No one was more terrified than Cui San.
After so many years, it wasn't the fact that he didn't know what he did. It wasn't because he knew what he did wasn't something to be proud of, something that would not be tolerated by the world. However, people would usually feel a sense of avoidance towards the mistakes they have made, as though if they didn't pay it attention, then nothing bad would happen because of it.
More than twenty years have gone by, he had already cast the name 'Yu Mo' to the back of his head. He had never thought that there would come a day when that name would forcibly split open the past he refused to think of again, tearing open that memory which was dripping with blood.
He couldn't help turning his head to look at his father.
Cui Yong was shocked at first, but after that, he managed to calm down very quickly; nothing could be read on his face, and it remained that very strict and steady look of the Cui clan elder.
Cui San's anxiety gradually waned away gradually.
That's right. Yu Mo had been dead for so many years. The Yu family had all died out. Even if that child was lucky enough to live until now, what could he do? Maiden Yu wasn't killed, she had died from her own illness. As for that child, the Cui family never killed him. They even spared his life. If he had grown into an adult and held resentment for the Cui family, regardless whether it was power or morals, it would not stand—the Boling Cui clan has been a hundred-year long prestigious family. How many famed officials and soldiers have they produced? How many members of royalty's backgrounds could compare to them? How could their family be overturned so easily?
Cui Pei observed his third brother with a cold gaze. He watched how he transitioned from being terrified and uneasy, to releasing a breath of relief. It was as if he could guess what he was thinking about and couldn't help but ask, "Third brother, if Young Master Feng really is that child then how do you plan to confront him? You couldn't possibly want father to stand out for you and take care of the things you did?"
Cui San was scared for a moment and spoke angrily, "I have already received my punishment for everything that happened that year. I've been held in Boling by father until today. Is this not enough? Ever since he was born, I have never really seen him, nor have I done anything to him. How can this be called a confrontation?!"
He swallowed, feeling that the motivation behind his words was not enough, for the guilt still brimmed in his heart, so he added, "It's because he ran away from home later on, otherwise the Cui family would still be raising him. Since he was alive all these years, he never sent a word back. This only proves that he is unfilial, disloyal, and unsentimental! Not pursuing the matter is already our greatest generosity. He should confess and ask us for forgiveness!"
Cui Pei was angered into laughter, "So you can really speak for yourself! If it hadn't been for you who tolerated third sister-in-law attacking the child while I was away, why would he run away? He did it because he couldn't stand the torture! He was only nine that year, even with Doctor Sun's help, he was still alone. The world is big and vast, where could he go? Weren't you the cause of all of this?!"
If Cui Buqu never came back, then Cui Pei's resentment would have remained inside his heart. On the surface, he would still be brothers in arms with Cui San. The Cui family would be getting along pleasantly as their business flourished. In this generation, there would be Cui Pei, in the next generation, there would be Cui Fei. From generation to generation, the starlight would transcend. Perhaps during the Qingming Festival, he would think about his second sister-in-law and that pitiful little child. He would have gone to her grave to offer some incense and pray, sighing with regret.
A single stroke cannot write two 'Cui' characters. On top of him, there was his father with powerful authority, and below him, he had to think for his sons and daughters. Cui Pei admitted that he was weak, unable to free himself from the glory and imprisonment of the Cui family for life. So he couldn't make an enemy of Cui San for the sake of his second sister-in-law and her child who died years ago and unravel all the shady secrets of the Cui family, pushing them in a tight corner.
Yet now, a Young Master Feng whose face he hadn't seen yet reeled back all the past, along with the guilt that Cui Pei had kept in his heart for many years.
"Shut up, all of you!" Cui Yong shouted, "As of now, the origins of that Young Master Feng have yet to be revealed, yet you already began bickering among yourselves. Don't you all feel preposterous?!"
Cui Da had just been informed of the news and quickly rushed in. When he arrived at the door, he already heard his father's shouting, so he immediately put his hands together and said, "Please be at peace, father. There is nothing that cannot be said. Si Lang (Cui Pei) just came home, so you shouldn't ruin your mood."
