The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 289- 291

Chapter 289: Returning to Tanyang

Ling Zhang suddenly paused after finishing this remark. Both Ji Donglin and Ji Chaofang worked for Ji Yanlai, and there were some matters that he couldn’t let Ji Yanlai know about, even though they had a deal. Having realized this, Ling Zhang hurriedly changed his mind and said, “Grandfather, on second thought, we should let these two kind guards stay with us.”

Ji Yin noticed the look in Ling Zhang’s eyes and also came to understand. “Okay, then it’s settled.”

Ji Donglin and Ji Chaofang didn’t insist on going with Yuwen Tong. After hearing Ji Yin’s decision, they appeared quite calm and made no remarks.

Yuwen Tong couldn’t afford to waste any time, soon left Tongguan Town, took a shortcut to the capital city and at the same time sent a message back to Yao Yi and other bodyguards of his who were waiting in Wu City.

Wang Dashan and others had also received Ling Zhang’s message which told them to return to the capital city and be at Yuwen Tong’s command. After Yao Yi and the others departed, they set off as well.

…

As he was taking his father with him, Ling Zhang didn’t dare travel fast and was still on the journey when Yuwen Tong and the others had reached the capital city.

Maybe because he’d spent half a month with Yuwen Tong and the latter had been carrying him on his back all the time during the part of their journey in the Sanguan Mountains, Ling Zhaowu missed Yuwen Tong and looked dispirited for some time after Yuwen Tong’s departure, as though having lost a reliable companion.

Seeing Ling Zhaowu like this, Ling Zhang dismissed his worries and his longing to reunite with Yuwen Tong and focused on tending Ling Zhaowu.

“We’ll enter Tanyang jurisdiction the day after tomorrow, Father. I’ve already sent a letter back home. Uncle must be on his way to meet us. Don’t be afraid of him when you see him. It’ll break his heart,” Ling Zhang said to Ling Zhaowu.

Ling Zhaowu looked at him, “Uncle?”

“I mean my uncle, your full little brother. His name is Ling Zhaowen. Do you… remember?” Ling Zhang’s voice dropped to a whisper when he uttered the last word. He hoped that Ling Zhaowu would remember but also feared that jogging his memory would be too intense a stimulus for his mind.

Ling Zhaowu gazed at him with a bemused expression, repeating Ling Zhaowen’s name in a murmur, “Ling…Zhao…wen?”

Ling Zhang apprehensively fixed him a stare, his eyes both expectant and watchful.

Ling Zhaowu considered a spot with perplexed eyes for quite a long time. Suddenly, his countenance changed and he started to shake his head. Panting, he muttered inarticulately but in an increasingly firm tone, “Li–Little brother?”

Ling Zhang gazed at him worriedly. “Your full little brother.”

Ling Zhaowu abruptly reached out his hands to grab Ling Zhang’s arm and repeated urgently, “Little brother! Little brother!”

Ling Zhang gave a start, worrying that his reaction was beyond the threshold, but then he found that although Ling Zhaowu was overreacting, there was no sign of a seizure, so he gave a nod in the affirmative. “Your full little brother, Ling Zhaowen.”

“Little brother!” Ling Zhaowu tightened his grip on Ling Zhang’s arm and another name escaped his lips. “Zhang’er!”

He suddenly started calling Ling Zhang, and his facial expression suggested that his mood was getting out of control. Ling Zhang hastily hit a couple of acupoints of Ling Zhaowu’s according to the method Mr. Mu had previously taught him. It worked and Ling Zhaowu calmed down.

This time, after cooling down, Ling Zhaowu didn’t look listless as he had the last few times. Instead, he kept murmuring a few words – “Little brother”, “Zhang’er” and “Son”, as though they were of great importance to him but he couldn’t remember any details about them, so he had to repeat these words again and again, his eyes staring at Ling Zhang expectantly, as if intending for Ling Zhang to give him some kind of answer.

“He’s been having this kind of reaction more and more often lately. This is the sign of total recall. I’ll administer the drug to him immediately when we reach Tanyang.” Mr. Mu walked inside and felt Ling Zhaowu’s pulse.

“I wonder if he remembers my uncle and grandfather. I fear that the sight of them might be too strong a stimulus to him and he might be overwhelmed. Do you think it’s better if we administer the drug to him beforehand?” asked Ling Zhang.

Mr. Mu shook his head. “That’s not the right thing to do. After taking the drug, he’ll need a quiet place to rest, so we must wait until we settle in. Besides, I’ll have to perform acupuncture on him on a daily basis during the first few days after the administration of the drug, and this is not the right place to do that. I’ll keep constant watch on him. If anything goes wrong, I’ll put him to sleep.”

