Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery ButterflyihIPfaNcLvjOSMjOGozBbZyVzSAjal

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The Jin family was turned upside down overnight!JmBLQkdCcqsMxTgDgFRWAfiQRJBXmH

Xiao Bao was roughly thrown to the ground in his sleep. Through his half-squinted eyes, he could barely make out a blurry figure raising a thick black object and bringing it down towards him. He opened his mouth to shout, but before he could make a sound, the object struck his side, numbing half his body. Xiao Bao screamed in pain, rolling on the ground as the object repeatedly hit him.AQuvNFgYOrWqxcfHMwNETnvqzRDDXD

It wasn’t until he heard a familiar voice—his mother’s—that he could open his eyes. He saw her kneeling with a thud, crying out, “Master, master, stop! I beg you, stop! Are you really going to beat him to death?”HLzpaSFJuFBCYHTzgCuYGyDjNxDocV

Only then did Xiao Bao manage to open his eyes fully and see that the person wielding the zitan cane was his father. The room was brightly lit from the lanterns outside, and there were constant sounds of people talking. His father’s face was twisted and pale, illuminated by the lights. His elderly eyes were full of anger and bitterness. His mother knelt before his father, clutching his sleeve. Zhao Cai and Jin Bao stood nearby, their eyes red and faces ashen.ADjKlDefTKkeFIRhtYSxznEyKXpDEM

Xiao Bao’s mind was a blank. Throughout his life, he had caused countless troubles of varying sizes. Even when his father was furious and threatened to use family punishment, the worst he had ever done was smack Xiao Bao’s bottom with a shoe. He had never actually hurt him. What could have made his father this angry? Xiao Bao was lost in confusion; his memories and understanding seemed disconnected. He didn’t know what had happened.MAxluVBlXvaXaVYdNTiXUmyedcFMgb

He saw his father panting heavily, shaking off his mother’s hand, and raising the cane high. His voice was filled with sorrow and trembling, “Today, I’m going to beat this unfilial son to death! Beat this useless thing to death!”DBiIZBUYuTLsbMrkinRFHEFkzpAqpZ

Then his mother crawled up from the ground and threw herself on him, turning back to his father, crying out, “If you want to beat someone, beat me to death first. How can you blame it all on Xiao Bao? What does he know! It’s all our sin! It’s all our sin!!”XfigyAjatEfRmIFNyJJDAXOlGEeYVC

His father seemed to be drained of all his strength in an instant. His legs gave way, and he nearly fell to the ground. Zhao Cai Jin Bao hurriedly supported him and helped him to the chair.SbwmwhNCJHcBaITTARBRhFbrrCKmIJ

Xiao Bao’s head was buzzing, and he looked at his mother with unfocused eyes, asking in a daze, “Mother, what’s going on? What’s going on?”jYdaWRvIBBHZyjahmdMBjwVqQXeMtZ

Lady Jin, her face full of tears, slapped him, “Do you know whom you have brought in? Do you know whom you have brought back!! The Jin family is finished!!” She cried bitterly, holding him.BgbvYgdtaUldrVoOEXslmxtXPMnkXV

A white flash appeared before his eyes, and something seemed to explode in his chest. Instinctively, he knew what his mother was talking about. It was that person, the one who had been so gentle and tender with him, and then vanished without a trace. Zong Zheng Huai En……oqxQqyBakOwKWSHyImjSVjdbuyPaRf

Zong Zheng was a royal surname, but why tell him all this now? What had happened to his family? Who exactly was Huai En? What had he gone through from beginning to end?YNVVquRIVCCnIuxkCMTJIsJgYBFQzq

Xiao Bao shook his mother’s shoulders, “Mother, what happened? I don’t understand. What happened? Tell me, what’s wrong with the Jin family? What happened to Huai En? Tell me what’s going on!!”HEUhHxSygQqVpNFMirppVLLVzDAmsd

Lady Jin sighed deeply, wiped her tears, and looked at Xiao Bao with a trembling voice, “Mother doesn’t have time to explain. That person took the account book and Xiao Yu. The Emperor has sent the Imperial Envoy Li Gongxiang, and he is near Suzhou City. You must leave with Zhao Cai Jin Bao immediately, head north, and the Su family will help you. Never come back.”tUgFqjhMVgxKDvPxaXOnTslEFmbbdL

