After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 97

“I’ve heard Master mention this matter many times before, but I didn’t know the Lin family had a young daughter?” A servant who had been serving Minister Yan for many years came in to refill the tea. Unexpectedly, he walked in on Minister Yan reminiscing about the past. The servant joked, “Could it be that Master has some lingering feelings for that Miss Lin?”

“Nonsense! That Miss Lin was only four years old back then. Besides, a young woman running around before marriage and not adhering to proper conduct—that’s ridiculous! Only her father stayed at my home, and he merely mentioned in passing that he had a daughter,” Minister Yan scolded sternly. He gazed at the painting in his hands with nostalgia. “Years ago, I was grateful for the kindness I received. Even though I was impoverished then, I was proud and would not accept favors without offering something in return. Unfortunately, this family would not accept my gratitude. The head of the Lin family only said that as long as I became a successful scholar and an upright official, that would be the best repayment. Therefore, I have always strived to uphold the highest standards of conduct, to build a family tradition of ‘honesty,’ and to be true to my word, treating others with sincerity and never letting anyone down. It is a tale that should be passed down.”

Minister Yan paused and continued to recount his years of struggle and perseverance. Whenever he felt nostalgic, he would tell Yan Jia stories of his past hardships as a way to set an example and teach his children to “learn from himself.” This time was no different.

In the past, Yan Jia would stand by his father’s side, attentively listening and nodding in response. Although he had heard these stories so many times that they could give him calluses on his ears, his deep respect for his father and blind obedience always made him listen patiently.

But this time, he found himself distracted several times during his father’s storytelling, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the courtyard where his sister lived. In the past, he took pride in his father’s integrity and dedication, but today, he felt increasingly frustrated as he listened.

… Was his father really trying to educate him through his own achievements? If he was simply reflecting on his gratitude for the painting, why not talk more about his gratitude to the benefactor, rather than only boasting about himself? If, as his father said, the head of the Lin family had done him such a favor… why had he never sought out the Lin family head over the years and only had the painting retrieved?

“… Hang the painting in the main hall, in the most prominent place. If anyone comes, tell them about the painting’s origin…”

No, how could he think of his father this way? His father had always been a virtuous man. Besides, there are so many Lin families in Jiangzhou; even if he went looking, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack…

Yan Jia’s mind was in turmoil, turning over Confucian texts, promises, and pale justifications, and recalling his sister and what Zhou Xun had said when he returned the book to him today…

“Perhaps your sister’s relationship with Zhou Cai… isn’t as simple as a romantic tale?”

A promise, a promise. Was his sister’s marriage to Zhou Cai really worth such a promise?

But his sister was neither happy nor content. And… he could clearly sense that there were hidden truths behind this matter.

“Yan Jia?! Yan Jia?!”

Yan Jia snapped back to reality, but he couldn’t help but voice the thought that had been swirling in his mind: “But Father’s handling of my sister’s marriage… is it also a matter of keeping promises?”

“Huh?”

“Now the Zhou family… has questionable family values. My sister is unhappy. Yet Father remains adamant about not canceling the engagement with Zhou Dage. Is this also because our family values are unchangeable promises, that poverty cannot alter, and wealth cannot corrupt?”

“What’s wrong with you today?”

“But,” Yan Jia said uncontrollably, “is this promise really Father’s promise, or is it my sister’s? Does Father want to keep the Yan family’s promise, or… just preserve the Yan family’s face? Even if the cost is my sister’s life?”

He gaped in shock, never expecting himself to utter such words. What surprised him even more was that his father did not respond with righteous anger or lengthy reprimands. Instead, he simply stood up and said, “… Have you gone mad from studying? How dare you question your father like this!”

Yan Jia looked at him, his face pale. He never imagined that his father’s response to his unthinking questions would be an embarrassed and furious reaction.

“Father, you…”

“Lock the young master in the house and let him reflect on his actions,” Minister Yan said coldly. “I let you relax for a few days, and now your mind is broken! As for the Zhou family’s values, the case hasn’t been decided yet. How the Zhou family’s values are, you have no say in it! Our family and the Zhou family are now linked—honor and disgrace are shared…”

Having said this, he seemed to realize he had misspoken and immediately left in a huff. Yan Jia wanted to say something more, but the steward had already gestured for him to follow: “Young master, this way please.”

The steward then instructed the nearby servant, “According to the Master’s orders, hang the painting in the main hall. If guests ask about the painting, tell them its origins.”

“By the way,” the steward seemed to remember something, “in three days, the Ministry of Justice will begin the trial of Zhou Hong. Until then, young master, you should stay home and focus on your studies.”

…

As the sun set, the twilight fell into the small courtyard of the Lu family’s residence.

