Chapter 5

Huizhou borders Jiaozhou. Since the imperial court retreated to the south, following a series of internal rebellions, this decadent dynasty has been reduced to a mere shell.

Chen En, the Prince of Huaian, entrenched himself in the ten commanderies of Huizhou. While nominally under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, he had long since declared himself an independent ruler.

By the time Chen Jiao and her mother arrived at Zhangling Commandery in Huizhou, it was already the beginning of the eleventh lunar month.

Hu Yan did not take them directly to the Prince of Huaian’s estate. Being a cautious man, he had learned that the Prince would be visiting Longtai Temple on the eighth day of the month, so he made arrangements in advance.

On the morning of the eighth, the Prince of Huaian met with Master Kongzhi at the Ci'en Hall. At noon, while resting in his quarters, he was suddenly informed by an attendant that Hu Yan had returned.

Hu Yan was a subordinate of Xu Zhao; Chen En assumed that Cui Jue and his party had returned, so he waved his hand to allow them entry.

Before long, Hu Yan arrived to report on their journey.

Chen En sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, dressed in magnificent purple robes and wearing a jade crown. Though over fifty, his well-fed, round face remained full and prosperous, showing no signs of the passage of time.

He was not tall, and having grown stout in middle age, his entire figure appeared remarkably round.

He possessed a pleasant countenance.

His face was square, his forehead broad, his cheekbones were not prominent, and his brows and eyes were kindly, giving him a dignified air.

He looked like a man who was easy to talk to.

At the very least, he had a kindly face.

Hu Yan said respectfully, "On this trip, Assistant Prefect Cui recommended two people to you, my lord. I ask that you do us the honor of meeting them."

Chen En stroked his beard and asked curiously, "What kind of talent is it?"

Hu Yan immediately presented the golden lock belonging to the Xu family.

Chen En took it and examined it closely, struggling to pull any relevant impressions from his memory.

Beside him, Hu Yan observed his expression calmly; if he did not recognize the object, there would be no need for a meeting.

Meanwhile, the mother and daughter waiting for the result were incredibly nervous.

Madam Xu paced back and forth, muttering, "If he isn't your father, then we two won't leave Longtai Temple alive today. Heaven bless me, I, Xu Huilan, have had the worst luck for half a lifetime; it is high time I enjoyed some peace. What if that bastard doesn't remember..."

She was in the midst of her nervous rambling when she heard the door creak open.

The mother and daughter looked toward the sound.

The man in the doorway had a protruding belly, blocking the light from outside.

"Huiniang?"

Chen En tried calling out.

Madam Xu stared at the man, stunned for a long while. A mixture of disbelief and deep-seated grievances welled up in her heart; a surge of blood rushed to her chest, and she could not describe the feeling.

Chen Jiao did not recognize this "cheap" father and merely stood up vigilantly, looking toward Madam Xu.

Madam Xu’s emotions fluctuated violently, and her eyes reddened instantly as her throat choked up. "My heavens! Is it really you, Chen Lang?!"

That "Chen Lang" softened Chen En’s heart, and he, too, seemed to find the situation unbelievable.

Madam Xu cared little about his title as Prince; at that moment, full of bitterness and complaints, she scolded him with red eyes: "Chen Lang, you heartless bastard, you have made me suffer so much!"

Tears fell immediately as she poured out her accusations: "I, Huiniang, have waited for you for so many years, yet I never saw you come to fetch us mother and daughter to reunite..."

She was truly heartbroken and aggrieved, sobbing and sniffling as she kept repeating: "We have lived such a miserable life these past years..."

With that, she knelt on the ground, overcome with grief.

Chen Jiao hurried forward to help her up.

Chen En could not bear to see a woman cry and stepped forward to assist her as well.

He was a notoriously romantic man, falling in love with every woman he met. He had once felt sincere affection for Madam Xu, and he still did now.

It was just that such sincerity was not worth much.

Madam Xu was truly aggrieved. Now that she had finally seen the man she had been longing for, she did not care if he felt disdain; she grabbed his sleeve to wipe her tears, acting more delicate and affected than usual.

Chen En indulged her, looking at Chen Jiao and asking, "Is this our daughter, A'ying?"

Madam Xu sobbed, "It is fortunate that Chen Lang still has some conscience to remember A'ying." She then said to Chen Jiao, "Hurry and call him Father."

Chen Jiao had no pride at all and immediately called out clearly: "Father!"

She knelt and kowtowed to him.

Chen En beamed, unable to close his mouth, and hurriedly helped them both to their feet.

After being separated for so many years, there was naturally much to talk about upon their long-awaited reunion.

Madam Xu looked as beautiful as a flower in the rain. Although she was a woman in her thirties, she had been raised in the Bo Hall since she was young, and the madam there had taught her all the ways to handle men.

Therefore, Chen Jiao felt that her mother was like a different person, pulling at this "cheap" father’s arms, acting delicate and boneless, and being so affected that it opened her eyes.

Daring not to disturb their long-awaited reunion, she took the initiative to leave.

Inside the room, Madam Xu leaned into her man's embrace, her initial excitement having calmed down significantly.

Chen En took her hand, but she drew it back, lowering her posture: "Huiniang's hands are rough; I fear I might scratch Chen Lang."

Chen En said, "My skin is thick; I am not afraid of scratches."

However, upon seeing Madam Xu's hands, he still paused.

Those hands had washed laundry for years, naturally becoming much rougher than those of an ordinary person, and the addition of winter chilblains left many scars.

Chen En seemed to finally understand why she said they had suffered.

Seeing this, Madam Xu looked at him, slightly nervous: "Is Chen Lang disgusted?"

Chen En shook his head, blaming himself: "It is I who did not protect you two well."

Tears welled in Madam Xu’s eyes as she poured out her story: "For these past five years, A'ying and I truly could not survive, and we could only earn a living washing clothes in the Bo Hall. Chen Lang knows my background, but our A'ying—I must not let her follow in my footsteps. But I have no real skills and could not provide for her. She has seen the coldness of the world from a young age and could only seek the lowest work to make ends meet. I have failed her, and even more so, I have failed Chen Lang, not being able to take good care of your own flesh and blood..."

As she spoke, she shed tears again, which pained Chen En’s heart. He took a handkerchief to wipe her tears: "Huiniang, set your mind at ease. From now on, I will never let you and your daughter suffer again."

Madam Xu said with teary eyes: "Chen Lang, do not tease me; I will take it seriously."

Chen En: "I am not teasing you, I am not teasing you."

Madam Xu hugged him: "I believe everything Chen Lang says."