Chapter 82: Him (3):

"Mother suffered the most. It was her most beloved child gone. To be honest, initially I thought gege didn't suffer because, over the years, he was perfectly fine. But I do remember one night him coming home really drunk. I think it was around 3 years ago. That day was Tian Hao gege's death day," I explained.

"I only knew that Tian Hao gege existed when mother died. A few days before Mother died, I had just come out of Tian You gege's pavilion after having tea with him. I saw another him near Mother's room. But Tian You was still in his pavilion. Of course, being the young me, I was pretty curious. So I sneak up behind him and eavesdropped at the door.

However, I was in for one shock. Because mother didn't call him Tian You instead she called him Tian Hao. I didn't realise back then who he was so I was really confused. I thought I had listened wrong but Mother said the name again. The boy also answered by that name.

The two had quite a decent talk. Mother was asking about how Tian Hao gege's life had been. Tian Hao was also asking about her life. But, I couldn't hear all of the conversation because someone inside had heard me gasp so I had to run quickly," I smiled as I recalled those innocent childhood times.

"When did you find out he was Li Tian Hao?" asked hubby. "Patient, dearest. I'm getting there," I replied jokingly. "To be honest I always near that Li Tian Hao existed. Every year, at around 3 days before Tian Hao geges death day. The mansion will begin to eat vegetarian food. I only found out about his existence thanks to the servants as no one was willing to tell me why. It never clocked to me that they were the same person until mothers death.

I'm sure you must've heard rumours about why others died. But I can tell you for a fact they aren't rumours but the truth. That concubine did kill Mother, gege found evidence of it. However, it was our father's dying wish for him to leave Concubine Shi alone so he couldn't do anything. I was more than happy when she died. Anyhow that's quite off-topic.

When Mother died. Father asked everyone to leave the room. It was only me, father and gege left in the room. Not long later the butler knocked on the door and brought a young boy in. He looked exactly like Tian You gege. It was only then that it clocked to me. Tian Hao did not die. I only knew why he didn't die later on. Back then apparently Tian Hao gege was really sick like Tian You gege so they had to fake his death. So that Tian Hao can go back to the north in search of a cure.

He was only able to see Mother after everyone left. I felt kinda sorry for him then though. I know he lives under another name now," I explained to hubby. "So that's why..." stammered Chao Xing.

"What are we going to do now?" he asked. "Well, we do need to go back to my maternal family and tell them about the news. How about we set off in two hours and stay the night over there," I suggested as Chao Xing agreed.

He quickly ask my maids to look after me and help me get my stuff. He then returned to his room to get two sets of clothes.