Yang Rusong opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. Indeed, if the Imperial Court truly sought to pursue the matter, they could indeed have expelled him from school. After all, his uncle was a murderer, and his father had also become morally decayed.
Uncle Lao Kuang was up front, driving the cart. Although he didn’t interject, he heard the entire conversation between the uncle and nephew clearly and couldn’t help but shake his head in secret. Yang Rusong had wasted his education; he was also selfish.
"Rusong, as the eldest grandson, with the family in its current state, you need to have some plan in mind..." Yang Baixiang felt a bit like he was speaking earnestly out of concern, "And you also need to persuade your parents to stop making trouble. They’re getting on in years and should live peacefully..."
Yang Rusong pursed his lips and said nothing. The exams were exhausting, and it was disheartening to hear again of home troubles. He felt an urge to explode with rage, but fortunately, he restrained himself.
Yang Baixiang had spoken at length but received no response from Yang Rusong. He turned his head to look and discovered Rusong leaning against the cart wall with his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open, but ultimately, all he did was sigh before falling silent.
"Xiangzi, you’re not getting any younger; it’s time you thought about your own future," said Old Lao Kuang with gravity, glancing at Yang Baixiang. After all, he had grown closer to Yang Ruxin after interacting with her these days, which prompted him to speak. After all, Xinxin cared deeply for her fifth uncle.
"Brother Lao Kuang, look at me, who would want to be with someone like that?" Yang Baixiang sighed, his tone filled with boundless desolation.
Old Lao Kuang could only sigh in response, "Your elder brothers from your family are indeed too much. I’m not speaking ill of others out of turn, but maybe things would be better if the family were divided..."
"How easy could that be?" Yang Baixiang gave a bitter smile. He too wanted to separate from the family, but his mother staunchly refused, and he didn’t understand why. He just had to endure.
"Alas!" In the end, Old Lao Kuang sighed.
The mule cart’s speed wasn’t slow. They didn’t delay in the town and in less than two hours, they reached the village.
However, no sooner had they entered the village than they found many people gathered around the Yang Family’s old house’s entrance, bustling with activity. From a distance, they could hear earth-shattering cries coming from the courtyard. The voice was familiar—it was Yang Baihe’s. Yang Baixiang’s heart sank immediately—could something have happened again?
Yang Rufeng, who had been dozing off with his eyes closed but somehow fell asleep for real, also suddenly awoke. After glancing around in a daze, he finally came to his senses, "Uncle, are we there? What happened?"
Yang Baixiang frowned, hastily jumped down from the cart, and limped quickly towards the house’s entrance.
Yang Rusong quickly followed suit and got off the cart too.
Old Lao Kuang, unsure of what had happened, followed as well.
"What’s going on?" Yang Baixiang pushed through the crowd and entered the courtyard, only to see Yang Baihe sitting on the ground crying bitterly.
"Fifth brother, there’s been an accident... Mother and Father are dying..." As soon as Yang Baihe saw Yang Baixiang return, she rushed over and grabbed his arm, "It’s all because of Daya, that heartless creature... she poisoned the water tank in the house..."
Yang Baixiang’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurried into the room.
Inside, in front of the kang bed on the floor, there was a basin obviously containing vomit, reeking with a sour stench. Li Yi was administering acupuncture to Yang Peili and Yang Anshi, who were lying on the kang, both with their eyes tightly shut and their complexions ashen.