Chapter 422: Who Will You Choose to Go Home With?

Chapter 422: Chapter 422: Who Will You Choose to Go Home With?

The investigation was thorough and complete, and the dust had settled.

The Emperor asked, "Now that the child has been found, what do you plan to do next?"

After all, they couldn’t just let Xu Jingxi continue to drift about on his own.

Fang Qingdai and Second Master Xie turned to Xu Jingxi at the same time and asked, "Are you willing to come home with me?"

The two had spoken in near unison, something neither of them had expected. They exchanged a glance, and both saw the awkwardness in the other’s eyes. ℴ

Fang Qingdai had hated Xie Dizhi for eight or nine years. She hated him for what she believed was his lack of self-control, a moment of carelessness that allowed a villain’s plot to succeed and resulted in him fathering another woman’s child.

They had originally agreed to never see each other again for the rest of their lives. But now that she understood it was all a huge misunderstanding, she had no idea how she should act around Xie Dizhi anymore.

Xie Dizhi pursed his thin lips and looked at Xu Jingxi. "My boy, the choice is yours. We both owe you a great deal. No matter who you choose, we will do everything in our power to take care of you."

On the side, Shen Ningning clenched her small hands into fists, silently cheering him on. ’Choose my second uncle! Be my third brother! Be my third brother!’

Hearing her soft, sweet, childish voice, Mo Lingwei couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.

He glanced sideways at Shen Ningning and said, "I don’t think Xu Jingxi will choose either of them."

Sure enough, the moment Mo Lingwei finished speaking, Xu Jingxi cupped his hands in a salute to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but this commoner does not wish to choose anyone."

Fang Qingdai and Xie Dizhi were both stunned.

The Emperor frowned. "Xu Jingxi, you are talented, intelligent, and quick-witted. You are a promising youth. If you return to a noble family, it would be of great benefit to your development."

However, Xu Jingxi shook his head. "This commoner is already used to my life with Grandpa Xu; we’ve always relied on each other."

With that, he turned to Fang Qingdai and Xie Dizhi.

"If you truly wish to make it up to me, then please repay Grandpa Xu instead. He has toiled his entire life and never abandoned me, even in the most difficult of times. He is the one I need to be grateful for and take care of."

With tears in her eyes, Fang Qingdai said, "Alright, alright. I’ll do as you say."

Xie Dizhi’s expression darkened with disappointment. Xie Suzhi clapped him on the shoulder. "Give the boy some time."

He, too, had gone through something similar.

’Come to think of it, it’s strange,’ Xie Suzhi thought. ’Starting with the third son, the Xie family has been plagued by constant hardship, as if someone has us in their sights. The children from the third-born onward have all had very difficult lives.’

Xie Suzhi keenly sensed that something was amiss and made a mental note to investigate it later.

After the matter was concluded, Shen Ningning was pulled along by her father to give their thanks, and then they left the Imperial Palace.

Mo Lingwei knew she had things to deal with, so he didn’t keep her, and escorted Shen Ningning and her family to the palace gates.

Once on the carriage, Shen Ningning looked at Xu Jingxi with pleading eyes.

"You’re really not going to be my third brother? Our home is wonderful now! Brother is steady and reliable, my stinky second brother is a punching bag, and we’re just missing a really great you to be my third brother!"

Xie Suzhi smiled and stroked his daughter’s head.

Xu Jingxi’s expression was serene, and he also wore a gentle smile.

"Actually, this choice was never really mine to make."

Shen Ningning tilted her little head in confusion.

Xu Jingxi didn’t say more. When they reached Grandpa Xu’s village, he bid them farewell and left.

As Xie Suzhi watched his upright figure, as straight and tall as a pine tree, his expression held a hint of a sigh.

"Father, what did he mean by that? Didn’t Second Uncle let him choose?"

"Xu Jingxi is still thinking of his parents, even now," Xie Suzhi explained patiently to his daughter.

This was never a question of who he wanted to choose. If it were that simple, he would not have been left homeless all those years ago.

Rather, it was about how his identity could possibly be revealed to the world.

If he went with Fang Qingdai, how could they face the Liang Family Army and the rest of the world?

General Liang’s body had barely grown cold. If the world were to find out that the child he raised was not his own, how would they condemn Fang Qingdai?

