Chapter Six: Each with Their Own Thoughts

He knew that Xiao Jiu had left the Xiao family, and he had tacitly allowed it. He had even harbored a sliver of hope, wishing that if Xiao Jiu went to Qinghe Town, Ye Min might live a little more happily, and that in doing so, some small part of the Xiao family’s sins might be redeemed. But he had never imagined matters would come to this.

The air in the ancestral hall seemed to have frozen solid. Aside from Xiao Jiu, everyone else’s brows were knotted tight.

The Xiao family had always passed down through a single heir. If Xiao Jiu were truly allowed to remain with Ye Min, how was he to face the ancestors of generations past? Xiao Xian’s head throbbed with the dilemma. Yet if he stopped them, then the Xiao family would only have wronged the Ye family all the more. And when he descended to the netherworld, how would he answer to Ye Feng?

He knew what kind of child Ye Min was. If he had truly made a promise with Xiao Jiu, then he must have meant it with all seriousness. More than that, Ye Min could not possibly have failed to recognize Xiao Jiu. Could it be that even before this, Ye Min had already harbored such feelings for him?

The more Xiao Xian thought, the more alarmed he became. And yet, having come this far in his thoughts, he could not help but sigh. No wonder Ye Min had taken the initiative to leave the Xiao household back then. Aside from Xiao Muran’s matter, most of the reason had likely still been because of Xiao Jiu.

This habit of locking everything away in one’s heart was exactly like Ye Feng’s.

And when he thought of Ye Feng’s fate in those days, Xiao Xian hesitated. He did not wish for Xiao Jiu and Ye Min to tread the same road.

He fell silent, his brows still tightly furrowed, his face dark beyond measure.

Madam Xiao, however, could no longer hold herself back. “Xiao Jiu, do you truly intend to marry a man?” Her voice trembled violently, plainly shaken with fury. Her body swayed, and Xiao Muran hurried forward to support her.

Xiao Jiu lowered his head and looked at the floor. The smile faded from his face, replaced by a rare gravity, solemn and proper. Without the slightest hesitation, he answered, “Yes.”

His tone was utterly firm. Even now, he wanted nothing more than to see Wangjiu at once, to eat the dishes he made, drink the wine he brewed, and press a gentle kiss to those pale lips.

Before Madam Xiao could speak again, Xiao Jiu continued, “Mother, Father, Grandfather, I’m not a child anymore. There are some things, some feelings, that I can distinguish clearly. What I feel for Wangjiu is the same kind of love Mother bears Father. I know it well. Besides, if I am to marry, then naturally I will choose someone I love, and someone who loves me. It just so happens that person is Wangjiu. If I fall in love with someone and wish to be with him, how is that wrong?”

Xiao Jiu could not understand it. Was it truly because Wangjiu was a man that it became unacceptable? But in that tavern in Qinghe Town, had not that husband and wife accepted him and Wangjiu? It was only a matter of giving one’s heart to another person. What fault was there in that?

Madam Xiao pressed her lips together and asked sternly, “Then let me ask you this. What is to become of the Xiao family in the future? What of the family line? Do you mean to let the Xiao family come to an end?”

At this, Xiao Jiu gave a few light laughs. He had already thought through these questions on the way home.

“Mother, you and Father are still young. Having another child would be no difficulty. I said I wanted to marry; I never said I would not inherit the Xiao family. And if that still will not do, I can recommend a worthy and capable member of the clan. They all bear the surname Xiao. Surely that is enough to keep the family line from ending.”

Xiao Muran let out a cold snort. “You’ve thought of everything.”

Madam Xiao went on, “In this world, two men together will inevitably be mocked by society. Are you certain you can bear all that?”

Still kneeling straight, Xiao Jiu turned and faced Madam Xiao and Xiao Muran. Then he knocked his head to the floor three times—thud, thud, thud—without leaving himself any room at all. He struck the ground with merciless force. When he raised his head again, his forehead was a vivid crimson, blood trailing down the bridge of his nose, lending him a strange and haunting beauty.

Yet he did not fling himself at his mother as he had in the past, whining and calling out in pain. Instead, there was a kind of composure and contentment on his face.

The corners of his lips curved faintly, just as Wangjiu’s did. Smiling softly, with a glimmer of light in his eyes, filled with longing and hope for the future he imagined for himself and Wangjiu, he said, “Mother, the people of the Xiao family have always been stubborn. Once we set our hearts on one person, then in this lifetime, it can only ever be that person. You know that better than anyone, do you not?”

Something in Madam Xiao’s heart stirred, and for a moment she felt a touch of release. Yes—just as Xiao Muran had been with her. Even so, she still refused to give up entirely. “As long as you leave the Xiao family a child of direct blood, the rest may be as you please.”

Xiao Jiu’s vision dimmed a little. On the road he had indeed done exactly as Wangjiu had instructed—rushing home impatiently, scarcely daring to stop along the way. He gave a soft sigh.

“If it were like that, he would be unhappy.”

If Wangjiu ever dared do such a thing, he would never let him off. He himself did not possess such magnanimity—how much less could Wangjiu be expected to?

Madam Xiao still wanted to say more, but suddenly Xiao Xian roared, “Enough!”

Both Xiao Muran and Madam Xiao were startled into silence. Xiao Xian’s face was still dark as iron. “Let Xiao Jiu decide his own lifelong affair.”

“Father!” Xiao Muran exclaimed.

Xiao Xian could not even be bothered to spare him a glance. “Have you forgotten what you did in the first place? Hasn’t all of this come about because of you?”

