CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 171: THE DEBTOR IS THE BOSS

Song Xian drank the "tea" in the bowl and, seeing Xie Liangchen’s face return to normal, stood up to take his leave.

Song Xian said, "I will have someone continue investigating the matters in Yuezhou." You needn’t worry.

Xie Liangchen nodded, and the two walked out of the east wing together. Xie Liangchen mentioned the refugee in Xu Tingzhen’s room: "He’s a teenager. My second uncle went to the government office to inquire, but couldn’t find anyone who recognized him."

Song Xian asked, "Did you find anything suspicious?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "Not yet, but his experience is somewhat similar to Mr. Xu’s brother’s." It might be a coincidence, but it’s still uncertain. She would keep an eye on the boy.

As Song Xian was about to leave, he still felt uneasy: "You should rest more and not overthink. We are already on guard, and should anyone plot against us, we will notice quickly."

Xie Liangchen responded with a bow to Song Xian, and he took large strides out of Old Mrs. Chen’s courtyard.

Returning to the east wing, Xie Liangchen sat under the lamp for a while more. Although there was very little to recall, she had some thoughts.

What Song Xian said was not wrong; there was no need to rush remembering things.

Xie Liangchen extinguished the lamp, and only after she adjusted to the darkness did she walk back to the main house.

Lying quietly on the kang, she closed her eyes when suddenly a voice called out next to her ear: "Liangchen."

Xie Liangchen opened her eyes again and only now realized that the "Liangchen" she heard wasn’t from her memory.

It seemed like Song Xian was calling her, but in her half-dazed state, she couldn’t be sure.

She inevitably thought of the wound on Song Xian’s hand and sighed involuntarily.

...

Song Xian made his way back to his small courtyard.

Chang An brought water to assist Song Xian in washing up. Upon seeing the wound on Song Xian’s hand, he couldn’t help but freeze: "Sir, what happened to you... I’ll get the medicine box."

"No need." Song Xian went to the inner room to rinse, changed clothes, and sat back in the chair.

Chang An still glanced at Song Xian’s hand, clueless about what the master had done. In the east room, only Sir and Miss Xie were there; the source of the wounds was obvious.

Could the master have been hasty?

In the future...

Chang An was so frightened his hair stood on end. Miss Xie hadn’t taken control of the mountain lands; the master had even fallen ill. If they parted ways now, he couldn’t imagine what would happen.

Chang An served with trepidation, but aside from constantly looking at his hand, the master remained quite calm.

Song Xian asked, "Any news from the Juma River side?"

Chang An said, "Because of the heavy snow over there, it’s delayed and hasn’t arrived."

"If it doesn’t arrive tomorrow, have someone urge them." Song Xian said while examining the documents.

Chang An was surprised. The master wasn’t angry; perhaps it wasn’t as serious as he thought, or maybe Miss Xie didn’t cause the scratches; it might have been a cat she kept...

Song Xian paused for a moment, then continued: "Send a few people to the new city. I want to know of Xiao Xingzong’s every move, and also investigate what happened in Liao around the time Xiao Chi was captured in the Southern, and what Xiao Xingzong did."

Song Xian hesitated briefly, recalling Xie Liangchen’s parents: "The year I was captured was in the ninth year of Yuanping. Did Liao take anyone else from the sea?"

Chang An asked, "Does the master still suspect that the family who saved you were taken by the Liao people?"

Song Xian merely pondered; everything would only be known after investigation: "Also check on Miss Xie’s father, Xie Shao Yuan. Report everything, no matter how trivial."

Chang An responded affirmatively.

Song Xian put away the documents and turned to rest in the inner chamber.

Turning out the lamp, he could see the moonlight streaming in. Song Xian extended his hand, looking at the scratches on it—it didn’t hurt, yet thinking of Xie Liangchen’s furrowed brow gave him an indescribable heaviness in his heart.

