After seeing off her father, Zhu Changle sat back down beside her eldest brother and lay on the table, looking at him with a pitiful expression.
Zhu Changwang turned to face her very seriously, "What's wrong?"
"Tang Ming said I'm just a passerby."
Zhu Changwang smiled, "Do you think you are?"
"I didn't feel that way before he mentioned it, but after he said it, I started thinking. It seems all my plans revolve around fixing Yunbei's problems and then leaving to travel. I really don't have any sense of belonging to Yunbei, so he's not wrong in calling me a passerby."
"Does this bother you?"
Zhu Changle nodded.
Zhu Changwang rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment, "Why does it bother you? You've never cared about such things before."
Zhu Changle rested her chin on her hands, tapping it up and down, and after a while said: "Probably because everyone is working hard for the same cause, and they've all become part of it, yet I'm the only one who remains an outsider. I don't like feeling separated from everyone when we're all doing the same thing! Moreover, Father is here, you're here, Second Brother is here... all my family members are involved, so why am I just a passerby? That won't do - I need to be part of it too, standing together with everyone."
Zhu Changwang brushed her messy hair behind her ears, "Would that make you happy?"
"Yes."
"Then become part of it, make Yunbei another hometown you can care about."
Zhu Changwang ruffled her hair like he used to when she was little. Sometimes he missed those years before she left with Master Zhong. The tiny child would love to sit by his leg; he would go about his business while she sat quietly, not making any fuss, entertaining herself with a few stones for hours. When tired, she would hug his leg to sleep, refusing to let anyone else carry her away. Unable to bear seeing her sleep uncomfortably, they eventually added a small bed to the room. When sleepy, she would climb into it herself, hugging her little blanket and sleeping sweetly.
He still clearly remembered how he felt when he let her leave back then. The more he understood about the filth beneath the glamour, the more he feared his little sister would have to struggle within one of those families as she grew up, from youth to old age, losing all her vitality. All the beautiful moments he treasured would eventually fade away bit by bit. For a time, he would wake from nightmares of his grown-up sister being bullied, unable to fall back asleep.
Even without Master Zhong, he would have found another way to send her away.
Looking at Changle now, how wonderful she had become, still as vibrant as ever, not forced to lose her happiness through marriage, having her own thoughts and the ability to turn them into reality. She had learned skills not just to protect herself, but also to protect her family, thwarting the Prime Minister's plans.
She would feel sad about being called a passerby, and would willingly become involved because her family was there - who couldn't love such a Changle?
From this thought of 'who,' Zhu Changwang thought of Qiuli, and he gently asked, "Will Qiuli come back?"
"Probably not, he has no reason to come back anymore!" Zhu Changle sat up straight, propping her cheeks with both hands, her tone changing, "I'm becoming involved because my family is here, but he's truly a passerby, and doesn't even have a reason to become involved."
Seeing everything so clearly - Zhu Changwang felt somewhat relieved seeing she didn't seem to have any particular thoughts about it. If there were still attachments, it would have both advantages and disadvantages for Changle. She was only sixteen, and unlike in noble families where girls would be considered old maids at her age, in the martial arts world, there was no rush at her age.
The old monk's medicine was effective, and she no longer needed to keep running to the latrine, but her stomach still felt uncomfortable. During dinner, Zhu Changle didn't enjoy her food, barely finishing a bowl before retiring early without her usual running around - this was extremely unusual for her.
The Old Madam and Lady Zhang called Aunt Feng to inquire, while Zhu Changwang directly had Zuo Qing invite Tang Ming over, and only then learned about her stomach troubles.
Putting that matter aside, Zhu Changwang looked at the man still wearing his fake beard, "Yunbei is indeed a place blessed with talented people and favorable geography."
Having interacted with him several times, Tang Ming knew this man's thoughts ran deep, and every word he spoke could have multiple layers of meaning. He didn't dare to be careless and cautiously agreed.
"That's why I admire Lord Luo's persistence, and admire the dedication of everyone in this place, giving their all for an uncertain outcome." Zhu Changwang smiled slightly, "Their roots are here, their clan is here, their loved ones are here - this is almost everything a person can have. It's only right to give everything to protect it, wouldn't you agree, Doctor Tang?"
Tang Ming stood up and bowed in agreement, understanding why the eldest young master was warning him.
"None of the Zhu family are truly part of this place. Our roots, our clan, our relatives are all in the Capital City, and we will return there eventually. To Yunbei, we are indeed passersby."
Tang Ming wanted to defend himself but felt any explanation would be unconvincing, so he simply lowered his head and listened.
"However, my father is currently the magistrate of Yunbei, and he has the responsibility to solve Yunbei's problems during his term and ensure the people under his governance live well, which he will certainly accomplish. So please, Doctor Tang, don't try to constrain Changle with any words. Though she seems carefree, her master has taught her to have a sense of justice and to understand and empathize with the common people's hardships. Since coming here, she has been busier than anyone else. I know my weakness and have somewhat taken advantage of her, so she has taken on responsibilities that should have been mine. Even as a passerby, she will certainly be a good one who upholds justice and helps the weak."
"Yes, I was wrong."
Zhu Changwang stared at him steadily, "How Changle chooses to act is her own business. If anyone tries to manipulate her, I won't let them off easily."
"Yes." Tang Ming bowed deeply, "It won't happen again."
After Zuo Qing showed him out and returned, he said softly, "Don't be angry, Young Master. Fourth Miss might have seen through it already."
"She certainly saw through it, but the fact that she took it to heart is also true." Zhu Changwang rubbed his brow. He knew he was being contradictory - having made her the main force in this matter meant she would inevitably face such things, yet privately he wished she could avoid it all and just be happy and carefree. But how could one have it both ways?
After a night's rest, Zhu Changle was back to her energetic self the next morning, practicing martial arts as usual and bouncing around without a moment's stillness. This made Lady Zhang keep her concerns to herself - if her daughter didn't want the family to know, she would pretend not to notice.
"Mother, I'm going!" After pouring an entire plate of salted beans that the servant brought into her pocket, Zhu Changle bid farewell to her mother.
Lady Zhang didn't ask where she was going, just stepped forward to straighten her clothes and smooth her hair, "Is Aunt Feng going with you?"
"Yes."
"I feel at ease with her accompanying you." Lady Zhang pinched her daughter's cheek, "Come back early."
"I know!" Zhu Changle hugged her mother, stuffed her pocket full, and ran off with her bulging bundle.
