Chapter 279

Chapter 279

He Jinyu lived in a five-courtyard mansion.

As soon as they approached, several sturdy servants stepped forward to bow to He Jinyu, then bowed one by one to Old Man Zhao and the others, their mouths running a string of titles: "Old Master, Old Madam, First Master, Second Master, Third Master, First Madam, Second Madam, Third Madam, Young Miss, Fifth Young Master, Gu Young Master..." These names made the Zhao family's toes curl in their shoes.

The whole family felt as if they had suddenly been draped in brocade, their dark faces flushed red with embarrassment. They didn't know whether to respond or not, utterly uncomfortable.

They entered through the main gate, while the donkey cart and belongings went through the side gate after the threshold was removed.

Zhao Dashan couldn't rest easy, so he followed the servants all the way through the side gate, never taking his eyes off their belongings. It wasn't that he was petty or small-minded, but the things they had to "take" out of the cart for Jinyu later required his constant vigilance.

Once inside the main gate, the maids, matrons, and servants of He Mansion bowed their heads and bent their knees, offering another string of respectful greetings to the various masters and madams. The Zhao family, dazed, could only stick close to Jinyu.

Passing the front courtyard, they entered a spacious and bright hall. He Jinyu led Grandpa and Grandma for a look around. Then they entered the second courtyard, crossed the covered walkway, and went through an arched gate. He pointed to a nearby kitchen and said, "The maids have already boiled hot water, and the meal is prepared. Would Grandpa and Grandma like to eat first or wash up first?"

As they spoke, they reached the main inner courtyard rooms.

The maids followed at a distance. When Wang Shi said she wanted to wash up first, Zijing, the head maid who usually attended to He Jinyu's daily needs, waved her hand. Two junior maids hurriedly turned to the kitchen to prepare hot water.

Wang Shi and her daughters-in-law were led by Zijing to the rear main rooms, which should have been the inner quarters for He family women. But now only He Jinyu remained of the He family, and the inner courtyard was as desolate as the front.

The vast five-courtyard mansion, with its rockeries, ponds, front and back yards, was lavish everywhere yet lacked a touch of human warmth.

Servants moved without a sound, not daring to speak loudly. This long-cold mansion was rarely bustling tonight.

Maids and servants filed in with hot water, and the sound of splashing water rose from several rooms.

Buckets of hot water were changed again and again, and they scrubbed the grime off repeatedly. Though deeply embarrassed, Wang Shi instructed her daughters-in-law to wash thoroughly, so as not to have patches of white and black on their bodies and lose face.

Even Zhao Xiaobao changed two buckets of hot water before he was clean.

The boys washed faster. The brothers scrubbed each other with loofah gourds, turning their bodies red all over and howling.

Xi'er finished his bath first. He had never stayed in such a large room. First he rolled around on the bed hugging the pillow, then slipped on his shoes and dashed straight to He Jinyu's room, pestering him: "Brother, brother, brother, I want to follow you! Let me follow you, okay? Please say yes! Grandpa doesn't know how to enjoy life and doesn't want to stay in the city, but I do! I want to enjoy it so badly! I want to stay in the city. I'll drive your cart, grind your ink, run errands for you. I'll be your servant, your manservant. Brother, brother, let me live here, I love your house so much!"

He Jinyu smiled and pushed him away: "How dare I let you be my servant? You'd probably bully the master."

"How would I dare, hmph," Xi'er circled around him, "Is it okay, big brother? Brother Jinyu? I'm the most loyal, your most faithful little brother. I'll be your bodyguard. I'm strong now, I can knock down seven or eight with one punch. I don't need pay, just feed me."

"You want pay, huh?" He Jinyu teased him.

"If you're willing to give me pay... hehe." Xi'er grinned slyly, his comical look making He Jinyu burst into laughter.

Just as he was about to agree, a scolding voice came from outside the door. Old Man Zhao wanted to drag his little grandson out and spank him: "What are you yelling about? What's all the noise? Do you think this is the countryside? Don't disturb the neighbors!"

"It's fine, Grandpa, we won't disturb anyone!" He Jinyu pushed open the door, his wet hair hanging loose. "Xi'er can yell as much as he likes—that's just his voice. The neighbors are far away, and we usually don't bother each other."

"Don't spoil him," Old Man Zhao glared at his young grandson.

