Chapter 690: The So-called Mother
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“You mean Madam Qin? Is she not good to you?” Ah Yu asked.
She did not know much about Madam Qin. She only remembered that Madam Qin had seen her and told her some things about Big Brother All You.
What left the deepest impression was that she had taught her to write encoded letters.
Now, Ah Yu was used to encoded letters.
She had a special secret code with the Wang Family, which was different from Qin Huai’s.
Other than that, during the period when he was carrying the Shared Fate Gu, Ah Yu had been thinking about what kind of person Big Brother Ah You’s mother was.
She even suspected that she was the one who poisoned Big Brother All You. Later on, this matter was resolved. She did not want to hurt Big Brother Ah You, so she did not ask further.
“Big Brother All You, I’m a little sleepy. 1 want to sleep.” All Yu thought that perhaps she shouldn’t continue to ask Big Brother Ah You about his past.
It would not be good to make him think of sad things.
Qin Huai smiled. “Then sleep. I’ll talk. You’ll fall asleep as you listen.”
“If you don’t want to tell me, there’s no need to force yourself. I’m not especially curious.” As she spoke, All Yu stretched out two more fingers and gestured. “I’m just a little curious.”
Qin Huai nodded. “Mn, I want to tell you.”
“Then I’ll listen.” Ah Yu sat up straight, looking like an obedient child who listened to her teacher.
Qin Huai took out a soft cushion from under the chair and let Ah Yu lean against it. Then, he said slowly, “If we judge her as a mother based on the standards of normal mothers, she’s indeed not a good mother. Even if 1 already understand a portion of her reasons and intentions, I still think so…”
In Wanning City, most children begin their education at the age of two, but they truly start forming memories and awareness after reaching the age of four.
Qin Huai’s memories date back to before the age of 2. Perhaps the experiences during that time were too intense, or maybe it was due to his mother’s desire for him to retain those memories. Consequently, even now, he still remembers those past events vividly.
Before he was two years old, Madam Qin often appeared beside Qin Huai, but she never wore the slightest look of a loving mother.
At that time, he was extremely weak and his face would turn pale even after eating two more mouthfuls of rice. However, Madam Qin asked him to wake up early every day.
Initially, he was asked to practice martial arts and do the horse stance, but he fainted in less than half an hour.
Madam Qin asked him to study.
At the early stages of education, when other children have just begun their studies, being able to memorize the Three Character Classic in a year and recognize about ten characters would be considered a sign of exceptional talent.
He was not even two years old, but Madam Qin asked him to memorize it in a month and even memorize it backwards.
In the beginning, if he could not memorize it, he would be punished to stand. There were many cousins in the Duke’s Estate, and they often teased him on purpose.
When Madam Qin found out, she only said, “Incompetent people will ultimately be humiliated.”
Hence, he no longer complained to the elders. Every time he was mocked, he instructed Chi Jia to throw the clothes, shoes, and socks of that group of people into the pool.
Although it was simple, it was effective. It was only when the brothers and sisters were naked every day that they gradually restrained themselves.
He was naturally not afraid of small fights. Later on, he began to be targeted by assassins. At first, his food was poisoned, and he vomited blood. He vomited until his eyes turned dark and he couldn’t remember anything.
Madam Qin said to him, “You shouldn’t have eaten so carelessly. You deserve this calamity.”
Hearing this, All Yu said indignantly, “Madam is too much. You’re not her subordinate or her maidservant, but her child! At that time, you were so young and definitely needed your mother’s concern. But she said this. You must be very sad, right? Don’t be sad. My mother is a good person. She treats you very well.”
“Yes, I thought so too at that time. I even thought that I was not her biological child. Perhaps it was a child she had stolen from her enemies,” Qin Huai said as he smiled. “When 1 was young, 1 inevitably had these strange thoughts.”
“You’re still young now, but your mother seems to have changed a little.” “Everyone changes.”
“Yes, yes. What happened after that?”
“Later on, my relationship with my mother became more and more strained, so Grandpa brought me outside to relax. I only returned to Wanning City after two years.” Qin Huai still did not want Ah Yu to be too worried, so he said that he went to the border for two years to relax.
