Chapter 92

Chapter 92

You Nan was basking in the sun with his child in the courtyard when an unexpected visitor arrived.

Footsteps halted at the courtyard gate. You Nan looked up, and the man he hadn’t seen in a long time appeared before him once again.

You Nan’s gaze froze.

Even after encountering Hang Minyu again, he still felt a surge of emotion.

You Nan clutched his child tightly in his arms, remaining silent. He averted his gaze, pretending not to have seen the other man.

Hang Minyu entered through the courtyard gate and stood at a careful distance from You Nan. After a long moment, he finally spoke, “You Nan, long time no see.”

You Nan turned his back, treating him as if he weren't there.

Hang Minyu pursed his lips.

When he decided to seek out You Nan, he had already anticipated such a reception.

Hang Minyu’s heart ached, as if their past life together was still vivid before his eyes.

But they could never go back.

“Xiao Nan, do you still blame me?”

Hang Minyu spoke up.

You Nan’s eyelids drooped slightly.

You Nan was no fool; upon careful reflection, he could still find many clues about the events of the past.

Hang Minyu had indeed treated him well back then, but it was also true that after going out with him, he had passed out, losing consciousness, only to wake up in a sedan chair.

You Nan would not believe that Hang Minyu had no part in it.

“Since you already know, why bother asking me?” You Nan finally spoke. “A person should know their place. Leave, and don’t come near me again.”

You Nan declared, “From now on, we are strangers.”

Hang Minyu, of course, was unwilling.

He had delayed coming to see You Nan until now precisely because he dreaded hearing such words from him.

But the more he wished not to hear it, the more You Nan uttered it.

Taking advantage of You Nan’s turned back, unable to see his gaze, Hang Minyu stared intently at You Nan’s figure, as if trying to engrave You Nan deeply into his mind.

“Xiao Nan, I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”

Hang Minyu continued to plead desperately.

You Nan, of course, refused. “Just go.”

Mao Mao in You Nan’s arms fidgeted and squirmed restlessly.

His two small hands grabbed onto You Nan’s clothes and climbed upward until he finally saw the uncle talking to his daddy.

Mao Mao still remembered Hang Minyu. He was very happy to see him appear.

He even raised his little hand and kept waving at the uncle.

Mao Mao’s curious gaze met Hang Minyu’s eyes. Almost instantly, Hang Minyu felt as if his heart were being tightly gripped by a large hand, making it hard to breathe.

“This child is yours and Chen Mingzhou’s, right?” Hang Minyu’s tone was certain.

Unaware that his voice had turned bitter and sharp, he continued, “Have you fallen for him?”

Hang Minyu stared at Mao Mao’s face and You Nan’s back as he went on, “Chen Mingzhou was once the top male courtesan, chosen by Fu Lingtan. Fu Lingtan wanted him to be the crown consort, but Chen Mingzhou refused and had someone find a replacement.”

Hang Minyu’s voice was soft, as if afraid the news would shock the listener. “And you were the one they picked.”

You Nan turned around, his eyes locked directly onto him, as if seeing the man before him for the first time.

“So, all of this that happened to me is Chen Mingzhou’s fault, is that it?”

You Nan put the child down. “And you have no fault?”

“You were Chen Mingzhou’s accomplice. You were the one who sent me there! If you hadn’t agreed, he wouldn’t have known I existed.” You Nan quickly walked up to Hang Minyu, grabbed the man’s collar, and said, “You were an accessory!”

“What did I ever do to you that you would treat me like this?” You Nan gritted his teeth. “Do you know what I went through when I first entered the palace?”

“Do you know what life in the palace is like?”

After saying this, You Nan thought carefully. Aside from the initial fear that Fu Lingtan might kill him, life in the palace had actually turned out rather comfortable.

But he wouldn’t tell Hang Minyu the truth.

He wanted Hang Minyu to feel the weight of guilt.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Hang Minyu’s expression filled with pain.

As his emotions shifted, You Nan, now experienced in matters of the heart, immediately sensed something.

He couldn’t believe it. He released his grip on the man’s collar, stepped back, and put some space between himself and Hang Minyu.

How was this possible?

What kind of expression was Hang Minyu making!

“You regret it now? You feel sorry for me, is that it? Then get out of here! Never come around in front of me again!”

You Nan pointed toward the gate.

This was the third time today he had ordered the other to leave.

Hang Minyu didn’t move. His heart felt as if it were being squeezed.

He asked You Nan, his voice dropped to a whisper, “So, have you fallen for Chen Mingzhou now?”

