Chapter 63 Demanding the Name Back Mu Han seemed to pause for a moment, then his pen...
*
Just before the city gates were about to close, a carriage emerged from the back gate of the Yu residence and soon drove away from Chongde Lane.
People came and went in the alley, and every now and then someone would point and whisper about the Yu family's recent events. From the rumors about the real and fake heiress to the gossip circulating outside, it was all the subject of people's gossip.
"I heard that Madam Yu wants to divorce Lord Yu, but I don't know if it's true or not?"
"It's no big deal. Everyone knows that Lord Yu is a man of integrity. Perhaps that Miss Fang is just trying to frame him. Lord Yu hasn't taken any concubines or maids all these years. Which of us doesn't envy Madam Yu? I suppose Madam Yu is a woman who knows how lucky she is. She didn't make a big fuss when her daughter was switched. Why would she want a divorce over something like this?"
"That's true."
The two gossiping people were not servants from another household; judging from their clothes and appearance, they looked like masters.
Although few of the families living in this alley were high-ranking officials or noble clans, they were still respectable people of status. Every family had several concubines, mistresses, and illegitimate children. In their eyes, Shen Linlang was already blessed to have no worries about these people.
Behind the half-closed door, Shen Linlang's face was full of shame.
"Ali, it's all my fault. I should have confronted them after I found out you were switched..."
Behind her stood Shen Qinglu.
There was no resentment in Shen Qinglu's eyes. "Mother, I don't blame you. You married Father because you loved him. And now you're choosing to divorce him because you're disappointed in him. Marriage is all about your own feelings, not about others, and that's good."
Shen Linlang was deeply shocked. She never expected her daughter to say such things, which were so similar to what her mother had said to her many years ago.
At that time, she insisted on marrying Yu Zhiheng, and her mother could not dissuade her, so she finally agreed.
"Linlang, this marriage is your own choice. Although I don't approve of it, I think it's a decision you made from the heart, so perhaps it's not a bad thing."
Touched, she hugged Shen Qinglu tightly. "Ali, I have never wronged anyone in my life except you. If you want to take the surname Shen, then take the surname Shen. I will have the plaque changed tomorrow and renamed it Shen Mansion."
"Mother, I just want to take your surname."
In Shen Qing's dark green eyes, there was a joy she had never felt since she transmigrated.
Perhaps this was all predestined; her adoptive mother in her past life and her biological mother in this life both bore the surname Chen. To be reborn and still bear the surname Chen—how could she not be happy?
But her happiness doesn't mean everyone else is happy too.
For example, Yu Jingxian.
Of course, the matter of changing the family name was something that couldn't be avoided by him and his brother Yu Jingliang. Yu Jingliang was very supportive of this, and even wanted to change his surname along with Shen Qinglu.
"I have lived in the General's Mansion for many years, where I was taught by my uncle and cared for by my aunt. It would be appropriate for me to change my surname to Shen."
His words were yet another lash out at Shen Linlang for all those years.
Shen Linlang's heart aches terribly just thinking about how she abandoned her own child to take care of someone else's daughter, leaving her own daughter to suffer right under her nose.
That is why the pain of divorce seems somewhat insignificant.
"Since that's the case, then..."
"Mother, this is absolutely unacceptable!" Yu Jingxian said urgently, "It's one thing for Ali to change his surname to Chen, but Erlang and I are both sons of the Yu family, how can we change our surname to Chen?"
"Brother, if you don't want to change your surname, that's your business. I'm determined to change it."
Over the years, Yu Jingliang harbored resentment towards Shen Linlang, but his resentment towards Yu Zhiheng was even greater.
In truth, Yu Zhiheng did nothing wrong. Apart from occasionally mentioning and criticizing his son's decision to pursue martial arts over literature, he was otherwise quite alright. It was precisely because the father was indifferent to his son that the son was even more furious.
"Erlang, stop fooling around!" Yu Jingxian put on a stern face and adopted the posture of an elder brother.
With his father gone, and his elder brother acting as the father, he believed that he should be the head of the family now.
"Mother, you can't do as Erlang says. If word gets out, won't people laugh at us? And what about that plaque outside? Why change it when it's perfectly fine? If it's really changed to 'Shen Mansion,' how will people view me? How will I ever be able to hold my head up again?"
"Is it a joke for a child to take his mother's surname?" Yu Jingliang retorted irritably. "Brother, don't forget, this house is Mother's dowry, so naturally it takes her surname. There's absolutely no reason for it to be called the Yu family mansion!"
"I am the eldest son in the family, and the eldest son is the most important. My surname is Yu, so this house should belong to the Yu family!"
