Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 100 Even with genuine or feigned affection, there is still respect; cherishing each other day and night, becoming adopted children.

"What are you doing here now?" Ling Xiao knew the person in front of him.

If Sanheng hadn't betrayed her, perhaps the girl named Qingmiao wouldn't have died, but at least Liu Jiaoan wouldn't have completely lost her will to live.

"Regarding the Liu family... I would like to say goodbye to Miss one last time."

“But your young lady doesn’t want you to talk to her.” Ling Xiao rejected Sanheng without hesitation. “Now that you’ve left the Liu family, if everything is settled, your young lady will never owe you anything.”

“It’s something I owe you, Miss.” After Ling Xiao finished expressing his emotions and finally calmed down, San Heng slowly uttered these words.

"You owe..."

"Now that everything has settled down, I also want to take my parents away from the past and find a quiet place to start over..." My parents have worked hard all their lives, and Sanheng knows that he doesn't have the money to take care of their health. How long they live is entirely up to fate.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again, Miss, so I thought I'd come today to say a proper goodbye."

"Back then, we owed Miss and Miss Guan a lot. It was Sanheng who was selfish and only thought about the present, causing us a lot of trouble."

"Jiao'an doesn't want to see anyone."

Ling Xiao believed he was right. Since Liu Jiao'an had chosen to leave, she said she didn't want to have any more entanglements with anyone—he and she were just strangers who had met by chance, and getting an explanation was a testament to Liu Jiao'an's gentleness and thoughtfulness.

"Please, young lady, Sanheng only wants to see you one last time."

You won't see her.

“Miss, I know that Miss does not want to see me again, but Sanheng wants to apologize to Miss in person.” Until this moment, Sanheng still thought that it was only Liu Jiao’an who did not want to see him, and kept begging Ling Xiao.

"It's not that I'm stopping your sword, it's just..."

"Miss, is it possible that something's wrong with Miss...?"

“Jiao’an left a letter and then left.” Ling Xiao’s gaze fell back on Sanheng. “After that, she went to Qiyun Mountain to find her cousin. As for whether we will meet again in the future, I don’t know.”

Upon hearing this, Sanheng suddenly deflated.

"It's because of me."

"This is my fault..." Sanheng had nowhere to vent his emotions, and wanted to slap Lingxiao's sleeve.

When they were about a foot apart, Sanheng withdrew his hand again: "If I hadn't betrayed Miss, and if I had that Qingmiao, perhaps Miss wouldn't be so disheartened."

"But what about that Miss Guan?"

“Miss grew up with her since childhood, and they are like sisters. Does Miss not care about her at all?” Sanheng had a thousand and one questions, but he also understood that the person in front of him could not give him an answer.

There are too many things in this world that cannot be explained.

"I can only tell you that Miss Guan is not the same Miss Guan she used to be, so for your young lady and for Jiao'an, it is already quite an achievement that she has been able to hold on until now."

This kind of thing sounds like a supernatural phenomenon when it's told to others, but it actually happened, and no one can explain it away with just a dream.

"Jiao'an may have let go now, and you don't need to dwell on the past."

"She mentioned you in the letter she left me, and hoped that you could both live well."

The letter did indeed contain the name Sanheng. Even in her moments of utter despair, Liu Jiao'an still thought about everyone she had ever met.

Therefore, she clearly deserves more remembrance and more love.

"I've also set aside some money, in case you and your parents have trouble making ends meet." Ling Xiao led the way, gesturing for Sanheng to follow her. "Yes, come with me to get it. Keep it with you as a keepsake."

Sanheng had obviously wanted to refuse, but Lingxiao's words, "leave it as a thought," left Sanheng at a loss for words.

Following Ling Xiao all the way to the front of the courtyard, Ling Xiao went to get the silver, and San Heng stood outside the fence—time flies, and originally he was the one standing inside the bomb.

It wasn't raining, but my face got wet.

“Miss… Madam…” His mouth was sticky, as if he had just cried a lot, and Sanheng could barely open his mouth. “I… I’m sorry.”

"Alright, there's no need to apologize or be sorry. Just live a good life with your parents from now on, and Jiao'an will be at ease." Ling Xiao was quick and efficient. As soon as he stepped out the door, he bumped into Sanheng, who still hadn't had time to wipe away his tears. "Take the money, and the past is the past."

“Jiao’an has no more kindness to you, so you no longer owe Jiao’an anything.”

The silver wasn't much, but it felt heavy in his hand. Sanheng understood: hidden within the silver was a farewell.

