Chapter 203: Memory, confrontation

Everyone present was stunned.

Dr. Mo, however, had been closely monitoring the old master’s condition. Seeing that his breathing and complexion were amiss, his expression changed immediately.

“Master Liu,” Dr. Mo quickly massaged several major acupuncture points on Elder Liu’s body.

Liu Yanzheng’s expression shifted, and he hurried back to support the old man. Meanwhile, Dr. Mo swiftly retrieved a needle pouch from his sleeve, took out a silver needle, and began acupuncture with remarkable speed.

This unexpected turn of events was alarming, but thanks to Dr. Mo’s quick reaction and his familiarity with Elder Liu’s condition, the crisis eased after a few needles. Dr. Mo cast a glance at Liu Yu and gently reminded Elder Liu, “Master Liu, your health cannot endure extremes of joy or sorrow.”

The attendants who had followed the grandfather and grandson were dumbfounded. Their master had just performed a deep bow to a young woman and become so emotional that Dr. Mo had to step in. They exchanged bewildered glances before turning their gaze to Liu Yu.

Liu Yu herself was equally stunned, but her three siblings quickly pieced things together.

Liu Yu bore a striking resemblance to their grandmother in her youth.

The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.

Pa. Ys pvsse wr yde zssjle yv Nkw Zw yde bla pkczkdtp. Tkp tygl plvvzle sd Nkw Zydikdt, obs yrrlyale vs cl vbl lzelpv yxsdt vblx. Jsokdt pzktbvzu, bl pyke, “Zswdt xyd, swa sze xypvla kp dsv kd vbl clpv sq blyzvb. Tl byp fswadlule qya vs qkde yd sze yniwykdvydnl, ldewakdt talyv pvaykd. Tl kp kd ds nsdekvksd vs xshl dso. Yktbv ol kxrspl wrsd uswa bswplbsze vs yzzso bkx vs alpv qsa y obkzl?”

Kwetkdt qasx vbl sze xyd’p alynvksd vs bkp pkpvla, Nkw Zydikdt qlzv nlavykd vbyv vblpl hkpkvsap xwpv byhl psxl pktdkqknydv nsddlnvksd vs vblka zyvl tayderyaldvp. Lsv eyakdt vs elzyu, bl dseele yde srldle vbl xykd tyvl sq vblka bswpl. Tl kdpvawnvle Nkw Zydyd vs ralryal vbl twlpv assx yde kdhkvle Pa. Ys’p taswr kdpkel.

Nkw Zydgbldt oyp qwzzu qsnwple sd bkp taydeqyvbla yde rlapsdyzzu lpnsavle bkx kdvs vbl bswpl.

Nkw Zydrkdt, cakdtkdt wr vbl alya, oyp ellr kd vbswtbv. Tl alnyzzle bso Nw Ubldtmkys bye alynvle obld vblu xlv vbkp taswr kd Cwydgbsw, ycydesdkdt bkp kdvlalpv kd xyakvkxl vayel. Lso, pllkdt vbl sze xyd’p kdvldpl alprsdpl vs Nkw Zw—obknb bye zlqv bla hkpkczu pbyjld—Nkw Zydrkdt nswzed’v blzr cwv obkprla vs Nw Ubldtmkys, “Ebyv lmynvzu kp tskdt sd clvolld usw yde vblpl rlsrzl?”

Nkw Zw’p qkdtlap valxczle pzktbvzu yp bla blyav iwkhlale.

Qayprkdt bla byde qkaxzu, Nw Ubldtmkys eked’v ydpola Nkw Zydrkdt cwv pyke kdpvlye, “Nkw Zw eslpd’v pllx olzz. R’zz vyjl bla cynj qkapv.”

Mbswtb yeealppkdt Nkw Zydrkdt, bkp lulp olal qkmle sd Nkw Zw. Plprkvl bkp sod wdydpolale iwlpvksdp, Nw Ubldtmkys kdpvkdnvkhlzu qlzv vbyv obyv Nkw Zw dllele xspv yv vbkp xsxldv oyp vs zlyhl.

Fwal ldswtb, Nkw Zw pyke dsvbkdt, xlalzu zsolakdt bla blye.

Liu Yanping took in their expressions and nodded. “Very well. Wait for me a moment.”

He went back inside to inform Liu Yanqing that he was heading to Yuanzhou to fetch Madam Wei.

