Chapter 105
After dinner, when Yu Ying and Fu Wei returned to their room, Uncle Mo was already gone.
Alone now, Yu Ying had the chance to share with Fu Wei, “That Uncle Mo seems to be the second-in-command of the bandits of Muyun Mountain.”
Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying in slight astonishment.
He had guessed that “Uncle Mo” held a high position in Muyun Mountain, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of him being the second-in-command.
But thinking about it, given Uncle Mo's daunting presence, as if he had emerged from a battlefield, being the second-in-command seemed plausible.
After a moment, Fu Wei smiled, “If he’s the second-in-command, that’s good news. His words indicated hostility towards the governor of Wuling Prefecture and respect for my biological father. This means, whether it's Wuling Prefecture or next year’s turmoil, you, I, and the Fu family have a way out.”
With his own plans in mind, Fu Wei reassured Yu Ying not to worry too much.
After some time, Yu Ying went to take a bath.
Fu Wei stepped outside and saw his mother entering the main hall. After a moment of thought, he spoke up, “Mother.”
Madame Luo looked up at him, the evening light dimming her vision slightly, causing her son's figure to appear somewhat blurry, but not enough to impede her ability to see clearly.
"What's the matter?"
Fu Wei approached her, "I want to ask mother about something."
Madame Luo was somewhat surprised, as her second son rarely spoke with her alone. Regaining her composure, she quickly nodded, "Let's talk in my room then."
Mother and son entered her room, where Madame Luo pulled up a stool for him and sat down on the edge of the bed herself, "What do you want to ask, Second Son?"
Fu Wei carefully considered his words before asking, "What kind of person was my father?"
Madame Luo was momentarily taken aback at her son's sudden inquiry about her late husband, "Why are you suddenly asking about your father?"
Fu Wei replied, "I want to understand him."
Madame Luo gazed at him silently for a moment before solemnly saying, "Second Son, even though you don’t know your father well, he was definitely not someone who would betray his country."
Fu Wei had limited understanding of his father, having only heard one-sided accounts, and thus was reluctant to speculate about his character.
However, the fact that his father's subordinate remembered him fondly after twenty years indicated he was a person who cared for his subordinates.
Moreover, as far as he knew, his father had been married to his mother for nearly a decade while serving as a governor, and she was his only wife, which spoke of his loyalty and commitment.
Gradually, Fu Wei felt like he was beginning to understand his father a little better.
Madame Luo, looking at her son, said, “Your elder brother resembles your father the most in appearance, but your temperament and physique are what most closely mirror your father.”
It’s curious how you, who did not grow up by his side and have no memories of him, still resemble him in these two aspects.
Listening to his mother, Fu Wei understood why, after he turned fifteen, his foster father’s attitude towards him varied, seeing the shadow of his deceased superior in him.
He also realized why he was so certain that Huo Minzhi was his biological father.
Madame Luo then murmured to herself, “He was hands-on in everything, compassionate towards the people. During floods, he personally led rescue missions, staying awake for days without returning home. He fell seriously ill after one such mission… How could someone so dedicated to his people be a traitor?”
By the end, Madame Luo's eyes reddened, her voice trembling, "Someone must have been unable to tolerate him and framed him."
No matter how many years had passed, Madame Luo firmly believed in her husband’s innocence.
Fu Wei was surprised by his mother's unwavering trust in his father.
In the half-year since they recognized each other, his mother never mentioned anything about his biological father, leading him to believe she harbored resentment towards him.
“Why haven’t you ever told me these things, mother?” Fu Wei asked.
Madame Luo looked at her son and said softly, “Governor Huo is, after all, your foster father. The bond formed through upbringing and daily interactions is deeper than mere blood ties. I know you're still not used to being with us, even if you don’t show it. How could I convince you to trust a father you’ve never met?”
Fu Wei fell silent, but after a while, he looked at his birth mother and said gently, “I might have been uncomfortable before, and I can’t say our bond is now profound, but now you, elder brother, sister-in-law, Fu An, Fu Ning, and Sixth Lady are my closest family.”
