Grace Brooks hurriedly signaled Helen Brooks to quiet down. Helen Brooks also noticed their mother's expression and, with a hint of coquettishness, said, "Mother, it's a holiday today..."

　　"Heh..." Mrs. Brooks seemed even more annoyed, but with the old Zhong couple present, she couldn't lose her temper.

　　After the old Zhong couple finished setting the dishes and left, William Brooks raised his wine cup and signaled to his wife and children, "It's a holiday today, so let's all make an exception and have a cup of spring wine to celebrate."

　　Grace Brooks and Helen Brooks also picked up their cups, and the three of them all looked at the motionless Mrs. Brooks.

　　"Madam..." William Brooks called softly.

　　"Heh, celebrate..." Mrs. Brooks still didn't raise her cup, only asked coldly, "What holiday are we celebrating?"

　　"The Cold Food Festival, isn't it?" Helen Brooks replied in confusion, "The day for wearing willow branches and eating cheese..."

　　"How did this festival come about?" Mrs. Brooks's ashen gaze swept over the three of them.

　　"To commemorate Jie Zitui by Duke Wen of Jin." Grace Brooks and William Brooks both remained silent, so Helen Brooks had to answer.

　　"Why did Duke Wen of Jin want to commemorate Jie Zitui?" Mrs. Brooks's expression grew even stranger.

　　"Duke Wen of Jin restored his kingdom but forgot to reward Jie Zitui, so Jie Zitui and his mother went into seclusion in the mountains. Duke Wen set fire to the mountain to force him out, but ended up burning the mother and son alive..." As Helen Brooks spoke to this point, her heart skipped a beat, and she saw William Brooks and Grace Brooks both set down their wine cups, their faces turning extremely grim.

　　"Haha..." Mrs. Brooks let out a hoarse laugh, the sound more like crying than laughing. With a twisted expression, she pointed at Grace Brooks and said, "My son was also burned to death. It was his father who handed him over to your mother! Letting her burn him alive!"

　　Grace Brooks's hands, resting on his knees, clenched tightly into fists. Helen Brooks's face also turned pale, her eyes brimming with tears.

　　'Bang!' William Brooks finally slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Enough! The events of ten years ago are not to be mentioned again!"

　　"I insist on mentioning them!" Mrs. Brooks straightened up and stared coldly at William Brooks, "You all can pretend to forget, but I never will!" With that, she stood up, flicked her sleeves, and left, saying, "You go on celebrating, I can't eat anymore, it's disgusting!"

Chapter Two: A Young Heart Like Iron

　　The three watched as Mrs. Brooks left the main hall, put on her shoes, and departed, but the atmosphere in the room remained heavy.

　　The events of ten years ago had left deep scars in everyone's hearts. All they could do was try not to touch upon them, but Mrs. Brooks insisted on bringing them up, as if she feared they would move on and find new life!

　　After a long while, William Brooks let out a long sigh and said to Grace Brooks, "Yun'er, don't take it to heart. Your mother is just like this, there's nothing to be done..." He truly was helpless; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to even hire a servant all these years, just in case she lost control and said things that shouldn't be said.

　　"Ah-di..." Helen Brooks also looked at Grace Brooks with pity. Although the two were not related by blood, after living together day and night for ten years, in her heart, Grace Brooks was already her real younger brother.

　　"Mother has already treated me much better these years..." Grace Brooks tried to force a smile, not wanting William Brooks and Helen Brooks to worry. But the hands he kept hidden in his sleeves were tightly clenched into fists, the veins bulging on the backs of his hands.

　　"Mm, you're a good child..." William Brooks looked at Grace Brooks, at a loss for words, and could only force a smile, "Let's eat." With that, he picked up his bowl and started eating.

　　The siblings also picked up their chopsticks and ate in silence, but the meal tasted like wax in their mouths; none of them could taste anything.

　　After the meal, Helen Brooks poured tea for her father and brother. Taking a light sip of the emerald tea, William Brooks softly asked Grace Brooks, "Has your body shown any abnormalities lately?" Hearing this, Helen Brooks also looked at Grace Brooks with concern.

　　Grace Brooks seemed to have completely calmed down and shook his head with a smile, "Thank you for worrying, Father. I haven't had any problems."

　　"That's good." William Brooks seemed relieved and reminded, "That cultivation method is too dangerous. Never touch it again."

　　"Don't worry, Father. I understand." Grace Brooks nodded in agreement.

　　...

　　Before dark, a yamen runner came to fetch the Commandant. The siblings saw their father to the door. William Brooks took the raincoat handed to him by Grace Brooks, looked at Grace Brooks with a complicated expression, wanting to pat his shoulder, but in the end did not raise his hand. He let out a long sigh and said, "There are official duties at the yamen. I won't be home for a while. You two must take good care of your mother and don't take her words to heart."

　　Grace Brooks noticed William Brooks's movement, his expression dimmed, and he lowered his head, "Father, don't worry. Mother is usually very good."

　　William Brooks nodded, put on the raincoat, stepped onto the stirrup, and mounted the horse. The yamen runner led the horse out of the alley, and the sound of hooves gradually faded into the rain.

　　Once William Brooks was out of sight, the siblings turned back. The gatekeeper had already lit the lamps. By the dim light, Helen Brooks studied her brother's delicate features. Grace Brooks, feeling a bit guilty under her gaze, asked, "What is it?"

　　"You really haven't practiced that cultivation method again?" Helen Brooks stared intently into Grace Brooks's eyes, as if afraid he was lying.

　　"Of course not." Grace Brooks couldn't help but laugh, stretching his arms and gently saying, "We're together every day. If there was anything wrong, you'd be the first to know, sis."

　　"There's nothing wrong during the day, but who knows about the night." Helen Brooks habitually propped her chin with her fingers, looking worried, "I'll have to keep an eye on you these next few nights!"

　　"Sis..." Grace Brooks's mouth twitched, embarrassed, "What kind of joke is that..."