The grandparent's residence is grand and tall, and the decorations are all exquisite and grand. There is only one thing that stands out, which is the nursery house where Ouyang Xue temporarily lives after giving birth. A large bed that is easy for babies to roll over, soft and warm corners, and ceilings that are deliberately lowered to keep the room warm...
Mu Qingyan opened his eyes suddenly, and he knew something was wrong. When he first saw it, he felt vaguely strange.
At this time, Yuheng elders Yan Xu and Cheng Bo arrived.
Yan Xu was drinking and reading in the room, but he hurried over after hearing the leader's call. The place where he was was close to Busi Zhai, but he came here on two feet. Cheng Bo had already walked halfway up the mountain, but he arrived on a golden-winged giant roc, so he arrived two steps earlier.
Mu Qingyan refused to be polite to them and asked directly: "Elder Yan, Uncle Cheng, I have an old matter to ask you. Did my grandfather and my grandmother, Mrs. Ouyang, only have one son like my father?"
As soon as these words came out, Yan Xu, who was slightly drunk and had a headache, and Cheng Bo, who was respectful and kind, both changed their expressions.
Mu Qingyan knew that he had asked the right question. He narrowed his eyes and said slowly, word by word: "Or, I should ask if my father has a twin brother."
Chapter 115
There was silence in the study room. Mu Qingyan did not press for questions and said to himself: "The first time I entered my grandmother, Mrs. Ouyang's nursery, I felt strange. There were many buckles embedded on the top of the beam for hanging the cradle. In front of the window, beside the bed, next to the table...the locations are different. These buckles are in groups of four, but no matter where they are, the top buckles are arranged eight side by side - there must be two cradles."
Yan Xu couldn't stand the condensed gaze and turned to look at Uncle Cheng. Seeing Uncle Cheng with his head lowered and motionless, he had no choice but to speak first, "Master, you are right. This is not a secret. All the elders in the sect know..."
"There are not many old people left in the religion now." Mu Qingyan said lightly.
Yan Xu almost smoothed his beard bald, and said sarcastically: "It was the first leader...er, Nie Hengcheng. He gave the order not to mention the second young master again. It was not something we deliberately concealed."
"The Mu family is not taboo about twins. Why did Nie Hengcheng order not to mention them?" Mu Qingyan was surprised.
"It's not because of the leader's grandmother, Mrs. Ouyang!" Yan Xu became angry when he mentioned this, and with a strong hand, he immediately pulled off a few beards.
Looking at the broken beard in the palm of his hand, the old man felt a pain in his heart, "The second young master's name is Mu Zhengyang, and he was born half an hour later than the eldest young master. All the elders in the church went to the banquet for the two young masters' full moon wine... uh, My peers at the banquet back then, now only I and Lu Fengchun, the old turtle, are left. Alas, in short, it is an unworthy wife, and the family is unlucky!"
"Stop talking nonsense and talk about the important things." Mu Qingyan was slightly impatient.
Yan Xu just went straight to the point: "The old leader, the grandfather of the leader, just wanted to have a second wife. What's wrong with a man who has three wives and four concubines? Mrs. Ouyang insisted on not letting her go. Later, the old leader changed his mind and refused to accept her. Ouyang Madam is still clamoring for reconciliation and taking away her two sons. How can this be okay? Madam Ouyang can leave whenever she wants, but the eldest and second young masters are descendants of the Mu family, and the old leader even agreed to elder Qiu's promise!"
"Unexpectedly, Mrs. Ouyang held a sharp knife to her neck and said that if she didn't agree, blood would be splashed on the spot. Alas, the old leader took a step back and asked Mrs. Ouyang to take away the second young master."
Mu Qingyan snorted coldly, "I don't know what a woman's kindness is."
"The leader said it well!" Yan Xu clapped his hands and admired him greatly, "The old leader's actions are not easy for his subordinates to discuss, but this matter is really inappropriate. Women lose their temper and just give in on trivial matters. How can they accept the responsibility? The heirs are fighting against each other! Leader, you have to hold on, don’t let a woman lead you away..."
"Stop talking about anything else and hurry up." Mu Qingyan's face darkened.
Yan Xu clicked his tongue and continued: "Originally, everyone thought that Mrs. Ouyang's martial arts skills were mediocre and she didn't understand general affairs. She would come back after a few days of hard work outside. Who knew that Mrs. Ouyang would be so stubborn and extreme, insisting on living in the countryside? She hid for three years! When the old leader found her, she was already sick and torn apart, and she barely had a breath."
"What about Mu Zhengyang?" Mu Qingyan asked.
"died."
"Dead?" Mu Qingyan was surprised.
