Chapter 481: Chapter 480: Grief
Mu Yuanmou lowered his gaze and glanced at Lian Family’s hand.
Lian Family was completely unaware, muttering to herself.
Mu Yuanmou did not push her away; he turned his head slightly and instructed Mu Liancheng softly, "First, help your mother sit down."
Mu Liancheng agreed and helped Lian Family, almost half dragging her to sit down.
Mu Yuanmou sat beside Madam Wu’s Arhat Bed. He glanced at the heartbroken Old Madam and sighed, asking Mrs. Zhou, "Sister-in-law, is Lian Yu really..."
Mrs. Zhou nodded.
Lian Family stared intently at Mrs. Zhou’s actions, and when she saw the nod, Lian Family wailed aloud and straightened, falling backward.
Mu Liancheng’s quick reflexes prevented Lian Family from falling to the ground.
Mu Yuanmou propped his hands on his legs, his gaze unfocused, lips trembling, and before he could speak, his eyes were already wet.
Mrs. Zhou felt a mix of emotions.
She was also a mother, so Mrs. Zhou could empathize with Lian Family’s feelings. The pain of losing a child was suffocating even if imagined.
Mrs. Zhou felt pity for Lian Family, pity for her sudden misfortune, but that was all.
The Second Branch had spared no means in their bid for the title, and if they succeeded, the one suffering from the pain of losing a child would be Mrs. Zhou. At that time, would Lian Family spare even a shred of sympathy for her?
Mrs. Zhou thought, Lian Family would not.
Years ago, when Mu Liankang disappeared, the anguish and tears of Mrs. Xu remained vivid in Mrs. Zhou’s mind.
And even earlier, when Madam Wu faced the successive deaths of her husband and sons in battle, her tears and grief had not caused Lian Family any hesitation, had they?
Regardless of Mu Lianyu, the pain Lian Family now tasted was what she had once inflicted on Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu.
Karma indeed played out like this.
The servant who came to report the news was brought in. The inner courtyard was not a place he could typically enter, but at this moment, no one bothered with such rules, merely instructing him to keep his head down and not to look around idly.
The servant was frightened, too scared to move, his head touching the ground.
Mu Yuanmou wiped away his tears and asked, "Explain clearly, what exactly happened to Lian Yu?"
"When the Dazi ambushed the pass, Mr. Si was on duty on the city wall and was hit, falling off..." the servant stammered.
Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liancheng’s faces turned pale.
Du Yunluo’s heart sank heavily. She had seen the walls of Shanyu Pass, and from such a height, survival was unlikely.
In the Northern Border, the walls were even taller than at Shanyu Pass. If Mu Lianyu fell off, he probably could not survive.
Collapsed on the Eight Immortals Chair, Lian Family heard these words, her vision went blank. She didn’t believe it, she refused: "Lian Xiao, wasn’t it said that Ancient Meili City was captured? How can there still be Dazi in the Northern Border?"
Mu Lianxiao did not directly answer Lian Family but instead asked the servant, "What about the war? How is it?"
"Old General Shao led Northern Border’s soldiers and defeated the ambushing Dazi, scattering them," the servant replied.
Mu Lianxiao pressed his lips together. A winter ambush was rare, and regardless of the battle situation, Old General Shao would report to the Holy Emperor.
Military information traditionally was sent urgently, continuously day and night. The palace should be the first to receive the news.
"I just returned from the palace, and I haven’t heard about this incident," Mu Lianxiao said.
The servant replied, "I came back with the messenger who reported to the Capital. I arrived here while the messenger went into the palace."
Mu Lianxiao glanced at the listless Madam Wu and said, "Grandmother, I will go to the palace again."
Madam Wu nodded slightly, "Take care of yourself."
Du Yunluo saw Mu Lianxiao out.
Outside the second gate, Jiuxi was already waiting.
Mu Lianxiao got into the carriage, Du Yunluo lifted the curtain, leaned in, and spoke to him, "Does it hurt so much?"
His deep eyes looked at Du Yunluo, and Mu Lianxiao gave a bitter smile, "Yes, it still hurts."
Du Yunluo’s nose tingled with sorrow.
No matter what, Mu Lianyu was Mu Lianxiao’s brother; such familial bonds are not easily severed.
Her princely heir was not one cold and heartless, he would feel pain and sadness, as he should.
Mu Lianxiao reached out and placed his palm on Du Yunluo’s cheek, gently rubbing his fingertips, sighing, "Someone has to be sad, I just hope it’s not you, nor mother."
Du Yunluo’s tears fell suddenly.
Mu Lianxiao wiped her tears away, "Yunluo, don’t worry about me."
The struggle for the title would inevitably have winners and losers. Since the Second Branch intended to seize it, he had to fight back.
He had a mother, a wife, and a son; for their sake, Mu Lianxiao could not retreat.
Siblings turning against each other, Mu Lianxiao felt uneasy, but he couldn’t let that hinder him. Those hurdles in his heart would eventually be crossed.
Du Yunluo nodded, stepped down from the carriage, and only after it disappeared into the distance did she head towards Baijie Hall.
Baijie Hall was still oppressive and suffocating.
Lian Family’s eyes were swollen, her face marked with dried tear stains. She could no longer cry, as if her heart had dried up.
Mrs. Zhou had water brought in.
Mu Liancheng personally twisted a cloth, wanting to assist Lian Family in wiping her face.
Lian Family seized Mu Liancheng’s hand and said, "Lian Cheng, how could Lian Yu have fallen off the wall? Did he offend someone, or did someone harm him, pushing him down?"
"Mother," Mu Liancheng softened his voice, "please don’t let your thoughts run wild..."
"I am not letting my thoughts run wild!" Lian Family shrieked, "Lian Yu is gone, gone! How can I think of anything else?"
Lian Family hugged Mu Liancheng, using her hand like a fist, pounding his back repeatedly: "How old was Lian Yu? He hadn’t even married and had children, yet he went to the Northern Border, gone for over two years. I don’t even know if he gained or lost weight during these two years, and now they tell me he is gone, gone!"
Mu Liancheng’s throat tightened with sorrow as he repeatedly whispered to console Lian Family.
Lian Family grew more sorrowful as she spoke, her whole body trembling. She pushed Mu Liancheng away, stumbling to Mu Yuanmou before her: "Husband, how could this happen? My Lian Yu, how can he leave me behind..."
Mu Yuanmou was deep in thought, startled awake by Lian Family’s cries. Seeing her grief-stricken and disoriented, fearing she might say something she shouldn’t, he said, "I know you’re sad, I’m sad too, but you must take care of yourself, let Liancheng take you back to rest."
"I won’t go back," Lian Family shook her head incessantly, "I don’t believe it, it’s a lie, my Lian Yu wouldn’t die, he wouldn’t!"
Lian Family’s voice abruptly rose, sharp and piercing, hurting the ears.
Slowly, Madam Wu opened her eyes and signaled for Mrs. Zhou to help her up.
Mrs. Zhou placed a pillow behind Madam Wu.
Madam Wu took a deep breath.
The grief of losing a child, she had tasted it, she did not blame Lian Family’s agitation, but in turn, recalling Mu Yuanmou’s persecution of Mu Liankang, Madam Wu didn’t believe Lian Family had no part in it.
"Yuanyou’s wife," Madam Wu said solemnly, "this is what war is, this is the path for the descendants of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion! No one is exempt from dying on the battlefield. This hardship, I can endure it, and so must you!"