Chapter 464 - 463: Speaking Up

Chapter 464: Chapter 463: Speaking Up

Zhuang Ke heard that the Imperial Doctor had arrived. She handed the children over to Hong Jinbao’s family and came to see the situation herself.

Imperial Doctor Xing heard the footsteps and turned to look, seeing the young woman push the door open and enter. With her back against the light, he faintly made out Zhuang Ke’s features and was momentarily stunned.

Mu Liankang noticed Imperial Doctor Xing’s reaction and said, "Sir, this is my wife."

Zhuang Ke greeted Imperial Doctor Xing.

Facing the light, Imperial Doctor Xing clearly saw Zhuang Ke’s eyes, as green as lake water, and exclaimed, "Is there Hu blood in her?"

Zhuang Ke nodded and explained, "My mother was a Hu person, while my father was a Han."

Imperial Doctor Xing slowly nodded, "There’s something a bit familiar about it."

However, something familiar didn’t equate to knowing exactly who, or where he had seen them before. Imperial Doctor Xing couldn’t remember, even knowing Zhuang Ke’s surname was Zhuang, he had no impression at all.

The only thing he knew was that Zhuang Ke’s features were somewhat similar to someone Imperial Doctor Xing had seen before.

Whether that person was male or female, old or young, no matter how much Imperial Doctor Xing strained his thoughts, he found no answer.

Zhuang Ke was unconcerned; compared to her father’s identity, she was more eager to know if Mu Liankang could recover his memory.

Imperial Doctor Xing let Mu Liankang loosen his hair bun, inserted his hands into his long hair, and pressed gently on the back of his head.

He examined carefully, not missing a single spot.

After the examination, Imperial Doctor Xing said, "Even if you had head trauma before, it’s healed now.

Memory is a peculiar thing. It’s there in your mind, but when you can’t recall it, banging your head against the wall won’t help.

Like this lady, I definitely have seen someone with a similar appearance, but cannot remember.

The chances of the young master remembering are uncertain.

Perhaps he might never remember, or maybe he’ll suddenly recall tomorrow.

It cannot be forced."

Zhuang Ke felt quite regretful, and Mu Liankang comforted her, "Not remembering is okay. Compared to before, when I didn’t even know who I was, at least now I have a home to return to."

Mu Lianxiao thanked Imperial Doctor Xing and asked Jiuxi to escort Imperial Doctor Xing back to the Zhen Family.

Knowing the brothers were going to Qinglian Temple, Imperial Doctor Xing shot a glance at Du Yunluo, seeing Du Yunluo nod at him, Imperial Doctor Xing stopped Mu Lianxiao.

"Master Kongming is not mute; he is not dumb," said Imperial Doctor Xing.

Mu Lianxiao was stunned.

He hadn’t requested Imperial Doctor Xing to diagnose Mu Tang, so how did Imperial Doctor Xing already know?

Mu Lianxiao looked at Du Yunluo, who merely smiled lightly.

Due to Mu Lianxiao’s back injury, the brothers didn’t ride horses up the mountain; they took a carriage instead.

Upon reaching Qinglian Temple, Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang went to the bamboo grove behind the mountain.

In the depths of the forest, Master Kongming’s ascetic hut was even more ragged than during their last visit. Over the years, Mu Tang seemed uninterested in repairing it, letting it become increasingly dilapidated.

An ascetic monk, he truly became one, enduring labor and hunger.

Master Kongming stood in front of the hut, hands pressed together, his back facing Mu Liankang and Mu Lianxiao; neither could see the other’s expression.

"Mu Tang," Mu Lianxiao called.

Master Kongming didn’t move.

Mu Liankang glanced at Mu Lianxiao and called, "Mu Tang."

His voice was like a sharp knife, instantly piercing Master Kongming’s nerves. His body stiffened and slowly turned around.

It had been nine years; although Mu Liankang’s voice had changed considerably since then, Mu Tang still recognized it, staring wide-eyed at Mu Liankang.

