He immediately became alert, "Why are you looking for him?"
Song Chaoyu immediately understood a little, "I originally thought it would take some effort, but I didn't expect you to know Tan Ye."
"No."
Tan Xing turned his head away, unwilling to meet Song Chaoyu's eyes, "I don't know any Tan Ye."
"Heh heh!"
Song Chaoyu reached out and stroked Tan Xing's head, "Tan Xing, you must know that you are not a liar. At least not now, you are not a liar."
She squatted down, looking patiently into Tan Xing's eyes, "Tan Xing, I don't mind telling you. No matter what, I must know Tan Ye's whereabouts. We came from so far away, experienced so many things, and even put ourselves in danger, all to find Tan Ye. You can choose not to tell me, but I will find him anyway."
Song Chaoyu's eyes suddenly turned cold, "At that time, I won't care about the relationship between Tan Ye and you. What I need to ask him for, I will not miss even a bit. Without you, I can still find him. Even if I die, I will find him!"
This was the truth from Song Chaoyu.
She understood even more that this was also what Mu Changxi wanted to achieve.
Song Chaoyu's resolute demeanor truly startled Tan Xing.
He took a step back, then involuntarily swallowed, muttering, "Who exactly are you people?"
Song Chaoyu also straightened up, "Tan Xing, a person's life is in their own hands. We are just people who want to grasp our own lives. I think you are also trying your best to grasp your own life, aren't you? Although I don't know what Tan Ye's relationship with you is, I can promise you. As long as Tan Ye can help me save someone, I will not harm him in any way."
"Save someone? You are looking for him to save someone?"
A hint of struggle finally appeared in Tan Xing's eyes.
Song Chaoyu nodded, "Yes, to save someone. He poisoned someone, and that person is dying. We came to save that person. If you know Tan Ye's whereabouts, please tell us."
"Heh—"
Song Chaoyu didn't expect that when talking about these matters, Tan Xing would also let out a cold laugh, "He harmed someone? He harmed someone again?"
He suddenly looked up, looking seriously at Song Chaoyu, "Can I trust you?"
Song Chaoyu understood that there was still room for negotiation.
She also stared seriously at Tan Xing, "Of course. As I said, if you want to, you can follow us in the future. Who I am, what kind of people we are, you will eventually have an answer, won't you?"
Tan Xing nodded, then lowered his head, seeming to fall into silence.
Cheng Ying, standing by the side, was getting anxious, "Tan Xing... you—"
"It's alright!"
Song Chaoyu glanced at Cheng Ying, then nodded, "Some things, he has to figure them out himself before they count. Let him think. We've been waiting for so long, we don't lack this one day."
Cheng Ying then realized that in the past, they only listened to Song Chaoyu because she was the Princess of Chang.
Now, they sensed that Song Chaoyu's aura and her ability to assess the situation were no less than Mu Changxi's!
So Cheng Ying said no more and retreated.
After a moment of silence, Tan Xing suddenly looked up and said to Song Chaoyu, "The Tan Ye you are looking for is my father."
What?!
Tan Xing and Tan Ye being so estranged was quite a shock to Song Chaoyu!
But when Tan Ye was mentioned, Tan Xing's brows furrowed even tighter, "But I haven't been back for many years. I don't know if I can still lead you to find him."
Although Tan Xing was only a teenager, his life was not so perfect.
—
In Tan Xing's memory, from the day he was born, his father and mother's relationship was not good.
Tan Ye seemed to have suffered a serious injury in the past, so since Tan Xing was born, his most vivid memory was the smell of medicine filling the room and his father's constant pained groans.
Tan Xing's mother was named Yu Mingcui, an extremely gentle woman.
She took care of Tan Ye day and night, and gave Tan Ye two children: Tan Xing's older brother Tan Yue, and Tan Xing.
Yet, even so, she seemed unable to capture Tan Ye's heart.
When Tan Ye's injuries and illnesses slightly improved, he would drink alcohol all day long, disregarding advice.
When he drank too much, as long as Yu Mingcui said something wrong, he would beat and kick her.
Even in front of their two children, Tan Ye showed no restraint.
He would often yell at Yu Mingcui out of dissatisfaction with his life, "If it weren't for you saving me, do you think I would have married you?! You are just the daughter of a medicinal farmer, and who am I? How are you worthy of me? Don't think that by giving me children, you can tie me down for a lifetime!"
In his childhood, Tan Xing did not understand why his mother could "bear humiliation and endure disgrace."
No matter how excessive Tan Ye was, even after being beaten, she would always gently wipe away all the dirt from his body, then serve him medicine and help him to sleep.
In Tan Xing's memory, his mother was always gentle, no matter when.
And his father, Tan Ye, was always irritable, no matter when.
So, he and his brother Tan Yue relied heavily on their mother from a young age.
With these two children, Yu Mingcui seemed to pay less attention to the various dissatisfactions in her life.
However, the young Tan Xing had secretly made a vow at that time: one day, he would definitely take his mother away from his father, away from this chaotic home! He and his brother would work hard to give their mother a home, a home without a father, without beatings and scolding!
It was clear that Tan Xing's brother, Tan Yue, thought the same.
As if they had a telepathic connection, the two brothers wanted to take their mother and flee.
Tan Yue was four years older than Tan Xing. When Tan Xing was seven years old, the eleven-year-old Tan Yue brought him good news. Tan Ye was finally willing to teach him medicine more thoroughly. Once his medical skills were proficient, they could leave Tan Ye and take their mother to live a better life!
At that time, Tan Yue would talk to Tan Xing about their dreams all night long.
He said they would leave their father, and even leave Qin Prefecture.
They would find a place where their mother could live peacefully, and then open a small pharmacy.
Tan Yue would be responsible for seeing patients at the front, earning money by treating them.
Tan Xing would be responsible for selling medicinal herbs and assisting Tan Ye.
They would take care of their mother together. When they were a little older, they would both get married and have children. Then their mother would have a house full of grandchildren, with children and grandchildren surrounding her, enjoying the joy of family. How wonderful would that be!
For a long time, the two brothers relied on fantasizing about a beautiful future to endure the unbearable life they were living.