Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Pei Zhuo had no issues with Pei Qingxu's work ethic back in modern times. With Pei Qingxu surrounded by diligent and inquisitive students, Pei Zhuo could quietly coast along behind them, maintaining a harmonious father-son relationship for over twenty years.

He had maintained his disguise well up until his father's death.

Now, Pei Qingxu had only one student. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was a hard worker, equivalent to fifty students. Pei Zhuo secretly rejoiced that he could still hide behind the Crown Prince and coast along.

After losing his son, Pei Qingxu became the Grand Tutor and somewhat projected his affection onto Xiao Xun, treating him like a son.

Pei Zhuo felt a bit relieved, thinking he’d go unnoticed.

However, the very next moment, Xiao Xun moved aside, exposing him, and introduced him to the Grand Tutor, "This is Pei Zhuo."

Pei Qingxu's gaze was as sharp as ever, staring directly at Pei Zhuo.

Pei Zhuo immediately felt awkward, unsure where to put his hands and feet. He recalled his father had a unique skill: during parent-teacher meetings, he could identify which student's parent it was based on slight resemblances in appearance.

Unless they looked nothing alike, but Pei Zhuo and the Grand Tutor did resemble each other somewhat.

Pei Qingxu immediately turned to ask Xiao Xun, "Your Majesty is aware of my regret, allowing me to adopt Pei Zhuo as my foster son. Did you discover something?"

Xiao Xun shook his head, "I have no way to confirm blood relations, but there's no doubt Pei Zhuo has a connection with the Grand Tutor. Last time, the Grand Tutor’s Wife was quite emotional upon seeing Pei Zhuo."

Pei Qingxu closed his eyes. Yang Mei, upon returning, emphasized that "people might suspect he's my illegitimate son," without mentioning the resemblance to their son, Xianjue.

The moment he saw Pei Zhuo, a wave of heartache and familiarity washed over him. But Yang Mei said she saw with her own eyes the refugees throwing their son into the river.

It was a freezing winter river. He searched along the river for a month but found nothing. Everyone said he couldn't have survived. Yang Mei wept and pleaded with him, kneeling by the river, saying she failed to protect their son, letting him be snatched away by the refugees. "If you keep searching for Xianjue without eating or drinking, I might as well jump into the river to find him."

Pei Qingxu had to gather himself and return to the capital with his wife.

Without a body, Pei Qingxu had only one son in his life.

Could Pei Zhuo be him?

Pei Qingxu's eyes reddened slightly, "Xianjue had a scar on the inside of his elbow, from when he was four years old and went to burn incense with his mother. He fell asleep while meditating and was burned by the small incense burner in front of him. Master Pei, may I see it?"

Pei Zhuo was taken aback, "Your son is named Pei Xianjue?"

Pei Qingxu's heart raced, "Do you remember this name?"

Pei Zhuo was in a daze. His father once attended the hundred-day celebration of a colleague’s child in the Chinese department. That colleague not only named his son but also gave him a courtesy name.

Pei Qingxu returned and consulted books to give him one too.

Pei Xianjue.

But in modern times, courtesy names are seldom used, so Pei Zhuo hardly ever thought of these two words.

Pei Zhuo knew full well that he and the Pei Xianjue here were not the same person, but he was still shocked by the fateful arrangement.

Xiao Xun remembered the location of the scar on Pei Zhuo's wrist and helped roll up his sleeve, "I remember you said you were burned at seven while burning incense? Did you remember it wrong?"

Pei Zhuo, "It was at seven."

Pei Qingxu, "My son also had it in the same place!"

Pei Zhuo, "I'm not your son."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Pei Qingxu, his face streaked with tears. Having experienced the pain of losing his father, he could understand Pei Qingxu's grief over losing his son.

However, he felt unworthy of taking the place of Pei Xianjue in this world and receiving the fatherly love of the Grand Tutor.

Pei Zhuo pinched his palm and said to Xiao Xun, "May I speak with the Grand Tutor alone?"