Yan Xu sighed: "In order to welcome Mrs. Ouyang back, the old leader brought Nie Hengcheng and us Seven Star Elders with him. After several pleas and inquiries, Mrs. Ouyang said that not long after leaving the Hanhai Mountains, the second young master contracted the epidemic and passed away. We dug out a small coffin under an old crooked-neck tree in the backyard, and it turned out to be the body of a child."
Mu Qingyan slammed the case: "Since you can't take good care of the child, why did you force him to take him out in the first place!"
"The leader doesn't know that Mrs. Ouyang did that on purpose." Yan Xu's voice was full of anger and blame. "She resented the old leader for being unfaithful, so she wanted to punish him severely and make the old leader suffer the pain of losing his son! If it weren't for Elder Qiu's life and death If you don't agree, you can't say that even the eldest son will not be able to escape the fate of premature death. Hum, this kind of woman is really... really..."
He didn't say any more, probably the words hidden in his heart would not sound good.
"Before she died, Mrs. Ouyang laughed miserably at the old leader, saying that Zhi'er's tragic death was all because the old leader was unlucky. Alas, the old leader was already weak, and after suffering such a big blow, he couldn't get sick when he returned. "
Yan Xuyu sighed, but Mu Qingyan asked neatly: "Is Mu Zhengyang dead?"
"I thought he was dead." Yan Xu wrinkled his old face, "Who would have thought that more than twenty years ago... Well, I remember that in the month when the eldest son just celebrated his fifteenth birthday, a man who was born to the eldest son A boy who looked exactly like him broke into the Paradise Palace and said that he was Mu Zhengyang. According to his statement, Ouyang Xue was unwilling to bear the death of his own son, so he abandoned him in a hunter's home near the Hanhai Mountains and found the body of another child. Buried in the backyard.”
Mu Qingyan raised his eyebrows and said nothing.
"The eldest son was naturally very happy, and Nie Hengcheng agreed to let the young man stay." Yan Xu continued, "Unexpectedly, more than a month later, Nie Hengcheng suddenly summoned all the seven-star elders and publicly accused the young man of being a fake. goods."
"Nie Hengcheng brought out the three aunts, seven aunts and eight uncles of the Orion family, as well as the neighbors. These people all said that the young man was the biological son of the Orion couple, but he met the eldest son one day while doing odd jobs in a mountain village. After hearing about Mrs. Ouyang's appearance, he became impostor. He even set fire to his own parents in order to get married to the dragon and the phoenix. "
"Both the eldest son and Elder Qiu were doubtful. After all, the young man was exactly the same as the eldest son. Nie Hengcheng asked Zhao Tianba to bring five or six young men of about the same age, all of whom were somewhat similar to the eldest son. Nie Hengcheng said that these young men It was just found near the Hanhai Mountains. If you search all over the world, you may not be able to find someone more similar to the eldest son. There are many people with similar looks in the world, and it is not unusual even if they are exactly the same. Appearance cannot be used as a way to identify relatives. Essentials.”
Mu Qingyan said calmly: "Nie Hengcheng's actions are indeed impeccable."
Yan Xu shook his head and sighed: "The young man was anxious and hurriedly talked about many things about the eldest son when he was young. Nie Hengcheng said that the young man must be a spy sent by Beichen Six Sect with the intention of disturbing our sect."
"When things have reached this point, no one dares to say whether the young man is true or false. After all, Mrs. Ouyang categorically said that the second young master was dead, and we all dug up the body together and reburied it in the Mu family's ancestral grave. Even Elder Qiu didn't dare. Hold on, if that boy is fake, none of us can bear the responsibility of ruining the Mu family's bloodline."
"Nie Hengcheng insisted on executing the young man to serve as a warning to prevent anyone from impersonating the second master in the future. But the eldest master refused. Elder Qiu also said that if it was true, it would harm the flesh and blood of the old leader. In the end, everyone retreated. In one step, the eldest son took the young man back to his custody. Nie Hengcheng did not insist on executing the young man, but he burned a iris-shaped iron until it was red, and put it in the young man's place..."
Yan Xu gestured to the back left side of his neck, "Bring a blood-red mark to distinguish him from the eldest son, so that the young man will not cause trouble again in the future."
Mu Qingyan sneered: "Why not brand it on your face? Wouldn't it be easier to distinguish?"
"Nie Hengcheng really wanted to brand that young man's face at first, but the eldest son would not agree to it no matter what." Yan Xu smiled bitterly, "After that, I never heard about the whereabouts of this young man. I think the eldest son has properly placed him elsewhere. , Nie Hengcheng also ordered that no one should mention this imposter boy again..."
The old man scratched his head, "But it doesn't matter whether you mention it or not. Almost all the people who knew about it back then were dead, and those who survived were almost forgotten. Compared with the turmoil that happened in the church later, this fake boy was also It’s not a big deal.”