If he chose Xie Dizhi, how would they explain whose son he was?

Second Madam Xie had just been convicted and imprisoned, and the Emperor had decreed their divorce. If he suddenly appeared now, what would people speculate about Xie Dizhi?

Xu Jingxi simply considered too much. He thought about everyone else’s feelings but completely ignored his own.

Only after hearing her father’s explanation did Shen Ningning understand.

Her small, round face was a little downcast and sad.

’Xu Jingxi must really want a family, too. Life without a mother and father is really hard!’

Xie Suzhi patted the little one’s hand. "Don’t you worry about what happens next. Father will go discuss it with your second uncle."

Shen Ningning nodded.

After Xie Yuanjiu was executed, many people in the Capital City were in an uproar.

Everyone speculated about the reason, but the rumor was only that Xie Yuanjiu had offended the Emperor and done something unforgivable by the laws of heaven and earth.

Consequently, her mother, Second Madam Xie, was also thrown in prison for five years, and Second Master Xie had even requested a writ of divorce.

Speculation ran rampant in the Capital City.

As expected, many people believed that with Fang Qingdai’s return, Second Master Xie was bound to find a chance to cast aside his wife and daughter and rekindle the flame with his old love.

One day, after a private discussion with Xie Suzhi, Second Master Xie gathered his courage and sent a message to Fang Qingdai, hoping to see her.

Amidst a curtain of drizzling rain, the two met again at the National Temple.

In the meditation room, it was utterly silent. A square table sat between them, upon which a stick of Tan Xiang incense burned, its smoke spiraling faintly into the air.

The curling smoke blurred the faces of Xie Dizhi and Fang Qingdai.

"...Qingdai," Xie Dizhi spoke first. "The truth is out. For so many years, we’ve misunderstood for too long. I invited you here today to discuss with you what we should do about the two children. Since they are my blood, I will not abandon them, but ultimately, I will abide by your decision."

Fang Qingdai looked much more haggard than she had in the past few days, the dark circles under her eyes starkly visible.

Xie Dizhi had heard that she had been going to Grandpa Xu’s place every day to talk and spend time with Xu Jingxi. The boy was wonderful, but unfortunately, he felt no closeness to her at all and was unwilling to leave with her.

Of the gifts Fang Qingdai had brought, aside from those Grandpa Xu could use, everything else intended for Xu Jingxi had been refused.

At this thought, she closed her eyes in pain.

"Dizhi," she said, calling him by the name she used to use. "Do you know why, back then, after I had lost all hope in you, I was still willing to give birth to our child?"

Xie Dizhi’s thin-lidded eyes were fixed on her. "I don’t know."

Fang Qingdai opened her eyes again. "Because I had to admit, when I left back then, I thought my heart was dead to you. But when I discovered I was pregnant, I had the absurd idea that if I gave birth to our child, our connection wouldn’t be completely severed."

At this, she gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

"The first few months after I went to Lion Head City were agonizing. On one hand, I had severe morning sickness and had to hide it from the soldiers in the army so they wouldn’t notice anything was amiss. On the other hand, there was my hatred for you, and my need for you. How I wished you could have been by my side then."

"We had promised to go to Lion Head City together, to expand the borders of Cangyun Country by another hundred li. I remembered all those promises. But when I stood on the walls of Lion Head City, I realized it was you who had broken your word."

Xie Dizhi’s eyes were bloodshot. He reached for Fang Qingdai’s hand, but she pulled away.

"I’m sorry." In the end, all he could offer was a powerless apology.

A sheen of tears welled in Fang Qingdai’s eyes. Looking across the gulf of nine years, she saw the boy she once loved, now worn down and somber from the torment of time, having lost all his arrogant, wild, youthful spirit.

She gave another bitter smile and shook her head. "Neither of us has had it easy. Perhaps this is just fate."

"But I have made a decision about the two children. Dizhi, I hope you can keep a secret for me. To the outside world, these two children will remain Liang Shi’s."

"Liang Shi was very good to me. He knew these two children were yours, yet he still took meticulous care of me and them without a single complaint. He’s dead now. I cannot betray his memory."

Hearing this, Xie Dizhi’s whole body trembled. Outside the window, the curtain of rain kicked up a fine mist that dampened his dark sideburns.