In the study of the Minister's residence, the same scene unfolded, but now it was the father and son speaking.
“Father, I don’t want to enter the court; I want to be a local official.” This was the first time Fu Qiyuan explicitly expressed the word “I want” to Fu Ting, the Minister of Works.
From the moment he was rescued and opened his eyes from his dazed state, he appeared indifferent and calm towards everything in this unfamiliar environment, as if everything was an illusion, he didn't care about anything, and he could give up anything.
Fu Ting knew that his son had suddenly lost all his memories, and everything in his mind was forcibly given to him by others, without even a chance to refuse. If it weren't for the fact that the father and son looked five parts alike, he probably would have had a hard time accepting him as his father.
"Why would you think that? Did something happen on your trip to Yuzhou?" Fu Ting asked noncommittally.
"I have no interest in politics; I only want to do something for the local people," Fu Qiyuan said, offering a perfectly valid reason.
“Serving as an official in the court can also serve the country and the people. The greater the power, the more you can do for the people.” Fu Ting refuted his son’s excuse with a few words.
"Perhaps Father is right," Fu Qiyuan said, not entirely sincerely.
After a brief silence, Fu Qiyuan suddenly asked wearily, "Father, now that you hold a high position, do you have any regrets? If you could choose again, would you still allow those regrets to happen?"
Fu Ting felt a slight ripple stir in the coldest, hardest part of his heart, as if it had been struck hard.
After a long silence, Fu Ting asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Fu Qiyuan smiled slightly, met his father's eyes, and said slowly and deliberately, "Guyang County! The magistrate of Guyang County should have had a good performance evaluation last year. He has been in that place long enough. If Father can help him move up, I will be eternally grateful!"
Fu Ting's eyes, which were exactly like Fu Qiyuan's, narrowed slightly. "Have you found out something?"
Fu Qiyuan laughed heartily, "Father, don't worry. What I should know and what I shouldn't know, I will know sooner or later. Even if that happens, it won't affect you, will it?"
"Yuan'er, I'm just worried about you. You are now a disciple of the Emperor, and you can't let anyone hold any leverage over you!"
"Handle?" Fu Qiyuan's cold eyes flashed with anger. "In Father's eyes, those who raised me to adulthood will become my handle? Does that mean I can assume that, if I so choose, I can abandon all the burdens and shackles of the Minister's Mansion at any time and live a carefree life?"
Fu Ting closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "You should know that I do not object to you going back to fulfill your filial duties. It's just that your mother is stubborn and now values your future more than her own life. If she finds out about your decision, things will not end well."
"Therefore, a child needs his father's support."
Fu Qiyuan stared at his father, who seemed to be in deep meditation, and suddenly had a strange feeling. Over the years, his father had probably been dealing with the problems between him and his mother in this way.
Fu Ting opened his eyes and glanced at his son, saying, "After March, officials from all walks of life will come to the palace to report on their duties. I will make arrangements after I have met with the Prefect of Yuzhou."
There is an ancient temple on the outskirts of Yuzhou City. The temple is close to the official road, and many vehicles traveling to and from the city will stay overnight at the temple before entering the city.
Yuan Wen and Qiao Sheng dared not waste too much time, nor could they disregard Sanlang's health. It took them four days to reach the outskirts of Yuzhou City. They wanted to rest at a temple, but there were too many people, so they could only rest briefly in a grove of trees near the main road.
And then, this scene unfolded before our eyes.
In the woods, an old man and a child squatted face to face. You fed me a sip of water, I fed you a piece of bread, you wiped my sweat, and I massaged my legs.
Yuan Wen stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, watching. The old man was just an ordinary countryman, nothing to worry about, so he listened to their idle chatter.
"Grandpa, does your leg still hurt? Let me massage it for you again!"
"It doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore. You can sit down and rest for a bit, and have a couple more sips of tea."
"Grandpa, your chrysanthemum tea is so delicious! Have another cupcake, it smells amazing!"
"Oh, okay, okay, hehe!"
The old man and the young man ate and drank, looking quite content.
After a while, the old man helped the young man tighten the fur collar around his neck and moved him slightly to block a gust of cold wind.
The younger one took two more pieces of candy from his pocket, put one into the older one's mouth, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled innocently.
Qiao Sheng was urging them on, and Yuan Wenchao waved to Sanlang, indicating that it was time to get going.
Sanlang quickly helped the old man up and led him out of the woods.
"Brother Yuan, I found an old man who can't walk anymore. Let's take him home!"
What else could Yuan say? They'd already formed a friendship where they'd shared a piece of cake; could he really refuse?
Qiao Sheng had no objections; the two of them made all the decisions along the way, and he was only responsible for driving.
The old man felt very bad and asked them where they were going and whether it would delay their business.
Sanlang paused for a moment, then looked at Yuan Wen. If he remembered correctly, that place couldn't be told to anyone, otherwise it would disturb the master's peace and cause trouble.
"Grandpa, I've come to Yuzhou City to study, but I don't know if the teachers will accept me. We'll stay here for a while, and I'll come to visit you when I have time, bringing you some delicious food!"
"Good, good, good!" The old man nodded happily.
As the carriage entered Yuzhou City, the bustling and vibrant scene dazzled Sanlang, leaving him overwhelmed with sights.
He opened his mouth wide, his little mouth uttering a silent gasp of amazement, unlike other children who would scream with excitement.
The old man, observing Sanlang's expression, chuckled and asked, "Is it beautiful? How is it different from Guyang County?"
Sanlang was still preoccupied and therefore failed to notice the problem in the old man's words, nodding obediently: "It's beautiful! More lively than Guyang County!"
"Do you like it here? Would you like to stay here forever?" the old man asked again.
“I like it, but I’m only studying here. I still have to go home after I finish my studies! My mother and sister are still at home, and I have to go back!” Sanlang said this to the old man with a very serious expression.
"A good man should aspire to travel far and wide. Don't you want to complete your studies and realize your lofty ambitions?"
Sanlang struggled to understand the old man's words, pursed his lips, and said, "If I can't take care of my mother and sister, I'm not a good son to my mother, nor a good brother to my sister."
The old man laughed heartily, patting Sanlang's little head and nodding repeatedly.
After the carriage wound its way through the city of Yuzhou, it suddenly emerged from the bustling city into a pastoral spring scene. Further on, a unique bamboo house came into view.
Yuan Wen peeked out and saw three inconspicuous characters, "Xunmei Zhai," carved above the bamboo house's door. The more he looked at it, the more something seemed off.
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