Chapter 530: The Second Life
Chapter 530: The Second Life
Chen Mu, born into a wealthy family, led a life of luxury and abundance, surrounded by countless servants.
The An family, a prominent local clan, had a prestigious history with ancestors who served in the imperial court, reaching the rank of Second Grade, a highly esteemed position. Later generations also produced several Fourth Grade ministers, but by Chen Mu's time, no one from the family held an official position in the court. The highest-ranking official in the clan was a Sixth Grade magistrate, yet they still held significant influence in the region.
Chen Mu, being the direct descendant of the An family's main branch, was destined for greatness as the eldest grandson. He was likely to inherit the family's legacy, ensuring his status as a noble from birth, far surpassing that of the side branches.
The An family held high expectations for their eldest grandson, naming him 'An Mu,' hoping he would revive the family's glory and govern a region as a high-ranking official.
This expectation stemmed from Chen Mu's extraordinary nature; he never cried, spoke little, but when he did, his words carried profound wisdom beyond his years.
For a seven or eight-year-old child to speak with such insight, it was as if he had innate knowledge, akin to a born sage. In an ordinary family, this would be a cause for celebration and praise.
However, the An family, with its court background, understood the challenges of standing out. They had witnessed rise and fall, knowing that exceptional talent often invites jealousy. Thus, they protected Chen Mu, limiting his interactions with the outside world.
Even the teaching of classic texts was entrusted to respected elders within the clan, who personally instructed Chen Mu. But upon discovering his remarkable memory and understanding, they soon ran out of knowledge to impart. Chen Mu, at the age of ten, could grasp the essence of various matters with a single statement. The elders then allowed him free access to the clan's library, letting him study independently.
Time passed, and a decade slipped by.
Now a young man, Chen Mu donned a luxurious silk robe, seated gracefully in an elegant study, holding a book. His gaze seemed focused on the text, yet it also appeared to be elsewhere, his brows slightly furrowed as if pondering something.
"Young Master Mu, it's time for tea."
A gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
A delicate and graceful girl, dressed in silk, entered the room. She looked to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, carrying a tea tray. She approached Chen Mu's desk, placing the tray with a teapot and some snacks before him.
"Hmm, leave it there," Chen Mu said without looking up, his mind elsewhere.
The girl poured a cup of tea for Chen Mu and, noticing his furrowed brows, hesitated before speaking softly, "Young Master, I see you frowning every day. Is there something troubling you? If it's not a bother, perhaps you could share it with me? I may not be the brightest, but I might offer a different perspective and help ease your worries."
She was Chen Mu's personal maid, assigned to him three years ago. Born into the An family's servitude, she was well-mannered and had been groomed for this role. The An family intended for her to become Chen Mu's concubine, ensuring the continuation of his lineage, as Chen Mu had shown a 'proud and aloof' demeanor, making it difficult to find a suitable match.
Additionally, Chen Mu's exceptional abilities further delayed the marriage. He had excelled in the county and prefecture exams, even recently becoming the top scholar in the provincial examinations. For ordinary people, this was a life-changing achievement, akin to a fish leaping over the dragon gate. Passing this exam meant becoming a respected 'Juren,' though it wasn't a significant title for the An family.
Chen Mu's talent was extraordinary; at the young age of twenty, he had already achieved the top scholar position. With such talent, passing the imperial examinations and becoming a 'Jinshi' was almost certain. Once he passed, he would start as a Seventh Grade official, and with the An family's connections, he might even reach the Fourth Grade and enter the imperial court!
Given his abilities and status as the eldest grandson, Chen Mu held considerable influence within the An family, and no one dared to pressure him regarding marriage. Thus, the matter was repeatedly postponed.
Of course, there was a specific reason for this delay. The An family's greatest hope was for Chen Mu to 'trifecta,' becoming a 'Zhuangyuan' (top scholar). Then, even marrying a princess would be within his reach.
