Ch 29: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

It wasn’t until Lu Jiaming was settled back on his bed, with the old madam, the Marquis, and the marchioness all keeping vigil at his side, that their emotions gradually calmed. Only then did the marchioness remember the other child who had been left behind.

“That… Xing’er…” The marchioness suddenly realized that in her panic earlier, she had shoved him aside and not cared where he fell. She thought to rise and go look, but Lu Jiaming clutched at her sleeve, uneasy:

“Mother, who is Xing’er? Was that the one you were holding just now? Wh-where are you going?”

The old madam glanced at her daughter-in-law, then patted Jiaming’s hand with a smiling face:

“Don’t be afraid, Jiaming. Your mother is right here with you, she’s not going anywhere.”

The marchioness froze, then lowered her head and smiled gently:

“Yes, mother will stay here with Jiaming.”

Jiaming was so gravely ill now, he indeed needed someone by his side more. That other child looked healthy and sound; surely he could look after himself.

---

Inside the main hall of Songhe Hall.

The fourth master had been watching all along—the child shoved to the floor by his birth mother, staring blankly as everyone else bustled about the fainting heir, then noisily left him behind.

All were shocked by the sight of the little young master vomiting blood, and not one paid attention to this newly arrived boy.

He watched Mu Xing’s blankness shift to silence, then saw him climb back up by himself without a word.

After savoring the scene long enough, the fourth master finally walked over, wearing a face of concern, and comforted him:

“That just now… was my elder brother’s younger son.”

Seeing Mu Xing lift his head toward him, the fourth master knew he had understood the meaning.

With an expression full of pity, he said soothingly:

“Your uncle and aunt didn’t mean to neglect you… it’s just that Jiaming has been spoiled from birth, indulged too much. As the youngest, the family has always doted on him.”

Mu Xing thought: if this were a child truly longing for his birth parents, wouldn’t such words cut to the bone?

When the fourth master finished, he watched Mu Xing with interest, wanting to see the boy’s reaction.

And then he saw Mu Xing raise his head, wearing the very same comforting smile he himself had just used:

“Fourth Uncle, you don’t need to say more, I understand.”

Mu Xing’s brows drew together faintly, looking genuinely sympathetic:

“I’ve had weak health since childhood too. My parents and grandmother especially doted on me. Seeing how frail and disheveled that young master looked just now, it’s understandable that the family loves him more.”

The fourth master mulled over these words, feeling something was off.

And then he heard Mu Xing continue:

“I was born sickly, and countless doctors said I wouldn’t live past eighteen. But even so, I’ve never vomited blood.”

Looking worried, Mu Xing’s expression was utterly earnest:

“Judging by the young master’s pale face, he seems in far worse condition than me. Could it be… he doesn’t have much time left?”

Fourth Master: “…”

His gaze deepened, as though seeing Mu Xing for the first time, before he smiled faintly:

“Xing’er is overthinking. Jiaming’s constitution has always been sound.”

Mu Xing only nodded:

“Then I’m relieved. Since there’s nothing serious, please send me back now, Fourth Uncle.”

The fourth master was startled:

“Back? Where to?”

Mu Xing replied as if it were obvious:

“My parents and grandmother are waiting for me, of course I must return to them. The young master of the Marquis’ household is here, he just spat blood after all.”

The fourth master put away his smile:

“Xing’er, I know you’re young and quick-tempered. I know you’ve been wronged today. But you must understand—temper must be measured against circumstance. Some things cannot be changed just by throwing a little tantrum.”

His tone grew meaningful:

“You may not yet realize how high the gates of the Marquis’ household stand. Once you walk out, entering again will be very difficult.”

He did not believe Mu Xing’s words, assuming the boy was simply using retreat to advance.

He was warning him: know when to stop.

But he had no idea that Mu Xing had never intended to stay in the Marquis’ household. With his nature and standpoint, it was hard for him to imagine someone choosing the humble Mu family over the Marquis’ wealth.

Mu Xing only shook his head with a laugh.

He had come here simply because he didn’t fully trust the dreams the glowing orb had given him. Compared to some strange, inexplicable dream, he trusted his own eyes more.

If the Marquis’ household had been an honest family like the Mus, victims of a scheming servant, then as their blood, granting his pitiful birth parents a glimpse of their true child would have been only right.

But now it seemed—the orb wasn’t entirely wrong.

The Marquis’ household clearly placed little value on this “bloodline.” In their eyes, ten Mu Xings weren’t worth a single finger of Lu Jiaming.

Since that was the case, Mu Xing, who felt no affection for the Marquis’ house to begin with, naturally bore no burden in leaving.

As for Lu Jiaming…

Mu Xing looked at the fourth master, speaking with utmost sincerity:

“To tell the truth, Fourth Uncle, I know a little of fortune-telling. I calculated, and it seems the young master Jiaming and I are fated to clash. Look—since I arrived, he’s fallen so gravely ‘ill.’ If I don’t leave, I fear his sickness will never recover.”

The first part was nonsense, but the latter was true.

Just now, seeing Lu Jiaming’s pallor and the blood he spat, Mu Xing had instinctively used his inner energy to probe his body.

