lcionline Chapter 252 Entrusted by an Orphan
Chapter 252 Entrusted by an Orphan
On her way back, Nianyao overheard people talking about how the Lord of Xiling had fled to the cold, high-altitude lands of the west, and that the Southern Yue army had returned in triumph, with the Lord personally welcoming them from ten miles outside the city gates.
Nianyao took the letter out of her bosom several times and put it back. The heavy letter pressed against her chest like a heavy brick: it was Xue Yunting's last words. He didn't leave any messages for his parents, but he left messages for her. What a heavy burden this was.
Nianyao stood outside Bianjing City for a long time, but ultimately did not go in. She did not have the courage to stand in front of the Xue family mansion and tell Xue Yunting's parents in person: Your son, Xue Yunting, is dead.
It was early August when Nianyao returned to Chongming Island. She rushed to the teahouse as fast as she could. There were people in the teahouse, but it wasn't Luo An.
Xu Sheng sat in the tea room, smiling and saying, "Sister-in-law, you've worked hard. Come and have some tea."
Nianyao turned and left. Her heart sank the moment she pushed open the door. Sure enough, the room was empty: Luo An was not there.
The strength that had sustained Nianyao back instantly dissipated, and she slid down softly, tears streaming down her face, crying silently.
Her father was gone, but she still had Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu was gone, but Luo An said she still had him. Now Xue Yunting is gone, and she's all alone. The person who said "I'll take care of everything" has abandoned her!
"Knock knock knock..." The knocking came from the door, but Nianyao ignored it and didn't say anything. The person pushed the door open forcefully, but stopped when they felt someone blocking the door from behind.
Nianyao got up from the floor and staggered to her room, collapsing onto the bed. She was exhausted but couldn't fall asleep until a strong gust of wind blew open the window with a loud bang.
Nianyao was startled and looked up to see the stunningly handsome face outside the window. She burst out, "How is my window bothering you, you lunatic?"
Xu Sheng looked at her: "You cried?"
Nianyao said, "I didn't cry!"
Xu Sheng showed no mercy: "Why are your eyes red?"
Nianyao jumped off the bed, rushed to the window, and grabbed Xu Sheng's clothes through the window: "Xue Yunting is dead! He's dead!"
Xu Sheng was slightly taken aback, then said, "I told him long ago not to waste his energy on Duan Mingzhu. That woman looks small and weak, but she's very vicious. Now look what's happened, she's lost her life at such a young age."
Nianyao said, "What does this have to do with Duan Mingzhu? He committed suicide!"
Suicide? Xu Sheng said, "It can't be that bad, can it? Why is he so unable to understand?"
Nianyao shoved him hard and then let go: "I don't understand either. You see, he comes from a good family, has good character, good kung fu, and a bright future... Even beggars say it's better to live a miserable life than to die, so why can't he understand that? Besides, they're both dead, and the child has no mother or father anymore."
Xu Sheng asked, "Did he die in front of you? Did he leave you any last words?"
As soon as Nianyao took out the letter, Xu Sheng snatched it away.
Nianyao said, "Hey..."
Xu Sheng shushed her, his serious expression startling Nian Yao. Nian Yao watched as Xu Sheng opened the letter, glanced at it, and handed it back to her.
Nianyao was surprised by Xu Sheng's shameless behavior and shocked by his speed: "You've finished reading already?"
Xu Sheng was very proud: "Of course, I can read ten lines at a glance and have a photographic memory."
Nianyao asked, "What did Yunting say in the letter?"
“It’s just entrusting an orphan to someone.” Xu Sheng seemed to have thought of something: “Sister-in-law, if you and Luo An raise this child as your own, will you tell him who his biological parents are when he grows up?”
Entrusting an orphan to someone? Nianyao quickly unfolded the letter, which didn't look up but went straight to the main text:
Upon receiving this letter, I had already severed myself from the year-round snow of Mount Oulu, so that I might be clean and pure in the afterlife, which is my true wish.
