Chapter 34 You are the best in the world
The one who called for help was a servant of the Liu family. His young master was Liu Min, and his master was Liu Shen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Liu Shen has not returned to Pingcheng for many years.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is a high-ranking official of the third rank, with heavy responsibilities and numerous tasks.
The last time he returned home was four years ago, the 20th anniversary of his father's death. The time before that was even further back, ten years ago, when he was ranked third in the imperial examinations and appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, and was granted leave to return home to visit his family.
I wonder what brought them back this time.
It was clearly nothing serious.
Inside the carriage, Liu Min remained silent, his face taut. Shan Lai, perceptive of his expression, also kept his head down and remained silent. Only Zhang Yi, oblivious to the situation, chattered incessantly, praising Liu Min's bravery on the Returning Terrace. Liu Min ignored him, so Zhang Yi turned to Shan Lai, praising her painting and inviting her to his home. As they spoke, he suddenly grabbed Shan Lai's hand, exclaiming in astonishment, "Such delicate hands! They're just like the hands of my sisters..."
Shan Lai was startled and flinched. After realizing what had happened, he hurriedly tried to pull his hand away, but he was no match for Shan Lai's strength and failed to do so.
Just when things were at a loss, Liu Min suddenly sprang up from the side and rushed straight at Zhang Yi.
A series of screams rang out as Zhang Yi was thrown off the carriage.
Shanlai was so frightened that he couldn't say a word.
What exactly happened?
As soon as Liu Min entered Fuzetang, Old Madam Qin saw the injury on his face, stood up abruptly, and walked straight toward him. The person sitting next to her also stood up.
"Good heavens! What's going on?!"
Liu Min remained silent.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You're driving me crazy!" Old Madam Qin was both anxious and angry, shouting outside, "Who went out with you today! Get back inside right now!"
The old woman was about to leave after receiving the order when Liu Min spoke up, his voice low, "Don't call them anymore, it has nothing to do with them." After saying this, he bowed to the person behind Old Madam Qin, "Greetings, Master."
Liu Shen frowned, remaining motionless and silent.
Liu Shen is thirty-one years old this year. After all, he is a man who can be ranked third in the imperial examination. He is in his prime, with outstanding demeanor like a snow-covered mountain, aloof and otherworldly, solemn and radiant.
Although they had only met a few times, the bond between them was unforgettable.
Liu Shenxian exclaimed and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
After a moment of silence, Liu Min replied, "I lost my temper and got into a fight with someone outside. I now know I was wrong and will never do it again. I beg the old lady and the master to forgive me and spare me this time."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Qin exclaimed, "Weren't you going to the academy? How did you get into a fight? And with whom?"
“He went to the academy, and the fight happened there. He did something injustice, and I couldn’t help myself.” He added, “It was just a stumble; he didn’t even break the skin. It’s nothing serious. Grandma, don’t worry.”
How could Old Madam Qin not be worried? She held his face in her hands, looking at him from all angles, her heart aching more and more as she looked at him. She kept calling out "my darling," and later, the pain was so intense that her heart went numb and she could hardly breathe. She urgently asked someone to bring her some Xiaoyao pills.
While calling for a doctor, Ru Hui and two others helped Old Madam Qin back into her armchair. As soon as she sat down, a maid brought the medicine, and an old woman brought warm water. The group of people helped her feed the pills.
Liu Shen stood respectfully to one side, bowing. He was a composed man who had held a high position for many years and was used to remaining calm and collected. At this moment, he still maintained a serene demeanor, at most with a furrowed brow.
Liu Min, however, was different. He was so anxious that he could hardly stand. He grabbed Madam Qin's sleeve and called out to her repeatedly. He felt cold and hot all at once, and his head was covered in cold sweat.
Liu Shen frowned upon seeing this.
"What are you shouting for? What kind of behavior is this? You unfilial descendants, causing your grandmother such trouble! Kneel down now!"
Liu Min shut his mouth and knelt down in front of the armchair.
After recovering, Madam Qin quickly helped Liu Min up, held him in her arms, and frowned as she said to Liu Shen, "Don't scare him!" She then asked the maid for some medicated oil to apply to Liu Min's wounds to help them heal.
The medicated oil had been prepared long ago; upon receiving the order, I hurriedly delivered it.
The two maids carefully applied the medicated oil to Liu Min, who kept his head down and remained silent.
After giving a few instructions, Madam Qin turned to her son and said, "Liansi is a good child. All the mistakes are my fault. I know I have shortcomings, which is why I called you back. If you take him away, teach him to correct any dissatisfaction he may have. As long as you are gentle, I will have nothing to say."
Liu Shen hurriedly said he dared not.
Liu Min was stunned. His ears were ringing and his mind was in turmoil. It took him a long time to recover. When he did, he looked at his grandmother and asked blankly, "What did you just say, Grandma?" Was it what he thought she meant?
Just as he thought, Liu Shen's return this time was exactly as Old Madam Qin wished, to bring him to the capital.
Liu Shen's current wife, the only daughter of the Yue family of Leyuan, suffered a difficult childbirth, damaging her health and leaving her with only one daughter. Every woman who loves her husband desires a lifelong commitment to him, and Lady Yue had finally achieved her wish to become Liu Shen's wife; how could she possibly tolerate another? Fortunately, she had a son from her previous marriage. Initially, she felt immense resentment and bitterness at being a stepmother, even wishing the child would die of illness. But when she herself fell ill, she felt fortunate to have this child, ensuring the continuation of the family line and preventing her from having to reluctantly allow her husband to take a concubine.
