Lu Hua also sobbed and knelt before Uncle Cripple, kowtowing to him, "Niece Lu Hua pays respects to Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle!"
Lu Yun and Lu Yu immediately threw themselves into Uncle Cripple's arms, wailing, "Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, wu wu wu wu..."
Uncle Fool was bewildered. Seeing everyone weeping sadly, he too opened his mouth wide and wailed loudly.
Uncle Ding watched the reunion of uncles and nephews, his eyes also welling up with happy tears.
He knew that even if Grandpa and Madam found out that the Third Young Master and Fourth Young Master were from the Bai Li family, they would still acknowledge them no matter what. Otherwise, he would not have taken the risk today to bring them all together for a reunion.
After all, the current Bai Li family was like a plague god, feared and avoided by everyone.
"Get up, children, all of you, get up and talk," Uncle Cripple said, hugging his two young nephews, smiling through tears.
Lu Ye and Bai Sheng stood up, and Lu Hua followed suit.
Uncle Cripple wiped his tears and said in a hoarse voice, "Children, Third Uncle is truly... so relieved today. You do not despise the Bai Li family, nor do you despise us two old wanderers, and you still came forward to acknowledge us. Third Uncle... is deeply touched."
Lu Ye wiped away his tears and said with conviction, "Third Uncle, you and Fourth Uncle are our family. Even if the whole world opposes you, I, my wife, my children, and my siblings will stand by your side without hesitation."
Bai Sheng also sniffled and said, "Furthermore, General Bai Li was valiant and skillful in battle, upright and forthright in character. He sacrificed his eldest and second sons for Great Xia and devoted his life's youth to the battlefield. I simply cannot believe he would collude with the enemy and betray the country.
My husband and siblings have kind hearts and upright characters, as do my mother-in-law, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle. A family that can nurture such outstanding descendants must have upright and virtuous family traditions. If the foundation is not firm, the rest will be crooked. How could the head of a family with upright traditions be a sycophantic dog that betrays the court for money and profit, selling out the country?"
Uncle Cripple looked at Bai Sheng with tears in his eyes, nodding in admiration, "Niece-in-law, you speak well!"
Lu Yun said indignantly, "I also don't believe Grandpa is the bad person they say! Back in Huangsha Village, the entire village called my family bad people, spoke ill of us behind our backs, and bullied us. But I know that only my family is the kindest! Most people in the world are foolish and just follow the crowd!"
Bai Sheng rubbed Lu Yun's head and smiled, "My Yun has truly grown up. You understand so much."
Lu Hua and Lu Yu also expressed their belief that their maternal grandfather was not a bad person.
Uncle Cripple and Uncle Ding exchanged glances, both deeply moved. With these children, the Bai Li family had hope.
Lu Yun clenched his fist and said hatefully, "If I ever hear anyone speaking ill of Grandpa and my uncles again, I'll beat them to death!"
"Absolutely not!" Bai Sheng, Lu Ye, Uncle Cripple, and Uncle Ding said in unison.
Lu Ye sternly said to Lu Yun, "Xiao Yun, I told you before, when encountering problems, you must use wisdom and not be impulsive or emotional. Have you forgotten?"
Lu Yun lowered his head embarrassedly, "Big Brother, I haven't forgotten. I'm just too... angry."
Uncle Cripple sighed deeply and cautioned, "Children, I am already very content that you recognize me as your uncle. However, I hope that you will continue to live as you did before. Remember, you must never reveal that you are from the Bai Li family.
To outsiders, you should continue to call me and Fourth Uncle 'Uncle Cripple' and 'Uncle Fool.' You are the last hope of the Bai Li family. I hope you all live well and never bring a deadly disaster upon yourselves because of the Bai Li family."
Lu Ye's gaze deepened as he looked at Uncle Cripple and asked, "Third Uncle, do you not intend to investigate the wrongful case of the past, to exonerate Grandpa, and to avenge the Bai Li family?"
Uncle Cripple's eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth, "I want to! How could I not want to! Not a day goes by that I don't want to kill those corrupt officials who slandered my father! Not a day goes by that I don't want to kill that blind emperor! Not a day goes by that I don't want to destroy the Great Xia Kingdom!
My Bai Li family has been loyal and upright for generations, sacrificing many brave men for the Great Xia empire. Yet, how did these ungrateful corrupt officials and emperors treat our family?
They actually slandered my father for colluding with the enemy and treason, and annihilated my entire Bai Li clan. My great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, all my brothers and sisters, relatives, and so many servants, all lay dead in pools of blood overnight! I will carry this deep-seated hatred to the underworld and transform into a vengeful spirit to settle the score with them one by one!
But now, Xiao Ye, your third uncle is just a disabled, useless cripple, and Fourth Uncle is a fool. You children are also ordinary citizens with little power, completely incapable of confronting those corrupt officials and the emperor. If you were to meet with an accident, then Third Uncle truly would... not be able to live on."
Lu Ye clenched his fists secretly and said sternly to his siblings, facing them, "Xiao Hua, Xiao Yun, Xiao Yu, remember Third Uncle's words. From now on, to outsiders, you will still call Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle 'Uncle Cripple' and 'Uncle Fool.' Even if you hear people speaking ill of the Bai Li family, you must endure it. Until we exonerate Grandpa, you must never reveal your connection to the Bai Li family. Do you understand?"
Lu Yun bit his lower lip and nodded, "Big Brother, I understand."
Lu Hua also nodded tearfully, and Lu Yu cried, "Big Brother, I understand too."
Uncle Cripple looked at Lu Ye with shock, "Xiao Ye, you—you have truly decided to investigate and seek exoneration?"
Lu Ye's eyes gleamed sharply, and his voice was firm and irrefutable, "Yes, Third Uncle, exoneration is necessary. I am a man. If my family suffers an immense injustice, is exterminated, and I can still live a peaceful and happy life, then I am truly unworthy of being a grandson or a son!"
Uncle Cripple's face showed a complex expression. Seeing his eldest nephew's spiritedness and sense of responsibility, he was overjoyed. However, when he thought about his plan to confront so many people in the court single-handedly, he was also extremely worried.
"Xiao Ye, even if you hide like a shrinking turtle, Third Uncle would be happy. At least you have continued the lineage for the Bai Li family. But if you truly embark on the path of seeking exoneration, it is far too dangerous. Third Uncle does not wish for you to venture into such peril."
Lu Ye said with confidence, "Third Uncle, believe me, I will definitely exonerate the Bai Li family and protect our family. I will not allow anyone to harm my family. You can be absolutely assured of this."
Bai Sheng held Lu Ye's arm and smiled at Uncle Cripple, "Third Uncle, I'm here too. I will help my husband."
"But you are just a frail woman, how can you—"
Before Uncle Cripple could finish, Bai Sheng straightened her back and said, "No, Third Uncle, I am indeed a woman, but I am not frail. I know martial arts, I am very skilled at refining poisons, and I have fierce wolves and large snakes." And an invincible space!
Lu Yun immediately chimed in, "Third Uncle, Sister-in-law is right. My sister-in-law is incredibly powerful. She has all sorts of poisons. When the time comes, we'll give each of those scoundrels a bit of poison to kill them!"
Lu Yu also nodded repeatedly, "Third Uncle, my sister-in-law is very fierce when dealing with bad people. Bad people are afraid when they see her."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Uncle Cripple was deeply moved. His eldest nephew had married a good wife, and the family would surely prosper in the future.