Xiao Xun looked at him for a while, then agreed and walked out to the garden to feed Xue Li.

Pei Zhuo turned to Pei Qingxu, "Grand Tutor, I don’t know if you can understand, but imagine that due to a celestial mistake, the name inscription was copied one extra time, and an extra father and son appeared in this world. My father, Pei Qingxu, looks exactly like you, and I might also look exactly like your son. My father passed away due to illness, and I personally buried him. Your son, Pei Xianjue, drowned in the river, as witnessed by your wife."

"We are like father and son, but not quite. You can consider me as your son’s unborn elder brother or a son from the next life. I feel the same way."

Pei Qingxu remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Are you saying your father is dead?"

Pei Zhuo scratched his cheek, feeling that Pei Qingxu’s repetition made him seem filial.

"He had irregular meals, staying up late to teach his students, and suffered from stomach discomfort without seeing a doctor."

Suddenly, he was startled, "How has your appetite been these days, Grand Tutor? Do you often have the imperial physician check your pulse?"

Pei Qingxu replied, "Imperial Physician Jiang assures me I’m fine."

Pei Zhuo noticed his complexion was healthier than in his previous life at the same age and let out a soft sigh. It seemed that in ancient times, people rested at sunset, and with Mrs. Yang overseeing his meals, Pei Qingxu didn’t suffer the same misfortune as in modern times.

No wonder he found Mrs. Yang so familiar—she was his mother whom he had never met. After he was weaned, his mother divorced Pei Qingxu over differing life philosophies and left. Pei Zhuo had only seen his young and beautiful mother in photos when he was a child. Mrs. Yang, now over fifty with her hair in an ancient bun, was unrecognizable.

In ancient times, there was no formal concept of divorce, and Mrs. Yang valued propriety, so life went on.

Pei Qingxu gazed at Pei Zhuo. He had often wondered how Pei Xianjue would have looked if he had grown up well.

Now he knew—it would be the appearance of the person before him.

He partially understood what Pei Zhuo was saying. He would never forget his son, and he firmly believed that the person before him was his son.

Pei Qingxu, who had been a stern and imposing Grand Tutor all his life, even facing the crown prince without flinching, now spoke hesitantly and timidly to his own son, "Then, would you accept me as your father?"

Pei Zhuo pursed his lips, "Father."

The Grand Tutor wiped his tears with his sleeve, let out a soft "Ah," and lowered his hand to conceal his emotions, "Have you had lunch? Where are you staying?"

Pei Zhuo replied, "I’ve already dined with His Majesty. I live in Changqing Lane, where I bought a house."

Pei Qingxu asked, "Is the house big?"

Pei Zhuo understood that he wanted him to move into the Grand Tutor’s residence and quickly said, "It’s quite large. Have you heard about Liu Qingyuan? Prince Qin expelled him and granted the courtyard to me."

Pei Zhuo felt a bit awkward mentioning Liu Qingyuan. Back then, he wasn’t the Grand Tutor’s adopted son yet and was constantly being reported by the old scholar.

Well, now his father knew he slept until noon every day.

Pei Qingxu hesitated, then said, "I heard His Majesty mentioned you’re also teaching? What subject is it… science?"

Since Pei Zhuo was following His Majesty, he would eventually enter the court as an official.

Pei Qingxu had never taught his son anything and wanted to take him under his wing to guide him personally. Given his son’s talent at the age of four, he was no less capable than His Majesty.

Pei Zhuo said, "My father taught arithmetic. Grand Tutor, you must be very good at arithmetic too, right?"

Pei Qingxu choked—does being bad at arithmetic disqualify him from being his father?

"It's acceptable."

Pei Zhuo was pleasantly surprised: "Since His Majesty has completed his studies, how about I teach you some more advanced arithmetic, and you can teach others after learning it, Grand Tutor Pei?"

Pei Qingxu: "..."

His son was now trying to teach him.