Ling Zhang bobbed his head. “I’ll do whatever you say, Mr. Mu.”

Ji Yin consoled him, “There’s no need to worry. We’re only one day away from getting there.”

Ling Zhang had to take heed of Ji Yin’s comforting words. Maybe because he was concerned about the safety of Yuwen Tong who had returned to the capital city along, Ling Zhang had been faintly feeling some kind of anxiety all along. He believed that he had calmed down, but in fact there was still a suspicion of restlessness in his tone and bearing.

Ling Zhaowu didn’t stop mumbling until he fell asleep that night. The next day, like a forgetful child, he forgot all his vexations after waking up and followed at Ling Zhang’s heels at all times, curiously looking left and right, as though he could never get bored of seeing the uproarious town.

In horse-drawn carriages, they set out on the last stage of their journey, heading for Tanyang.

As soon as they crossed the boundaries of Tanyang, Ling Zhang caught sight of Ling Zhaowen, Butler Li and the other couple of stewards of the Ling family, all of whom were looking in the direction that the main road led, anxiety on all their faces.

Ling Zhang and the others were traveling in two carriages, and the drivers were Ji Donglin and Ji Chaofang, both of whom were not familiar faces, so Ling Zhaowen and the others didn’t pay much attention to them, but as the two carriages approached, Ling Zhaowen had some kind of hunch and quickly walked towards them head-on in spite of himself. He had always set great store by his demeanor, but on this occasion, there was no room in his mind for it. He stared unblinkingly at the carriages, eager anticipation on his face.

Ling Zhang directly lifted the carriage curtain, craned out, waved at him and called, “Uncle!”

Ling Zhaowen instantly stopped dead, and then ecstasy started glinting in his eyes. “Zhang’er!”

With that, his eyes quickly flashed through the curtain raised by Ling Zhang, gazing into the carriage, expecting to spot someone. Lips quivering, he made towards the carriage step by step at a somewhat dull pace.

“Yo–Your father…”

Seeing that his uncle couldn’t even speak fluently, Ling Zhang was nearly reduced to tears. “He’s right in the carriage.”

Butler Li and the others in the distance also quickly walked in this direction.

The carriages slowly halted before Ling Zhaowen. Ling Zhang lifted the curtain completely and said to Ling Zhaowu who was sitting inside, “Father, we’ve arrived in Tanyang. Uncle is waiting for you outside.”

Ling Zhaowu reached out his hand to hold Ling Zhang’s wrist, looking confusedly from him to the outside.

At this moment, Ling Zhaowen had got a clear view of the one sitting in the carriage. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times, his eyes reddening, gazing fixedly at the one inside. In a rather hoarse voice, he called, “Brother!”

“It’s First Master! It’s really First Master!” Butler Li and the others also exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.

Ling Zhaowu was startled by Ling Zhaowen who was standing outside the carriage and staring unblinkingly at him with red eyes. When Butler Li and the others excitedly clustered around, in particular, he cowered behind Ling Zhang, not daring to get out of the carriage.

On seeing Ling Zhaowen’s reaction, Ling Zhaowen and the others went rigid and for a few moments were in stupefaction.

“Brother, I’m Zhaowen. Yo–You don’t remember me?” Ling Zhaowen said urgently.

Ling Zhaowu craned around Ling Zhang’s back to look at him. The sight of his thin figure and pale complexion almost reduced Ling Zhaowen to tears. Ling Zhaowu was looking at Ling Zhaowen like a stranger, a mixture of bewilderment and fear in his eyes, not at all daring to make a reply to Ling Zhaowen.

This was really a heartbroken moment for Ling Zhaowen. “Brother!” he called.

Ling Zhang, however, took Ling Zhaowu’s hand and consoled him in a soft voice, “Father, don’t be afraid. None of them will do you any harm. I’m right here. Don’t be afraid.”

Then he winked at Butler Li and the others, signaling them to back away and not to gather around so soon. They all caught on to Ling Zhang’s wink. Before they’d come here, they’d been informed of the contents of Ling Zhang’s letter. Though unable to believe what they were seeing, they still hurriedly backed off in the knowledge that they couldn’t afford to stimulate Ling Zhaowu in these circumstances.

After Butler Li and the others backed away, Ling Zhaowu indeed relaxed considerably and finally no longer hid himself completely behind Ling Zhang’s back.

