Chapter 472: Chapter 471: Bitter Tears
The curtain was lifted by Mu Liancheng.
He stood outside, leading Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang’s family inside.
Originally thought dead for a long time, Mu Liankang’s return home left Mu Liancheng transitioning from initial surprise to calm caution—he had no choice.
On the day in the study, Mu Yuanmou discussed much with him.
After all, it was an event from nine years ago, and with Mu Liankang’s memory loss, there were no traces to follow.
Even if, in the most extreme scenario, Mu Liankang one day remembers, and even if Mu Tang spoke the truth, all the guilt would fall on Mu Yuanmou, not Mu Liancheng.
His father had left him enough of a way out.
In such an ugly family struggle, everyone would try to cover things up.
Madam Wu was the same. When it really came to everything being exposed and the second branch having no retreat, Mu Yuanmou’s life would be enough to save Mu Liancheng and Mu Lianyu.
Nine years ago, they were still young and knew nothing at all.
Even if some maids couldn’t bear it and spouted nonsense about speaking the truth, it would just be a few words from servants, without solid evidence, and wouldn’t implicate Mu Liancheng and Mu Lianyu.
Even the scheme outside Ancient Meili City against Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t have any impact on Mu Liancheng and his brother.
Without evidence, the most they would lose is a title, but the real damage wouldn’t occur.
Mu Liancheng accepted his father’s plan and choice.
The path to seizing a title is never easy, and Mu Liancheng wasn’t naive enough to believe that just attempting it would bring success.
Success or self-sacrifice is the work of fools—it wouldn’t be what Mu Liancheng or Mu Yuanmou would do.
From the beginning, Mu Yuanmou had left a way out for his sons. If it were Mu Liancheng, he would do the same for his wife and children.
Mu Liancheng had been carefully observing Mu Liankang from the moment he appeared.
After nine years of not seeing each other, Mu Liankang had changed a lot; Mu Liancheng didn’t recognize him at first glance.
When they got closer, Mu Lianxiao informed Mu Liankang of his identity. Mu Liankang looked at him, eyes confused and somewhat distant.
Mu Liancheng wasn’t surprised by this; anyone faced with a long-lost relative they’d forgotten would react this way. What concerned Mu Liancheng was Mu Lianxiao’s attitude.
There was no smile on Mu Lianxiao’s face. In the past, Mu Lianxiao would wrap an arm around his back, inviting him for a drink later.
But this time, Mu Lianxiao didn’t do so.
Mu Liancheng felt uneasy until he saw Mu Lianxiao walking into the West Warm Pavilion, his eyes narrowing sharply at the sight of Mu Lianxiao’s slightly bent back.
When Mu Lianxiao met Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou, just as he was about to kneel and bow, Mu Liancheng’s voice came from behind.
"Ah Shao, what’s wrong with your back?" Mu Liancheng asked, surprised.
Mu Lianxiao’s movement paused.
Mrs. Zhou’s gaze was on Du Yunluo and Brother Yan, who had entered earlier, but upon hearing this, she immediately looked at Mu Lianxiao, frowning and standing up, walking around to her son’s back.
Mu Lianxiao swallowed, knowing he couldn’t hide his back injury, and especially not from Mrs. Zhou.
"Mother..." Mu Lianxiao called out awkwardly.
Mrs. Zhou’s hand brushed along Mu Lianxiao’s back, her brows furrowing more and more: "You’re injured?"
Mu Lianxiao turned his head, seeing Mrs. Zhou’s eyes filled with worry, and quickly said, "I was injured before, still healing. On the road, the doctor said it needs slow recovery."
Mrs. Zhou sighed, nodded slightly, and asked no further.
In the army, who wouldn’t get hurt?
Though Mrs. Zhou was heartbroken for her son, she wouldn’t be unreasonable.
In front of Madam Wu, even though Mrs. Zhou wished to show more concern, she held back.
Madam Wu must be overwhelmed with emotion today, due to Mu Liankang’s return. Adding any more pressure would be unwise.
Mu Liancheng kept staring at Mu Lianxiao’s back, estimating the extent of his injury.
Seeing Mu Lianxiao was still hurt, Madam Wu wouldn’t let him perform the grand ceremony: "Have your wife help you lie down on the couch, don’t block Liankang."
Though her tone was reproachful, her concern was genuine.
Du Yunluo smiled, placing Brother Yan in Madam Wu’s arms and helped Mu Lianxiao lie down.
"Is this our Brother Yan?" Madam Wu embraced the child, extremely excited, "Wonderful, what a handsome child!"
Having a child and holding one were different experiences for Madam Wu.
Brother Yan, unafraid of strangers, became excited seeing so many new faces, babbling lively.
Madam Wu didn’t find it noisy at all, and when she glanced up to see Mu Liankang standing at a respectful distance, she handed Brother Yan to Mrs. Zhou and beckoned Mu Liankang over: "Come, let Grandmother have a look at you."
Mu Liankang hesitated slightly, and with a gentle push from Mrs. Xu behind him, he walked forward and knelt before the Arhat Bed.
The height was just right for Madam Wu to clearly see Mu Liankang.
Old Madam looked him over thoroughly, her eyes gradually reddening.
"Yuan Ming’s wife, Yuan Ming’s wife!" Madam Wu called to Mrs. Xu in a trembling voice.
Mrs. Xu approached and was immediately grasped by Madam Wu.
"This child, he looks just like Yuan Ming used to, those eyes, that face..." Madam Wu held Mrs. Xu’s hand with one hand, and gestured towards Mu Liankang with the other, wanting to touch but hesitant to do so.
Mrs. Xu, who had just cried earlier, heard Madam Wu’s tearful tone and her tears began to fall again: "You’re right, looks just like the Master back then. Liankang’s eyes were always the most like his father’s, Old Madam, see how Liankang’s eyes still resemble them now."
As the two women spoke, Madam Wu was filled with both joy and sorrow.
Thinking of Mu Yuanming’s early departure, and Mu Liankang’s nine years of uncertainty, Madam Wu wept bitterly, embracing Mu Liankang and pounding his back with her fists.
"You finally came back! You child, disappearing like that back then, you nearly took your mother’s and my lives!"
As Madam Wu cried, Mrs. Xu collapsed onto the Arhat Bed, her shoulders violently shaking.
Mrs. Zhou also felt her nose sting, wanting to offer comforting words but fearing her voice would waver with emotion, making Madam Wu even more distressed.
Nanny Shan, Banqiao, and the other maids and nannies were wiping their tears.
Facing Madam Wu, the Lian Family matron could not afford a single smile; she wanted to cry, to shed tears with them, lest she seemed detached and drew attention.
But she couldn’t cry.
Today’s events had all deviated from their original expectations, not going step by step, but like runaway horses—leaving her perplexed. She was the one who should be crying the most, yet there were no tears.
The Lian Family matron forcefully sniffed, feeling no sorrow. She had to think of Lian Yu, Lian Hui, all things that upset her.
The more she thought, the more stifled she felt, nearly suffocating, but it was to no avail.
In desperation, she pinched her tiger mouth hard.
Oh—
The pain almost made her cry out, but she held it in. After a few deep breaths, her eyes finally reddened.