It was windy at night.
It was stormy in Jinling.
But all of this had nothing to do with the Rongguo Mansion. This was the safest place in Jinling, and all of the wind and rain were blocked outside the door.
Jia Xu knocked on the door of the Rongguo Mansion alone.
Everyone in the residence knew the First Old Master next door. Even though the gatekeepers were instructed to be on guard, Old Master Jia Xu was naturally not one of them.
Duke Ning refused the doorman's offer to lead the way. He walked slowly in the manor. The cold wind blew on his face, but his mood was unspeakably agitated. It was the first time he felt so helpless since he had achieved great success in his studies.
It was said that even an upright official would find it difficult to resolve a family dispute. Even a wise man would have to retreat in front of a person's heart. Since ancient times, people's hearts were the most difficult to predict.
He sighed and walked to the back of the mansion. He passed through the arch and came to the old madam's courtyard. The lights were on inside and there were people guarding outside. They looked like they were facing a great enemy.
Because the old madam vomited blood and fainted, this respectable old woman who had supported the Rongguo Mansion for more than a decade had encountered the most difficult hurdle to cross … perhaps the last hurdle.
Jia Xu sighed imperceptibly.
After he explained his purpose, Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu came out to greet him.
Jia Xu sighed, "How is the old madam?"
Xue Baochai nodded, "She's better, but she's still unconscious …"
Jia Xu nodded silently. He saw Xue Baochai's eyes. He found that this smart woman from the Xue family was looking at him. Her bright eyes shone strangely under the dim light, as if she could see through the confusion and secrets in his heart … He was shocked by his own thoughts.
How could it be …
He shook his head self-mockingly and said, "I'll go in and take a look."
Xue Baochai frowned imperceptibly and thought quickly in her mind.
She did not trust Jia Xu now. This was natural because her husband had told her that Jia Xu had been instigated by the hostile forces of the Prince Zhongshun Mansion.
At that time, she wanted to explain to Jia Xu, but her husband solemnly stopped her. Her husband said that this was a bet. Although she did not know what the bet was, she could see the seriousness in her husband's eyes.
Since her husband didn't want her to go, then she wouldn't go.
But under such circumstances, Jia Xu could not be trusted. Letting him come into contact with the Dowager Duchess was risky … This was what troubled Xue Baochai.
However …
In a moment, Xue Baochai had already thought about it a few times. Finally, she nodded and said, "Of course. Uncle, please be careful and don't disturb the Old Madam."
"Of course."
Jia Xu glanced around. There was no one else but his two niece-in-law in front of him. He asked in a low voice as if nothing had happened, "About Dowager Duchess … Does Jia Ying have any plans?"
Xue Baochai's heart skipped a beat. She said calmly, "My husband only asked us to protect Grandmother. He will take care of everything else … Since my husband is so confident, we don't have to be too anxious."
Jia Xu said indifferently, "In other words, his grandmother was shocked by the bad news these few days. First, her favorite granddaughter-in-law was suspected of killing her brother and escaping. Then, the head of the Wang Family died in the Rongguo Mansion. Then, even her daughter-in-law died. She vomited blood and fainted in anger. The entire Rongguo Mansion is in a mess. Jia Ying saw it all. He watched the group of women cry and wail helplessly and refused to appear to take charge of the situation?"
Lin Daiyu said, "Brother is the head of the family. Now that he is back, the Rongguo Mansion does not need to worry about the family matters of the Rongguo Mansion."
Jia Xu did not expect Lin Daiyu to be so direct and talk back to an elder. She was simply lawless. He was so angry that he laughed. "What? As an elder, I can't even say anything?"
Lin Daiyu wanted to retort but was stopped by Xue Baochai. She stopped her sister with a look and smiled apologetically at Jia Xu. "Grandmother fainted. Pin 'er was the most anxious, so her words were a bit harsh …"
Jia Xu snorted and ignored the two. He flicked his sleeves and entered the room.
Xue Baochai watched Jia Xu enter and complained, "Pin 'er, why did you talk back to Eldest Uncle?"
Lin Daiyu said indifferently, "He seems to have bad intentions."
Xue Baochai sighed. Of course, she could hear the provocation in the words just now.
Then … what was the bet?
When he entered the room, the old madam's maid, Yuan Yang, was sitting by the bed. Seeing Master Jia Xu enter, she hurriedly stood up to welcome him. Jia Xu waved his hand and said in a low voice, "You can leave first."
Yuanyang hesitated when she heard this. "This …"
Jia Xu suddenly became irritated. He sneered. "What?
You don't even trust me?
You think I'm here to harm the old madam?