Ling Zhang got out of the carriage first, and then helped Ling Zhaowu get to the ground and stand before Ling Zhaowen.

Though very excited, Ling Zhaowen still restrained himself, maintaining a certain distance away from his brother, not daring get too close for fear of scaring him.

“Brother, you finally came back. We’ve been looking for you all these years and are on the verge of losing hope. Father talks about you every day and never stops worrying over you. He wanted very much to come here with us to be the first to see you. If we hadn’t stopped him for fear that he might fall ill from the sudden excitement and tiring trip, you would have met him by now.”

Ling Zhaowu was thrown into perplexity by these words, the puzzlement in his eyes unmistakable.

He looked at Ling Zhang, who didn’t move, and then shifted his gaze to Ling Zhaowen and asked, “Wh–Who are you?”

Ling Zhaowen had gradually recovered from the shock of his brother’s reaction. Though his heart ached badly at this question of Ling Zhaowu, he still replied in a calm voice, “I’m your younger brother. Do you remember this, Big Brother? Before you left home, we were very close and kept no secrets from each other. You’re older than me, so you always stuck up for me. You were into kung fu, and nobody dared to bully me as long as you were by my side. When we were young and lived with our parents in Haizhou, we slunk out of the back yard of the yamen into the front yard to play very often. On one occasion, Father found out and flogged us with a length of bamboo. You stood before me and took most of the strokes for me. Do you still remember any of it?”

In order to help Ling Zhaowu recall him, Ling Zhaowen even disclosed a stupid thing they had done when they’d been young boys.

If it were in any other circumstance, Ling Zhang would definitely have burst into laughter, but now the story only struck him as poignant.

At this time, Mr. Mu and Ji Yin had also got out of the carriage at the back and were walking over.

Ling Zhaowen, who was still gazing at Ling Zhaowu with anticipation on his face, failed to notice the two of them.

Ling Zhaowu just gazed back at Ling Zhaowen with a mixture of bafflement and curiosity in his eyes but couldn’t recollect anything. Ling Zhaowen’s intense emotions gave him a feeling of constriction in the chest, as though something heavy were weighing him down. Head twisted aside and slightly down, eyes lifted, he stared at Ling Zhaowen, involuntarily biting his lower lip.

At the sight of this, Ling Zhang came to the realization that Ling Zhaowu was baffled but had become curious about Ling Zhaowen and wanted to know more about him.

“Uncle, my father sustained mental trauma and lost all his memories. I brought back a pill which could cure him, but the treatment requires a quiet environment, so we have to return home first.”

After hearing this, Ling Zhaowen, forcing himself into maintaining his composure, took his expectant eyes off Ling Zhaowu, inclined his head and said, “Okay, then. Let’s go back right away.”

Ling Zhang said, “Uncle, I’d like to introduce someone to you first. This is my maternal grandfather.”

Chapter 290: Returning to Tanyang (2)

In that letter, Ling Zhang had merely mentioned to Ling Zhaowen that he’d met his maternal grandfather and also found his father, but hadn’t enlarged on the matter for fear that the letter might be intercepted halfway, so Ling Zhaowen had guessed that Ji Yin should be an old man. He’d never expected Ji Yin to be someone looking so young. His face took on an astonished look in spite of himself.

This time, Ji Yin hadn’t disguised as an old man with gray hair and beard like he’d done when under the identity of Professor Li. He had simply dressed like a common scholar and stuck a fake mustache to his upper lip, appearing to be almost the same age as Ling Zhaowen’s…

“Well…” Ling Zhaowen hesitated. Worried that Ling Zhang might have introduced the wrong person, he tentatively shifted his gaze to Mr. Mu who also had mustache but seemed older.

Butler Li and the others who had accompanied Ling Zhaowen to this place also looked amazed, feeling that both of these men were too young to be their young master’s maternal grandfather.

“Uncle, he’s really my maternal grandfather. I know it’s hard to believe. I’ll explain after we get home,” said Ling Zhang, standing beside Ji Yin.

“I’m indeed Zhang’er’s maternal grandfather. My name is Ji Yin. There are a lot of reasons why this is the first time in so many years that we’ve seen each other. Please forgive me,” said Ji Yin.

As both Ling Zhang and Ji Yin had confirmed it, Ling Zhaowen had no choice but to accept it as the truth, though still in great astonishment. “Please pardon me for my lack of discernment. I’m Ling Zhaowen. Thank you for taking care of my brother for so many years.”

“He’s my daughter’s husband and also my grandson’s father. I only did what I should do,” said Ji Yin.

