The next day, after I returned from the antique store – having closed it early because the city council wanted to repair the damage to the public street that resulted from Lu Bu's battle against Yue Fei yesterday – I was surprised to see a visitor waiting for me at home.
Maybe I should start from the beginning.
Mu Rong Shu was handling the dishes, going through them to see if she should get rid of old ones and replace them with new ones. That was the thing about running an antique shop. We were always getting new pottery, bowls and plates. She decided to just give most of the new ones away as gifts to other people.
It didn't hurt to flatter people from other families then and now, to establish some connections.
Then the doorbell rang. Mu Rong Shu looked up, surprised. She knew it couldn't be me because I had the keys to the house. She wondered who would be visiting during this time of the day. It was barely midday, and she had returned home earlier than I did to handle the shipment of plates and bowls that weren't suitable for sale. Having seen all the repair works taking place outside the store, I figured that we might as well close early, though I stayed for another hour or so to see if there were any customers.
As it turned out, there were none, which was why I went home at the time I did.
Anyway, Mu Rong Shu put down the bowls in the box she took them out from and hurried toward the door. She was shocked to see my mother waiting outside.
Opening the door hesitantly, she bowed politely. "Uh…"
"So you're my daughter-in-law." Mom regarded her severely. This was the first time they had actually met face to face, though no doubt the Zhao family had run several investigations on my background and current lifestyle when my brother was gone.
"Well, yes…I am married to your son." Mu Rong Shu wasn't sure how to address mom. She had the feeling that she would be mad if she called her mother-in-law. Clearly mom didn't approve of her as the daughter-in-law of the Zhao family.
"Do you mind if I come in?" Mom asked.
"I…I'm not sure. My husband might not be too happy…"
"That's why I'm visiting right now, when he's not around. You're the one I wish to talk to."
"Me?" Mu Rong Shu was taken aback. She considered for a few seconds, then nodded and stepped aside to allow mom into the house. Bringing mom to the couch, she made her comfortable and then went off to brew tea and serve it to her. Once she handed over a cup and took a seat opposite mom, she watched her mother-in-law warily. "Do you need me for anything?
"No need to be so up on your guard," mom assured her, sipping tea from her cup. "Don't worry, I'm not here to create trouble."
"Okay, so what are you here for?"
Mom was silent for a moment. She put down her cup and sighed, turning away.
"As you know, I'm trying to bring Huan Shi back to the Zhao family. He must have told you about this already."
"He did."
"And he probably told you that he refuses."
Mu Rong Shu nodded silently. Mom smiled wryly as she turned back to meet her gaze, her fingers tightening on her cup.
"Huan Shi can't hide or run from the Zhao family forever. He will have to come back to us sooner or later."
"Then why did you kick him out in the first place?" Mu Rong Shu asked acidly. Mom flinched and glanced away.
"That wasn't my decision. That was the decision of mother-in-law, the head of the Zhao family. No one can oppose her."
"He was your son."
"Yes." Mom sighed. "Even so, the Zhao family…you know how it is. It's probably similar to the Mu Rong family."
"Not really. I have never heard of grandfather disowning anyone from the Mu Rong family or banishing them because…I don't know, he was afraid that he or she would usurp the heir of his or her position."
Mom winced again and kept her gaze down, clenching her fists atop her knees.
"There is no one else who can succeed as heir to the Zhao family now, other than Huan Shi."
"My husband has no intention of returning to the Zhao family and becoming heir. I'm sure you know that already. And if you're asking me to leave him so that he will, I refuse."
"Not at all." Mom looked up, pain in her eyes. "I have managed to convince mother-in-law. One of the main factors why Huan Shi refuses to come back to us is because his grandmother will probably force him to leave you and marry…someone of a better standing. Someone from a more influential and prestigious family. But obviously he's never going to leave you. The more mother-in-law attempts to force him, the more drastic his response. So I persuaded her to recognize you as the Zhao family's daughter-in-law."
Mu Rong Shu laughed at that. "I can't afford that kind of recognition, I'm sorry."
"Yes, you can," mom said. "The Mu Rong family might not be as prestigious as many of the others, but…because of Huan Wang's stupidity, the imperial family has broken off all ties with us. The daughter of the imperial family has called off her engagement with the Zhao family. Of course, we could look at the Huang family, or the Han family, but the Mu Rong family is still very respected in its own right. Not to mention, you are much stronger than the daughters from all the other families…perhaps because the Mu Rong family practices assassination techniques. If it's strength, there's no doubt that you're at the top of your generation."
"But strength is not what you're looking for, is it?"
"…actually, while it is true that strength is not the sole factor, but it is a very important factor. Which is how I persuaded mother-in-law."
