Chapter 381: I Fear That Our Meeting Is But a Dream

Chen Weifang's trip this time was extremely long.

After he hurried back from the front hall, what he saw was Chinu standing blankly before the couch.

In this age of shifting winds and clouds, where life and death are ordinary, what exactly has caused Chinu to change his temperament somewhat?

Chen Weifang also knew he had been guarding the master closely lately, so seeing him like this was not at all surprising.

So he then tiptoed to the couch, peered through the layers of heavy drapes hanging down, confirmed that the Wise Lord and the child were resting peacefully, then patted Chinu's shoulder to signal him to go speak outside.

Chinu was startled, followed the person out of the inner chamber, then heard Chen Weifang lower his voice and say:

"This time, Bai Liren actually came in person."

"He really does have some skill; I chatted with him for a while, during which we exchanged countless moves, all of which he deflected, and I still don't know what he actually intends to do on this trip."

"He only said one sentence back and forth, telling me to find someone capable of handling affairs to go; I feared the Wise Lord would wait too long, so I came back to report first..."

But I didn't even know the Wise Lord had already gone to sleep.

Then who can still handle affairs?

In his view, Bai Liren this time is clearly coming with great force, not easy to deceive.

He is clearly a Prefectural Judge; logically he should have official duties, yet he left the prefecture without permission and cannot sign in—surely no one is overseeing him?

Or is it that, in Guangzhou Zhoufu, this person can cover the sky with one hand, and no one can rein him in?

If it's the former, that's not too bad; it would show that order and law within Guangzhou Zhoufu have deteriorated.

But if it's the latter......

But having said that, if one can already cover the sky with one hand in Guangzhou Zhoufu, why bother crossing Qiongzhou to act arrogantly in Yongzhou?

Could it just be for ten thousand taels of silver?

Chen Weifang couldn't understand; recalling Bai Liren's appearance today, he felt somewhat doubtful, unsure whether to speak up.

Chinu had earlier been instructed by his Wife Master, his mind already unsettled; upon hearing this, when he spoke again he only said:

"I'll go see him."

Chen Weifang was simply startled; he first glanced at the peaceful, tranquil inner chamber, then hastily lowered his voice and say:

"You don't want your life anymore?"

"You know the Wise Lord's temperament; aren't you aware that the earlier incident with the two Ouyang men shouldn't have been enough as a warning?"

"We usually pocket some documents privately, going through the motions but opposing in secret— that's fine. But the matter of Bai Liren is serious; you dare to make decisions for the Wise Lord, and if he dislikes it, someday you—"

Indeed, Chen Weifang's words are not problematic.

He has always been someone who means well for Chinu; he doesn't say certain things in front of others, but with Chinu he holds nothing back.

Now the obstruction: first, Bai Liren's purpose in coming this time is unclear, and the matter is obviously significant; second, it's the Wise Lord's temperament...

But he has obviously forgotten a very important point—

"It doesn't matter; I've already risen through my son."

Chinu is naturally gloomy, but now a smile actually adds several touches of allure:

"I have Rui'er by my side; even if the Wise Lord continues to dislike me, he will inevitably not be able to abandon me."

"Furthermore, the Wife Master now says I can act as regent for the lord."

Exactly, exactly.

In the past, he could only gaze at birds from behind layers of palace gates, enduring the doubts of myriad people who questioned his acting as regent for the state.......

At last, he finally welcomed his true master.

Moreover, his master now says he too is qualified to be lord.

Not like before, when he risked the world's great taboo and toiled thanklessly as regent.

Now, the Wife Master says she is willing to share power with him.

The former 【slave】 will ultimately become the future 【master】.

How could all this fail to make him happy?

All thanks to Rui'er, truly all thanks to Rui'er.

Chinu felt at ease, his expression relaxed, his brows and eyes showing the joy of being a husband and a father.

"Afang, you need not worry about me."

"Whatever decision I make on this trip, the Wife Master will only support me."

He rarely had such composure, joy rising to his eyebrows.

Chen Weifang stared long at the other's brows and eyes, confirmed that hint of joy could not deceive anyone, then slowly exhaled in his heart:

"Thus, very good."

"Go on; I'll stay here, and if Rui'er wakes up later, I'll also take good care of him."

In the past, they considered themselves ants, knew their methods were unpresentable, and never imagined they could openly move beneath the heavens.......

But now, it is indeed different.

After all, it is different.

Chen Weifang watched that slender figure depart, after a long while he slowly slumped, collapsing into the chair and covering his face.