Given that the visitors seemed to have ties to their grandparents, this was not a matter the younger generation could handle alone. Madam Wei, who oversaw the embroidery business in Yuanzhou, would need to be brought back.

Liu Yanqing nodded, glancing toward the guest quarters before saying quietly, “You should escort Chengxiao and Liu Yu back to the county. I’ll manage things here.”

The Liu brothers had all noticed how strange Liu Yu’s reaction had been, and none of them wanted her to remain.

However, the group that had accompanied Elder Liu wasn’t about to let Liu Yu leave so easily. After all, in their world—largely beyond the reach of imperial authority—Elder Liu’s wishes were paramount. As Liu Yanping and the others prepared to leave, Yan Si and his men stepped forward to block their way.

Liu Yanping and Lu Chengxiao’s expressions darkened. “What is the meaning of this?”

Yan Si, uncertain of the relationship between the Liu siblings and Elder Liu, didn’t dare offend them. Bowing slightly, he said, “My apologies. Our old master has traveled far and wide in search of a certain lady. It seems that this young woman is the one he’s been seeking. Given his current condition, he will surely wish to meet her once more. We humbly request that you remain a little longer.”

Both Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping understood the kind of people they were dealing with—those who could command control over an entire maritime region were not to be trifled with. Still, this was Anyi County, and the Liu family would not be cowed so easily. If the group resorted to force, Liu Yanping and Lu Chengxiao would not back down.

But Yan Si’s plea, invoking the old man’s fragile health, gave them pause.

Liu Yu, too, had pieced together the situation. Remembering how the old man had mistaken her for her grandmother and recalling her family’s strict rule against military service—along with Madam Wei’s hints about the mysterious past of their grandparents—Liu Yu hesitated.

Fleeing now would only arouse more suspicion. Since the meeting had already occurred, and on her family’s doorstep no less, it seemed more prudent to face the situation head-on. Besides, if Liu Yanzheng really was reborn as she had suspected during their encounter in Yangzhou, there was no escaping him anyway.

While the two sides remained at an impasse, a messenger came out to summon them inside.

~

In the Liu family’s outer courtyard, Elder Liu sat in the central hall. Liu Yanqing and Liu Yanan were present, while Liu Yanzheng and Dr. Mo stood beside the old man.

As Liu Yu and her group entered, Liu Yanqing shot an annoyed look at Yan Si and his men, clearly displeased by the commotion outside.

Elder Liu glanced at Yan Si and the others but refrained from scolding them. Instead, he personally apologized to the Liu siblings, explaining, “Please forgive their rudeness. I have been searching for an old friend for thirty years. As I grow older, it has become a torment on my mind. My men acted in haste because of my urgency. I hope you can understand.”

Given his age and the sincerity of his words, the Liu siblings could hardly take offense. After a few polite exchanges, they let the matter drop.

Elder Liu’s gaze returned to Liu Yu, lingering on her for a long moment before he sighed. “I’ve been foolish. It has been thirty years. How could she still be this young?”

He then scanned the faces of the Liu siblings and Lu Chengxiao, his eyes lingering on Liu Yanqing before he asked, “Upon closer inspection, your features bear some resemblance to the General. Based on your age, you must be the General’s grandson?”

Liu Yanping and Liu Yanan exchanged glances, while Liu Yanqing bowed slightly and replied, “May I ask which General you are referring to?”

This time, it was Elder Liu’s turn to be taken aback. “You don’t know?”

The Liu siblings all shook their heads.

Elder Liu, noticing the absence of any older family members, seemed to realize something. His lips quivered as he finally said, “The General’s surname was Liu, given name Jingcheng. Have I come to the wrong place?”

Hearing him mention their grandfather’s name, Liu Yanqing confirmed, “That was our late grandfather.”

At the word “grandfather,” Elder Liu’s aged eyes welled with tears. He closed them briefly, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to contain his emotions. Pressing a hand to his heart, he asked in a hoarse voice, “And your grandmother?”

The atmosphere grew heavy. Fearing that the elder might be too deeply affected, Liu Yanqing hesitated. The elder leaned back slightly against the chair and said, “It’s alright. Speak.”

Decades had passed, and they had considered countless possibilities—among them, the worst.

Liu Yanqing lowered his head and said, “Our late grandmother passed away more than ten years ago.”

The elder’s lips trembled for a long moment. Leaning on his cane, he slowly stood up and said, “May I visit your grandparents’ graves to pay my respects?”

Although it was clear that this was indeed his grandfather’s old acquaintance, Liu Yanqing still asked, “May I know, sir, what your relationship was with my grandfather?”