Ah?
Then you can stay here and watch!
Just watch! "
Although Yuan Yang was the old madam's favored maid and had some prestige in the fu, it was not enough in front of the old master of the Ningguo fu. Seeing Jia Xu get angry, she could only endure her grievances and leave dejectedly. Servants could not argue with the old master … I mean talk back.
After Jia Xu chased Yuan Yang away, he came to the old madam's bed and slowly sat by the bed.
He grabbed the old lady's hand, feeling the flow of True Qi in her body and the beating of her heart. She was the only remaining elder of the previous generation of the Jia Family. She had once supported the broken lintel of the Rongguo Mansion by herself. Now, she was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her hair white.
The valiant and awe-inspiring auntie in his memory would never return.
Jia Xu's nose turned sour.
He could feel the scars and weakness under this old body.
The first half of her life was happy, and the second half was strong and alone. She had many children and grandchildren, but the war took everything away from her. Her husband, son, and grandson.
No one knew the pain in her heart. She had to shoulder the loss of her men all by herself. Her favorite grandson had run away from home, and there was no news of him at all. For a time, he was famous all over the world, and he was the champion of the Six Armies. However, he was defeated in the last battle. Two years later, he reappeared. This should have been enough to make her feel comforted and happy. But fate was so cruel that it revealed the truth that she could not bear to speak out.
The real Jia Ying had died eight years ago.
The Jia Ying who had returned was actually an imposter. He had suffered a heavy fate that ordinary people could not imagine. His heart was filled with twisted hatred and killing intent. He had dragged the Jia family into the storm and brought about a cruel and unpredictable fate. He had caused the empire to lose the ability to create an Imperial Army.
This crime, this sin, it was impossible to determine … Since the founding of the empire, even the worst rebellion could not be compared to what he had done.
Jia Xu smiled bitterly. There was bitterness, pity, and unwillingness in his smile.
"You've suffered for your whole life. What supported you through these years was your love and memories for your grandson. However, these were all fake. Even the hero who made great achievements and brought glory to your ancestors was fake. He wasn't your grandson at all. The six years of concern and two years of pain were all fake …"
Speaking of this, Jia Xu's eyes were filled with tears.
He could not bear to imagine this old woman's final destination and fate.
After knowing the truth, would she be in so much pain that she wished she was dead?
Even if she was kept in the dark and was immersed in the joy of seeing her grandson again, her grandson had become a great rebel and was in an endless battle with the imperial power … How could she be at ease?
Therefore, Jia Xu felt sad and regretful.
Whether what the old woman saw in the end was real or fake, it was the same cruel fate … especially for such a respectable old woman.
The impermanence of fate was enough to make even the wisest person sigh helplessly.
Jia Xu said in a low voice, "If it was you, what would you want to see?"
No one answered his question. Old Matriarch Shi closed her eyes and laid on the bed, breathing calmly. Outside the window, the night wind was like a curtain. On the other side of the house, Sun Langping was lying on the roof tiles with his head resting on his arms. He looked at the dark night and the boundless starry sky in silence.
He slowly raised his hand and reached toward the sky, toward the endless void, but he could not grab anything.
Earth, his hometown, everything was long gone, so far that he could not go home because he did not know where his hometown was. He did not know if Earth was light years away or in another universe.
It had been more than eight years.
Everything he had experienced, everything he had learned, and everything he had lost. Looking back, there were many things that he could not imagine when he was on Earth.
There was no Sword Saint on Earth, no monster that could kill everyone, no martial arts, no Sky Demon. It has been more than eight years since he transmigrated. I have been in this world for more than eight years.
I can't go back.
What do you want to see?
Sun Lang slowly clenched his fists and smiled.
This is a gamble.
He said in his heart.
This is the chance I gave you … and also the chance you gave me. This is my own choice.
No one forced me to accept it, no one forced me to leave.
No one handed me a sword the moment I woke up and asked me to become another person, to replace him on the battlefield to kill, to be killed, to be the Sword Saint, General, and Hero.
Also, after I had adapted to my role, given up on my illusions, and wanted to happily be a Sword Saint, a general, a hero, and another person, no one took away all of this with a ruthless backstab, telling me that I was unworthy, that I was an extraterrestrial demon, that I was an alien.
Fate is in my own hands, and everything can start anew. The people who care about me, the people I care about. Sometimes, it is very simple to satisfy a person. Sometimes, I don't want much. This place once gave me false warmth. Even if it was false, it was still very warm.
So, it is just a gamble.
If you can do it, I can do it.
For you, for you, for all of you.
I will let you see everything you want to see.