Colin should have been kept with them!
He gritted his teeth as he thought this, but his hands moved quickly. In the blink of an eye, a concise letter was written. After instructing someone to send it out, he decided to go to the southern outskirts of the capital to take another look.
The person they were to receive was extremely important to both the Marquis and the Marquis, and no mistakes could be tolerated.
Qin Feng mounted his horse and left the Marquis's residence.
I hope everything goes well!
******
After Yu Zhou brought his mother, Wang, home, he noticed under the lamp that her face seemed even paler.
He sighed deeply in his heart. Although she said she couldn't eat anything, Yu Zhou still brought over the porridge that Yu Sili had cooked and persuaded his mother to eat a little.
Then Wang lay down and closed her eyes to rest. Yu Zhou stood there helplessly for a while, and seeing that she didn't intend to speak, he picked up the bowl and left.
Yu Sili ran over, looked up at her brother, and asked, "Is there any news about Dad?"
He had never seen his father since birth and had no real understanding of the term "father." However, from the occasional mocking and disdainful looks of his playmates, and from his mother's frail body and melancholy eyes, Yu Sili vaguely began to understand.
Yu Zhou patted Yu Sili's head, looked at his well-behaved and sensible younger brother, and softened his voice to comfort him: "We have already found the young master of the Chen family. He was too busy to meet him this time, but we will definitely be able to find out next time."
Yu Sili nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
That's not the case at all.
Yu Zhou secretly clenched his other hand, which was hanging by his side, until his knuckles turned white. They had indeed found out where the young master of the Chen family was, but the young master of the Chen family refused to see them and his mother at all, and even had his servants humiliate them and drive them away.
They said they were poor beggars from who-knows-where, yet they dared to cause trouble in front of the Chen residence.
If it were up to Yu Zhou's temperament, he certainly wouldn't have put up with this nonsense. But his mother was still anxiously waiting for news of his father, so Yu Zhou suppressed all his anger and even handed over some loose silver, just in the hope of finding out a little bit of information.
The money was earned by Yu Zhou through hard work hunting in the mountains or doing odd jobs while buying medicine for his mother. Now he had no choice but to give it away, knowing it was just a waste, only to bring comfort to his mother.
Even if she did receive news that her father had abandoned his wife, she would give up all hope for the three of them and simply live her life in peace.
The gatekeeper was probably a new hire after the young master of the Chen family came to the capital. He knew nothing about the news from Yangzhou. In the end, he reluctantly agreed that if the young master returned, he would inform them.
To everyone's surprise, they still didn't get any useful information this time.
Sili is still young, there's no need for him to be sad about something like this, so Yu Zhou kept it from him. As if by magic, Yu Zhou pulled out a bag of shortbread from behind her back and handed it to Yu Sili. "I brought this back for you, but don't eat too much, and don't eat it at night, be careful of your teeth."
Yu Sili's eyes lit up immediately as he took it.
"Thank you, brother!" Yu Sili carefully carried the paper-wrapped candy back into the house to put it away, then picked up an exquisite food box and handed it to Yu Zhou.
Yu Zhou frowned upon seeing this; it was definitely not something they could possess in their home. Even if they had previously owned such exquisite items, they had all been pawned.
He opened it and found it contained all sorts of exquisite little pastries.
"Sili, what's going on?" Yu Zhou immediately turned his gaze to Yu Sili.
Yu Sili realized his brother's displeasure, but this was a gift from the fairy sister, who said it was to thank him...
"Today I went out to play and saw Fairy Sister with her younger brother and sister." Yu Sili hurriedly whispered, "Fairy Sister treated me to lunch at noon. In the afternoon, I was playing with Brother Xiao Mu when he accidentally cut his hand. I found some herbs to stop the bleeding. Brother Xiao Mu is Fairy Sister's younger brother."
"The fairy sister said it was to thank me, so she had someone send me back in the evening, saying it was a thank-you gift."
Although An Ran had already told Yu Sili to change his address, he still used the name he had in his heart when facing his brother, out of nervousness.
Yu Zhou immediately recalled that beautiful, otherworldly little girl under the setting sun that day.
He already knew she was the younger sister of the heir apparent's wife from the Prince of Yi's mansion in the capital, and the ninth daughter of the Marquis of Nan'an's mansion. Last time she was just accompanying the heir apparent's wife for a short stay; this time she's brought her younger brother and sister again?
“We’re not helping people for their thanks, right?” Seeing Yu Sili nervously clutching a corner of her hand, looking as if she dared not breathe, Yu Zhou squatted down and whispered to Yu Sili, “It’s good that you can use what you know to help others. Your brother doesn’t blame you.”
His gaze fell on the red lacquered carved food box beside him, and he said, "If that's the case, then you may accept it."
Yu Sili gave a soft cheer.
"Brother, Fairy Sister also said that she lived in Yangzhou for a long time and asked if she could help us!" Yu Sili was happy, but he hadn't forgotten what An Ran had said.
Yu Zhou felt a warmth in his heart, but in his view, it was just a polite remark. It was already very kind of them to even bother asking. His family had no relation to the Marquis of Nan'an's household; how could he possibly trouble others for his own family's sake?
"If you see that Brother Xiao Mu again, please ask him to convey our gratitude to his sister." Yu Zhou looked at Yu Sili, his eyes filled with complex emotions that Yu Sili couldn't decipher. "Just tell him there's no need, we've already made progress."
Yu Sili nodded, somewhat bewildered. He always trusted his older brother the most, and did whatever his brother told him to do.
"It's getting late, go to sleep!" Yu Zhou had already lowered his eyes, concealing all his emotions.
Just as Yu Sili was about to go, he saw that his brother was not going with him, so he stopped.
Yu Zhou smiled helplessly and said softly to Yu Sili, "Brother still needs to sort the medicinal herbs. The herb collectors will be here tomorrow. You go to sleep first, and brother will be back in a little while."
"I'll help my brother!" Yu Sili followed behind Yu Zhou, insisting on helping out.
Yu Zhou had no choice but to take Yu Sili over and have him sit on a stool to the side while he helped tie the rope.
Perhaps he was too tired from playing all day, because Yu Sili had only been sitting on the stool for a short while when he started nodding like a chick pecking at rice. Yu Zhou saw this and a faint smile appeared on his lips, but he didn't pay any attention to him. Only after seeing that Yu Sili was fast asleep did he pick him up, put him on the bed, and cover him with a blanket.
Yu Zhou then worked alone until midnight.
It doesn't matter that he doesn't have a father; he can still support the family.
Looking at the few scattered stars in the night sky, Yu Zhou silently vowed that he would make sure his mother and Sili lived a good life.
You can also give her a presentable gift next time!