Xiao Xun shooed Xue Li away to play, listening to Pei Zhuo's raised voice, he couldn't help but chuckle.

As the saying goes, "The royal family loves the eldest son, and the common people love the youngest." He and Pei Zhuo were like the Grand Tutor's eldest and youngest sons. Naturally, the stern Grand Tutor doted on the youngest.

Li Ruyi came over and whispered, "Your Majesty, Mrs. Yang has been brought."

Xiao Xun's eyes turned cold, "Have her come in."

Xiao Xun entered the study and said to Pei Zhuo, "Since you wish to recognize the Grand Tutor as your father, let's clear up what happened in the past. When Mrs. Yang comes in later, don't speak. I'll say you saw the Grand Tutor and remembered things from when you were four."

Pei Qingxu noticed Yang Mei's odd behavior. Even if His Majesty didn't bring it up, he would ask later.

To his surprise, Xiao Xun didn't let Pei Zhuo probe his mother but took it upon himself.

This was how a ruler treated a subject... Pei Qingxu frowned, realizing it was more like an elder brother looking out for a younger one.

As soon as Yang Mei entered, she bowed to His Majesty and stood behind the Grand Tutor. Xiao Xun noticed she dared not look at Pei Zhuo.

Xiao Xun: "Mrs. Yang, you've come at the right time. I believe Pei Zhuo might very well be your son Pei Xianjue. The Grand Tutor has already verified the scar on his arm. To make sure, I’ve asked you here to confirm the past events with Pei Zhuo. If they match, I will issue an edict to confirm Pei Zhuo's identity. Both of you, write down what happened separately. Li Ruyi, bring the paper and brush."

Hearing this, Mrs. Yang turned pale.

Li Ruyi handed the brush to Pei Zhuo, who took it and drew a large turtle, writing Xiao Xun's name in pinyin on its shell.

Li Ruyi: "..." He got it, and it terrified him.

Seeing Pei Zhuo write without hesitation, Mrs. Yang's hand trembled as she held the brush. Overcome with guilt, she knelt down, "Master, I’ve wronged you."

Pei Qingxu's expression changed, "What really happened?"

Mrs. Yang wept, trembling, "I lied. The refugees didn’t take Xianjue. He noticed them approaching and took me to hide in the village haystack. I heard them outside, shouting that if they found us, they would..."

Mrs. Yang swallowed some vulgar words.

Pei Qingxu clenched his fists and helped her up, "Stand and speak."

Yang Mei, once young and beautiful, married the top scholar Pei Qingxu through a matchmaker, becoming the honorable wife of the top scholar. Now, she was terrified, her face ashen.

"I saw them coming and was terrified. Xianjue said he would lure them away."

"I was too scared, I agreed, I let go of his hand... They caught Xianjue, demanding to know where I was. Xianjue would rather die than tell. I deserve to die. I didn’t dare show myself, so they..."

Yang Mei, who hadn’t slept well in years, finally spoke up, "They threw Xianjue into the river, and then you arrived with your students..."

The refugees, seeing the Grand Tutor's fierce approach, scattered.

Yang Mei's greatest regret was agreeing to let her son lure the refugees away. If she had hesitated a moment longer, her husband would have found them.

Her son had bought her time, but he died because of her cowardice.

When Pei Qingxu asked about it later, Yang Mei dared not say a word. She fell seriously ill, and the doctor said she could no longer bear children.

Pei Qingxu felt guilty, believing the incident stemmed from his mourning and constant travels, so he vowed never to take a concubine. Yang Mei, however, was too afraid to reveal the truth.

For twenty years, Yang Mei had hidden the truth, seeking redemption through temple donations. The abbot of Dajue Temple told her that her child had died with eyes wide open, deepening her fear and constantly pressuring her to pay for rituals to appease the spirit. Upon seeing Pei Zhuo for the first time, her immediate reaction was fear.

In the study, the only sound was Yang Mei's sobbing.

