TSINW3 Chapter 75

Chapter 075 – This Miserable Young Master – “From now on, I am the son of Bai family” (06/08)

 

“I don’t want to shout either.” Xie Chenyang leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “Mother, there are too many people here. It’s better if we go inside to talk.”

 

Madam Bai also noticed the frequent glances their way and agreed without hesitation. “Come in.”

 

The main hall.

 

By the time they arrived, Madam Bai had calmed considerably. She sat in the seat of honor and had tea poured for Xie Chenyang and his companions.

 

Xie Chenyang glanced at Wu Yu, the senior maid standing behind Bai Mu with her head bowed, her gaze unfocused. He raised an eyebrow. “Why won’t this sister look at me?”

 

Bai Mu turned her head at his words.

 

A bead of cold sweat formed on Wu Yu’s forehead. Her voice trembled slightly. “This servant dares not look directly at the young master.”

 

Xie Chenyang sneered. “Mother hasn’t even acknowledged me yet, and you’re already calling me young master?”

 

Wu Yu: “…”

 

Madam Bai also sensed something was amiss. She frowned. “Yu-niang, why are you trembling?”

 

Wu Yu: “This servant…”

 

Xie Chenyang laughed aloud. “Why do I feel you’re hiding something?”

 

How could she not feel guilty?

 

For all these years, Wu Yu had lived in guilt, tending to Bai Mu with utmost devotion and striving to make amends for Bai Yutao. Just when she thought this secret would remain buried forever, Xie Chenyang, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Bai Zhuang, arrived.

 

Wu Yu instantly understood. Panic overwhelmed her. She fought to stay composed, but her body refused to obey. She could almost see the fate awaiting her once the truth was exposed.

 

Bai Zhuang had never been one to show mercy. Back then, she’d truly been blinded by love.

 

“Yu-niang!” Bai Mu’s expression darkened.

 

Wu Yu’s legs buckled, and she fell to her knees.

 

Asa sat motionless beside her, his expression solemn, yet his mind was elsewhere as he silently recounted the Midland dialect he’d learned along the way. When he grasped their conversation, his eyebrow gave a delighted twitch.

 

Yang Fusui listened silently to their exchange.

 

Even Ai Xiu maintained a serious demeanor, sitting calmly beside Xie Chenyang, and only occasionally touched his earring or adjusted his clothes.

 

A chill gripped Bai Mu’s heart. “Yu-niang, what do you know?”

 

Wu Yu dared not speak. She stammered incoherently, unable to begin.

 

Upon receiving the steward’s message, Bai Zhuang quickly arrived. Entering the main hall, he immediately saw his wife’s stony face and Wu Yu kneeling on the floor. He strode to Bai Mu, taking her teacup and downing it in one gulp. “What exactly is going on?”

 

Seeing Bai Zhuang arrive, Xie Chenyang finally broached the subject. “My family and I lived peacefully in Dongle City. Then one day, a young master from Yizhou City barged into my life. He betrayed my trust, threw me into the sea, burned my parents alive, and forced my sister into a brothel.”

 

Only upon hearing his words did Bai Zhuang turn his gaze toward him.

 

Even though the steward had mentioned their resemblance, the nearly ninety percent similarity still startled him. The remaining ten percent difference laid in their eyes.

 

“Our family had never been to Yizhou City. I never understood why that nobleman would harm us so. Until I discovered”—Xie Chenyang looked at Bai Zhuang—“that you and I are as if we were made from a single mold.”

 

Bai Zhuang knew he had never wronged his wife, so he hadn’t considered Xie Chenyang could be his own illegitimate son.

 

He sat beside his wife. “Who is this young master from the noble family?”

 

Xie Chenyang: “Li Chengwang.”

 

Bai Zhuang’s father turned to the steward.

 

The steward immediately replied, “The Li family in the western part of the city. They’ve fallen on hard times in recent years. Now, only Li Chengwang and his mother remain.”

 

Bai Zhuang’s knuckles tapped lightly on the table as he looked at Xie Chenyang. “What have you discovered?”

