Naturally—whether intentionally or unintentionally—the matter between Mu Xing and Bai Yan was left unresolved within Mu Garden and never mentioned again.
Fortunately, the battle of Fengtian City was also unexpected by the Nanjing Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. According to Uncle Mu's intelligence, Mu Qing had only been under house arrest, which provided the Mu family with a chance to breathe. Until the 23rd, a private letter from Nanjing was delivered to Mu Garden, along with Minister Cai's private secretary.
As soon as the secretary arrived at Mu Garden, Uncle Mu personally came out to greet him. Once they were seated in the flower hall, the secretary presented Minister Cai with a private letter, but did not immediately mention Bai Yan. Instead, he said, “Minister, you have long admired Lord Mu’s reputation, praising his integrity and uprightness, a truly admirable quality. However, in the past, when the country was in turmoil and the people were suffering, we were unable to meet, which you greatly regret. Unexpectedly, good fortune has descended upon you; Lord Mu has today relieved Minister Cai of a great burden!”
Without thorough preparation, a private secretary wouldn't have come directly to Mu Garden, and Mu Garden wouldn't have suddenly contacted Minister Cai without any reason. At this point, both sides knew perfectly well how this charade was going to unfold.
Mu Fuqian solemnly said, "Now that the war in Fengtian has broken out again, I am sitting in the mountains. If I can serve Minister Cai and share his burdens, it will be a small thing for the world."
As early as when the secretary arrived at Mu Garden, Mu Xing went to the bookstore to pick up Bai Yan. The two of them were now hiding outside the flower hall, eavesdropping.
Bai Yan was somewhat worried: "...If Uncle sides with Minister Cai, putting aside other matters, what will happen to Miss Li's family and Young Master Song's family? As you said, the Li and Song families hold leadership over the student masses in Wenjiang. Back then, there was already a conflict between you and Young Master Song... about that matter. Now, your positions are even more opposed. How will you get along in the future?"
Mu Xing frowned, twirling Bai Yan's curly hair as he said, "I don't think anything will happen in the short term. The Mengwei family sided with the other side a long time ago, and nothing has happened for so many years. I think no matter how the powerful figures in Nanjing fight, they are still a layer away from Wenjiang. Compared to them, our families rooted in Wenjiang are more of a community of interests in the short term. Unless Nanjing changes again, otherwise... well, in any case, Uncle's choice must be reliable."
Sighing, she looked at Bai Yan and said, "Compared to you, I'm more worried about you. You..." Her gaze fell on Bai Yan, looking at her brand-new cheongsam, and Mu Xing bit her lip, not finishing her sentence.
Bai Yan kept her head down and didn't notice Mu Xing's expression. She said, "I already said that I just wanted to ask him for clarification. Why would a minister make things difficult for me?" As she spoke, she turned her head, tapped Mu Xing's nose with the flower in her hand, and smiled, "Besides, with you by my side, I don't need to worry at all."
Seeing Bai Yan's smiling face, Mu Xing curled his lips and nodded, saying, "I will stay with you."
But... once he arrived in Nanjing and met that minister, how would he react to his old friend's entrustment of his son?
As Bai Yan recounted the manuscripts she had written over the past few days, Mu Xing couldn't help but lose himself in thought.
If he wanted to keep you, what would you do?
It's not that Mu Xing is overthinking; it's just that once a person's mind gets stuck in a dead end, it's hard to get out easily. Mu Xing was initially only worried about Bai Yan's safety, but as he thought about it, he considered the opposite—what if Minister Cai is a good person? Having failed his comrade's trust and then regained his lost child, with a chance to make amends, what would he do? What else could he do?
Several times she opened her mouth, wanting to ask the same question, but her sense of morality prevented her from saying it.
She couldn't help but despise herself.
Shu Wan was never her possession; she had the right to seek her own happiness. Cai Junyao was the Minister of Military Affairs, and he had such a close relationship with Shu Wan's father. If he wanted to keep Shu Wan, what reason did Shu Wan have to refuse? And what reason did she have to demand that Shu Wan refuse?