“If it had been me with you that night, would you have liked me instead?” Hang Minyu’s gaze wavered. You Nan hurriedly stepped in front of his son, blocking Hang Minyu’s view, refusing to let him look at Mao Mao with that “if-you-weren’t-here” look.

You Nan scolded him, “Have you gone crazy!”

“How did you become like this?” You Nan still remembered the teacher from before—so kind, so righteous, admired by all the girls in the courtyard.

But now he had become a stranger. You Nan suddenly felt as if he had never truly understood him.

“I didn’t want this! Are you trying to force me too?” You Nan’s chest rose and fell. He picked up the broom leaning against the courtyard wall and took a swing at the man. “Get out of here!”

"If you don't know how to speak, then don't speak at all. Are you here to apologize or to rub salt in my wounds?"

You Nan shoved him out and slammed the courtyard gate in a fury.

Hang Minyu, who had been driven out, went pale.

He finally realized that the words he had just spoken to You Nan had wounded him deeply.

He knocked on the door and apologized loudly to You Nan, "I'm sorry, Xiao Nan. What I said just now didn't reflect my true feelings. Please don't be angry."

But no matter how much he apologized, there was no response from inside, let alone anyone opening the door for him.

Seething, You Nan carried the child back inside and shut the door.

What a day this had been.

Not long after You Nan entered the house, the news reached Chen Mingzhou's ears.

Chen Mingzhou's expression darkened.

Back when You Nan had not yet been taken from the palace, he had noticed that the way Hang Minyu looked at Maomao was unusual.

It was as if he were looking at the child, lost in memory.

Chen Mingzhou soon discerned Hang Minyu's feelings.

But he did not confront Hang Minyu about it.

He knew that having more people protect Maomao was a good thing for the child.

Hang Minyu wouldn't harm Maomao.

But an astute observer could discern much from the traces others left behind.

Chen Mingzhou made no attempt to conceal his concern for You Nan and Maomao, and Hang Minyu became aware of his feelings for You Nan. He also knew that Chen Mingzhou had seen through his own intentions.

After much hesitation, Hang Minyu chose to withdraw.

So Chen Mingzhou kept Hang Minyu to look after Maomao, continuing to rely on him as his right-hand man.

But now, it seemed Hang Minyu had broken his word and could no longer stay.

Hang Minyu was trapped by "love."

Chen Mingzhou raised his hand and gave the order, "Now that we’ve almost concluded our operations, send Hang Minyu to the Jiangnan area for a rest."

He said, "Make sure he is well settled there with gold and jewels prepared for him. It’s the least we can do after all our years as master and servant—as brothers."

Chen Mingzhou's order was delivered to Hang Minyu, who sat wordlessly for a long time before finally accepting.

His greatest concern was still You Nan and Maomao, but now he could never see them again.

He hoped Chen Mingzhou would protect them well.

The day after Hang Minyu left the imperial city, rebel troops arrived in the capital and entered the royal gardens.

Together with Chen Mingzhou's men, they surrounded and tied up all the Song State royal family, killing everyone who resisted and throwing the rest into prison.

On this day, the regime that had come from beyond the frontiers was finally overthrown.

The rightful lineage of the Central Plains once again ascended the throne.

***

With the situation in Song State stabilized, Chen Mingzhou no longer restricted You Nan from leaving the residence.

Zhao Tong accompanied You Nan, following his master and the young master onto the streets.

You Nan spotted a few familiar faces on the street.

They were people from the original host's memories, though You Nan had never interacted with them.

The "family" who had abandoned the original host on the road and fled had, somehow, found their way to the capital.

The capital was not like Jiangnan; they had no foundation here, no close friends or relatives, and all their money had been spent along the way.

You Nan stood far off by the dock, watching the "brothers" from the original host's memories loading/unloading cargo off the ship like the other commoners.

Though it was hard work, their eyes held a hopeful light, and it seemed their lives weren't too bad.

Zhao Tong followed You Nan's gaze and recognized them at once. "Mr. You?"

You Nan shook his head. "It's nothing. I just saw some people from my past. No need to disturb them."

The entanglements between the original host and his family had ended the moment they abandoned him.

You Nan walked away with the child and Zhao Tong. Meanwhile, at the dock, one of the men You Nan had been watching looked up and caught sight of You Nan's departing figure.

He was perplexed, as if he had seen someone from the past.

"What's wrong, Big Brother?"

A brother beside him patted his shoulder, drawing him back from his thoughts.

The man shook off his doubts. "It's nothing."

He must have been mistaken. That person couldn't have been You Nan.

He wondered what life that "younger brother" was living now.