Chapter Fifty: Mother and Daughter Reunited

Seventh year of King Zheng of Qin, fourteenth day of the fourth month.

As the month came to a close, many people clutching glass tokens arrived before the World Bank. The elderly banker was already waiting at the door, greeting them with a smile, “You’ve come to redeem your tokens, I see~”

One of them, holding a magpie-shaped glass, replied, “Indeed! After a month, one must see how things have unfolded.”

The old man reassured the crowd, “No hurry, the bank is here and won’t run away. What’s more, you have your collateral. Come in, one at a time, no need to rush~” He ushered them inside.

Once inside, the visitors saw rows upon rows of wooden chests, lids thrown open, gold cakes gleaming temptingly within—enough to make anyone lose themselves. Their worries eased at the sight.

The staff worked with calm efficiency, and soon the visitors, their arms full of money, broke into wide grins.

One person exclaimed, “Ah! Why was I so foolish—why withdraw at all? Let it stay in and the interest will just keep compounding!” Laughing, he deposited both his principal and the as-yet-unwarmed interest right back into the bank.

Some felt that one should not be too greedy, but even more followed the first man’s lead, leaving their money to grow.

Meanwhile, the onlookers outside, fired up by what they saw through the open doors, hurried home to fetch their own savings.

Across the street, Li Yu watched the bustling scene from within the Zilan Pavilion, an arm wrapped lovingly around Zi Nu. He gently stroked her shoulder.

“My lord, this game with money is dangerous—it makes people lose their senses,” Zi Nu observed, sensing something amiss with the World Bank.

That’s precisely what I want, for them to lose their senses, Li Yu thought silently.

“My lord, Lady Hu and Nongyu have been talking for some time in the courtyard. Should we go see them?” Zi Nu, worried for Nongyu’s feelings, asked softly.

“Let’s. I’d hoped they’d have some private time, since it’s their first reunion. There must be things best said without others present.” Nodding, Li Yu took Zi Nu’s hand and led her to the courtyard.

…

“Mother, all these years, you’ve suffered so much...” Nongyu held Hu Ningyue’s hand, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’ve not suffered, my child. It’s my fault you weren’t with me growing up. I can hardly believe you’re already so grown...” Hu Ningyue gazed at her beautiful daughter, her tears flowing unchecked.

“Mother, I wasn’t unhappy. Sister Zi Nu was very good to me! And now I have a husband who cherishes me as well.” Nongyu wiped her tears, speaking to her weeping mother.

“There was nothing I could do back then. But from now on, I’ll make it up to you.” Hu Ningyue’s gentle gaze gradually grew resolute, eyes fixed on her daughter as if unwilling to blink.

Just then, Nongyu noticed Li Yu entering the courtyard with Zi Nu.

“Mother, Sister Zi Nu and my husband are here. Let’s go greet them.” Nongyu gently led her mother over.

“Mother, this is Sister Zi Nu. And this is my husband.” Nongyu introduced the two.

“Lady Hu, well met.” Zi Nu stepped forward to greet her.

Hu Ningyue looked at Li Yu in disbelief, then turned to Nongyu, “He is your husband?”

Nongyu nodded, face tinged with embarrassment.

“Mother?! Lady Hu, what’s wrong?” In their anxious gazes, Hu Ningyue suddenly collapsed, fainting to the ground.

“Perhaps she’s exhausted. Lady Hu has been through so much lately—ups and downs—and now, seeing her daughter again, it’s all too much,” Li Yu murmured awkwardly, touching his nose and looking aside.

The two women’s attention was on Lady Hu, so they didn’t notice Li Yu’s awkward expression.

…

Night fell.

Hu Ningyue slowly awoke, taking in the elegant, refined room—surely Nongyu’s. Seeing her daughter sleeping at the bedside, her heart was filled with a tumult of emotions.

Heaven seemed to delight in tormenting her: pregnant out of wedlock, forced to abandon her child, married to a cruel husband, left a widow, and just when she’d found solace at last—it turned out to be her own son-in-law.

Rising quietly to use the restroom, Lady Hu had barely opened the door when a strong arm wrapped around her. About to cry out, her mouth was covered by a large hand.

“Mother-in-law, it’s me,” came Li Yu’s voice from behind, and he gently released her.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trembling with tension.

“I’ve waited long for this chance to explain myself to you,” Li Yu whispered into her ear.

“You already have Nongyu—why must you disgrace me as well?” Hu Ningyue demanded.

“Because I love Nongyu, and I love you too,” Li Yu confessed without reservation.

“Ningyue, I want to make you happy. I don’t want you to grow old alone.” As he spoke, Li Yu traced his tongue along her delicate ear.