Lu Jiaming’s qi and blood were abundant—his body was clearly in excellent health.

This illness was, more than likely, feigned.

Learning Mu Xing’s identity and then staging this scene at such a moment—remembering the tricks Lu Jiaming had used in his dream—Mu Xing instantly knew what he was aiming at.

Only this time, Mu Xing had arrived at the Marquis’ household a few years earlier, and he himself was no helpless beggar like in the dream.

Compared to the composed, calculating Lu Jiaming of the dream, the present young master, harming himself to gain pity, was far more childish.

But childish or not didn’t matter—so long as it worked.

In the dream, the little beggar had withered away under Lu Jiaming’s constant intentional and unintentional suppression. Mu Xing, however, had no interest in becoming anyone else’s sacrificial pawn.

He repeated, “Please send me back, Fourth Master.”

Not even calling him “Fourth Uncle” anymore.

The fourth master looked at this child standing ramrod straight, realizing he had likely underestimated him from the very start.

But so what?

No matter how clever, he was still just a child with no background.

And the Marquis’ household could crush him as easily as crushing an ant.

Since matters had come to this, the fourth master naturally would not stoop further by escorting Mu Xing out himself.

He casually found a steward and ordered him to take Mu Xing back to the other residence.

---

When the Mu family saw Mu Xing return, they immediately crowded around him.

“Xiaobao is back.”

Seeing Mu Xing dressed in rich finery, they were momentarily dazed.

It was Mu Jiajia who first spoke, her eyes sparkling: “Xiaobao, you look so handsome in these clothes.”

Zhang shi quickly came to her senses and agreed: “I’ve seen those noble young masters from big families, but none of them look as fine as our Xiaobao.”

Saying this, she suddenly realized something, hurriedly correcting herself: “Our Xiaobao is a noble young master to begin with.” Yet her expression dimmed slightly.

Mu Xing noticed. He stepped back, removed the golden coronet from his head, untied the jade belt at his waist, and shrugged off the ornate robe, tossing them all onto the ground.

“Now that’s better.” Seeing his family staring in shock, Mu Xing grinned, his eyes crinkling. “What good is looking nice? It was strangling me half to death.”

Looking at Zhang shi, his tone softened unconsciously, no trace of the defiance he’d shown before the fourth master: “Mother, the cotton clothes you make are still the most comfortable. Could you bring me a set?”

Zhang shi froze, her eyes reddening, and she answered again and again: “Yes… yes, of course.”

Once Mu Xing had changed back into his plain clothes and tied up his hair, the family sat around him, asking if he had met his birth parents at the Marquis’ household.

Mu Xing recounted everything, without exaggeration or concealment.

Mu Jiafeng couldn’t help clenching his fists: “What do they mean by this? If they didn’t want Xiaobao, why come looking at all?”

Zhang shi frowned deeply: “I’ve heard great households are full of rules. With favoritism shown so blatantly, even if Xiaobao went, how could his days be good?”

Then, worriedly, she added: “But hearing Xiaobao say, that child seems truly favored in the Marquis’ household. If that’s the case, I shouldn’t worry so much. Only… vomiting blood… is his body weak?”

A mother’s heart is made of flesh. Zhang shi naturally favored Xiaobao, but for that unseen son of hers, she still carried sincere concern.

Mu Xing hesitated. He couldn’t very well say outright that Lu Jiaming was faking, so he said instead: “I never heard he was in poor health. Supposedly, he learned the truth and couldn’t accept it, so he fell ill.”

Zhang shi fell silent, then forced a smile: “Perhaps the child is just more sensitive.”

Mu Jiajia blurted: “That’s being too fragile. I think he just couldn’t accept not being the Marquis’ young master anymore. Seems he looks down on our family, and the Marquis’ house doesn’t want to give him back. Then it’s perfect—everyone’s happy. Let’s take Xiaobao back to Dazhuang Village. That’s best.”

She was still young; she felt no bond toward a “younger brother” she had never seen, and after hearing how Xiaobao was wronged, her indignation was naturally on his behalf.

Zhang shi said, “After all, those are parents who raised him over ten years. Learning the truth all at once… it’s normal they can’t accept it.”

As a mother, she would never willingly measure her child with malicious thoughts.

Mu Xing didn’t expose Lu Jiaming, only said: “I’ll send word to the steward here, saying our family wants to meet him. Mother, when you see him, you can talk to him. After that, depending on how he responds, we’ll decide whether to go back.”

---

He told the steward at the other residence that the Mu family, as distant relatives, wished to meet the Marquis.

The steward smiled agreeably, not daring to suppress them, and passed along the message.

The Mu family waited in the other residence for more than ten days, before at last the old madam’s trusted servant came.

But it was not to invite them inside to meet Lu Jiaming.

That old nursemaid’s gaze at Mu Xing was like staring at poison:

“A master came to the house and declared that Young Master Mu’s fate clashes with our little young master’s. They must not stay under the same roof.”

Madam Mu shielded Mu Xing behind her, frowning: “What is the meaning of this?”

The nursemaid’s smile was cold: “It means the Marquis’ household hopes you leave the capital quickly, so as not to disturb our young master’s peace.”

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