CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 187: HOPE IS AHEAD

Ji Yuan’s questions were quickly addressed by Old Mrs. Chen.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "You were not taken away by human traffickers."

"At that time, your mother and father were dealing with someone and feared for your safety, so they hid you. People can’t just disappear without a trace, so they told others you were taken by traffickers."

Chen Zigeng, being young, was shocked to learn that his aunt’s father was Prince Guangyang, and that his sister was not taken by traffickers, leaving him stunned.

Seeing Chen Zigeng’s expression, Xie Liangchen felt a swell of guilt and unease.

In her past life, she knew nothing. Did Grandmother tell Zigeng about this before passing away? After growing up, did his going to sea relate to their parents’ matters?

Back then, Zigeng was around this age; he had to face Grandmother’s death, the loss of so many in Chen Family Village, and the burden of such secrets, while helplessly watching his sister marry into the Su Family...

None of it was easy to endure, yet in her past life, all of it was thrust upon Zigeng.

No wonder Zigeng pursued the imperial exams and business and repeatedly went to the Su Family saying he wanted to bring her back.

Zigeng was so clever, yet in the end, he was killed by Ji Yuan, his body subjected to endless humiliation.

My brother...

What was Grandmother thinking when she was gravely ill? Filled with concern and reluctance, unable to find peace even in death.

And all those people in Chen Family Village.

Xie Liangchen began to feel short of breath. She thought of the "foster parents" who raised her, the servants at home... even the innocent townsfolk of Yu Yao and Yuezhou who perished in the epidemic.

She knew she couldn’t dwell on it, as it would lead her into a spiral of extreme emotions, which would do her no good for the future and the tasks at hand.

Xie Liangchen asked, "The people who raised me, were they my father and mother?"

"No," Old Mrs. Chen replied firmly, "Your father and mother disappeared in the ninth year of Yuanping, and you were entrusted to a confidant of Prince Guangyang. I learned these things because in the tenth year of Yuanping, I received a letter informing me of everything. For your safety, the letter didn’t mention where you were.

I wanted to know more, but the messenger only delivered the letter without speaking or agreeing to take a reply back."

Old Mrs. Chen sighed deeply: "Although your mother wasn’t my biological child, she always regarded me as an elder, and I long saw her as my own flesh and blood. Yet at that time, in my anxiety, there was nothing I could do but follow the letter’s instructions, acknowledging outwardly that you were taken by traffickers, and that your parents died at sea searching for you.

I continued to seek news about you, reasoning that it was both sensible and hopeful, that maybe I could discover your whereabouts."

Xie Liangchen felt her hand grasped and turned to see Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng blinked more rapidly than usual, still pretending to be calm, trying to comfort her.

Xie Liangchen managed to smile at her brother.

Old Mrs. Chen continued: "Since then, I received no further word of you until the winter before last, when another letter said you might be sent back. If you returned to the Xie Family, I was advised not to bring you back to Chen Family Village, as it might be unsafe."

Xie Liangchen understood now why in her past life Grandmother didn’t immediately take her from the Xie Family.

Old Mrs. Chen went on: "I figured those people might have detected danger. If something befell them, they would let someone return to the Xie Family.

And those people had once sent letters to Chen Family Village, asking me not to bring you back, fearing that someone might trace it back to here and bring trouble upon you."

Xie Liangchen said, "At that time, Grandmother didn’t foresee that after I woke up, I resolved to break off the engagement with the Su Family and wouldn’t stay with the Xie Family."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "I thought we should wait until the new year to reconsider. If those people didn’t appear by then, it would likely be safe, and I could tear through any pretense with Xie Shaoshan. I didn’t expect your temperament was even more impatient than mine.

After this, I saw through Xie Shaoshan and Madam Su clearly, and none of the Xie Family’s elders are good people; they wouldn’t tolerate you either.

Never mind your identity, you are my granddaughter; we three would rather die together than let you suffer at the Xie Family.

Moreover, with your heart set on depending solely on me as your grandmother, how miserable would you be if we left you behind?

Better to endure hardship and danger than bear an uneasy heart."

Xie Liangchen’s nose tingled, yet at this moment she only wanted to smile, not cry.

Old Mrs. Chen picked up a handkerchief to wipe Xie Liangchen’s tears. Her eyes were equally red, her breath somewhat unstable: "I never regret bringing you back to Chen Family Village, no matter what your father and mother were doing out there, which they never explained to me in detail.

Did you already suspect these things? I didn’t know whether to tell you, seeing you so busy every day, fearing you’d bear too much and fearing that if you investigated, danger would follow.

Your mother couldn’t let go of your grandfather Prince Guangyang’s death, it’s just... sigh... I’m not stopping you from investigating; I’m afraid for you."

Xie Liangchen understood: "But even if I don’t seek them, they will still come for me."

"That’s true," said Old Mrs. Chen, "I’ve come to understand; it’s better to be clear with you than conceal things, so you’re prepared."

Xie Liangchen contemplated: "Grandmother mentioned my father and mother were dealing with someone; who were they dealing with?"

Old Mrs. Chen shook her head: "They didn’t tell me these matters, but I hinted at the whole picture. In the seventh year of Yuanping, your father moved around outside, saying he was doing small business, but he was actually gathering intelligence. He didn’t go south, staying closer to Yizhou and Xiong State.

Our forces were battling the Liao people then, and your father often praised National Guardian General Song Qizheng before me, saying that in the north, only General Song could truly contend with the Liao people, unlike the Henghai Jiedu envoy and that Zhao fellow. After that battle, I heard that Zhao was captured by the Liao, and I even praised your father’s foresight, but he said the capture might not be real and that Zhao might have long been colluding with the Liao.

Moreover, your father once mistakenly lamented before me, regretting that Zhao wasn’t dead."

Hearing "that Zhao fellow," Xie Liangchen immediately recalled Zhao Xingzong, captured by the Liao in the seventh year of Yuanping, later renamed Xiao Xingzong.

Could it be that her father and mother were dealing with Xiao Xingzong? Were her foster parents hunting Liao spies, or even interrogating Xiao Chi?

Did they believe that Prince Guangyang’s death related to Xiao Xingzong back then?

Old Mrs. Chen said, "The incident in Chen Family Village was also connected to Liao spies. In any case, we must be more cautious, especially of those Liao people."

They always skirted around one topic, for it touched the softest part of their hearts.

Xie Liangchen asked, "Grandmother, do you think my father and mother are still alive?"

Old Mrs. Chen paused, then nodded: "I still hold a slim hope; perhaps they’re captured or unable to reveal themselves, yet I don’t want you to cling to this thought."

Does hope lead to possible disappointment?

Xie Liangchen understood this too.

Letting out a long breath, Xie Liangchen’s emotions slowly stabilized.

Gazing at her granddaughter, Old Mrs. Chen said, "What do you plan to do from now on..."

"Whatever should be done will be done," Xie Liangchen said, "I am still your granddaughter, brother to Zigeng, Hei Dan, and sister to the children of Chen Family Village."

These things won’t change, nor will her intentions, but now she has more hope and many things she wants and needs to do.