"Old Luo must have harbored so hatred towards the Luo Family," Old Mu sighed and said, "I heard that back then he was all set to propose to my father for your mother’s hand in marriage, yet she was abruptly promised to a scholar, and to a scholar who had nothing at that."
Ye Zi’an saw that Old Mu was deeply moved and nostalgic when ntioning the past.
It was a while before he heard him say, "Over these years, his reputation has gradually risen, yet he still devotes himself wholeheartedly to you and even endorses Baili Yan’s arrangents; it shows that he has a broad mind and is indeed a man worthy of respect."
"Yes, Mr. Luo is indeed a good man," Ye Zi’an couldn’t deny this.
Mr. Luo was learned, knowledgeable, modest, and also had connections with the great Confucians from various regions.
"Enough about this, you rarely co to the Capital City, so tonight your uncle will hold a banquet for you."
As they spoke, the carriage had circled around the Capital City ti and again, finally stopping at a turn in an alley.
This was Old Mu’s other courtyard. From the outside, its gray-white walls and the red doors that were neither old nor new looked plain; moreover, the entrance lacked other fixtures, and not even a word was inscribed above the doorway, let alone any plaques.
But once inside, it was a realm of its own, with walls no longer just gray-white, but carved with patterns. The ground was paved with marble slabs. Pavilions and towers were stacked upon each other, with the grandeur befitting a warrior’s ho and the elegance of a scholar’s abode.
"No one usually lives here. I just have people look after it, and I co by occasionally. Feel free to choose any courtyard you like to stay in," said Old Mu.
"All right," replied Ye Zi’an.
In the end, Ye Zi’an chose a courtyard with a small bamboo grove.
His accompanying people also stayed there.
When evening ca, Old Mu had a table of dishes sent over, and the uncle and nephew talked at length. Old Mu asked how Linhao was doing, and how Linyu was holding up, knowing that although he received letters, hearing from soone firsthand always felt different. Eventually, Old Mu even began to cry.
It was then that Ye Zi’an confird that his aunt, whom he had never t, had indeed passed away long ago.
Back in Funan, he had never heard Linhao or his sister ntion their mother, so he had his suspicions, but he hadn’t expected it to be true.
Old Mu’s wife was gone, and Old Mu himself was rarely at ho. The two children were left in the rcy of a household like the Luo Family’s vast and deep estate. Even with Mu Shaoling and Baili Yan looking out for them, they couldn’t be watched over at all tis.
It was said that if not for Linhao’s intelligence, Linyu might not have survived. It was also Linhao’s remarkable abilities that led to his misfortune.
After Linhao’s accident, Old Mu vanished and Baili Yan took Linyu into the palace purportedly as the princess’s companion, which was rely a front. Soon after, Mu Shaoling took her away and sent her to Funan.
"Uncle, those things are all in the past. You need to think long-term," Ye Zi’an advised.
"Yes, uncle knows," said Old Mu, wiping a tear and taking a large gulp of wine. His eyes shone fiercely, almost frighteningly. Seeing Ye Zi’an not drinking, he refilled his cup, "My dear nephew, drink up. We will not return tonight until we’re utterly drunk."
Ye Zi’an saw that Old Mu was upset by the mories and didn’t want to dismiss his feelings, so he picked up his cup and began to drink with him.
By the end, both were drunk and had to be helped back to their rooms by the servants.
The morning after, one inevitably wakes up late, so by the ti Ye Zi’an ca to, it was nearly midday.
He hurriedly summoned soone to bring water for him to wash up, and after applying so redies to his face, he left the courtyard.
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