On the journey here, he was already surprised to hear the housekeeper when he told him everything, so right now he was completely calm, "Father, since that person could name Yu Mo, even if he wasn't the child, it might be possible that he shared a past with Maiden Yu. The name he gave, Feng Xiao, was familiar to me. When I think about it, it's as if I've heard it mentioned by someone before. The Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, established by the present Emperor, also had the surname of 'Feng'."
Cui Yong furrowed his brows, "The Jiejian Bureau?"
Cui Pei said, "That's right. I have already heard about this matter. It's said that the Jiejian Bureau holds the same degree of power with the Six Ministries. They specialize in aiding the Emperor to take care of private affairs between countries and investigating the movements of Göktürks."
He looked at his father as he spoke, so he didn't notice the change in Cui Da Lang's expression.
Cui Yong spoke in a deep tone, "The Emperor will not ask after family affairs. Even if Feng Xiao really is the Commander of the Jiejian Bureau that you spoke of and shared a past with Maiden Yu, it cannot be linked back to the Cui family. The rise of heroes during the end of the Han Dynasty, the change of two Jin Dynasties, and when war broke out in the North; which Emperor since those times wasn't supporting the Cui clan so we could sustain until today?"
There was a sense of pride in his words. Everyone took note of it and nodded their heads.
That little bit of guilt in Cui San's heart had long flown out of the window.
As for Cui Da Lang, he never took this matter seriously from the beginning. He told Cui Yong, "Father, I think that if the other didn't mention Maiden Yu, then we should also feign ignorance. There is no need to bring it up."
Cui Yong also felt that he was a little impetuous before. With only a name, he had sent people out to look for them, wasn't that just admitting that something was wrong about himself?
Cui Pei sighed a silent breath.
He raised his head and looked outside the hall. The courtyard was vast, and there was an old tree planted in the patio whose years were far more than his and Cui San's age combined.
However, this old tree was a lot younger than the Cui family's genealogy.
An aristocratic family would naturally have their own pride. Even if Cui Yong mentioned the present Emperor, there was no need to be terrified, so he definitely would not take a simple Feng Xiao seriously.
However, if Feng Xiao was truly a Commander of the Jiejian Bureau who mentioned Maiden Yu on purpose to gain his attention, then how could it be that simple?
Cui Yong delved into his past glory, refusing to look forward.
Cui Pei roamed the world and gained much worldly knowledge from it, however, he wasn't in complete control of the Cui family.
He could only sigh and reason that his father had grown old.
Not long later, a servant from the outside came to report that both guests had returned. It was raining outside and they did not bring an umbrella, so they were drenched wet. They were going to take a shower and change first before coming to greet their host.
Cui Yong nodded his head and didn't just sit there. He ordered the kitchen to prepare some dishes. Since the brothers gathering together on the same table was not often seen, dinner was almost ready.
When Cui Buqu stepped into the inner hall, a few gazes fell upon him at the same time.
He turned a blind eye to it and showed no formality, instead, he laughed, "Host Cui called us in the middle of the night, may I know if there is anything of importance?"
Cui Pei examined him closely and found that he couldn't link the connection between that skinny and silent child with this young man.
Cui Yong had already returned to his usual calmness and level-headedness. He caressed his beard and smiled, "Nothing at all. You people are not locals, and tonight the roads are slippery, I fear you cannot find the way back, so I've sent someone to look for you. If you haven't had dinner, I will have someone deliver it soon."
Cui Buqu sighed, "To be frank with you, it has been very long since I came back. I almost could not recognize my own hometown. The blue mountains and green rivers were still the same as they were before. This time, other than participating in the Literary Festival, I also came to pay my late mother a visit."
Deathly silence.
Everyone present was stunned for a moment. No one could have guessed that Cui Buqu would have been so frank, getting straight to the topic immediately.
Cui Pei excused himself and stood up, looking a little bit emotional.
If Cui San and Cui Yong could see that Cui Buqu looked familiar, naturally he could also see it. Those two brows, his jaw, were almost seventy to eighty percent like his mother.
"You—Who is your mother?" He suppressed his emotions and asked gently.
"Didn't you all manage to guess already?" Cui Buqu smiled.
