This is terrible! My future prime minister keeps trying to kiss me forcibly.

The two thought they were speaking quietly, but in the stillness of the night, their complaints were particularly noticeable.

He Jing glanced helplessly at the two children, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, which was caught by He Wuyang, who was good at reading people.

“Look, look, not only has my brother taken my sister-in-law for himself, but he also seems to dislike the two of us.”

He Jing: ...You two are indeed getting in the way right now.

Ye Xiaoxiao put down her pen, looked at He Wuyang's pouting lips, and teased, "Oh dear! Our Ayang's little mouth could hold an oil lamp. Come on, let's go to sleep!"

Ye Xiaoxiao took the little girl's outstretched hand and led her towards the room.

"Brother, this ink isn't finished yet, it's a bit of a waste. I'll use it all up!"

"Fine, write those characters you couldn't write well today two hundred more times! I'm going to sleep."

He Wuyou, who had just picked up a pen: ...But I still need to hatch goslings.

After thinking for a moment, he ran to the bedside and took the goose egg out of the quilt, just in case his older brother crushed it.

He Jing pursed his lips, watching He Wuyou's flurry of activity, and frowned slightly. It seemed he really needed to build another house quickly. This kid was getting more and more of an eyesore!

……

An alley in Qifeng Town.

"Mo'er, I'm so hungry. Go and make me something to eat."

From a dilapidated courtyard came a frail, aged voice.

In the courtyard stood a scholar, his clothes faded and worn. He remained silent, unmoved by the calls from inside the room.

"Mo'er? Mo'er? Why aren't you saying anything?"

In the simple house, a woman sat on a bed covered in patches.

She looked to be under forty, but her temples were already streaked with gray. Her blank, empty eyes made her face appear even more expressionless and aged.

"Mo'er? You don't want your mother anymore? Mo'er!"

The blind woman, receiving no response for a long time, began to become hysterical.

A hint of impatience flashed in Lin Mo's sinister eyes, but he still stepped into the room.

The room reeking of urine and feces made him frown. He stood at the doorway, hesitated for a moment, then took a step inside and never went any further.

"Mo'er, you're here! Mother is so hungry, go and make me something to eat, okay?"

"There's no food left at home."

"You don't have any? Then go buy some!"

"I have no money."

"How could there be no money? Mo'er, don't you go out every day?"

"..."

"Mo'er, why aren't you saying anything again? Mo'er?"

Lin Mo roared, "Enough! Why do you cause so much trouble every day?! Can't you just shut up for a bit?!"

He finally couldn't hold back any longer. He clenched his fist and slammed it heavily against the door frame.

The blind woman flinched in fright, unable to believe that this was her usually filial and obedient son.

After a long silence, she said, "Mo'er, in order for you to study, I washed clothes for others during the day and sewed clothes for others by the light of an oil lamp at night, which made me go blind. I still hope that you will give me a good life."

Lin Mo, his face contorted with rage, glared at the vacant-eyed man in the room: "Don't push me! I'm just not cut out for studying! I'd be lucky if I could even pass the lowest level of the imperial examinations!"

"How could this be? Mo'er, how could this be? It must be because you're not studying hard enough, right? Speak up!!"

The woman was agitated; her pitiful appearance from a moment ago had vanished. She sat on the bed, throwing a tantrum, sometimes screaming in despair and helplessness, sometimes wailing in a low, erratic manner.

Lin Mo looked at the woman in front of him, the one he called Mother. Since he could remember, she had forced him to study. If he was lazy, she would punish him by making him kneel in the yard for a day and a night, without food or sleep.

"Mother, you always tell me to study hard to pass the imperial examinations, so that you can be proud and live a good life, with fine clothes and food, and no worries about food or clothing."

"I tried, but it was no use!"

"I'm so tired, I can barely breathe, please let me go, Mother..."

Lin Mo slumped to the ground, staring blankly at a certain spot, remaining silent for a long time.

This was the first time the blind woman had heard her son say such a thing. After a moment of stunned silence, she became even more hysterical.

"Mo'er! What do you mean? Are you blaming your mother? I gave birth to you, raised you, and provided for your education. I've sacrificed so much, and now I've gone blind in one eye. How can you blame me? You owe me! You owe me!"

Lin Mo clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. His eyes were gloomy as he got up and walked step by step toward the bedside.

He said calmly, "Mother, I was wrong! I have a way to stop you from going hungry and cold, and from suffering from illness..."