Chapter 59: Her Son

Chapter 59: Her Son

His birthday was the day of her death. They had only a brief reunion before being forever separated. He said that because of her death, Gongye Chu had killed many people. So what was the real cause of her demise?

She inquired.

He replied that he didn't know. Master Diviner Ye had said it wasn't caused by a curse or poison but by someone else's malicious intent.

Master Diviner Ye.

It was the first time Pei Yuanxi had heard this name. He mentioned that Master Diviner Ye was a recluse with exceptional skills. He served Gongye Chu to repay a great debt. As for what that debt was, he was unaware.

He possessed an extraordinary gift, able to communicate with birds, beasts, and insects. All his knowledge of raising venomous snakes and creatures came from Master Diviner Ye. Even his arrival in this time and space was thanks to the master. Unfortunately, despite searching secretly these past few years, he had yet to locate the Master Diviner Ye named Ye Ling.

"So you've been keeping all those venomous creatures in the Fangyin Palace to save my life?"

"Yes," Shangxing's voice softened. "But I still don't know what's wrong with your body, not even a single clue. I'm truly useless."

Even Grand Physician Gong couldn't diagnose it, and he couldn't figure it out after careful observation either. Perhaps his mother hadn't been targeted yet, or maybe his skills were inadequate. But now that he was here, he would never stand idly by and watch his mother's youth fade away prematurely.

Pei Yuanxi longed to embrace him, but he was taller than her, and it was in this moment that she truly felt the connection of a mother to her child. The bond of kinship transcended time and space, reuniting them at last.

She had never been a mother, nor had she ever dared to imagine it. If she were to have a child, she imagined they would resemble him—innocent yet sophisticated, cheerful with a strong sense of self.

Despite his young age, he had adapted well to an unfamiliar world. She could hardly fathom what he had endured or how he had come to terms with a strange father. Through it all, he had excelled. Gongye Chu seemed to have done an exceptional job in raising him, taking on both parental roles.

There could be no finer son than he.

"I never dreamed I'd have a son, and you surpass my every expectation."

Shangxing wept, his mother's praise touching him deeply.

"Daddy said that if you met me, you would definitely like me. He didn't lie to me after all..."

The teenage boy cried like a much younger child, appearing now as a vulnerable youngster, in contrast to the resolute young monarch he had seemed while dealing with Empress Zeng's matter earlier.

Without much hesitation, Pei Yuanxi approached him gently. She offered a tentative embrace, patting his back softly. He wept even louder, seemingly pouring out all his years of longing and affection.

Not far away, a tall and elegant man blended seamlessly into the night. No one knew how long he had been standing there or how much he had heard. His cold heart felt as if it had been torn open, the draught in the corridor causing a piercing pain. Yet, after the ache subsided, something warm and relentless found its way in, forcefully warming the frozen depths of his soul.

For him, familial love had been buried many years ago. Over the years, he had become as cold and unyielding as a blade, oblivious to tenderness. All that mattered in his life was exacting revenge for the Shangxing family's blood debt; reclaiming what was rightfully the Gongye lineage.

Gazing at the embracing young man and woman, one rumored to be his future wife, the other his son, even if the world and all its contents held no connection to him, these two were inextricably linked to his life.

His emotions were a jumbled mess, indescribable. He watched them weep in each other's arms, listened to their hushed whispers. He heard the Emperor's decree to send her out of the palace, and slowly emerged from the shadows.

"I'll escort her."

Shangxing was taken aback, sensing his father's gaze fall upon the hand he held his mother with. He quickly released her, his face filled with delight. "Very well, then Father can see Mother back home."

While Pei Yuanxi was willing to accept her son, it didn't mean she could easily embrace an unfamiliar husband. In Gongye Chu's presence, she instinctively sensed danger and yearned to keep her distance.

Perhaps the most delighted among the three was Shangxing. He joyfully saw them off, continuously waving until they vanished into the dimly lit distance.

The journey was silent, and the carriage seemed emptier than before to her.

He lowered his gaze, his aura subdued, giving the impression of a refined nobleman's son. His slender fingers, as delicate as jade, rested on his knees, making it hard to imagine such elegant hands stained with blood.

She was afraid of him because he once intended to kill her and later used her as bait. Now, she still feared such a character, but a conflicting feeling arose within her due to the potential events that might unfold in the future.