I am unable to repay my parents' kindness in this life, nor can I fulfill my responsibility as an adopted daughter. I dare not ask for forgiveness, I only ask that you do not think of me or hurt me.
He had a daughter and knelt down, begging his sister to raise her as her own. He promised to be her servant in his next life so that he could repay her kindness.
Xue Yunting's last words!
Nianyao asked incredulously, "Just because of this one sentence, Su Wuming gave me the entire letter?"
Xu Sheng said, "Su Wuming gave it to you? Not Xue Yunting?"
Nianyao said, "It was given to me by Su Wuming. He said the letter was for me, so I brought it back. I thought..."
Xu Sheng asked, "What do you think?"
Nianyao glanced at him: "I thought it contained some secrets, such as your schemes and plots, as well as the arrangements of the mechanisms and personnel on Chongming Island..."
Xu Sheng laughed: "My schemes and tricks? Let me tell you, Su Wuming definitely wouldn't dare to tell the Xue family about Xue Yunting, so he simply gave you the letter so you could find an opportunity to talk to General Xue."
Nianyao felt the same way: "I'm not going to say anything. They've all been scheming against me and using me, without a shred of sincerity. And you, what are you doing on Chongming Island?"
Xu Sheng said, "I..."
Nianyao interrupted him: "You don't need to say anything. What you're doing here has nothing to do with me."
The prayer beads slammed the window shut, and if Xu Sheng hadn't retreated in time, he would have bumped his nose.
Xu Sheng called out through the window, "Luo An isn't on Chongming Island; he's gone back to Bianjing."
Nianyao held back for a while, then opened the window and grabbed a vase from the shelf next to her, throwing it out: "Get as far away as you can."
After saying that, she slammed the window shut with a loud bang. Nianyao turned around to go find Qin Jiu when she heard something fall behind her with a thud.
Nianyao was startled. Turning around, she saw the window had fallen down, followed by Xu Sheng's loud and exaggerated laughter. She paused for a moment, then left without looking back.
Liang Qingcheng, who was teaching painting but knew nothing about it, looked up and saw Nianyao. She put down her brush and gently called out, "Chief Xue."
Nianyao asked, "Where's Ninth Brother? Where's Hu Zi? Why are all the brothers gone?"
Liang Qingcheng responded one by one: "Qin Jiu has been building a school by Xianyue Lake recently, going out early and returning late every day, worrying about it. The rice is almost ripe, and Ba Mei goes to check on it every day. Hu Zi is worried about her because she is pregnant, so she follows her around all day. The brothers are all building houses, planning to move a few more batches of family members in."
Nianyao said, "Build a school? He really wants to be a teacher?"
Liang Qingcheng said with certainty, "Yes, he built a row of shops opposite the newly built residential area in the south, and a school and a pharmacy by Xianyue Lake, saying that the feng shui there is good and that it can produce a scholar."
He said that once the residential areas on all four sides are completed and full, they'll prepare to open for school, and he doesn't know if he'll be among the first students then. He's a fast worker, and his brothers are enthusiastic too; they expect school to start next spring.
Nianyao never doubted Qin Jiu's efficiency: "Where did he get the money?"
Liang Qingcheng replied matter-of-factly, "The gold and silver in the cellar."
Nianyao almost swore: "That was the resettlement allowance for the brothers who were being laid off, and he spent it all. The brothers of the Dahe Gang are not just those on Chongming Island."
Qin Jiu's voice rang out from behind: "I know. I've set aside funds for the severance pay of the brothers. I'll make up for any shortfall."
Nianyao almost forgot that Qin Jiu was already wealthy, and she actually trusted him to handle things: "Brother Jiu, I need to go back to Bianjing. Will you and Sister-in-law Jiu come back with me?"
Liang Qingcheng's eyes lit up noticeably. She had been away from Bianjing for more than half a year and had not returned.
Qin Jiu said, "The leader is going back to Bianjing to find the young master, right? I'm currently repairing the school and don't have time for the time being, so I won't be going back."