Once Concubine Zhou had calmed her emotions, Gu Zhaoyan helped her back to the room. Throughout the process, Concubine Zhou kept a tight grip on his hand, her swollen, reddened eyes fixed entirely upon him as if afraid he might vanish into thin air at any moment.
After seating Concubine Zhou in a chair, Gu Zhaoyan knelt down before her, looking up into her face. Seeing her haggard features and tear-filled eyes, he finally choked out the word: “Mother.” As the word left his lips, a bitter, aching surge welled up in Gu Zhaoyan’s chest, and tears fell freely.
Concubine Zhou nodded repeatedly, her trembling hands reaching out to caress Gu Zhaoyan’s face, gently wiping away his tears. “My child. My child. You have really returned? Am I dreaming?”
Gu Zhaoyan grasped her wrist, smiling through his tear-filled eyes as he nodded. “It is not a dream. Son has truly returned.” The moment he gripped Concubine Zhou’s wrist, he instinctively checked her pulse, discovering that her internal foundation was severely depleted. She had likely lived in a state of constant distress ever since he was sent away years ago, leading to chronic depression that had damaged her five viscera and internal organs. If not properly nourished and tended to, it would likely shorten her lifespan.
“Your face…” Concubine Zhou’s eyes were filled with confusion. She didn’t doubt Gu Zhaoyan’s identity, after all, Gu Zhaoyan resembled his mother with refined and striking features, allowing anyone to see her reflection in his face, though he was even more handsome than she was. Moreover, that shock of silver hair was not something an ordinary person could fake.
Gu Zhaoyan did not tell the complete truth, merely explaining, “Back then, I was abandoned in the snow, where my master found me, brought me back to the temple, and raised me carefully up to the present day. The birthmark on my face was also cured by my master, though for reasons unknown, this single red lotus mark could not be removed. Master said this was perhaps a gift from the heavens, so he did not try to force it away.”
Hearing that her child had been tossed into the snow by those two wicked hags made her heart wrench. To abandon such a tiny infant out in the freezing snow, if not for Master’s passing by, how could her An’er have survived? At the same time, a deep resentment toward Jia Zheng ignited in her heart. If Jia Zheng hadn’t been so indifferent toward An’er, where would those two slave women have found the audacity to pull such a stunt?
Concubine Zhou lowered her gaze in deep thought, her silk handkerchief twisted tightly in her hands. Perhaps, there was the master’s implied consent in all of this as well! But could the master truly be so cruel? As she recalled Jia Zheng’s perfunctory attitude toward her over the years, how he would fly into a rage whenever she brought up An’er, eventually stopping visits altogether, she concluded that Jia Zheng was indeed capable of such cruelty! Clenching her teeth, her resentment toward Jia Zheng deepened further.
Recovering her wits, Concubine Zhou looked at the mark between Gu Zhaoyan’s brows. She wanted to reach out and touch it, yet feared defiling a heavenly gift, so she nodded instead. “Your master was right; this is truly a gift from the heavens. Where does your master practice cultivation? Although I cannot leave the estate, I have saved up quite a bit of private money over the years and would like to offer some incense oil donations. Furthermore, since your master saved your life, as your mother, I must show my gratitude.”
Gu Zhaoyan shook his head, his eyes turning slightly red beneath Concubine Zhou’s puzzled gaze as he said, “Master has already passed away, entering Nirvana to attain the ultimate bliss.”
Concubine Zhou offered a gentle, comforting smile. “Since your master was able to guide and nurture you so brilliantly, he must have been a truly virtuous and eminent monk. Now that he has entered Nirvana, he has surely attained full completion of his merits and gone on to continue his cultivation by the Buddha’s side. You should be happy for your master rather than grieving so deeply, lest he worry for you in the Buddha realm and fail to concentrate peacefully on practicing the Dharma.”
Gu Zhaoyan sniffled. “I know, but Master was both a father and a teacher to me. Now that Master is gone, how can I not grieve?”
“Good child.” Concubine Zhou patted Gu Zhaoyan’s hand, smiling as she said, “Mother will chant scriptures and pray for your master before the Bodhisattva.” Looking at Gu Zhaoyan now, she found perfection in every single detail, feeling utterly content with her heart and soul filled entirely by this son she had recovered after losing.