A man like him, to think he would be raising a child.

"I want to thank you for taking care of Zhong'er."

"For what?" He lifted his gaze, his eyes cold and deep.

"Although I don't know what the future holds, I'm grateful to the future you. I don't know that version of you, so all I can do is say thank you. Thank you for raising him well."

He tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Not that well."

She bit her lip, looking slightly displeased. What was wrong with it? "I think he's great. Not everyone is like you, sir. Sometimes it's not bad to show your emotions."

He gave her a sharp glance, his brows furrowed.

What was good about a man showing his emotions? It was the art of a king to conceal them. He recalled how the emperor used to follow him around like a little shadow, talking too much, crying easily, and being noisy. There were moments when he almost lost his temper and lashed out.

He had no idea how the future him managed to raise the child. He doubted the child was solely under his care. If he had raised the boy, he couldn't have turned out like that.

"Great rulers can't afford to be overly merciful and soft-hearted. His excessive kindness doesn't suit the royal family."

"There are no absolutes in life," she murmured, not bothering to argue further.

Silence fell once more, and she gradually relaxed. At least for now, she sensed that he posed no threat; there was no hint of danger about him. He surely wouldn't remain like this forever. The man Cheng'er described was passionate yet ruthless, a loving father.

None of those qualities seemed to apply to him.

After an indeterminate period, his icy voice broke the quiet. "We've arrived."

She thanked him and alighted from the carriage, her silver-red figure swiftly disappearing through the side gate of the marquis residence.

Already waiting were several silent figures. Lost in thought about Mama Lao's death, Empress Dowager Zeng's demise, and Aunt Li, who still lived, she paused before continuing towards the courtyard where she had spent the past fifteen years.

Two matrons stood guard outside the yard, while inside, Mama Huang and a new maid attended to her needs. Pei Yuanjun's restrictions had been lifted, allowing her free entry and exit, but these women were tasked with watching over Aunt Li.

"One moment she was groaning over there. Looks like she got beaten again today. In the past, hearing her made me so furious—she dared to switch the legitimate daughter! But seeing her miserable state now, I can't help but pity her," a matron's voice wafted to Pei Yuanxi's ears on the night breeze, causing her to halt.

The other matron chimed in, "Pity her? She's getting what she deserves! And she even tried covering up for Third Young Lady, refusing to use medicine despite all the bruises. It's fortunate that Sister Huang still had some affection left and secretly bought her some medicine."

"The Second Young Lady is kind-hearted and ordered some good food for her, but the Third Young Lady scolds her every day and doesn't give her anything to eat, only plain rice. She's being mistreated by her own daughter. I believe the Third Young Lady has a cruel heart, perhaps she wishes to harm her."

"That sounds chilling... The Third Young Lady probably still wants to return to Lady's side. If Aunt Li were gone, Lady might see her as less of a thorn in her side and could even show her compassion."

Pei Yuanxi approached, coughing softly but deliberately. The two maidservants, startled by the sound, quickly changed their expressions to respectful ones when they saw who it was.

They bowed and addressed her as the Second Young Lady. The maid who had spoken earlier was sharp-witted and guessed that Pei Yuanxi must have come to visit Aunt Li at this late hour. One started speaking, and the other followed up, reporting meticulously on everything that had happened to Aunt Li recently, including the incident where she stumbled and fell at night.

"I'll go in and have a look," said Pei Yuanxi.

One of the maidservants hurried to open the door, warning her to be careful as she led her to the small side room in the courtyard. She remembered that small room; it used to be where Chunyue resided.

Aunt Li had been demoted to a servant, receiving the lowest level of treatment. Her crime was unforgivable, yet her life was spared due to the master's mercy. Those around her looked down on her, even Pei Yuanjun held hatred and resentment towards her; how could she expect a good life?

There was still light in the small side room, a flickering oil lamp casting a tiny flame.

A low voice came from within, suppressed and stifled. It sounded like someone was desperately holding back pain, or perhaps their throat was constricted, making the thin voice painfully grating as if squeezed out through a narrow crack.

The maid stepped forward and opened the door, allowing a gust of wind to enter. The flame wavered but did not extinguish. The woman lying on the wooden bed lifted her head, her initial delight turning to confusion upon seeing Pei Yuanxi's face.

