Chapter 46 Part 1

 

Although she had just experienced a dangerous situation during the day, and it was her first night in Yongning Mansion, Xuyu unexpectedly slept soundly. When she woke up the next day, if it weren’t for the wound on her wrist that reminded her of yesterday’s experience, she would have felt refreshed and recovered.

However, the news from the painting department had arrived, allowing her to take a three-day leave to recuperate. The Prince Ning Mansion and the Grand Princess Mansion also sent people to visit her with generous gifts to express their gratitude.

Pei Xiaoyuan was on official business, so he left some guards at home and went out early in the morning as usual. Qingtou followed his instructions and kept a close eye on Xuyu. If she took half a step further, he would circle around her and ask her to lie down and rest. To entertain her, he also told her what he had learned from the servants of Grand Princess Mansion and Prince Ning Mansion.

The case was said to have been handed over to Jinwu General, Han Kerang, who led the Dali Temple to investigate.

Prince Kang stated that when the accident happened, he was forcibly taken away by the people around him, and the surviving guards and boatmen all testified to this.

The grand princess’s anger dissipated after one night. Not only did she not blame Prince Kang, she also sent people to visit him.

The most unfortunate of all was Prince Ning, who had organized this banquet to celebrate his return to the capital, but things went contrary to his wishes, leaving him utterly overwhelmed, as one could imagine. Fortunately, the emperor did not hold him accountable and even sent a palace eunuch to visit County Princess Yucheng, which could be considered a small blessing amidst the misfortune.

Xuyu had to admire this little guy. The steward of the two mansions came and stayed for only a short while, but he was able to find out so much information. And it was not just that. He heard from the people of the two mansions that if they had not been stopped from leaving today, the two county princesses would have come to visit her in person.

“Young Master, you have performed a remarkable feat and bravely saved the two county princesses! I have been here for several months and have heard that the two county princesses are the most distinguished lady in the capital. This time your face is truly big!”

Qingtou felt quite proud and said happily.

But Qingtou’s glorious deeds were not over yet.

Just after noon, another distinguished guest came to Yongning Mansion. It was the chief eunuch of Prince Kang Mansion. However, Xuyu did not see him. It was unknown if it was a coincidence or something, but the chief eunuch happened to came at the same time as Pei Xiaoyuan, who was returning to the mansion, and they met directly in the front hall. After the person left, Pei Xiaoyuan went straight to Xuyu’s residence and told her what just happened.

The chief eunuch of Prince Kang Mansion not only brought generous gifts, but also sincere words, which to comfort the painter who rescued the two county princesses on the boat yesterday.

Xuyu was surprised that someone from Prince Kang Mansion would come to send gifts, but when she thought about what she had just heard from Qingtou, she seemed to understand something.

No matter how unbearable the truth was yesterday, Prince Kang was still her father’s son after all. Whether it was Prince Kang Mansion itself or her father, it seemed they didn’t want people to know too much. Sending a chief eunuch to express gratitude in front of Pei Xiaoyuan was enough, no need to say more, those who should understand would naturally understand. Grand Princess’s attitude change was probably due to this reason.

Xuyu met Pei Xiaoyuan’s gaze and nodded: “I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything nonsense.”

Pei Xiaoyuan nodded, and his eyes immediately dropped to rest on her wrist.

Xuyu hurriedly said, “I also applied medicine today! It will be fine in two days!”

Qingtou kept sticking his head in from outside the door, looking at the two people talking inside.

“Master, why did you come back so early today?” Finally, he saw the opportunity to interrupt.

He had been in Chang’an for quite some time, but this is the first time he has seen his master returning home during the day. How could he not be surprised?

Pei Xiaoyuan ignored him, and Qingtou retreated awkwardly.

Pei Xiaoyuan told Xuyu that Guo Guo’er had been found.

After the turmoil, there were orphans everywhere, so the imperial court set up orphan relief halls in Chang’an and various counties to adopt orphans. After the death of the old couple entrusted by Yinniang to raise Guo Guo’er, he became one of the thousands of orphans and lived in an abandoned temple that was used as orphanage near the West Market. When he was older, he learned some boxing from Gu Twelve, and made a living by driving carts or doing hard labor. Gu Twelve also took good care of him, almost like a half-apprentice. Some time ago, Gu Twelve escaped due to a misunderstanding, so he went to work at Aunt Gao’s inn in Yongping Lane and had not returned yet.

Xuyu was extremely surprised. She didn’t expect that after going around in circles, she ended up back at Aunt Gao’s place.

Thinking about it again, it was Gu Twelve’s advice that led her to came to Aunt Gao’s inn. It was obvious that the two of them had a good relationship. No wonder Guo Guo’er was now in her place.

Xuyu suddenly became impatient and wanted to go pick people up immediately.

Pei Xiaoyuan couldn’t stop her, so he had no choice but to change out of his official robe and personally accompanied her.

Aunt Gao’s place was still the same as before, the door was wide open. However, because it was daytime, there were not many guests coming in and out. When she arrived, a mule cart was parked outside the door, and several servants were carrying in the goods temporarily stored here by merchants from the West Market. The cart was piled with hemp sacks, bulging with what seemed to be beans and wheat, and each bag weighed at least one to two hundred catties1 catty = 500 g. Xuyu was familiar with the servants, but there was another young man among them, one that she had never seen before. His clothes were full of patches on the elbows, and he wore worn-out hemp shoes. He was tall, with rough hands and feet. At first glance, he looked like an adult, but his face was still a bit childishness. He was probably only sixteen or seventeen years old at most.