Mu Rong Shu was silent for a moment. "So in return for being recognized as the Zhao family's daughter-in-law, you want me to persuade my husband to return to the Zhao family and succeed as the heir."
"Correct."
"I'm sorry, I won't do it." Mu Rong Shu shook her head. "Even if I did, it's not like my husband will listen to me. Whether he wishes to return to the Zhao family is entirely up to him. I will not influence him either way."
"So if he chooses to return, you won't stop him?" Mom asked, feeling half-relieved and half-frustrated.
"No, I won't. Whatever decision he makes, I'll fully support him."
"…I see." Mom sighed. Then she took another sip of tea, looking thoughtful. "But whatever the case, I will personally recognize only you as my daughter-in-law."
"Thanks, I guess?"
"Well, you'll always have a place in the Zhao family. Both of you. Thank you for taking care of him for the last three years. While we weren't there when he needed us most, he had you. He had the Mu Rong family. It'll be shameless of me to try and tear him away now. I know how shameless it is, but even so…the Zhao family cannot survive without him now."
"Of course it can," I said snidely. "You've been doing so well without me for three years. Hell, the Zhao family has been prospering long before I was born. I don't matter at all."
"What? Huan Shi? When did you…?" Mom spun around, catching sight of me in the foyer. Mu Rong Shu tried not to giggle.
"My husband has been back for quite a while now." She bowed her head. "Welcome back, dear."
"Thanks." I narrowed my eyes at mom. "I've already told you plenty of times. I have no intention of going back to the Zhao family. Approaching my wife won't change that."
"Yes…she's a very good girl. Very supportive of you."
"Why do you think I married her?" I grinned. Okay, perhaps our marriage started off on weird terms, but Mu Rong Shu was the best girl for me.
"I don't know if you've heard me, but I've convinced your grandmother to recognize her as the Zhao family's daughter-in-law. No one will treat her badly in the Zhao household. I can promise that. Besides, given her strength, no one will dare look down on her anyway."
"I'm not that scary," Mu Rong Shu protested, offended. Mom didn't pay attention to that and instead moved on.
"However, there is something you're mistaken about. The Zhao family is in danger of ending its line right now. After the actions of your brother…"
"That's his fault. What does that have to do with me? And there's still the cousins. You don't have to put everything on me."
"Your brother is dead, Huan Shi." Mom finally forced the words out. I blinked, astonished. She nodded. "Yesterday, he was killed. I'm sorry, but your divine dragon…is gone with him."
"…what?"
"The Spirit War has begun. You must know this already, for you've also been attacked by another summoner last night. Your cousins…they aren't strong enough. Huan Zhe has been badly injured, and they will come for him again. Huan Jia simply doesn't share your abilities. Of the many summoner battles that unfolded over the last couple of days…you are the only one in the Zhao family who won. At this rate…all the younger generation of the Zhao family will be…doomed."
I rubbed my head, trying to make sense of what just happened. Why would they attack my brother when he was already crippled? Oh, right. To eliminate his spirit. Even if he couldn't summon my divine dragon, his life was still tied to the spirit. As long as he survived, so would the spirit. That meant he could give it away to someone else in the Zhao family. Just like how I gave away my divine dragon to him three years ago.
Slumping down in the couch, I fought back a surge of rage. My divine dragon…I had promised to get him back, but now I wouldn't be able to. Not unless I searched throughout the world for him. It would take years before I could find him again.
"The Zhao family needs you, Huan Shi," mom said. "And…I hope you can take revenge for your brother."
"Take revenge for my brother?" I scoffed. "The person who robbed me of everything, including my summoned spirit? The bastard who bullied me ever since I was young? The reason why I was disowned and exiled from my own family? Why the fuck would I take revenge for him? You know what he did to me, yet you make such a stupid request? Can you be any more shameless?"
Mom looked away, her hands tightening.
"I know the Zhao family has wronged you. We're very sorry about it. But…if not for revenge or the good of the Zhao family, could you at least consider the material gains? We'll give you all the wealth in the family. All our resources, techniques…even the summoned spirits. Whatever spirits you covet, we'll have your cousins give them to you. Anything you want, we will give you. Just name your price."
"This isn't about material gains or benefits," I told mom fiercely. "The moment the family kicked me out, you broke all bonds of trust. You are asking me to return to a family that I cannot trust, a family who used and discarded me like a tool. How do I know you won't abandon me again if I end up becoming useless or when you find a more suitable heir?"
Placing a hand on the table, I rose to my feet and glared at my mother.
"The whole issue has always been about trust…and the moment the Zhao family betrayed my trust, there is nothing they can do to restore it ever again."