He Tiantian noticed the change in He Xi’s eyes and sneered inwardly, yet her face showed a look of satisfaction.
"Yes! It was all my foolishness that nearly brought disaster upon us, thankfully, Mom was astute—"
He Xi said gratefully, as a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
"You can’t be blamed entirely; I too have made mistakes,"
He Tiantian pretended to be troubled and introspective, "I always thought of An Kang as a Commandery Princess, noble by birth, with the Saint and the Empress Dowager backing her."
"And what about us, mother and children? We were just ordinary folks from a poor family."
"If a phoenix flies into our chicken coop, wouldn’t we be bullied to death if we’re not assertive?"
"I, I was bullied in the past, I am not afraid to suffer some grievances myself, but I worry about you and your siblings—"
At this point, He Tiantian even squeezed out a few tears.
She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, her face etched with sorrow.
Listening to his mother’s words and seeing her cry, pictures from his childhood suddenly flooded He Xi’s mind.
Though his mother was good at disguising and managed to make ends meet with the help of a few men,
in the countryside, it was really tough for a widow with three children.
The gossip of nosy women, the curses of shrews, the cruel innocence of children, and the lecherous, disrespectful gazes of men... all of it pierced He Xi’s heart like arrows.
His inferiority complex stemmed from these painful childhood experiences.
He, as a child, did endure a lot of scorn, ridicule, and bullying.
And his mother, a young and beautiful widow, suffered even more.
Originally, she could have remarried a decent man with her attributes.
With a man by her side, she could have more children and live a comfortable life.
Her mother and aunts had advised her to remarry, they even found a suitable match.
But, for the sake of her three children, knowing it would displease her family, she gritted her teeth and refused.
For a long time, the Tian Family cut ties with the He Family.
It was only after He Xi became a Scholar, and Ms. Hetian was known throughout the local villages as a chaste and heroic woman, an exemplary wife and mother, that the Tian Family approached them again.
Relations between relatives were restored, but past conflicts were deeply etched into He Xi’s mind.
He was even more grateful for his mother’s sacrifices.
He Xi knew his mother wasn’t the good person others thought she was, she had her faults.
Yet here was this "bad woman" who was good at pretending and manipulating others, who had single-handedly raised three children and supported her eldest son to study and attend school.
Others might revile Ms. Hetian, but He Xi could not!
But... since when did he lose the admiration and respect for his mother that he had in his childhood, and instead, feel some aversion and exclusion?!
He Xi’s conscience, which had almost vanished, seemed to be struck by a thunderous epiphany.
"Mom, it’s all my fault, I’ve caused you worry!"
Thump, He Xi knelt down in front of He Tiantian, admitting his faults respectfully and sincerely.
"My son, I haven’t received an education and don’t have much insight, just some petty tricks of a woman, so, I too have done wrong,"
"Oh dear, I almost implicated my son. In the past, both of us were confused, actually treating An Kang as an ordinary daughter-in-law!"
"I was using the same methods my mother-in-law used on me to discipline my daughter-in-law, but I forgot, she’s not a wild lass from a tenant farmer’s family, she is a bona fide Royal lady!"
"... Fortunately, An Kang has a kind nature, and she now has a child with you. Not judging the priest but the Buddha he worships, she probably won’t complain to her elder brother, if only for the child!"
"While that is true, the He Family cannot go without a clear stance."
"My son, this time Mom has really thought it through, we still need to rely on An Kang as well as Duke Wei Mansion, thus, it’s only right for us to treat her better!"
He Tiantian didn’t hasten to have He Xi get up, instead, she took on the posture of a strict mother instructing her son, prattling on and on.
He Xi, who had just been led by his mother to reminisce about the past, was at a moment of deep guilt and gratitude towards her.
Now, hearing his mother’s earnest instructions, he felt as if he had received an enlightenment, suddenly filled with remorse.
"Mom—" He Xi crawled on his knees closer to He Tiantian, looking up at his mother with immeasurable respect.