Over ten days later, the ship entered Zhenzhou. With the capital in sight, Mo Zi wanted to head straight back without stopping, but there were troublemakers who insisted she stay in Wencheng for one night.
The troublemakers were the three Min brothers. Through persuasion and coaxing, soft and persistent. Since entering Great Zhou territory, message transmission had become convenient, and the three brothers had long sent word ahead. Wencheng was also a necessary stop on the way to the capital. According to them, Old Master Min had already been waiting in the capital for over a month. No matter what, he had to see the two sisters. The old master knew Mo Zi would surely be busy upon returning to the capital, which was why he hurried to Wencheng.
Min Zhen was formidable. Discovering he couldn’t get through to Mo Zi no matter what, he immediately turned to the informed Doulü.
Doulü was soft-hearted, and combined with her childhood dreams, even though Mo Zi hadn’t yet shown her the letter and water-purifying pearl, she had already accepted in her heart the possibility of being a Min family daughter. However, seeing Mo Zi wouldn’t relent, she naturally had to stand on her sister’s side. But though her mouth didn’t speak it, joy showed on her face. Though not close to strangers, she immediately became familiar with Min Zhen and the others. And when Min Zhen and the others perceived that Doulü was more pure and kind than Mo Zi, they began using the strategy of older brothers coaxing a younger sister, making Doulü, who had lacked family affection since childhood, wear sweet smiles every day.
Mo Zi saw it all and felt pain in her heart. She really couldn’t bring herself to tell Doulü to keep her distance from Min Zhen and the others. Blood was thicker than water, and moreover, from what she’d seen so far, the Min family people she’d met seemed quite decent. Perhaps Min Zhen hadn’t lied—the Min clan protected their own. Perhaps, unlike other great families with their scheming and plotting, the Min family would be better.
Someone knocked on the door. Thinking it was Doulü returning from her earlier persuasion attempt, she said, “Even if you try to persuade me again, it’s useless. We’ll leave as soon as Old Guan and the others finish buying food.”
“If even Doulü can’t persuade you, then I won’t say anything.” The one who entered was Yuan Cheng.
“The door is behind you.” She wasn’t seeing him out.
“May I beg a cup of tea?” The thick-skinned are invincible.
Mo Zi laughed in exasperation. “Yuan Cheng, are you making social calls? Should I have Chouyu contribute some melon seeds and snacks?”
“Clear tea will suffice.” He sat down on his own, seeing the blueprints in her hand, knowing she worked tirelessly on ships. “The matter of shipbuilding—you needn’t force yourself.”
“I’m not forcing myself. I enjoy it.” Having thought it through, if she wasn’t strong herself, she’d be bullied by others, and her techniques would be possessed by others. Whether she was willing or not, she would be resented by one side, but at least she shouldn’t let herself be too wronged.
“If I were you, with such a large family wanting to care for me, regardless of whether it’s real or fake, I’d acknowledge them first and then swindle the Nine Skills famous throughout the realm. If they realized they’d made a mistake, I’d take the Nine Skills elsewhere to make a fortune.” He had still come to persuade.
“Some things I can’t say to Doulü, but I can say to you.” Yuan Cheng’s resolve was strong enough; Doulü might overthink things. Mo Zi spoke honestly. “My current identity—the Emperor will know it, and others will know sooner or later too. Though I’m not afraid of what I might encounter, what about the Min family? If I insist on not acknowledging them, the Min clan would have nothing to do with us two sisters. Even if in the future everyone wants to condemn me, they couldn’t implicate the Min clan, and there couldn’t be a case of exterminating the entire family.” She had considered this very carefully.
Yuan Cheng was momentarily stunned. “Mo Zi, you’ve thought very far ahead, but I must say you’re quite right.”
“Not far—it’s just that the Emperor’s golden words can lift me to heaven or kick me down to hell. Although His Majesty seems like a good person, when fundamental interests conflict with his sovereign power, he won’t protect me. And if I have other plans, the fewer relatives the better. With just Doulü alone, I have to consider her in everything. If it were a whole extended family, I simply can’t imagine—it would be exhausting.” She felt depending on each other for survival was easier.