Besides, she'd heard that Minister Cai had a son! If, if…
"Ah Xuan, Ah Xuan? What are you thinking about, so focused?" Bai Yan poked Mu Xing's forehead and pulled her to her feet. "Uncle wants us to go in."
"Ah, okay." Mu Xing responded blankly, stood up, and followed Bai Yan into the flower hall. Staring at the graceful hem of the cheongsam in front of her, she smiled bitterly.
Just as Uncle Mu had expected, the secretary showed no suspicion upon seeing Bai Yan. After exchanging greetings, he went straight to the point and invited Bai Yan to make a trip to Nanjing—naturally, she should also bring the people from Mu Garden with her.
Everything that needed to be packed had already been prepared, and all the tasks that needed to be handed over had been arranged in advance. Uncle Mu was so eager to see his son that he didn't care whether packing his bags and leaving would seem too "unrefined," and immediately arranged for a plane to fly directly to Nanjing.
Mu Xing was worried that Bai Yan would get airsick on her first flight, so he took great care of her throughout the journey. However, perhaps her excitement overshadowed her physical discomfort, because Bai Yan was clearly pale when she got off the plane, yet she still said she felt fine. Mu Xing saw this and felt increasingly uneasy.
The group arrived in Nanjing at 9 p.m. Even though he was anxious, Uncle Mu wasn't in such a hurry to bother people in the middle of the night. He originally planned to arrange for his family to stay at the hotel for the night and meet with the Mu family members in Nanjing to make arrangements for what to do next. Unexpectedly, after his secretary made a phone call, he said that Minister Cai had been busy all day and now had time to meet with guests, so he invited everyone to his residence for a gathering.
The secretary was very polite: "You must be tired from your journey, Your Excellency. However, things have been quite unsettled in the Northeast these past few days, and the minister has been working tirelessly. He only has this little bit of rest time, so please understand, Your Excellency."
For Uncle Mu, every tick of the clock felt like a guillotine hanging over Mu Qing's neck; the sooner they could discuss things and make the next arrangements, the better. For Bai Yan, it was naturally best to see her father's old friend as soon as possible.
Poor Mu Xing, she was happy for her elder brother but also worried about Bai Yan, caught in a dilemma. She arrived at Minister Cai's residence with a scrunched-up face, startling Bai Yan who thought she was airsick and showered her with concern.
The magnificence of the Cai mansion goes without saying; to the visitors, it was nothing out of the ordinary. The group entered the reception hall, where Cai Junyao and Madam Bai were waiting.
Upon seeing Bai Yan, Cai Junyao didn't say a word. Madam Cai walked over in a few steps, hugged Bai Yan tightly, looked her over, and immediately pressed her into her arms, bursting into tears: "My dear daughter! I've been waiting day and night, and finally I've found you! Look, your mole is just like mine when I was little!"
Bai Yan stood frozen in Madam Cai's arms, her mind still reeling, her eyes already expertly welling with tears: "Madam, please don't be sad..."
Then came the formulaic introductions and pleasantries, with everyone taking turns trying to comfort Madam Cai and tell her not to cry. Finally, they sat down, and Bai Yan sat next to Madam Cai, offering words of comfort while unconsciously observing Minister Cai.
He drinks very strong tea, unlike his father who prefers a milder flavor.
He spoke in a firm tone, without a southwestern accent, more like a northerner, unlike his father.
His eyes were fierce, and his eyebrows were slightly lowered, unlike his father's...
Her eyes unconsciously traced the man's appearance across from her, and then little by little, she began to etch another image into her mind.
An image she hadn't dared to imagine for many years.
Bai Yan was looking at it when Minister Cai suddenly turned to look at her: "Bai...Shuwan?"
Bai Yan was taken aback, then quickly replied, "Yes, Minister Bo..."
Looking at the girl in front of him, Minister Cai seemed to want to smile, but his lips couldn't curve upwards; he could only maintain a forced smile. His perpetually furrowed brows had left deep marks, making him look fierce even when his expression was relaxed.
