Niujia Village
Although it was night, the village was like a bustling market. There were many small stalls and vendors along the streets, as lively as the capital, yet with a touch more elegance.
Niujia Village, nestled by mountains and water, was less than fifty li from the capital, making it a convenient transportation hub. It served as the closest granary to the capital, and its docks bustled with ships, rivaling those on the southern bank of the capital.
Despite being a village, Niujia Village had long been known as "Little Luoyang."
With a constant influx of people, a mix of honest folk and ruffians, it was the perfect place to lie low.
Xie Jiayan knocked three times on the door, signaling their prearranged meeting. Even the blink of an eye felt like an eternity as he waited.
"Go in. She knows you're coming tonight and is waiting for you inside."
On any other day, Hua Chaofei would have made a joke, but today he dared not disturb the precious, solitary time between the two unfortunate souls.
Eighteen years. The thought alone was agonizing.
Xie Jiayan cupped his hands in a gesture of gratitude, his debt of kindness too profound for words.
The door to the main hall was open, and Xie Jiayan knew she was within.
In truth, he had secretly visited Qianshan Temple and seen her before, but at that time, he hadn't dared to reveal himself.
The room was dimly lit. The woman, clad in a simple gray robe, could not conceal her youthful beauty. As she saw the young man enter, her eyes instantly welled up.
"My son greets Mother." Xie Jiayan strode forward, knelt before the woman, and bowed respectfully.
Wang Youling's eyes glistened with tears, yet a smile graced her face. Her outstretched hand trembled violently.
"My son has grown so tall..." Her hand landed on Xie Jiayan's cheek.
For eighteen years, she had thought of his face every day, never expecting that mother and son would be reunited.
He had grown well. His eyes resembled hers more, his nose was high-bridged, and his thin lips were more like his father's.
"Mother!" Xie Jiayan's voice was thick with emotion.
He finally had the chance to call her "Mother." He was no longer a child without one.
"Get up, quickly, let Mother have a good look at my son." Wang Youling's smile dissolved into tears.
"Alright!"
Wang Youling helped Xie Jiayan up, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and pushed the pastries on the table towards him. "These are made by Mother. I wonder if you'll like them?"
Xie Jiayan had already picked one up and put it in his mouth. "Son likes them. Son likes everything Mother makes."
Wang Youling looked at her son, her heart aching. "It is Mother's fault. I have burdened you."
She had wanted him to escape this cage and live his life freely, but unexpectedly, for her sake, he had willingly walked back into it.
"No, Mother gave me life. This kindness, son will never forget. Returning freedom to Mother is son's wish."
Mother did not wish to leave Qianshan Temple to avoid further conflict between the court and the Wang family. He had thought he would have to wait until the tensions between the noble clans and the court subsided, and Mother was no longer a pawn in their power struggle. Only then would he have a chance to take her away.
Unexpectedly, the greed of the Yao and Wang families presented him with an opportunity.
Wang Youling's smile was bitter. "In this life, Mother has wronged no one in the family, nor him. Only towards you, Mother is indebted. I am sorry, my son."
"Mother, it won't be long before that person sends son to Jiangzhou to establish the National Academy. Then, I will take Mother south with me. Once the academy is established and the conflicts between the court and the noble clans have calmed, son will resign from his post and stay by Mother and Father's side, serving you both, and we will never be separated again."
"Alright, Mother will listen to you." Wang Youling nodded. "The grace of raising a child is greater than heaven. Your father is a good man. You should indeed be filial to him."