The other guys were all old fritters and they would take a break after moving each bag. Only the young man kept moving, carrying the heavy sacks in and out.

Xuyu had a feeling that this young man might be the son that Chief Guard Guo left behind.

She quietly stopped outside the door and watched the young man’s busy figure.

At this time, Aunt Gao walked out of the hall with a water cup in her hand and called the young man to give him some water.

The boy must be very familiar with her. He took it and drank it in one gulp.

“Want more drink?”

Aunt Gao asked him, with a rare motherly tenderness on her face, “If you are tired, just take a rest first. There is no rush.”

“I’m not tired.”

The young man shook his head, handed the water cup back with both hands, turned around and went out to continue working. At this time, he saw Xuyu and thought that the mule cart had blocked the way, so he hurried over to move it.

The two workers whispered to each other: “Really can’t seems to move when seeing see a handsome one… Carrying the same goods, why can he drink water…” Their voices were very low, but Aunt Gao still heard them. She turned around, picked up a broom leaning against the corner and threw it at him, cursing: “You lazy bones, you think I’m blind? You can only bully the honest one! Most of this cart of grain was carried in by him alone! Drinking water, huh? You’re only fit to drink horse piss! Now get back to work and move those goods!”

The guys dispersed in a hurry.

After scolding the people away, Aunt Gao finally noticed Xuyu outside the door. Her eyes lit up and a look of joy appeared on her face. She was about to greet her when she suddenly saw Pei Xiaoyuan standing not far from her and paused.

She already knew who he was, so she didn’t dare to act rashly. She saluted to him from a distance, then quickly walked to Xuyu, glancing at Pei Xiaoyuan while whispering to her, “Young Master, how come you have time to come back to me today? Is there something wrong?”

Xuyu was about to speak when Pei Xiaoyuan came over, called her aside and said a few words. Aunt Gao looked quite relief and let out a cry, then her laughter rose higher.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier! So you are looking for people! If you had told me earlier, there would be no need for you to come in person. I will take the person to you!” As she spoke, she turned around and called “Guo’er”.

It was indeed that young man.

He walked over and heard Aunt Gao say that the visitor was looking for him. He looked at Xuyu with confusion.

“May I know who you are? What are you looking for me for?”

He hesitated before asking, his expression respectful and cautious.

Xuyu vaguely remembered the appearance of the baby in the swaddling clothes back then. She remembered that when the Guo family held the full-month ceremony, her mother brought her to visit in person and asked her to put a longevity lock on the baby. Who would have thought that after more than a dozen years, when they met again today, it would be like this.

She suppressed the sudden surge of emotion in her heart, which she couldn’t even tell whether it was joy, excitement or a bit of sadness, and for a moment, didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Aunt Gao was quite considerate and quickly invited her in, led her to an empty room, and asked the young man to come and talk to her.

There was no one nearby, and the boy stood there silently at first. Seeing that she didn’t speak for a long time, he finally cast a curious look at her.

Xuyu calmed down and called Guo’er: “Do you know who your parents are?”

He shook his head.

“Do you know?” The boy looked at her with his dark eyes again and asked softly.

Yinniang never told him anything about what happened back then.

The same was true for Xuyu at this moment.

She didn’t know how to tell the boy about the past.

“You should know a lady named Yumian.” She said after a pause.

The young man nodded, there was a smile on his face: “I know, Aunt Yumian! She is very good to me!”

Xuyu smiled and said, “I know your aunt Yumian, and I also met your parents when I was a child. When you had your one-month-old ceremony, I went to your house with my mother and saw you in your full-month swaddling clothes.”

The boy’s eyes lit up as he listened carefully. When he heard the end, he showed a somewhat shy expression.

“Can you tell me who my parents are?”

He hesitated and asked in a somewhat eager tone.

“I asked Aunt Yumian before, but she said she didn’t know and just said I was a child she picked up.”

“They are very good people and have done me a great favor.” Xuyu answered him.

“I was not in Chang’an before. But now that I am back, I want to take you with me. From now on, I’ll have you as a little brother. Are you willing?”

The light in the boy’s eyes dimmed. He was silent for a moment, then shook his head: “Thank you. I won’t go with you. I’m fine here.

“I have to go to work! Excuse me.”

He bowed respectfully to Xuyu, finished his salute, and walked out.

As Aunt Gao warmly urged her to come again next time, Xuyu left with a sad heart.

She understood the boy’s decision. During the most difficult time of his childhood, he grew up alone in a dilapidated temple.

Although the orphanage received financial support from the imperial court, it could only keep people from starving to death. Growing up in a place like that would never bring him any good memories. Now that he no longer needed anyone, someone who claimed to be an old friend came to him and said they wanted to take him away. How could he rashly follow them?

What’s more, her future was uncertain. If she couldn’t even protect herself in the end, taking him in would only harm him.

In the end, Xuyu could only comfort herself in this way.

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