In the other part of the Fang Clan, while the trio was discussing the dinner, Prime Minister Fang returned to the clan from the Royal Palace.
A huge frown had ceased on his head as he headed straight for the study room.
Madam Xin, who had already noticed the arrival of her husband, brought some cold water and took it to the study room for him.
"Here." She placed the glass in front of Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan lightly smiled at her, "Thank you, but I am in no mood to drink anything right now."
Madam Xin sighed, "I understand, it's alright. The last few days have been pretty stressful for you, but don't worry; I will stand by your side no matter what trouble we might have to face."
Prime Minister Fang rubbed his eyes, "I honestly don't deserve a lady like you. I have deceived you for so many years, yet yesterday you said that you knew about the truth. I know you were lying, but I was genuinely afraid that you would never forgive me."
Madam Xin slightly smiled, "Yuan, not everything in that was a lie. I may not have known who the parents of Fang Chen were, but I did know that I am not the birth mother of Fang Chen.
My brother, the King, didn't tell me everything. He just gave me a light hint and planted a seed of suspicion. At first, I was very stressed and troubled, but in the end, I thought it through and chose to trust you.
I know you would never betray me, Yuan. And whatever happened in those years, I am sure there would come a day when you would tell me everything on your own. And that day came yesterday, although Su Ming did push you a bit to reveal everything."
Prime Minister Fang nodded, "Yes, and he came at the right time. Still, I am really sorry for deceiving you all these years. During those times, I couldn't bear to tell you that our newborn was dead before he came to this world. That was a grave mistake, and to this day, I regret my decision. And in a moment of stress, I changed the babies."
Madam Xin caressed Prime Minister Fang's shoulders and said, "Yuan, I would be lying if I said I had forgiven you. But I can't bear to see you in any pain. Fang Chen is no different than my own son to me, and I hope this goes on, at least till the day Su Ming returns."
"I don't know how Fang Chen will react to the truth…." Prime Minister Fang's face was full of worries.
Madam Xin gave a light smile, "However he reacts, he will always be our son."
Prime Minister Fang raised his head, and staring into his wife's moistened eyes; he said, "Let's go."
"Hm? Where?"
"Just come with me."
He touched Madam Xin's hands, brought her in his embrace, and flew out of the window,
Siu! Siu!
Both of them disappeared in an unknown direction.
After about five minutes, Prime Minister Fang landed with Madam Xin, who had her arms around his neck.
"Where is this?" She asked as they separated.
Prime Minister Fang Yuan didn't say anything and holding his wife's hand, he said, "Come."
After walking through the trees for a few moments, they soon reached a thatched old house.
An old man was sitting outside the house, leaning back on a rock, smoking some kind of pipe.
Upon noticing the unexpected guests, his eyes showed his surprise, "Young Master?"
Prime Minister Fang Yuan smiled, "Uncle Han, I hope I didn't interrupt your rest."
"Ah, what rest? That's the only thing I do," Old man Han smiled and then bowed at Madam Xin, "Young Lady, how have you been?"
Madam Xin paused for a movement, and soon a smile appeared on her face, "Uncle Han, you have been here all this time? Weren't you planning to roam the whole world?"
Old man Han's wrinkled face formed a smile, "My lady, this place is my world. This is the old Fang Clan house. I still remember the day when Young Master Fang Yuan was born; this whole place wasn't the jungle it's right now; rather, it was a clan full of cheerfulness and joy."
Madam Xin frowned, "Didn't you say that nothing from the old Fang Clan remains."
"That was only the half-truth," Prime Minister Fang said, "Except for these ruins, there's only a graveyard at this place."
"A graveyard…?"
"Yes." Prime Minister Fang Yuan nodded, "Let's go."
The trio stepped into the ruins of Fang Clan, and under the lead of Prime Minister Fang, they soon reached the far end of the clan.
Unlike other places, this was the cleanest and well-kept. Even the grass and weed were finely cut. It was as if they had suddenly stepped inside a garden.
Albeit, this wasn't a garden, but a graveyard.
And there was only one grave.
Madam Fang frowned, "Only one grave?"
Prime Minister Fang nodded, "The only one that matters."
"Whose grave is it?" Madam Xin was surprised, "This is very clean; Uncle Han works very hard on this place."
Old man Han smiled and shook his head, "I don't manage this place, my lady. Young Master cleans this place."
"Huh?" Madam Xin was surprised, and glancing at Fang Yuan, she couldn't help but ask, "By you?"
"Yes, My lady," Old man Han replied instead, "For more than sixteen years, a young master has been visiting this graveyard. He cleans this place and mourns."
"Almost sixteen years…." Madam Xin gulped, and as her eyes suddenly moistened, she asked in a trembling voice, "Is this…."
"Yes." Prime Minister Fang tightened his grasp around her hand, "This is the grave of our son. Every day for the last sixteen, I have sat in front of him, trying to build up my courage to tell you the truth."
"My son…." Madam Xin's legs weakened as she kneeled on the ground, tears streaming down from her eyes, but her gaze fixated on the little mound in front of her.
A mother who has lost her child feels defeated and painful as she weeps over the unfortunate reality that she is helpless against the relentless currents of fate.