This is true. Before yesterday, Mu Qingyan would not have considered it a big deal that someone pretended to be a descendant of the Mu family more than 20 years ago.
"This subordinate knows so much." Yan Xu lowered his voice with a frown on his forehead, "Why did the leader suddenly ask about this? Is there something going on outside?"
Mu Qingyan said: "There is someone outside who calls himself my uncle and left a golden mountain for me."
"Really?!" Yan Xu's eyes were full of surprise.
"False." Mu Qingyan said coldly, "Thirteen, dig out two jars of old music from the back cellar and give them to Elder Yan and send him back."
Yan Xu touched his remaining beard and hurried away.
Mu Qingyan and Uncle Cheng were the only two people left in the study.
Mu Qingyan sat back in the armchair stretched out with an indifferent expression: "Uncle Cheng, it's your turn."
Uncle Cheng bit his lip and finally sighed: "I don't care what Nie orders me to do, but the young master (Mu Zhengming) left a message, so I have to listen."
"Uncle Cheng should know that if it's not an important matter, I won't force you to question it like this."
Uncle Cheng had no choice but to speak and slowly said: "As Elder Yan said, after the young man was branded with a fire mark by the surname Nie, he was taken away by the young master..."
He raised his head and looked around, "It will be placed in this Huanglaofeng Busi Zhai. In the next few years, the young man was at peace. He practiced martial arts in the back mountain stream and read in the Jiuzhou Baojuan Pavilion... "
Mu Qingyan frowned, "Father let him enter Jiuzhou Baojuan Pavilion? Could it be that he is really my uncle?!"
"Yes, it is Young Master Zhengyang." Cheng Bo said, "Although there is no definite evidence, the Young Master said that as soon as he saw the young man, he felt a sense of closeness to him, not to mention that the young man mentioned Only the two little brothers know about many of our past events."
"Then why didn't father declare his uncle's identity in public?" Mu Qingyan asked.
"To save the life of Young Master Zhengyang." Uncle Cheng sighed.
Mu Qingyan raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Uncle Cheng said feebly, "Young master, can't you tell? Elder Qiu was doubtful at that time, but Nie Hengcheng will not let Young Master Zhengyang confirm his identity, regardless of whether it is true or false."
He added, "Why can Nie Hengcheng sit firmly in the position of the leader? Because the young master has no intention of fighting at all, but the young master Zhengyang is different. In the month when he first entered the Paradise Palace, Nie Hengcheng sent someone to secretly Carefully observe the words and deeds of Young Master Zhengyang... Let's put it this way, if Young Master Zhengyang confirms his identity and quits the cult to travel around the world, he will be able to summon the Mu family as the only genuine young master. All forces will stand up to Nie Hengcheng."
Mu Qingyan said: "Mu Zhengyang seems to be an ambitious person?"
"Yes. Stubborn, stubborn, and deep, as if his soul is scalding hot." Uncle Cheng recalled the scene when they first met. The scarred boy was like a blazing flame, and his ragged clothes could not hide his dazzling beauty.
Mu Qingyan said softly: "Nie Hengcheng cannot ignore such a person. What's more, one is old and the other is young. One is declining and the other is growing. It's hard to say what the future will be like."
Cheng Bo said: "Young Master said that he grew up next to Nie Hengcheng and knew Nie Hengcheng very well. At that time, Nie Hengcheng had made up his mind to kill anyone who might threaten his position as leader, even if it was forced. Not to mention Nie Hengcheng. The power of the Clan is huge, and it is easy to hide from open and hidden arrows. After the incident is completed, he can insist to the outside world that he is killing the fake spy sent by Beichen Six Factions - the young master has no choice but to secretly make an agreement with the surname Nie. He does not insist on admitting it. Looking back at Young Master Zhengyang, Nie Hengcheng will not kill anyone."
Mu Qingyan looked sideways and pondered for a moment, then said leisurely: "Did uncle blame father for not insisting on recognizing his identity?"
"No, Young Master Zhengyang understands that Nie Hengcheng has murderous intentions towards him, and also understands Young Master's actions. But..." Uncle Cheng hesitated, "Now it seems that Young Master Zhengyang still has resentment in his heart, otherwise it would happen later. I won’t hurt the young master anymore.”
"What, he injured his father!" Mu Qingyan instantly became alert.
Cheng Bo said: "Not long after you were born, young master, Master Zhengyang suddenly came back from outside - in fact, he often sneaked outside in those years."
Mu Qingyan was shocked: "So it was that time! It turns out that it was really not Nie Heng's subordinates who did it, but it was actually him! Hum, my father was kind enough to take him in, but he actually repaid his kindness with a grudge!"
"No, no, no, Master Zhengyang, he doesn't want to hurt you, but he wants to rob you, young master!" Uncle Cheng blurted out.
