"Home?" Zeng Zuimo gave a self-deprecating smile. "Thirteen years ago, I had no home."
"Do you still remember what happened thirteen years ago?"
"I don't dare to forget …"
Zeng Zuimo shook her head. When she looked up at the middle-aged man again, her expression had returned to calmness. She said, "What brings you here today, Assistant Minister Zeng?"
Feeling the alienation in her words, the middle-aged man sighed and said, "I was just a small official in the Ministry of Revenue. I couldn't change the overall situation and could only watch my brother fall into trouble. Later, I also went to the Musical House to find you. At that time, I learned that you had been ransomed with a large sum of money. All these years, I have never given up looking for you."
The middle-aged man looked at her and said slowly, "That day, Zi Jian said that the person he saw in the Drunken Moon Tower seemed to be you. Only then did I know that you had come to the capital. These days, I have been afraid to see you because I am worried that you still can't forget what happened in the past."
"What else can I do for you, Assistant Minister?"
The middle-aged man looked at her and said seriously, "Come back. The Zeng family is no longer the Zeng family 13 years ago. I promise that from now on, no one will bully you. You are still the young lady of the Zeng family … I want to make it up to you all these years."
"The Zeng family is indeed no longer the Zeng family 13 years ago, and I am not the young lady of the Zeng family 13 years ago." Zeng Zuimo looked calm. She shook her head and said, "If there is nothing else, Assistant Minister Zeng, please go back."
"Zuimo …"
A trace of pain appeared on the middle-aged man's face. He said, "Until now, you still refuse to call me Second Uncle?"
"Xiaocui, see the guest out!"
Zeng Zuimo stood up and walked toward the inner yard.
The moment she turned around, two lines of tears fell silently from her pretty face.
"I will come again." The middle-aged man sighed and looked up at her. "There is one thing I need to remind you of. Stay away from that Earl of Chang 'an, the farther the better."
Zeng Zuimo's footsteps paused, and then she sped up and disappeared behind the Moon Gate.
"Please go back."
Xiaocui stood behind her, glanced at the middle-aged man, and said politely.
…
…
"Father, how is it?"
The young man was waiting at the door. Seeing the middle-aged man come out, he immediately stepped forward and asked.
"Let's talk when we get back." The middle-aged man raised his head and glanced at the teahouse opposite him. There were already several people walking over here. He withdrew his gaze and walked towards the entrance of the alley.
Not long after, an angry and embarrassed voice came from the carriage.
"What? She actually refused? Does she think she is …"
"Pa!"
The middle-aged man slapped the young man's face and said coldly, "Shut up!"
"If it wasn't for your uncle protecting us and taking all the blame, do you think you would still be sitting in the carriage today?" The middle-aged man glanced at him and said, "We owe her too much. Drunken Mo is my eldest brother's only flesh and blood. Fortunately, we found her. Otherwise, my conscience would never be at ease …"
"No matter what grudges you have between the two of you, from today onwards, everything will be written off!"
"I understand, Father …"
The young man covered his face and nodded.
But when he occasionally turned his head, his eyes were filled with disdain and resentment.
What debt? What flesh and blood? One made him suffer for several months, and the other ruined his future, becoming the laughingstock of the capital. From then on, he could only live at home and wait for death. Even if the King of Shu ascended to the throne in the future, there would be an indelible stain on him. The hatred was as deep as the sea. How could it be written off?
The carriage stopped in front of the mansion. When the middle-aged man got off the carriage, the gatekeeper came forward to report, "Master, several lords have been waiting in the mansion for a long time. The palace seems to have sent someone over."
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment before he quickly stepped into the mansion.
"Lord Ceng, you're finally back. We've been waiting for a long time!"
As soon as he stepped into the hall, several people stood up from their chairs and came forward to greet him.
"Sorry, sorry. I just went out to deal with some matters. I wonder what's the matter with your sudden visit?"
The few of them did not speak. Instead, they turned their heads and looked at a eunuch sitting in the main seat.
"Does the Imperial Concubine have any orders?" Ceng Shichun's heart stirred. He immediately stepped forward and asked.
The eunuch's voice was feminine and harsh. "The Imperial Concubine wants me to ask you. What kind of climate do you plan to see Li Yi form in the imperial court?"
The expressions of the few people changed when they heard this.
"You're on your own."
The eunuch only said a few words before he floated away, leaving the few people in the room looking at each other.
One of them sighed and said, "It seems that the Imperial Concubine is still dissatisfied after the incident in Chong Yuan Palace."
Another person nodded and said, "The Imperial Concubine's worries are not unreasonable. Who would have thought that a small character who could be easily crushed would grow to such an extent. Now, he is no longer relying on the protection of His Majesty."
"But it's not so easy to touch him now. Not only do we have to face His Majesty, but we also have to face half of the imperial court." Someone said worriedly.
The current Li Yi, the Earl of Chang 'an, was no longer the inexperienced and insignificant person that he was a year ago. If one counted carefully, how many things had he done, directly or indirectly, and how much support had he received from the courtiers over the past year?
He was not a person of the officialdom. They were powerless against such a person a year ago. So, what could they do after a year?
If they really had to face it head-on, some of them might even be smashed to pieces.
"This matter can't be rushed. We need to think about it at length." Ceng Shichun thought for a moment and said, "I think the others have also received the Imperial Concubine's instructions. Let's act according to the circumstances."
Everyone nodded when they heard this. This time, the Imperial Concubine should be serious. That County Earl Li would probably have a hard time in the future.
…
…
"Bah, bah, bah!"
Li Yi waved his sleeves to sweep away the dust on the road. He looked at Old Xu and said discontentedly, "What's the matter that makes you so anxious? Is it because your wife is pregnant?"
"No!" Old Xu jumped off the horse and said excitedly, "Sir, it's the First Miss. The First Miss is pregnant!"
"What!" Li Yi's body shook, and his eyes widened. He grabbed his arm and asked, "What did you say?"
"The First Miss is pregnant!" Old Xu panted heavily and said, "Just now, an imperial physician surnamed Liu went to our house. After feeling the pulse, he said that the First Miss is pregnant. Also, a monk sent a prescription to prevent the miscarriage. Young master, you should go back quickly!"
"Stop talking. The Young Master has already left."
Fang patted him on the shoulder and said, pointing to the horse that was galloping away.
"Hurry up!" He waved the reins, and the carriage started slowly.
…
…
"Haha, Young Master, this time, we must hold a banquet for three days. When the Young Master … when the Young Master is born, we will hold a banquet for him for a month!"
Fang got off the carriage and rushed into the mansion. He stepped into the yard and said with a smile.
The Fang family's sister-in-law came out of the room. She glanced at him and said, "Keep your voice down. Don't disturb the First Miss."
Then she asked discontentedly, "Where is the Young Master? Why didn't he come back with you? What's more important than this …"
Fang was stunned for a moment and said, "Didn't the Young Master come back on horseback long ago?"
"No!"
The Fang family's sister-in-law looked confused.
…
…
A Taoist nun in a loose Taoist robe led a horse and walked on a path in the forest.
Li Yi sat on the horse and looked at the Taoist Nun. He asked, "Senior, where are you taking me?"
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