"Aunt Li, do you think it's Pei Yuanjun?"

Aunt Li naturally assumed it was Pei Yuanjun. Living in the courtyard with Yuanjun, she had always hoped her daughter would come to visit her, even for just a fleeting glance. For that, she would die content.

The wooden bed was covered with gray and stiff blankets, patched in several spots. The furnishings in the room were familiar to Pei Yuanxi; she used to spend springs here playing with Third Young Lady.

But now, the already old furniture seemed even more dilapidated, some missing legs, others with chunks of wood gone. It looked as if they had been violently smashed, leaving behind a scene of desolation.

More desolate than the room was Aunt Li's face, which had become even more gaunt and sallow. Her high cheekbones and eerie gaze made her resemble a madwoman freshly crawled out from somewhere.

"I'm not surprised to see Aunt Li like this. Karma, they say, is a cruel thing. You've spent your life scheming for Yuanjun, and if you were to die at the hands of your own daughter, it could be seen as a fulfillment of your own desires."

Aunt Li's throat let out a hoarse noise, her poisonous glare fixed on Pei Yuanxi. Unable to speak, she frantically gestured, pointing to the sky, the ground, and then at Pei Yuanxi herself.

Others might not understand, but Pei Yuanxi did, "Even now, Aunt Li, you still try to protect Yuanjun. Do you think that Yuanjun's ruined reputation can harm me? Haven't you been aware of my reputation all these years? Do you really believe I care about such empty names?"

Aunt Li attempted to use the old argument of mutual destruction, but it was truly laughable.

The woman standing in front sneered with disdain, "Li Pozi, our Third Young Lady comes to visit you, yet you spout nonsense instead of being grateful. You still think you're a concubine of the household, acting as if you're half a mistress."

"Indeed, she ought to reflect on her actions. Ten lives wouldn't be enough to atone for them," another matron chimed in.

Aunt Li's fierce gaze suddenly turned anxious. She clasped her hands together as if pleading with Pei Yuanxi, gesturing towards the outside and then herself. After that, she began tracing characters in the air.

Pei Yuanxi watched her coldly. In her desperation, Aunt Li started scribbling on the bedding.

Send me out of the mansion.

"Aunt Li truly has your heart set on Yuanjun. You're not afraid that Yuanjun might kill you but fear dying in this courtyard and Yuanjun being tarnished with the guilt of harming her own mother. Putting your life on the line solely for your daughter, what a manifestation of a loving mother's heart."

Seeing that Pei Yuanxi understood her intentions, Aunt Li struggled to get up.

A chill gleamed in her eyes. "Why should I help you?"

Aunt Li looked at her, and her anxious expression transformed into something eerie. An odd look appeared on her withered face as she appraised Pei Yuanxi intently. Then, she meticulously wrote four characters on the bedding.

You won't live long.

The other matrons were illiterate and couldn't read what she was writing. Chunyue had also been illiterate before but had recently learned a few characters. While she couldn't decipher complex words, Chunyue could recognize these few.

"Y-You're talking nonsense!" Chunyue exclaimed, instinctively looking to her young mistress for confirmation. Seeing the calm expression on Pei Yuanxi's face, she wondered if she had misread the situation.

Aunt Li was also studying Pei Yuanxi. Surprised that she couldn't detect any signs of panic in the girl's demeanor, she wrote out the message several more times, assuming she hadn't conveyed it clearly enough.

Pei Yuanxi's face twisted into a mocking sneer. "There's no need to write anymore. I recognize these words. Aunt Li wishes to negotiate with me, using this as leverage to force me to let you leave the manor?"

Indeed, that was Aunt Li's intention. She could die. For the sake of her own flesh and blood, she would endure anything. Her life had always been dedicated to Yuanjun, even her hatred and beatings. Though her heart had long turned cold, the thought of dying at the hands of her own daughter filled her with dread, tarnishing Yuanjun's reputation forever.

The beauty and regal air of the young lady before her were qualities that should have belonged to Yuanjun. Aunt Li deeply regretted not being more ruthless back then.

But what difference did it make now that she was the legitimate daughter? It was a pity she wouldn't live long enough to enjoy it.

