Chapter 17: The Glimpse

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Yet Jiang Wu knew that no matter how angry she felt, she had no standing to truly lose her temper, so she restrained herself. Even so, her expression remained sour enough that Lady Li dared not say more.

The banquet featured music and dance arranged by Qingyang.

Jiang Wu watched absentmindedly while some tactless people continued to badmouth Lady Li.

“I’ve heard that Lady Li’s son’s beloved comes from a family of performers. Why not invite them here so we can have a look?”

Lady Li’s face turned ashen.

Jiang Wu was annoyed, too. She glanced at Qingyang, who smiled and responded, “Madam He, surely you know that the young lady’s father is an honored guest of this princess?”

Suddenly, no one dared speak further.

Everyone understood what it meant to be an honored guest, but even if they despised it in their hearts, none would reveal it openly.

Jiang Wu felt a pang of softness.

She had originally planned to sever ties with Mo Yangzhou and his daughter before the divorce, but after this incident, she couldn’t just ignore it.

She had to find a chance to meet that girl, Mingzhu, and have a proper talk. She couldn’t let her be deceived.

***

Nightfall.

A shadow in black silently tiptoed into the Prime Minister’s residence.

She observed carefully; the usual spot was occupied. After a moment’s thought, she took advantage of a passing breeze to blend into the leaves, becoming invisible.

One, two, three…

Silently counting, she roughly assessed how many secret guards were in the courtyard and their positions, then lowered her gaze to the figures inside.

It was that woman with her two children.

They sat together, chatting about everyday trivialities. The children’s features bore a faint resemblance to hers.

The figure in black pulled down the cloth from her face, revealing none other than Mo Mingzhu.

Mingzhu watched the woman lift a teapot and pour tea for the other two.

“This is a tea ceremony I’ve studied for a long time. Please try it,” she said softly, her eyes always carrying a relaxed smile.

In Mingzhu’s memory, whenever she saw this woman, her eyes were filled with unrelenting sorrow, her appearance always exhausted.

Rarely did she look as completely at ease as she did now.

Hmph, Mingzhu snorted coldly to herself. Such a touching scene of a loving mother and dutiful children. But whenever she thought this was the family of that corrupt official, disgust and hatred welled up inside her.

She attributed her irritation to this.

How many families had been ruined by that corrupt official? Why should he be allowed a happy home? He deserved to have his family torn apart...

The thought of “torn apart” was stifled when she saw Jiang Wu’s face again.

Though she was that official’s wife, this woman was truly lacking in sense—a fact that also made her the only one able to approach the official.

“Mother, can we sleep together tonight?” came the soft, delicate voice of Chu Nianyin, a tone that made Mingzhu want to frown.

Yet the woman happily replied, “Of course! Absolutely.” Her voice was filled with surprise and even a hint of being overwhelmed with joy. “I’ll have the servants prepare.”

Chu Ye had already left to read in his room. Jiang Wu took Chu Nianyin’s hand, leading her inside. Mingzhu watched the mother and daughter walk away, her irritation rising.

When lonely, she sought comfort in herself; now that her own children returned, no one else mattered.

Fine. She no longer wished to play the role of a loving mother and daughter.

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She waited until the oil lamps in the house went out, then turned over and vanished into the Prime Minister’s residence.

***

Returning home, Mingzhu was just about to slip into her room when a voice spoke behind her.

“Where have you been?”

She turned to see Mo Yangzhou in a blue robe holding a coal lamp.

Mingzhu was still wearing her night clothes, unable to offer any excuse. She simply replied irritably, “Why do you care so much?”

Though father and daughter depended on each other, their relationship was not particularly close.

“The Prime Minister’s residence is heavily guarded. If you’re so careless, you’ll get into trouble sooner or later,” Mo Yangzhou frowned, his tone reproachful but still gentle. “Don’t take risks unless absolutely necessary.”

Mingzhu was indifferent.

Looking at her father’s earnest concern, a sudden anger flared within her, and she snorted coldly.

“Or should I be like you? Waiting like a grumbling husband for her favor? Have you forgotten why you got close to her? Do you really like her? Have you forgotten who killed my mother? She’s getting along well with that corrupt official’s children now! She wouldn’t think of you!”

Mo Yangzhou, prepared to lecture, swallowed his words under her verbal assault.

He pressed his lips together, then after a moment asked, “Did something happen? Are you upset?”

Her expression darkened further.

“I’m upset, and it’s your fault. If you weren’t incompetent, how could you have failed to protect my mother?”

