Upon hearing Liu Ming'an's response, Lou Yuhuan and Lou Baili were stunned.
"Ming'an, your parents are no longer in this world, you're all alone—"
Lou Baili's words were interrupted by Liu Ming'an's laughter: "I'm not alone, I have the girl I love by my side."
As Lou Baili was about to say something else, Liu Ming'an continued: "When my father was alive, he never mentioned a word about you. His ties with the Lou family ended in this lifetime, so why should I come seeking relatives?"
"Ming'an, are you saying you don't acknowledge us?" Lou Yuhuan looked at Liu Ming'an, his eyes reflecting hurt.
Liu Ming'an smiled gently at the old man: "You know I'm your grandson, and I know you're my grandfather. I know the Lou family members are blood relatives. That's enough. I won't return to the Lou family, nor will I change my surname. My future children will also bear the surname Liu."
Lou Yuhuan closed his eyes briefly, two clear tears slowly sliding down his weather-beaten face.
Wasn't this a form of severing ties as well?
But he bore an inescapable responsibility for this outcome.
He had three children. Lou Baili was the eldest son, entrusted with important responsibilities and carefully taught from a young age, all to pass on his own burdens. Lou Lvrou was the youngest daughter, cherished and protected by the whole family. Only Lou Qingzhi, sandwiched in the middle, was often overlooked, even though he knew full well that Qingzhi's talents were no less than his or Lou Baili's.
But Qingzhi was too understanding, a born gentleman, always elegant and composed, giving people the illusion that this person would never get angry, never be sad, that he would always remain so refined and gentlemanly.
This also led to the tragedy years ago when the whole family gathered around the grief-stricken mother to console and comfort her, while the mild-mannered young man was ignored, silently enduring his mother's hurtful words, bearing this undeserved calamity alone.
As a father, it was only after Qingzhi's disappearance that he belatedly realized how incompetent he had been.
He truly had no right to ask for anything more.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The door was suddenly rapped, and then someone pushed it open from outside.
The three of them turned to look at the newcomer simultaneously. It was Lou Lianyu.
Lou Lianyu's eyes immediately fell on the young master he had seen yesterday, filled with confusion, but he still greeted Lou Yuhuan and Lou Baili first: "Grandfather, Father."
After closing the door and approaching the table, Lou Lianyu suddenly realized that something wasn't quite right. Why was his usually dignified and solemn grandfather holding back tears? Why was his father, who rarely showed emotions, furrowing his brows so deeply?
Could all of this be related to this person who looked like his second uncle?
Before Lou Lianyu could open his mouth to ask, Lou Baili, knowing his son well, saw right through his thoughts and said directly: "Lianyu, he is your second uncle's son, your cousin, named Liu Ming'an."
Lou Lianyu turned his head towards Liu Ming'an in disbelief: "So it's really..."
"Then where's Second Uncle? Where is he?" Lou Lianyu quickly followed up with another question, but found that all three people present fell silent.
The silence at this moment was heart-stopping.
Before Lou Lianyu could get an answer, Liu Ming'an stood up and politely said to the three: "It's getting late, and someone is waiting for me at home. I'll take my leave now."
"Ming'an!" Lou Yuhuan, worried that this farewell might be another permanent goodbye, cautiously asked, "Will you still be in the Capital City? Will I be able to see you again?"
Liu Ming'an nodded under the old man's hopeful gaze: "I'm one of this year's imperial examination candidates. I'll be staying in the Capital City."
"That's good, that's good..." Lou Yuhuan said repeatedly, standing up as well. "Then let me see you out."
"There's no need. The night wind is strong, you should rest well, sir."
Liu Ming'an said, about to leave, when Lou Baili called out to him again: "Ming'an, take this packet of soft-centered candy with you. Your grandmother went specially to buy it."
Liu Ming'an turned to look at the paper package on the table, then after a moment, shook his head and told a lie: "I don't like sweets."
With that, he bowed to the three of them and turned to walk towards the main gate of the Lou Mansion.
Lou Yuhuan stared blankly as Liu Ming'an walked away, his eyes filled with inconsolable sadness.
"Where's Second Uncle?" Lou Lianyu asked again, his heart sinking uncontrollably.
Lou Baili looked at his son and spoke heavily: "Fourteen years ago, buried in the green mountains."
Lou Lianyu's face instantly turned as white as paper. He swayed, steadying himself by gripping the back of a chair.
"How could Second Uncle... such a good person..."