“Uncle, this is Mr. Mu, the physician who’s been treating my father all these years.” Ling Zhang introduced Mr. Mu to his uncle.

Ling Zhaowen hurriedly expressed his gratitude to him, making a deep bow. Mr. Mu bowed back to him with hands folded in front. “I but did what I was ordered to do. There’s no need for you to thank me, Second Master Ling.”

“No matter what the reason was, you saved my brother’s life and are the Ling family’s savior,” remarked Ling Zhaowen.

Ling Zhang flicked a glance at Ling Zhaowu who was standing by his side and said to Ji Yin and the others, “Grandfather, Mr. Mu, Uncle, I think it’s best if we go back to Tanyang as soon as possible.”

Seeing that he became the focus of so many people’s attention again, Ling Zhaowu went somewhat uneasy.

Ling Zhaowen was now more collected. “Zhang’er, go back into the carriage with your father. We’ll enter the town to have some rest and then set off to return to Tanyang.”

Ling Zhang gave a nod and then supported Ling Zhaowu into the carriage.

…

The next day. In Tanyang.

Ling Xingzhong, along with Ling Maomao and some family servants, were standing at the city gates, looking at the horizon where the main road seemed to end, their faces full of anxiety.

Almost all passers-by knew who Ling Xingzhong was. Some of them walked over and asked, “Old Master Ling, whom are you waiting here with you grandson for?”

“I’m waiting for my son to come home,” Ling Xingzhong replied.

The one who’d asked the question was surprised to hear this answer. Ling Zhaowen had gone on a long journey? But hadn’t they seen him only a couple of days ago? Besides, even if Ling Zhaowen had gone on a long journey, why had Ling Xingzhong specially come here to wait for him? Was Ling Zhaowen supposed to bring back something precious, by any chance?

One of them ventured, “Tongzhi Ling must be bringing back some kind of treasure. When he comes back, don’t hide it from us, Old Master Ling. Let us have a look to widen our horizons.”

Ling Xingzhong didn’t take offence. In transports of sentiment, he looked in the direction that the main road led and responded, “He’s indeed a rare treasure. If I could just see him one more time, I’d feel no regret till my last breath.” (In Chinese, the third-person pronoun referring to an animal or a thing has the same pronunciation as that of the one referring to a person.)

Ling Xingzhong’s putting it so seriously piqued all these people’s curiosity. Those who were in no hurry found a nearby spot to sit down, waiting to see what this treasure that Ling Xingzhong would trade his life for an opportunity to see one more time looked like exactly.

The message passed from mouth to mouth, and soon a lot of residents gathered at the city gates, all of whom had come along for the ride. Those who intended to enter the city found their path blocked by lookers-on, but instead of getting annoyed, they joined them to go with the flow.

Tao Feng was also greatly surprised to hear what was happening at the city gates. The night before, Ling Zhaowen had someone deliver a message to him, telling him that he needed to take a leave of absence to deal with some urgent family business, and then Ling Zhaowen exited the city in a great hurry with some men and still hadn’t come back yet; and this morning, Ling Xingzhong went to the city gates and had been anxiously waiting ever since. Was he really expecting some rare treasure, by any chance?

Tao Feng felt that the circumstances were somewhat suspicious. If Ling Zhaowen was really bringing back some kind of rare treasure, people of the Ling family would without doubt try to keep the whole thing secret from others. On no account would they have disclosed it to so many residents at the city gates, because despite the fact that there were barely any bandits left in Tanyang, there was no telling whether or not robbers from other cities wouldn’t be drawn here by the news. Ling Xingzhong shouldn’t be such a dotard.

“Let’s go and see.”

Tao Feng took some men and also hastened towards the city gates.

Tao Feng was the prefectural governor, so residents naturally didn’t dare get in his way. He walked straight up to Ling Xingzhong and asked, “Old Master Ling, are you waiting for Zhaowen to come back?”

Ling Xingzhong neither inclined nor shook his head. “I’m waiting for my son.”

Exceptionally expectant as he was privately, he feared that his hopes might end up being disappointed, which was why he kept part of the truth back.

Seeing this, Tao Feng believed that he was indeed waiting for Ling Zhaowen to bring something back and reminded him in an undertone, “Old Master Ling, if it is indeed something of a rarity, aren’t you putting your family in danger by telling everybody about it?”

Knowing that he misunderstood, Ling Xingzhong was just about to explain when two horse-drawn carriages and a group of riders came into sight on the main road in the distance. In his eager anticipation, he ignored Tao Feng’s question and took a couple of quick steps forward, straining his neck for a better view of that group of people.

