Chapter 130

Chapter 130: The Choice Just as he entered the courtyard, Xie Yunting saw Cui Zeyu sitting on the doorstep. These past few days, Cui Zeyu had grown haggard and worn. When he didn't come, Cui Zeyu would just sit there staring blankly into space. He walked over to Cui Zeyu and nudged him with his foot. "Hey, that's enough. You're a grown man—what problem can't be solved?" Cui Zeyu forced a smile, but it was uglier than crying. "Even if you don't tell me, I can guess most of it. The Duke of Dingguo is your father, isn't he?" Xie Yunting had held back for many days, which showed how much he valued Cui Zeyu—otherwise, he would have called it out long ago. Hearing the word "father," Cui Zeyu visibly stiffened. "He's not my father!" "Then who is?" Xie Yunting had just asked when he saw Cui Zeyu clench his fists and knew he was speaking out of anger. "Fine, fine, he's not your father, but he sired you—does that work?" Cui Zeyu said nothing. Xie Yunting couldn't stand this kind of silence. He said that the Duke of Dingguo's household had others who followed the Duke. "The Duke of Dingguo's estate has only two masters—besides the Duke himself, there's his wife. Brother, if you don't tell me the specifics, I can't help you." Cui Zeyu laughed bitterly. "I never knew before either, that my father was the noble Duke of Dingguo." Cui Zeyu had thought a lot these past few days, about things from his childhood that he'd never even told his sister. If he hadn't seen it that day, Cui Zeyu would have believed until the very end that his father was dead. "From my earliest memories, it was just my mother and me, along with an old nursemaid." Cui Zeyu began to speak of the past. "My mother often said that Father was very busy, having to earn a living for the family. Sometimes he'd come home for a day or two, sometimes we wouldn't see him for over half a year." "Mother said Father was a merchant, traveling far and wide to make money, so he was very busy." "I took their words for granted. Later, when I was a bit older, I wanted to go to school. But Mother refused, saying Father had lost money in business and there was no money to pay for my studies. Back then, I truly believed that." "It was only later that I learned—they were afraid that if I went to school, someone might recognize me." "But I didn't mind at the time, because Mother would teach me to read. My mother was a very gentle person; she gave me all her care and attention. But gradually, I noticed that when she was alone, she wasn't happy." "Slowly, I grew up." "I started asking Father if he could stop traveling for trade and instead make a living here in Bianjing. Father refused, saying it wasn't possible. I blamed him for not caring about Mother, for coming home only a few times a year." "But deep down, I longed for him to come." At this point, Cui Zeyu slammed his fist hard against the doorframe. He was afraid of forgetting the past, so he would often force himself to recall it. Xie Yunting sat cross-legged on the ground, the two of them face to face. "And then?" "Then one day, when I went out with Mother to offer incense, a group of people kidnapped us." "They dragged my mother into the courtyard, stripped her clothes off, and called her a slut who seduced a married man and served as his concubine in a hidden residence." "They pressed my head to the ground and made me watch as my mother was humiliated. They also said my father was already dead, that no one would ever protect me again, and that a little bastard like me didn't deserve to live in this world." Cui Zeyu could never forget that night—the sky dark as ink, his mother's mouth gagged, and he couldn't understand what those masked men were saying. It was only later that he learned what "concubine's hidden residence" meant. "I bit a chunk of flesh off one man's arm. I wanted to protect my mother, but I found she was already dead." "I ran with all my might, but I was only eight years old then—no match for grown men. In despair, I jumped into the river. Heaven gave me a sliver of hope—I didn't die." "I wanted revenge. I wanted to know why they did this to us." Tears glistened in Cui Zeyu's eyes. He thought again of his mother's eyes that never closed in death. His mother was such a gentle person—he refused to believe she had truly been someone's hidden concubine. "So I had to survive. I fought pigs for food. Even when I was beaten to within an inch of my life, I never gave up hope of living. Only by staying alive could I find my enemies." Tears fell from Cui Zeyu's eyes one after another. "I thought he was dead—truly dead. That's why my mother and I were tormented like that. But he's still alive!" This was what Cui Zeyu had thought about most these past few days. Cui Zeyu wiped his tears, his eyes filled with resentment. "During those two years of wandering, I was sold by people and escaped again. Several times I nearly starved to death or was eaten by wild beasts. But I didn't die—until I met my sister. She is... she is the most important person to me." If his sister hadn't saved him, taken him in, and raised him with such care, he might well have died, and he certainly wouldn't have the skills he had today. "I knew I was too young then—only by growing up could I take revenge. So I studied, and I went into business, traveling far and wide to ask if there was a traveling merchant named Lu Sheng." Cui Zeyu laughed loudly, laughing until snot and tears streamed down his face. "It was only a few days ago that I learned—there never was a traveling merchant named Lu Sheng. Instead, there's a Duke of Dingguo named Lu Zhong!" Cui Zeyu took a long time to calm himself. He knew he couldn't act rashly, or he would only be manipulated by others. Xie Yunting was furious. "That bastard! Was it the Duke of Dingguo who deceived your mother, or what? Let's go find him!" He grabbed Cui Zeyu to leave. But Cui Zeyu said they couldn't go like that. "Before, we all guessed whether it was County Princess Rongjia or the Qian family who wanted to kill me. Now I understand—it's Madam Qin who wants me dead. As for Lu Zhong..." He couldn't figure it out. Since Lu Zhong was alive, why did the assassins back then claim Lu Zhong was dead? Earlier, when he heard his sister mention the secrets of the Duke of Dingguo's household, he was still an outsider. He never imagined he'd become a key figure in it now. Cui Zeyu could only laugh bitterly. Fate playing tricks on people—that's all this was. "So what do you plan to do now?" Xie Yunting asked. "I've heard that the Duke of Dingguo's legitimate son is dead, and Madam Qin intends to adopt a child. But from the Duke's perspective, since he has a biological son of his own, he certainly wouldn't want to adopt someone else's child. If you acknowledge him, you might be able to inherit the Duke of Dingguo's estate. You know the Duke holds a pivotal position at court." Xie Yunting had said it before—Cui Zeyu lacked power and influence. With power, whether it was County Princess Rongjia or the Qian family, who would dare bully Cui Zeyu and Cui Lingrong? But the blood debt of his mother's murder—how could he not avenge it to comfort her spirit in heaven? Even if the Duke of Dingguo hadn't known about what happened back then, a man who couldn't even protect his own woman and child—how could he deserve to be called a man? Xie Yunting grew increasingly contemptuous of the Duke of Dingguo. All his former respect vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind. "You need to think clearly. If you don't acknowledge the Duke as your father, we'll openly oppose the Duke of Dingguo's household, seize evidence against Madam Qin, and directly file a petition to the Emperor." Whatever choice Cui Zeyu made, Xie Yunting would support him. "But if you do acknowledge the Duke, you'd best protect the reputation of the Duke of Dingguo's household, since you'd be inheriting it. As for Madam Qin, that needs to be handled privately, not brought into the open." Otherwise, if the Duke of Dingguo's household was ruined, what would be the point of acknowledging the Duke as his father? It would be more loss than gain. Xie Yunting patted Cui Zeyu on the shoulder. "This matter can't be delayed any longer. The Duke saw you that day, and he'll definitely pursue me for answers. Madam Qin is the same—she probably wishes you dead as soon as possible."