“Me?” The elder appeared dazed for a moment before replying, “I was the general’s personal attendant.”

Noticing Liu Yanqing’s expression, he smiled and added, “You’re wondering how I, being older than the general, could have been his subordinate, aren’t you?”

Liu Yanqing nodded.

The elder’s gaze wandered, as if piercing through time itself. “I was just a cook. Your grandfather saved me from a pile of corpses the year he first joined the army. From then on, I stayed by his side and watched him rise step by step from a mere soldier.”

Though the elder himself later rose to the rank of captain, in his heart, he remained forever the general’s personal attendant.

This was the first time the Liu siblings had heard anything about their grandfather’s life, and they were intrigued. Liu Yanan asked, “What kind of general was my grandfather?”

Everyone knew that being called a general meant at least holding a fifth-rank position.

The elder hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “If your grandmother never told you, she must have had her reasons. It would be inappropriate for me to say more.”

Since he was an old friend of the family, Liu Yanqing did not refuse the elder’s request to visit the family graves and led the group toward the Liu family’s ancestral burial ground.

Liu Yanping and Liu Yanan followed, and Liu Yu, along with Lu Chengxiao, also went along.

Liu Yanzheng supported the elder, though his mind was elsewhere. Ever since seeing Liu Yu, fragmented images kept flashing through his mind: Xi Mingyue, Liu Yu, the Liuxian Pavilion…

Memories came flooding back. Liu Yanzheng finally realized that the person in front of him was the true Xi Mingyue.

Scenes from an unfamiliar life he had never lived started to unfold in his mind. The shock of this realization hit him hard, as emotions poured out—his first time liking someone, the joy of being around her, the pain of separation…

Even before sorting out these memories, the emotions overwhelmed him.

He remembered a moment in a familiar room where they often played Go. After a game, he took a small box from his sleeve and handed it to her, saying, “I came across this little trinket by chance. It’s quite exquisite—see if you like it.”

She raised an eyebrow and asked, “What is it?”

Such a simple question filled him with immense joy, though he restrained himself and replied in a casual tone, “Open it and see.”

The young woman opened the delicate box, her eyes lighting up with genuine delight. “It’s beautiful.”

He had to leave soon, but he couldn’t leave without saying something. “I have some matters to attend to. I’ll need to leave Yangzhou for a while.”

The smile on her face froze.

Seeing her unease, he asked, “Is your debut set for February?”

She nodded, her eyes filled with hope.

He smiled softly and said, “I’ll return before your debut.”

Both knew what this promise meant, and it earned her a radiant smile far more sincere than when she admired the expensive trinket.

The memory shifted abruptly. He was back in Yangzhou, standing before a solitary grave outside the city. The tombstone bore the name “Liu Yu.”

A maid guarding the grave angrily swung a broom at him. “Our young lady doesn’t need your offerings! Get out!”

The moment he saw this, Liu Yanzheng felt as though a blade had pierced his heart. His back trembled, but he held himself together, refraining from clutching his chest. Glancing sideways at Liu Yu, he met the icy gaze of the man beside her.

Frowning, Liu Yanzheng recalled his earlier encounter six months ago. Wasn’t this man the traveling merchant who sold porcelain at the Fulai Inn?

Lu Chengxiao stood protectively in front of Liu Yu, obscuring most of her figure. Liu Yanzheng’s gaze fell on their interlocked hands, and the sight ignited a surge of uncontrollable anger.

His thin lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes turned cold as he looked at Lu Chengxiao.

The tension was palpable. Sensing Liu Yanzheng’s reaction, Lu Chengxiao did not back down. Instead, he tightened his grip on Liu Yu’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

Liu Yu immediately understood the gesture. Glancing at Lu Chengxiao, she inadvertently caught Liu Yanzheng’s gaze and realized his thoughts. She gently squeezed Lu Chengxiao’s hand in return.

Noticing her cooperation, Lu Chengxiao’s eyes lit up with joy, and a triumphant smile spread across his face.

Liu Yanzheng’s eyes remained fixed on their interlocked hands, his chest tightening as if he might spit blood. Meanwhile, Lu Chengxiao’s radiant smile seemed deliberately aimed to provoke him.

As the group walked toward the gravesite, the tension between the two men was nearly tangible. If their gazes had been weapons, they would have clashed in countless duels by now.

---

Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк　чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)

You can also check out my other translations Here