"Your mother is still alive; it's not your place to make the decisions in this family!"
The two brothers have never been close, and they haven't lived together in recent years; they are practically strangers.
Because of the order of seniority, Yu Zhiheng and Shen Linlang valued Yu Jingxian, their eldest son, more. Therefore, even if Yu Jingliang was dissatisfied, he rarely clashed with him face to face.
This is the first time we've seen such a head-on confrontation.
As Shen Linlang listened to their argument, she felt increasingly pathetic.
Not long ago, she thought she had a loving marriage, harmonious children, and no problems in her family. Now it seems she was really wrong.
She was distressed, disappointed, and filled with self-blame, her face full of bitterness.
Shen Qinglu's dark, eternal gaze coldly fixed on the self-righteous Yu Jingxian.
“Mother is a woman, how can she make such a decision? I am the eldest son…”
"Mother, I don't want to be surnamed Chen anymore." Her eyes were glistening with tears, and her bright red face was full of sadness. "Second brother, don't fight with eldest brother anymore."
After saying that, she turned her face away and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. As she did so, something came out with it. The thing was light and floated in the air for a few moments before falling to the ground.
"Ah Li, what's this?" Yu Jingliang asked, helping her pick up the item. He recognized the talisman and his expression changed. "How did you get this?"
The house-protecting talismans from Da Xuan Kong Temple are quite famous, and many families will ask for them to ward off evil spirits after a new house is built. However, if you ask for them at other times or use them in other places, they are mostly used for exorcising evil spirits.
She took the item, feigning ignorance, "I don't know what it is either. I found it outside my room this morning. Second brother, what is this?"
Shen Linlang and Yu Jingxian both changed their expressions.
One looked fierce because of the sudden appearance of such a thing in the house, while the other felt guilty because of his carelessness.
“This is an exorcism talisman. How could such a thing be in the manor? And it’s placed outside Ali’s door,” Yu Jingliang frowned. “Who is playing tricks on us?”
"Second brother, is this thing inappropriate?" Shen Qinglu seemed startled, her face turning pale instantly. "I found the writing on it quite unusual, so I put it away..."
As she spoke, she deliberately unfolded the talisman.
Yu Jingliang exclaimed in surprise, "This...this is actually a house-protecting talisman personally drawn by Master Tanyi. Ordinary people can't get one like this!"
"Mother wasn't home yesterday, and you came back late, so it was just my eldest brother and me at home..." She spoke softer and softer, as if she was afraid of something, and glanced timidly at Yu Jingxian.
Yu Jingxian felt increasingly guilty, and even with his head half-lowered, his unease was still palpable.
Others might not notice, but Shen Linlang valued him the most and naturally noticed his strange behavior. Her voice even carried a hint of sternness as she asked, "Big Brother, what exactly is going on with this talisman?"
"I...I don't know, maybe...maybe..." Yu Jingxian stammered for a long time, unable to find a suitable excuse or anyone to use as a shield, and his face turned red with anxiety.
Of course, the bigger reason is a guilty conscience.
"Mother, please don't ask about my eldest brother anymore." Shen Qinglu's eyes reddened again, her dark, jade-like eyes brimming with tears that rolled down her cheeks in large drops. "I know my eldest brother doesn't want to acknowledge me as his sister. He only has eyes for Sister Tang'er. He can't bear to let Sister Tang'er go. Yesterday, when Sister Tang'er was leaving, they were still talking together..."
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingxian was greatly alarmed.
“I…we’ve been siblings for many years, and she’s about to leave, so there’s nothing wrong with me talking to her.”
"Did Ali say anything inappropriate about you?" Shen Linlang could easily see through his guilty conscience. At the same time, she felt disappointed and upset, partly because of him and partly because of Yu Liuzhu.
"Eldest brother, as the eldest brother, your primary responsibility is to protect your younger siblings. Second brother is skilled and clever, so you don't need to worry about him too much. However, your sister has just recovered, so you should take good care of her and not listen to the nonsense of others, lest you develop a sense of unease towards your own sister."
“My son has remembered.”
"Alright, then it's settled about changing the surname."
Shen Linlang dismissed the two brothers and helped Shen Qinglu down.
Shen Qinglu was still crying, "Mother, don't blame my eldest brother. It's understandable that he doesn't like me. I'm just a little sad. I don't know what Sister Tang'er said to him. How could he treat me like something unclean..."
"A-Li!" Shen Linlang's heart was breaking. "It's all my fault. I didn't teach them well."
