Chapter 11: The First Confrontation Between Father and Son

Chapter 11: The First Confrontation Between Father and Son

Mu Hongyu suddenly said, “Wuque, come with me. Keep me company for a meal.”

Wuque stood where he was and did not respond.

Mu Hongyu said, “What? You won’t even talk to us? You won’t even stay for a meal?”

After saying that, she completely ignored Wuque’s reaction and simply dragged him away.

She was a straightforward person who hated being insincere or deceitful.

The food was very lavish, but Mu Hongyu ate very little. The more delicious the dish looked, the more she did not dare to touch it.

Although Mu Hongyu felt grateful in her heart, she was not good at pretending. Her relationship with Wuque had been very tense before, and it was hard for it to become harmonious all at once. She also did not know how to say nice words.

So, she just kept putting food on Wuque’s plate.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Wuque asked.

Mu Hongyu said, “I want to, but I don’t dare.”

Wuque said, “What’s wrong?”

Mu Hongyu smiled. “It’s nothing.”

Then, Mu Hongyu said, “Which courtyard do you want to live in at home? Your old courtyard? Your mother’s courtyard? Or should we find another one? I’ll have people clean it up for you right away. You can also tell me which servants you want to attend to you.”

Wuque said, “I’ll stay at the inn.”

Mu Hongyu frowned. “Wuque, are you still trying to anger your father? Don’t you understand him? All these years, he worried and missed you so much, but he never said it. He sent countless people to search for you over these past few years.”

Wuque said, “In a sense, he was the one who drove me away back then. So if he wants me to return, he should come in person to invite me back.”

Mu Hongyu said, “Don’t you know your father’s temperament? He’s incredibly stubborn and cares about his pride more than anything. But you two are truly father and son—your hardheadedness is exactly the same.”

Wuque buried his head in his meal and said nothing.

He finished eating quickly. Then he put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and bowed. “I’m full. I take my leave!”

After walking a few steps, Wuque turned around and said, “You… are you feeling unwell in any way?”

As he spoke, he looked at Mu Hongyu’s legs.

Mu Hongyu said, “I’m quite well. There’s nothing wrong.”

Wuque nodded and then walked out, leaving the Marquis’s Manor.

After he left, a doctor could not help but come in and ask, “Madam, why didn’t you tell the Third Young Master about your illness?”

Mu Hongyu said, “It’s natural for him to treat his own father. But I am not his birth mother. He has no obligation to treat me.”

The doctor said, “If you are embarrassed to say it, I will go and tell the Third Young Master about your illness.”

“No!” Mu Hongyu said. “I’ve been stubborn and proud my whole life. I will never beg anyone, not even indirectly. That child has been hostile toward me since he was young. We don’t share that kind of bond.”

Then, Mu Hongyu said, “Besides, this illness of mine—how many doctors have seen it? Even the imperial physicians from the palace came to see it. They said it can’t be cured, I can only endure it. It won’t kill me anyway. Of course, even if it could kill me, it wouldn’t matter. The Lord Marquis is the pillar of the heavens that cannot fall. I am not that valuable.”

The doctor sighed helplessly. The Madam’s personality was too strong. Sometimes, even Lord Marquis had to yield to her a little.

After the doctor left, Mu Hongyu carefully lifted her skirt, revealing her two legs.

It was a shocking sight.

Both legs were terribly swollen, with four or five places that had festered, almost deep enough to see the bone.

The illness was already very serious. If things continued like this, it wouldn’t be long before her legs likely could not be saved and would have to be amputated to preserve her life.

But normally, it was completely unnoticeable. She still walked with swift and decisive steps, without any sign of a limp.

This woman really had been strong-willed her entire life.

Not only that, because of this illness, her Martial Arts skills had also declined by several levels.

Most importantly, her eyesight was gradually failing.

…

Next, Shen Gong’ao and Wuque seemed to have reached a stalemate.

Wuque remained in the inn, waiting for Shen Gong’ao to personally invite him back.

Shen Gong’ao, however, sent three rounds of people to indirectly urge Wuque to return home. First, he sent Chu Liang to ask Wuque to come home, then he sent the chief steward, and finally he sent Shen Wuque’s wet nurse.

Wuque did not agree. He did not take a single step out of the inn, let alone return home.

Both sides were completely deadlocked, neither willing to compromise.

Shen Gong’ao came to Mu Hongyu and said, “Elder Sister, how about… you make a trip and tell that brat to come home.”

