Chapter 47: Showing Filial Piety
“Thank you, Old Madam.” Wen Mingqian gracefully rose.
“Come here,” Old Madam Gong gestured for her to approach.
Wen Mingqian obeyed and stepped forward, while Old Madam Gong directly raised her hand and lifted Wen Mingqian’s left sleeve.
Three inches above her wrist were dense scars, varying in length and overlapping with new and old wounds, a shocking sight.
Everyone who saw them gasped, but Wen Mingqian remained with lowered eyes, as still as water.
“These wounds…” Seeing the scars on Wen Mingqian’s arm, Old Madam Gong no longer doubted. “These eighty volumes of sutras were copied by draining the blood of two living people!”
“Grandmother, Mother copied the sutras with great piety. Not only did she fast year-round, but she would always burn incense and kowtow before copying, only then would she pick up her brush.
With every character copied, she recited a Buddhist chant, praying for the Buddha’s blessing to protect Grandmother’s peace and health,” Gong Changan explained for his mother. “Mother intended to copy the sutras for Grandmother from the very beginning, it wasn’t a sudden whim.
The reason we returned without notice this time, besides the plague being truly terrifying, was also because the sutras were completed, but we couldn’t find a reliable person to escort them back to the capital.
Grandmother, your grandson knows that you are the most loving person in this world. If a cat or dog were injured or hungry outside, they would naturally run home for shelter.
Mother and I are the same; when we truly couldn’t bear it any longer, the only ones we could turn to were Grandmother and Father.”
“Oh, Old Madam, listen to how pitiful this child speaks,” Madam Wei said, wiping away tears. “I suppose Sister-in-law, after becoming a mother herself, understood the hardships of being a parent even more.
She understood that Old Madam truly meant her well. Actions speak louder than words. This chest of sutras is enough to show Sister-in-law’s sincerity.”
“Thank you, Sister-in-law, for your understanding. Although I have written these eighty volumes of sutras, I still feel a sense of debt,” Wen Mingqian said with a bitter smile, shaking her head slightly. “I only hope Old Madam will pity us, mother and son, and allow us to stay by your side and fulfill our filial duties.”
What followed was a period of silence, as if even the wind outside the window had stopped.
“As the saying goes, ‘Don’t just look at the monk, look at the Buddha.’” Old Madam Gong spoke. “Putting aside these sutras, I cannot bear to part with this grandson either. Fine, since you have sincerity and filial piety, how could I make things difficult for you?”
Old Madam Gong was originally unhappy about Wen Mingqian’s sudden return.
However, she also knew that since the person had returned, she couldn’t simply turn her away without reason.
As Wen Mingqian said, Gong Changan was, after all, the blood of the Gong Family; how could he be left to wander outside for so long?
She herself had suggested bringing the child back years ago, but Gong Xu had repeatedly refused to agree, causing the delay until Gong Changan was seven years old.
Before she had seen Gong Changan, she hadn’t thought much of it. Now, seeing how sensible and lovable the child was, she couldn’t help but regret her past decisions.
Moreover, Wen Mingqian had given her ample room to save face. Previously, she had disliked Wen Mingqian’s unyielding temperament, but now it seemed that these seven years had tempered her into a much more sensible person.
Furthermore, it was truly improper for the second branch to have a concubine acting as the main wife for so long.
Wen Mingqian was the legitimate wife, and her return would prevent gossip.
“Thank you, Old Madam!” Wen Mingqian curtsied. “Your daughter-in-law will certainly fulfill her filial duties and serve her mother-in-law.”
“Changan thanks Grandmother. Grandmother has accepted Mother’s gift, please also accept your grandson’s gift,” Gong Changan said.
“Oh, you little rascal, what good thing do you have to give me?” Old Madam Gong asked with a smile.
Gong Changan took out a carved sandalwood figurine from his embrace and held it carefully in his hands, saying, “Grandmother, this is a small statue of you that your grandson carved himself.”
“Let me see,” Old Madam Gong took it and examined it closely.
Madam Wei also leaned in to look and laughed, “You know, it really does look like her.”
Everyone else who looked also thought it was quite similar.
At this moment, Consort Song was bursting with anger. She hadn’t expected Wen Mingqian to win over the Old Madam, who had initially disliked her intensely, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
How did she come up with the idea of copying blood sutras? Why didn’t she bleed herself dry!
And this Gong Changan, so young yet so glib-tongued, coaxing the old woman into a daze, completely forgetting what happened seven years ago!
Seeing everyone praising Gong Changan’s skill and how lifelike the carved figurine was, she could no longer hold back and said, “I truly didn’t expect Fourth Young Master to have such ability at such a young age. But he hasn’t met Old Madam before, so how did he carve it?”
“Since I can remember, Mother has drawn portraits of Grandmother and Father for me to look at often. Mother said that although I cannot fulfill my filial duties by Grandmother and Father’s side due to her pure cultivation, I should still know their appearances. This way, when I meet Grandmother and Father again, I won’t feel like strangers, but rather feel a sense of closeness,” Gong Changan, who could clearly discern Consort Song’s meaning and knew she was publicly questioning him, replied. “If Concubine doesn’t believe me, I can carve another one in front of everyone.”
Saying this, he took out a carving knife and a small piece of wood from his pouch and quickly carved a human face.
The wood he carved for Old Madam Gong was sandalwood, while the piece in his hand was ordinary peach wood, which was softer and quicker to carve.
Upon seeing the human face he carved, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
A round, plump head, dead eyes, and a toad-like mouth – who else could it be but Zhang Ma?
“Look how much this child resembles Yu’an when he was little, just as mischievous and just as good at charming people,” Madam Wei said, pinching Gong Changan’s cheek. “But your Brother Yu’an is older now; he’s either studying or traveling every day and can’t always be by Old Madam’s side. Now that you’re back, Old Madam has a source of joy again.”
Consort Song had returned in a huff, so she walked exceptionally fast, neglecting even the composure she usually deliberately maintained.
Old Madam Gong said she was tired and asked everyone to withdraw.
However, she kept Gong Changan by her side, saying he would live with her.
When had she ever kept Gong Bao’an by her side?
All along, her favorites had only been the two sons of the main house. While she didn’t dislike the children she had given birth to, she didn’t value them as much.
That was fine; after all, she had grown accustomed to it over the years. But why should Gong Changan, whom she had just met, be so favored?
He didn’t have four eyes or six ears; how was he better than Gong Bao’an?
“Little Madam, Little Madam, slow down, you’re pregnant now!” Granny Yang followed Consort Song, saying with concern.
“What’s so great about it? They didn’t care for me anyway, didn’t you see? You say I’m pregnant, and that old woman just grunted and sent me back to rest,” Consort Song said indignantly. “They have plenty of grandchildren, they don’t care!”
“Little Madam, speak softly, be careful someone overhears,” Granny Yang whispered. “What about Master’s affairs? Old Madam and the others don’t know yet!”
“Hmph!” Consort Song stopped and glared venomously towards the east, saying, “No one will have an easy time! Find a way to leak the news, let them worry and fret along with us!”