“Mother, I had a dream last night. I dreamt that I went back to the place I used to be and became A-Zhu again.”
Shen Linlang's heart tightened, and she hugged her tightly. "You're back. You're not A'Zhu. You're your mother's daughter."
"I am my mother's daughter, I will never go back." Through the half-open window, she looked at the mimosa tree in the yard, which had been dormant for a whole winter and seemed to have died once.
Every year new green shoots emerge, but the branches and leaves are different. The dead her is herself, but not the person she is now, so she cannot go back.
"Mother, did you name Tang'er? Liu Zhu, it's such a beautiful name. Is it because you heard someone call me A Zhu in your dream?"
"That's exactly right."
"So, in that case, her name is mine too."
The voice sounded soft and aggrieved, yet it was like a knife piercing the heart, causing Shen Linlang to feel a pang of heartache and secretly blame herself.
After a long pause, he said, "Your name is no longer suitable for her to use."
*
As dusk falls, the temple bell tolls deep and resonant.
The bell tolled for a long time, startling the birds in the bamboo grove, which fluttered into the air. The newly sprouted buds changed every day; those that had just emerged the night before had now grown to over an inch in length.
Before Yu Liuzhu even approached the bamboo grove, a monk suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked her path.
"This is a forbidden area of the temple. Please turn back, benefactor."
"That's forbidden territory, how could it be? I went there last time."
"The growth of all things is the will of Heaven. Every year when the new bamboo shoots sprout in the forest, this area is closed off."
Yu Liuzhu, unwilling to give up, asked, "I have a friend who stayed there a few days ago. I wonder if he's still there?"
The monk shook his head. "Not here."
Yu Liuzhu was disappointed and returned empty-handed.
Upon returning to their lodgings, before even entering the door, they heard Yu Qingxue complaining, "This house is so damp, how can anyone live here? I don't know what Tang'er was thinking, insisting on living here."
According to her, she should either go to the Fang family or rent a house on her own; either way, it would be better than living here.
“If you don’t want to stay, you can leave now.” Yu Liuzhu showed her not a shred of the respect a daughter should have for her mother.
She seemed to enjoy being spoken to coldly by Yu Liuzhu, as if this was the kind of Yu Liuzhu she expected and hoped for in her daughter. She even went so far as to fawn over her, placing herself in a subservient position.
“I’m not afraid of making you feel uncomfortable. How can you live in a place like this? It would be beneath your dignity.”
"What is my identity?" Yu Liuzhu narrowed his eyes and walked towards her step by step. "Tell me, is all of this your conspiracy? You just want to break up my parents and let Ali replace me? Isn't that right?"
"I..." She was a little scared and instinctively covered her face. "Tang'er, I fainted right after giving birth. I don't know anything..."
Yu Liuzhu cursed the fool inwardly, but changed her expression, "Aunt, I know you're good to me. I have nothing left now, you must help me."
"Tang'er, don't worry, your mother... your aunt will definitely help you and make you a person of high status."
As she was speaking, she suddenly saw someone outside and exclaimed, "Dengzhi?"
Dengzhi didn't sneak in; he came to deliver a message.
"Young lady, the madam wishes to see you."
Upon hearing that Shen Linlang wanted to see her, Yu Liuzhu was overjoyed and glanced at Dengzhi discreetly. Dengzhi gently shook her head at her, and she nodded slightly in response.
It was already dark, and the streetlights were just coming on.
When she stepped into the familiar place again, her feelings were even more complicated than when she was reborn.
The lanterns under the eaves of the main courtyard were lit early, one symbolizing peace and the other family harmony. Standing guard outside the door were Yinping and Baokui, both familiar faces to her.
But she was no longer the hostess here; she was a guest.
Not only was Shen Linlang in the room, but Shen Qinglu was also there.
The mother and daughter were talking about something. The mother's gaze was gentle, her face full of patience, and her eyes and brows revealed the kindness of a mother. The daughter was dressed in fiery red, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, and the pear blossom ornament on her forehead was especially beautiful. Every smile and frown exuded the nobility nurtured in a life of luxury.
In a daze, the misplaced lives of people came to mind one by one.
"Sister Tang'er is here." Shen Qinglu looked over, her smile barely reaching her eyes.
Looking at the child she had raised for over a decade, Shen Linlang had a complex expression on her face.
"I've called you here for three things. First, don't come looking for Xian'er anymore and talk to him about trivial matters. Second, I've raised you for over ten years, not asking for anything in return, but only hoping you'll know when to stop and stop bothering me."
"Mother, don't be fooled anymore, this is all Grandmother's conspiracy..."