"Go on, the road ahead is long, perhaps you and Jiao'an will meet again someday." But I'm afraid we'll never have any further interaction, Ling Xiao thought to himself.

"it is good."

Everything was destined to be irreversible from the very beginning. If Sanheng's hesitation had been dissuaded from making the final decision, things wouldn't be like this now.

But things have already come to this point, and no matter what Ren Sanheng thinks or does, things can never go back to the way they were.

The Liu family fell apart, Qingmiao died, Liu Jiaoan left, and everything could never be the same again.

Even though the trumpet creeper was still the trumpet creeper, and the trumpet creeper flowers were still climbing on the fence, the Cheng family couple had already been quietly standing at a distance, looking in this direction across the road.

Sanheng left without saying anything more.

Taking advantage of this moment, the Cheng couple came over and looked at Ling Xiao, who was still standing in the same spot, and slowly said, "Good girl, don't worry too much."

Ling Xiao followed the Cheng family couple to their home in a daze. Cheng's mother, sitting at the head of the table, spoke first.

"Jiao An'er didn't leave you any money, did she?"

"Hmm?" Ling Xiao looked up at Cheng's mother. "She left it with me, and I don't need it myself, so Madam doesn't need to worry."

"I mean the silver you gave to Sanheng."

“That wasn’t left by Jiao An’er,” Mother Cheng continued almost confidently. “How could she have known whether San Heng would come? And where would she have gotten extra money?”

“I…” Ling Xiao wanted to explain, but the words caught in his throat when Cheng’s mother’s loving yet reproachful gaze choked him back. “Yes, it’s mine.”

Seeing that Ling Xiao had admitted it, Cheng's mother did not continue the topic, but instead turned her gentle gaze to Ling Xiao: "You are a good girl. We have thought about it for a long time, and we still want to tell you."

Ling Xiao guessed what Cheng's mother was going to say, but today he suddenly didn't want to refuse anymore.

"Madam, please feel free to speak."

“Ling Xiao, you know that Mian’er left us early. We want you to be our daughter.”

Cheng's mother had clearly thought about it for a long time, and she spoke without any pretense: "I know what you're worried about, and I know that you never let me finish speaking. Today... since you're willing to listen to the end, I hope you can think about it carefully."

"it is good."

Almost as soon as Cheng's mother finished speaking, a "good" slowly escaped Ling Xiao's lips.

Both sides had their own past troubles on their minds, and unanimously chose not to hold a grand celebration. After reviewing the official documents, they returned home and held a banquet. Marketing naturally changed his tune—the man who made the solemn promise was still waiting for his return home, while he already had a new home.

No one in this family looked down on her past, nor did they treat her differently just because she was a girl.

Just the rain outside the window and the rice wine in the cup.

It's just that my feelings are far away, while my parents are right in front of me.

"Daughter, have you ever thought about choosing a different name?"

Facing the expectant look in Cheng's mother's eyes, Ling Xiao shook his head: "No."

For her, the name Lingxiao also represents a new beginning.

Some people started to treat her like a treasure—even if it was for profit, over time, some affection would inevitably develop.

I started meeting good people, and a group of people I could entrust my life to...

"Now that you've settled down, and you'll be getting married soon, your mother and father won't think much of the name Lingxiao. We're just afraid that some people might use it for gossip and upset you."

Cheng's mother's concerns were entirely reasonable. Let's not say that wealthy and powerful families don't have the time to gossip—after all, they're still human, and their after-dinner conversations inevitably involve targeting the vulnerable.

Ling Xiao was all alone and helpless, and the newly appointed top scholar even incurred Enshi's displeasure because of her...

"If you like, your parents will still call you Lingxiao on ordinary days."

"Actually, my daughter isn't afraid of what they say."

Ling Xiao met Cheng's mother's gaze and spoke frankly: "Mother, as long as I, the one being talked about, am not afraid, it is they who should be afraid of gossiping about others."

Cheng's mother knew that Ling Xiao had a strong will in his bones, but the power that burst forth in just a few words was enough to move Cheng's mother.

“What has happened in the past, my daughter, I have nothing to deny. I’m just being honest and upright, and clear-headed.”

"As for things that have never happened before, they say that people should always provide evidence."

Whether it's the saying "many voices can melt metal" or "when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down," with enough people, black can be called white, and white can be called black—one can't live with fear in mind forever.

"Alright, since that's what you think, your father and mother won't stop you."

Having already accepted the newly appointed top scholar and the courtesan he had chosen as his goddaughter, Cheng's parents were already facing a lot of gossip.

No secrets stay hidden forever. Even if Cheng's parents and Ling Xiao didn't intend to spread the word, the news had already spread far and wide.

