Jiang Shan never expected Fu Qiyuan to visit so late at night.
Such a special person, at such a special time, Jiangshan must be on guard.
Although she was grateful to him for saving Sanlang, his presence did not bring a pleasant experience to either her mother or Sanlang, so it was best to keep her distance.
As Jiang Shan hesitated about whether to open the door, Jiao's mother had already invited him in.
Perhaps it was the chill of the night, but Jiao's mother seemed to be shivering. She didn't bother to dress properly before coming out to see the man; instead, she casually draped her outer robe over herself and didn't comb her hair.
Fu Qiyuan bowed deeply to Jiao's mother, and after a long while, he slowly straightened up.
Jiao's mother had already turned away, her back to him, and remained silent.
Jiang Shan smiled somewhat embarrassedly at Fu Qiyuan and welcomed him into the hall.
"I apologize for visiting so late at night, but I wish to discuss Sanlang's school enrollment with you, young lady," Fu Qiyuan said bluntly.
Jiang Shan was puzzled. "About my Sanlang enrolling in school? Sanlang has already become a student of Master Wu at Qingfeng Academy. Is there anything wrong with that?"
“There is nothing wrong with it! Sanlang is exceptionally intelligent and a rare talent. Master Wu is very pleased!” Fu Qiyuan praised sincerely.
"That's right!" Jiang Shan swung his foot proudly. "Our Sanlang is smart, sensible, and well-behaved. Everyone loves him, flowers bloom for him, and even the gods would be overjoyed to see him!"
Fu Qiyuan didn't speak; his gaze fell on Jiang Shan's slippers.
Despite the freezing weather, she wasn't wearing stockings; a sliver of her jade-like skin, gleaming faintly, was exposed at the heel of her shoes.
As she swayed, her left shoe flew off, revealing her snow-white jade foot to Fu Qiyuan.
Jiang Shan was extremely embarrassed. She was about to get up while holding onto the chair when Fu Qiyuan picked up her shoes, squatted down in front of her, and helped her put them on.
"Your feet... are a little swollen. Have you seen a doctor?" Fu Qiyuan asked, squatting down without moving and staring at Jiang Shan's feet.
Jiang Shan felt like she was on fire. She frantically tried to pull her feet under the chair, saying absentmindedly, "In the later stages of pregnancy, you're a little calcium deficient, so your feet and legs will swell up more and more. It's okay, it's normal."
Fu Qiyuan then sat back down in his chair, picked up the teacup next to him, and took a sip.
"I have come here to persuade Sanlang to go to Yuzhou City to study under a reclusive Confucian scholar. That scholar is also Master Wu's mentor, and his disciples are all over the world. With his personal instruction, Sanlang will surely become a great man!"
Jiang Shan knew very well how rare it was to find a renowned teacher in this world. Although she believed that Sanlang was a promising student, she lacked confidence that he could become a disciple of a great Confucian scholar, especially a reclusive one.
Seemingly sensing Jiang Shan's concerns, Fu Qiyuan smiled and said, "The reason this old gentleman chose to live in seclusion is because a great upheaval occurred in his family many years ago. In a fit of rage, he left the world and chose to live in seclusion. He has almost completely severed all contact with the outside world, and only his youngest disciple knows where he is."
"The youngest disciple is Master Wu? You've already discussed this?" Only now did Jiang Shan realize that Fu Qiyuan wasn't just saying it casually.
Fu Qiyuan said noncommittally, "For Sanlang's future, I hope you can think it through."
Jiang Shan was quite tempted, but she still had many doubts to resolve.
"Young Master Fu has gone to such lengths to plan for Sanlang, I would like to know the reason."
Fu Qiyuan stared intently at Jiang Shanming's pretty face, his words welling up at the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.
"Do you believe in fate?" He found a reason that wasn't too far-fetched and said softly, "When I heard him call me brother, I was very happy. Perhaps we were brothers in a past life."
That was a bit of a stretch. Jiang Shan wanted to ask for clarification, but he noticed that Fu Qiyuan seemed a little downcast, as if he was thinking about something troubling him.
"Ahem... Well, this matter is of great importance. I need to discuss it with my mother and Sanlang before I can make a decision. Perhaps..."
"I promise you!" Jiao's mother's voice suddenly rang out at the door.
"Mother!" Jiang Shan stepped forward anxiously and said, "Let's discuss this with Sanlang first. After all, it's his business, and none of us can make decisions for him."
“I’m his mother, and you’re his sister. We’re both doing this for his future, so why can’t we stand up for him?”
"But he's still so young, and Yuzhou City is 800 miles away. Are you really willing to let him leave his family at such a young age?"
"What's a little hardship? As long as he can make something of himself in the future and become a dragon among men, it's all worth it, no matter how hard or tiring it is!"
"Mother, you should still..."
"This is Mother's decision, it's settled then!"
With Jiao's mother's unusually assertive style, Jiang Shan was powerless to change anything.
My mother seems a bit off; she seems to be holding back her anger, as if she's having a tiff with someone.
As Jiang Shan saw Fu Qiyuan off at the door, he couldn't help but look back.
There was nothing in the courtyard except for the darkness shrouded in night.
Jiao's mother stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the direction Fu Qiyuan had left, unable to look away for a long time.
Sanlang didn't ride in a carriage today; he walked aimlessly down the road, ignoring everyone.
Qiao Sheng drove the carriage beside him, not disturbing him, and accompanied him all the way home.
When they arrived at his doorstep, Sanlang refused to go inside and stood there wiping away tears.
Jiang Shan stood in the courtyard, the siblings facing each other in silence.
Judging from this, Master Wu must have spoken with Sanlang, and he must know that his mother has agreed to send him to Yuzhou to study under a master.
Jiang Shan's original intention was to wait until Sanlang was a little older, three to five years later, before he could become an apprentice. But this time, his mother was determined and single-mindedly wanted Sanlang to make a name for himself and bring glory to the family.
Unable to persuade her mother, she could only try to enlighten Sanlang.
"Aren't you coming in yet? I've been waiting for you for ages, my back hurts!"
Saburo sniffed, but still went inside.
The siblings sat side by side on Jiangshan's bed, neither of them speaking first.
After a while, Jiang Shan asked, "Do you hate your mother?"
Saburo paused for a second, then shook his head. "I don't hate him."
"Is it because you resent your sister?"
Saburo shook his head decisively.
"Is it the fault of Young Master Fu and Master Wu?"
Saburo continued to shake his head.
"If you don't hate or resent, then why are you crying?"
Sanlang pouted and cried pitifully, "I can't bear to leave my mother and sister, and my little nephew! I can't bear to leave my teacher and mistress, my senior brothers and sisters, I can't bear to leave you all... Waaah..."
"You're so upset about just a short separation. What would you do if we were separated by death? Would you give up on life? A man should be strong and self-reliant. You have your own path to walk, and your mother and sister also have our own paths to walk. We can't be with you forever!"
"But I'm still so young! My brother was already sixteen when he left home!" Sanlang cried even harder. He was only six years old, not even seven!
That makes sense; Jiang Shan can't fool Sanlang, so he's decided to unleash his ultimate move.
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