Chapter 153 At Least He’s a Living Person

Chapter 153: At Least He Is Alive

After Liu Qingci finished speaking, the carriage went completely silent.

It was obviously somewhat embarrassing to talk about such matters with his own father.

But Liu Qingci felt that since his father had already sensed something, he might as well confess sooner rather than later.

Having said that, he didn't dare to raise his head, let alone look at his father's expression.

In this eerily quiet atmosphere, the carriage finally stopped in front of the Liu mansion.

The coachman jumped down, set down the footstool, and said softly, "Master, we have arrived."

Liu Qingci felt a wave of relief, and then heard his father across from him let out a sigh.

Liu Wenyuan said nothing, simply pushed aside the carriage curtain and got off.

Liu Qingci followed him anxiously.

The mansion's gate was wide open, and the gatekeeper had already come forward to greet them, but Liu Wenyuan didn't even glance at him, striding quickly, urgency in his steps.

Liu Qingci followed a couple of steps behind, watching his father's back, his heart pounding uneasily, and could only keep his head lowered and follow.

They walked around the privacy screen, through the front courtyard, one behind the other, without a word.

At the entrance of the main hall, Madam Liu was already waiting.

She hadn't slept a wink since last night, sitting alone in the main hall until dawn, brewing new tea several times without taking a single sip.

Hearing the commotion outside, she hurried over and immediately spotted Liu Wenyuan.

"My lord!" she greeted, scanning him from head to toe. "You're finally back!"

Madam Liu's gaze shifted from him to Liu Qingci behind him, her voice trembling slightly.

"This child, Qingci, went out alone yesterday and never came back. He scared me to death!"

After carefully inspecting them and finding that the father and son had no injuries other than looking tired, she was relieved.

"Mother, I made you worry," Liu Qingci said softly.

Madam Liu let out a long sigh of relief.

"Just now, someone from the palace came," her voice trailed off, as if she could barely believe it herself. "They said Qingci has been appointed Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, junior third rank..."

She paused, looking at her husband's complicated expression and her son's silent, bowed head, finally sensing something strange.

"Such wonderful news, why do you both... look so strange?"

Liu Wenyuan stood there, his lips parted slightly.

He seemed to have a lot to say, but something was stuck in his throat, neither coming out nor going down, making his face contort.

Liu Qingci felt even more guilty standing beside him.

Seeing this, Madam Liu grew even more confused.

She looked at her husband, then at her son, and her heart tightened with anxiety.

"What exactly is going on?" her voice grew more anxious. "What happened? Just tell me!"

Liu Wenyuan looked at his wife's anxious face and took her hand to reassure her: "Madam, don't worry, it's nothing serious..."

After saying that, he realized that wasn't right.

This matter was actually quite serious.

"Ah, let Qingci tell you himself," Liu Wenyuan said awkwardly, glancing at his son. "If you have something to say... just tell your mother."

He had lived most of his life and had indeed made plans for his son's marriage.

But he had never truly considered how to discuss matters of the heart with his son.

And the object of his affection was a man.

Lord Liu, who had been busy for a whole day and night, felt he needed some peace and quiet.

After saying that, he folded his hands behind his back and walked to the side, his gaze falling on a pot of orchids under the eaves, as if he'd suddenly taken great interest in the flowers he had raised for years.

Madam Liu looked at Liu Qingci, whose ears were so red they looked like they'd drip blood, and the unease in her heart grew stronger.

"Qingci," she turned to her son, softening her voice, "Your father can't explain clearly. You tell me, what exactly happened?"

Saying those words once had taken immense courage, and now, being asked again by his mother, Liu Qingci didn't know where to begin.

"Just say it directly, child!" Madam Liu urged, growing impatient.

Liu Qingci took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at his mother.

"Mother, I know you've been looking for marriage prospects for me recently... You don't need to trouble yourself anymore."

Madam Liu was taken aback. She had indeed been making inquiries these days.

First, she felt her child was of age and marriage arrangements could begin; second, because she had a vague unease in her heart...

Especially today, hearing about Prince Rui's rebellion against the palace, she became even more worried.