His tone was gentle yet earnest.
Madame Luo was taken aback, visibly moved by her son’s serious expression.
After being visibly moved, Madame Luo suddenly realized something and asked, "Second Son, why do you suddenly ask about your father? Did someone tell you something?"
Fu Wei looked at his mother.
To be honest, he thought he could only learn about "Uncle Mo" and get a preliminary understanding of the people from Muyun Mountain through his mother.
He initially didn't want his mother to know about his father's old subordinates, but it seemed she still harbored unresolved feelings about his father's past.
After weighing his options, Fu Wei decided to tell her about "Uncle Mo."
“Mother, do you know if any of my father's soldiers were on a mission outside when he was accused?”
Madame Luo wiped the wetness from the corner of her eyes with her sleeve and said earnestly, “Did someone claiming to be one of your father's old subordinates come to you?”
Fu Wei nodded, recounting his encounter with the bandits from Muyun Mountain in the county seat.
“That middle-aged man introduced himself as Mo and asked me to call him Uncle Mo.”
Hearing the name "Uncle Mo," Madame Luo felt it was familiar and frowned in thought.
Fu Wei continued, “He has a strong build like my elder brother, a square face, and phoenix-shaped eyes.”
These characteristics were somewhat generic, but Madame Luo seemed to remember something, suddenly standing up from the bed.
Fu Wei raised an eyebrow, “Mother, do you recall who he might be?”
Madame Luo looked at Fu Wei, “If that man wasn't lying and really is surnamed Mo, has phoenix-shaped eyes, a square face, and is tall, he sounds like your father's sworn brother!”
After a moment of shock, Madame Luo slowly sat down again, musing with confusion, “But that doesn't make sense. It's true that your Uncle Mo was on a mission outside at the time, but soon after, news came that he and eight hundred soldiers were ambushed by bandits and perished in the snow mountains. Not long after that news, our family was accused and our property was seized.”
Fu Wei's brows furrowed slightly as he recalled what the scribe Qian had said. He mentioned that at the time, the bandits of Muyun Fort had less than five hundred men.
If they were ambushed, casualties were inevitable, and it wouldn't be surprising if fewer than five hundred survived.
It's also possible that the snow mountains hindered communication, leading to inaccuracies in the reports, and the survivors might have been injured to varying degrees.
Moreover, the ambush coinciding with the Fu family's crisis, preventing their return, also seemed plausible.
As for why they hadn't sought out the Fu family for so long...
Fu Wei speculated that Governor Huo deliberately erased traces of the Fu family or altered the details of their exile.
After pondering for a while, Fu Wei stood up, "I remember that man’s appearance. I’ll draw his portrait now and let mother identify him."
Madame Luo, eager to know if it was an old acquaintance, hurried him, "Go ahead, I’ll wait here."
Fu Wei nodded and left the room.
Yu Ying returned from the bath and saw Fu Wei intently drawing at his desk, so absorbed that he didn’t notice her arrival. Curious, she approached to take a closer look.
Seeing Fu Wei drawing a portrait, recognizing the familiar short beard, Yu Ying asked, "Are you drawing that Uncle Mo?"
Although not as detailed as modern art, the distinct features made her recognize Uncle Mo immediately.
Fu Wei hummed in affirmation, "I asked mother about him. It seems that Uncle Mo might have a profound connection with the Fu family."
Hearing this, Yu Ying's brow furrowed slightly.
After reading hundreds of thousands of words in a book that mostly depicted a group of characters intermittently, and not paying special attention to every detail, remembering the opening and the general content was already commendable.
Furthermore, some information she merely glanced over or skipped, so she didn’t recall any other identity of Uncle Mo besides being the second-in-command of the bandits and an old subordinate of Fu Wei's biological father.
"I've drawn the portrait for mother to identify."
Fu Wei sketched Uncle Mo from memory.
Yu Ying, observing the portrait, realized Fu Wei was skilled; not only in making crossbows and marksmanship, but he also had a sharp mind and now, artistic talent. Was there anything he couldn't do?
