What was Ziqing to do?
Her son’s utter obedience was, in itself, a silent protest—a plea for freedom!
Ten years. From the age of six or seven, he’d been trapped here ever since, shouldering a burden as heavy as a mountain, entirely alone. And now, having borne it all successfully, all he asked of her, all he begged of her, was one measure of freedom.
What reason did Ziqing have to refuse him?
If he truly loved Consort Li, what right did she have to keep two devoted hearts apart?
But did he truly love her?
After a long moment, Ziqing spoke, her voice hoarse, asking word by word, “Why does it have to be her? Give me a reason!”
“It’s simply because I like her, because we suit each other. Mommy, you once told me, back in the world of poisonous beasts, that if there needs to be a reason, then it isn’t truly liking someone at all,” Jun Buli said flatly.
“You—!” Ziqing’s heart felt as though it were being crushed beneath three mountains at once, yet she found herself utterly unable to say another word.
Liking someone without needing a reason—those were, indeed, her own words, spoken long ago.
Yet even knowing she had nothing left to say, no argument left to make, Ziqing still couldn’t bring herself to let go, her voice growing even heavier than before. “She doesn’t deserve you!! She doesn’t deserve you in the slightest!”
“I’m happy with her,” Jun Buli said, smiling.
Ziqing couldn’t help but take a deep breath, forcing herself not to let her anger overwhelm her completely. She clenched her jaw tightly, and in the end, had nothing left to say.
“Mommy, I’m begging you,” Jun Buli continued to plead.
“And if I refuse?” Ziqing could only ask this, and she asked it without the slightest hesitation.
Jun Buli hesitated for a brief moment, then smiled faintly. “Then this son will do as you say.”
Wasn’t this exactly the answer Ziqing wanted?
Yet why, looking at her son’s obedient eyes, his calm, resigned smile, did her heart ache even more fiercely than before? It ached so much that tears nearly spilled from her eyes!
She turned her head away, unable to bear looking at her son any longer, afraid she might lose control of herself, afraid that all the guilt she carried would come flooding out all at once.
Beside her, Hongyi felt her own heart ache in sympathy. She understood that this obedience from the young master was like a knife carving straight into his mother’s heart!
He clearly knew, clearly understood, just how guilty, how heartbroken his mother already felt for him—and yet he still deliberately reopened that very wound!
All for the sake of one woman, the young master he…
Hongyi nearly bit through her own lip, desperately wanting to rush over and give the young master a proper scolding!
Whether or not Consort Li had any redeeming qualities at all, aside from having none whatsoever, she also came with a whole host of terrible habits and a foul temper. The young master must truly be blind, unable to see that his mother only had his best interests at heart!
With the young master’s status, power, and looks, what kind of woman couldn’t he have? Why, of all people, did it have to be this Li Qinqin?!
Just as Hongyi was about to rush forward, Ziqing spoke, her voice flat and quiet—just a single word that left everyone present utterly frozen.
She said it firmly, just one word: “Fine.”
“Thank you, Mother, for granting this!” Jun Buli immediately bowed his head to the ground in gratitude.
Ziqing rose to her feet, her body swaying slightly with the effort. “Son, remember this—as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters! Otherwise… Mommy will never forgive you.”
These words, perhaps not everyone present fully understood—but Jun Buli understood perfectly well. Mother, in the end, still harbored suspicions about him.
He had planned everything so meticulously, keeping even Guxi in the dark—yet inevitably, he still couldn’t escape his mother’s discerning eye.
As long as he was happy, that was all that mattered?
Did he even still have the right, in this lifetime, to use the word “happy” at all?
He didn’t dwell on it further. For ten whole years, he’d forced himself not to think about it—why would now be any different?
“This son will remember!” he answered just as firmly, then rose, pulling Consort Li up with him. “Mother, rest assured, this son will absolutely bring Baili Xiaosheng back safely!”
With that, he turned to leave, only to find his father already standing in the doorway, having arrived at some point unnoticed.
