Exiting Gong estate, before Zuo Canglang had even entered Wen estate's gate, she had noticed Wen Xingye waiting in the great hall. Upon entering, he immediately asked, "You visited Gong estate?"
Zuo Canglang assented, and Wen Xingye asked, "How was official Gong's attitude?"
Zuo Canglang saw him carrying a worried expression, and said, "Actually you don't have to be like this, as though marshal Wen and I didn't actually have the romance of a husband and wife, but we did have the relationship of teacher and pupil. As long as I am around a single day, within the whole Wen estate, would be as it was when he was still alive."
Wen Xingye was startled, and Zuo Canglang had already stepped inside. She unexpectedly encountered Wen Yixuan. Wen Yixuan and Zuo Canglang just passed by each other, as if they didn't exist to each other.
Ever since their mother, Qiushu left, Yirong had made a ruckus every day, wanting to see his mother. Yixuan was after all twelve years old, so he didn't cry or make a ruckus. But since then, he and Zuo Canglang were like strangers on a road. He was never again willing to pay respect to her. And normally, when they met each other, they had nothing left to talk about.
Zuo Canglang also didn't speak with him. Wen Yirong was still young, and normally still came over often to secretly play with her.
This noon, Wen Xingye was currently practicing martial arts in the yard, when he suddenly heard the low voices of his two grandchildren speaking. Wen Yixuan was talking to his little brother, "Where are you going?"
Wen Yirong said, "I am going to find Yiniang to play, ah. Yesterday, she said she would bring me to ride a horse today!"
Wen Yixuan said, "Shut up! She isn't our Yiniang. She is a bad woman. She's the one that forced our mother away! You are not allowed to play with her!"
Wen Xingye's expression immediately changed, and he was immediately enraged, and ordered people to bring the cane, and spank him thirty times.
A twelve year old child, could not handle the familial punishment. Wen Yixuan yelled out, screamed, and Wen Xingye's two eyes held tears, but only said, "I taught you since you were three to read and understand morals. You just treat your mother this way?!"
Wen Yixuan yelled out, "She's not my mother! She caused father's death, and forced mother away! She is an evil woman! I despise her!"
Wen Xingye, angered, landed his cane again, saying, "Piece of crap, from where did you hear these words! I'm going to beat you to death, you little thing that is lacking in discipline!"
Zuo Canglang heard the movement, and walked out of the room, but didn't go forwards to stop him. Wen Xingye beat him for a while, and was also muttering to himself---- if I keep beating the child this way, at the least, you should come forwards to persuade me a bit, to gain some good feelings from the child, ah! Are you really going to wait until I beat him to death, before you are satisfied?
But Zuo Canglang didn't. Wen Xingye saw that if he kept beating, he would really cripple the boy, and only finally stopped his hand. Zuo Canglang came forwards, and looked at the crying and tearful Wen Yixuan, asking, "Does it hurt?"
Wen Yixuan pushed her away, saying, "Don't need your care!"
Zuo Canglang walked a little away, to avoid the blood on his hand from staining onto herself. Wen Yixuan was startled, as since a long time, although Wen Xingye's discipline was strict, but every time he had been beaten, whether it was his grandmother or his mother, they would both be tearfully comforting him. There was never anyone who just avoided his hand so calmly.
Zuo Canglang lightly said, "I didn't plan on minding this business. Because you already neither have father, nor do you have a mother."
Wen Yixuan raised his head, startled, and saw her pair of calm eyes. And then he suddenly discovered, yes, he had lost his father, and no longer had a mother. All that was left was his old grandmother, and his crippled grandfather, as well as his immature little brother.
His small eyes could not even hide his sudden fear.
Zuo Canglang looked into that pair of eyes that was leaking water, saying, "You are cold to me, so I won't bother with you. I won't find a teacher for you, and won't let you continue to practice martial arts. I'll let you grow into a wastrel, forever being incapable of taking care of your grandfather and grandmother, forever lacking the ability to invite your mother back.