The current suitors, though from prestigious families, including those with Fourth and Fifth Grade officials, were not enough for the An family. They wanted to wait, especially since Chen Mu's talent meant marriage could wait.
The matter of continuing the family lineage was of utmost importance. Even if he temporarily refrained from marriage, having more concubines was not an issue. However, over the years, Chen Mu had changed many concubines by his side, with various body types, yet none had gained his favor.
This caused some concern for the elders of the An family.
They secretly invited renowned physicians to examine him discreetly, but the results showed that Chen Mu was perfectly normal; he simply had a detached nature. With no other choice, they could only let nature take its course and arrange more young and beautiful concubines, hoping that Chen Mu would take a liking to one of them.
"..."
Upon hearing the maid's words, Chen Mu glanced at her and then shifted his gaze away.
This seemingly indifferent look startled her, and she quickly knelt by the table, saying timidly, "I only wanted to share the young master's worries. Please forgive my audacity, and I beg for a light punishment."
It was natural for the maid to be severely punished for taking the initiative to ask the master without being spoken to.
Chen Mu looked at the maid and suddenly threw the book in her direction, saying, "Do you know how to write?"
"A little."
"Copy it."
The maid quickly responded and stepped aside with the book in her hand.
Chen Mu watched as the maid sat on a stool and began copying the book. He noticed that she bore a four or five-tenths resemblance to Xiao He in her facial features. After observing her for a while, he suddenly recalled some amusing incidents from his past life.
The delicate and charming maid was ready to accept punishment, but he asked her to copy the book, which he found amusing. After all, things had changed, and his thoughts and ideas were vastly different from his distant past life.
Although he was reading a book, his mind was occupied with thoughts about the Path of Time.
What exactly was time?
He had been a solitary hunter in his past life, but now he was the young master of a wealthy family, the top scholar in the imperial examinations... How were these identities connected to the Path of Time? Chen Mu couldn't understand.
He was also uncertain about how to interact with the people in this world. He didn't know if this world was a real existence or just a virtual realm created by the system interface. At least, for now, he couldn't see through it.
If this was a real world, he didn't want to leave behind too much karma, especially regarding bloodlines. If he were to have offspring in this world, how would that be calculated? Would everything be settled once this life ended? If he didn't want to get entangled in karma, then he should have become a monk.
Should he become a monk in every life of reincarnation? In that case, the system could have allowed him to enter this world in his original state, directly as a monk, witnessing the changes in the world without needing to experience a realistic mortal life.
Chen Mu was unsure which path was correct, and his understanding of the Path of Time had hit a bottleneck. However, he had all the time in this world, an infinite amount of time to spend and squander. If he couldn't comprehend it in this life, there would always be another reincarnation, another life.
"Entering and leaving the world, being at home or becoming a monk, perhaps they are all the same."
"For the Path of Time, none of these things matter. Time is always there, like an indifferent observer, overlooking the world without emotion."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
Perhaps what he needed to do was not to force it but to immerse himself more deeply to better understand the nature of time.
He stood up and walked towards the maid, who was still copying the book while squatting on the stool. Despite her position, her handwriting was elegant and beautiful, clearly not just 'slightly knowledgeable' as she claimed. Her appearance and figure were also exceptional, which was why she was assigned to his side.
"Servant Girl."
Chen Mu suddenly spoke.
The young girl paused and looked up at Chen Mu.
"How long have you been by my side?" Chen Mu asked.
"Three years and twenty-seven days, young master," she replied with a smile.
"You remember it clearly."
"Being able to serve the young master is something many envy. I remember it every day." She said with a hint of pride.
Chen Mu reached out and gently caressed her cheek before turning around and walking towards the study. "Stop copying the book."
"Follow me to my room."
The maid held her pen in one hand, watching Chen Mu turn around, momentarily stunned. But she quickly recovered, her pretty face flushing with shyness and her eyes sparkling with delight.
Could it be...
In the year 1691, in a bar, a mistake-free version was found!