“Mother, what are you saying? What account book? What happened to Xiao Yu? Why did he take Xiao Yu? What Imperial Envoy? I don’t understand, Mother. What are you talking about!!”HzoAMkoQprwAwusjjVKqnbhMdIoggY

Just the day before, everything had been peaceful and harmonious, but overnight, it had all turned into chaos. He couldn’t bear this sudden change. Huai En had the royal surname? Xiao Yu was taken away by him? The Jin family was finished? His parents wanted him to leave? What was happening to this world??WfGAZPKnDwklsJScnaiZQegMivOMCl

His mother grabbed the cloth bag on the table and pushed it into his arms, crying out sorrowfully, “You must go, leave now, or it will be too late. Forget everything from before. Consider your parents dead.”cnTseeWDgCFKPvtETMbvGbndqZJnQt

Xiao Bao staggered up from the ground, shaking his head continuously, “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mother. I’m not leaving. What happened? Father?” Xiao Bao threw himself at his father’s side, “Father?? What happened? The Jin family was fine. What happened?”JtsJVjHQjsxkMnEYFjDcpXNLdbxfoz

Master Jin held Xiao Bao’s face, tears streaming down his old cheeks, “Xiao Bao, Father shouldn’t have hit you. The Jin family is finished. Father can’t protect you anymore. You must leave quickly. You are the only heir of the Jin family. The line cannot end.”XiEHfyZpfbmzaeaKSBVMRYiWWZimjd

Xiao Bao felt the world spinning, as if the entire world was collapsing. The sudden, unexpected upheaval left him at a loss. Instinctively, he couldn’t believe it, “What happened? Why won’t you tell me anything? You want me to leave? Where should I go? This is my home. Where should I go? I’m not leaving!! Zhao Cai! Jin Bao!! Do you know what happened?? Tell me, what happened!! Speak!!! Speak!!!!”FzimJVEpgCfWUBfOYithLCclMfonxi

Zhao Cai could only shake his head with tears in his eyes, “Young Master, there’s no time to explain. We must leave quickly. Staying here means death!!”kQxYqkEHHilJytbjDLeAVtNacgYhXx

Xiao Bao shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you talking about! The Jin family is wealthy and powerful. Who dares to execute us! What nonsense are you talking about! Father! Mother!!”TDFLJQmMzGeafQVqISiCIUYlwFpqkO

Lady Jin picked up the cloth bag and hung it on Xiao Bao’s shoulder, continually pushing him towards the door. “Son, Li Gongxiang has been sent by the Emperor with a secret decree to investigate the Fu Run Chamber of Commerce for smuggling private salt and mining private ores. He has been secretly stationed in Jiangnan for over a month, waiting for conclusive evidence. Now that the account book has been stolen, it’s all over. He is about to enter the city, and the Jin family is about to be wiped out. Do you understand? You are still so young. Mother can’t watch you die. You must go. Please, for the sake of your father and me, leave now!!!!”LpYwMwAKGcMttFfOaZzDMFyakfWZzx

Xiao Bao stumbled and fell to the ground. Zhao Cai and Jin Bao grabbed his arms, trying to drag him out. Somehow, Xiao Bao found the strength to break free from their grip. He looked around his familiar room, at the familiar furnishings, and his familiar family members, all suddenly seeming like strangers. “What…… Li…… Gongxiang…… who…… Fu Run Chamber of Commerce? I’ve never heard of it…… What private salt…… private ores…… that’s punishable by death…… The Jin family does legitimate business…… Father, Mother, what are you talking about……”rZiiLVFPdgzvkNtEYRrusuFodosIbT

He saw his parents turn their heads away in sorrow and shame. Xiao Bao’s mind went blank. He turned and pushed open the door, staggering out. The once bustling and prosperous Jin mansion had become desolate in the blink of an eye. He could even hear the voices gradually fading away, feeling the air suddenly turn cold. His father, leaning on a cane, walked up behind him, choked with emotion, “Father has dismissed everyone in the mansion. Staying means death…… Xiao Bao, Father is sorry. From now on, you can’t be the young master. Go to the Su family. They will take care of you and keep you safe. It’s almost dawn. You must go.”nBUdFEfvFjHrqmjtDjijBzEggjFsFZ