With that, she slammed the door and went inside.

She found herself strangely puzzled, aware of how odd she was feeling.

Mingzhu had never seen her mother. Since she could remember, there had only been her father; her mother was just a vague memory.

At least, that used to be the case.

When had she begun to crave her mother? Perhaps it was five years ago, when she was vaguely ill, and that woman held her, the scent in her arms, the love in her eyes whenever they met—slowly, her mother took shape in Mingzhu’s heart.

If she had a mother, she would be just like that woman: foolish, a bit scatterbrained, always confused.

Yet kind, soft-hearted, innocent, wholly devoted to her children.

Such a fragile person naturally needed her father’s protection.

If it weren’t for her father’s incompetence, how could she have died so young? How could she have left her so soon…

Mingzhu bit her lip, suppressing a surge of uncontrollable jealousy.

Outside the door.

Mo Yangzhou stood for a long time. The night wind whispered through the corridor like a faint sob.

The candle in his hand had long since extinguished.

He likely understood why Mingzhu was angry. He sighed softly, then turned and left.

Passing through the corridor, he opened a dark room where only moonlight streamed in.

His eyes adjusted to the darkness as he placed the extinguished candlestick on the table and opened the window behind him.

The rustle of bamboo leaves came rushing in.

Mo Yangzhou stood motionless for a long time.

His daughter mentioned her mother more often nowadays. Looking at the bamboo grove bathed in moonlight, his calm eyes held a trace of confusion. He truly no longer knew how to communicate with his grown child.

If only...

Mo Yangzhou closed his eyes, refusing to think further. The wind blew, carrying away only his sigh.

***

Jiang Wu finally found an opportunity to visit Mo Yangzhou.

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When she arrived and stepped inside, a man was standing there.

Wearing a thin blue robe, he was refined and gentle; his gaze was warm and lingering, never causing discomfort.

“Madam.”

Mo Yangzhou bowed.

Jiang Wu’s mood was strange. For a moment, when the man with eyes full of light called her “Madam,” she felt the word carried a different meaning than when others used it — as if...

This thought made her cheeks flush slightly.

Even if she avoided it or deliberately refused to see it, this moment of peace, like coming home, made it impossible to deceive her own heart.

If only they truly were family.

“Please, no need for formalities,” she said as calmly as she could.

After Mo Yangzhou invited her inside, Qingyang, as usual, avoided their presence.

Only the two of them remained in the room. The man stood a little distance away. After Jiang Wu sat down, she beckoned him with a wave, “Come over.”

She called so naturally, her pure-hearted nature and well-maintained appearance making her look charming, not unlike a young woman, without any sense of incongruity.

After hesitation, the man took a small step closer.

Only then did Jiang Wu realize something was off.

Was he sulking with her?

Realizing this, she didn’t get angry but found it amusing.

She had almost thought Mo Yangzhou was a temperless doll; this was the first time he seemed to be throwing a childish tantrum with her.

A smile already on her face, she urged the man who had moved only slightly, “Come closer.”

Seemingly resigned, he finally sat down opposite her.

Before she sat, Jiang Wu pointed to the seat beside her. “Sit here.”

Mo Yangzhou was momentarily stunned. Seeing him look her way, she quickly suppressed the mischievous smile on her face.

He never disobeyed her, so after a brief hesitation, he sat beside her.

Their relationship was both clear and unclear. At least, such closeness existed, but Jiang Wu could feel the tension in the man’s body next to her.

She tentatively took his hand resting on his leg and felt him stiffen briefly before quickly returning to normal.

“Are you comfortable living here?”

“Yes.”

“Anything you dislike?”

“No.”

After just two sentences, sensing his increasing tension, she mercifully withdrew her hand. Yet this seemed to trigger something within him; the motionless man suddenly grasped her hand firmly.

“Madam.”

Jiang Wu was startled. She saw the corners of Mo Yangzhou’s eyes redden. She had always thought such expressions—whether from men or women—belonged to the young and beautiful, evoking pity. Yet seeing it on this face, weathered by decades of hardship, still made her heart ache painfully.

Perhaps because at this age, when one can control emotions, losing control is all the more heartbreaking. Perhaps it was her own guilt. Or maybe simply because it was Mo Yangzhou.

Jiang Wu truly felt a pang of sorrow.

“Madam,” Mo Yangzhou’s eyes reddened, yet he smiled faintly, “If I said I can’t control my longing for you, and now even more can’t control my desire to hold you, would you be so angry as to never see me again?”