You can only watch as others bully you, bully your old grandmother, bully your grandfather who has difficulty walking! Some people will go to dig your father's grave, to steal all the burial gifts, and they will even strip his corpse of its burial clothes, taking his body out of his tomb, and tossing his remains all over the ground......"
"No......" that pair of small eyes gushed with tears, "stop speaking! Stop speaking!"
Zuo Canglang said, "By that time, you can only be just like you are now, kneeling before their faces, begging them, asking them not to behave this way."
She turned around to leave, leaving him bloody, on the bench. This was the tactic back then, in the orphan camp, that treasured tactic that Murong Yan had used against all the children. It was letting them clearly recognize and understand, that here, they already no longer had their own relatives.
The next day, Wen Yixuan brought Wen Yirong, and after paying respects to their grandfather and grandmother, came in front of Zuo Canglang's door. Wen Yixuan quietly held water, waiting until she had groomed, and lightly said, "Mother, good morning."
Zuo Canglang nodded, and picked the medicine she had on the counter, passing it to Wen Yirong, "Help your brother apply medicine."
Wen Yirong affirmed it, and Wen Yixuan respectfully said, "Thank mother for gifting the medicine."
Zuo Canglang nodded, and his eyes were black and clear. The obedience inside and respectfulness made people shed tears. She added a phrase, "First recover your wounds, and there is no need to greet me in the morning these few days."
Wen Yixuan lowered his head, "A son greeting his mother, is something he should do. Suffering from some injuries and hurt, is not important. Begging mother, on the basis that this son is young, and not mature, to forgive this son's transgresses in the past."
Zuo Canglang cordially said, "I forgive you."
Wen Yixuan walked out with his younger brother, carefully putting away the medicine that Zuo Canglang had given him. She had ripped away the scab on his wound, and forced him to grow armor over it, disguising it. Henceforth, he would never be easily injured by anything, and would also never easily be moved by anyone.
That afternoon, Zuo Canglang went to look for Daxi Qin. This imperial uncle of Yu country, after their nation was destroyed, had lived in Jinyang, and was even more free. Everyday, he would admire flowers and play with birds, frequenting brothels.
When Zuo Canglang walked to the estate gate, she immediately smelled the scent of perfume. Daxi Qin personally came out to invite her, wearing a white robe, respectful and elegant. He smiled widely, "Earlier, I heard the canary chirping by the gate, so indeed, an esteemed guest has arrived."
Zuo Canglang smiled, "Marquis Jinyu, we meet again." Last time, when he surrendered, the two had met, but at the time, Yuan Xi was the lead general, and though Zuo Canglang came up with the stratagems and plots, but was only a military observer, so the two actually weren't familiar. After he surrendered, Murong Yuan gave him the title of Marquis Jinyu, and thus, he was raised her luxuriously.
And when Murong Yan had attacked into Jinyang city, he also didn't find trouble for Daxi clan, so he was currently rather free.
Daxi Qin cupped his hands, "Jinyang's Feng Shui is good for raising people. So I am unnaturally joyous."
Zuo Canglang laughed greatly, and the two entered. Daxi Qin finally opened his mouth, "General Zuo, currently you are an extremely important person, and your coming here, you must have something to discuss?"
Zuo Canglang nodded, and was rather direct, "After my husband perished, the two children, Yixuan and Yirong are still rather smart and able. I came to visit teacher, to see whether they have the fortune or not, to receive some pointers from teacher."
Daxi Qin was startled, and within Jinyang city, he was a demoted subject. For one, he had no support base, secondly, he did not have the trust of the ruler. He was only someone with nothing to do. The matter of teaching Wen family's two young masters, why would Zuo Canglang find himself? He smiled, saying, "Great Yan has many capable people, and this one's learning is shallow, so I'm afraid it would impair the two young masters."
Zuo Canglang lightly said, "If teacher pushes it off again, it would be signifying that you are overly humble." It was very obvious, that he should be begging for an opportunity as this, as he was currently imprisoned in Jinyang. And after Murong Yan ascended, although he didn't cause trouble, but he also didn't have the intent to use him. Describing his days as walking on a tightrope would also not be a lie.
