FID – Chapter 982

Chapter 982 — If Madam Goes, Then I Go

He was very unwilling to connect Miaojiang with Xiliang, to make any associations, because any such link would be disadvantageous to Nanling.

But unwilling doesn’t mean impossible. Once he allowed such thoughts, the number of things he had to worry about would multiply.

In the main courtyard, everyone had already gone to sleep. In the small courtyard where the Liu family stayed in the back, the hall lights were still on. Except for Uncle Liu, everyone else sat in the hall, wide awake.

As Liu Yusheng had anticipated, their emotions still hadn’t settled. Even after several hours, they remained unsettled.

Liu Gen had known his identity as a servant since birth – a household-born servant.

The descendants of household-born servants could only ever remain servants; they could never escape their status. Yet today, suddenly, an enormous piece of information emerged: they might actually be descendants of Miaojiang. They might be Miaojiang people.

They were not from the Central Plains! This—

Rubbing his face hard, Liu Gen’s mind was in chaos. After a long while, he slumped down. “Forget it. Don’t think about it. No matter who our ancestors were, we are servants now. We are registered as such in the yamen. It cannot be changed. Go to sleep. Everyone, go to sleep.”

Liu Zhi’s eyes were a little red and swollen. Hearing this, she sniffled, stood up, and called her children back to their rooms to rest. “We still have to get up early tomorrow to boil water and cook. Go to sleep. It’s already very late.”

Her gaze lingered on each of her children before she returned to her own room first.

As a parent, how could she bear to see her children live the same life she did, condemned to be servants forever?

But wasn’t this all fate? Their father was right—it couldn’t be changed.

Once registered as servants, they could never escape that status. Given their identity, what choice did they really have but to accept it?

Watching their parents return to their rooms, Liu Tiao glanced at his two younger sisters who were still sitting quietly nearby.

One had clear, innocent eyes; the other wore a confused, bitter expression.

“Brother,” Liu Ye asked softly, biting her lip, “If we really are Miaojiang people, could we ever go back?”

Liu Tiao looked at her in surprise and muttered, “What are you thinking? We’re slaves. Where could we go? Even if we really are Miaojiang people, our ancestors came here, and it’s been over a hundred years by our generation. Even if we went back, who would recognize us after all that time? Do you think going back would automatically make things better? Besides, we don’t even know for sure if we’re Miaojiang or not.”

“But what about the birthmark on Ya’er’s neck? Great-grandfather told her to go back if she ever had the chance.”

“Ya’er has the birthmark, but you don’t.”

The little hall fell silent.

Liu Tiao said no more. He took his two sisters by the hands and gently pushed them back to their rooms to rest.

In the small courtyard, it seemed to have gradually settled into calm.

Early the next morning, Liu Yusheng went to the back courtyard after breakfast.

Knowing that her visit might be related to what had been discussed yesterday, Liu Gen’s family looked somewhat nervous.

Liu Yusheng smiled at them. “Uncle Liu, Aunt Liu Zhi, I’ve come because I need your help. I hope Liu Ya can come with us to the northwest, to search for Miaojiang.”

She didn’t beat around the bush, choosing to speak plainly to prevent Liu Gen’s family from overthinking and becoming more anxious.

“To the n-northwest? You want Ya’er to go?” Liu Zhi asked in surprise, glancing back at her timid daughter standing behind her. She hesitated. “Madam, it’s not that we don’t want to help, but it’s really not suitable for Ya’er. She’s afraid of strangers and hasn’t left the courtyard in a long time.”

If she couldn’t even leave the courtyard, sending Ya’er on a long journey to an entirely unfamiliar place was impossible. Instead of helping, she might only become a burden.

Liu Yusheng understood the woman’s concern. It was also what she had been worried about.

After a moment, she turned to the quiet girl. “Liu Ya, do you have any thoughts? You can tell me.”

Liu Ya clenched the hem of her clothes, nervous. “Madam, will you be going too?”

Liu Yusheng paused, then carefully studied the girl’s expression. In her eyes, she saw a sense of reliance on her.

“If you need me, I can go,” she nodded.

“If Madam goes, then-then I’ll go too.”

“Ya’er?” Liu Zhi exclaimed in surprise. “You’ve never traveled far from home. This isn’t as simple as you think. You’ll be going to a completely unfamiliar place and meeting many strangers. Aren’t you afraid?”

She knew how terrified her daughter was of strangers, which made her even more astonished. At this moment, she had no time to worry whether her words might upset the Princess Consort. She just wanted her daughter to think carefully.

Otherwise, if she agreed but couldn’t manage it, things would only get worse.

Liu Ya nodded firmly again. “If Madam goes, I’ll go!” With Madam there, she wasn’t afraid.

Master Liu, Madam, and that tall man were all good people.

She trusted that they wouldn’t harm her, especially Madam. She wasn’t as foolish as she looked. When Madam looked at her, her eyes were gentle and clear, without the pity of an outsider that others sometimes showed.

“Liu Ya, thank you,” Liu Yusheng said sincerely.

The girl gave her a timid smile. “Madam is my benefactor and a good person.”

Now that she had agreed in her own words, the others could only worry quietly. They couldn’t say anything further.

Otherwise, they would become ungrateful and dishonorable.

Moreover, given her status as the princess, if she truly needed Ya’er’s help, she could have simply issued an order. As servants, how could they have refused?

Yet the King’s Consort came in person to visit them and made her request respectfully. She gave them the highest form of respect.

Liu Yusheng exhaled softly and said to the conflicted Liu Gen and Liu Zhi, “I know my request is asking a lot. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, I would never do this. I promise that Ya’er will be returned safely in the end. I will not let her suffer even the slightest harm.”

She understood the parents’ feelings, but she genuinely needed Ya’er’s help.

It concerned a friend she cared deeply for; she was being selfish.

“Madam, you are too kind. We do not wish to refuse her help, but I worry. Please forgive me,” Liu Zhi said cautiously. She didn’t want to say more in front of her daughter, fearing it might frighten her.

“I understand,” Liu Yusheng said, holding the woman’s hand. “I am very grateful that Ya’er is willing to help. Everything I have promised, I will fulfill.”

She patted the back of the woman’s hand, then left the small courtyard, giving the family a little time to say their goodbyes.

With the matter settled, they would be departing soon, and Liu Ya would have to leave with them.

Returning to the hall, Liu Zhiqiu shared the outcome with the others waiting there and clapped his hands. “Since that’s settled, there’s no time to waste. Finish up the remaining two estates, return to Xinghua Village briefly, and then you must set off immediately. The longer we delay, the greater the risk. Qinglian’s life cannot wait. With that vile thing planted in him, we don’t know when it might take effect.”

It was beyond their control; they could not predict the outcome, so there was no time to lose.

The sooner they departed, the better.