Chapter 20: There Is Only One Life
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Madam Qin sat inside the room, her voice cold and sharp: “If he can admit his mistake, then I’ll allow him to rise. If he keeps being stubborn, he can stay kneeling until he dies.”
Pingniang put down the food box, crouched beside Qin Mu, and gently wiped the sweat from his face, her heart aching. “Foolish child, if you don’t admit your fault, do you not want to live? No matter what happens, you must humble yourself first and get through this moment!”
Qin Mu, dazed from the sun, barely opened his eyes and said weakly, “Let me go out… just once. I’ll be obedient afterward. Why won’t she agree? If she doesn’t, I’d rather die again!”
Pingniang was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes. “Foolish child, you’ve truly been sunstruck. You only have one life. Once you die, that’s it. There is no dying twice!”
Qin Mu’s mind was in a fog, struggling to stay conscious.
He was unwilling to accept defeat. He wanted to know how much affection his biological grandmother still had for him. Now, it seemed, he had overthought it.
Watching the stubborn child, Pingniang felt a bitter pang in her heart.
How could an elder harm their own child? If forbidden, it’s best not to do it!
She recalled how, years ago, she had knelt outside her father’s room for a whole day and night, fainting several times, just to beg for consent to become Tang Pinshan’s concubine—and yet, in the end, it was all misplaced trust.
She had been poisoned by Lady Liu’s medicine, leaving her unable to bear children ever since, while that man still pretended ignorance to this day.
Pingniang said no more, bending down to carry the nearly unconscious Qin Mu into the room.
Inside, Madam Qin was still sulking, completely unaware that Qin Mu’s body was already faltering outside.
Pingniang entered with the child, and Madam Qin wanted to turn her head away in disdain. Seeing her petty behavior, Pingniang’s irritation flared, and she spoke sternly, “Second Madam, look at the child first!”
Madam Qin covered her face, wiping away tears. “He’s being stubborn; it’s all his own doing…”
But when she looked up, she saw Qin Mu’s eyes tightly shut, his face flushed red, beads of sweat rolling down his temples. Panic instantly gripped her. “Mu’er, don’t scare your great-aunt! Open your eyes! How could you be so foolish—just like your ill-starred mother!”
She paced anxiously around the room, unsure what to do next. In the past, she would have called An Shi immediately.
Pingniang, having served the matriarch for many years, was experienced in caregiving. She promptly removed Qin Mu’s sweat-soaked clothes, wiped his body dry with a clean towel, placed a cool cloth on his forehead, and fed him a bowl of the cold mung bean soup she had brought.
After all the fuss, Qin Mu slowly woke but said nothing, staring blankly with a frightened look.
Pingniang said, “Second Madam, you should find a doctor to check on him. The child looks unwell—he might be under some evil influence.”
Madam Qin, who was just anxious, saw the child awake and replied, “No need for a doctor. He’s just being naughty, wanting to go out and play. As long as we keep him restrained, he’ll be fine.”
If a doctor was called, Lady Liu and her son Yu Shu would be displeased once again.
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But when night fell, Qin Mu developed a high fever. This time, Madam Qin dared not hide it and called Lady Liu to summon a doctor.
They brewed medicine and fed it to him. The high fever made Qin Mu delirious, calling out “Mother” all night long, disturbing the entire Tang household.
Not only did Lady Liu stay by his side in the outer courtyard, but even Tang Pinshan remained awake.
No matter how many times his name and identity changed, he was still Tang Yu Shu’s son.
If something happened to him, Madam Qin would surely be devastated. And if any misfortune befell him, Tang Yu Shu would have to observe mourning for three years, preventing him from taking the imperial exams and ruining the marriage alliance with the Sun family.
Madam Qin, even if she wished to die, would wait until after Tang Yu Shu’s wedding. The child must not come to harm now.
Qin Mu’s fever finally subsided at dawn, and he fell into a deep sleep.
This illness was severe. The little boy drifted in and out of consciousness for seven or eight days before fully waking.
Seeing Tang Yu Shu return to visit him, Qin Mu remained silent.
Tang Yu Shu’s face was dark. “You’re almost seven years old now. You should understand things. If you feel stifled or unhappy here, I will arrange for you to be sent back home. There’s an old house there that needs looking after, plenty of space for you to roam.”
Tang Yu Shu wished to send his mother and Qin Mu back to their hometown, but Madam Qin refused to leave, only promising to keep Qin Mu restrained.
She was Tang Yu Shu’s only son. He had traveled far to reach the capital and had yet to see his son succeed in the imperial exams and receive honors. How could she possibly leave now?
Qin Mu was also unwilling to leave.
If not for one obsession, he would have left with his biological mother the day he was reborn.
In his past life, he had been a beggar until death, living a miserable life without ever tasting the comforts of an official family.
This time, he was determined to live well, to live with dignity.
He refused to believe that even with a second chance at life, he couldn’t change his fate.
Lowering his eyes, Qin Mu knelt down. Last life’s stubbornness had cost him dearly; this life, survival was his instinct. “Uncle, Mu’er will obey and won’t go out causing trouble again!”
He knelt, but in his heart warned himself: this submission was only for future revenge and vindication.
He hoped his mother would live well and wait until he grew up to find her.
After the serious illness, Qin Mu’s face was pale and gaunt, his small body weak and frail. His tearful eyes looked up pitifully at Tang Yu Shu.
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With An Shi gone and the marriage happily settled, Tang Yu Shu’s future was bright.
His resentment had faded; he could no longer harbor hatred toward this child, who bore seven or eight points of resemblance to himself.
Tang Yu Shu snorted coldly but still scolded, “Since you want to stay here, you’re confined for three months. If you cause trouble again, you’ll both be sent back with your great-aunt.”
He was warning Madam Qin: if she couldn’t keep Qin Mu under control and disrupted his marriage, both would be sent away.
Madam Qin understood the implication and, clutching her chest, cried bitterly, “If you can’t stand having us here, then send us away! I only stay because I remember your father. If I go back, I’ll throw myself on his grave!”
Upon hearing his mother speak of suicide, Tang Yu Shu’s spirit wilted. No matter how much he calculated, he dared not be an unfilial son. “Mother, that’s not what I meant.”
From then on, Qin Mu was confined in the outer courtyard, forbidden to leave the Tang residence for three months.
This time, he did not protest; his time was limited.
Before his worthless father’s wedding, he would find a way to mend their relationship and gain his favor. He did not believe he would make the same mistakes again.
If he waited until that poisonous woman from the Sun family came in and bore Tang Yuanyuan, it would be too late.
Meanwhile, in Pear Blossom Alley, An Chunfeng was beginning to settle into the slow life of the Da Liang dynasty.
Summer nights were short; she now crocheted under the lamplight until the fourth watch, resting briefly before the neighborhood’s gates opened and the streets began to fill with voices, then eating breakfast.
Taking advantage of the mild morning sun, she washed clothes, swept the floor, exercised her muscles and limbs.
By midday, she went to shopkeeper Qiu’s to deliver goods, then returned with a lunchbox from the restaurant, usually two dishes, one soup, plus rice and steamed buns.
Mushroom meat patties, cabbage stewed with tofu, braised dried tofu sheets, winter melon and pork rib soup—each day was different.
The capital was wonderful; even small neighborhood shops offered dishes from both north and south.
And all were authentic, leaving An Chunfeng fully satisfied. She had no intention of cooking for herself.
After a hearty lunch, it was time for An Chunfeng to sleep—this nap lasted until dusk, when the summer heat dissipated, and only then would she venture outside.