After finishing the drawing and waiting for the ink to dry, Fu Wei picked it up, "I’m going to ask mother about it. Come with me."
Yu Ying hesitated, "Is it appropriate for me to go?"
Fu Wei explained, "If mother guesses who harmed the Fu family, she might lose control of her emotions. I might not be able to console her effectively, but you can help calm her down and prevent her from crying her eyes out again."
Madame Luo's eyes had just healed; they couldn’t bear strain or prolonged crying.
With Fu Wei's reasoning, Yu Ying agreed to accompany him.
Madame Luo, anxious at the possibility of her husband's sworn brother still being alive, couldn't sit still and eagerly awaited the return of her son with the portrait.
A moment later, both her son and daughter-in-law came.
Fu Wei explained, "Sixth Lady knows about Uncle Mo too. I’ve brought her along for additional insight."
Madame Luo already treated Sixth Lady as part of the family and didn’t mind her presence, focusing instead on the portrait.
"Is it ready? Let me see it quickly."
Fu Wei handed the freshly drawn portrait to her.
Madame Luo took the portrait, trembling with emotion as she unfolded it. Upon seeing the person in the drawing, she burst into tears of joy, "It really is Mo San-di (Third Brother Mo)!"
She turned to her son, her voice filled with excitement, "This man in the drawing fought side by side with your father and was his sworn brother, someone they could trust their lives with!"
Fu Wei was prepared for this reaction and remained calm, while Yu Ying was taken aback by the revelation.
“Where is he?!”
Fu Wei replied, “He left not long ago, but his son is in Yuxian.”
Luo Shi, in surprise, asked, “Why didn’t you keep him?”
"Yu County is not peaceful; his identity needs to be cautious."
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo immediately recalled her son’s recent words, Uncle Mo is now a bandit in Muyun Mountain.
She instantly connected the dots that if the Fu family were found to have ties with the bandits of Muyun Mountain, they would surely face calamity.
With this thought, worry began to grow in Mrs. Luo's heart.
Despite her concern, she asked, "Is his son called Mo Lang?"
She remembered a child who often played with her eldest son, not recalling his appearance clearly, but vaguely remembering him as a mischievous boy like her son.
When the Fu family's house was raided, their subordinates were also targeted. Mrs. Mo, having received news of her husband's death a few days earlier and not wanting his body to be left in the wilderness, left home with her son and servants, thus narrowly escaping the calamity.
Fu Wei nodded, "I heard Uncle Mo calling him Alang, so I believe that's his name."
"It really is Alang! How did he end up in Yu County?!"
Yu Ying softly explained, "He came to Yu County to protect the Fu family. Unfortunately, he encountered the epidemic, had no travel permit, and after contracting the disease, he hid away. When discovered and sent to the shelter, he was delirious. His arrival is indeed peculiar, so he is currently detained at the yamen."
Mrs. Luo, looking bewildered at her daughter-in-law and then at her son, heavy-hearted, asked, "Can we rescue Alang?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Yes, we can. As long as the county magistrate sends someone to investigate, he can be released."
With his mother's confirmation, Fu Wei, while still cautious, felt somewhat reassured about Uncle Mo. The remaining doubts stemmed from the many changes over the past twenty years; no one could be certain if this person was still the same as twenty years ago.
Mrs. Luo lowered her head, helplessly saying, "I suppose they became unregistered residents and can't return to Wuling Prefecture, which led them to occupy the mountain. But being bandits, any association with the Fu family might bring trouble to you."
With that, Mrs. Luo looked up, her eyes filled with worry, "You have achieved much, and I don't want to see these matters burden you. If we can rescue Alang, then avoid any further contact with them."
By the end of her speech, Mrs. Luo’s eyes were red, "You and your brother are my life. I don’t want any more accidents. Regardless of whether that man was a comrade of your father, avoid any dealings with him."
Even though she knew Uncle Mo and his group didn’t become bandits by choice, she was acutely aware that any association with bandits could be construed as collusion, a crime punishable by death.
She had already lost her second son once, twenty-two years ago; she couldn’t bear to lose him again.