“I was originally happy for you.” He smiled, then restrained it.
“I’m very happy.” She opened the window frame, the river breeze brushing her face. “Even if I can’t acknowledge them, knowing there are so many relatives, no matter where I go in the future, I won’t be lonely. Because, though I can’t acknowledge them, I can still care about them.”
When Yuan Cheng left, he hadn’t drunk a single sip of tea.
Outside the door, Min Zhen was there, his expression somewhat moved.
“Did you hear?” Yuan Cheng asked.
“I knew she must be Fifth Uncle’s daughter.” Min Zhen had heard.
“Better to follow her wishes then.” Yuan Cheng had come to persuade, but she convinced him instead. “The road ahead is treacherous. Her entanglement with Daqiu will change her situation in Great Zhou. Rather than the Min family making a grand show of having her acknowledge her ancestry and return to the clan, causing the entire clan to be attacked and framed by those with ulterior motives, it would be better to act quietly, exerting effort and providing protection from the shadows.”
Min Zhen furrowed his brow. “I can’t make this decision—it must be decided by the old master.”
Before long, Min Zhen brought back a personal letter from Old Master Min. The letter said Grandfather respected his granddaughters’ decision. As long as he could protect them, temporarily not publicly acknowledging the two was acceptable, but at least they should have a meal with Grandfather and Grandmother. After all, they were elderly—today one doesn’t know tomorrow’s affairs.
After reading it, Doulü’s eyes brimmed with tears. She said nothing, just looked at Mo Zi like that.
On one side was the sincere and earnest request of elders, on the other was her sister’s pitiful stray puppy face. Even a heart of stone would be moved, much less Mo Zi who hadn’t yet cultivated a heart of stone. Thus, she agreed to have a meal.
That evening, just saying they’d have a good meal, she brought Wei Jia, Yang Qiao, and others to Wencheng’s best grand restaurant. The restaurant staff had received instructions beforehand and divided the large group into two private rooms—one for those in the know, one for those not. After everyone was seated and dishes began arriving, Mo Zi and Doulü followed Min Zhen to another location.
Upon entering the door, she saw five people. Aside from the kind-looking elderly woman beside Old Master Min, Mo Zi recognized them all. The Min father and Min Yu, the old master. Min Song’s parents. She guessed the elderly woman was probably the Old Madam Min, which is to say, their grandmother.
Sure enough, when the old madam saw the two sisters, especially staring blankly at Mo Zi for quite a while, she began wiping tears, repeatedly saying how much she resembled Fifth Son.
Min Song’s mother, Madam Ding, quickly handed her a handkerchief. “Mother, this is a happy occasion. With Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law watching from heaven, seeing our family finally reunited, they must be happy.”
“Old woman, crying like this will frighten the two children.” Old Master Min also urged.
But the old madam glared at him twice. “If not for you, this stubborn old man wanting face, insisting on not persuading Fifth Son and his wife to come back that year, how would my two poor granddaughters have ended up wandering outside? Now we’ve finally met them, we should set an auspicious date and have them acknowledge their ancestry and return to the clan—hosting a thousand tables wouldn’t be enough—yet you’re hesitating again. Let me tell you, if you drive away my granddaughters again, I won’t live with you anymore either. I’ll become a nun.”
Doulü was startled. Thinking the old madam was serious, she rarely spoke quickly, “Grandmother, this was Sister’s and my idea. You can’t blame Grandfather.”
Mo Zi looked at her sister whose face had flushed red, admiring how naturally she called them Grandfather and Grandmother. She herself couldn’t open her mouth for the moment, only feeling that having lived days of lonely desolation for too long, suddenly having these family members appear felt unaccustomed.
But Doulü calling them Grandfather and Grandmother made hearts bloom with joy. The old madam couldn’t be bothered settling old and new accounts with the old master anymore and quickly beckoned for the two sisters to sit beside her.
