Northern Dynasties

Chapter 1301: Difficulties in Relationship

The fate between people is indeed very wonderful, and often some wonderful connection will be formed unconsciously, but in actual interpersonal relationships, it is rare for things to go against reason. The so-called two-way rush born of fate is nothing more than greed for money and lust.

Although Duke Yuwen Pu of Qi and Duke Gao Xi of Linzhang were born from the same mother, it was not so easy to resolve the feud between the two families. Even though the reason for their years of fighting each other no longer existed, the memories of past events still stood as a barrier between the two families.

Therefore, Gao Wei's trip to visit the Duke of Qi's mansion to find his relatives was not warm at all, and was even a bit sad and embarrassing.

Gao Wei was still quite conflicted. As the son of Gao Huan, he found it difficult to accept the demise of Northern Qi. Even after Yecheng had fallen, he still held on to Jizhou until he was captured due to his exhaustion.

However, with the change of the general trend and environment, he gradually recognized and accepted the facts. Especially after arriving in Chang'an, the court still treated them, the remnants of a fallen nation, with courtesy, which made Gao Wei willing to live an obedient life under the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

However, Gao Xi was still relatively unfamiliar and repulsive to his biological mother, Xiao Erzhu. But out of a sense of morality and filial piety, since the mother and son already lived in the same city, he could not pretend to be ignorant.

As his life in Chang'an stabilized, Gao Wei sent people to the Duke of Qi's mansion to deliver gifts, and his mother, Xiao Erzhu, also arranged for return gifts. However, neither the mother nor the son asked to meet each other, probably because they both felt a little awkward and resistant to this reunion after many years of separation.

If it weren't for his nephew Gao Yanzong, Gao Xi actually didn't want to visit his mother, but now this is one of the few ways they can still hope for. No matter what emotions they have in their hearts, they can only suppress them for the time being and give it a try.

Gao Wei has been delivering visiting cards to the Duke of Qi's mansion for several days, but he received no reply on previous occasions. It was not until today that he received a reply allowing him to visit, and there was a strict restriction that he had to visit within the hour of Mao, and no one would be allowed after that time.

This made Gao Wei somewhat ashamed and angry, but for the sake of his nephew's life, he still ordered his family to prepare generous gifts and went to visit the Duke of Qi's Mansion. In order to arrive on time, he went there immediately as soon as the gate opened.

When Gao Xi arrived at Yongxingfang where the Duke of Qi's mansion was located, and saw teams of high-ranking officials marching out of the square and heading towards the imperial city, he vaguely understood that the other party asked him to visit within the hour of Mao in order to take advantage of the intervals between those high-ranking officials attending court and avoid the eyes and ears of the crowd.

After realizing the other party's intentions, Gao Xi's expectations for this visit dropped sharply, but since he was already there, he still went to the door of Duke Qi's mansion and ordered the servants to deliver the business card and gifts together.

There were already servants waiting for them here. When Gao Wei and his party arrived, they immediately led them into the house and sent them to the hall in the side yard.

After Gao Wei entered the hall, he saw a middle-aged noblewoman with a graceful posture and great charm sitting in the hall. However, Gao Wei had been separated from his mother when he was very young, and he had no impression of her. When the servant introduced her as the lady of the mansion, Gao Wei hurriedly bowed to greet her. However, when it came to addressing her, he was a little stuck. After hesitating for a moment, he softly said, "Amodun..."

After Gao Xi entered the hall, Xiao Erzhu was also staring at her son who had been separated for many years. After hearing Gao Xi's name, her thoughts were suddenly brought back to reality. She sighed and said, "Although I had a connection with Lord Linzhang before, it was a pity that the connection was shallow and not deep. Although you were born in my intestines, you were raised and grown up after you were born. It has nothing to do with me. I am also ashamed to accept this kindness. I am here to visit you now, and I will just treat you with the courtesy of ordinary people."

"Yes, yes! I am the illegitimate offspring of Bohai Gao family. My father's taboo name is Huan, and I am the foster mother of Enci You family. I would like to greet the Madam of Qi country!"

No matter what kind of entanglement there was before, when the mother and son really met, Gao Wei heard that this lady didn't even want him to call her mother. He felt very sad and indignant for a moment. He said the names of his father and adoptive mother at the same time, pretending to draw a clear line between himself and his biological mother.

If an ordinary woman saw this scene, she would probably burst into tears. But Xiao Erzhu was not an ordinary woman after all. The bizarre and rich life experiences she had were probably rare in the world.

Hearing her son's angry and resolute words, a trace of sadness flashed across Xiao Erzhu's eyes, but she soon returned to normal and sighed, "Mr. Linzhang is no longer an ignorant young man, and he has just suffered the loss of his country and his family. He really shouldn't be so impulsive.

You have experienced the dangers of this world. In the past, you have held high positions and held great power, and you walked the world with high spirits, but you still could not avoid the same fate as now.

I am just a woman, I follow the strong and go with the flow. The reason why I live in the court now is just because of the legacy left by my late husband. What qualifications do I have to care about more people and things?" Her tone was calm and her words were frank. For a moment, Gao Xi, who was indignant at his mother's coldness and ruthlessness, felt guilty and thought that what he said just now was a bit too much.