All onlookers were waiting for this moment. Someone in the crowd immediately yelled, “He’s coming! Tongzhi Ling came back!”

“He returned!” Residents were all thrilled, eager to find out what kind of treasure Ling Zhaowen was bringing back exactly. In order to ensure at least a glimpse of it, everybody was trying to squeeze their way to the frontmost or standing on tiptoe or climbing to a high position.

Ling Zhaowen was riding, followed by Butler Li and the stewards who were also on horseback. Distantly, they all caught sight of the uproarious scene at the city gates, stunned. It was not until a loud cheer burst forth from the crowd that they came to realize it was them that those people were waiting for. “That’s him! Tongzhi Ling came back!”

“It seems that they all know First Master returned and came here to see him,” remarked Butler Li.

But Ling Zhaowen had an inkling that something was not quite right but didn’t have the time to give it any more thought, for he saw that Ling Xingzhong and his grandson Ling Maomao were both looking in this direction with eager eyes.

“Grandfather?” Ling Zhang had lifted the carriage curtain and saw the bustle at the city gates in the distance. “What’s going on there…”

“Zhang’er, hold tight to your father after we get there. I don’t know why so many people came here. I worry that your father might be scared by them,” Ling Zhaowen reminded Ling Zhang. Having spent a day with Ling Zhaowu, he had come to know what kind of mental state his brother was in and was deeply concerned.

Ling Zhang tossed a glance at his father who was beside him and craning his neck to look at the crowd in the distance, and said, “I will.”

Ling Zhaowu was frightened of strangers, but as long as strangers around him didn’t stare at him, he wouldn’t panic; on the contrary, he would get very excited like a child. However, on this occasion, it was very likely that all those thrilled residents at the city gates had specially come here to see them. Although Ling Zhang had no idea which part of the plan had gone awry, he did know that he must not expose Ling Zhaowu to this atmosphere.

“Father, Grandfather and Maomao are waiting for you in front. There are also many citizens present. When we get there, you don’t have to get out of this carriage. I’ll go out and explain it to Grandfather. I want you to stay here waiting for me. Can you do that?”

Ling Zhaowu had clapped eyes on the large crowds that were gazing in this direction. A shade scared, he flinched and gripped Ling Zhang’s hand tight. “No!”

“Zhang’er, stop that nonsense. I’ll talk to your grandfather. We’ll enter the city immediately after those people clear off,” said Ling Zhaowen.

Ling Zhang was resigned, but Ling Zhaowu had already begun to feel afraid, and if he left his father alone in the carriage, something might go wrong.

“Okay, Uncle. Ask Grandfather to get in this carriage – and Maomao, too. As Maomao is a kid, my father should be more at ease with him present.”

Ling Zhaowen bobbed his head and spurred his horse to continue progressing.

As the group of them approached, residents at the city gates cheered again and again. “Here he comes! Here he comes!”

“Tongzhi Ling, what kind of rare treasure did you bring back? Please let us have a look!”

“Yeah. I’ve never seen any rare treasure in all my life!”

“Tongzhi Ling, all of us have been looking forward to seeing it!”

Their curiosity piqued, residents couldn’t wait to see what it was, their eyes boring into the two carriages.

At this moment, Ling Zhaowen came to understand what was going on. All these people mistakenly believed that he had brought back some rare treasure, and had come here to see it. He was rather resigned in the knowledge that this must be his father’s doing.

He dismounted from his horse and walked up to Ling Xingzhong who was quite anxious from the long wait.

Ling Xingzhong instantly grabbed his arm with great force and inquired, “How did it go? Did you bring your brother back?!”

Tao Feng who was standing on the side was stupefied at the question and soon came to realize what this was about. Ling Zhaowu, Ling Xingzhong’s firstborn son, had returned?!

Ling Zhaowen nodded vigorously. “I did. He’s in that carriage. Father, he sustained some kind of mental trauma, and the crowd will scare him, so we cannot let him get out of the carriage. Also, you need to have these people clear off, and then you and Maomao should get into the carriage. We’ll talk after getting back home.”

Ling Xingzhong’s heart did a somersault and then slightly sank. He cast a look over his shoulder at the crowd of onlookers. In the knowledge that he’d caused some trouble, he turned around and explained to the residents, “Hey, everybody, I’m sorry I didn’t make myself clear enough previously. What my second son brought back is Ling Zhaowu, my eldest son, who is a rare treasure to me. It’s not what you think. I’d appreciate it if you guys would make way for us so that our carriages could take us back home.”

