In her memories, there was Yuan Rong’s gentle profile, her Second Brother, and Sister-in-law Ling’er’s undying love, but never any scenes of Yuan Rong together with his Second Brother.
Or rather, from the time Second Brother married and said “There’s no need for concubines,” Yuan Rong never came near Second Brother again. Even when they met in the courtyard, she would bow without raising her head, then withdraw.
Sister-in-law Ling’er was a wonderful girl, with a resilient and faithful nature. Although her marriage to Guan Qingmu was arranged by their parents, they were equals in their relationship, their affection making others envious. After seeing how Second Brother looked at his wife, Guan Qingyue never mentioned Second Brother to Yuan Rong again.
They just weren’t destined to be together.
She was young then and hadn’t paid much attention to Yuan Rong’s emotions, just assuming she was heartbroken. So shortly after Second Brother’s marriage, Yuan Rong hurriedly married someone else. She hadn’t carefully looked at what Yuan Rong’s husband looked like, nor did she know where her daughter was. After Yuan Rong returned, she became quiet and withdrawn, often staring blankly into space. When Guan Qingyue asked what was wrong, she would just smile without speaking.
Thinking back now, Feng Yue felt that Ling Shu could only be the Second Brother’s child. Not just because of their similar features, but given Yuan Rong’s outwardly gentle yet inwardly strong character, once she fell in love with Second Brother, she would never have committed to anyone else. Moreover, there was a period when Second Brother was constantly depressed, getting drunk numerous times, and Yuan Rong had gone to attend to him many times. What happened between them, nobody knew.
Since Yuan Rong left her that message, Ling Shu must be the Second Brother’s child. But Second Brother seemed to have died without knowing this.
Ling Shu was even more innocent, knowing nothing from birth, and was even sold as a maid. When she went to redeem her, one look at the little girl’s eyes made Feng Yue’s eyes turn red.
“Are you Ling Shu?” she asked, looking at those vaguely familiar features.
The little girl’s eyes were full of wariness, though her manner was docile as she respectfully kowtowed: “This servant is Ling Shu, begging for the mistress’s mercy.”
Thus, Young Lady Feng Yue, who had gone to the Wu Kingdom, gained a maid named Ling Shu. She often held her in her arms and spoiled her with snacks. Once Ling Shu learned to do hair, she would stand on a stool behind her to arrange her hair, feeling that her mistress was working too hard. She would earnestly say, “I was saved by you, and you’ve raised me for three years. When you don’t want to work in this profession anymore, I will take care of you!”
After three years on Feng Yue’s side, the wariness in Ling Shu’s eyes disappeared, replaced by innocence and lovability, as naive as any ordinary child. Feng Yue’s gaze was always full of kindness when looking at her, only wanting this child to have a better life and stay away from vengeance.
The Guan family’s vendetta had nothing to do with her; she was innocent and deserved to live well. So when Yin Gezhi asked about Ling Shu, Feng Yue only said she was Yuan Rong’s child but didn’t mention she was the last of the Guan bloodline.
What Yin Gezhi owed her, she had originally planned to have him repay by protecting Ling Shu for life. Unexpectedly, what seemed like a dead end turned into a path to survival.
The mountain wind grew stronger. Ling Shu listened quietly to her story, reaching out to hold down her flying cloak.
“So, Mistress, you’re my aunt?” she asked.
Stroking her head, Feng Yue smiled, “I’m sorry. I had planned to keep it from you for life, but I think since you want to know, there’s no harm in telling you now.”
Lowering her eyes slightly, Ling Shu smiled shyly, “You noticed?”
After things had settled down, she had been constantly seeking information about the Guan family, even managing to buy a painting that had come from the Guan family mansion. Since that day, she hadn’t slept well.
She knew Yuan Rong was her mother but didn’t know who her father was. She wanted to ask her mistress but feared bringing up painful memories. So she kept it to herself.
Little did she know, her mistress had seen it all.
“You little girl, you’ve always hidden things under your bed,” Feng Yue sighed. “Whenever you acted strange, I would look under your bed. Before, it was gifts for me, or sweets I had forbidden you from eating. I never expected that now, you’d hide a painting of the Guan family.”
Taking out the scroll hidden behind her cloak, Feng Yue led Ling Shu further up the mountain. When they reached the General’s Tomb, she found a clean spot and opened the scroll.
The long painting stretched three chi, showing three rows of people. The first row was kneeling, with several people sitting in chairs in the middle, and a long row of people standing behind them. Old and young, men and women, all wore formal attire with serious expressions. Only a few unruly children knelt in front, making faces.
This was the Guan family portrait, painted when Guan Qingyue was five. At that time, the Guan family’s eldest son hadn’t died in battle, and the youngest son hadn’t been born yet. Only three children were kneeling in that generation, from left to right, from oldest to youngest. Guan Qingmu knelt in the middle.
“Your father didn’t look like this when he grew up,” Feng Yue smiled, stroking the yellowed paper. “When he grew up, he was so handsome, dignified, and elegant, with godlike bearing. How many girls in Lidu wanted to marry him? He wasn’t any less attractive than the Crown Prince at the time.”
Ling Shu stared blankly at the little boy kneeling in his double-breasted formal clothes, her eyes full of confusion.
“My father and mother… they never married, did they?”
Feng Yue’s smile faltered, her eyes shifting as she turned back, “They did… I haven’t gotten to that part of the story yet. Yuan Rong did marry…”
“Mistress,” Ling Shu smiled, seeing her trying to make up a story, “You don’t need to cover it up. How could I not understand? If they had married, how could I have ended up abandoned?”
“…You girl,” Feng Yue sighed, “Why are you so clever? Being a bit foolish brings more blessings, you know?”
“But…”
“No buts.” Holding her in her arms, Feng Yue squinted, gently stroking her head. “What’s past is past. From now on, you have me for everything.”
“Mistress…”
“Call me Aunt.”
Ling Shu was stunned, then smiled, her eyes bright as she wrapped her arms around her waist and sweetly called out, “Aunt.”
Feeling content, Feng Yue looked up at the banners flying beside the General’s Tomb and said softly, “Come, let’s go offer incense.”
All the recoverable remains of the Guan family members had been found and properly buried around the General’s Tomb. Ling Shu found Guan Qingmu and Yuan Rong’s respective tombstones, carefully read their life stories, offered incense, and properly kowtowed three times.
Although she didn’t know what past entanglements the previous generation had, she had finally found her parents. At least during Qingming Festival and Cold Food Festival, she would make sure they never lacked for burning incense.
This was all she could do now.