, a detached female voice came from outside: "Brother Zhao."
This time, it was Zhao Yunjing's turn to lose his composure. He rushed out, grabbed her hand with one hand, and pulled her close to his chest with the other, saying, "Ajiao, I'm sorry."
Zhou Mujiao simply squeezed his fingers and said, "Take your men outside. I want to have a chat with this old man."
Zhao Yunjing and the others retreated outside, with everyone except him facing away from the courtyard.
Zhou Mujiao then looked at the white-browed old man, her delicate brows furrowing slightly: "Your surname is Li? Li Tian?"
Li Tian was so excited he was speechless. His lips trembled uncontrollably, his hand repeatedly reaching out and then retracting, his eyes bloodshot. After a long while, he pulled his hands back, clasped them tightly behind his back, and said calmly, "Young lady, you have good courage, you're a good prospect. I wonder if you'd be interested in joining me? After this is done, I promise you a—"
“My maternal grandmother was over seventy years old and very healthy. She once told me that although my maternal grandfather had many minor ailments, he was, in general, a truly upright man. When the Li family was in trouble, my maternal grandfather bravely faced death. It is said that when he went to the execution ground, his posture was perfectly straight.”
Li Tian's hands, clasped behind his back, had turned white.
"If she knew that the upright and indomitable man in her heart had actually been living like a bedbug in a sewer all these years, I wonder what she would think." Zhou Mujiao's gaze was fixed on Li Tian. "However, my maternal grandfather is dead, he died on the execution ground twenty years ago, don't you think so, Master Huirong?"
The last trace of color drained from Li Tian's face.
He slumped back into his chair, showing no sign of life. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke: "What kind of person is your father?"
“He’s just an ordinary farm man. Apart from him, the Zhou family is good for nothing. And he himself passed away when my younger brother was just over two years old.” Zhou Mujiao’s voice was cold. “As for my mother, she also passed away three months after my father.”
"You, you siblings... all these years, how, how..."
"You want to know how my brother and I have survived all these years? I don't remember. But we survived nonetheless. I even married a top scholar and became a top scholar's wife. My brother has great ambitions. He wants to be a great general who stands tall and upright."
Li Tian sobbed uncontrollably, his eyes vacant.
"If the children of married women can also carry on the Li family line, then strictly speaking, the Li family line wouldn't be considered extinct. I wonder if the old man will rebel if I say this?"
"I...I never intended to rebel," Li Tian murmured. "But they risked their lives to save me, and I can't let them down. I've never approved of them seeking justice for me in this way. Even if I have to bear this infamy until death, I've never thought of rebelling...You, you must believe me. Hui Rong! Hui Rong! I don't want my innocence anymore! Stop!"
Hui Rong was not in the courtyard; he was isolated in a more secluded area.
Zhou Mujiao was taken aback for a moment before realizing what was going on, and said sarcastically, "They won't stop. They call you their master, but who knows how many things they've been deceiving you. I've known my grandmother for many years now. Since they're determined to rebel, they'll naturally pay attention to everything, big and small, within the Great Liang territory. Besides, Uncle Jiang Wuyu is with my grandmother. Even if they can't confirm that she's my maternal grandmother, they would at least mention it to you. It's just a pity that you know nothing about it. They haven't even told you that the court has already exonerated the Li family."
Li Tian froze.
"After being a tool for twenty years, do you regret it, Grandfather?"
The word "grandfather" caused Li Tian to completely break down. He first covered his face with his hands, then burst into tears, but not a single tear came out.
Twenty years! Twenty years!
His wife is alive! His daughter is alive! Yet he was deceived by those people, coerced by the debt of being saved, and left to live like a walking corpse in this place called paradise. He missed everything! Everything!
Anger, regret, and resentment surged up simultaneously, soon engulfing him. He exuded a heavy aura of death, while at the same time, a murderous aura broke free from the layers of deathly aura and enveloped him.
"Huirong! I'm going to kill you!!!"
However, the old man's murderous aura could only be maintained in the courtyard. As he accidentally fell, the murderous aura quickly dissipated.
Twenty years ago, he could have killed not only Hui Rong, but the entire group of people without any problem! Before becoming the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, he had killed countless enemies in the military camp!
But now, he is powerless even to kill the person who fooled him!
Zhou Mujiao and Zhao Yunjing helped him to the back of the desk, one on each side. Zhou Mujiao looked into his eyes and said, "Grandfather, tell me everything you know, and I'll take you out. Who is Huirong? When did you meet him? Where did he come from? You didn't know about his connection with the Huji Mountain tribe..."
This Li Tian was quite a character. Despite his volatile emotions and the barrage of questions from Zhou Mujiao, he remained calm and composed within moments. He recounted everything he knew, concluding, "I've known for a long time that Hui Rong is from the Hu Ji Mountain tribe. However, back then, General Meng got lost in Hu Ji Mountain and nearly perished there. It was Hui Rong who gave him directions and then assisted him from within, which is how they managed to subdue Hu Ji Mountain."
“But according to General Meng, the person who gave him directions that night looked very much like you, but the age didn’t match.”
The person who resembles Li Tian can only be a descendant of the Li family. Li Tian had two sons and a daughter. His daughter disappeared before the emperor's verdict. One of his sons was exiled and the other was sent to the army. According to Hui Rong, the eldest son, who was exiled three thousand miles away, died less than three months after arriving at his new home. The second son, who was sent to the army, was well-read but could not lift a finger. He went to the battlefield as soon as he joined the army and died on the spot.
At the foot of Nanshan Mountain, there are still cenotaphs for the two of them. He goes to see them every day and talks to his sons and wife. Now his wife is alive, and his two sons may also be alive!
But if they are still alive, which son of the Li family appeared in Huji Mountain?
"General Meng and Hui Rong, one of them must be lying."
Li Tian sat there in silence for a long time before having someone call Hui Rong in. Hui Rong glanced at Zhou Mujiao and called out, "Master."
Li Tian then asked, "Hui Rong, how long have we known each other?"
"It's probably been fifty years."
"Yes, fifty years. How many fifty years does one have in a lifetime? I have always considered you my dearest friend."
"master--"
“Your master is not me.” Li Tian closed his eyes, then opened them again. “It is Li Ming.”
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