Feng Xiao realized that Cui Buqu's smile was unlike the ones he gave on normal days.
Or perhaps, it was very different from the ones he gave him.
Cui Buqu never smiled often; most of his expressions were sneers, mockery, and that sort of laugh he gave whenever he successfully pitted someone like a fox who stole successfully. He was very controlled, and would often hide his intentions in his eyes. Often, when he won an argument with Feng Xiao, or when he had the upper hand, his lips would curl and his eyes would squint altogether, softening the coldness which sat on his brows.
However, they have never gave this sort of gaze: a look that seemed like smiling but wasn't, more accurately, hiding his true intentions behind a smile. It gave one a feeling as if they couldn't determine whether he was truly happy or angry.
Feng Xiao who discovered this detail was like a hunter who finally caught the fox's tail; he felt his heart singing in glee, he couldn't help taking out his fan from his sleeve and flipped it open.
No one would pay attention as to why he fanned himself during a rainy night, for everyone had already placed their attention onto Cui Buqu.
Cui Yong spoke in a dull voice, "You people have just happened to pass by and met Ninth Lady. I found you youthful and talented, only because of my love for young talents I've decided to let you stay the night. If you have been poorly attended to, then just be honest with it. Why is there the need to behave in such a strange manner!"
Cui Buqu smiled lightly, "After so many years, Host Cui you are still the same. You have not changed at all. You have always spoken in one way or the other, appearing to be absolutely fair and just, but in reality you have always played favourites. Your son ruined my mother's reputation and gave birth to a bastard like myself, yet he still tolerated his wife causing harm to his sister-in-law's life. For the sake of the Cui family's name, you decided to conceal the entire matter. If I didn't live, how would I be able to reclaim justice for Maiden Yu and settle off old scores?"
The words 'settle off old scores' caused Cui Yong's heart to jump.
He slapped the table and rose to his feet, "So you really are Cui Jie! In the past when you were young, you could not have known what happened. The Cui family raised you, yet not only did you run away without a word and refused to send a word home for many years, today you even dared to reprimand your own elders, biting the hand that feeds!"
Cui Da Lang also spoke, "That right, A-Jie. In these years when you weren't here, we all missed you. Doctor Sun claimed that you died, father was even saddened to tears. Since you are alive now, of course we are glad. As for the matter regarding your mother, there's more to what happened. Please sit down first, so we can converse thoroughly about it, let us not make a fool of ourselves in front of outsiders."
Feng Xiao practically laughed out loud.
The words they used to temper justice with mercy could be used to cheat past normal people. If Maiden Yu's son hadn't been such a prospective child, he could never have faced the Cui family alone, and after hearing these words, perhaps he might feel a sense of unjust but in the end, he could only admit defeat.
However, what sort of a person was Cui Buqu?
To continuously give rise to winds and waves, sending every member of the Yunhai Thirteen Stories under the Heavens into chaos. Even Prince Jin, who had received endless love and favours, had to curry favours with him. Cui Yong's words, when spoken before Cui Buqu, were practically laughable.
Feng Xiao dared to bet with Pei Jingzhe's head that right now that Cui Buqu was leisurely watching the Cui family playing a show. He wasn't in a hurry to show his own hand, as if he was toying with a mouse, waiting for them to show their final imperative call.
As expected, Cui Buqu laughed, "During that year, although I was young and seldom spoke, there are many things I remember, for example, how the Cui family servants who received orders to raise me mixed poison into my food under the instructions of Maiden Lu with the intention to poison me to death. It was a pity that my life was tough and I was always on alert, insisting not to ingest food for three days so I could faint from hunger in front of everyone when the prefecture's magistrate came to visit Host Cui so that he might never escape questioning. Right now when I think back about it, taking my background into consideration, the fact that the Cui family didn't kill me was truly a gift from the Heavens!"
Every member of the Cui family's expressions was in patches of red and white. Even the older ones like Cui Yong practically lost his composure.
Cui Buqu was like a perpetual thorn in his heart. As long as he lived another day, he would suffer for another day. However, he couldn't afford to bear the name of murdering his own grandson, so he could only let him live and let fate run its own course. Cui Yong wasn't ignorant of the fact that the other was bullied pitifully, but he turned a blind eye to it, only paying attention whenever he came across it, but if he didn't then he feigned oblivion.