Mu Qingyan was stunned, and then a wave of unspeakable panic came over him, like wet and cold moss and vines crawling up his heart, "Is it difficult, could it be that... I am his...?"
"No, no!" Uncle Cheng guessed Mu Qingyan's thoughts and couldn't laugh or cry, "Mrs. Ruoshui started to get close to the young master, and when she got pregnant, it took more than a year for the young master Zhengyang to not be in the Hanhai Mountains at all. I don’t know where he was fooling around. When he came back, Mrs. Ruoshui was already very pregnant—Young Master, you are indeed the young master’s flesh and blood!”
Mu Qingyan was so frightened that he straightened up and finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Uncle Cheng, please finish your words in one breath from now on."
Cheng Bo was stunned and whispered: "I don't know the reason why Master Zhengyang robbed you. The two brothers were talking in the house, but they got into a quarrel for some reason. When the old slave rushed into the yard, he saw The young master's wet nurse and maidservant were dead or injured, and Young Master Zhengyang couldn't help but rush towards the baby on the ground. The Young Master had no choice but to use all his strength to drive Young Master Zhengyang out of the Paradise Palace. The old slave chased him all the way, but he couldn't catch up. "
Mu Qingyan said with difficulty: "So my father didn't hide out to recuperate because he was injured, but he left after chasing Mu Zhengyang?"
"Yes." Uncle Cheng sighed, "I guess the young master drove the young master Zhengyang away because he was seriously injured and could not come back immediately. The young master Zhengyang was probably injured too, otherwise he would not give up like that Xingzi, how come I haven’t come to rob you again, Master?”
Mu Qingyan sat down tremblingly, with mixed feelings in his heart.
"That was the last time I saw Master Zhengyang, and I never heard from him again." Uncle Cheng sighed, "It wasn't until a few years later that Master brought the young master back to live in Busi Zhai. One night, Chang Daxia brought a young and frail woman to visit."
Mu Qingyan was nervous again, "Is it the night I had a fever? Who is that woman?"
Uncle Cheng said yes, and added: "How could I know this? The old slave went out after serving tea. Before going out, he heard the woman saying to the young master, 'I have heard your name for a long time, but I never expected to see you today.'"
Mu Qingyan stared at Uncle Cheng's face, "That is to say, that night was the first time the woman and her father met?"
Uncle Cheng said yes, and continued: "They chatted for most of the night, and it was almost dawn before Chang Daxia and the woman left. I asked the young master, and the young master said that the woman was here to return the relics of the young master Zhengyang. .”
"Mu Zhengyang is really dead?"
Uncle Cheng just said: "Young Master said yes. After that, Young Master ordered us not to mention Young Master Zhengyang again."
Mu Qingyan's heart was up and down, and after a while he said: "...I thought that woman came here for my father, but it turns out she has something to do with Mu Zhengyang." He had basically guessed who this woman was.
"It would be great if the young master and that woman had known each other earlier." Uncle Cheng's tone was full of regret.
Mu Qingyan tilted his head: "What does this mean?"
Uncle Cheng hesitated for a moment and sighed: "I have served the young master for decades. He has been indifferent since he was a child and has never been overly enthusiastic about people and things. The old slave has never seen him look at someone with such eyes, nor has he ever seen him look at someone like that. I’ve never seen him laugh as heartily as he did that night.”
He raised his head and recalled, "Later, the old slave went in to refill the tea fruit a few times, and saw that the woman's appearance was just delicate, but her eyes were really good. What the old slave has seen so far, only Miss Zhaozhao's eyes can compare with her. .”
"The old slave listened to the chat between the young master and the woman, and felt that the woman was very free and easy. Even though she was very sick, she was cheerful, comfortable and fearless when talking and laughing. The old slave thought about it. The young master is indifferent and does not care about fame and wealth. This The two are really a perfect match, but it’s a pity... Oh, why didn’t they meet earlier.”
Mu Qingyan sat motionless, his whole body condensed into a rock sculpture - he finally understood why he felt so familiar when he saw Cai Zhao for the first time in the Meilin Mountain Col, and why he liked the way she looked at him with a smile so much. .
The five-year-old boy with a fever got up in a daze and looked through the crack of the fan. He couldn't see the face of the person coming, but he could only remember the bright and free eyes and his father's hearty laughter.
"Did that woman never come again?" He heard his own difficult voice.
Uncle Cheng sighed: "I asked the young master secretly, and the young master said that the woman was seriously injured and could not even get out of bed. This visit was already taking a big risk. I encouraged the young master to go find her again, and the young master But he sighed, 'She was originally an eagle soaring in the sky, but now she can only linger on the sick bed, how can I have the face to see her?'. After that, the young master did not allow me to mention this woman again."
