TSWPF -Chapter 258 Sadness

“Steward, what did you say?” Could it be as he thought?

“Young master, Old Master Liu and Old Master Lu have arrived. They’re sitting in the flower hall.”

He hadn’t misheard—it really was Old Master Lu.

Suddenly, he nervously rubbed his hands together. He told the steward to leave first; he would go over shortly.

After the steward left, Li Qingling smiled and asked if he was feeling nervous.

Liu Zhimou exhaled lightly, turned to Li Qingling, and nodded sincerely. He really was a little nervous.

He didn’t even know what exactly he was nervous about.

Li Qingling stepped forward and held his hand. “It’s fine. Old Master Lu probably just wants to confirm one thing—whether you really are his grandson.”

“I know.” He had originally planned to visit the Lu family after the spring examination, but now his grandfather had come in person.

He didn’t know if his grandfather would accept him and his two siblings.

“All right, don’t keep your grandfather waiting. Go on now!”

Liu Zhimou nodded, kissed Li Qingling on the forehead, asked her to wait for him, and then turned to leave.

At this moment in the flower hall, Old Master Lu and Old Master Liu were staring at each other.

After a while, Old Master Liu cleared his throat. “In-law, have you met Zhimou before?”

Old Master Lu glanced at him. “Master Liu, who are you calling ‘In-law’?” He could never forget the time Old Master Liu tried to break off the engagement—he considered it unforgivable.

Old Master Liu was a man who put profit above righteousness.

Old Master Liu felt a bit embarrassed, scratching his nose. He admitted that it really was his fault back then; he shouldn’t have pressured his youngest son to break the engagement.

“In-law, that was my mistake. I want to apologize to you here. But I hope you won’t speak of it again, lest someone with ill intentions hears it and uses it to scheme against Zhimou and his siblings.”

Although the youngest son and his fiancée had been betrothed, they hadn’t yet married. If anyone stirred up trouble, it could tarnish the reputation of his three grandchildren.

He couldn’t let his grandchildren suffer mistreatment.

Hearing this, Old Master Lu was stunned. He hadn’t expected Old Master Liu to ever apologize—he was genuinely surprised.

“In-law, I sincerely apologize. Let’s not bring up the past. Let’s move forward.”

“Unusual… to see you apologize, Old Master Liu,” Old Master Lu finally reacted, forcing a smile.

“I just don’t want my grandchildren to be in trouble,” Old Master Liu said, pressing his lips together.

For the sake of his grandchildren, he had to maintain peace with Old Master Lu. He couldn’t let them suffer.

After all, it had been his fault back then. If he hadn’t forced his youngest son to break the engagement, the marriage would have gone smoothly.

If he were asked what he regretted most in life, it would be forcing his youngest son to break the engagement, which had driven his son away.

More than a decade had passed without seeing him—that was his deepest regret.

Old Master Lu fell silent for a moment. “I haven’t met him yet, so I’m not sure he’s really my grandson.” He had only heard that someone looked exactly like Fourth Master Liu and was called Mr. Luo, which made him think it might be his grandson.

He hadn’t had anyone investigate, and impulsively came straight here.

Thinking back, he realized he had acted too hastily; he should have confirmed it first.

Old Master Liu glanced at the anxious Old Master Lu, empathizing with him, and sighed. “They’re your grandsons and granddaughter. The two grandsons look like my son, and the granddaughter looks like your daughter.” He paused. “Have… you received any letters from them over the past decade?”

Hearing the certainty in Old Master Liu’s words, Old Master Lu’s nervous heart calmed a little. “No… we haven’t heard a thing from them.” Back then, his case hadn’t been overturned yet, and he lived in extreme hardship, unable to inquire about his daughter.

When he returned to the capital later and tried to inquire about her, he could find nothing.

He didn’t know how his daughter was faring.

That’s why, when he heard that Liu Zhimou looked like Fourth Master Liu, he impulsively rushed over.

He trusted Fourth Master Liu to have taken good care of his daughter.

Seeing that Old Master Lu still didn’t know about the death of the youngest son and his wife, Old Master Liu frowned slightly. He considered whether to hint at the news so Old Master Lu could be mentally prepared.

“Um… In-law, you…”

Before he could finish, Liu Zhimou’s voice interrupted.

“Grandfather…”

“Hmm?” Old Master Liu instinctively responded. When he saw Liu Zhimou, he scrutinized him briefly. Seeing him unharmed, he scolded him with a stiff face, “After such a big incident yesterday, why didn’t you tell your grandfather? With me here, who would dare bully you?” Did the Grand Duke’s mansion think the Liu family had no one to protect them?

