Chapter 0002 A Sigh

The young master they are protecting is quite unpretentious and approachable. There have been many occasions in the past where they have shared a meal at the same table with others. However, with this young master present, they find it somewhat difficult to relax. After all, drinking, boasting, and sharing risqué jokes are part of the package. With this young master, who is merely fourteen years old, sitting here, it indeed makes them feel a bit constrained. Therefore, no matter how approachable the master may be, they are still reluctant to dine together.

"Is this inviting a gentleman over, or is it inviting an ancestor?" Xia He said discontentedly, "It has already been three months, and counting all the times, you have come to the young master's study to give lectures no more than five times. Is this how one serves as a teacher?"

Li Ze chuckled and said, "If you don't come over, then so be it"

Tu Lichun and several guards blinked in confusion at Li Ze, wondering why he had returned so soon after having gone to the mistress in the back for a meal. How could he come back looking like a starving ghost? However, this group of individuals possessed an exceptionally high level of professional integrity; although they were puzzled in their hearts, they did not utter a single question.

Hearing Xia Zhu's words, Li Ze felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He raised his head to look at his mother, only to see that Madam Wang remained aloof and indifferent, not even lifting her eyelids to glance at him. She merely picked up a bamboo shoot and began to chew it slowly. The warmth that had just surged within Li Ze seemed to be doused by a bucket of cold water, retreating with a whoosh.

Li Ze sighed. Xia He had been by his side for nearly ten years. When he was five years old, Xia He was chosen to serve him, and at that time, Xia He was only about seven years old. Even at seven, she had already begun to remember things.

Thank you, mother! he said dryly

Xia He was furious, "Does this old man have such thoughts about *pictures* and *books*? I will instruct the small kitchen to cook pig food for him every day, and get some slop for him to drink, let's see if he can still be so smug."

The guards in the room all burst into laughter. Li Ze was not only good-looking but also quite charming. However, it was his serious manner when telling jokes that made them the most amusing. Their master was particularly skilled at this; he often surprised everyone with a sudden remark that left them unable to contain their laughter

Xia He let out a bitter laugh, "I just sent someone to invite him, but it turns out that Mr. Gongsun got very drunk at noon and is still lying on the couch, claiming that his head is splitting. He won't be coming today."

Xia He widened her eyes, her face filled with disbelief: "Young Master, what are you saying? Of course, you are the biological child of Madam. It was Granny Xia who personally delivered you back then. My mother was a lowly maid in Jingxin Pavilion, and she once mentioned to me that when you were born, your cries were so loud that they could be heard throughout the entire backyard"

He has always been a well-behaved child. While other children in the village went up the mountain to catch birds and down to the river to fish, he began learning various rules and disciplines from a young age, studying and practicing martial arts, filling his daily schedule to the brim. He performed the morning and evening rituals twice a day, without fail, regardless of wind or rain, heat or cold. He is truly a model of filial piety among the virtuous, yet no matter what he does, he receives only indifference from his mother. He performed the morning and evening rituals twice a day, without fail, regardless of wind or rain, heat or cold. He is truly a model of filial piety among the virtuous, yet no matter what he does, he receives only indifference from his mother

"Why has the young master returned so early?" Tu Lichun asked with some curiosity

Li Ze was feeling angry; what does it mean to be full? He had only eaten a few bites of his bowl of rice, and there was still more than half a bowl left. At his age, he was in the prime of his growth, and even if he were to eat four or five bowls in one go, it would only barely satisfy his hunger. He had thought that his mother would encourage him to eat a bit more, but instead, he received such a remark.

He is a person placed here by the master, and he won't stay long; once the excitement passes, he will leave. Why bother offending him? I don't think he is a magnanimous person. If he gains power and whispers a few words about you in front of the master, you will be in trouble. You have been by my side for nearly ten years, and I can't bear to lose you. Don't mind him; if he doesn't teach, then he doesn't teach. Your young master is a prodigy, born with knowledge. I can understand it without his instruction, and when the time comes, I will astonish him.

"She definitely knows, but she just won't say anything," Li Ze said irritably. As the two walked to Mingshuyuan, they heard the sounds of laughter and conversation coming from the left room. Li Ze waved his hand, signaling Xia He to return to her room first, then turned around and walked over. Pushing open the door, he saw Tu Lichun and several other guards feasting at the table. In stark contrast to the cold and quiet atmosphere of him and his mother, this place was bustling with activity. There weren't many dishes on the table—three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and one soup—but they were all served in large bowls that were hardly smaller than washbasins, and the portions were quite generous.

"In that case, Granny Xia must be aware of the inside story, right?" said Xia He

The two walked out along the corridor, one in front of the other. After a long while, Xia He finally said: "Since you are confused, why not find an opportunity to ask Granny Xia?"

The mother and son, who should have been warm and affectionate, were instead cold and distant. The two young maids seemed to be accustomed to this. Xia He had nothing to say, while Xia Zhu picked up a bowl of soup from the table and served a small bowl of milky white crucian carp soup to Li Ze, softly saying: "Young Master, this is the wild crucian carp delivered this morning, simmered on low heat for half a day. Look, this soup, if it cools a bit, will develop a layer of gelatin around the bowl. Paired with mushrooms from the mountains, red dates, and goji berries, it is the most nourishing. This was personally overseen by the Madam in the room. Would you like to try it?"

