Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 644: The Time Has Not Come Yet

Chapter 644: Chapter 644: The Time Has Not Come Yet

When he pulled his Clan Uncle into a secluded corner, they confirmed each other’s identities.

Although many years had passed, Lian Musu was sure that Clan Uncle had never forgotten them, had always been searching for their family, and was burdened with guilt. His life was difficult, his face weathered much more than those of his peers, looking as thin as kindling.

Fortunately, heaven rewards the sincere. They had reunited, which truly was a tremendous joy.

Lian Bingcheng, walking ahead, wished he had wings to fly and see Brother Changhe and the others immediately, his skinny legs moving swiftly.

When Lian Musu had pulled him into the corner and confirmed he was his grandnephew, he was utterly shocked, joy nearly knocking him to the ground.

Later, when he heard that his Brother Changhe and sister-in-law were still alive and everyone was well, he couldn’t help but cry tears of joy, unable to stop, until his grandnephew comforted him, and he gradually calmed down.

The weight he had carried in his heart for so many years had finally settled peacefully to the ground.

He immediately asked where they lived, and upon getting directions, he could no longer hold back. Wiping away his tears, he hurried in that direction, forgetting even to go back and inform Lin Yuejuan.

Lian Musu followed quickly behind, marveling at how his Clan Uncle, though thin, moved as if his life depended on it, striding energetically ahead, muttering phrases like "One of life’s greatest joys is encountering old friends in foreign lands, Brother Changhe, I am coming."

Despite his mobility issues, he wasn’t slow, and he almost lost track of the people he followed. At every fork in the road, he had to remind his Clan Uncle from a distance, lest he lose his newly found uncle.

His heart swelled with joy of reunion, and even as pain faintly shot through his left foot, he hardly minded.

At another fork, he quickly called out, "Clan Uncle, turn left."

Lian Bingcheng paused momentarily, then turned, filled with excitement at the thought of soon seeing Brother Changhe, whom he had missed dearly.

As he turned, a glance back halted the flood of joy on his face.

Why was his grandnephew’s gait incorrect?

This realization slowed his steps.

Then he remembered the rumors in Taiyuan Prefecture that Jieyuan Lian Mu had a slight limp. The rumors were true, his grandnephew was the limping Lian Mu.

Although he didn’t know why Lian Mu had acquired the limp, the fact remained.

He irritably smacked himself, "I must be getting senile, how could I forget this!"

Seeing this, Lian Musu quickly asked with concern, "What’s wrong, Clan Uncle?"

Lian Bingcheng stopped completely, his gaze resting on Lian Musu’s left foot, growing somber.

"Grandnephew, you..." he began, then hesitated, conflicted over whether to address the potentially sensitive issue.

Lian Musu approached him, smiling, "Are you asking about my left foot? It’s nothing to worry about. It was badly set when it broke, and it has stayed that way ever since. Clan Uncle, shouldn’t we go see my father sooner?"

Saying this, he passed by, continuing untroubled and at ease.

"Oh, oh..." Lian Bingcheng watched the figure walking ahead, his joy now a complex mix of emotions.

He continued walking, but his pace had slowed significantly, his previously agitated mind gradually calming.

When Brother Changhe and his family had visited previously, he didn’t recall any mention of his grandnephew having a disability, only that Brother Changhe had praised how brilliant his eldest son was in his studies, and how Xiao Hua boasted about her handsome big brother.

Back then, although he believed it, he did not think deeply. Only now did he realize that everything his brother Changhe had said was indeed the truth, even more so, yet he had never heard of any leg problems. Given their close relationship where nothing was left unsaid, such a significant issue would not have been kept from him.

Unless...

In a flash of insight, he suddenly understood the mechanism behind it.

If there were no prior incidents, then it must have occurred during the years of the accident.

In an instant, the excitement and joy in his heart were extinguished like a bucket of cold water being poured over him, covering him in a thick layer of shadows.

His eyes began to redden involuntarily, his throat choked up, and hot tears streamed down uncontrollably. He held back from sobbing aloud, his sense of guilt and self-blame reaching its peak.

The situation was surely not as minor as his great-nephew had described. It must have involved many tragic incidents; otherwise, how could his legs be broken and not heal properly?

He was powerless to rescue their family and prevent their suffering.

Lian Musu, walking ahead, sensed the commotion behind him and stopped to wait, sighing before consolingly saying, "Clan Uncle need not worry. Our family’s survival is already a great fortune. The hardest days are behind us. I believe the future will only get better."

"Yes, yes, yes," Lian Bingcheng replied, wiping his tears with his sleeve, suddenly overcome with sorrow again, "Thinking about it, you all have suffered a lot. Great-nephew, how are your legs now? You are supposed to pursue a career in governance..."

A limp, a visible flaw, was akin to a broken future.

Besides, if his great-nephew was in this condition, how could his delicate brother Changhe have endured, not to mention his sister-in-law, Lian Bao, and Wan Zhen? He could not imagine to what extent they had been mistreated.

Thinking this, Lian Bingcheng could no longer hold back his tears.

Looking at the old man before him, Lian Musu felt a warmth in his heart and said, "Clan Uncle, rest assured, my legs can still be treated."

This time returning, he could seek out Divine Doctor Huang.

Hearing this, Lian Bingcheng forgot his crying and suddenly looked up, "Is that really true?"

Lian Musu nodded with a smile, his gaze firm and confident.

Lian Bingcheng was immediately overjoyed, but then he frowned, "Then why not seek treatment now?"

"The timing is not right yet," Lian Musu looked at the sky and said, "This is a long story, Clan Uncle. Why don’t we talk while we walk?"

"Yes, yes," Lian Bingcheng hurriedly replied.

The two resumed their journey, yet this time Lian Bingcheng was not solely focused on hurrying along. Despite his urgency to see Lian Changhe and the others, he patiently slowed down.

This time he had overlooked Lian Musu’s leg condition once before; he would not overlook it again no matter what. He even insisted on carrying Lian Musu’s book basket, refusing to let him walk too quickly.

After much persuasion and significant effort, Lian Musu finally convinced him to let it go; otherwise, with such a heavy book basket, whether old arms and legs could handle it was another matter.

As they walked and talked, Lian Musu explained the Lian Family’s current situation to Lian Bingcheng, which finally put his mind at ease.

Seeing him relieved, Lian Musu asked, "I wonder how the Clan Aunt is doing now?"

With this question, Lian Bingcheng immediately remembered, "Oh no, I forgot to let my spouse know."