Chapter 501 "Father, just pretend... pretend we're all dead."
(Thanks to the emerald green Ding Gongteng for casting 5 monthly votes.)
It was a sunny day. Li Shigui led Li Wangtian to the back courtyard of the Prince's Mansion and stopped in front of a side gate.
He went up and knocked on the door, gave the old woman guarding the door a handful of copper coins, and told her his name. The old woman quickly took the copper coins and let him through the door.
However, the old woman instructed Li Shigui and Li Wangtian: "The princess is kind-hearted and considerate of the ladies living in the courtyard, which is why her family members can come in to see her every month."
However, at most 15 minutes is enough to see that everyone is safe and sound; don't delay!
Li Shigui nodded in agreement with the old woman's words, and he and Li Wangtian silently followed the maid leading the way inside.
After walking around in a winding path for quite a while, the maid led the two to a narrow doorway.
Li Shigui stepped forward and knocked on the door. After waiting for a couple of moments, the gate opened a crack, revealing half of a pale and beautiful face—it was Li Chunli!
Li Wangtian suddenly stepped forward and pulled Li Shigui aside, who was blocking his way. He called out to the little face peeking out from the crack in the door, "Li Jie'er! Li Jie'er, it's your father! Your father has come to see you!"
Li Chunli suddenly flung open the door and saw Li Wangtian behind it, his head covered in white hair, looking as aged as an old man in his twilight years. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Large, glistening tears slid down Li Chunli's cheeks, and her tears flowed down her cheeks and onto the baby Fu Ge'er she was holding in her arms;
Behind Li Chunli, a timid little girl was hiding.
It's a cat!
"Father! Father!"
"Hey! Hey! It's Father! Father's here!"
The father and daughter embraced and wept bitterly.
Li Shigui looked at Fu Ge'er, whom Li Chunli had just handed to him, and then at the cat standing beside his legs. In the end, he could only sigh and call the father and daughter, who were crying bitterly, to come inside first.
Li Wangtian felt his daughter's tears soaking through his clothes on his shoulder, so hot, as if they were about to leave a mark on his heart.
Despite the cold winter months, the group eventually went inside.
"Dad, this is Mao'er, he's six years old; this is Fu Ge'er, he's four years old."
While wiping away her tears, Li Chunli introduced her two children to Li Wangtian.
Cat curiously sized up Li Wangtian, who had a full head of white hair, while Fu Ge'er, timid as ever, hid behind Li Chunli.
With only a quarter of an hour left, the father and daughter didn't have time to say much, only briefly chatting about their lives over the past eight years before the time was up.
However, Li Chunli and Li Wangtian both tacitly avoided mentioning Qin Tao.
Just as Li Wangtian was about to ask a few more questions, Li Chunli's gaze drifted toward the door.
"Father, it's time."
Li Shigui appeared at the doorway at some point, his voice eerily calm as he said, "The stewards arranged by the Prince's Mansion will arrive at any time. We should go."
Li Wangtian's heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, making him feel a sharp pain in his chest, as if he couldn't breathe.
He reached out to pat Fu Ge'er's head, but Fu Ge'er hid behind Li Chunli again.
"Let's go, Father."
Li Chunli turned her face away, her voice trembling as she said, "It is your unfilial daughter!"
"Father, you, you just have to pretend... you never had a daughter like me!"
Li Chunli saw Li Wangtian off at the courtyard gate and resolutely closed the narrow door behind her.
As dusk fell, Li Shigui escorted Li Wangtian back to the inn.
On the road, the father and son walked one after the other, their shadows stretching long on the snow.
"That silk merchant..."
Li Wangtian finally broke the silence between father and son, "Is he good to your mother?"
Li Shigui paused for a moment, then continued walking forward at a leisurely pace, responding to Li Wangtian's words as he went.
He has been married twice and has five daughters, so he wants a son.
He treats his mother very well.
The Chen residence was filled with servants and maids, and even had a midwife specially hired to ensure that Mother could give birth to this child safely.
"He...he even paid for your schooling?"
Li Shigui was surprised that Li Wangtian would ask him about his studies.
He was surprised but still replied, "After I left the prefectural school, he spent money and used his connections to get me into the Chen Family Academy."
Li Shigui's voice carried an emotion that Li Wangtian couldn't understand.
The lanterns along the street lit up one after another, illuminating the way the two were heading to the inn.
"Father," as they approached the inn, Li Shigui suddenly stopped, turned around, stared at Li Wangtian, and said to him, word by word, "From now on, listen to your mother and go back to Youzhou. Don't come looking for us again."
Li Wangtian stood frozen in place, feeling as if his heart had stopped beating!
He couldn't believe that his own son would say such a thing to him!
Perhaps the disappointment on Li Wangtian's face was too obvious, or perhaps Li Shigui still had a trace of fatherly affection deep in his heart;
He was ultimately a little guilty, so he lowered his head and dared not look Li Wangtian in the eyes anymore.
“My mother has a new home, and I’m going to take the imperial examination next year. My mother-in-law also has to take care of two children.”
Li Shigui's voice was soft, but every word was like a knife, "Father, just pretend... pretend we're all dead."
We've arrived at the inn.
Li Shigui suddenly pulled a purse out of his chest and, ignoring Li Wangtian's gaze, stuffed it into Li Wangtian's hand.
Then he said to Li Wangtian very quickly, "Take this silver. When the sea opens next year, you can go back to Youzhou."
Otherwise, Mother, Mother is truly capable of anything!
After saying this, Li Shigui left without even looking up.
He walked extremely fast, as if wolves and tigers were chasing him, and he hurried away as if fleeing for his life.
In just a few breaths, Li Wangtian, who was standing at the entrance of the inn, could no longer see him.
Only the purse in Li Wangtian's hand, still slightly warm from his body, proved that his son, Li Shigui, had been standing in front of him just moments before.
Upon entering the inn, Li Wangtian spent an extra copper coin tonight to get himself a single room.
With a loud "bang!", Li Wangtian slammed his fist against the wall, blood seeping from his fingertips, but he felt no pain at all.
Eight years! He went to the battlefield and lost a leg, but he still wanted to live well, just so he could see his family again!
But they don't want him anymore!
They don't want him anymore!
They all despise him!
How dare they?
How dare you!
Li Wangtian grabbed the teapot on the table and smashed it on the ground, scattering shards of porcelain everywhere.
He overturned the stool and ripped off the bed curtains, as if he wanted to vent all the grievances he had accumulated over the past few days.
Finally, he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the tear tracks on his face.
As dawn broke, Li Wangtian carried his bundle to pay for the teapot he had broken and to settle his lodging bill for the past few days.
After asking for directions, he left the inn.
He had thought about dying, but he hadn't yet fulfilled Li Wangzheng's request!
He can't die yet!
He's going to Lijiatun!
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