Ling Zhaowu? Many of the residents had no memories of this person. It was those of a certain age who recalled that he was Ling Xingzhong’s firstborn son, the one who had been missing for over a decade!

Tao Feng had heard Ling Zhaowen’s words just now. Although he was very curious as well, it was obvious that at this moment the most important thing was to make sure people of the Ling family returned home as soon as possible, so he also told the crowd to clear off.

The lookers-on were all rather disappointed to learn that what had been brought back was a person, not some valuable item that they had imagined, but after hearing that Ling Zhaowu, a member of the Ling family that had been unaccounted for for over ten years, they were quite surprised and curious. However, since both Ling Xingzhong and Tao Feng had told them to clear off, they felt it inappropriate to stay around the carriages and parted to allow them to go into the city.

“Thank you, Lord Tao,” said Ling Zhaowen gratefully.

Tao Feng replied, “I did what I should do. But… is it true that your big brother really came back?”

Ling Zhaowen gave a nod. “It’s absolutely true, but my brother suffered grievous injuries and are still recovering. It’s inconvenient for him to see too many people at a time, which is why we let him stay in the carriage. We’ll take him back home to have some rest first. Tomorrow, I’ll invite you around to have a talk.”

A sensible person, Tao Feng said, “This is definitely a blessing from God. You should get going right away.”

Chapter 291: Exposed to a Stimulus After Returning Home

As the crowd thinned out, Ling Zhaowen, followed by Ling Xingzhong and Ling Maomao, walked up to the carriage.

Ling Zhang, seeing the lookers-on had cleared off, lifted the carriage curtain and craned out. “Grandfather, Maomao.”

Ling Xingzhong didn’t appear very excited to see his beloved grandson. “Um,” he merely said, looking inside the carriage. At the sight of Ling Zhaowu who was hiding behind Ling Zhang’s back and peeping at him with a somewhat scared face, his eyes quickly reddened, appraising Ling Zhaowu carefully from head to foot. When he found that Ling Zhaowu was thin and pale, tears welled up in his eyes. “You unfilial son. I thought you’d never come back.”

At first Ling Zhaowu was very afraid, but gradually, as though surprised by Ling Xingzhong’s upset look, he fixed him with a bemused stare.

“Father, get in the carriage.” Ling Zhaowen walked over and supported Ling Xingzhong into the carriage.

Ling Maomao didn’t need Ling Zhaowen’s help and climbed onto it by himself. Ling Zhang reached out his hand to pull him to his feet. “Get in, Maomao.”

Ling Maomao held Ling Zhang’s hand tight and called, “Big Brother.”

Maybe because he was affected by the atmosphere, Ling Maomao was not as excited to see Ling Zhang as he had been in the past. Though the gleam in his sparkling eyes suggested that he was pleasantly surprised, the little boy appeared much more poised than the last time Ling Zhang had seen him.

Ling Zhang pulled him into the carriage, which was quite broad and comfortable and didn’t feel crowded even with three adults and a child sitting inside now. Ling Zhaowu was sitting pressing himself tightly against Ling Zhang’s side. When Ling Xingzhong had been getting in, he had buried his head in Ling Zhang’s back and afterwards had turned his head aside to look at Ling Xingzhong. Seeing Ling Xingzhong still gazing at him with that same excited face, he had uneasily edged a little closer to Ling Zhang. Ling Maomao was sitting beside Ling Xingzhong, staring at this uncle of his who was a complete stranger to him, astonishment gleaming in his eyes. He had never expected that Ling Zhaowu would act like this, but he didn’t ask any questions, looked from Ling Zhaowu to Ling Xingzhong and Ling Zhang, and then just sat there, keeping silent.

Ling Zhaowu, however, was distracted by Ling Maomao’s presence. Clearly a little boy was not as intimidating for him as an adult was. He looked at Ling Maomao curiously.

His gaze sent Ling Maomao somewhat disconcerted. “Un–Uncle.”

Perplexed as to what that word meant, Ling Zhaowu swiveled his head aside to look at Ling Zhang. “Zhang’er?”

Ling Xingzhong had been observing Ling Zhaowu since he’d got into the carriage. Seeing that Ling Zhaowu had been behaving like a child all along, he felt a twinge of intense heartache, twisted his head around and didn’t turn it back until he had wiped the tears off the corners of his eyes. In order not to make his grandfather feel embarrassed, Ling Zhang pretended not to have noticed. Ling Maomao’s attention was focused on Ling Zhaowu, so he failed to perceive this.

