Chapter 106: Some Truths Revealed

An Yi was brought by An Kang to stand before An Qinghe. Seeing the joy radiating from An Qinghe’s face, a swirl of emotions stirred within her. Soon, they would live under the same roof. She lowered her eyelids slightly, masking the coldness hidden deep in her eyes, and softly called out, “Father.”

Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it sent An Qinghe into a state of ecstatic delight. He had believed that the bloodshed on the battlefield had cost him his beloved youngest daughter, taken away by fate. Yet here she was, alive and delicate, standing before him and calling him “Father.” Fate had been kind to him; fate had been kind indeed. With his family reunited, he had no regrets in this life.

“Father, sister has returned. Our family is together again,” An Kang said, casting a sidelong glance at the pale-faced Mrs. Huang, his disdain and loathing evident. The “family” he spoke of did not include the forcibly arrived Third Miss Huang.

“Together again, our family is reunited,” An Qinghe wiped away his tears, overwhelmed with joy at the return of his lost daughter. “Xi’er, hurry, go inside to see your mother. She’s been crying every day, longing for you.”

The three of them entered the inner chamber. The Han brothers, Mrs. Huang, and Fang Rong remained in the main hall, not following them.

Han Songyan turned to look toward the inner room, a gentle smile gracing his handsome face. She had returned safely—how wonderful that was!

Bai Wuming stared expressionlessly at Mrs. Huang; a cold gleam flickered deep in his eyes. This woman’s reaction mirrored that of the vile woman six years ago when he first returned to the Han family—a venomous woman indeed.

Mrs. Huang did not notice Bai Wuming’s gaze. Standing there, her face deathly pale, eyes darkening, she suddenly realized she had been deceived.

The main hall was quiet, while the inner room was lively. After confirming An Yi’s identity, Mrs. Luo embraced her, tears of joy streaming down her face.

“Mother, sister has returned. It’s a joyous occasion; please don’t cry anymore,” An Kang gently urged.

An Qinghe stepped forward. “Wife, our daughter has returned safely. Our family is reunited. Please don’t be sad or blame yourself anymore. Take care of your health quickly. This household still needs you to manage it—you cannot leave me and the children unattended.”

Hearing An Qinghe’s words, Mrs. Huang looked resentfully toward the inner chamber. How could this man be so heartless? How could he so easily disregard her feelings? She had suffered such great humiliation for him!

“Mother, please don’t cry. If you keep crying like this, your eyes won’t heal. If your eyes are ruined, you won’t be able to see your beautiful, precious daughter clearly,” An Yi said softly, wiping away Mrs. Luo’s tears.

Bai Wuming withdrew his gaze from Mrs. Huang, lowering his eyelids to conceal the trace of a smile in his eyes. Indeed, she was as beautiful as a blossoming flower.

The sound of Mrs. Luo’s delighted laughter grated harshly on Mrs. Huang’s ears. Her resentment deepened, and with clenched teeth, she fled out. Her maidservant was momentarily stunned before rushing after her.

Hearing the commotion, Han Songyan turned to watch the group run out, a faint worry clouding her eyes. With the An family gaining a second branch of distinguished lineage, would the simple happiness of old still remain? Or would it become as chaotic as the Han household, where peace was scarce?

With the Han brothers still present, they comforted Mrs. Luo, and An Qinghe and his sons emerged. Bai Wuming had already taken Mrs. Luo’s pulse and reviewed the prescription An Yi had written. “Miss An’s choice of medicine is quite accurate, but there are minor deficiencies. I would like to discuss with her how to better treat Auntie’s eye condition.”

Han Songyan was surprised to hear her usually taciturn seventh brother speak at such length. So startled was she that she did not notice Bai Wuming had changed the way he addressed Mrs. Luo—from “Madam An” to “Auntie.”

An Qinghe, unaware of Bai Wuming’s “personality,” trusted him without suspicion. “Xi’er, come out here for a moment.”

An Yi supported Mrs. Luo as they stepped out of the inner room. Mrs. Luo held An Yi’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go for fear it was all a dream, and that once released, her daughter would disappear again.

Bai Wuming’s words were meant to ease future dealings with the An household. Yet An Qinghe, a straightforward man, immediately called An Yi out, forcing him to point out faults in an otherwise flawless prescription in front of the knowledgeable Han Songyan.

“Seventh Young Master, which medicine do you think is not suitable?” An Yi asked, concerned about Mrs. Luo’s illness, without overthinking.

Bai Wuming found himself in a difficult spot but braved it and picked at a detail, “Cinnamon twig.”

An Yi frowned. “In your opinion, which medicine would be better?”

“Morus leaf.”

An Yi and Han Songyan fell silent, recalling the medicinal descriptions from the medical texts.

Cinnamon twig is pungent, sweet, and warm, affecting the lung, heart, and bladder meridians. It replenishes vital yang, promotes blood flow, and warms the spleen and stomach. Morus leaf is bitter, sweet, and slightly cold, entering the lung and liver meridians. It dispels wind and clears heat, clears the lungs to stop coughing, and brightens the liver and eyes.

An Yi looked up at Bai Wuming. “Morus leaf is indeed more appropriate than cinnamon twig.”

Han Songyan nodded in agreement.

Bai Wuming silently exhaled, nervously running a hand over his eyebrows.

An Yi resolutely struck out “cinnamon twig” from the prescription and replaced it with “morus leaf,” sending Fang Rong to Jihuai Hall to fetch the herbs.

