Zhi Nu, of course, had no memory loss at all.
He was simply keeping his past a secret.
But as Wang Cheng Xing and his attendants conversed, Zhi Nu listened carefully, using their words to piece together useful information.
From their discussions, he learned:
- Wang Cheng Xing was a fifth-rank official from the capital, serving as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Revenue.
- He had traveled from Ying Jing to Hang Zhou for a very specific reason—to pray for a son at Jingyin Temple.
- Wang Cheng Xing was nearly fifty years old and had six wives and concubines, yet he still had no children.
- His elderly mother had urged him to visit Jingyin Temple, as it was famous for granting prayers for children.
- Following forty-nine days of purification and fasting, Wang Cheng Xing had finally arrived in Hang Zhou to burn incense and offer donations, hoping for divine blessings to continue the Wang family’s bloodline.
As Zhi Nu listened quietly, he overheard Wang Cheng Xing discussing his travel plans with the physician.
The next morning, Wang Cheng Xing planned to return to the capital.
However, before leaving, he intended to entrust the boy to the clinic and notify the local authorities.
The magistrate would then be responsible for finding Zhi Nu’s family.
But Zhi Nu knew the truth—
There was no family for them to find.
If he truly wanted to return to the capital, his best chance was to stay by Wang Cheng Xing’s side.
And so—
At the first call of the rooster’s crow, before dawn had fully broken, Zhi Nu quietly slipped out of bed.
He crept outside Wang Cheng Xing’s room, crouched down, and curled himself into a small, pitiful ball at the doorway.
When Wang Cheng Xing awoke and opened the door, the first thing he saw—
Was a helpless child, huddled at his doorstep, gazing up at him with tearful, pleading eyes.
Wang Cheng Xing was startled and quickly lifted Zhi Nu to his feet.
"Child, why aren’t you sleeping? What are you doing here?"
Zhi Nu clung tightly to Wang Cheng Xing’s leg, sniffling and whimpering—though in truth, not a single real tear fell from his eyes.
"Father… Father, do you not want me anymore? Are you going to leave me? Don’t abandon me!"
Wang Cheng Xing had never been called "Father" by anyone in his life.
Hearing those words, his heart softened instantly, and before he knew it, his own eyes reddened first.
He hugged Zhi Nu tightly and reassured him, "Don’t be afraid, child. I’m not leaving."
He reached out to touch Zhi Nu’s forehead—aside from the bruise from his earlier injury, there was also a distinct warmth.
The boy had a fever.
So his cries of "Father" might have simply been delirious ramblings from his feverish state.
What Wang Cheng Xing didn’t know was that Zhi Nu had deliberately worn only a single layer of clothing, staying outside all night in the cold wind—just to catch a chill and evoke his sympathy.
Because of this, Wang Cheng Xing delayed his departure from Hang Zhou for two extra days, waiting for Zhi Nu’s fever to subside and the swelling on his forehead to fully heal.
Yet—
Even after his health had recovered, Zhi Nu still "could not remember" where his family was.
On the third morning, an urgent government dispatch arrived at the inn where Wang Cheng Xing was staying.
The Crown Prince had passed away suddenly due to an unexpected illness.
The imperial court had issued an order requiring all officials of the sixth rank and above to return to the capital immediately to mourn.
That same morning, Wang Cheng Xing called Zhi Nu to him.
"Child, would you like to come with me to the capital?"
Zhi Nu had been waiting for this moment all along—so, naturally, he nodded eagerly, his face beaming with joy.
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