CHAPTER 1168: CHAPTER 234: GIVING YOUR HEART ONLY HASTENS DEATH

The Yan Family house was brightly lit even at night.

Their ancestors were bandits who eventually turned to the right path, and with their reckless determination, they established a domain. Elder Pei could be considered of the same generation as Old Master Yan, yet he could never rid himself of his outlaw spirit. Even after becoming an official, he didn’t fit in and was ostracized, but his achievements stood as a deterrent to troublemakers. Perhaps the multitude of sins from the past brought upon the Pei Family a karmic retribution, resulting in only one son per generation. By Pei Yu’s generation, the sole son had passed away, and overnight, Pei Yu’s hair turned white. His already weak body fell into a grave illness, nearly claiming his life.

It was the butler who later informed him that he had another son who was lost among the common people. He had been entirely unaware of this. In truth, the butler was privy to these events, even an accomplice to the lady of the house back then. She was in charge, and he dared not disobey. After that woman was expelled from the Pei Family, he secretly sought her out and learned she was pregnant, concealing it from the lady; otherwise, neither she nor her child would have survived. Now, as time has passed, the lady has long since passed away, and as the master is without an heir, the butler revealed this long-buried secret. Upon hearing this, Pei Yu suddenly came alive again, dredging up the memory of that maid from his mind.

He indeed had some impression of her, being unique in her appearance—fair-skinned with the gentle and tranquil demeanor characteristic of women from Jiangnan—and literate, more tender and careful than the shrew in the family. He harbored a little affection for her. Once, after getting drunk, things happened in a haze, and after that, the woman suddenly vanished from his world. Though he was downcast for a few days, he didn’t make much of it. Little did he know, from that night, he had a son who wandered outside for over twenty years without his knowledge, enduring hardships unknown to him. Thinking of this brought tears streaming down Pei Yu’s cheeks, pledging to find this child and compensate him for all he had lost.

The room was filled with the scent of traditional medicine. A servant carried a bowl of medicine out, and Pei Yu leaned back against the cushions, looking at the butler standing by the bedside: "Old Zhong, is the child still unwilling to come back?"

The butler, in his fifties, with graying temples, was once the son of the second in command during their bandit days, and after reforming, he followed Pei Yu with unwavering loyalty to the Pei Family.

"There’s been no word from the people I sent, I’ll send someone to urge them again."

Pei Yu sighed: "It’s been over twenty years, it’s normal for him to harbor resentment. As you said, he lived so miserably in his young days, it’s normal that he hates me. I just didn’t expect..." he trailed off with a smile and shook his head, his tone full of relief: "True to being a child of the Pei Family, he’s more suitable as an heir than my son. I believe that in his hands, the Pei Family will surely flourish."

Pei Qinghe was all violence and no strategy, unable to maintain the family estate, unlike Pei Qinghan, who, at a young age, had already made a name for himself—he was the most qualified heir of the Pei Family.

"But the Young Master’s identity..." Butler Zhong furrowed his brows, uncertain about the troubles that might arise if the Young Master reclaimed his ancestral name.

"It doesn’t matter, these many years, I, Pei Yu, am no push-over. Don’t think that just because a tiger doesn’t roar, I’m nothing but a sick cat," Pei Yu said coldly.

"Call Yingzi, to keep her from worrying too much to eat or sleep, lest she have more troubles on her mind than I do," Pei Yu rubbed his temples as he spoke. He had objected vehemently when Pei Ying married Yan Guobai back then, but there was no other way. To protect the Pei Family, they had to ally with the Yan Family. Even knowing Yan Guobai was a scoundrel, Yingzi still married him without hesitation. Thinking of his sister’s suffering over the years made Pei Yu’s heart ache more.

Just then, a light and gentle voice came from outside the door: "Brother, how are you?"

As she spoke, Pei Ying came into the room with Pei Xinyi supporting her.

Pei Yu quickly sat up: "Why are you here at this time?"

Pei Xinyi pursed her lips, softly calling, "Uncle," and Pei Yu glanced at her, responding faintly.

Pei Ying came over and grasped his hand: "Brother, didn’t I find you a new traditional Chinese doctor? Hasn’t his prescription been effective? Why does your complexion look even worse than before?"

Pei Yu sighed: "I’m just getting through the days. If it weren’t for Qinghan, I would have gone long ago.

"Brother, you can’t say things like that. You’re still young, and many days lie ahead. You haven’t yet seen Qinghan marry and have children. The Pei Family still relies on you, how can you speak such defeatist words?"