Just as Fang Rong left, Lv Tiao entered and bowed. “Master, Second Madam has prepared wine and dishes at Shunyi Hall. Please, Master, Eldest Young Master, and guests, join the feast.”

In the countryside, there was no strict separation of men and women at meals, but entering the capital and becoming an official family introduced such rigid customs. An Qinghe stood and smiled. “Please, two worthy nephews.”

“Uncle, please,” Han Songyan smiled.

The four men proceeded to Shunyi Hall. An Yi stayed behind to accompany Mrs. Luo, eyeing the two maids standing in the room. “You two, go outside. Don’t just stand here.”

The two maids exchanged glances. The taller one said, “Lunch will be served soon. I must attend to Madam’s meal.”

An Yi’s expression darkened, a cold light flashing in her eyes. Her voice was icy, “Go out.”

Startled by the fierce aura she radiated, the maids hurriedly fled.

“Xi’er, what’s wrong? Has someone upset you?” Mrs. Luo, unable to see clearly, sensed the harsh tone.

“I don’t like them, Mother. Let’s go inside and talk,” An Yi said sweetly.

“You child,” Mrs. Luo gently patted An Yi’s hand. “They are also poor souls. If not for poverty, who would sell themselves into servitude to serve others? You are a lady; you must be more understanding and not quarrel with them.”

“I know, Mother. Let me help you inside,” An Yi said, supporting Mrs. Luo into the inner room and sitting beside her on the bed. “Mother, Father has taken a concubine. Aren’t you angry?”

Mrs. Luo was momentarily stunned, then shook her head. “No, I’m old now, and my health is poor, especially my eyes. Your father is now a general and needs someone to care for him.”

An Yi knitted her brows tightly. “He told you this and you agreed to let Mrs. Huang enter the household?”

“Your father never said that. He never intended to take a concubine. It was the Emperor who ordered him to do so.”

An Yi snorted coldly. “The Emperor really meddles in everything, even household affairs like taking concubines?”

A faint bitterness tinged Mrs. Luo’s smile. “I’m a peasant woman with little knowledge. I didn’t know how to deal with the nobility in the capital and embarrassed myself many times.”

“Did he blame you?” An Yi’s expression grew darker. An Qinghe hadn’t even washed the cow dung off his feet properly, yet he scorned Mrs. Luo as a peasant.

“No, your father never blamed me. Actually, it’s better this way. Now that he has taken her, she manages affairs inside and outside the household. Everything is in order, and I have nothing to worry about.”

“She’s only a concubine; you are Madam An,” An Yi said angrily.

“Don’t say such things. Second Madam is a good woman. You’ll understand once you live with her.”

An Yi curled her lips. If Mrs. Huang were a good woman, then there would be no bad ones in this world. “Mother, don’t be fooled by her. She—”

“Xi’er, no speaking recklessly. She is your father’s second wife. You must call her ‘Second Mother,’” Mrs. Luo said sternly.

Seeing Mrs. Luo’s serious face, An Yi decided to give up revealing the truth. Perhaps it was better she not know.

At that moment, lunch was brought from the kitchen—six dishes and one soup, four meats and two vegetables: chicken, duck, fish, and meats with delicacies from mountain and sea, each prepared to perfection in color, aroma, and taste.

An Yi looked at the lavish spread and recalled the first day she arrived, seeing Mrs. Luo eat only two dishes and one soup. Her gaze hardened slightly as she asked in a low voice, “Mother, when the eldest brothers aren’t home, do you often eat sweet dishes and soups?”

“Not often. Mostly at noon. Too much sweetness becomes cloying. I ask them to cook light dishes. Back in the countryside, we had no silver to buy good food. Now I can eat white rice and meat every day,” Mrs. Luo said contentedly.

An Yi sighed quietly, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes. “Mother, if there’s anything you want to eat in the future, just tell me. I will cook it for you.”

“The white fungus with chicken liver you made yesterday was very good.”

“I’ll make it again tonight,” An Yi said as she scooped a spoonful of rice to her mother’s lips. “Come, Mother, eat.”

Half an hour later, An Kang had sent off the Han brothers and returned to Jingli Garden. An Yi had just helped Mrs. Luo take her medicine.

“Mother, you should lie down and rest.”

Just as Mrs. Luo lay down, she suddenly sat up, gripping An Yi’s hand tightly and asked anxiously, “Xi’er, where are you going?”

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’m staying here to watch over you,” An Yi reassured her.

Once Mrs. Luo fell asleep, An Yi quietly slipped out, leaving the door slightly ajar. Seeing An Kang in the main hall, she frowned. “Big Brother, where is he?”

“Songyan and the others had to leave early.”

“I asked about Father,” An Yi said, still unwilling to call An Qinghe “Father” from the depths of her heart.

“Father went to the government office to register your household. I told him it could wait until tomorrow, but he was impatient and insisted on going today. I offered to go instead, but he refused. He insisted on going himself,” An Kang said with a smile.

An Yi’s eyes flickered. Pouring a cup of water, she held it in her hands. “Big Brother...”

“Sister...”

“You speak first.”

They spoke in unison again.

An Kang laughed. “Big Brother is yielding to you. You go ahead.”

“Big Brother, did you receive the letter I sent through Jihuai Hall?” An Yi asked.

“Yes, but by then, I had already reunited with Father.”

“Was he willing to acknowledge you?” An Yi asked skeptically.