At that, Xiao Muran was rendered speechless. It was indeed he who had sent Xiao Jiu to Qinghe Town—but how could he have known things would turn out this way? He could not help recalling the words of that nameless guest retainer. Could it be that from that time onward, Ye Min had already begun to harbor such thoughts?

As the idea took shape, his eyes darkened with gloom. No wonder. No wonder he had taken the initiative to leave the residence back then. Was it not because he feared those filthy thoughts of his would be exposed?

Xiao Muran only felt the flames in his chest burn hotter and hotter. He lowered his head slightly and stood behind Madam Xiao.

No one beside him noticed anything amiss.

Then, with a dull thud, Xiao Jiu suddenly collapsed to the floor. Madam Xiao and Xiao Xian rushed forward to lift him up, and Xiao Xian barked again, “What are you all standing there for? Fetch Physician Lin at once!”

In Xiao Jiu’s room, everyone gathered around the bed, scarcely daring to breathe as they waited for Physician Lin’s diagnosis. The old physician suddenly let out a sigh, and Madam Xiao’s heart turned cold.

“Physician Lin—what is wrong with Xiao Jiu?”

Physician Lin rolled his eyes. “Nothing more than travel fatigue from the road. The young master has simply fallen asleep. What are you all doing crowding around here? Out, out, all of you. Don’t disturb his rest. And yes, have the kitchen make some hot soup and porridge. Once he wakes, he can drink that. As for his forehead, it’s only a superficial wound. Nothing serious. Off with you all, off with you.”

He took out his medicine box and carefully dressed Xiao Jiu’s injury. As he prepared to leave, he could not help adding one more long-winded remark.

“The young master—everyone here watched him grow up. We all know what sort of character he has. I’ve practiced medicine for many years, and I’ve only come to understand one truth…”

He paused, then sighed again.

“Nothing is more important than a living person. If someone is gone… ah, by the time regret comes, it will already be too late.”

Before Physician Lin’s words had even faded on the air, the Xiao family—everyone except Xiao Muran—had already taken them to heart.

Madam Xiao sat by the bedside and took Xiao Jiu’s hand. Looking at the pig-faced mask lying beside his pillow, she said softly, “Physician Lin is right. As long as Xiao Jiu is well, then my life has been worth it. So long as he can live happily from now on, if he wishes to marry someone, then let him marry whom he will…”

Xiao Xian quietly walked out, suspicion rising in his heart. Such a major matter—why had the shadow guards not reported it to him? Had something gone wrong? Since Xiao Jiu had returned, why had Ye Min not come back with him? Could it be Mozhu?

A measure of understanding formed in his mind. He stopped abruptly and called out, “Xiao Qi!”

At once, Xiao Qi emerged from the shadows. “Your subordinate is here!”

From his sleeve, Xiao Xian drew out a token that even Xiao Muran had never seen before. Xiao Qi was stunned. Ever since he had been transferred under Xiao Xian’s command, he had come to know more and more things he ought not to know. And now the old master had actually brought out that token. Had something truly grave happened?

Xiao Xian handed it over. “Ride at full speed to that place. Inform those people and have them go to Qinghe Town at once. Tell them their master is there.”

Xiao Qi accepted the token and answered, “Yes, sir.” He turned and left immediately.

Whatever Mozhu intended, Xiao Xian only hoped it could still be stopped in time, before another tragedy occurred.

At the same time, however, Xiao Muran summoned the Xiao family’s personal guards.

“This mission concerns a tavern keeper in Qinghe Town named Wangjiu. Under no circumstances are you to alarm anyone else. Simply make him vanish from this world.”

These black-clad guards were not the same as before. After that last incident, Xiao Muran had already replaced the Xiao family’s personal guard with a new batch. This group obeyed him and him alone. Ye Min had escaped by sheer luck once before. This time, he would not be nearly so fortunate.

Xiao Jiu slept for an entire day before finally waking. Madam Xiao hurriedly called for a bowl of shredded-meat porridge to be brought over. He was ravenous and snatched it at once, devouring it in great gulps. But after he had finished, he muttered, “Why doesn’t this taste as good as what Wangjiu makes?”

Madam Xiao found it amusing inwardly, though she put on an offended face. “What now? You have a sweetheart and already think your mother’s cooking is lacking?”

Xiao Jiu quickly grabbed her sleeve. “Mother, how could that be? Wangjiu’s cooking is nowhere near as good as yours. Mother’s is the best!”

Madam Xiao could not help laughing aloud. “Just look at you. Xiao Jiu, tell me—why didn’t that Ye… why didn’t Wangjiu come back with you?”

Xiao Jiu’s eyes flew wide in disbelief. “Mother, you agreed?”

Very unwillingly, Madam Xiao nodded.

At once, Xiao Jiu broke into a smile. Seeing this, Madam Xiao pinched his cheek hard. “You heartless little thing!”

The smile on Xiao Jiu’s face only grew brighter. “Thank you, Mother!” he said, and threw his arms around her tightly.

Smiling, he explained, “Actually, I wanted him to come back with me too. But he said he had to prepare the betrothal gifts first, and would come later.”

Madam Xiao repeated the key phrase, “Betrothal gifts?”

Xiao Jiu gave a huff. “As if I’d let that old fox get his way. I’ll prepare the betrothal gifts first, arrange everything ahead of time, and then go to Qinghe Town to propose. I’ll have him marry into my family instead.”

Madam Xiao covered her mouth as she laughed. Seeing the radiant smile on Xiao Jiu’s face—a brilliance she had never seen there before—she finally let go of all her reservations. She encouraged him, “Good. That’s how a son of the Xiao family should be. Mother supports you.”

Xiao Jiu gave a heavy nod. Old fox, just you wait. I’ll make sure to astonish you. Just wait to become my wife.