From then on, the thorns in the meat became a hot commodity.
When she said she wanted to bring her child to live with her and raise him/her in her early years, she meant it sincerely, not pretending.
Madam Le had thought it through. She knew she couldn't have any more children, and she wouldn't allow anyone else to have her husband's children. So, she was destined to have only one son. If she didn't rely on him, who else could she rely on? If she took him in and treated him well, she wouldn't have to worry about him not becoming acquainted with her. If she didn't take him in, and they remained estranged, that would be a real problem!
Liu Shen himself wanted to bring Liu Min under his wing and raise him personally. This had nothing to do with the matter of his second wife. He himself had grown up without a father and knew the suffering that came with it. How could he want his own child to suffer the same fate? Besides, Liu Min had a mother back then.
However, the trip did not take place.
Madam Qin was unwilling.
Because of hatred, and also because of guilt.
When rumors of Madam Le's affair with Liu Shen surfaced, Liu Shen was already married. Old Madam Qin therefore considered Madam Le morally flawed and distrustful, and how could she entrust her grandson to such a person? That was the child her good daughter-in-law had risked her life to give birth to, a poor orphan. She wanted to treat him with utmost care and never let him suffer the slightest grievance. She trusted no one but herself, so naturally, she raised him herself. She didn't want to go to the capital with her son because she didn't want to live under the same roof as his new wife. She couldn't stop her son from remarrying; he was only twenty-one, and she couldn't let him spend the rest of his life as a monk. But marrying such a morally questionable woman, even if she entered the family and had a child, she would still disown her and show her no respect. Li Zhaohua, the daughter-in-law she had chosen at first sight, a pitiful woman, died for her grandson. She and her son couldn't say they bore no responsibility for her death. If she didn't stand up for her and save face, how could she face her? How could she sleep at night?
Therefore, Liu Min stayed in Pingcheng.
We can't keep them now; we can't keep them any longer.
Once a child grows up and his personality is formed, it's hard to change him. In the end, he still has to rely on his father. What can an old woman like her give him? She has to send him to his father's side so that father and son can get along well and be filial to each other from now on.
She's old, and she knows her own body. She doesn't have many years left to live, so she can neither protect him nor hold him back.
Buying Shanlai was also for this reason. She really didn't have much longer to live, and she was afraid that after she was gone, they would mistreat him.
Oh, right.
"Where is Shanlai? Quickly call her over and have her kowtow to the master."
Shanlai arrived quickly.
She had just finished combing her hair when the person who called her arrived.
She was still dressed the same as before: a pale yellow short shirt, a green silk skirt, and a double-looped hairpin with a pearl hairpin.
Upon entering Fuze Hall and seeing Liu Shen, she knew he was the master, because the maid had told her to "kowtow to the master." She immediately knelt down and bowed in turn to pay her respects. She didn't say or do anything extra, and was remarkably calm and composed.
She has a beautiful face and such a good temperament; she was specially summoned by Old Madam Qin, so Liu Shen had to pay close attention to her.
Old Madam Qin quickly called out, then smiled and said to Liu Shen, "This is the person I chose for Lian Si. What do you think? I think she's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Not only is she beautiful, but she can also write and paint. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a talented woman. Lian Si has a painting of peonies by her with an inscription, and it's a poem she wrote. It's also wonderful. I'll show it to you later. She'll be going to the capital with you this time." She added, "She's a good person, so please don't mistreat her."
Liu Shen frowned once again.
He felt that the old lady was truly confused.
It's inappropriate to have someone openly placed next to a ten-year-old child like this; it's not in line with their family tradition.
Madam Qin knew what he was thinking, so she added, "This matter is settled and cannot be changed. If you have anything you don't like to hear, swallow it back now. I don't want to hear it."
What else is there to say?
Liu Shen was a filial son after all, so he didn't say anything and accepted the matter.
Madam Qin went to see Liu Min again, looking at him carefully with gentle and loving eyes. Because she had no regrets, there was no sadness in her eyes.
"Your master is busy and can't stay any longer; he has to leave tomorrow. Don't rush to pack your things; just take the essentials. But don't worry, I'll pack everything carefully for you and send it to you. I guarantee not a single nail will be missing. Rest assured, your master will treat you well over there. You're his only son, so of course he'll treat you well..."
Liu Min was trembling all over, and he couldn't stop sobbing.
"...But what's wrong with me? The old lady wants to kick me out...No, I'll change, I'll definitely change...Old lady..." She hugged Madam Qin's legs and cried uncontrollably.
This made Old Madam Qin cry as well. She pulled him into her arms and hugged him tightly, saying, "How could you not be good? You are the best in the world, no one is as good as you!"
Liu Min cried even louder, "Then why are you sending me away? My roots are with the old lady, how can I leave? Sending me away is like uprooting my roots, it's clearly a death wish!"
Madam Qin had anticipated his behavior and had naturally devised a plan to deal with it.
Once you've made up your mind, you can't change it. No matter how painful it is, you have to endure it.
His face immediately turned cold, and he said, "Talking about death in front of me, is this your way of showing filial piety?"
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