“He’s Maomao, my uncle’s son, your nephew,” Ling Zhang explained to Ling Zhaowu.

Ling Zhaowu repeated the word. “Nephew?”

Then he shifted his gaze to Ling Maomao and suddenly gave a smile. “Nephew.”

Ling Zhang was briefly stupefied to see his smile. Ling Zhaowu had hardly smiled apart from the couple of occasions when Ling Zhang had seen smile on his face in the Millennium Pavilion, and this was the first time that he had seen Ling Zhaowu smile since they’d left the Millennium Pavilion.

Ling Xingzhong also appeared somewhat absent-minded, a faraway expression on his face, as though Ling Zhaowu’s smile had conjured up his memories of Ling Zhaowu’s childhood. After quite a while, he let out a long sigh and pulled himself back to the present, his eyes resting on Ling Zhaowu who had become interested in and been gazing all along at Ling Maomao. “You undutiful son. If you had listened to me and stayed at home, none of this would have happened.”

Ling Zhaowu couldn’t understand. He just subconsciously knew that by making this remark, Ling Xingzhong was reproaching him. A trifle afraid, he lowered his head and buried his face in Ling Zhang’s back.

The corners of Ling Xingzhong’s mouth slightly twitched. Eventually, he heaved another sigh, looking senile and weary, as though having just aged several years.

Ling Zhang couldn’t bear to see him like this and consoled him, “Grandfather, my father will recover. I brought a pill that could cure him.”

Ling Xingzhong inclined his head and looked at Ling Zhang, guilt etched on his face. “I’ve been keeping your mother’s parentage back from you all these years. It never crossed my mind that I was holding you back. Fortunately they came and found you, and you didn’t miss any of this. I made a mistake.”

Ling Zhang hurriedly said, “No. You did what you thought was best for me. It’s not your fault.”

Ling Xingzhong shook his head. “You don’t have to console me. I know I could be very mulish sometimes. Had I adopted a more flexible approach in that year, I might have managed to stop your father from leaving, and you wouldn’t have been divided from your father for so many years, and neither would your father have ended up like this. If it weren’t for the kindness of them, I would have to spend the rest of my life in regret.”

Ling Zhang looked at him earnestly. “Grandfather, you did everything you could. Things wouldn’t have come to this had my father seen sense back then, but given his mental state, we cannot blame him for that. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over my father’s mistake.”

Ling Xingzhong gave a long sigh. “The father is responsible for the son’s ignorance.”

Ling Zhang had no alternative but to hurriedly make an attempt to steer the conversation away from this topic in the knowledge that it’d take some more time to get his grandfather to stop blaming himself. “Grandfather, back at the city gates, what with the confusion outside, I didn’t introduce my maternal grandfather to you. He’s in the carriage behind us, along with Mr. Mu, the physician who’s been treating my father.”

Ling Xingzhong nodded. “I see. I’ll thank them after we get home.”

Ling Zhang opened his mouth but eventually said nothing.

…

The horse-drawn carriages halted at the front gates of the residence of the Ling family. Fu Caiwei, along with some servants, had been waiting for them. At the sight of the group of people, her eyes rested on Ling Zhaowen who was in front, overjoyed. “Darling!”

Ling Zhaowen gave a nod at her and dismounted from his horse. After Fu Caiwei walked down the flight of steps, Ling Zhaowen told her in a low voice, “My big brother is in the carriage with my father and Zhang’er. His mental state is a little… special. Don’t feel surprised when you see him.”

Fu Caiwei nodded. “I understand.”

In the carriage.

“Here we are.”

Ji Donglin raised the carriage curtain. Ling Zhang turned and said to Ling Zhaowu, “Father, we’ve arrived home. Let me help you get out of this carriage.”

Ling Zhaowu curiously looked outside, a disbelieving expression flashing across his pallid face. “This is not home.”

Ling Xingzhong paused, looking at him.

Ling Zhang knew that the reason why Ling Zhaowu said this was because he had taken that little courtyard house in the Millennium Pavilion which he’d been living in for over half a year for his home and had forgotten the Ling family, so he patiently explained, “Father, this is the Ling family, which is both my home and your home.”

“Your home? Zhang’er’s home?” Ling Zhaowu looked at him.

Ling Zhang inclined his head.

Comprehension dawning on his face, bobbing his head, Ling Zhaowu beamed, “Then it’s my home as well.”

On hearing this, Ling Zhang felt a stab of sadness and firmly held his father’s hand. “Let’s get out of here and go home.”