Xia He also burst into laughter, giggling charmingly.

Li Ze was sipping the delicious wild crucian carp soup while trying hard to recall the last time he saw his mother smile. After thinking for quite a while, he found himself at a loss, which only deepened his frustration. He finished the soup in one go, placed the bowl on the table, stood up, and said: "Mother, I am full"

"Since I am her biological child, why is my mother so indifferent towards me? No matter how much I try to curry favor with her, I cannot elicit even a single warm and heartfelt word from her?" Li Ze asked.

Everyone, sit down and eat. What are you looking at me for? Just looking at me won't fill you up, right? I don't look that bad, do I?" Li Ze said indistinctly while chewing on a chicken leg

Xia He gazed at Li Ze, and also fell silent

Behind him, Lady Wang fixed her gaze on her son's silhouette, her eyes slightly reddening, as if tears were welling up within them, yet in the end, she did not utter a word to retain him

Upon entering the door, Xia He, who had returned first, had already prepared the home attire and, in accordance with Li Ze's usual habits, had arranged all the necessary books and writing materials in advance

Li Ze was quite self-aware; after finishing two chicken legs, he reached for a bowl of wine, sniffed it at his nose, sighed, and then set it back down. This indeed relieved Tu Lichun greatly. This young master is still quite young; if he were to lose his temper and down that bowl of wine, he might just collapse. Then, Summer Lotus in his room would surely block everyone's way and scold them all thoroughly.

"Mother, please take a good rest, I will go out first." He bent down and bowed to Wang, not waiting for her response, and turned to walk out, with Xia He quickly following behind.

Li Ze, who had just exited the Tranquility Pavilion, suddenly stopped in the middle of the corridor. He had been walking very quickly before, but now he halted abruptly. Xia He, who was desperately trying to catch up with him while holding her skirt, accidentally bumped into his back. Li Ze remained completely still, while Xia He nearly fell backward. If it weren't for Li Ze grabbing her wrist, she would have almost landed in a sprawled position.

"Where is Mr. Gongsun? Has he not arrived yet?" Li Ze inquired

He truly cannot understand what this is for

Li Ze seldom curses at others, but Xia He is quite formidable, often refusing to show mercy even when she is in the right. Her words can leave a group of older gentlemen feeling utterly ashamed.

Madam Wang raised her head and stared at Li Ze for a while, as if she wanted to say something. However, after moving her lips a few times, she ultimately said nothing, only nodding slightly and saying, "Since you are full, then you may go!"

Xia He gazed with her big eyes, and she was equally perplexed by the question. "Young Master, perhaps the Madam is just a bit aloof in temperament. You are her only son; how could she not care for you? It's just that she keeps it hidden in her heart. Just look at today; that pot of soup was simmered for half a day, and it was the Madam who personally supervised its preparation"

Li Ze淡淡地说: "Others have learned the art of dragon-slaying, and possess lofty ambitions. Even if they are currently down on their luck and forced to hide, they would never look up to someone like me. They probably think that teaching me would be a complete waste of time."

"Xia He, do you think I was born of my mother?" Li Ze suddenly asked

Li Ze sighed and said, "You do not understand, the look in a mother's eyes, sigh, even if I tell you, you would not comprehend, it is not the gaze of a mother looking at her son"

Madam Wang across the way glanced up at him, their eyes met for a moment, and then Madam Wang quickly turned her gaze away.

"You may use it for yourselves, Tu Lichun. We shall meet at the small training ground in one hour." Li Ze waved his hand at Tu Lichun and walked out the door, hands clasped behind his back as he made his way to his main residence

Madam! Xia Zhu whispered

"Why didn't you ask?" Li Ze sighed, "But Aunt Xia is like a gourd with a sawed-off mouth; you can't get a word out of her no matter how hard you try. When pressed, she only says, 'Young Master, you should ask Madam! She is the one closest to Mother; could she possibly be forced to speak?"

The relationship between this mother and son is so peculiar that it leaves one completely baffled

Upon seeing Li Ze enter, the laughter and chatter in the room immediately fell silent, and everyone stood up to look at Li Ze

Li Ze stared blankly at his mother across the table, while others often said that a son is the heart's flesh of his mother. However, in his memory, his mother had been quite indifferent towards him since he could remember. Most of the time, the way his mother looked at him was just like that one glance earlier, filled with compassion, love, and fondness. Yet, from that gaze, Li Ze also discerned disdain and hatred.

Li Ze lowered his head and silently ate his meal. There were more than ten large and small dishes on the table, mostly consisting of vegetarian dishes, with the few meat dishes almost entirely placed at Li Ze's end.

Madam Wang shook her head, picked up the bowl, and chewed the rice slowly and delicately. Xia Zhu, with her keen eyes, noticed that in Madam Wang's lowered gaze, it seemed as if tears were dropping into the bowl.

Li Ze waved his hand, sat down beside the table, reached out to pull a chicken leg from the large bowl in front of him, and began to chew it vigorously.