He was laughing.

He was laughing silently, wildly.

But this laughter could not remain pure for long.

A tear slipped through his fingers and fell, silently dampening his cuff.

Government office, front hall.

Bai Liren had already been waiting a long time, to the point of feeling anxious.

This time he was certain he had made thorough preparations, even rehearsing countless times the scene of facing that 'Lady Master', and preparing several sets of responses based on her possible reactions.

He thought it through clearly; this time, no matter what price the other side asks, he must take his child away.

What a bitter fate.

What a bitter fate.

That poor child likely never had a single good day before becoming some sort of male favorite, forced to rely on looks to curry favor, forever trembling each day, walking on thin ice.

Hard to say......

Hard to say, the money the child uses to redeem himself from the brothel for the girls there is also his own "selling himself" money.

Bai Liren is not exactly a kind-hearted person; otherwise, back then he would have considered the other people in the brothel.

But since that child is kind-hearted, he is willing to do more good deeds in the future, accumulating blessings for the child.

Bai Liren thought it through clearly; when he brings the child back to Guangzhou this time, if the child still wishes to marry, he will find the best girl for the child.

If not, then he will support that child for life, always greedy, always nurturing; whatever he wants to take, whatever the child wants, he can provide it to the child.

Over these years, others only saw him as a prefectural judge, unaware that he had been laying control in Guangzhou Zhoufu for years; with a little maneuvering, taking over the prefecture would be no big deal.

By then, all of Guangzhou will be the world of him and his son.

No matter how tumultuous the winds and waves in the Central Plains outside, as long as they hold Guangzhou Zhoufu, they will naturally have their good days.

Bai Liren is confident that this time he can absolutely offer a price that will move the other party.

However, however.

What Bai Liren never expected was—

The person who came was not some "female master" but a young person who was both unfamiliar and familiar.

He had never seen that young man before, but in the dimness, the three moles on his face nevertheless revealed his identity to him.

Too alike.

Too alike.

This child, and his mother, are truly...... too alike.

With just a glance, Bai Liren confirmed the other's identity, and thus saw the surprise in their eyes.

He knew what the other was surprised about; when Chen Weifang had come earlier and seen him, her face showed the same surprise.

His hair had turned completely white ever since a month ago, after he learned the news of this child.

Turning white overnight is not something that only happens on stage.

If the hair hasn't turned white yet, it's merely because sincere feeling hasn't arrived.

He considered that his sincere feeling had already arrived, but this only made another matter all the more strange—

He clearly told Chen Weifang to let the person in charge here come.

Why...... why did it have to be this child who came?

Bai Liren didn't understand, but he...

Indeed, he could hardly wait any longer.

He broke the silence first, saying to the somewhat familiar-looking, gaunt youth before him, "I can lend your lord a hand, but I want to buy you."

This was the intention he had set upon arriving.

What a pity, what a pity.

Everything under heaven is not as he thought or expected.

Upon hearing that, the youth showed a hint of surprise, but soon took action.

The youth slowly knelt and replied:

"Thank you, Sir, for your favor, but I have already given my heart to the Wife Master."

"If I only accompany you for one night, Sir, can you help me and my child assist the Wife Master?"

Bai Liren once thought that people in the world are foolish and pedantic, and that sincerity and true feeling are equally out of reach.

All those tales of wise rulers and holy lords are just like the men in plays who can have countless beauties and numerous children.

They would not squander their fortunes and cause tall buildings to collapse for a single beauty.

Conversely, a beauty would not wholeheartedly devote herself to a single person, feeding her body to beasts.

Yet, in this world, there happen to be such foolish people.

The famed courtesans of Jinling once were, and now the gaunt youth is.

After drifting for decades, Bai Liren finally found the son of his "deceased wife"...

The youth knelt in the hall, knowing he was about to mire in a quagmire, yet his spirit and bones remained as clear as autumn water, just like that person.

In a daze, Bai Liren seemed to see his "deceased wife" in her prime...

It turned out that the rainstorm that had forced him into the brothel over twenty years ago was only now pouring down upon him.

?? Law and order collapse: hui, meaning destruction; legal systems are destroyed and fall into disuse.

? Fear that this meeting is a dream: taken from Yan Jidao's "Yating Tian", original line: "Tonight I still hold the silver candle to shine, fearing that this encounter is a dream"; tonight I raise the silver lamp stand to examine you carefully, still afraid that this meeting is merely a dream.