Chapter Three: The Marquis of Wuning’s Residence

“Why?” He Zhong’an’s mind raced urgently. Suddenly, he recalled that the letter briefly mentioned the name of the eldest son of the He household, He Zhongxin, and immediately understood. He said, “Mother said that my generation uses the character ‘Zhong’ in their names.”

“The name is An. It means that mother had no other hopes for me but to live a peaceful and safe life.”

“Such is the heart of every parent,” the young lady sighed and asked, “What is the naming tradition of the He family?”

He Zhong’an’s thoughts spun rapidly. He was sure the letter never mentioned this. He did not know.

The more desperate the situation, the calmer He Zhong’an became. Inwardly, he thought, “Whether I know this or not is irrelevant. What matters is making him believe that I belong to the He family.”

He stood still, stunned for a moment, then suddenly lowered his eyes and silently shed tears. He said, “I don’t know.”

The young lady was surprised to see this and asked, “Why are you crying?”

“When mother was alive, she never allowed me to seek my relatives. She said the noble families are full of complexities unknown to us. Coming from a humble household, we would be devoured alive. But after mother’s death, I was utterly helpless and had no choice but to seek refuge in the Marquis’s residence.”

“Miss, if the Marquis’s mansion is too difficult to enter, please give me some money for the journey. Let me return to Guangzhou. Even if I have to work at the docks there, I can at least survive.”

“What are you saying?” The young lady snapped, “If you are truly of our blood, I would never let you wander the streets. If not, the gates of the Marquis’s residence are naturally not so easy to enter. Crying like a child is unbecoming of a man.”

Though she spoke harshly, the young lady had already formed a conclusion.

If He Zhong’an had been obstinate and unable to answer, she might have doubted him.

But now, he could not answer yet willingly asked to leave.

This only dispelled her suspicion. She thought to herself, “He clearly hasn’t lived in the He household. That’s common knowledge. It makes sense he doesn’t know such things. Ordinary families don’t keep track of these details.”

Earlier, the young lady had closely examined He Zhong’an’s face.

If not for the frostbite and redness, his features were refined and dignified, not like those of a commoner.

One’s bearing is cultivated. Most people living at the edge of survival have coarse demeanors and fierce expressions. Yet He Zhong’an, having come from the future, though fallen on hard times, still bore a refined aura, not ordinary at all.

He truly looked like a disgraced noble scion.

Combined with the fact that she had asked no probing questions before, and the token and letter were genuine,

the young lady’s heart was convinced: this was indeed her brother.

With that thought, looking at He Zhong’an’s bedraggled state, his face and hands covered in frostbite, and his clothes in tatters, her heart softened immediately.

“Don’t cry anymore. Now that you’re here, consider this your home.”

“Someone, take him to wash up and change clothes. Wait until madam questions him.”

Then she got up and went to the backyard.

He Zhong’an watched the young lady walk towards the backyard, thinking, “It’s about seventy or eighty percent certain now.”

The young lady entered the backyard.

Madam He of the Marquis’s residence was reviewing account books. Seeing the young lady enter, she asked, “Wan’er, what’s the matter?”

The young lady’s name was He Wan.

“Mother,” He Wan said, “I see no issues. It’s likely true.”

“Hmph.” Madam He sneered, “What can that old servant do? Let him come back, and I’ll settle accounts with him properly.”

Mentioning her father, who was fighting far away in the Western Sea, He Wan dared not speak further. After a moment, she asked, “Mother, how do you intend to deal with him?”

“Deal with him?” Madam He sighed, “If I were ten years younger, I’d have sent him away with a handful of silver. But now—” The Marchioness of Wuning sighed deeply, “We’ll keep him in the residence for now and observe his character and abilities. See if he’s useful.”

“Wan’er, there are some things I do not share with others.” Madam He grasped He Wan’s hand and said, “Back then, my father was stationed in the Western Regions with your grandfather. They were comrades who trusted each other with their lives. I was betrothed to your father since childhood; we grew up side by side. At that time, I was very proud and insisted no other women be in the courtyard. Your father agreed.”

“Others envied me for having a clean household. Only now do I realize that people and families are different.”

“You cannot generalize. Being the lady of a household is not about youthful love and whims. You must consider the circumstances.”

“Some families have long been in decline, living off their remaining prestige. Naturally, they cannot tolerate an illegitimate son sharing their inheritance. But some families are different, like your He family.”

“The He family’s ancestors were generals who came late to serve the Emperor. The Wuning Marquisate’s role has always been to lead troops for the court and keep the family’s honor intact. Over four generations, every legitimate heir has died on the battlefield. Every branch of the family has mourned a loss after every war.”

“Not long ago, I reviewed the genealogy and counted: since the founding of the dynasty, over two thousand members of the He family have died in battle.”

“Recently, there are reports from the Western Sea. Your eldest brother is wounded. Though they say it’s nothing serious, the front lines always report only good news. If his injuries were minor, they wouldn’t mention them at all. The situation may be worse than we know. Had I foreseen today, I wouldn’t have held your father back. I’d have let him take more concubines and have more sons to support your eldest brother. Perhaps things wouldn’t be like this.”

As she spoke, Madam He’s eyes grew moist. She said, “Only now do I understand that a family like the He family must send their sons to war.”

“Children are always better in greater numbers. Unfortunately, I made a mistake when I was young; there are only the four of you siblings. This is why things have come to this.”

“Now that He Zhong’an has come, let him settle in. Keep him in the front courtyard and see what he’s made of. If he has talent, your brother will have another ally in the future. If not, find him a wife and let him live in the countryside, raise a few sons—that is the proper course.”

“Handle this as you see fit.” Madam He picked up her ledger again, sighing, “Your father is buried in debts from the Western Sea campaign and the family has to cover them. You must take care of things at home.”

“I understand,” He Wan said with a bow.

With Madam He’s approval, many matters became much easier.

After washing up, He Zhong’an waited a long time. He expected to be received by Madam He, but only met He Wan.

He Wan said, “Mother is busy. She will see you in a few days.”

He Zhong’an clearly understood the situation—it was not that she was busy, but that she simply did not want to see him.

Still, He Wan treated him fairly well.

He Zhong’an was placed in a secluded wing of the front courtyard of the Marquis’s residence.

He was assigned a servant named Xiong Dali.

The first thing He Zhong’an did after moving in was to take a bath.

Lying in the tub in the dead of winter, feeling the warmth of the water, he looked at the frostbite and cracks on his body. Compared to the days spent in the dilapidated temple, it felt like a different world.

He thought to himself, “This is what it means to be alive.”

Recalling those past ten or so days in the icy snow, He Zhong’an marveled at how he had endured.

Watching the steam rise gently from the bathwater, He Zhong’an fell into deep thought, realizing, “I still haven’t truly settled in the Marquis’s residence. Madam He hasn’t even wanted to see me yet.”