Finally giving up on arguing with his expression, Minister Cai said, "Shu Wan, come with me to the study for a moment. There's something I want to give you."
Bai Yan agreed first, then turned to look at Mu Xing beside her and whispered, "It's okay."
Mu Xing pursed her lips and nodded: "Go."
Bai Yan then got up.
As Bai Yan followed Minister Cai toward the study, she quietly turned her head to continue observing the man in front of her.
His shoulders were broad and his back straight, just like the father I remembered, a posture honed in the military academy. But perhaps due to years of fighting on the front lines, or perhaps due to old age, his steps were slightly unsteady. Even when he tried to straighten his back and pull his trousers up, he couldn't hide the trace of fatigue.
Looking at the few gray hairs at Minister Cai's temples, Bai Yan blinked and added the final touch to the portrait she had created in her mind.
She suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
If Father were still alive, he would probably... look like this too, right?
Chapter Ninety-Six
In the study, Cai Junyao told Bai Yan everything that had happened in Shanhaiguan back then.
Stripped of all sensitive political factors, it's nothing more than a common, unremarkable story from wartime: betrayed by allies, the White Army commander stationed at Shanhaiguan was attacked from both sides and fought to the death. Cai Junyao, who was supposed to follow the commander-in-chief in Beijing to launch a preemptive strike, disobeyed orders and rushed to Shanhaiguan, but it was too late.
"In the end, Xinzhong only thought of you and your daughter, so after the war situation stabilized somewhat, I sent my trusted secretary, Fang, to escort you and your daughter back to your hometown. But two whole months passed, until the government was established, before I received news that Secretary Fang had been assassinated in Shanghai... Later, I searched almost the entire city of Shanghai and Suzhou, but I still couldn't find any trace of you and your daughter..."
Minister Cai was in tears, while Bai Yan listened in silence, tears welling in her eyes. Many thoughts and images swirled in her mind, but when they finally settled, she had nothing left to think about or imagine.
So that's how it is. She thought blankly, "So that's how it is."
All the resentment and sorrow have been worn away by time, not vanished, but rather ingrained in her very being; she has long since accepted it. Now she comes not only to mourn, but also to seek understanding.
So this is how all those years of twists and turns, all those hardships and tribulations came about.
Minister Cai took out a sandalwood box from deep inside the bookcase and handed it to Bai Yan: "These are what I found later among your father's belongings; they're all here."
Bai Yan took the box, placed her finger on the spring clasp, but hesitated to press it.
Minister Cai sighed: "Now that it has been returned to its rightful owner, we can take our time to see how it goes. It's the same as before."
Bai Yan softly agreed.
Clearing his throat, Minister Cai calmed himself down and said, "Your uncle and aunt know a little about what you've been through over the years. The past is the past, and we can't make up for it. We can only look forward. Shu Wan, you will stay with your uncle from now on."
Blinking her tearful eyes, Bai Yan quickly regained her composure and shook her head, saying, "No need, Uncle, there's no need for that. What happened back then was fate, and there's no way to blame you, Uncle, let alone offer any compensation. On the contrary, I should thank you for your concern over the years. I came to see you today for two reasons: first, to let you know that I'm doing well, so you won't worry; and second, to ease my mother's worries when she passed away, so she can rest in peace. I'm doing very well now, so why should I bother you any further?"
Minister Cai tried to persuade her again and again, but Bai Yan refused and wouldn't budge.
Minister Cai sighed, "Since you insist, your uncle won't force you to stay. However, there's one issue: your household registration... is still under the Changsantangzi account. I'll send someone to retrieve your deed tomorrow, and then..."
Before she could finish speaking, Bai Yan said urgently, "Uncle, other matters can be discussed, but this is something we absolutely cannot trouble you with!"
Minister Cai frowned: "What do you mean? Could it be... that you're reluctant to leave that place?"
Bai Yan wanted to say that she had the ability to redeem herself, but then she thought that if she refused this matter, there would inevitably be another one. However, apart from her father's entrustment of her orphan, she actually did not want to have any further involvement with the Cai family.