However, who could have guessed that that child who shouldn't have lived long didn't die in the streets, but even came back after so many years to confront them face to face?
Among all present, only Cui Pei walked forth filled with emotions, wanting to place a hand on Cui Buqu's shoulder, but a fan reached out to barricade his path, so he could only stop his steps.
"A-Jie, it really is you! All these years, I have deeply regretted, I've regretted failing your mother's dying wish before her passing and caused you so much suffering as you strayed outside. It's thanks to Heaven's blessings that you are safe and sound. Please come back and be named under me. I will treat you as my own, and never will you ever be bullied again!"
Cui Yong furrowed his brows, as if he wanted to say something, but held himself back.
Cui Buqu, "My name is not Cui Jie. It's Cui Buqu."
Cui Pei was shocked, "Which 'Buqu'?"
Feng Xiao said coldly, "'Buqu' which means 'refuse to go'. How pleasant it is to the ears, and how extraordinary a name; when others hear of it, they would definitely ask about its origin. Won't all these filthy secrets of the Cui family be known to all then?"
Cui Pei's expression was rather pale and he laughed bitterly, "Those were my wrongs. My wrongs!"
Cui Da Lang spoke in a low voice, "A-Jie, we all know that the resentment in your heart isn't light, but times have changed and that generation is gone. Whatever happened in the past, just let them be. Since you've already returned, then don't leave…"
Feng Xiao laughed and said, "And let you people poison him a few more times? Or was it that you people will stop perceiving him as your disgrace? Could he be recorded in the genealogy, could proudly be introduced by all as one of the Cui family, and after his death, will he be buried in the Cui family's ancestral burial cemetery?"
Cui Da Lang's words were all spoken by him, so he simply choked on them, his eyes glaring but failing to continue.
Cui Yong watched Cui Buqu and said slowly, "If you are willing to come back, I can be the judge of it. You can be adopted by Si Lang, and then you can rightfully become a member of the Cui family. No one will ever speak nonsense again."
Not only Feng Xiao wanted to laugh, but Cui Buqu too wanted to laugh.
Both of them exchanged glances, and from Feng Xiao's eyes, Cui Buqu saw pity.
Yet it wasn't pity for Cui Buqu, it was pity for Cui Yong.
He pitied him for he had gone old. He sat on the throne of the Cui family's elders for far too long and became blinded.
If Cui Buqu really coveted the identity of a Cui, then why was there the need for him to come back only after so many years? He even dared to speak as if he was bestowing a favour. Was he hoping for Cui Buqu to thank him sentimentally like he was thanking the Emperor's edict?
Feng Xiao: 'Master Taoist Cui, how glad to know that you took after your mother.'
Cui Buqu could hear these words from the movement of the other man's lips. He coughed twice, not wanting to pay Feng Xiao any attention, and instead turned towards the Cui family and said, "I've said before. My visit this time was first, to pay my late mother a visit, and secondly, was to participate in the pomegranate flower Literary Festival. As for the Cui family—"
His gaze fell on Cui Da Lang, Cui San, yet it lingered on the latter longer, before falling onto Cui Yong.
"From the beginning, I never had the intention to be one of the Cui clan. Never and won't ever be. Perhaps you people perceived the Cui clan as something even more important than Heaven itself, but the reason my surname is Cui was to fulfill my mother's wish when she was alive. It is completely unrelated to Boling Cui."
The angle of his lips was cold, but soon it disappeared. Every word he said was clearly delivered into the ears of every single member of the Cui family, "Never once have I coveted the surname of this clan. Let alone be recorded being your genealogy, even if you present me the entire Cui family, I have zero interest."
"If Host Cui does not have any matter of importance, then we will be turning in to rest, so we won't fail to wake up tomorrow for the Literary Festival. Please excuse us."
Cui Buqu threw a bomb into this pond that was the Cui family, scaring all the fishes and prawns and causing them to flip and jump about. Yet, he himself left after excusing himself, robes swaying in the wind with an air of superiority.