Chapter 6: Crocodile Tears
Chapter 6: Crocodile Tears
Inside the inn.
Chu Liang repeated Shen Gong’ao’s original words and said, “Third Young Master, this is a very difficult pass. The Marquis is waiting for my reply. If you cannot give a perfect explanation, he will have you leave Zhenhai City and never return.”
Wuque took out an envelope and handed it to Chu Liang, saying, “Give this letter to him. If he hasn’t completely lost his mind yet, he should be able to understand it.”
Half an hour later.
Shen Gong’ao was drenched in sweat, as if he had just come back alive from hell.
His illness had flared up again just now. He shut himself alone in his room, collapsed on the floor, twitching all over, with no dignity left.
But now, he only looked a bit pale. His entire demeanor still felt overwhelmingly imposing.
“This is the letter from Young Master Wuque.” Chu Liang handed it over.
Shen Gong’ao took the letter. Seeing it even had a wax seal, he sneered inwardly, thinking Wuque was just putting on airs.
He opened the letter, pulled out the paper inside, and read it. Instantly, his face changed drastically.
He read it again, then directly grabbed the letter paper in his hand and crumpled it hard into shreds.
Because it said: Shen Gong’ao, you have an incurable disease. You may be ruthless, but I cannot be unjust. I rushed back to cure you. In this world, only I can treat your illness!
The letter called him directly by name, not even addressing him as father, and started right off with ‘incurable disease’. No wonder Shen Gong’ao was furious inside.
After crushing the letter, Shen Gong’ao stood up abruptly and roared, “You go tell that rebellious son that I am perfectly fine. He doesn’t need to curse me. He can leave. Leave Zhenyuan City. I don’t want to see him again.”
Chu Liang was instantly terrified and silent. He didn’t know what the young master had written that could make the Marquis so angry.
…
Early the next morning, a warrior appeared before Wuque.
“Young Master Wuque, my master wishes to see you.”
Various faces appeared in Wuque’s mind, finally settling on one person.
He nodded and said, “Please lead the way.”
Following this warrior, he arrived at a delicate estate, inside which was a fishpond.
An elegant middle-aged man was fishing inside a pavilion.
“Nephew, care to join me?” the middle-aged man asked.
Wuque stepped forward, picked up a fishing rod beside him, and fished together.
“Nephew, do you still remember me?” the middle-aged man asked.
Wuque said, “I remember, Lord Fu.”
The middle-aged man before him was Fu Jianzhi, the Governor of Tianshui Province.
This man should also be on Wuque’s list of enemies. Though the details weren’t clear yet, this Lord Fu Jianzhi before him also played some role in the destruction of the Ying Clan.
Even more pitifully, the Fu family was once a house vassal of the Ying Clan, and this Fu Jianzhi had received great kindness from the Ying Clan.
Fu Jianzhi said, “Your strained relationship with your father is, to some extent, also my responsibility. I didn’t discipline Caiwei properly, which led to your intense distress eight years ago, causing you to choose to run away from home.”
Fu Caiwei.
The Academy’s favored daughter, the most dazzling pearl in the entire south, the dream lover of countless people.
Whether in literary or military arts, she was a top-tier genius.
Shen Wuque of the past was utterly obsessed and infatuated with her. He even chose to study history and astronomy because of this girl.
This woman once looked at the countless books in the library and sighed, “Ten thousand years of history is vast as the sea. So enchanting, it makes one want to abandon everything and lose oneself in it. I only regret I don’t have enough time to study all the fascinating truths within.”
This woman once lay on the grass with Shen Wuque, looked at the stars in the sky, and sighed, “Looking at the starry sky, we seem so tiny. I believe humanity’s ultimate goal must be the stars and the sea. That is the most sublime ideal.”
While she sighed about such things, she herself focused on two studies: Martial Arts and arcane texts.
Only Shen Wuque foolishly went off to seriously study history and astronomy.
He studied for many years, gaining some depth in his studies. But when he looked up again, Fu Caiwei had already left him thousands of miles behind.
Back then, after Shen Wuque was humiliated by his father Shen Gong’ao, he took crazy revenge on his family. He fled from the wedding ceremony, leaving home without any goal.
Fu Caiwei came to have another heart-to-heart talk with him and gave the lost Shen Wuque a life goal: to find a certain ancient treasure for the Scholarium, to establish merit for the Scholarium, to use that opportunity to enter the Scholarium Council, and to realize his own life’s value.
For this goal, Shen Wuque truly wandered outside for eight years and even almost found that ancient treasure once.
Shen Wuque’s feelings for Fu Caiwei could truly be called deep as the sea.
But now, looking down on this memory from a lofty height, it just seemed ridiculous.
Fu Caiwei!
Just a top-tier green tea btch.