She hurriedly put down the pen in her hand, feeling flustered and clumsy, and accidentally knocked over a chair. She quickly righted it, only to see the ink stain the floor tiles, causing her to panic even more and rush to wipe it clean.
Chen Mu heard the commotion behind him and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. He felt inexplicably more at ease and continued walking forward.
...
The An family elders were delighted.
The usually detached Chen Mu had finally taken a liking to a maid named 'Shi Shu', bringing relief to everyone, as Chen Mu's exceptional talent and disinterest in women were seen as a flaw.
Just a year later, Shi Shu gave birth to a son for Chen Mu, elevating her status from a maid to a concubine.
Several years passed.
Chen Mu traveled to the capital to take the imperial examination and ranked first in the provincial examination, becoming the Huiyuan. Although he missed the top rank of Zhuangyuan in the final palace examination, he placed third, earning the title of Tan Hua. He was also known as An Tan Hua and appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.
A year later, he married the second daughter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Wang Han, and his official career flourished. He rose through the ranks, and after several decades, he became the Minister of War at the age of 63. He retired from the court and returned to his hometown at the age of 64.
Back in his hometown, Chen Mu continued his love for reading and frequently visited temples and Taoist shrines, engaging in philosophical discussions with abbots and Taoist masters.
At the age of 72, Chen Mu, now an old man, reached the end of his life, lying sick in bed.
"Master, Master..."
Shi Shu, now with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, knelt by Chen Mu's bed, sobbing softly. She was Chen Mu's first maid and the first to bear him a son, second in status only to Chen Mu's official wife. But compared to the wife, Shi Shu's feelings for Chen Mu were the deepest, and she had accompanied him the longest.
Looking at Chen Mu, weak and frail in bed, she could only weep and repeatedly assure him that he would get better.
Chen Mu, however, remained calm.
At this moment, his body was at its weakest, struggling to even lift a hand. He had never felt so feeble, but his eyes remained serene as he gazed at Shi Shu, now also old and frail. He gently raised his hand and caressed her white hair.
"I won't die. There's no need to be so sad."
Chen Mu spoke softly.
"Yes, yes, Master, you are a blessed person, and you will be fine..."
Shi Shu choked back her tears.
She knew that Chen Mu often visited Taoist shrines and temples, seeking immortality and enlightenment. He frequently spoke words that amazed others. Hearing Chen Mu's words now, she remained calm, only tightly gripping his hand.
Beside her were several men and women, some around fifty years old, and some as young as teenagers. The younger ones wept while the older ones looked at Chen Mu with complex expressions.
Their feelings for Chen Mu as a father were equally complex.
Whether they were legitimate or illegitimate, Chen Mu treated them all with detachment, and there was little fatherly affection between them. Yet, they had all received guidance and support from Chen Mu. Among them, the eldest, An Lan, had become a governor.
However, even as a governor, An Lan always felt that Chen Mu never truly acknowledged him. Chen Mu's attitude was strange, as if An Lan's achievements meant little to him.
Although Chen Mu had once served as the Minister of War, his current position was the pinnacle of his career.
"An Lan."
Chen Mu suddenly spoke.
"Father."
Despite his complex emotions, An Lan responded to Chen Mu's call and approached him. "Is there anything you need, Father?"
Chen Mu looked at him but ultimately remained silent, only giving An Lan a look he could never understand.
An Lan had seen this look on Chen Mu's face since he was a child.
Unable to contain his curiosity, An Lan stepped forward, wanting to ask what Chen Mu truly thought of him. But as he drew near, he saw Chen Mu's pupils dilate, and his body slumped against the headboard, lifeless.
In an instant,
The entire house and the outside echoed with cries.
Not only had a former Minister of War passed away, but also the father of a current governor.
Amidst the overwhelming wails, An Lan slightly opened his mouth but closed it again. He slowly tilted his head back, gazing at the ceiling with his eyes closed. His mind was filled with a single thought.
What had you been looking at all this time?
In the end, what were you thinking about?
(End of Chapter)
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