Chapter 105
After dinner, when Yu Ying and Fu Wei returned to their room, Uncle Mo was already gone.
Alone now, Yu Ying had the chance to share with Fu Wei, “That Uncle Mo seems to be the second-in-command of the bandits of Muyun Mountain.”
Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying in slight astonishment.
He had guessed that “Uncle Mo” held a high position in Muyun Mountain, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of him being the second-in-command.
But thinking about it, given Uncle Mo's daunting presence, as if he had emerged from a battlefield, being the second-in-command seemed plausible.
After a moment, Fu Wei smiled, “If he’s the second-in-command, that’s good news. His words indicated hostility towards the governor of Wuling Prefecture and respect for my biological father. This means, whether it's Wuling Prefecture or next year’s turmoil, you, I, and the Fu family have a way out.”
With his own plans in mind, Fu Wei reassured Yu Ying not to worry too much.
After some time, Yu Ying went to take a bath.
Fu Wei stepped outside and saw his mother entering the main hall. After a moment of thought, he spoke up, “Mother.”
Madame Luo looked up at him, the evening light dimming her vision slightly, causing her son's figure to appear somewhat blurry, but not enough to impede her ability to see clearly.
"What's the matter?"
Fu Wei approached her, "I want to ask mother about something."
Madame Luo was somewhat surprised, as her second son rarely spoke with her alone. Regaining her composure, she quickly nodded, "Let's talk in my room then."
Mother and son entered her room, where Madame Luo pulled up a stool for him and sat down on the edge of the bed herself, "What do you want to ask, Second Son?"
Fu Wei carefully considered his words before asking, "What kind of person was my father?"
Madame Luo was momentarily taken aback at her son's sudden inquiry about her late husband, "Why are you suddenly asking about your father?"
Fu Wei replied, "I want to understand him."
Madame Luo gazed at him silently for a moment before solemnly saying, "Second Son, even though you don’t know your father well, he was definitely not someone who would betray his country."
Fu Wei had limited understanding of his father, having only heard one-sided accounts, and thus was reluctant to speculate about his character.
However, the fact that his father's subordinate remembered him fondly after twenty years indicated he was a person who cared for his subordinates.
Moreover, as far as he knew, his father had been married to his mother for nearly a decade while serving as a governor, and she was his only wife, which spoke of his loyalty and commitment.
Gradually, Fu Wei felt like he was beginning to understand his father a little better.
Madame Luo, looking at her son, said, “Your elder brother resembles your father the most in appearance, but your temperament and physique are what most closely mirror your father.”
It’s curious how you, who did not grow up by his side and have no memories of him, still resemble him in these two aspects.
Listening to his mother, Fu Wei understood why, after he turned fifteen, his foster father’s attitude towards him varied, seeing the shadow of his deceased superior in him.
He also realized why he was so certain that Huo Minzhi was his biological father.
Madame Luo then murmured to herself, “He was hands-on in everything, compassionate towards the people. During floods, he personally led rescue missions, staying awake for days without returning home. He fell seriously ill after one such mission… How could someone so dedicated to his people be a traitor?”
By the end, Madame Luo's eyes reddened, her voice trembling, "Someone must have been unable to tolerate him and framed him."
No matter how many years had passed, Madame Luo firmly believed in her husband’s innocence.
Fu Wei was surprised by his mother's unwavering trust in his father.
In the half-year since they recognized each other, his mother never mentioned anything about his biological father, leading him to believe she harbored resentment towards him.
“Why haven’t you ever told me these things, mother?” Fu Wei asked.
Madame Luo looked at her son and said softly, “Governor Huo is, after all, your foster father. The bond formed through upbringing and daily interactions is deeper than mere blood ties. I know you're still not used to being with us, even if you don’t show it. How could I convince you to trust a father you’ve never met?”
Fu Wei fell silent, but after a while, he looked at his birth mother and said gently, “I might have been uncomfortable before, and I can’t say our bond is now profound, but now you, elder brother, sister-in-law, Fu An, Fu Ning, and Sixth Lady are my closest family.”
His tone was gentle yet earnest.