He would help her find out the truth. If her parents and the couple who raised her, the Lis, were plotted against, he would avenge her. What he said earlier was true: if you can’t remember, don’t think about it; just keep looking ahead.

After a while, Song Xian put his hand down. After busying himself for several days, today he should fall asleep easily, but he lay gazing at the moonlight outside, thinking of that bowl of "Bright Moon Tea."

No one else could present such a thing, even without tea leaves, to others like it was normal—except for her.

He wondered if she would serve such tea to others again.

While in the east room, he wanted to show more concern, afraid Xie Liangchen would turn him away harshly, telling him to never return.

This balance is tricky to maintain because sometimes he couldn’t help himself...

Song Xian sighed long; he wanted to get closer to her but worried it would drive her away, leaving him without the opportunity to sit on a small stool and chat with her face-to-face.

He closed his eyes, resting his hand on his chest.

Half-awake, Song Xian once again lamented that Xie Liangchen seemed to lack compassion. Despite being in debt like a great lord, he couldn’t prod or pressure her but could only coax gently, fearing she might one day flee while still in debt.

...

When Xie Liangchen opened her eyes, it was already daylight, but she wasn’t in a hurry to get up today.

Old Mrs. Chen assumed her granddaughter was tired and should rest longer. Even when Chen Zigeng had returned after taking meals to Mr. Dongli, Xie Liangchen showed no intention of getting up.

Old Mrs. Chen washed her hands clean and went inside to check on her granddaughter.

"What’s wrong?" Old Mrs. Chen whispered, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Only then did Xie Liangchen open her eyes to look at her grandmother: "Grandmother, tell me about father and mother!"

Old Mrs. Chen hadn’t expected her granddaughter to suddenly remember her daughter and son-in-law, leaving her in a state of shock. Her granddaughter was very filial, afraid of her discomfort, and rarely mentioned these matters in her presence. What brought this on today?

"It’s been so long," Old Mrs. Chen sighed, "I’m starting to forget. Your mother was as smart and pretty as you are, but she wasn’t good at sewing and instead loved... reading. Sadly, we couldn’t hire a tutor, so she learned bits and bobs from your grandfather. Your father was industrious and adaptable, often doing small trades. Otherwise, there would’ve been no Silver Coin to buy the mountain land.

They were wonderful people, though it’s a pity... ah, fate toys with us."

Xie Liangchen said, "I dreamt of father and mother yesterday. Even though I don’t remember their faces, it seemed like I was with them on a large ship."

At the mention of a large ship, Old Mrs. Chen’s expression froze.

Xie Liangchen continued, "I dreamt of the tossing on the ship, feeling dizzy and queasy, which is why I don’t want to get up."

After a moment, Old Mrs. Chen finally said, "You... you saw them on the ship?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head: "I didn’t see their faces, but I just knew it was them."

Old Mrs. Chen touched Xie Liangchen’s cheek with her rough hand: "When your father and mother went out to sea, you were abducted by a child trafficker, so you couldn’t possibly have been on a ship with them. You’re just too tired and dreamed all this."

Under Old Mrs. Chen’s kindly gaze, Xie Liangchen nodded.

Old Mrs. Chen smiled, "Get some more sleep before getting up. I’ll tell them not to disturb you."

Watching Old Mrs. Chen leave, Xie Liangchen felt a mix of emotions. Her grandmother knew something, but not much; otherwise, she wouldn’t have searched all over for her whereabouts.

Her grandmother seemed like an ordinary farmwoman, yet she had her own opinions. The secrets in her grandmother’s heart wouldn’t be spoken easily.

But what if her grandmother knew the epidemic in Yuezhou might have been man-made?

Xie Liangchen got up. She needed Chang Yue to send a message to Song Xian. She intended to uncover the truth about the Yuezhou epidemic—where the disease came from and how it spread.

She wouldn’t hide this matter from her grandmother either, ensuring her grandmother would be aware of the potential situation they might face. Even if some secrets remained unspoken, the danger would still come.