Mo Xiuyan only took a sip of the sweet rice porridge Mo Jiuye fed him. The warm rice porridge entered his belly, and the usually strong man actually shed tears.
This was the first time Mo Jiuye saw his eldest brother shed tears. His heart seemed to bleed along with it.
"Fourth brother, everything will get better. If Mother and Fourth Sister-in-law know you are still alive, they will definitely be very happy."
Mo Xiuyan showed a bitter smile: "Now I'm a cripple. Going back will only become a burden on my family. It's better if I die early."
"Fourth brother, don't think like that. Believe in He Zhiran, she will definitely cure you." Mo Jiuye would not allow his fourth brother to have such self-abandoning thoughts.
Knowing that the ninth brother was distressed seeing him like this, Mo Xiuyan tried his best to squeeze out a smile: "Okay, I'll listen to ninth brother."
No matter what, even if it was just to see his family again before he died, it would be good.
Unfortunately, he would be unable to serve his mother on her deathbed in this lifetime, and could no longer accompany his young wife.
These were just Mo Xiuye's inner thoughts. He could not let his dispirited thoughts affect his ninth brother's mood.
Mo Jiuye forcibly held back his tears and fed Mo Xiuye bowl by bowl of rice porridge.
At this time, Shun Zi who had gone to buy supplies also returned.
This guy was quite sensible. In addition to a large iron pot, he also bought some grain and vegetables.
Anyway, he was just looking for an excuse to send Shun Zi away, so it didn't matter what he brought back.
Shun Zi put everything in place, then came to Mo Xiuye's room, gesturing to indicate that he would take care of him.
Mo Jiuye didn't plan on leaving yet as he hadn't asked his fourth brother about his experiences, so he sent Shun Zi away.
Shun Zi obediently left, and Mo Jiuye sat down on the edge of Mo Xiuye's bed.
"Fourth brother, what have you experienced all these years?"
Recalling the experiences of recent years, Mo Xiuye's eyes were filled with sorrow.
At this time, he still didn't know that the Mo Family had already been ordered by Emperor Shunwu to have their property confiscated and exiled. He thought Mo Jiuye was here on some border mission and coincidentally discovered him.
"With such a prince, the kingdom is in danger..."
Seeing his fourth brother like this but still concerned about the kingdom, Mo Jiuye had mixed feelings.
"Fourth brother, I'll tell you about it slowly later. Our family is now living very well in the northwest, and Mother is very healthy."
"I want to know now what you've experienced all these years?"
Mo Xiuye tried his best to digest the recent situation at home before slowly speaking.
"Back then, Nan Heng followed me to guard the southern border. After a great victory in one battle, he insisted on chasing the southern border soldiers against advice. I saw he wouldn't listen to dissuasion and was worried he'd be in danger, so I led a team to support him.
By then, Nan Heng had already entered the trap set by the southerners. My soldiers and I fought desperately to save him and escape. Later as I desperately fled the scene, already heavily injured, I accidentally ran to the edge of a cliff.
With so many enemies, and me already crippled, I had no chance against them. To avoid becoming a prisoner, I chose to jump off the cliff.
I broke both legs from the fall and couldn't leave there. I could only hope Nan Heng would quickly send people to find me. But before Da Shun's search party arrived, I was found by the southern soldiers who captured me back.
At that time, I knew I couldn't escape death.
Unexpectedly, I had just been carried up from the ravine before being drugged unconscious again. When I woke up, I found myself lying in a cave."
Hearing this, Mo Jiuye couldn't help but ask: "Were they going to curse you?"
Mo Xiuye nodded: "I did accidentally overhear their conversation.
They said my legs were now crippled beyond healing, so cursing me would be of no use. They might as well send me to be held in the manor, where I may come in handy if needed.
Not long after, they severed my arm tendons, covered my head in black cloth, and brought me to where you found me.
That place never saw daylight, I don't know how long I lay there."
After listening to his fourth brother's account, Mo Jiuye fiercely smashed the room's only wooden table with his fist.
The wooden table disintegrated on impact, fragments shooting in all directions.
This showed how furious he was to use such force.
"Fourth brother, I, Mo Jiuye, swear I will find the people who persecuted our Mo men, and tear them into eight pieces, quarter them..."
He Zhiran went up and stroked his chest: "Finding Fourth Brother is a good thing, don't ruin your health being angry over those villains."
Mo Jiuye's body still trembled slightly. He grasped He Zhiran's small hand and solemnly said, "I know."
Having said so much, Mo Xiuye felt somewhat exhausted and had already fallen deeply asleep.
Mo Jiuye looked at the sky, there was still some time before dark. He called Shun Zi to take care of Fourth Brother, while he and He Zhiran rested in the space for a while.
Counting it, they had barely closed their eyes for two days. He was strong and could take it, but was worried it would be too taxing on his wife's body.
He Zhiran was indeed a little tired. If it wasn't for everything going on keeping her conscious alert, she would have been visiting Mr. Sandman long ago.
Finally able to relax for a bit, she had to replenish her energy to avoid dozing off during their night action.
Ever since finding Mo Xiuye, Mo Jiuye had been in a tense state. Relaxing now, he still had no sleepiness at all.
But he knew there was no telling what would happen tonight, so he had to force himself to conserve his energy.
He held He Zhiran as they lay on the comfortable big bed, resting with eyes closed.
Until the sky outside had darkened, Mo Jiuye had no choice but to wake his sleeping beauty.
He Zhiran groggily yawned and murmured, "What time is it?"
Mo Jiuye gently replied, "It's almost the hour of Xu."
"Ah? It's this late already. Why didn't you wake me sooner? Fourth brother still needs to take medicine, and can't eat just anything."
Speaking, He Zhiran had already nimbly jumped off the bed. She first cooked some porridge in the kitchen. After a simple meal with Mo Jiuye, they left the space together.
Mo Xiuye was awake now. Knowing these past few days must have been tiring for his ninth brother and sister-in-law, he didn't have Shun Zi disturb them.