The moment Ziqing saw Jun Beiyue, she nearly broke down completely, sinking heavily back into her chair to steady her emotions. Jun Beiyue walked toward Jun Buli step by step, and in that moment, father and son’s expressions were remarkably alike—composed, silent, unmoved even as mountains crumbled before them.
Stopping just a step away, Jun Beiyue reached out and gently rested a hand on Jun Buli’s shoulder, studying him for a long moment before finally saying flatly, “Your Uncle Weisheng is already there for Xiaosheng. Go do what makes you happy.”
A simple sentence, yet it carried within it so much—everything from these past ten years—perhaps something only father and son truly understood between them.
That simple sentence instantly brought tears welling up in Jun Buli’s eyes, yet he smiled, laughing silently, nodding vigorously.
Words ten years overdue—he had finally heard them today.
Jun Beiyue stepped aside, clearing the way, and Jun Buli, leading Consort Li by the hand, walked step by step out through the door, never once looking back.
Yet at that moment, Ziqing couldn’t hold back any longer, her voice thick with tears. “Son, come home when you’re tired. Mommy will be waiting for you!”
Waiting for you—waiting for an explanation, waiting for you to open your heart to me.
Ziqing left the deeper meaning of her words unspoken, but she believed her son would understand.
She wouldn’t push him anymore. She would simply wait.
Jun Buli paused at the doorway, finally turning his head slowly to look back, seeing his mother’s eyes already brimming with tears, and broke into a brilliant smile. “Mommy, don’t be afraid. I don’t like going far. I’ll bring your goddaughter back to you!”
Mommy, don’t be afraid. I don’t like going far.
The moment those words left his mouth, Jun Buli turned away and never looked back again.
Yet that single sentence—”Mommy, don’t be afraid, I don’t like going far”—completely broke through Ziqing’s defenses, tears flooding out uncontrollably. Heaven only knew how frightened she’d truly been just moments before, terrified she might lose her son forever from this day on.
Not until her son’s figure had completely disappeared from sight did Ziqing finally turn away, covering her face and weeping. Jun Beiyue gathered her into his arms, comforting her. “Your little bear cub has grown up. Don’t worry. Whenever he’s ready to talk, he’ll surely give us a reason. Consort Li may be spoiled and empty-headed, but at least she won’t be the ruin of our son.”
The composure Ziqing had managed just moments ago had merely been an act. She insisted through her sobs, “He’ll regret this! That little brat, he’ll definitely regret this! Once he meets someone he truly loves, he’ll regret it!”
“Then let him regret it. There, there, stop crying now. If you keep this up, I’m going to get jealous.” Jun Beiyue was genuinely at a loss, coaxing her for a long while, unable to tell whether Ziqing had finally been soothed to sleep or simply exhausted herself into unconsciousness.
Seeing this, Jue Mingzi, who had remained silent throughout, stepped forward quietly. “Beiyue, let me check her pulse.”
At this, Jun Beiyue grew uneasy. “What’s wrong?”
“Her complexion looks a bit off. Let me take a look first,” Jue Mingzi said seriously, sitting down and taking Ziqing’s hand.
But almost immediately, his expression changed dramatically, breaking into delighted surprise as he looked at Jun Beiyue in disbelief.
Jun Beiyue, thoroughly confused by his expression, grew even more anxious. “What exactly is it?”
“Hahaha, Beiyue, you’re going to be a father again!” Jue Mingzi exclaimed, so overjoyed he could barely form coherent words.
Going to be a father again—what kind of statement was that? He was already a father, after all.
Jun Beiyue froze for a moment, then suddenly understood, his heart nearly leaping straight out of his chest with joy. “Really?”
“Absolutely certain. Judging by the pulse, she’s already over three months along. The pulse is a bit weak, though—she needs careful recuperation right away!” Jue Mingzi said seriously.
Jun Beiyue clasped Ziqing’s hand tightly, so overwhelmed with joy he didn’t know what to say. This child, arriving at just the right moment—it would at least give Ziqing something to focus on during their son’s absence.
As for whether their son would come to regret his choice someday, whether he’d ever offer an explanation about Consort Li, Jun Beiyue trusted that there would be time enough for that. Their son had said he wouldn’t go far—surely, that day would come eventually.
…