“…Grandfather is such a tyrant,” Liu Zhimou thought. If they went to the Jingzhao Prefecture, there might have been a confrontation with the Grand Duke’s mansion. Imagining it made him sweat. “It was urgent, so we went with Master first.” Besides, with Master as such a strong backing, no one dared to bully them.

Indeed, the Grand Duke’s mansion had learned their lesson.

Old Master Liu was slightly displeased, pursing his lips, feeling that his grandson not telling him made him uncomfortable.

“Next time something happens, tell your grandfather. I’ll come to your aid.”

“All right…” He could only nod in agreement.

Seeing Liu Zhimou nod, Old Master Liu felt relieved. “Zhimou, come meet your grandfather.”

Old Master Lu saw Liu Zhimou’s face and couldn’t help but admit—he really did resemble his son-in-law Fourth Master Liu, as if cast from the same mold.

“Child, who is your mother?”

“Lu Siyu. My mother is Lu Siyu.” Liu Zhimou’s eyes reddened thinking of his gentle mother. “I look like my father, and my sister looks like my mother.” He then called for his younger siblings.

Once the grandfather saw the granddaughter, he would surely recognize her.

Old Master Lu shakily stood up, examining Liu Zhimou carefully. “Over the past decade, where have you lived? Have you been well? Did your parents ever come to the capital?”

Seeing the frail Old Master Lu, Liu Zhimou felt a pang in his heart. He hurried forward to support him. “Grandfather, please sit. I’ll tell you everything slowly, okay?” Compared to Old Master Liu, his maternal grandfather seemed far more aged, worn by the hardships of exile.

“All right, all right…” Old Master Lu took Liu Zhimou’s hand, sat down again, and held his hand, waiting for him to speak.

Liu Zhimou hesitated, afraid he might not bear the news of his mother’s absence.

Seemingly noticing his hesitation, Old Master Lu said calmly, “Child, speak. I’ve endured many storms; I can handle it.”

Gripping Old Master Lu’s hand, Liu Zhimou slowly recounted everything, pausing only when he reached the story of his parents.

After a moment, he resumed. “My parents passed away several years ago, from an epidemic.”

As he spoke, he felt Old Master Lu’s hand tremble. He squeezed his hand a little tighter, smiling reassuringly. “Your parents passed peacefully.”

Unexpectedly, his beloved daughter was gone too. Among all his children, only his eldest son remained.

Old Master Lu’s expression darkened further, his eyes red but tears didn’t fall. Over the years, he had shed all his tears—there were none left to cry.

“Grandfather, although life in Niutou Village wasn’t affluent, Mother was very happy.”

“That’s good, that’s good…” Back then, he hadn’t wanted his daughter exiled with him. When Fourth Master Liu proposed taking his daughter away, he had agreed without hesitation.

He believed she would fare better with Fourth Master Liu than with him, without suffering too much.

Hearing from his grandson, he realized his daughter had indeed lived happily, yet…

“Did your mother ever tell you about us?”

Liu Zhimou shook his head. “Our parents never spoke of anything about the capital. Perhaps they didn’t want us to get caught up in those troubles, only wishing for us to grow up safely.” Otherwise, with Father’s talent, he wouldn’t have been just a schoolteacher.

Old Master Lu nodded weakly. “Your parents were thoughtful. Growing up safely and happily is most important.”

“Later, bring your parents back here! They live too far away; grandfather wants to see them but cannot.”

Upon hearing this, Old Master Liu agreed.

“Zhimou, your grandfather is right. Next time, bring your parents back. You’ll also need to be added to the family registry.”

Liu Zhimou looked at Old Master Lu and Old Master Liu, then nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou arrived. They greeted Old Master Liu, then looked at Old Master Lu, unsure what to call him.

Seeing Liu Zhirou, Old Master Lu lost composure and stood up, murmuring, “Yu’er… Yu’er…”

She looked so much like his daughter; seeing his granddaughter was like seeing his daughter as a child.

Liu Zhimou’s eyes grew moist. He patted Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou on the head. “This is our grandfather. Call him grandfather.”

Both Liu Zhiyan and Liu Zhirou said in unison, “Grandfather.”

Old Master Lu regained his composure, nodding repeatedly. His hands trembled as he reached toward himself, finding nothing, and awkwardly lowered them. “Grandfather came in such a hurry today, didn’t bring anything. Next time… next time, I’ll bring something.” He then extended his hand toward Liu Zhirou. “Rou Rou, can you come here to grandfather?”

Liu Zhirou looked at Liu Zhimou. Seeing his encouraging nod, she walked over to Old Master Lu.