"I want to know the whole truth," Mu Liankang asked.

Mu Lianxiao quietly watched for Mu Tang’s reaction. After the initial surprise, what he read in Mu Tang’s eyes was not fear but relief, as if Mu Liankang standing alive before him was a long-awaited event.

Mu Tang simply gazed at Mu Liankang with such eyes but uttered not a word.

Mu Lianxiao said in a deep voice, "I know you’re not mute. Over the years, I’ve asked you many times, but you refused to speak. Now that elder brother is back, won’t you say anything?"

Mu Tang’s lips quivered, tears moistening the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, yet he still shook his head.

"What are you afraid of?" Mu Lianxiao asked.

This time Mu Tang spoke, offering them a phrase, "Amitabha Buddha." He hadn’t spoken in years, and when he finally uttered something, his tone was odd and his pronunciation blurred. If not for the simplicity of the Buddhist chant, Mu Liankang and Mu Lianxiao wouldn’t have understood what Mu Tang said.

Mu Lianxiao secretly exhaled in relief; having a single Buddhist chant was already a step forward.

Prior to Mu Tang’s "muteness," over the past years, he hadn’t heard Mu Tang say a single word.

He could see Mu Tang’s resolve wavering, at least when he saw Mu Liankang, Mu Tang’s resolve faltered.

"We returned from Lindong..." Mu Lianxiao meticulously described the reunion with Mu Liankang, mentioning Shanyu Pass, the Dazi, and Ancient Meili.

The tears in Mu Tang’s eyes accumulated more and more until finally, they fell heavily, silently weeping.

He wiped his tears away, lifted his head and took a deep breath, trembling slightly, "Were the Dazi strongly defeated?"

Mu Tang repeated it three times before Mu Lianxiao understood, nodding, "They were strongly defeated."

"Whose is the title?" Mu Tang asked again.

Mu Lianxiao said, "I have a wife, children and military merits, sufficient for the title."

"Can you surpass him, young master?"

Him?

Mu Tang didn’t name but Mu Lianxiao already understood that he meant Mu Yuanmou.

For Mu Tang to say such; the mastermind behind Mu Liankang’s disappearance was emerging, yet Mu Lianxiao wanted to learn more, wanting Mu Tang to reveal everything entirely.

Mu Lianxiao clenched his hand hanging by his side and declared, "Second Uncle? I must surpass him."

Mu Liankang was slightly stunned.

Mu Tang lowered his head and said nothing.

After a while, he said, "Young master, actually you’ve already understood, haven’t you?"

At this point, Mu Tang no longer kept secrets, as there was no need to conceal it any longer.

Back then, Mu Yuanmou had instructed Mu Tang to kill Mu Liankang on the way back to the Capital from the Northern Border.

Mu Tang was unwilling. Having lost his parents and having no wife or children, unattached, he could have sworn not to comply, but looking at the entourage returning to the Capital with the spirit, Mu Tang understood.

Mu Yuanmou would, at any cost, prevent Mu Liankang from entering the Capital. If Mu Tang didn’t act, others would.

Mu Tang had no confidence to return to the Capital alone with Mu Liankang and Mu Lianxiao, nor could he do so.

If he acted that way, the consequences would be foreseeable.

On the night of Mu Yuanming’s death, Mu Tang knocked Mu Liankang unconscious, carried him far away from the camp, and left him in the snow. Subconsciously, he hoped Mu Liankang would survive, and escape Mu Yuanmou’s clutches.

He committed the deed but couldn’t escape the torment within; the entire journey back to the Capital was agony for Mu Tang. His sole thought was to bow for the last time before Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu and then apologize through death.

In the Capital, sheets of white paper scattered everywhere; many knew Mu Liankang, who had gone to escort the spirit, went missing.

During his attempted suicide, Mu Tang was dissuaded by the abbot of Qinglian Temple. The abbot said that redemption did not rely solely on taking one’s own life.