“Mother, Xiao Wu, is the medicine ready?” Lu Bin lifted the curtain to ask.

“It’s almost ready!”

Madame Lu hurriedly strained the medicinal liquid and poured it into a bowl. The native boy, Xiao Wu, whom Lu Bin had rescued from the island and who had been renamed, squatted nearby watching her. Since the incident a few days ago, the Red Lotus Sect had sent people to find her multiple times. Madame Lu realized she had been deceived and was now like a frostbitten eggplant—deflated and only focused on making medicine, no longer getting involved in any mischief.

She knew she had been duped, lost face, and nearly ruined her son’s prospects by causing debt collectors from several ship fleets to come to the capital—now even those people who came to the courtyard did not regard her kindly.

However, her greatest fear did not come to pass—among the things she dreaded most as a woman was her son’s reproach. To her relief, and even perplexity, was her son’s reaction. After her embezzlement was exposed, Lu Bin not only did not get angry or scold her but seemed distracted, sometimes scribbling absently in a book, sometimes gazing at the sky, sometimes actively rehabilitating, and sometimes showing an excited and mysterious smile…

One night, Madame Lu woke up from a dream and heard her son talking loudly in the next room.

“I—will no longer drift!”

“I—will become the Pirate King!!”

“I will serve the Emperor with utmost loyalty, and my name will be recorded in the annals of history!!”

“The First Island Chain, the Second Island Chain… I will flatten them all for the Emperor!!”

“I will plant the Jing Dynasty’s flag on every piece of land at sea!”

Madame Lu: ???

Fortunately, Xiao Wu did not understand complex Chinese. But Madame Lu, listening to these words, worriedly thought that her son might have been so traumatized that he had gone mad.

… She even asked Miss Zhang if she could prescribe some medicine to treat his mental state, but Miss Zhang looked at her with confusion and said, “There’s nothing abnormal about Young Master Lu’s mind.”

Madame Lu: …

“Perhaps it’s a generation gap.” Dr. He kindly comforted her. “There is always a generation gap between people.”

Madame Lu: “What is this ‘generation gap’?”

Dr. He replied, “I don’t know, but every time I mention offering sacrifices to the Medicine God, the Emperor always says there’s a ‘generation gap’ between us.”

Madame Lu: …

Although Lu Bin was acting strangely, his leg was gradually improving, and he could now walk a few steps carefully without crutches… It almost seemed as if his foot injury had successfully transformed into a mental issue. Madame Lu thought.

“But this is all thanks to that young master Xun.” She murmured, “If he hadn’t brought Dr. He and Miss Zhang here, Bin’s leg wouldn’t have healed so quickly.”

Thinking of this, Madame Lu felt a surge of gratitude. Even though the trial between the Lu and Zhou families would take place in three days, she no longer harbored the intense hatred she once did.

For a commoner like her, unless pushed to the brink, hatred is easily forgotten. Now that Lu Bin’s leg was nearly healed, and with the Zhou family being so influential… Madame Lu felt a twinge of fear at the thought of facing them in court.

She really did not want… or dare to go to the authorities.

But when the Red Lotus Sect’s men came to her a few days ago, explaining the pros and cons and implying that she must speak out about the Zhou family’s sins in court, especially with emotional and detailed accounts, she felt compelled. The young lady from the Shangguan family, who seemed like she was from another world, had also said the same.

Since they had all said so, she decided she would do just that. Madame Lu looked at the medicine pot in front of her and made up her mind.

She gritted her teeth, thinking she had not forgotten the grudge of her son almost dying! If it weren’t for her son’s good fortune, if it weren’t for young master Xun, if it weren’t for the two doctors, and if it weren’t for the appearance of that mysterious young master later… this matter…

She had Xiao Wu take the medicine to the room while she went to the back courtyard to clean the medicine pot. As she cleaned, she thought about the trial with the Zhou family.

… It would be great if a cultured person were here to tell her what to do.

Just as she was about to turn around, she heard Xiao Wu’s angry voice at the gate. Madame Lu quickly wiped her hands on her apron and ran over. She saw Xiao Wu blocking someone, his face full of anger and dissatisfaction.

From a distance, Madame Lu couldn’t clearly see the person’s face, and she quickly scolded Xiao Wu, “What are you doing? That’s young master Xun! Move aside!”

“Madame Lu.”

A soft voice spoke, and Madame Lu was stunned.

“I came to see you. Previously… my brother helped your family by finding the doctors.”

**Author’s Note: Next Chapter Preview:**

The Emperor never expected that his first date with Zhou Xun would be to observe a legal proceeding (x)

Emperor: By the lake, by the river, or in the small forest, where would you like to go on a date?

Zhou Xun: The Ministry of Justice?

Emperor: ???