Pei Zhuo was stunned. If it were him, he would have made the same decision as Pei Xianjue.

Pei Qingxu sighed deeply, his voice hoarse, "My son saved his mother when he was just four years old."

"Yang Mei, your mistake was keeping it from me. Even if I had known the truth, I wouldn’t have divorced you. You are the mother for whom Pei Xianjue gave his life."

Yang Mei broke down further: "I was blinded by fear. I couldn’t even admit that Xianjue saved me, letting him die without closure."

Pei Qingxu helped Yang Mei up, "This is no way to behave in front of His Majesty. Let’s go back."

He turned to Pei Zhuo, "Have you ever been through anything like this?"

Pei Zhuo shook his head, "Where I lived with my father, the area was safe."

Pei Qingxu’s expression softened, "That’s good to hear."

Hardships and difficulties should fall on the father. That father died young, but he seemed stronger.

Pei Qingxu said, "I see you as I saw Xianjue."

After saying this, he left with Yang Mei.

Yang Mei turned her head, gazing at Pei Zhuo with longing, vaguely realizing that her son, grown up, should look like this—exactly like this.

...

Xiao Xun said, "The bond between mother and son, father and son, is a matter of fate."

Pei Zhuo guessed he was thinking of the late emperor, feeling a touch of nostalgia.

Xiao Xun was relieved that Pei Zhuo hadn’t endured the same hardships as Pei Xianjue.

Pei Zhuo said, "Mrs. Yang simply loved herself more. No one said she had to love her child more."

Xiao Xun replied, "Hmm."

Pei Zhuo added, "I never actually met my mother. So, she must have looked like Mrs. Yang."

Xiao Xun, ignoring the riddles he and the Grand Tutor were exchanging, didn’t want to reopen old wounds, simply comforting, "Don’t be sad."

Pei Zhuo replied, "I’m not sad."

Xiao Xun noted, "Your voice sounds hoarse."

Pei Zhuo remained silent.

Xiao Xun caught on, "Is it because of last night—"

Pei Zhuo snapped, "Shut up."

He didn’t even raise his voice, so how could he be hoarse?

Xiao Xun asked, "...Can you stand? Do you need to lie down?"

Pei Zhuo: "Go ahead."

Xiao Xun went to handle political affairs, while Pei Zhuo lay quietly to recover.

Before leaving, Xiao Xun instructed him to call the imperial physician if necessary. After lying down for a while, Pei Zhuo got up and said, "Send for Imperial Physician Jiang."

Jiang Lu quickly arrived with his medicine box.

Pei Zhuo stared at him for a while and asked, "Is there a birth control concoction that doesn’t harm the body?"

Jiang Lu looked at him in shock: "Men can’t—shouldn’t—"

Pei Zhuo snapped, embarrassed and angry, "Imperial Physician Jiang, what are you thinking!"

Given his usual behavior, he might drink a mouthful and spit it out, claiming he activated his body’s defense mechanism.

He wasn’t asking for himself, but rather, spurred by his own past, he thought that instead of waiting for industrial development to produce condoms, he might as well rely on traditional Chinese medicine, which in this world is far more advanced than in his own.

He had already established a girls' school, and Great Xuan valued large families for prosperity. If these women couldn’t be freed from the burden of childbirth to participate more in social and public labor, it would be difficult to manage.

Jiang Lu hesitated and asked, "Is it for the harem?"

He was aware of Pei Zhuo’s relationship with the emperor. The emperor hadn’t even selected his consorts yet, and they were already planning ahead already?

Indeed, as his father had said, being an imperial physician meant one couldn’t avoid the intrigues of the harem.

Pei Zhuo chuckled bitterly, "So, will you give it to me?"

Jiang Lu: "I must ask His Majesty."

Pei Zhuo suddenly had a bad feeling.

Just then, Xiao Xun, for some reason, returned and stood at the door. After calmly listening, he said composedly, "Give it to him."

"I will try to research it," Jiang Lu silently mourned the royal lineage.