Luoyue walked in carrying a cup of fragrant tea and set it on the table. Seeing the mother and son talking so happily, she felt a surge of joy and couldn’t help chiming in, “Now that the young master has returned, once we report this to the master tomorrow, the young master will be able to stay by Concubine’s side for a long time.”
“No.” Concubine Zhou rejected Luoyue’s suggestion without a second thought. Luoyue didn’t understand. “Does Concubine not wish for the young master to stay?” In the past, hadn’t Concubine been praying day and night for the young master to return? Why turn it down now that the young master had the chance to stay in the estate?
Gu Zhaoyan was somewhat curious as well; he had assumed Concubine Zhou would be eager to break the news to Jia Zheng, never expecting her to refuse flat out.
Concubine Zhou pulled Gu Zhaoyan’s hand, cautioning him, “No! Do not come back. This estate is a cesspool of filth; if Mother weren’t trapped deep within it, I would have wanted to leave long ago!” She saw no issue with speaking so frankly, solely worried that her words wouldn’t be stern enough to make Gu Zhaoyan develop a favorable impression of the Rongguo Estate and seek to officially acknowledge his ancestry. “My child, listen to Mother. You are already a disciple of the Buddhist path, and you should remain one from now on. The Rongguo Estate is no good place. As a descendant of the Rongguo Estate, even if glory and wealth come with it, those heavy responsibilities are unavoidable. Mother does not ask for you to harbor grand ambitions; she only wishes for you to live safely and peacefully.”
Hearing Concubine Zhou speak thus, Gu Zhaoyan understood what she was worrying about. Seeing her swollen eyes filled entirely with concern for him, he couldn’t bear to refuse, so he nodded in agreement. “Mother, I promise you. Master taught me many things. Right now, I am treating Prince Jing’s son. Once his illness is cured, I will find an opportunity to ask him to help you leave this Rongguo Estate.”
Concubine Zhou shook her head, cutting off Gu Zhaoyan before he could say more. “How could people of the imperial family be so easily dealt with? Mother does not wish for you to put yourself in a difficult position on my account. So long as we can be like this, able to see you from time to time, Mother is already satisfied.”
Knowing Concubine Zhou’s concerns, Gu Zhaoyan pressed the matter no further, simply saying, “Mother, rest assured, I know my limits. Mother, you must take good care of your health; in the future, our time as mother and son is still very long.” With that, he turned to Luoyue and asked her to prepare brush and ink.
Concubine Zhou looked at him in puzzlement, not understanding what he needed writing materials for. Gu Zhaoyan explained, “I will write a medical prescription for you. Over the years, your chronic sorrow has damaged your health, and you need proper recuperation. Tomorrow, have Luoyue go fill the prescription first, and later I will make some health-restoring pills for you. I guarantee you will be comfortable, free of illness and disaster, and live a long life.”
“Good, good. My son is capable, and Mother will certainly take her medicine and look after her health.” Concubine Zhou beamed with a face full of smiles as she watched Gu Zhaoyan write with steady focus. Now, he was no longer that infant who had been sent away at birth and nearly lost his life, but someone who had acquired immense skill capable of protecting himself. Seeing her son turn out so extraordinary, Concubine Zhou had not a single sorrow left; she felt that even if she were to die at this very moment, she could pass away with her eyes closed in peace.
Gu Zhaoyan quickly finished writing the prescription and handed it to Luoyue, reminding her to make sure she went to fill it tomorrow. Luoyue nodded earnestly, repeatedly swearing she would go before Gu Zhaoyan finally dropped the matter.
After mother and son chatted for a while longer, Luoyue had to step forward and remind them, “Concubine, Young Master, it is already past the third watch.”
Concubine Zhou looked reluctantly at the son she had only just reunited with, her eyes burning with fresh tears. Yet however reluctant, they had to part ways; otherwise, when the servants in the estate woke up and started moving around at dawn, it would become difficult for him to leave unnoticed.
“Mother, rest for now. Son will come see you again tonight.” Gu Zhaoyan gazed longingly at Concubine Zhou. “Mother, I must go.” With a resolute turn, he leaped up onto the roof under the moonlight, his figure vanishing into the night with blinding speed.
Concubine Zhou stared infatuatedly at Gu Zhaoyan’s departing silhouette for a long, motionless while.