Chapter 357

Chapter 357: All These Years, You’ve Worked Hard (4000 Words)

The Xu Mansion in the imperial capital of the Wu Kingdom.

Another day has passed.

That morning, as Xu Ming got up, he saw Suyan standing in the courtyard, smiling at him.

The moment Xu Ming looked into Suyan’s eyes, he knew his mother had returned.

“Mother.” Xu Ming called out.

“Hmm,” Suyan nodded gently, looking warmly at her son.

Looking at his mother, Xu Ming’s throat tightened. He had so much to say but didn’t know where to begin.

“Ming’er, would you like to take a walk with Mother?” Suyan asked first.

Xu Ming nodded: “Of course, Mother can go anywhere.”

Suyan smiled: “We’re not going far, just strolling around the streets. We’ll be back soon.”

“Alright.” Xu Ming nodded.

Half an incense stick later, Xu Ming and Suyan walked on the street, mother and son observing the bustling activity.

Every street in Wudu was incredibly lively, with vendors selling candied haws, sugar figurines, and all sorts of jewelry.

The waiters from the taverns shouted enthusiastically, bowing deeply whenever a customer entered, fearing they might leave for an inn instead.

There were many Qinglou brothels in Wudu, leading to fierce competition among them.

Girls dressed provocatively stood on the second floor, calling out to customers. Whenever a man approached the brothel, several girls would rush out, pressing their white bosoms against him, softly calling him “Master” and luring him inside.

Though brothels were high-consumption places, Xu Ming believed they were better than the live streams he’d seen in his past life.

In those streams, you couldn’t touch or feel anything, and the streamer might even turn out to be someone like Qiao Biluo.

And any woman with a bit of charm could start streaming, relying solely on beauty filters.

But it wasn’t the same with brothels. The women there weren’t only beautiful but also talented, graceful, and tangible.

In this era, there were no beauty filters or technological tricks—what you saw was what you got.

“Ming’er, have you ever been to a Qinglou?” Suyan noticed her son’s gaze and asked with a smile.

“No!” Xu Ming replied decisively.

Afraid his mother wouldn’t believe him, Xu Ming reiterated: “Really, I haven’t!”

“Giggles…” Suyan laughed lightly, “Why are you so nervous? I didn’t say anything. If you haven’t, that’s fine. I trust you. Besides, even if you went, it’s nothing unusual. Young men are full of vigor, and how many scholars haven’t visited a Qinglou?”

Xu Ming: “….”

“But really, you don’t need to go there. Isn’t the princess more beautiful than those women?” Suyan said.

“…” Xu Ming remained speechless.

Previously, when his mother mentioned Wu Yanhan, he could’ve said, “I’m completely innocent with Princess.” But now, he couldn’t because something had indeed happened between him and Yanhan.

“Didn’t you meet Qingwan earlier?” Suyan changed the topic.

Xu Ming nodded: “Yes.”

“How is Qingwan? Has she grown into a graceful young lady?” Suyan asked.

“Yes.” Xu Ming nodded.

“Isn’t Qingwan very pretty?” Suyan asked again.

Xu Ming nodded: “She’s indeed beautiful, completely different from her childhood appearance, but her personality is quite similar. She still seems a bit naive.”

Suyan glanced at her son’s side face: “Then in your opinion, who is prettier, the princess or Qingwan?”

Xu Ming: “….”

Suyan smiled: “Don’t blame me for nagging. Both Qingwan and the princess are excellent women. Whichever one you marry, I’ll be at ease.”

As she spoke, Suyan sighed: “Ideally, I’d want you to marry both, but given the princess’s status and Qingwan’s identity, I know that’s impossible unless one of them agrees to be the secondary wife.”

“Mother, you’re thinking too far ahead,” Xu Ming didn’t know what to say.

Xu Ming felt like he was experiencing parental pressure to get married.

Suyan shook her head: “It’s not too early. Mother will be leaving soon, and I’m worried about you, Ming’er. After all, you’re already a grown man. How can you not get married?”

“Where is Mother going?” Xu Ming asked.

“Where else? To the Northern Wilderness, of course.” Suyan said calmly, “Didn’t your other mother tell you?”

“She’s not my mother.” Xu Ming said.

Suyan just smiled and continued: “Actually, what she said isn’t wrong. The bloodline within you won’t change. I know you don’t believe me, but in fact, she values you highly.”

Xu Ming: “….”

“Well, stop looking so worried. What Mother hopes most is that you are safe and happy every day. Tomorrow, I’ll be heading to the Northern Wilderness. I know you’re concerned, but neither she nor I want you to come along.

She has my memories, and I have hers.

I know what will happen in the Northern Wilderness. Currently, it’s something you can’t handle.

And don’t worry about me.

She has a contract with Emperor Wu, backed by the Wu Kingdom’s national fortune. Unless the Wu Kingdom falls and its fortune dissipates, she can’t erase me.

Besides, Ming’er, don’t underestimate me either.

Even without the contract with Emperor Wu, erasing me isn’t that simple.

As for the people in the Northern Wilderness, you don’t need to worry. Most of them aren’t a match for your mother.”

Listening to his usually gentle mother talk about fighting, Xu Ming felt somewhat out of place.

“When will Mother leave?” Xu Ming looked down, meeting her eyes.

“Maybe in a few days,” Suyan smiled gently.

Suyan stopped walking and turned to look at her child: “Ming’er, Mother may not be able to accompany you for a long time. But don’t worry, once things are resolved, I’ll come see you.

And who knows, maybe I’ll bring you some nice things then.”

Xu Ming sighed: “It’s all because I’m not powerful enough.”