"They're just trying to climb the social ladder."

“It’s not shameful for a woman from a music academy to be adopted as a son’s goddaughter.”

"I heard his son..."

When a jumble of opinions fills your ears, no one can easily put it down.

If Cheng's parents were heartbroken to hear this, how much more so for Ling Xiao, a young girl? In their hearts, how could a young girl bear to hear such words?
"If my parents have a name they like, they can give me one, and I'll be willing to accept it."

Ling Xiao knew the sincerity of Cheng's parents, but didn't know how to express his own sincerity.

They just think of it as raising a cat or dog, and they'll always give it a name they came up with themselves—to prove ownership.

Ling Xiao did not have a pair of truly loving biological parents. Compared to the madams of the music academy, her biological parents would not even have the courage to bow their heads in front of their juniors.

For many years, Ling Xiao did not understand how elders and children should get along.

"It's just a name. It doesn't matter how you, as her parents' daughter, call her," Cheng's mother said patiently, pulling Ling Xiao aside.

"Although the name Lingxiao has a good meaning, it blooms at night and has to climb high walls... Your mother and father are thinking that if you have a name that you prefer, we will change it."

The secluded inner quarters of a top scholar's household are not a comfortable place. Now he's making such confident promises, but as his official rank rises, will he find Ling Xiao lacking in competence?
Cheng's parents had never met Zhang Shuwen, nor did they originally have the right to advise Ling Xiao. Now that they had recognized Ling Xiao as their goddaughter, they naturally spoke up.

“My son, you must know that men and women are different in this world. When I went to another prefecture, I saw an official selling his wife for money!”

Perhaps daughters are inherently different from sons in the eyes of Cheng's parents, or perhaps it's because of Cheng Mian's example. As Cheng's parents get older, they tend to nag...

"Don't be easily deceived by that kind of man. Although Zhang Shuwen is the newly appointed top scholar, he is worthy of my son."

Father Cheng picked up the tea that Ling Xiao had brewed and took a sip: "But the newly appointed top scholar can't bear the reputation of abandoning his old benefactor."

The implication is simply this: the newly appointed top scholar, Zhang Shuwen, appears to be deeply affectionate, but in reality, he is using Ling Xiao's name to avoid a forced marriage based on "choosing sides," and also to avoid being labeled as ungrateful.

“My son, in the eyes of outsiders, you are not only his sweetheart… but also his benefactor who helped him return to the capital for the imperial examination after his prodigal son’s return.”

This principle has been discussed extensively in operas, and even Ling Xiao can sing a few lines about it—the opera "Zhang Xie Zhuangyuan," which has been passed down from the east, has a story somewhat similar to this one.

"Father, Mother, I understand your good intentions."

But Ling Xiao still chose to believe.

“My son, don’t worry. If he dares to hurt you, your elder brother will be rewarded for his service to the country and the people with this plaque in front of the gate.”

“Even if your parents risk their lives, carrying this plaque to the capital, they will still seek justice for you.”

The words spoken by Mr. and Mrs. Cheng were not empty words; their eyes were filled with tears, clearly showing that Ling Xiao carried all the love and affection they had for their two children.

"Master, Madam, there is a letter from the capital addressed to Miss Lingxiao."

Ever since Ling Xiao wrote the letter explaining that Zhang Shuwen would write a letter whenever he had free time, he sent them all to the Cheng family.

The neat and clean handwriting on the paper makes one feel relaxed and comfortable without even looking at the content.

As expected of the top scholar, his calligraphy alone won him favor.

“Your late brother’s calligraphy was even better than his!” Since recognizing Ling Xiao, Cheng’s father no longer seemed so reluctant to mention the deceased Cheng Mian.

He would start by saying, "How your late brother was..." as if he had to compare Cheng Mian with the current top scholar Zhang Shuwen in everything.

Praise that was once impossible to utter was now being lavishly bestowed upon Cheng Mian.

It's not that we only realize the value of something after we've lost it; it's just that fathers always believe they must subtly encourage and inspire their children and grandchildren in order to see them succeed.

"He was practicing his handwriting in front of me back then."

"It wouldn't have been so beautiful originally."

Having spent so much time surrounded by women who were skilled in calligraphy and painting, Zhang Shuwen's calligraphy, though delicate and pretty, lacked a certain charm. It was beautiful, but it was hard to pinpoint exactly what made it beautiful or awkward—ultimately, it didn't meet Cheng's father's standards.

Perhaps, the real issue isn't the words themselves, but rather that the adopted daughter he'd just recognized is about to be deceived and taken away by another man!