“You must have been unhappy during those two years. When you mentioned it, your eyebrows were almost knotted!” Ah Yu wanted to smoothen Qin Huai’s frown.
“Yes, 1 encountered many people looking for trouble.” Some wandering soldiers gathered together. They could not be underestimated.
Moreover, at that time, Qin Huai was still too young, but he was led by burly soldiers who forgot to take care of him from time to time.
He had seen battlefields filled with corpses a few times, let alone those inexplicable assassinations.
At that time, someone at the border spread the news that he was the Prince of Great Chang and might inherit the throne in the future. If they killed him, Great Chang would be finished.
After Duke Yong found out, he dealt with all the people who spread the rumors with lightning speed and killed all the offenders.
He had seen too much and unknowingly developed a decisive personality.
Actually, now he doesn’t care about these things as much as before, and he even starts to be cautious in his actions, no longer acting recklessly like he used to.
Previously, in Wanning City, his reputation was not good. Everyone called him a little evil ghost behind his back because he was an anomaly of the Duke Yong Manor. At such a young age, he did not show any mercy.
During the two years he spent at the border with Duke Yong, Duke Yong intended to show him the harshness of war. The soldiers there were all seeking survival and tranquility, which was meant to teach him not to think too much at such a young age.
However, he thought that since he did not have much time left, why not indulge?
There was no need to care about those he couldn’t stand. He would just kill them.
If he didn’t want to hear something, he didn’t have to hold it in. He could just not listen.
He spent two years in a daze like this, using the enemy’s blood at the border to celebrate his four-year-old birthday.
After returning to Wanning City, Duke Yong’s merit increased day by day. He took the initiative to resign from his military affairs and become a free and unfettered duke in peace.
At that time, he was also noticed by more people. Because he was ruthless and merciless, and he was weak and sickly, no one dared to offend him easily, so he became an existence that everyone avoided.
The more Madam Qin scolded him for being violent, the more unreasonable he became. The more grudges there were between the mother and son, the stiffer their relationship became.
At that time, some people began to appear frequently around Qin Huai, trying to approach him in various forms.
Some were probes arranged by Madam Qin, and some were spies sent by other forces. Qin Huai had been tricked a few times and received Madam Qin’s ridicule.
When he saw All Yu, he had also mistakenly thought that she was a test sent by Madam Qin. After all, she was too special and couldn’t be ignored or even rejected.
However, Qin Huai did not intend to tell Ah Yu in detail, lest she be unhappy.
“You know what happened after that. I thought that 1 didn’t have much time left, so I went to Wangbei County. When 1 saw you in Yongding County, 1 wanted to look for you,” Qin Huai said. “You said that 1 wasn’t friendly to you. It’s because this is the first time I’ve really spoken to a young girl. You’re also the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Your words are the best, and your smile makes me the happiest.”
Ah Yu grinned and chuckled. “Of course. 1, Ah Yu, am a famous little fairy child in the surrounding villages. Fairy children are definitely good-looking!”
Seeing her like this, Qin Huai relaxed his brows, as if a rock had been lifted from his heart.
The past that annoyed him did not seem to be so annoying anymore.
The two of them chatted for a while more. Ah Yu covered her mouth and yawned. “I’m really a little sleepy. Big Brother All You, I’ll sleep for a while first. 1’11 talk to you later.”
“Go to sleep. I’ll go to the carriage in front.” No matter how spacious the carriage was, it could not compare to the bed at home. He gave up his seat, and Ah Yu slept more comfortably.
“En.” Ah Yu rubbed her eyes and fell asleep in a daze.
When the Meatbail saw Qin Huai leave, it pulled Ah Yu’s will into the spatial pocket and laid a soft fur cushion for her to sleep on.
[Go to sleep. I’ll call you when we reach.]
After Ah Yu fell asleep, Qin Huai went to the carriage where Wang Wulang was.
When Wang Wulang saw him, he handed him a small box.
He said, “Qin Huai, after thinking about it, I think it’s best to ask you for help..”