Madame Luo was taken aback, visibly moved by her son’s serious expression.
After being visibly moved, Madame Luo suddenly realized something and asked, "Second Son, why do you suddenly ask about your father? Did someone tell you something?"
Fu Wei looked at his mother.
To be honest, he thought he could only learn about "Uncle Mo" and get a preliminary understanding of the people from Muyun Mountain through his mother.
He initially didn't want his mother to know about his father's old subordinates, but it seemed she still harbored unresolved feelings about his father's past.
After weighing his options, Fu Wei decided to tell her about "Uncle Mo."
“Mother, do you know if any of my father's soldiers were on a mission outside when he was accused?”
Madame Luo wiped the wetness from the corner of her eyes with her sleeve and said earnestly, “Did someone claiming to be one of your father's old subordinates come to you?”
Fu Wei nodded, recounting his encounter with the bandits from Muyun Mountain in the county seat.
“That middle-aged man introduced himself as Mo and asked me to call him Uncle Mo.”
Hearing the name "Uncle Mo," Madame Luo felt it was familiar and frowned in thought.
Fu Wei continued, “He has a strong build like my elder brother, a square face, and phoenix-shaped eyes.”
These characteristics were somewhat generic, but Madame Luo seemed to remember something, suddenly standing up from the bed.
Fu Wei raised an eyebrow, “Mother, do you recall who he might be?”
Madame Luo looked at Fu Wei, “If that man wasn't lying and really is surnamed Mo, has phoenix-shaped eyes, a square face, and is tall, he sounds like your father's sworn brother!”
After a moment of shock, Madame Luo slowly sat down again, musing with confusion, “But that doesn't make sense. It's true that your Uncle Mo was on a mission outside at the time, but soon after, news came that he and eight hundred soldiers were ambushed by bandits and perished in the snow mountains. Not long after that news, our family was accused and our property was seized.”
Fu Wei's brows furrowed slightly as he recalled what the scribe Qian had said. He mentioned that at the time, the bandits of Muyun Fort had less than five hundred men.
If they were ambushed, casualties were inevitable, and it wouldn't be surprising if fewer than five hundred survived.
It's also possible that the snow mountains hindered communication, leading to inaccuracies in the reports, and the survivors might have been injured to varying degrees.
Moreover, the ambush coinciding with the Fu family's crisis, preventing their return, also seemed plausible.
As for why they hadn't sought out the Fu family for so long...
Fu Wei speculated that Governor Huo deliberately erased traces of the Fu family or altered the details of their exile.
After pondering for a while, Fu Wei stood up, "I remember that man’s appearance. I’ll draw his portrait now and let mother identify him."
Madame Luo, eager to know if it was an old acquaintance, hurried him, "Go ahead, I’ll wait here."
Fu Wei nodded and left the room.
Yu Ying returned from the bath and saw Fu Wei intently drawing at his desk, so absorbed that he didn’t notice her arrival. Curious, she approached to take a closer look.
Seeing Fu Wei drawing a portrait, recognizing the familiar short beard, Yu Ying asked, "Are you drawing that Uncle Mo?"
Although not as detailed as modern art, the distinct features made her recognize Uncle Mo immediately.
Fu Wei hummed in affirmation, "I asked mother about him. It seems that Uncle Mo might have a profound connection with the Fu family."
Hearing this, Yu Ying's brow furrowed slightly.
After reading hundreds of thousands of words in a book that mostly depicted a group of characters intermittently, and not paying special attention to every detail, remembering the opening and the general content was already commendable.
Furthermore, some information she merely glanced over or skipped, so she didn’t recall any other identity of Uncle Mo besides being the second-in-command of the bandits and an old subordinate of Fu Wei's biological father.
"I've drawn the portrait for mother to identify."
Fu Wei sketched Uncle Mo from memory.
Yu Ying, observing the portrait, realized Fu Wei was skilled; not only in making crossbows and marksmanship, but he also had a sharp mind and now, artistic talent. Was there anything he couldn't do?
After finishing the drawing and waiting for the ink to dry, Fu Wei picked it up, "I’m going to ask mother about it. Come with me."