Ling Zhaowu nodded and finally went out of the carriage with Ling Zhang cooperatively. After that, when Ling Zhang released his grip on Ling Zhaowu’s arms and went to help Ling Xingzhong, Ling Zhaowu seemed rather unhappy, following him closely with his front against Ling Zhang’s back.

“Take it easy, Grandfather.”

Ling Zhang supported Ling Xingzhong out of the carriage and then subconsciously reached out his hands to carry Ling Maomao, but the little boy swiftly jumped off the carriage. “I can manage it myself, Big Brother.”

For an instant Ling Zhang felt lost. Maomao had grown up.

“Zhang’er.” Ling Zhaowu gave the back of Ling Zhang’s robe a pull, displeased with him gazing at Ling Maomao.

Ling Zhang jerked out of his trance and held Ling Zhaowu’s wrist consolingly. “Father, does this place strike you as familiar?”

On hearing this, Ling Zhaowu glanced around and was just about to shake his head when his eyes were suddenly fixed on something, his countenance vacant.

The others looked in the direction he was staring and found that what attracted his attention was an outer screen wall and the plants in front of it.

“Your father and your mother finished that painting on the screen wall together the year when we returned to Tanyang,” Ling Zhaowen explained in a quiet voice.

Ling Zhang turned his head around to look at Ling Zhaowu. Worrying that the painting might turn out to be some kind of visual stimulus, Ling Zhaowu had started walking forward. Ling Zhang hurriedly followed. “Father.”

This time Ling Zhaowu didn’t give any particular reaction and was still considering the painting on the screen wall. Standing in front of the wall, looking up at it, he raised his hand to touch it and with that his face took on a seemingly distant or anguished expression. Ling Zhang’s heart gave a lurch and then saw Ling Zhaowu suddenly crouch down, clap his hand over his head and cried out in pain, “Ah! AAAAAARGH!”

“Father!” Ling Zhang gave a start and hurriedly yelled, “Mr. Mu!”

Mr. Mu had just got out of the carriage with Ji Yin when he caught sight of this scene. He hastily took his medicine chest in his arms and sprinted over.

All members of the Ling family were startled.

“Brother!” Ling Zhaowen ran up to Ling Zhaowu and tried to support him only to find that Ling Zhaowu’s strength was so great that he was unable to raise him to his feet.

“Maternal Grandfather!” Ling Zhang had just let out a cry when Ji Yin swooshed over to them with a blur of movement and restrained Ling Zhaowu who was shouting in pain. Ling Zhaowu sat onto the ground, leaning against Ling Zhang’s chest, still holding his head and crying constantly, “AAAAAARGH!”

“Brother.” Ling Zhaowen’s eyes reddened with sorrow at this sight.

Ling Xingzhong was also thrown into discomposure, at a loss what to do. Seeing his son’s miserable face, he felt as though the pain was stabbing at his heart.

Right at this moment, Mr. Mu took quickly took out some needles, skillfully stuck several of them into Ling Zhaowu’s skin at certain acupoints, then stuffed a pill into Ling Zhaowu’s mouth, raised his head and said, “Hurry. Carry him inside.”

With great strength, Ling Zhang directly scooped up Ling Zhaowu who had listlessly closed his eyes after calming down, and rushed through the front gates. The others immediately followed. A steward, who was the only one left in the gateway, instructed some servants to take the traveling bags in the carriages into the residence and then park the carriages to another place.

After carrying Ling Zhaowu inside, Ling Zhang suddenly paused, wondering where he should take Ling Zhaowu. Servants every other day cleaned the courtyard house that Ling Zhaowu used to live in, so it was very clean, but he was afraid that Ling Zhaowu would be stimulated again by the things in his room when he woke up. After hesitating for a brief moment, he hastened towards his own house with Ling Zhaowu in his arms.

Ji Yin, carrying Mr. Mu with one arm and the medicine chest with the other hand, nimbly followed in Ling Zhang’s wake like a shadow and was instantly out of the others’ sight.

Having entered his own courtyard house, Ling Zhang was very familiar with everything inside. The servants in the courtyard were all astounded to see Ling Zhang abruptly charge in with a man in his arms.

“Make the bed!” Ling Zhang yelled.

“Young Master, we’ve made all the beds already,” a servant hurriedly answered.

Ling Zhang carried Ling Zhaowu into his bedroom, put him down onto his bed and carefully adjusted his lying position to make sure it was comfortable. “Everything’s fine now, Father.”