A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1559 - 1557: Jiangnan Side Story 3

Chapter 1557

Tang Xun entered along with the children and Lady Wen.

Outside the courtyard, only Xia Jingfeng was left alone.

Standing at the gate, he gazed at this familiar yet strange place, feeling quite emotional.

"I had planned never to return for the rest of my life!"

"But my son ultimately couldn’t be heartless!"

He returned from Jinling City to this small Xiao Zhou County, where he was born and raised, not merely because of his sister’s death and longing for his mother, nor because of his stepmother.

There was also a small reason because of his blood kin, his father.

Although they no longer communicated much, their blood relationship was ultimately thicker than water, a fact that will never change.

His sister’s death ought to have reached his father’s ears.

He had originally retired back to the old home, aging and frail, without a son to care for him in his twilight years, and now having heard of his daughter’s death, surely even a stone heart should feel some sorrow.

His aged body would surely be further burdened, so he couldn’t remain indifferent.

Thus, he used visiting his stepmother as an excuse to come back to see him.

A lifetime of entanglement, a lifetime of resentment.

With close kin passing away, he had little left to cherish; each departure meant one less.

Thus, his heart opened up and became more forgiving.

Ultimately, it’s best to have a clear conscience, no matter what.

"Mother, you wouldn’t blame me, would you!"

If Mother were still alive, she surely wouldn’t want him to harbor hatred.

In this world, the most burdened lives are surely those filled with resentment.

Mother loved him so dearly, she certainly wouldn’t want that.

...

Xia Jingfeng was clad in a green cloth robe, draped in a black velvet cloak, with cloud-embroidered blue and white boots, standing with hands behind him at the courtyard door, lost in thought looking at the room inside.

Although middle-aged, his back was slightly bent, it didn’t affect his grace at all.

From the back view, he remained as upright as a pine tree.

Just as his thoughts began to drift afar, he suddenly sensed some faint, disorderly footsteps behind him.

"Who?"

He turned cautiously and shouted sternly.

"Me"

"It’s... cough cough! It’s me!"

It turned out to be Old Master Xia.

He approached, wearing a gray-white semi-old cotton jacket, using a willow wood cane, and shod with half-old cotton shoes common to elderly, unsteadily shuffling over.

Xia Jingfeng’s eyes turned first to strangeness, then shock, and finally a deep ache.

His strikingly white hair was piercing.

The sunken eye sockets, his face’s bark-like wrinkles, emaciated hands, and shaky gait.

These were like a sharp dagger glinting coldly, stabbing straight into his heart.

How did it turn out like this?

Although the old home was poor, his elder brother sent silver every year, and he himself never failed to provide food, clothing, and supplies to his stepmother during festivals.

How could he end up like this?

His appearance was no better than a beggar on Jinling Street.

Too worn out, too hunched, too... indescribable.

Xia Jingfeng averted his gaze, unwilling to look straight at him.

Old Master Xia tottered over to him, grabbing his sleeve without reserve, tears of excitement overflowing.

"Jingfeng?"

"Is it you?"

"Have you returned?"

Xia Jingfeng, filled with doubt, still turned and said.

"It’s me, you... can’t see me?"

He suddenly noticed his eyes.

The once clear eyeballs were now muddied, white as if shrouded in fog.

He recalled hearing from others that people at a certain age, their vision becomes unclear.

Perhaps he had contracted this ailment as well.

"Your eyes?!"

Old Master Xia joyfully wiped his tears, dismissing with a wave of his hand.

"They’ve long been unable to see clearly, but don’t worry, the doctor has given medicine, I’m taking it regularly..."

Saying these words took quite a toll on him.

Before he could finish, a bout of breathlessness ensued, the sound of airflow scraping through his lungs was quite harsh.

Xia Jingfeng couldn’t bear it any longer, stepping forward to support him.

"Are you alright? Rest inside for a while!"

Although his tone was stiff and cold, his movements were extremely gentle.

Slowly helping him, occasionally reminding him to mind his step.

Father and son, one tall and one short, one old and one strong, one clad in blue, one in gray white, walked side by side into the courtyard.

...

Xia Jingfeng did not seek out Lady Wen and Tang Xun, instead, he chose a side room to settle his father.

Inside the room, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were conversing.

He too had words to exchange with the one before him.

Old Master Xia had braved the cold, running out to find him, surely not just to stare at one another.

After so many years, some things were also time to let go.

The room was newly arranged, with a brazier lit inside, very warm.

Old Master Xia sat shakily in a soft chair, his anxious demeanor finally showing some relaxation and a smile.

Xia Jingfeng sat down on the other side.

He poured a cup of tea for Old Master Xia and handed it over, then poured himself a cup.

Seeing Old Master Xia hold the teacup with delight, he felt a pang of sadness, unsure of what to say.

Father and son remained silent for a while, until Xia Jingfeng broke the silence.

"Third brother?"

Old Master Xia’s gray white eyes filled with bewilderment, shook his head with some fear, voice aged saying.

"I don’t know!"

Xia Jingfeng noticed that mentioning the third brother made him look anxious and fearful, immediately sensing something amiss.

But as he prepared to inquire deeply.

Suddenly, with a ’bang’, Old Master Xia’s teacup fell to the ground, he shrunk into a ball covering his head, murmuring to himself.

"Don’t hit me, I have silver, I’ll give it, I’ll give!!"

Xia Jingfeng’s eyes turned sharp instantaneously.

Paying no heed he went forward to hold Old Master Xia up, softly soothing.

"It’s alright!"

"I don’t want silver, don’t be afraid!"

As he gently patted his father’s back, he quietly rolled up his sleeve.

On the already withered arm were bruises and black and blue marks, some wounds still seeped blood, others had turned into scabs.

New and old injuries alike, suggesting frequent beatings.

A surge of unspeakable feelings suddenly overran him, standing stunned for a long time, until Old Master Xia’s emotions gradually calmed down, he eased down his sleeve, seated him back in the chair.

Poured him another cup of tea, handed it over, he avoided mentioning the third brother again.

Old Master Xia sensed no malice from the person before him, calmed significantly, and returned to clarity.

"Earlier..."

"Earlier!"

He attempted to explain.

Xia Jingfeng stopped him directly.

"It’s alright, I scared you earlier, it was my mistake!"

Old Master Xia said no more.

Drinking a cup of hot tea, he suddenly started weeping sorrowfully.

Old, a seventy or eighty-year-old man, crying like a child with such grievance.

"What happened?"

Xia Jingfeng asked.

"I!"

Old Master Xia sobbed and sniffled, voice aged and hoarse.

"Jingfeng! Father apologizes to you!"

"For all these years, You’ve been wronged! I’m ashamed to face you!"