#353 - How about we discuss a deal? (4000 words)

Sitting in the courtyard, Xu Ming looked at the starry night sky, unable to stop himself from spacing out.

For Xu Ming, this was the first time he had ever felt so powerless.

Xu Ming felt that his life had been very smooth sailing.

Although he started out as a son of a concubine.

But, well, a noble's son of a concubine was still guaranteed a life of comfort and security.

Even if he didn't have any status, he would still be given a residence, a wife, and even a considerable amount of silver every month, enough for him to coast through life.

Not to mention that he also had a system, which led him down the path of cheating, and after that, everything went even more smoothly.

With the cheat, Xu Ming felt that as long as he developed properly, he could accomplish anything.

But now, Xu Ming realized that he was still too arrogant.

The system is not omnipotent. In this world, there are many things that the system cannot solve, and there are many things that he needs to figure out himself.

"Young Master, Madam is awake."

Xu Ming didn't know how long he had been sitting blankly in the courtyard.

In any case, when Xu Ming heard Chun Yan's voice, he finally realized that it was already noon the next day.

"Young Master... Young Master!" Chun Yan ran into the courtyard, panting as she said to Xu Ming, "Madam is awake!"

Xu Ming stood up, didn't say much, and followed Chun Yan towards Xiaochun Courtyard.

Xu Ming walked into his mother's room and saw his mother's pale face.

Chen Suya was leaning against the head of the bed, covered with a quilt, her hands folded on her body, looking at Xu Ming with a smile.

This was the familiar smile of Xu Ming, still so gentle.

Xu Ming's biggest impression of his mother was that she never fought or snatched.

When his mother was a concubine, she lived in this remote courtyard, trying to fade out of everyone's sight.

Even when his mother was valued by the Xu Mansion because of his reputation, and the Xu Mansion wanted to give his mother a larger residence, his mother still chose to stay in this place.

His mother also had no intention of suppressing others. In fact, his mother still faded out of sight every day, living the same life as usual.

So with just one glance, Xu Ming knew that this personality was his mother, and not something that another personality could fake.

"Mother," Xu Ming composed himself, sat down by his mother's bed, and smiled.

Chen Suya reached out and touched her son's cheek: "You've grown up."

Chen Suya's tone was weak.

Chen Suya's eyes looked at her son's face intently, as if she would never see it again: "When you were just born, you were so small, crying loudly as soon as you were born."

"Mother, why are you suddenly saying this?" Xu Ming said with a smile, trying to hide everything.

In Xu Ming's opinion, his mother had no memory of the other personality, and Xu Ming had already told others not to tell his mother about this.

His mother had just woken up, and Sister Chun Yan came to find him as soon as possible, so she wouldn't tell his mother about those things.

"I know," Chen Suya shook her head with a smile, "Actually, Ming'er, I know about what happened last night."

"..." Xu Ming's mouth opened slightly, then slowly closed.

Xu Ming didn't know what to say at this time.

Chen Suya's eyes were a little dazed, as if she was recalling what happened last night: "Last night, I felt like I had a dream.

In the dream, I walked out of the room and saw a very beautiful female monk.

That female monk was really beautiful. That monk should be that Shi Xin, right? The one at the top of the Red Beauty List."

Xu Ming nodded: "Yes."

"No wonder, even I am a little moved by such a woman."

Chen Suya curled the corners of her lips and continued.

"Then, I fought with that female monk.

Throughout the whole process, I was like an observer, watching everything that happened in front of me, but I couldn't stop it, I couldn't control my body.

At that time, I was thinking, is this really a dream?

If it's a dream, isn't it too realistic?

Later, I won against that female monk, and then you and a group of people rushed into the courtyard.

Then I heard myself talking there.

Those words she said were not only for you, but also for me."

Xu Ming held his mother's hand and looked at his mother seriously: "Mother, it's okay, it's really okay. Mother, you just need to take a good rest. I will solve everything. Mother, don't be deceived by that person.

She is actually a cultivator who wants to occupy your body, mother. I just need to drive her out."

Chen Suya shook her head: "Silly child, although mother has always been in the inner courtyard, I'm not stupid. Mother can tell the difference between what is real and what is fake."

Xu Ming: "..."

"Alright, alright, don't wear a sad face. Mother doesn't want to see you unhappy."

Chen Suya tucked a strand of her son's hair behind his ear.

"Ming'er, mother doesn't have any extravagant desires. I just hope that you can grow up well, and be safe, healthy and sound. When you grow up, you can marry a wife.

But I didn't expect that my Ming'er would be so promising...

At that poetry gathering, Ming'er, you became famous overnight, shocking the entire Wudu.

At that time, Ming'er, you were called a genius by others.

Later, you participated in the Blood Floating Pagoda.

When you said you wanted to join the Blood Floating Pagoda, mother was actually very worried.

At that time, both the old lady and the master were persuading me to stop you and not let you go to the Blood Floating Pagoda.

They said that the Blood Floating Pagoda was not a place for people to go. Going there meant a narrow escape from death.

And you have talent. Wouldn't it be better to take the imperial examination and get a title than to tie your head to your belt?

Actually, mother also thought so.

However, mother doesn't care whether Ming'er, you pass the imperial examination or not. What mother wants is for you to be safe, which is more important than anything else.

Mother also knows what kind of existence the Blood Floating Pagoda is.

Actually, mother didn't want you to enter the Blood Floating Pagoda either.

Mother was also worried about what would happen if you encountered any accidents after entering the Blood Floating Pagoda. How would mother live then?

But mother knows that although you are still young, you know very well what you are doing. From a young age, you have shown a maturity far beyond your peers.

Mother doesn't want to be a burden to you.

After you entered the Blood Floating Pagoda, mother prayed for you every day, praying to the Buddha and praying to the gods to bless you with peace and health.