"Why suddenly bring this up?" Madam Liu asked tentatively, her voice unconsciously softening.

Liu Qingci clenched his fists, not daring to meet his mother's eyes, and said, "I have someone I like."

Madam Liu's eyes lit up with uncontrollable joy.

"Which family's daughter?" She grabbed Liu Qingci's hand, her voice rising, as if she couldn't wait to find out about the girl's family. "Tell mother quickly, I'll ask someone to propose marriage! You're now a junior third rank official, you can marry any girl. As long as she has good character, even if her family background is modest, it's fine. I'm not picky..."

"Mother," Liu Qingci interrupted her.

Madam Liu's words stopped abruptly. The joy in her heart paused, and suddenly a sense of dread surged up.

Sure enough, the next moment she heard her son say: "...It's not a girl."

Madam Liu's smile froze on her lips.

As if afraid she might misunderstand, Liu Qingci confessed outright: "He is a man."

At this, Madam Liu's expression froze, her mind going blank.

Liu Qingci asked sorrowfully: "Mother, are you alright? Are you angry?"

“No… I’m not angry…” Madam Liu replied in a daze, almost on reflex.

Her son had been obedient and sensible since childhood, never giving her a reason to be angry.

Even in such a situation, she didn't know how to get angry.

Looking at Liu Qingci’s cautious expression, Madam Liu’s heart softened.

But she also knew her son well—if he was willing to be so open with them, it must be something he was truly serious about.

Still trembling with unease, Madam Liu ventured,

“Is… is it His Highness Prince Rui?”

Her constant worry had always been that Qingci and Prince Rui might have something between them…

But since her son never brought it up, she hadn’t dared to ask.

Now, hearing Liu Qingci admit he liked a man, she was almost certain it had to be Prince Rui, who had been close to him since childhood.

“…Huh?” Liu Qingci looked stunned.

It seemed he had never expected his mother to ask that, and he quickly denied it: “No, it’s not him.”

“Not him?” Madam Liu’s expression went blank again. Confused, she asked, “Then who else could it be?”

“Prince Yu, Xiao Yan,” Liu Qingci said.

Madam Liu was dazed. “Oh… so it’s Prince Yu.”

The very Prince Yu who had once given her son thirty lashes, died on the bed from exhaustion, and then inexplicably came back to life…

Once he confessed something like this, there would be too many questions.

Besides, they couldn't wrap their heads around it, so they didn’t ask further.

They simply let the exhausted Liu Qingci return to his room to rest.

The front hall was left with the emotionally conflicted Liu couple, facing each other in silence.

After Liu Wenyuan had sighed countless times, Madam Liu finally couldn't hold back anymore.

She twisted and wrung the handkerchief in her hands until it was crumpled and its edges frayed.

“Husband, I heard… Prince Rui has rebelled and is now locked up in prison?”

“Yes,” Liu Wenyuan replied.

“Such a serious crime…” Madam Liu frowned, lowering her voice. “Is he… going to get the death penalty?”

Liu Wenyuan paused. “Rebellion is an unforgivable offense. According to the law, the principal offender is to be executed by slow slicing, family property confiscated, and the nine clans implicated. Even if His Majesty spares him out of familial affection, he will hardly escape death.”

Madam Liu's face went pale.

She suddenly felt a bit relieved that Qingci's feelings weren't for Prince Rui.

Although Liu Qingci had never fallen for anyone since childhood, she, as his mother, knew his nature well.

Once he really fell for someone, he would give his whole heart—and never take it back.

If anything happened to that person, her Qingci would probably be devastated.

Still shaken, Madam Liu couldn't help asking, “Prince Yu… is Prince Yu okay? How is he now?”

Liu Wenyuan pondered. “Prince Yu… he seems different from before, but he’s in good health now…”

“Ah… well, that's good at least…” After a long pause, Madam Liu added, “At least he’s alive…”

The couple couldn't reach any conclusion about their son's love life.

So they set it aside for now, deciding to ask more later.

But near evening, a servant came to report at the mansion gate.

They said His Highness Prince Yu had arrived.