Xi'er shrank his neck. He Jinyu quickly ushered them in: "This is nothing..."

Behind Old Man Zhao came Zhao Xiaobao, who smelled fragrant, and they entered the room one after another. As they spoke, Zhao Dashan arrived, shaking his wet hair, followed by Qing Xuan walking slowly.

He Jinyu's gaze fell on the two jars cradled in Grandpa's arms, wrapped in clean cloth, clearly treasured.

Somehow, his heart began to pound violently, and his eyes involuntarily grew hot.

"Grandpa, shouldn't we eat first..."

"There's something on my mind, I really can't eat right now." Seeing the child's panic, Old Man Zhao could only sigh. The bond of blood is indeed unfathomably deep.

By some instinct, he already sensed it.

"Let's go to your study," he said.

He Jinyu stared fixedly at the things in his arms until Xi'er tugged at him. Then he nodded belatedly: "Ah, yes, the study. Let's go to the study."

Two guards stood faithfully on either side of the door.

Old Man Zhao carefully placed the urns containing Prefect He and his wife's ashes on the desk and dropped a bombshell: "Jinyu, these are your parents' ashes."

He Jinyu's body trembled, and tears instantly gushed out.

"When your elder brothers went to the city, they happened to hear that your parents were not allowed peace after death. Refugees had dug up their bodies to vent their anger. A former subordinate of your father couldn't bear to see it, so he cremated them and stored the ashes at Qingxuan Temple on Qingcheng Mountain in Xinping County."

"He," Old Man Zhao pulled Qing Xuan, who stood stiffly nearby, "is a Taoist from Qingxuan Temple. On the day we left Qingzhou, your little aunt and I received your parents' ashes from his hands."

He didn't want to tell the child that his parents had no peace after death, but he feared he wouldn't believe them. So he did his best to truthfully recount what they had learned.

It would cut the child's heart, but the blood feud was already there, and some pain was unavoidable. He believed Jinyu could get through it. Having his parents back would comfort his lonely future. He could build a grave for them, visit them during Qingming, and have someone to mourn.

The pain was temporary, but the future that was mended would accompany him for life.

"The ashes were given to me by my Eighth Senior Brother." Meeting Jinyu's tearful gaze, Qing Xuan said flatly, "My brother said they would help me find my kin, so I offered incense three times a day piously. When Qingzhou fell into chaos, Uncle came with Zhao Xiaobao to ask for the ashes, and I fled with them."

"I'm older than you. Uncle said you are the eldest son—did your father have any siblings? To be honest, there's no resemblance between your features and mine. Maybe my Eighth Brother was joking. But these two urns do contain your parents' ashes. My Eighth Brother might tease me, but he wouldn't joke about serious matters."

"Qingxuan Temple?" He Jinyu wept, his voice choked with sobs, "There is a Qingxuan Temple in Siguzhen Township, Pingsha County. Even my uncle visited it to burn incense. The temple head is an old Taoist who likes to travel. Now a fat Taoist sits in the temple. Do you know him?"

"Fat Taoist." Qing Xuan gritted his teeth, "If he's as round as a ball, how could I not know him?"

"Qingxuan's second senior brother is a fat Taoist!" Zhao Xiaobao chimed in.

A suppressed wail of anguish filled the room.

He Jinyu reached out to touch the urns containing his parents' ashes, then pulled his hand back in fear of disturbing them. He stretched and retracted his hand, weeping uncontrollably, a painful cry escaping his throat.

The two guards at the door heard the crying and wanted to barge in, but their duty forbade them without orders.

As they grew anxious, their master suddenly ordered: "Go to the General's Mansion. Say I'm ill and wish to see my aunt."

He Jinyu lightly touched the cloth wrapping the urns, then wiped his tears roughly. He took several deep breaths, wiped his eyes twice again, forcing himself to calm down. He lifted his robe and, ignoring Old Man Zhao's attempts to stop him, knelt heavily before the three generations of men.

His forehead pressed against the backs of his hands, hot tears spilling through his fingers. He remained in that position for a long time, his young voice trembling with suppressed emotion: "Jinyu thanks Elder Brother, thanks Little Aunt, thanks Grandpa for all the hard work on behalf of my parents."

"In these hard times, with the hardships of escape, Jinyu kowtows to you elders for keeping my parents safe."