“I know right from wrong, you don’t need to say it again.” Shen Linlang waved her hand, her face bitter. “Over the years I thought I had taught you well, but now it seems I couldn’t teach you the things that are in your bones. You really are just like your own mother.”
How could she resemble that idiot!
Yu Liuzhu clenched her fists, the resentment from her past life welling up in her heart.
Just because it's not their own child, they can ignore it or even belittle it. No wonder they were switched at birth and deceived by men.
She was filled with hatred, which was unconsciously revealed in her eyes.
"Mother, look at Sister Tang'er, she looks like she's going to kill you..."
Shen Qinglu's voice was very soft and gentle, yet it was like a flying dagger wrapped in wind and poison, piercing Shen Linlang's heart with unerring accuracy.
Shen Linlang caught the hatred in her adopted daughter's eyes. Her heart was filled with sorrow that no one could know. She forced herself to cheer up and said, "This last thing is your name. The name Liu Zhu is the name I gave to my own daughter. You should not use it anymore."
Yu Liuzhu was filled with even more hatred, her heart swelling with resentment. "Mother, we've shared over a decade of mother-daughter affection, and I never imagined you could be so heartless! Fine, I'll just give you back a name... I don't care!"
With that, she covered her face and rushed out.
She ran straight out of the main courtyard, but not towards the outside of the mansion. Instead, she habitually headed inwards. By the time she came to her senses, she was already standing at the entrance of the Pear Garden.
The hatred and grievances accumulated over two lifetimes distorted her face, and her gaze gradually turned cold. After looking around, she began to walk out.
Someone was watching her from a distance in the garden's corridor.
She slowly approached and saw Shen Qinglu, who was clearly waiting for her.
His blank face, devoid of any expression, his pitch-black eyes as empty as a bottomless abyss, suddenly broke into a radiant smile when she stood before him.
Extremely beautiful, yet also extremely bizarre.
"Sister Tang'er is indeed lost."
The voice was very soft, with no inflection, yet it sent chills down one's spine.
She was stunned, trying to calm herself down, "I've used the name Liu Zhu for over ten years. Do you think you can still use it if you want to go back? You're even fighting over this..."
“I’ve said it before, I’ll take back everything that’s mine, even if it’s unusable.” Shen Qinglu gestured for Renchun and Hanxiao to come over. “You two take her out and don’t let her run around the manor.”
"Yu Li!" she cried out, feeling deeply humiliated. "Don't be so smug!"
Shen Qinglu told her with a half-smile, her eyes cold and piercing, "My surname isn't Yu."
*
The bamboo grove at the Marquis of Yongyi's residence sprouted later than that at the Da Xuan Kong Temple; the ground was covered with withered leaves and broken branches, and no new buds had yet emerged.
The quiet courtyard is filled with the fresh scent of bamboo.
A pigeon fell from the sky like a leaf and landed on Yang Zhen's hand. Yang Zhen took the letter from its leg, unfolded it, glanced at it, and went inside.
Inside, the scents of bamboo and ink blended seamlessly. At the tea table by the east window, brushes and ink were ready, laid out on white Xuan paper, perfectly complementing the snow-white clothing of the person sitting cross-legged.
"My lord, that Miss Yu came to see you, but she was stopped by someone."
Mu Hanshi picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, but the tip remained suspended on the paper, undecided.
"Madam Yu wants to change the Yu family mansion to the Shen family mansion, and both Yu Erlang and Miss Ali want to take their mother's surname."
As Yang Zhen finished speaking, the tip of the brush made intimate contact with the white paper in an instant, and in the flow of the brush, the character "沉" (chen, meaning deep or sluggish) leaped onto the paper.
"Madam Yu invited Miss Yu over and said that the name Liu Zhu was given to her by her own daughter. Since she was not her own daughter, it was not appropriate to use it and it should be returned to Miss Ali."
Mu Hanshi seemed to pause for a moment, then put down his pen again and wrote the character "Zhu".
Yang Zhen looked at the two characters "Chen Zhu" on the paper and assumed that his master had just written them casually.
The ink was slightly different from ordinary ink; the characters written with it appeared black at first glance, but upon closer inspection, a faint green hue could be seen.
Mu Hanshi lowered his eyes and stared intently. At first, his mirror-like eyes rippled with tiny waves, which gradually grew larger and spread into concentric circles of ripples.
Suddenly, the water surface changed abruptly, as if boiling and surging, as if something huge was about to burst out from the bottom of the lake.
Shen and Zhu.
These two characters should belong to the same person...
Is it a coincidence?
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