 

Xie Chenyang glanced at Wu Yu, who was still kneeling. “Perhaps this maid, who grew fearful the moment she saw me, knows something.”

 

Bai Zhuang’s voice turned grave. “Wu Yu, will you confess now, or wait for me to extract it through torture?”

 

Wu Yu’s resolve had long since crumbled; now, her face drained of all color.

 

Bai Zhuang ordered, “Uncle Chen, bring her husband and son here.”

 

Wu Yu’s head slammed against the floor. “I’ll talk! Please spare my son, Master! I’ll tell you everything!”

 

She had married her husband years ago, a union she’d never truly desired. But after years together, they’d finally conceived a son. He was only five now, and she cherished him deeply. The truth was already impossible to conceal—how could she drag her child into this?

 

Wu Yu trembled as she recounted the events of that year. Her voice broke into sobs. “I regretted it afterward, but that family was fleeing. I didn’t know where they went, or if the young master was still alive. I dared not say…”

 

Bai Zhuang’s face darkened. “Uncle Chen, take her away!”

 

The steward acknowledged the order, and men dragged Wu Yu out.

 

Madam Bai’s eyes reddened. “Xiao Tao never looked like us, and I never questioned it… Never imagined, I never imagined…”

 

At that moment, Yang Fushui, who had remained silent, lifted her head. “Perhaps he resembles me. I bear a strong resemblance to both my parents.”

 

Mr. and Mrs. Bai turned their gaze toward Yang Fushui simultaneously. They truly could see traces of their son, whom they had cherished for over a decade, in her features.

 

Mrs. Bai’s tears fell instantly.

 

The son she had cherished for so many years wasn’t her biological child while her real son suffered in the border town… The thought pierced her heart.

 

Wu Yu, who had accompanied her as part of her dowry and served her faithfully for years, was the culprit…

 

Mrs. Bai’s breath hitched.

 

Mr. Bai, however, was consumed by another thought. Why would that fallen aristocrat, Li Chengwang, suddenly target his family—Xie Chenyang and his kin—for murder?

 

Bai Zhuang’s eyes darkened. “Is Yutao here?”

 

The steward shook his head, then paused. “The young master went hunting with some other aristocratic youths. Li Chengwang is among them.”

 

Bai Zhuang: “Go fetch him.”

 

Steward: “Yes, sir.” He didn’t call for others, stepping out personally.

 

Mother Bai wiped her tears, gazing at Xie Chenyang. She wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin.

 

Xie Chenyang: “We’ve been rushing here and are quite tired. Mother, could you prepare a room for us to rest?”

 

Mother Bai nodded hastily. “Of course. I’ll have someone prepare it immediately.”

 

After the servants led Xie Chenyang and the others to their quarters, Bai Zhuang dispatched his personal guards to investigate the relationship between Bai Yutao and Li Chengwang. Knowing this matter could not be delayed, the guards immediately mobilized their connections to look into it.

 

Bai Yutao and Li Chengwang had been extremely confident in their planning, taking little care to conceal their actions. Bai Yutao had already thought it through. Even if Li Chengwang failed his mission, the men he sent could still eliminate Yang Zhou and the others.

 

He valued talent over status, so it wasn’t surprising he befriended Li Chengwang.

 

Thus, the guards discovered with little effort that Bai Yutao had met with Li Chengwang before his departure for the border city and had given him a sum of money. After Li Chengwang returned, Bai Yutao introduced him to other young masters from prominent families.

 

Now, there was no room for doubt.

 

The Li family had no ties to the border city. Why would Li Chengwang go there otherwise? And then deliberately befriend Yang Zhou, lure him out to sea, and throw him overboard?

 

It had to be because of Bai Yutao.

 

It could only be for Bai Yutao.

 

———

 

Though they said they wanted to rest, Xie Chenyang and Ai Xiu didn’t sleep after returning to their room.

 

Ai Xiu: “That man looks just like you. Is he your father?”

 

“Yes.” His father in name only.

 

Ai Xiu: “I think I understood some of what was said earlier. When we found you, you’d been thrown into the sea? Then I’m your savior.”