Lou Lianyu mumbled, feeling as if his head was buzzing, like someone had forcefully punched him in the temple.
Seeing this, Lou Baili could only sigh and step forward to pat Lou Lianyu's shoulder.
Lou Lianyu was his eldest son, but coincidentally, the first few years after his birth happened to be when the Emperor was purging the court. At that time, he and Lou Yuhuan, who was still the Grand Tutor then, were busy with official duties every day, rarely coming home. During Lianyu's early years, it was Qingzhi who took on the role of a father.
Qingzhi was very patient with Lou Lianyu, playing with him, accompanying him in writing and reading, taking him through the streets and alleys to buy various snacks and small trinkets, doing far better than Lou Baili, the real father.
By the time Lou Baili finally had some free time and wanted to properly look at his son, he found that in the blink of an eye, that tiny baby once wrapped in a crumpled blanket like a little monkey had grown to the height of his thigh, able to write and recite poems, clever and well-mannered.
His son was good in every way, except that he kept calling "Second Uncle" and clung to Qingzhi all day, while being indifferent to him, his own father.
Lou Baili felt somewhat sour at that time, and even a bit jealous of his brother.
When Qingzhi left, Lou Lianyu refused to eat for several days, crying and shouting to bring Second Uncle back. It was then that Lou Baili understood how much weight the words "Second Uncle" carried in his son's heart.
"Sigh~"
Lou Baili sighed again. He knew that over these years, Lou Lianyu had also been hoping to see Qingzhi again. Suddenly hearing the news of his untimely death, it was inevitable for him to be emotionally shaken.
"Baili." Lou Yuhuan suddenly called out.
Lou Baili turned back, hearing Lou Yuhuan say: "Send someone to inquire at Lotus Flower Village, and also try to find out where Ming'an is staying in the Capital City."
Actually, even without Lou Yuhuan's instructions, Lou Baili would have done these things.
"Also, write to Qiaoxi and Shuyu, ask them to return from Fragrant Leaf Temple as soon as possible. Our whole family should properly meet Ming'an. Tonight was too rushed..."
Qiaoxi was Lou Baili's wife, named Shangguan Qiaoxi, and Shuyu was Lou Lianyu's wife, named Cheng Shuyu. The two women had just boarded the carriage to Fragrant Leaf Temple this morning.
Lou Baili nodded, then heard Lou Yuhuan continue: "Let's not tell your mother about these things. There's a benefit to her being confused."
The old lady had been searching for Qingzhi for over twenty years, and had also been remorseful for over twenty years. If she were to learn that he had long since passed away, what kind of heart-wrenching pain would that be for her?
After giving these instructions, Lou Yuhuan seemed to have used up all his strength. The old Grand Tutor, who had been proud and unyielding all his life, at this moment appeared dejected, showing the weariness and frailty of old age.
Lou Baili knew the grief in his father's heart. He called for a servant to help the old man back to his room to rest.
"You should go rest too. You've been investigating the case all day, don't tire yourself out."
After Lou Yuhuan left, Lou Baili spoke to the distracted Lou Lianyu with some concern.
Lou Baili knew that Lou Lianyu was investigating the case of Minister Zhu's son's murder.
Minister Zhu was an important court official. His only son was killed, along with two servants. The three of them, master and servants, died mysteriously in an alley on the night of the Lantern Festival. Moreover, the murderer was so brazen as to leave a blood-written message on the wall, taunting and warning. This case shocked the entire court and populace.
Lou Baili's delay in the palace today was also because of this case.
Minister Zhu had wailed and cried at the palace gate, kneeling for a long time in the imperial study, begging the Emperor to surely catch the murderer and tear them to pieces, so that his son's spirit in heaven could rest in peace.
This was the natural emotion of a father, which everyone understood. But the problem lay in the blood-written message left at the crime scene and the testimony of the night watchman.
The blood message and the testimony directly pointed to someone who had a grudge against Minister Zhu as the culprit. Because of this, he went mad, wildly accusing anyone. Any official who had ever had a conflict with him was suspected of hiring an assassin to kill his son.
Six months ago, due to matters related to the renovation of the imperial tomb, Lou Baili had a few disputes with Minister Zhu in the imperial court. This time, he was targeted by Minister Zhu, and found himself quite troubled trying to prove his innocence in the palace. When he finally returned home, before he even had time to take off his official robes, he received the devastating news about Lou Qingzhi.
Lou Baili felt both mentally and emotionally wounded, but he also knew that Lou Lianyu would be even more distraught than himself.