Lady Hu shivered. “Stop! I need to use the restroom. You go out first.”

---

“Mother, are you in there?” Nongyu’s voice called from outside.

“It’s Nongyu—don’t do anything,” Lady Hu whispered urgently to Li Yu behind her.

“Ningyue, isn’t this even more exciting?” Li Yu had meant to leave, but Nongyu’s arrival only awakened the devil in him.

“Mother? Are you in there? If you don’t answer, I’m coming in!” Nongyu’s anxious voice pressed on.

“It’s all right, dear—just a bit messy in here. Go wait in my room. I’ll be right out,” Lady Hu forced herself to respond, trying to hide the trembling and breathlessness in her voice.

“Mother, you sound strange! Are you sure you’re okay?” Nongyu, hearing the quiver and the shortness of breath, was not reassured.

“No—no problem—just a moment. Go back to your room,” Lady Hu couldn’t bear the heat pressing against her from behind and, in desperation, bit down on Li Yu’s arm.

Li Yu broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

What a little vixen—more like a puppy, he thought, yet his movements only grew more urgent.

The sound of running water echoed, and Lady Hu felt she could die of shame.

“Mother, I’ll go back then,” Nongyu finally retreated, not wanting to embarrass her mother further.

“You’re such a bully,” Lady Hu said tearfully, her face full of grievance.

Li Yu apologized, “My lady, I lost control—it’s your own fault for being so fragrant, so enchanting.”

“You liar. It reeks in here,” Lady Hu retorted instantly.

“Then your son-in-law will take his leave.” With that, Li Yu pulled up his trousers and darted out.