Xiao Bao turned around, tears streaming down his cheeks, his eyes hollow, “Father…… was it Huai En who took that…… account book?”mEMGTqPwtjUXgKkkoaiVMHCbOXXcXR

Master Jin nodded.RvngJgMwJZjXoghMCnPxmRgWSebeOC

“It was all…… planned?”FJNssGIdqGVzDFKeuqdpTpZqGvhvKd

“It was all planned, long ago…… Ah…… don’t waste time. It’s almost dawn. Leave through the secret passage. The horses are ready……”MGLPfsiWijkwrKJVUHrKTPNAEhXdcQ

“I’m not going.”PWVgBWrEAzrdOGiZDPzEfhRfBLpIwE

“What?”EfhzfNUCpZxblcdQbLhBVuhXAcehzz

Xiao Bao wiped his face, his entire being seemingly drained of life, “I’m not going. This is my fault. If I leave, I’ll never see Father and Mother again. We are a family. We live or die together.”LaruJydDbmtPGOHJlrHsQfLJRctEdT

Master Jin slapped him hard, “Why are you being so unreasonable at a time like this? Do you think you are still the young master, free to do as you please!! Zhao Cai, Jin Bao, take him away!!”HfTkDVbsMNqgjRPxfRcAcXvIlWZZBK

Xiao Bao retreated, shouting, “I’m not going!! I’m not going!!!!”dSMOMJqvhnDLHXujntXSuQIktTOakL

Master Jin turned and roared, “Zhao Cai, Jin Bao!!”srevngOkiWtjcQyZoXIqVtlWpzvtQC

The two moved like shadows, appearing instantly by Xiao Bao’s side. Zhao Cai struck his acupoint, and Jin Bao hoisted him onto his shoulder, heading towards the courtyard.HAgxfBSRHWtKRyGnuGeDXXHEMclvSl

At the break of dawn, the sound of chaotic footsteps approached, and bright torches lit up the dim and desolate Jin mansion, making it as bright as daylight. Soldiers in court uniforms poured in from the main gate.qnvcJRKCIPKbEnTjqynXctiVLvFSxg

Lady Jin collapsed to the ground, covering her face and crying bitterly.bXADyRCxwwchUDMEAMLvkGGcxpVBjC

Zhao Cai and Jin Bao were stunned. It was impossible to carry someone out with so many people around.JNfuBnwCRFBRpJKdrMFEnLbWkBNAQJ

Jin Bao quickly released Xiao Bao’s acupoints and pulled him towards the main courtyard. If they could reach the main courtyard and enter the secret passage, there was still a chance to escape.cbSHfgframJYDzPcRIksOgICidYWmL

Xiao Bao, however, pushed Jin Bao’s hand away and shoved them, saying, “You should go. You won’t get away if you take me with you.”KnZRLKGVerrfDTXFYgMxbnFFKpBtwo

Jin Bao grabbed Xiao Bao anxiously, “Young Master, this is not the time to be stubborn. I will get you out. My whole family owes our lives to the Jin family. I…… I……”svRKEsFCdZJYIEYFAPPQjTeXkYhjVV

Xiao Bao struggled with him, refusing to leave. Seeing the encircling soldiers closing in, Zhao Cai gritted his teeth, grabbed Jin Bao, and said, “Jin Bao, we have to go, or none of us will make it out. Young Master, we will come back for you. Wait for us!!”aJMsKeFLiMLWcKhJqxeyzSaWIefzSa

Realizing the urgency, Jin Bao, along with Zhao Cai, leaped onto the roof. Looking back, he shouted, “Young Master, wait for us!!!”HpvpRwRcURbxOHMeRMyJmbzmnMUCDB

Xiao Bao watched silently as they clashed with the pursuing soldiers but quickly disengaged and disappeared from his sight.QtWLnemtbWAwoRaQUxaovPbkEoUkEG

His legs gave way, and he sat on the ground, feeling the world spin around him. His vision blurred and greyed, and the entire world seemed to collapse before him. He wished that Huai En had never woken him up when he left, leaving him to sleep forever.jIhFZWLGhfnWzgLiGYtSkhLEcbBBtF

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