Or rather, a sea queen! Not even as good as a common whore.
“Caiwei is already married,” Fu Jianzhi said, then watched Wuque’s reaction.
“I know,” Wuque said, instantly understanding the other’s implication. Fu Jianzhi thought Wuque’s return was entirely because Fu Caiwei got married. He was happy to let him think that.
Fu Jianzhi asked, “Nephew, after eight years of travel, did you gain anything?”
Wuque again instantly understood. This was a veiled probe to see if Wuque had found the ancient treasure the Scholarium wanted.
He said with an expressionless face, “Nothing at all, only this handsome skin suit.”
Fu Jianzhi’s face twitched. Talking with a brain-dead youth was so tiring. But Wuque had no choice; people wouldn’t believe the truth anyway.
Fu Jianzhi asked, “Nephew, what are your plans for coming home this time?”
Wuque said, “I have plans, but it’s not convenient to say.”
Fu Jianzhi was slightly taken aback, then smiled gently. This Wuque before him was already twenty-six, yet still so temperamental, truly naive beyond words.
Fu Jianzhi said kindly, “Since your relationship with your father is tense, should I act as a mediator, host a banquet to help ease things between you?”
Wuque said, “No need.”
Then Fu Jianzhi seemed to hesitate, wanting Wuque to ask first, but Wuque stubbornly didn’t ask.
Suddenly, Wuque said, “Lord Fu, your fish has taken the bait. Aren’t you going to reel it in?”
Fu Jianzhi said, “All things have spirit. Fishing is just an elegant pastime, not for the fish.”
Wuque said, “Truly father and daughter. You like to keep fish in a pond, only fishing but not eating.”
Fu Jianzhi couldn’t help but turn his head and said, smiling, “Nephew, there’s meaning behind your words.”
Wuque curled the corner of his mouth, indicating he smiled, but said nothing.
Fu Jianzhi said, “By the way, nephew, on your return this time, have you heard any rumors?”
Wuque said, “No.”
Fu Jianzhi said, “The rumors outside are spreading fiercely, saying your father fainted and fell on the battlefield several times, twitching violently. As an old friend, I am very worried. But you know your father’s personality; he’s very proud. After all, you are his son. I want you to persuade your father. He mustn’t hide his illness for fear of treatment. I even brought three famous doctors with me this time, ready to examine your father whenever needed.”
At this moment, Fu Jianzhi’s eyes were full of concern.
But for some reason, these eyes reminded Wuque of crocodile tears.
…
Shen Gong’ao had another attack.
Less than a day had passed since the last one.
His lawful wife, Mu Hongyu, held her husband tightly.
In her mind, her husband Shen Gong’ao was forever tall, proud, incredibly strong, a pillar holding up the sky. He could not be undignified.
She absolutely would not allow her husband to fall to the ground, twitching.
For a full ten-plus minutes, the attack finally ended.
Shen Gong’ao’s body was ice-cold, as if fished out of water.
“Elder sister, I’m fine now.”
Mu Hongyu still held her husband’s head in her arms, eyes brimming with tears, but not letting them fall.
This Mu Hongyu was four years older than Shen Gong’ao. She was beautiful when young but had little charm left now.
“Husband, let’s see a doctor, please see a doctor,” Mu Hongyu said.
Shen Gong’ao said, “We cannot see a doctor. At this critical moment, no one must know I am seriously ill. Haven’t you seen it yet, wife? These vicious wolves are all lurking in the shadows, restless. Once I show weakness, they will pounce and bite.”
“This time the Emperor conferred the title of Marquis on me. What about the fief? According to previous practice, one-fourth of the land conquered from the Southern Barbarians should belong to my Shen Gong Clan. This time I destroyed tens of thousands of troops of the Great Li Kingdom, and the private soldiers of my Shen Gong Family suffered heavy losses. According to custom, the new fief should have been conferred together. Why wasn’t it?”
Mu Hongyu said, “Didn’t they say they are still measuring it?”
Shen Gong’ao said, “It was measured long ago. That’s just an excuse. Fu Jianzhi is the Governor of Tianshui Province. He should have left after the Triumph Ceremony. Why hasn’t he gone? For this Triumph Ceremony, why didn’t Lord Mi even send his son? All signs indicate that once the news of my serious illness gets out and is confirmed, those three thousand square kilometers of fief will be gone. Even our current foundation will be in danger.”
Mu Hongyu said, “Now your illness attacks more and more frequently. If you don’t seek treatment, I fear you might really…”
Shen Gong’ao said, “Fortunately, although each attack is unstoppable, there’s no serious harm afterward. We just need to endure this period until the imperial decree for the new fief is issued.”
Having said that, Shen Gong’ao tried to get up.
But…
Immediately, his face changed because his right leg seemed unable to move. It was completely paralyzed.
…