She knew all too well how much of a "use" an adopted daughter could have in such an official family—not that she was being petty, but her background and all her experiences made her wary.
Even if Minister Tsai genuinely loved her and wanted to make amends for his past mistakes, she would not want to live under someone else's roof any longer.
“Uncle.” Gritting her teeth, Bai Yan said decisively, “I understand your intentions perfectly well and dare not disappoint you. However, I have been imprisoned in that place for several years and have not been free. Now, I want to go and get my contract back myself.”
The words were quite straightforward, and Cai Junyao, understanding the implication, finally gave up the insistence. However, after being rejected twice in a row, Minister Cai's expression became somewhat subtle. Bai Yan quickly said, "However, Shu Wan does have something that only Uncle can help with, and I humbly request Uncle's help."
Finally, Minister Cai, finding something useful, asked, "What is it?"
"It's about the Mu family, about Uncle Mu."
As soon as Bai Yan came out of the study, Mu Xing rushed to greet her: "How was it?"
Bai Yan said, "They're all very good."
As they were talking, the maid behind them came over and invited Uncle Mu to the study.
Upon receiving Bai Yan's reply, Mu Xing knew that his elder brother's matter was half resolved, and he felt relieved on one side, but the other side was still on his mind. However, with Madam Cai still present, he couldn't ask for the time being.
Fortunately, although Madam Cai was prone to crying, she wasn't a chatterbox. The two men sat with Madam Cai for a while, and then Madam Cai said that it was getting late and asked the two men to go to the guest room that had been arranged for them to rest.
So he sat in his room for a few minutes, and while the maid was still running hot water, Mu Xing made an excuse to chat and openly entered Bai Yan's room.
When Mu Xing opened the door, Bai Yan was holding the box that Minister Cai had given her. When she saw Mu Xing come in, she quickly waved for her to come over.
“These are my father’s… belongings. I don’t want to look at them alone. It’s perfect that you’re here. Let’s look at them together.”
Mu Xing quickly sat down.
With a "click," Bai Yan opened the snap, and the lid popped open, revealing the contents inside.
Mu Xing held his breath and asked in a low voice, "...What is this?"
Contrary to expectations, the box contained only two items: a photograph and a brooch that was almost unrecognizable as it was.
"This, this is... the first award I received in middle school." Her hands trembling, Bai Yan picked up the brooch, stroking the war-stained marks on it. "It has the school emblem on it, an award for the student who came first in the exam. My father was so happy then, saying he wanted to take it to the army to show his comrades... I never imagined it would still be here..."
Without disturbing Bai Yan's remembrance, Mu Xing silently picked up the photo.
Unsurprisingly, the photo shows a woman with a little girl standing beside her. The faded photo is almost unrecognizable, but the tenderness it conveys remains undiminished.
Mu Xing asked, "How old are you in this photo?"
Bai Yan leaned over to take a look at the photo, and before anyone could answer, she reached out to take it back: "No wonder Madam Cai was only focused on the mole on my eyebrow!"
"Huh? Where..." Upon hearing this, Mu Xing stared at the photo and almost burst out laughing. "So this is your mole? I thought it was a big ink stain!"
Bai Yan snatched the photo back, looked at it again, and couldn't help but laugh: "How come I didn't notice it turned out like this back then?"
Mu Xing leaned over, put his arm around her, and gave her a loud kiss on the eyebrow: "You look good no matter what."
"Does a mole look good?" Bai Yan pushed Mu Xing away with feigned disgust. "Get away, you've stained all my eyebrow powder."
Leaning back on the sofa, Mu Xing grumbled softly, "Hmph, you even drew your eyebrows, put on powder, and wore a brand new cheongsam..."
Bai Yan glanced at her, put the photo and brooch back into the box, and said, "Uncle Cai just told me to stay, and he also wanted to get the contract back from the brothel for me."
Mu Xing sat bolt upright, almost jumping up: "And then? What did you say?"