Daxi Qin could barely smile, "Very well, actually since this one was demoted to a subject, and in a foreign land has neither connections nor roots. So wishing to bribe anyone would also be impossible. General has come to visit, so this one is actually immensely happy."
Zuo Canglang could only bitterly smile, "Teacher is being overly humble." She rose, and bowed to Daxi Qin, seriously saying, "This matter, will depend on teacher."
The next day, Daxi Qin awaited in his estate, and Zuo Canglang brought Wen Yixuan and Wen Yirong to the gate. Daxi Qin came out to greet them, and Zuo Canglang ordered the two to perform the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows. Wen Yixuan didn't say a second word, and immediately began, performing his respects quite obediently. Wen Yirong moved his eyes around, and mischievously looked at Zuo Canglang, before also following his older brother, to pay his respects.
Daxi Qin helped the two children up, and Zuo Canglang seriously said, "I live in the army, and don't have much time left to stay in Jinyang city. Within the household, the parents are old, and my children are playful, so I will count on teacher."
Daxi Qin cupped his hands, returning the bow, "General, be at ease, this one will do what I can." Little Yirong came over to hug her leg, asking, "Yiniang yiniang, when is our mother returning? I'm starting to think of her!"
Wen Yixuan frowned, correcting him, "You need to call her mother!"
Zuo Canglang rubbed his head, and then looked again at Wen Yixuan, "The two of you, in the future, follow teacher Daxi Qin, and you must treat him like your father, and try to respect him."
Wen Yixuan grabbed his younger brother, respectfully rising, "This child will definitely remember mother's lesson, and learn from teacher's teachings, and will also properly guide little brother. Begging mother to be at ease."
Zuo Canglang nodded, saying, "I am very at ease."
Life would never particularly favor any person, as its favorite thing to do, was to lift you up into the heavens, and then toss you into the mud. Some people would be shattered into dust, while others would be refined into perfection.
Exiting Gong estate, before Zuo Canglang had even entered Wen estate's gate, she had noticed Wen Xingye waiting in the great hall. Upon entering, he immediately asked, "You visited Gong estate?"
Zuo Canglang assented, and Wen Xingye asked, "How was official Gong's attitude?"
Zuo Canglang saw him carrying a worried expression, and said, "Actually you don't have to be like this, as though marshal Wen and I didn't actually have the romance of a husband and wife, but we did have the relationship of teacher and pupil. As long as I am around a single day, within the whole Wen estate, would be as it was when he was still alive."
Wen Xingye was startled, and Zuo Canglang had already stepped inside. She unexpectedly encountered Wen Yixuan. Wen Yixuan and Zuo Canglang just passed by each other, as if they didn't exist to each other.
Ever since their mother, Qiushu left, Yirong had made a ruckus every day, wanting to see his mother. Yixuan was after all twelve years old, so he didn't cry or make a ruckus. But since then, he and Zuo Canglang were like strangers on a road. He was never again willing to pay respect to her. And normally, when they met each other, they had nothing left to talk about.
Zuo Canglang also didn't speak with him. Wen Yirong was still young, and normally still came over often to secretly play with her.
This noon, Wen Xingye was currently practicing martial arts in the yard, when he suddenly heard the low voices of his two grandchildren speaking. Wen Yixuan was talking to his little brother, "Where are you going?"
Wen Yirong said, "I am going to find Yiniang to play, ah. Yesterday, she said she would bring me to ride a horse today!"
Wen Yixuan said, "Shut up! She isn't our Yiniang. She is a bad woman. She's the one that forced our mother away! You are not allowed to play with her!"
Wen Xingye's expression immediately changed, and he was immediately enraged, and ordered people to bring the cane, and spank him thirty times.
A twelve year old child, could not handle the familial punishment. Wen Yixuan yelled out, screamed, and Wen Xingye's two eyes held tears, but only said, "I taught you since you were three to read and understand morals. You just treat your mother this way?!"