 

Xie Chenyang pulled him close, smiling softly. “So, for saving my life, I’ll repay you with myself.”

 

Ai Xiu chuckled in response. “Does that mean I can take you home now?”

 

“Yes,” Xie Chenyang murmured, gently caressing his lips. “From now on, wherever you are, I’ll follow.”

 

Ai Xiu frowned. “But right now, I’m the one following you.”

 

He was supposed to follow his ministers to the capital of the Great Cloud Kingdom. But Xie Chenyang had coaxed him to this Yizhou City instead.

 

Xie Chenyang lowered his head and kissed his lips. “This time you came with me. From now on, for the rest of our lives, I will follow you.”

 

“Mm.” Ai Xiu nodded vaguely.

 

This arrangement seemed quite advantageous.

 

He would take Xie Chenyang back and make him his consort!

 

———

 

Bai Mu felt much calmer now.

 

Her mind was racing—she wanted to become familiar with Xie Chenyang, yet feared he might resent it.

 

Thinking he was resting, she quietly approached his door, her heart filled with hesitation and trepidation.

 

If he wasn’t asleep, she would have a proper talk with him and the young prince. If he was asleep, she would wait until he woke up.

 

Mother Bai took a deep breath, her hand raised to knock, when a muffled groan echoed from within. It was followed by Xie Chenyang’s low chuckle and the young prince’s soft whimpers of surrender.

 

Mother Bai: Having a playful fight?

 

She listened for a moment longer, then retreated, her face flushing crimson.

 

Once outside the courtyard, the flush faded, replaced by a wave of worry. Among the aristocratic sons, affection between men was not unheard of. But that was merely to have fun.

 

The man with Xie Chenyang was clearly a foreigner.

 

Was he playing with him or was he being played?

 

When the personal guard brought back the investigation report, Bai Yutao hadn’t returned yet. Bai Zhuang and Mother Bai listened to the guard’s report together, their expressions grim.

 

To say they felt no affection for Bai Yutao would be a lie. After all, they had cherished him in the palm of their hand for so many years.

 

But the thought that he’d learned the truth of his identity at some point, yet kept it from them, even secretly sending men to silence their real son and attempt to wipe out his entire family…

 

It was utterly heartless. They could no longer feel a sense of pity for him.

 

Mother Bai gripped the armrest tightly. “Had that foreign ship not saved Zhou’er, we might’ve never known the truth until our dying breath.”

 

Bai Zhuang declared, “Whatever Zhou’er chooses to do, we must not interfere. And we certainly cannot plead for… him.”

 

Mother Bai closed her eyes. “I agree.”

 

When supper was served, neither Bai Zhuang nor Mother Bai put on airs, inviting Xie Chenyang and his three companions to dine at the same table.

 

Xie Chenyang broached the subject. “Father, Mother, how do you intend to deal with Bai Yutao?”

 

Bai Zhuang’s expression hardened. “If he truly caused the deaths of you and your adoptive parents, we won’t interfere. You may handle it as you see fit.”

 

Xie Chenyang hesitated. “But he is a son of the Bai family. How can I possibly stand against him?”

 

“He isn’t,” Bai Zhuang replied decisively. “You are.”

 

In truth, he already knew full well that Bai Yutao was the mastermind behind the Yang family’s tragedy.

 

Only then did Xie Chenyang smile. “Thank you, Father.”

 

Seeing this child, so strikingly similar to himself, call him father, had warmth filling Bai Zhuang’s heart. “When he returns, I will announce his expulsion from our family. I will then formally record you in our clan registry. From this day forward, you alone shall be the true son of the Bai family.”

 

This would strip Bai Yutao of the Bai family’s resources, leaving him utterly powerless to resist.

 

And what Bai Yutao valued most was precisely the status of being a son of the Bai family.

 

Xie Chenyang had stripped him of what he cherished most—first eliminating Li Chengwang, then executing Bai Yutao.

 

At that moment, a voice came from outside the door, “Master and Mistress, the young master has returned.”

 

 

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Edit: Krone

Proofread: Choux_choux