Yu Ying hesitated, "Is it appropriate for me to go?"
Fu Wei explained, "If mother guesses who harmed the Fu family, she might lose control of her emotions. I might not be able to console her effectively, but you can help calm her down and prevent her from crying her eyes out again."
Madame Luo's eyes had just healed; they couldn’t bear strain or prolonged crying.
With Fu Wei's reasoning, Yu Ying agreed to accompany him.
Madame Luo, anxious at the possibility of her husband's sworn brother still being alive, couldn't sit still and eagerly awaited the return of her son with the portrait.
A moment later, both her son and daughter-in-law came.
Fu Wei explained, "Sixth Lady knows about Uncle Mo too. I’ve brought her along for additional insight."
Madame Luo already treated Sixth Lady as part of the family and didn’t mind her presence, focusing instead on the portrait.
"Is it ready? Let me see it quickly."
Fu Wei handed the freshly drawn portrait to her.
Madame Luo took the portrait, trembling with emotion as she unfolded it. Upon seeing the person in the drawing, she burst into tears of joy, "It really is Mo San-di (Third Brother Mo)!"
She turned to her son, her voice filled with excitement, "This man in the drawing fought side by side with your father and was his sworn brother, someone they could trust their lives with!"
Fu Wei was prepared for this reaction and remained calm, while Yu Ying was taken aback by the revelation.
“Where is he?!”
Fu Wei replied, “He left not long ago, but his son is in Yuxian.”
Luo Shi, in surprise, asked, “Why didn’t you keep him?”
"Yu County is not peaceful; his identity needs to be cautious."
Hearing this, Mrs. Luo immediately recalled her son’s recent words, Uncle Mo is now a bandit in Muyun Mountain.
She instantly connected the dots that if the Fu family were found to have ties with the bandits of Muyun Mountain, they would surely face calamity.
With this thought, worry began to grow in Mrs. Luo's heart.
Despite her concern, she asked, "Is his son called Mo Lang?"
She remembered a child who often played with her eldest son, not recalling his appearance clearly, but vaguely remembering him as a mischievous boy like her son.
When the Fu family's house was raided, their subordinates were also targeted. Mrs. Mo, having received news of her husband's death a few days earlier and not wanting his body to be left in the wilderness, left home with her son and servants, thus narrowly escaping the calamity.
Fu Wei nodded, "I heard Uncle Mo calling him Alang, so I believe that's his name."
"It really is Alang! How did he end up in Yu County?!"
Yu Ying softly explained, "He came to Yu County to protect the Fu family. Unfortunately, he encountered the epidemic, had no travel permit, and after contracting the disease, he hid away. When discovered and sent to the shelter, he was delirious. His arrival is indeed peculiar, so he is currently detained at the yamen."
Mrs. Luo, looking bewildered at her daughter-in-law and then at her son, heavy-hearted, asked, "Can we rescue Alang?"
Fu Wei nodded, "Yes, we can. As long as the county magistrate sends someone to investigate, he can be released."
With his mother's confirmation, Fu Wei, while still cautious, felt somewhat reassured about Uncle Mo. The remaining doubts stemmed from the many changes over the past twenty years; no one could be certain if this person was still the same as twenty years ago.
Mrs. Luo lowered her head, helplessly saying, "I suppose they became unregistered residents and can't return to Wuling Prefecture, which led them to occupy the mountain. But being bandits, any association with the Fu family might bring trouble to you."
With that, Mrs. Luo looked up, her eyes filled with worry, "You have achieved much, and I don't want to see these matters burden you. If we can rescue Alang, then avoid any further contact with them."
By the end of her speech, Mrs. Luo’s eyes were red, "You and your brother are my life. I don’t want any more accidents. Regardless of whether that man was a comrade of your father, avoid any dealings with him."
Even though she knew Uncle Mo and his group didn’t become bandits by choice, she was acutely aware that any association with bandits could be construed as collusion, a crime punishable by death.
She had already lost her second son once, twenty-two years ago; she couldn’t bear to lose him again.