"I thought we would never reunite after that farewell." He Jinyu closed his eyes tightly, tears streaming again. "Jinyu kowtows again to you elders for bringing my parents back to me."

"Grandpa's family has shown me boundless kindness. I could never repay it even in death."

He cried until his whole body shook. Old Man Zhao wept with emotion. He crouched down, pulled the child up, and held his small body tightly against his chest. His rough palm stroked the boy's head as he said gruffly: "Why say such things? You call me Grandpa, so we're family. When we heard the bad news, of course we had to go. There, there, don't cry. Your parents are back. When you have time, build them a proper grave and let them rest in peace."

"Your father was a good official. When he was alive, the people of Qingzhou lived such steady lives, didn't they?"

"Jinyu, when you grow up, be a good official for the people like him. Carry on his will. He'll be comforted in heaven."

"Your mother must have loved you dearly. She raised you so well. You must take care of yourself, so she won't worry in heaven either."

"There, there, don't cry..."

Old Man Zhao patted his skinny shoulders, his heart aching bitterly.

He Jinyu clutched his grandfather's clothes tightly with both hands, couldn't hold back any longer and broke down sobbing.

Zhao Xiaobao and Xi'er crouched on either side of him. Xiaobao, imitating her father, reached out her small hand to pat his back to comfort him.

"Nephew Jin Yu, stop crying. Auntie's here. Don't be upset."

"Brother, you still have us. We are your family too."

He Jinyu cried until he was completely drained and soaked in sweat before he finally stopped.

He stood up and hugged each of his parents' urns, then, with puffy red eyes, said to Qing Xuan: "When Chen Er sent word back to me, he specifically mentioned that among the traveling companions, there was a young man who looked a lot like my uncle did when he was young."

Everyone was taken aback.

"Chen Da and Chen Er have served my uncle since childhood and grew up with him. Among those still alive, only the two of them truly know what my uncle looked like as a teenager. Grandfather is dead. Even if there are surviving old retainers from the Duke's mansion, they're scattered far and wide now. When my uncle came to the border, he didn't bring any servants except Chen Da and Chen Er. If Chen Er says someone looks eight or nine out of ten like my uncle, then it's true."

"The person Chen Er mentioned must be you." He Jinyu carefully examined Qing Xuan's features, as if desperately searching for any resemblance between this youthful face and his uncle's rough, bearded look. "I had planned to mention this tomorrow when I visit my aunt at the mansion, but I bet Chen Er already told her. My aunt hasn't sent anyone yet, probably because she figures you and Grandfather have had a tough journey and wants you all to get a good night's sleep. I didn't expect Grandfather to bring my parents' ashes, and Qing Xuan, who looks like my uncle, brought up being an orphan on his own. My aunt will probably be up all night anyway. In that case, we might as well meet. Even if it's another disappointment, it's still better than being constantly worried."

"I had a cousin, the oldest son of my aunt and uncle. One year, the Yu family returned to their hometown for ancestor worship. My aunt couldn't stand her stepmother wanting to move her mother's memorial tablet, so she took my cousin, who was still an infant, and went back to their hometown, Tongjiang Town. It was then that my aunt's personal maid conspired with outsiders and stole my cousin while my aunt was asleep."

After saying this, He Jinyu asked Qing Xuan's age. Qing Xuan didn't really know his exact age either. The possibility of being the general's son stirred no waves in his heart; after all he had been through, his obsession with his parents was more about figuring out who he really was. Whether his birth parents were a general or a porter made no difference to him.

"Eleven or twelve?" Qing Xuan frowned and casually threw out a number. "Definitely not eight or nine. I'm quite tall."

"My cousin is twelve this year," He Jinyu said. "The age matches."

Qing Xuan said "Oh," not knowing what to say. When he caught sight of Old Man Zhao's bitter, grimacing face from the corner of his eye, he paused.

He opened his mouth and asked, "Uncle, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm perfectly fine!" Old Man Zhao glared at him in annoyance, his eyes full of unreasonable grievance. "Look at what a mess this is, sigh!"

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You tell me what's wrong!" Old Man Zhao slapped his thighs loudly twice, feeling that his perfect plan was about to fail!

"You, you... Ah!"

Why do you have to have such a formidable identity! Couldn't your father have been a porter? Couldn't your mother have been a tofu seller?

It's infuriating!