“You scoundrel,” Lady Hu muttered through gritted teeth.

~~~

“Mother, what took you so long?” Nongyu asked as soon as she returned.

“Mother, why are you all wet?” Nongyu gazed curiously at her mother’s soaked dress.

“I...I couldn’t hold it,” Lady Hu mumbled, feeling utterly ashamed.

“It’s fine, I have extra clothes. Change, or you’ll catch a chill.” Nongyu kindly offered her some garments.

Wearing Nongyu’s clothes, Lady Hu looked noticeably younger; mother and daughter indeed shared a similar figure—something Li Yu knew better than anyone.

“Daughter, how did you and your husband meet?” Lady Hu asked, wanting to understand their relationship.

“It’s a long story, it started this spring...” Nongyu began, her face gentle, her smile warm.

Lady Hu sighed quietly, gazing at her daughter’s happiness. Some words she could not bring herself to say. She too had fallen, helplessly, for that accursed man—the nemesis of both mother and daughter.

…

Xinzheng

Han Royal Palace

Li Yu glanced at King An of Han, who was moving back and forth around a pillar, and gave a contemptuous smile. He hoisted up Chaoxi Yue’s legs, cradling her like a child as he strolled around the bedchamber.

“Yue’er, when will your cousin return?” he asked softly as he moved.

“Why are you so interested in him?” Chaoxi Yue ran her hands through his hair as she replied.

“We’re relatives, after all. It’s only natural to care,” Li Yu replied with a smile.

“He’s always so mysterious. I really don’t know. But it won’t be long. He needs my blood every so often, so he must return to Xinzheng regularly. Never mind that—hurry up,” Chaoxi Yue urged as she reached her limit.

“All right,” Li Yu said, quickening his pace.

…

“Master, I’ve mastered the Daoist melody you taught me last time. Do you have any new pieces to teach me?” The adorable Honglian asked, doing yoga while eating fruit, her eyes darting mischievously at Li Yu.

“That song is easy to learn but hard to master. Play it for me later,” Li Yu said, watching the little blossom bloom day by day, feeling a tickle in his heart.

“Master, how are you so clever? There’s nothing you can’t do! I thought my painting was impressive, but you’re an expert too,” Honglian recalled presenting her artwork to Li Yu, only for him to dismiss it with a laugh. Then, with a few strokes, he created a piece so wonderful that she was completely won over, insisting on learning from him.

“My master is no ordinary man. He’s no less than that Li Yu from Qin, isn’t he, Brother Fang?” Han Fei interjected, gazing at Honglian fondly as she rolled about on the floor.

“Brother, that’s nonsense! My master is far better than that Li Yu. He’s a master of painting, music, martial arts—so much more!” Honglian retorted, puffing out her chest in pride.

“Brother Fang’s greatest strength isn’t those things—it’s his mastery of statecraft,” Han Fei said, the more he interacted with Li Yu, the more amazed he was. Even though Li Yu hid his true abilities, Han Fei could sense his talent between the lines.

“Brother Han, it’s been a while,” Li Yu greeted Han Fei with a bow.

“Now that I’m Minister of Justice, the work is endless. I can’t be as carefree as you, Brother Fang,” Han Fei replied with a wry smile.

“Has there been any development in the Liu Yi case?” Li Yu inquired with interest.

“We’ve identified the other party as an assassin from Nightfall. He was once a bandit and massacred the entire Huoyu Mountain Villa clan in Baiyue. That’s probably why he went after Liu Yi—because Lady Hu was once the eldest daughter of Huoyu Villa. Maybe he wanted something from her,” Han Fei analyzed thoughtfully.

Li Yu was impressed by Han Fei’s thoroughness. “And what does Ji Wuye say?”

“What could he say? They’re all Nightfall’s people. If I don’t bother him, he won’t come looking for me. Best to let it be,” Han Fei answered indifferently.

“Brother Han, you’ve always dreamed of serving Han. Now that you have your wish, it’s a cause for celebration,” Li Yu said.

Han Fei shook his head with a bitter smile. “The Liu Yi case isn’t over. Just a few days ago, the Scorpion Sect in Xinzheng was wiped out—trouble after trouble, peace is hard to come by.”

Li Yu chuckled, “I heard the Scorpion Sect was involved in human trafficking. Isn’t that something to celebrate?”

Han Fei replied, “Ji Wuye doesn’t see it that way. Many in the Scorpion Sect were his people. Now they’re all dead.”

Li Yu hadn’t known that.

The Han state was rotten to the core.

Not wanting to dwell on unhappy matters, Han Fei changed the subject, “Honglian always bothers you, Brother Fang. As her brother, I thank you.”

Li Yu waved it off. “Your sister is a rare beauty. I’ve never felt bothered.”

Han Fei gave Li Yu a strange look.

“That’s right—I am a rare beauty,” Honglian declared, sticking out her chest.

“Brother, since you took office, I hardly see you anymore.” Honglian jumped in place, as if to stretch her body.

Han Fei gazed at her fondly, “I’ve just started, and it’s been busy. It’ll get better soon.”

Honglian came over, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, “Brother, I’ve learned a lot lately, even a new song. I’ll play it for you now.”

Han Fei ruffled her hair, “Go ahead.”

Honglian skipped off toward the inner rooms.

Han Fei bowed to Li Yu, “Thank you for teaching her. My sister has grown so much.”

Li Yu waved it off. There was no need for such formality among friends.

As the music began, Han Fei lost himself in the world of rivers and lakes, the melody both delicate and grand, utterly different from modern harmonics.

“Brother Fang, does this piece have a name?” Han Fei asked.

“Laughing Proudly at the World,” Li Yu replied quietly.

“A fitting name, perfectly in tune with its spirit,” Han Fei nodded.

“I even wrote lyrics for it,” Li Yu added, not holding back.

“Truly?” This time it was Honglian, her face flushed, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Of course,” Li Yu said, waving his hand. “Bring brush and ink!”

The attending maids, wordless, went to fetch them at once.

…

“A laugh upon the blue sea, the tides rise and fall on both shores…” Han Fei read Li Yu’s handwritten lyrics, instantly captivated, wanting to claim them as his own.

“Brother, that’s mine! Copy your own if you want,” Honglian protested, grabbing at the paper.

“All right, all right, don’t tear it,” Han Fei surrendered, fearing this fiery sister.

Who in the future, he wondered, could ever handle her?

His gaze drifted from his sister to Li Yu, who stood nearby, watching Honglian with gentle appreciation.

Han Fei felt as if something precious had been taken from him.

…

Lanxiu Villa

Li Yu gazed at Yan Lingji, making small changes to the paper before him.

“Are you done yet, my lord? I’m getting sore sitting here,” Yan Lingji complained.

“Almost. I just wanted to look at you a little longer,” Li Yu replied.

“You—” The little cat bristled, raising her delicate hand and sending a fiery serpent darting toward Li Yu.

“Wait, I just finished the painting!” Li Yu cried, grabbing his sketchbook and running.

“Stop!” Yan Lingji chased after him, unwilling to give up.

But Li Yu suddenly stopped short, spun around, and swept Yan Lingji into a tight embrace, the scent of roses enveloping him.

“Yan Lingji, I love you. I will love you forever,” Li Yu whispered.

She ceased to struggle, letting herself be held, melting into his warmth.

So warm, Yan Lingji thought, feeling the beat of Li Yu’s heart.

Li Yu held her close, gazing at the bright moon overhead.

“If you wish to rescue Tianze, you must first stir up trouble in Xinzheng—the bigger, the better. Only then will Bai Yifei be drawn out. I’ll cooperate with you,” he murmured, inhaling her intoxicating fragrance.

“Mm,” she replied.