“Silly child,” Suyan tapped Xu Ming’s forehead, “In this world, power is important, but there are things more important than power. And power isn’t everything.”

“Alright, alright,” Suyan patted her son’s shoulder, “Let’s go home. Mother made you a sweater, try it on and see if it fits. Also, I haven’t cooked for you in a while. Today, I’ll cook a good meal, and invite Zhou and Shixin to join us.”

Xu Ming: “Okay.”

Suyan turned around and headed back toward the Xu Mansion.

Back home, Suyan took out a sweater from the room. When Xu Ming put it on, it fit perfectly, making Suyan very satisfied.

Additionally, there was a pair of shoes. Though these were ordinary clothes and shoes, to Xu Ming, they were no different from divine artifacts.

That evening, Suyan personally cooked a meal, inviting Zhou Wanfeng and Shixin. Suyan expressed her gratitude to Zhou Wanfeng.

Suyan knew that Zhou Wanfeng had been protecting her during this time.

Although Suyan also knew Zhou Wanfeng had her own motives, likely having struck some kind of deal with her son, otherwise she wouldn’t have helped her for no reason.

Nevertheless, she did help.

Suyan then apologized to Shixin.

Though it wasn’t Suyan who injured Shixin, it was still because of her.

This family banquet was quite ordinary, no different from usual.

After dinner, Suyan went to bed, as if that night was just like any other.

As if nothing had happened recently.

The next morning, before dawn, Suyan rose from bed.

Suyan got up, packed some clothes and jewelry, and left the courtyard with a bag on her back.

Chunyan, sleeping in the outer room, heard the noise and wanted to get up, but Suyan gently touched her, putting her back to sleep.

“Thank you for your help during this time,” Suyan looked at the sleeping Chunyan and pulled the blanket over her.

Leaving the room, after departing from Xiao Chun Courtyard, Suyan didn’t immediately leave the Xu Mansion. Instead, she headed to Phoenix Wang’s quarters.

Though Phoenix married into the Xu family, as the daughter of a military family, she still maintained the habit of practicing boxing early in the morning.

Especially after her son left Wudu, Phoenix became more bored, so she decided to revive her neglected boxing skills.

Even though Phoenix knew her practice wouldn’t elevate her skills much, it could at least strengthen her body, allowing her to live longer and pass the time.

Perhaps in the future, if her son were bullied, she could personally confront his tormentors.

“Good morning, Lady Wang.”

Just as Phoenix was practicing, a soft female voice came from outside the courtyard.

Phoenix retracted her fist stance and turned to look outside.

When Phoenix saw Suyan, she was momentarily surprised.

“So early?” Phoenix said to Suyan, maintaining her usual tone.

With just one glance, Phoenix recognized this person as Suyan, not someone else.

“Would you like to come in and have some tea?” Phoenix asked.

Suyan shook her head gently with a smile: “No need, I’m going out for a while.”

Phoenix: “Where to?”

Suyan: “Northern Wilderness.”

Phoenix: “…”

Phoenix: “Is it your other personality sending you there?”

Suyan nodded slightly: “Kind of, but not exactly.”

Phoenix frowned: “Why do you speak in riddles like others?”

Suyan just smiled: “After unexpectedly recovering past memories, I don’t want to go, being attached to this peaceful life now, but I also know I must.”

Phoenix sighed: “How long will you be gone this time?”

Suyan shook her head again: “I don’t know.”

“Alright,” Phoenix’s eyes carried a hint of melancholy, “Before I grow old and die, can you come see me one last time?”

Suyan smiled: “Of course I will.”

Phoenix opened her mouth slightly, as if wanting to say something more, but ultimately closed it.

Suyan stood before Phoenix and bowed: “Thank you for taking care of me during this time.”

Phoenix pursed her lips and finally sighed: “It’s me who should thank you. Without you, I don’t know how I could have stayed here.”

Phoenix looked at the gentle woman before her: “Take care.”

Suyan nodded: “You too.”

Under Phoenix’s watchful eyes, Suyan left the Xu Mansion.

However, across the street near the Xu Mansion gate, at a small stall, a man was eating beef noodles.

Compared to his usual nonchalant demeanor, this man’s eyes now carried a tinge of melancholy.

Phoenix approached and sat opposite him.

“Boss, a bowl of plain noodles,” Phoenix called out.

“Yes, Lady,” the vendor responded promptly, working diligently. After all, such a noblewoman couldn’t be treated casually.

“Leaving so early?” Xu Zheng took a bite of his noodles and sipped the soup.

“I must go,” Suyan nodded.

“Does Ming’er know?” Xu Zheng asked.

Suyan shook her head: “Ming’er doesn’t know. He thinks I’ll leave a few days later.”

“Ah…” Xu Zheng sighed.

Suyan looked at the man before her: “All these years, you still haven’t let go.”

Xu Zheng smiled: “Who says I haven’t let go? I think I’ve let go quite well.”

Xu Zheng raised his head: “Hahaha, look, I visit brothels, taverns, indulge in revelry every day, and ignore everything. If this isn’t letting go, what is?”

“Whether you’ve truly let go, only you know,” Suyan gazed steadily at the man before her.

Xu Zheng: “…”

“Here’s your noodles, Lady,” the vendor respectfully placed the bowl before her.

“Thank you,” Suyan smiled.

“You’re too polite, please enjoy slowly,” the vendor bowed deeply and quickly retreated.

“Eat your noodles.”

Suyan said.

The two simply ate their noodles, not uttering a single word.

After finishing their noodles, Suyan stood up and left.

After walking a few steps, a voice came from behind her: “All these years, you’ve worked hard.”