“I have no face to do that. Go yourself if you want to,” Mu Hongyu said.

Shen Gong’ao was physically strong. Three days after his surgery, he was already fully energetic and lively.

This afternoon, he even made a public appearance, putting an end to all the rumors.

After his imposing figure appeared at the Zhenhai City military camp, the entire Zhenhai City fell silent instantly. All the rumors vanished.

All the undercurrents dissolved without a trace.

Immediately afterward, countless people came to flatter him and pledge their loyalty.

The original crisis disappeared without a trace.

And after Shen Gong’ao had completely recovered, Mu Hongyu’s attitude toward him was no longer so gentle.

“Go quickly! That’s your own son. Do you really want to hold a lifelong grudge?” Mu Hongyu scolded.

Shen Gong’ao said angrily, “In this world, when has a father ever bowed to his son? Should we just throw away all natural order and discipline?”

Mu Hongyu said, “And in this world, which great man washes his wife’s feet? Should we throw away that natural order and discipline too?”

Shen Gong’ao’s hands, which were washing his wife’s feet, paused for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Hurry up, stop being so stubborn,” Mu Hongyu said. “Talk to Wuque properly. Don’t start arguing again. If he’s stubborn, you take a step back. What, do you want to make him run away from home again? And then have you tossing and turning all night again, unable to sleep?”

Shen Gong’ao wiped his hands and stood up to leave the manor.

Mu Hongyu suddenly said, “Shen Gong’ao, remember one thing. Do not mention my illness. Do you hear me?”

Shen Gong’ao said helplessly, “Elder Sister, why do you still hold onto what Wuque said when he was a child? He was just speaking in anger, too young to understand.”

Mu Hongyu recalled that day, and her eyes instantly reddened.

After Shen Wuque’s mother died in childbirth, Mu Hongyu personally raised him. She even slept with him until he was five years old. She probably couldn’t have been better even to her own birth son.

But Shen Wuque’s personality grew more and more obstinate. Plus, some people stirred up trouble, saying Mu Hongyu had killed his birth mother.

When Shen Wuque was eleven, he made such a big fuss that Mu Hongyu disciplined him using the family rules.

As a result, Shen Wuque pointed at Mu Hongyu and said, what right do you have to discipline me? You just want to take the chance to beat me to death so I won’t compete with your two sons. You killed my mother back then, and now you want to kill me too.

Those words truly chilled Mu Hongyu’s heart. Her entire chest felt blocked in an instant.

Suddenly, Mu Hongyu said in a hoarse voice, “Shen Gong’ao, you remember this. Wuque is your own birth son. Even if you beat him half to death, it’s only natural for him to cure you. I have no such relationship with him. I don’t have that obligation, nor do we share that fate for him to cure me. After you go, do not mention my illness even half a sentence. If you dare mention it, I will chop off both my legs with a knife. I mean what I say.”

Mu Hongyu fiercely drew a knife and stared at Shen Gong’ao.

Shen Gong’ao sighed.

Ah, it’s easy to advise others, but often hard to be reasonable oneself.

Just a moment ago, Mu Hongyu kept urging Shen Gong’ao to take a step back and not be so hard on his son. But when it came to herself, she was even more unyielding.

But this way, he truly did not dare to mention it.

He knew his wife too well. She absolutely meant what she said. Once she made a decision, no one could stop her.

Nighttime.

Shen Gong’ao finally arrived outside the inn. But his legs went stiff, and he could not step inside.

In this world, when does a father ever compromise with his son?

Moreover, he was the peerless, imposing, and unyielding Shen Gong’ao!

He had killed countless people in his life, fought battles across a thousand miles, his name made children stop crying—how could he possibly bow his head to anyone?

But… now…

Circumstances were stronger than man!

If he didn’t lower his head this time, his son would probably be driven away from home by him once again.

Gritting his teeth, stamping his foot, and clenching his fist, as if heading to the battlefield, Shen Gong’ao entered Wuque’s room.

At that moment, Wuque was reading a book.

The tall and mighty Shen Gong’ao walked in, standing in the middle of the room like a mountain.

The two of them looked at each other, silent and very awkward!

Whoever spoke first would lose momentum.

Wuque firmly refused to speak.

After what felt like a long while, the imposing and mighty Shen Gong’ao broke the awkward silence.

“So… have you eaten yet?”

…