Doulü clearly played the role of vanguard in this occasion, pulling Mo Zi over.
The old madam looked Doulü over carefully again. “Elder sister resembles your father, you resemble your mother—truly the appearance of a celestial immortal and the heart of a bodhisattva. Good granddaughter, from now on, no matter what this stubborn old man plans, you two are Grandmother’s heart and liver treasures.”
Min Yu noticed Mo Zi’s expression was relatively calm and asked, “Mo Zi girl, won’t you act spoiled?”
Mo Zi smiled. “When has Old Master Yu ever seen me act spoiled?”
Min Yu thought about it and laughed himself. “True enough. This girl acts straightforwardly with loyalty, free and unrestrained—I truly haven’t seen her acting coquettish. Sister-in-law, let me tell you, you can only pamper the younger granddaughter.”
The old madam seemed to know about Mo Zi’s situation. “No matter how capable Mo Zi is outside, when she returns home she’s still my granddaughter. How could I not cherish her?” She turned her head past Doulü to look at her. “These years you’ve taken care of Doulü—you’ve suffered.”
With these words, Mo Zi’s eyes grew a bit hot. Her mouth, usually so eloquent, became halting. After a long while, she lowered her head and replied, “It wasn’t suffering.”
The old madam shed tears again, but this time it was Doulü who helped wipe them.
At this point, drawing clear boundaries would be cruel to everyone. Mo Zi revealed the secret in the earring. “I didn’t bring the water-purifying pearl with me, but I traced the letter onto paper.” She gave it to Old Master Min.
After reading it, Old Master Min’s aged eyes also reddened. “You child, really—such a major discovery and you didn’t tell us earlier. If we hadn’t persisted all along, we would have almost missed you.”
Old Madam Min sobbed, while at the same time protectively said, “The children have also suffered too much. Say a few words less.”
“To think Fifth Brother could seal the secret in the pearl of an earring—worthy of once being the person in our Min clan most likely to surpass Old Ancestor.” Min Song’s father, Min Huan, sighed with regret. “Among our generation, not one person has talent like Fifth Brother.”
“Our two generations won’t have anyone, but in the next generation, there’s now one person.” Min Yu looked at Mo Zi.
Mo Zi didn’t pay attention at first, but when both Old Master Min and Min Huan’s gazes fell on her, she felt something was wrong. She quickly said, “Aside from shipbuilding, I can’t do anything. Moreover, I’m female.” It seemed the Min clan descendants had always taken surpassing Old Ancestor Min Zhen as their goal. However, she didn’t want to surpass anyone—she only wanted to be herself.
“That’s not difficult.” Min Yu had actually thought about it. “Though you specialize in shipbuilding, your left-handed carving has already achieved great mastery. With just a bit of guidance, you could pass the Five Skills assessment in one year. Being female isn’t an obstacle either—you and Doulü can marry men into the family.”
Hearing this, Mo Zi nearly burst out laughing. “I’m not marrying anyone into the family.”
Doulü was half a beat slower. “Me neither.”
Old Master Min gave Min Yu a sidelong glance, signaling him not to speak carelessly, then said to Mo Zi, “No one can force you to learn the Nine Skills. The reason I’ve been so intent on acknowledging you is simply because we’re family, nothing more. So many years have passed—you have things you want to do. Just remember the Min family will always stand behind you.”
Old Madam Min was in agreement with her husband on this point. “Those Nine Skills—whoever treasures them can learn them. Back then, your eldest uncle valued them too heavily, which is why he lost Fifth Son.”
Having experienced the pain of loss, they could see clearly. Mo Zi liked their worldly wisdom of not imposing on others just because they were elders.
Though it wasn’t publicly announced, this family of relatives was thus acknowledged. Of course, Grandmother was later quite enthusiastic in suggesting the sisters take Ruzhu and Rubao as courtesy names—that was something Mo Zi absolutely could not compromise on.