He lowered his head to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, then bowed his head and said, "I have been out of control and offended Madam Tai. Please forgive me. After I understood the situation, I did have the thought of feeding my parents, but I was sad about the long separation and didn't know where to go... When I arrived in Chang'an and knew where my relatives were, I was both happy and worried. I was relieved that Madam Tai was living in peace, but I felt sorry for myself for not being able to fulfill my filial duty."

Although she was calmer and more self-controlled than other women, Xiao Erzhu's heart was somewhat moved when she heard her son's words. She showed a gentle smile on her face and said to Gao Xi, "I am also very pleased that Lord Linzhang came to visit you today. You came so early in the morning, so I guess you didn't have any food. The palace gave you some food a few days ago, and some of it was fresh from Yezhong. I asked my servants to bring it to you, hoping it would ease your homesickness."

As she was talking, Xiao Erzhu gave a few instructions to the servants, and soon the servant brought a food box and placed the food inside on the small table in front of Gao Wei.

Gao Xi smelled the familiar aroma of food, and his eyes suddenly turned red. When he picked up the chopsticks to pick up the food, he looked up at Xiao Erzhu and said respectfully: "Ah... If Madam misses the old taste of Ye, I will ask someone to..."

Before Gao Xi finished speaking, Xiao Erzhu waved her hand and said, "The food in Yezhong is not the delicacies that people will miss. I have been in Guanzhong for more than ten years and have long been accustomed to the local climate and customs. I don't need to bother Lord Linzhang with such trivial matters."

After hearing this, Gao Xi was silent for a long time. The Yezhong delicacies on the table in front of him also became tasteless. After a while, he stood up and bowed in front of Xiao Erzhu's table, saying in a hoarse voice: "Madam Tai has profound experience and is well-versed in human affairs. I am short-sighted and ignorant. It is really difficult for me to reach her level. Although I, a poor man, feel grateful for the kindness of my flesh and blood, I am unable to make any contribution due to my limited ability.

Such an ugly person in the world should not have any more greed, but because his clan members are plagued by disasters, it is difficult to redeem themselves. I only beg the Madam to pity this disgusting person and let him go, and speak for justice. Regardless of whether the matter succeeds or not, I will be grateful to you. I will not dare to disturb you again in this life, and I will repay this kindness in the next life!"

After hearing what Gao Wei said, Xiao Erzhu frowned deeply. As she said, she had forgotten all about the past in Guandong and didn't want to be involved anymore.

Even for Gao Xi, the son she gave birth to after ten months of pregnancy, she didn't have too many concerns in her heart, after all, the mother and son had almost no time to spend together. Naturally, she didn't have any feelings for Gao Huan, otherwise he wouldn't have caused chaos in the inner house.

Now facing her son's plea, she thought for a moment before speaking again: "Linzhang Lord doesn't have to keep talking about repaying kindness. Your nephew committed a crime in the street, so it is reasonable that he should be punished. I live in my house and rarely go out, but you came to disturb me because of the past pregnancy. You have your own opinion on whether friendship is light or heavy. In this life, I still know that our fate is shallow, and I dare not hope for the next life.

I have repeatedly advised you, but you still tell me your intention, which shows that you really have no other plan. But I am not a powerful person in the court. If you are summoned to the palace to meet the queen and other nobles in the near future, I can help you with some advice. You don't have to say anything in return, but if you can leave me a quiet time before we meet, I will be grateful to you. Go home and taste the food on the table, I really don't have the mood to face you again. Take back the gifts and goods, and use them to supplement the family expenses, so that you don't have to waste them on idle people and trivial matters. "

After saying this, Xiao Erzhu pushed the table away and walked out of the hall to the back house. Gao Xi stood in the side hall, staring at his mother's back as she left. When the servants of Duke Qi's mansion put the food on the table into the food box and put it in front of him, he turned around, bowed several times in the direction where his mother left, and then stood up, feeling lost and walked out of the mansion under the guidance of the servants.

At this time, a group of young men in fancy clothes and on fine horses were riding past the gate of Duke Qi's mansion. When they saw Gao Xi carrying a food box out of the mansion, a young man in the group snorted coldly, "This mansion is really popular. People come to visit every morning. This guy has a miserable face. Who are you waiting for?"

This young man was Yuwen Zhi, the son of Yuwen Tai. Although he was a brother of Duke of Qi Yuwen Pu, he had always had a bad relationship with the Duke of Qi because he was angry that his father's title was taken away by his younger brother. Seeing that there were visitors coming in and out of the Duke of Qi's mansion early in the morning, he couldn't help but sneer.

Gao Xi was not a well-known figure in Chang'an City, but due to his special background, some people knew him. One of the playboys took a closer look and exclaimed in surprise: "This is the son of the Eastern Bandit He Liuhun. How dare he come to the Duke of Qi's mansion!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Zhi glared and said, "Brothers quarrel within the walls, but we should defend ourselves from external insults! This villain is taking advantage of the fact that there is no one at home, and how dare he come to disturb us? Chase him and let him know what kind of world Chang'an is in!"

Never forget the national humiliation, we must become stronger!!!