Chunyue was anxious, unsure if she had misinterpreted the situation. She desperately wished she had, but the look in Aunt Li's eyes filled her with unease.

"Second Miss, let's go. There's no point talking to this madwoman. She's brought this upon herself."

Pei Yuanxi offered a small smile. "It doesn't matter. We're on our last meeting anyway, so a few more moments won't make a difference."

Aunt Li's peculiar expression began to shift, her breathing growing heavier. If only she could speak, she would have shouted out in alarm. What did 'last meeting' mean?

Amidst her shock, hope flickered within her. She wished that Pei Yuanxi would kill her in a fit of rage, sparing Yuanjun the burden of being known as the daughter who had killed her own mother.

Pei Yuanxi's gaze softened with pity. "In truth, you've led a pitiful life. Deceived into believing you were the child of the marquis household, you spent most of your days consumed by jealousy. You thought you granted your biological daughter a noble status, only to realize that when the truth was exposed, she was reduced to less than a concubine's daughter. Trapped between life and death, you don't even dare to die within these very walls. Reflect on your life—what have you truly gained?"

What had she gained? Aunt Li asked herself inwardly. Not only had she ended up with nothing, but her daughter, Yuanjun, had lost even the dignity of being a concubine's daughter.

Whose fault was it all?

Not hers, nor Yuanjun's, but this person standing before her.

Why could a fool still thrive? Why did a fool remember so much? If this fool had accidentally died while still foolish, wouldn't everything have unfolded according to her wishes?

"Since Aunt still remains unrepentant, so be it. Your time is limited, so cherish the remaining moments beside Yuanjun, enjoying the joys of mother-daughter bonds."

Aunt Li's eyes widened, filled with hatred. Her fingers gestured frantically, her face twisted in a grotesque manner.

Pei Yuanxi chuckled coldly. "Don't bother with schemes, Aunt. You're merely a minor character. Even if you know some secrets, what can you do? Do you know how Mama Lao met her end, or that Empress Dowager Zeng has also passed away?"

The mention of Empress Dowager Zeng struck Aunt Li like a curse, causing her face to drain of color. She fixated on Pei Yuanxi's eyes, trying to discern if the other was lying.

Nanny Lao is already dead, and news of Concubine Zeng's sudden demise will spread tomorrow. How long I live doesn't matter; it will still be longer than your time. Aunt Li, don't worry. Spend as much time as you can with your daughter, for the bond between mother and daughter is precious. In the future, the Marquis Manor will provide a modest coffin for you, and Yuanjun will observe mourning for you – not to let down your love for your daughter.

Aunt Li's face paled in shock, her eyes locked onto Pei Yuanxi. If Yuanjun were to mourn for an aunt, her prospects would be ruined.

Pei Yuanjun arrived with her hair undone, her gaze flicking between Aunt Li and Pei Yuanxi. She suddenly threw herself at Aunt Li's bedside, crying out, "Aunt Li, what's wrong? Did Second Sister say something hurtful? Don't take it to heart, please."

With her back turned to everyone else, her eyes betrayed no hint of anxiety or concern – only calculation and suggestion. As she pinched Aunt Li's flesh, her gaze was like that of a hungry dog eyeing a bone.

Despair flashed in Aunt Li's eyes as she struggled to climb up and bang her head against the bed frame.

"Aunt, Aunt, please don't do anything foolish! Second Sister hates you; she's deliberately goading you with her words," Pei Yuanjun cried out, glaring at Pei Yuanxi with intense anger. "Second Sister, Aunt already realizes her mistake. Why do you still want to drive her to her death?"

Aunt Li was weak and lacked strength; despite hitting the ground repeatedly, she did not lose consciousness.

Pei Yuanxi gazed at her state and suddenly felt that she had received the ultimate retribution. With a mere gesture, the two matrons promptly stepped forward to restrain her. Her hair was disheveled, her forehead bruised, and she gasped for air as if it were her last.

"Your ladyship is indeed determined, ready to risk it all. Yet, alas, your loving care for your daughter is met with her secret desire for your demise. Ask yourself, is all that you have done and sought in this life truly worth it?"