Fortunately, the Buddhas and gods heard mother's prayers.

Not only did they send you back safely, but they also helped you pass the imperial examination and become the champion."

"Mother," Xu Ming called out, but didn't know what to say.

"Ming'er, let mother finish. Mother is afraid that I won't have a chance to say it in the future."

Chen Suya gently held her son's hand.

"Ming'er, when you became the champion, mother was really happy for you.

But while feeling happy, mother also felt a little sad.

Because mother knows that my Ming'er has completely grown up and no longer needs mother.

Especially when Ming'er, you are going out to practice, when mother knows that you are a cultivator, mother knows even more that Ming'er, you are getting farther and farther away from mother.

Mother can't always be with Ming'er, you.

But this is just mother's sorrow as a woman. Ming'er, you don't need to take it to heart. After all, which parent in the world can always be with their children?

Mother knows that I am just an ordinary person and can't do anything for Ming'er, you.

What mother can do is to take good care of myself and not cause trouble for Ming'er, you.

Mother hopes that you can go farther and farther and achieve what you want to do.

But in the end, mother still caused you trouble...

Ming'er, I'm sorry, it's all mother's fault for making you so troubled.

It's all because of mother that you fought with that girl named Shi Xin.

Mother wants to personally say sorry to that girl named Shi Xin."

"Mother, don't say that. Shi Xin won't blame you. What Shi Xin hopes most is that you can be well, mother."

Xu Ming held his mother's hand in return.

"And everything I have is given by mother. If it weren't for mother, there wouldn't be me. Mother, you're not causing me trouble at all. Mother has never caused me any trouble."

Chen Suya curled the corners of her lips gently and shook her head: "Ming'er, don't worry. Even if mother disappears in the end, it doesn't matter. Mother will always be watching Ming'er."

Chen Suya said weakly: "And, don't worry, mother, I will never let her hurt you. She shouldn't hurt you either. Even a tiger won't eat its cubs. No matter what, she is also your mother."

Xu Ming shook his head: "She is not my mother."

Chen Suya didn't refute anything, just lay quietly on the bed: "Ming'er, remember, no matter what happens, it's most important to save your life.

People's desires are endless. Although mother doesn't understand cultivation, the path of cultivation is just like people's desires.

Mother has heard too many stories of people losing themselves because of some opportunities.

But mother believes that Ming'er, you won't."

"As long as you, Ming'er, are safe and healthy, anything your mother does is worth it."

"Mother."

"Ming'er, I'm a little tired. I want to sleep for a while." Chen Suya slowly spoke, interrupting her son when Xu Ming wanted to say something more.

Chen Suya slowly closed her eyes.

"Then mother, rest well. I'll come to see you later tonight." Xu Ming sat up and bowed to his mother.

Just as Xu Ming left his mother's room and walked out of the courtyard, Eunuch Wei was waiting outside.

"Top Scholar, His Majesty has been worried about you," Eunuch Wei said.

As someone close to the Martial Emperor, Wei Xun certainly knew what had happened.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Wei, for leading the way," Xu Ming cupped his hands in a bow.

"You're too kind, Top Scholar, this way please."

Wei Xun quickly led Xu Ming into the palace.

"Your subject, Xu Ming, greets His Majesty," Xu Ming bowed deeply.

The Martial Emperor immediately sat up from the soft couch: "There's no need for these formalities. I already know what has happened."

Xu Ming: "I have troubled Your Majesty."

The Martial Emperor sighed: "Regarding your mother's matter, I cannot say anything for certain. This kind of thing cannot be influenced by external forces. You don't need to worry too much.

I have heard of a single soul with different personalities.

Actually, Xu Ming, you can think of it in a positive light.

If they were different souls, with your mother's spirit, she definitely wouldn't be able to withstand the soul of a cultivator, and would only be devoured in the end.

But if they are different personalities, then everything is equal. Your mother and the previous personality are on the same line. It's not certain who will be dominant."

Listening to the Martial Emperor's comforting words, Xu Ming only smiled and didn't say much.

What the Martial Emperor said was indeed correct. Different personalities within the same soul do not have such a large gap.

The problem is, if they were different souls, Shi Xin would have already solved this problem.

And the gap between different personalities is not small either.

Many factors influence the strength of a person's personality, but the most important one is memory.

The more memories, the stronger and more stable the personality becomes.

The other party is a cultivator, who knows how many years they have lived, while his mother's personality has only been born for how long?

In a clash between two personalities, how much chance of winning does his mother have?

The Martial Emperor knew what Xu Ming was worried about, but the Martial Emperor really couldn't think of a reason to comfort Xu Ming.

The Martial Emperor patted Xu Ming's shoulder: "Thinking too much is useless. Since we can't do anything, then we can only wait. But before that, we can try to understand some other things, perhaps we can have a breakthrough from other aspects."

Xu Ming raised his head and looked at the Martial Emperor.

The Martial Emperor took out a stack of documents from the desk: "Inside are details about your mother Chen Shi's birth, origin, and various events from childhood to adulthood. Everything that could be investigated is already here. Take a look."

At the same time, in the Xiaochun Courtyard of the Xu Residence.

Chen Suya slowly fell asleep.

Chen Suya gradually entered a dream.

"You've come?"

‘Chen Suya’ smiled at Chen Suya.

"I've come," Chen Suya nodded.

Although Chen Suya was an ordinary woman, she didn't have any fear when facing the other party.

"How about we two discuss a deal?"

‘Chen Suya’ said with a smile.

[My two university roommates will come to Xiamen for tourism next month. It's been a long time since I've seen them. I'll take them around and have some fun.

It's been three years since the last time we met.

Time really flies.

I don't know how these two guys are doing now. From the chat, they seem to be doing pretty well.]