Wen Yixuan yelled out, "She's not my mother! She caused father's death, and forced mother away! She is an evil woman! I despise her!"
Wen Xingye, angered, landed his cane again, saying, "Piece of crap, from where did you hear these words! I'm going to beat you to death, you little thing that is lacking in discipline!"
Zuo Canglang heard the movement, and walked out of the room, but didn't go forwards to stop him. Wen Xingye beat him for a while, and was also muttering to himself---- if I keep beating the child this way, at the least, you should come forwards to persuade me a bit, to gain some good feelings from the child, ah! Are you really going to wait until I beat him to death, before you are satisfied?
But Zuo Canglang didn't. Wen Xingye saw that if he kept beating, he would really cripple the boy, and only finally stopped his hand. Zuo Canglang came forwards, and looked at the crying and tearful Wen Yixuan, asking, "Does it hurt?"
Wen Yixuan pushed her away, saying, "Don't need your care!"
Zuo Canglang walked a little away, to avoid the blood on his hand from staining onto herself. Wen Yixuan was startled, as since a long time, although Wen Xingye's discipline was strict, but every time he had been beaten, whether it was his grandmother or his mother, they would both be tearfully comforting him. There was never anyone who just avoided his hand so calmly.
Zuo Canglang lightly said, "I didn't plan on minding this business. Because you already neither have father, nor do you have a mother."
Wen Yixuan raised his head, startled, and saw her pair of calm eyes. And then he suddenly discovered, yes, he had lost his father, and no longer had a mother. All that was left was his old grandmother, and his crippled grandfather, as well as his immature little brother.
His small eyes could not even hide his sudden fear.
Zuo Canglang looked into that pair of eyes that was leaking water, saying, "You are cold to me, so I won't bother with you. I won't find a teacher for you, and won't let you continue to practice martial arts. I'll let you grow into a wastrel, forever being incapable of taking care of your grandfather and grandmother, forever lacking the ability to invite your mother back.
You can only watch as others bully you, bully your old grandmother, bully your grandfather who has difficulty walking! Some people will go to dig your father's grave, to steal all the burial gifts, and they will even strip his corpse of its burial clothes, taking his body out of his tomb, and tossing his remains all over the ground......"
"No......" that pair of small eyes gushed with tears, "stop speaking! Stop speaking!"
Zuo Canglang said, "By that time, you can only be just like you are now, kneeling before their faces, begging them, asking them not to behave this way."
She turned around to leave, leaving him bloody, on the bench. This was the tactic back then, in the orphan camp, that treasured tactic that Murong Yan had used against all the children. It was letting them clearly recognize and understand, that here, they already no longer had their own relatives.
The next day, Wen Yixuan brought Wen Yirong, and after paying respects to their grandfather and grandmother, came in front of Zuo Canglang's door. Wen Yixuan quietly held water, waiting until she had groomed, and lightly said, "Mother, good morning."
Zuo Canglang nodded, and picked the medicine she had on the counter, passing it to Wen Yirong, "Help your brother apply medicine."
Wen Yirong affirmed it, and Wen Yixuan respectfully said, "Thank mother for gifting the medicine."
Zuo Canglang nodded, and his eyes were black and clear. The obedience inside and respectfulness made people shed tears. She added a phrase, "First recover your wounds, and there is no need to greet me in the morning these few days."
Wen Yixuan lowered his head, "A son greeting his mother, is something he should do. Suffering from some injuries and hurt, is not important. Begging mother, on the basis that this son is young, and not mature, to forgive this son's transgresses in the past."
Zuo Canglang cordially said, "I forgive you."
Wen Yixuan walked out with his younger brother, carefully putting away the medicine that Zuo Canglang had given him. She had ripped away the scab on his wound, and forced him to grow armor over it, disguising it. Henceforth, he would never be easily injured by anything, and would also never easily be moved by anyone.
That afternoon, Zuo Canglang went to look for Daxi Qin. This imperial uncle of Yu country, after their nation was destroyed, had lived in Jinyang, and was even more free. Everyday, he would admire flowers and play with birds, frequenting brothels.