"Second Sister, it was clearly you who angered Mother into bumping her head on the bedpost, why are you putting the blame on me?" Pei Yuanjun assumed a wronged expression, "I am aware that I am a concubine's daughter and cannot compare to Second Sister. Nevertheless, I am still a young lady of the Marquis's household; is there need for Second Sister to belittle me so?"

Pei Yuanxi couldn't help but feel sympathy for Aunt Li. Raising such a daughter must be a bitter pill to swallow; no debt could be deeper than that between parent and child. "Third Sister, there's a higher power watching over us all. You shouldn't deny it. Aunt Li schemed against me and plotted against our mother, yet she treated you with her whole heart. If you can't even tolerate her, how are you any different from a beast? Even wolves and dogs know to repay kindness, yet you're not even worthy of being compared to them."

Pei Yuanjun was furious. It was easy for others to talk, but if her own mother were still alive, would she not know gratitude? With a mother like Aunt Li, how could she possibly learn such values?

Pei Yuanxi turned away from Pei Yuanjun and faced Aunt Li. "Your fate wasn't meant to be this way. All of this is the result of your own actions. You can't blame anyone else."

The room emptied, and the two maids spat contemptuously before slamming the door shut.

Behind the closed door, not only was the desolation of the room sealed off, but so was Aunt Li's overwhelming despair. She knew she would never have another chance to leave; she would ultimately die within these four walls.

This room had become her final prison, one from which she could never escape. A chill breeze seeped through the cracks, leaving her feeling cold to her bones.

Pei Yuanjun's face twisted in fury as she suddenly grabbed Aunt Li by the head and slammed it repeatedly against the bed frame. "Why didn't you use more force just now? Why didn't you die sooner?"

Aunt Li saw stars and felt darkness creeping in. Suddenly, she recalled Pei Yuanxi's earlier words. The child had said that if she treated her sincerely and regarded the exchanged child as her own, even if she eventually discovered the truth, she would still consider her a mother.

These words echoed in her mind as she stared blankly at her biological daughter, who seemed to wish her dead. She also remembered many years ago, when the child was barely three, innocently promising to take good care of her in the future.

Perhaps she had been wrong from the beginning. As physical pain began to numb her, the hatred in her eyes gradually faded, turning into a lifeless pool.

When one is on the verge of death, acknowledging one's mistakes holds little consequence.

The child would not come to see her again, nor would any other master of the Marquis's residence. She was destined to meet her end at the hands of her own daughter. Her death would not erase everything; on the contrary, it would push her flesh and blood into another abyss.

All of this is karma at work.

Three nights later, she finally passed away, in the depths of an unknown night. No one knew what thoughts had occupied her mind before her death.

Pei Yuanxi was in the midst of writing when the news reached her, engrossed in penning the phrase "good and evil shall meet their due reward." Spring Moon entered the chamber carrying a bowl of silver ear and lotus seed porridge, whispering to her about Aunt Li's affairs.

Her pen paused in mid-stroke.

Nanny Lao took her own life with poison, Consort Zeng perished from a venomous spider's bite, and now Aunt Li is gone as well. The perpetrators have all received their due retribution, like the dispersal of dense mists. She understands that after these layers of fog clear, it won't reveal a bright dawn, but rather an even denser veil of mystery, one that currently eludes her understanding.

Through the window, she perceived the autumn in the courtyard, where flowers bloomed and leaves fell, marking yet another passing year. Fifteen years in the inner palace felt like a captive's dream, and the decade of foolishness was a scar etched upon her heart. Now, it seemed to be erased by the passage of time, just like those falling leaves.

Unknown to her, what lay in wait beyond this point. But she was certain of one thing - in this timeline, she had found a genuine and beloved kinship.

She trusted her father, but he didn't belong solely to her. She believed in her brother, yet he was not just her brother alone. They cared for her sufficiently, but not entirely.

That youth, he had transcended time and space for her alone.

Though the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, a guiding light had already ignited within her heart. This beacon of light banished her solitude, empowering her to confront any intrigues and machinations that lay in wait.

She gazed at the words on the paper in silence. After a long while, she crumpled the page and cast it into the brazier. Fiery tongues licked the white parchment, devouring the black ink, turning it all to ashes in an instant.

Good deeds lead to a just end, and evil deeds to their rightful retribution. Thus it should be.

All were but the consequences of one's own pursuit, blaming none but oneself.