When Zuo Canglang walked to the estate gate, she immediately smelled the scent of perfume. Daxi Qin personally came out to invite her, wearing a white robe, respectful and elegant. He smiled widely, "Earlier, I heard the canary chirping by the gate, so indeed, an esteemed guest has arrived."
Zuo Canglang smiled, "Marquis Jinyu, we meet again." Last time, when he surrendered, the two had met, but at the time, Yuan Xi was the lead general, and though Zuo Canglang came up with the stratagems and plots, but was only a military observer, so the two actually weren't familiar. After he surrendered, Murong Yuan gave him the title of Marquis Jinyu, and thus, he was raised her luxuriously.
And when Murong Yan had attacked into Jinyang city, he also didn't find trouble for Daxi clan, so he was currently rather free.
Daxi Qin cupped his hands, "Jinyang's Feng Shui is good for raising people. So I am unnaturally joyous."
Zuo Canglang laughed greatly, and the two entered. Daxi Qin finally opened his mouth, "General Zuo, currently you are an extremely important person, and your coming here, you must have something to discuss?"
Zuo Canglang nodded, and was rather direct, "After my husband perished, the two children, Yixuan and Yirong are still rather smart and able. I came to visit teacher, to see whether they have the fortune or not, to receive some pointers from teacher."
Daxi Qin was startled, and within Jinyang city, he was a demoted subject. For one, he had no support base, secondly, he did not have the trust of the ruler. He was only someone with nothing to do. The matter of teaching Wen family's two young masters, why would Zuo Canglang find himself? He smiled, saying, "Great Yan has many capable people, and this one's learning is shallow, so I'm afraid it would impair the two young masters."
Zuo Canglang lightly said, "If teacher pushes it off again, it would be signifying that you are overly humble." It was very obvious, that he should be begging for an opportunity as this, as he was currently imprisoned in Jinyang. And after Murong Yan ascended, although he didn't cause trouble, but he also didn't have the intent to use him. Describing his days as walking on a tightrope would also not be a lie.
Daxi Qin could barely smile, "Very well, actually since this one was demoted to a subject, and in a foreign land has neither connections nor roots. So wishing to bribe anyone would also be impossible. General has come to visit, so this one is actually immensely happy."
Zuo Canglang could only bitterly smile, "Teacher is being overly humble." She rose, and bowed to Daxi Qin, seriously saying, "This matter, will depend on teacher."
The next day, Daxi Qin awaited in his estate, and Zuo Canglang brought Wen Yixuan and Wen Yirong to the gate. Daxi Qin came out to greet them, and Zuo Canglang ordered the two to perform the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows. Wen Yixuan didn't say a second word, and immediately began, performing his respects quite obediently. Wen Yirong moved his eyes around, and mischievously looked at Zuo Canglang, before also following his older brother, to pay his respects.
Daxi Qin helped the two children up, and Zuo Canglang seriously said, "I live in the army, and don't have much time left to stay in Jinyang city. Within the household, the parents are old, and my children are playful, so I will count on teacher."
Daxi Qin cupped his hands, returning the bow, "General, be at ease, this one will do what I can." Little Yirong came over to hug her leg, asking, "Yiniang yiniang, when is our mother returning? I'm starting to think of her!"
Wen Yixuan frowned, correcting him, "You need to call her mother!"
Zuo Canglang rubbed his head, and then looked again at Wen Yixuan, "The two of you, in the future, follow teacher Daxi Qin, and you must treat him like your father, and try to respect him."
Wen Yixuan grabbed his younger brother, respectfully rising, "This child will definitely remember mother's lesson, and learn from teacher's teachings, and will also properly guide little brother. Begging mother to be at ease."
Zuo Canglang nodded, saying, "I am very at ease."
Life would never particularly favor any person, as its favorite thing to do, was to lift you up into the heavens, and then toss you into the mud. Some people would be shattered into dust, while others would be refined into perfection.
