Chapter 2: Surname Tang, first name Liang, courtesy name Yuanming

  When Tang Song woke up, he felt like he had just had a nightmare. In the dream, he had turned into another person and was quietly lying in the mud at the bottom of the river. He saw his original body drifting further and further away from him, so he stretched out his hand to grab it. At that moment, Tang Song really wanted to cry, his heart suddenly became very painful, just like when he was a child and saw his grandfather pass away in front of him. He felt like he had lost something forever.

  So tired. Thinking so, Tang Song relaxed his hands and let his body drift away, until it disappeared from view, while he sank deeper into the mud. In the last moment when he was wrapped in mud, he saw a very beautiful seven-colored light ball merge with him.

  ——————

  "Actually, I really like the way you're sleeping now, but Brother Yuanming, how long are you going to sleep?"

  Tang Song didn't know how long he had been unconscious, but when he came to, the sweet voice of a girl was already ringing in his ears. He opened his eyes, and although his vision was still a bit blurry, his body's senses were still intact, and he could clearly feel that he was lying on a bed.

  "Old Master, you've been asleep for so many days and so many things have happened in the mansion. The second mistress is pregnant with Old Master's child again, the second young master returned from the northwest a few days ago... our eldest sister and second young master are still arguing all day..."

  Tang Song turned his head to look, and a classical beauty in a green silk blouse was sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to him. After a glance, Tang Song couldn't help but be stunned. She was indeed a beautiful woman, with black hair that fell to her waist, exuding a charming fragrance. Although he could only see her profile, it surpassed any woman he had ever seen. His gaze fell downward, and the girl's slender figure was breathtakingly beautiful, and the green silk blouse wrapped around her made her look even more elegant. Her pale skin was like sheep fat jade, and she looked like a doll with a height of about 1.5 meters.

  The classical beauty seemed to have felt Tang Song's gaze, and her body turned around. Seeing Tang Song staring blankly at herself, a layer of mist suddenly appeared in her eyes, and she rushed into Tang Song's arms and burst into tears.

  Tang Song smiled wryly as he looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, earlier that moment he saw her true face clearly, it was indeed pure and lovely. The current situation is a bit confusing, can only wait for this person to calm down before asking her again.

  The classical beauty cried for almost ten minutes, until Tang Song's chest was pressed and he couldn't breathe. She then lifted her head, tidying up her appearance while wiping away tears. Tang Song also sat up from the bed, straightening his body to ask: "Miss, may I ask what this place is? Who are you? And why am I here?"

  Unexpectedly, the classical beauty listened and slightly frowned, looking at Tang Song with a strange expression, saying: "Brother Yuanming, I am Mu'er, how can you not recognize me? Has your soul-loss syndrome not recovered yet?"

  Tang Song smiled wryly and said, "You're actually asking me instead, but I really don't recognize you. I remember falling into the river, was it you who saved me? Right, you still haven't told me where this place is?"

  Mei lowered her head, biting her lip and speaking softly: "This is the Cao Manor. Brother Yuanming originally remembered that he had fallen into the water. That's right, it was the servants of the Cao Manor who rescued you back. Brother Yuanming, you have been... unconscious for three months." After finishing, she also glanced at Tang Song, feeling a pang of grievance in her heart.

  He actually forgot about me! Despite my unwavering dedication to him, he dared to forget about me!

  Tang Song shook his head: "I have no idea what you're talking about. Three months? I only remember having a strange dream. Ah, it was just a dream!" Tang Song thought for a moment and suddenly turned pale, his face bloodless, and trembled as he said: "Mirror... get me a mirror."

  Mei also got scared by his appearance and quickly took out a small copper mirror from her body and handed it to him.

  "Bang!"

  The copper mirror fell to the ground with a loud clang, and at this moment, Tang Song also fell into a state of soul loss.

  The person in the mirror was a stranger to him, his dreams were real, he was trapped in an unfamiliar body. And this wasn't even the world he lived in, he had become an unknown existence.

  "Ahhhhhhh!" Tang Song let out a loud roar and rolled off the bed, clutching his head in agony. Mu Er was also shocked by his sudden outburst and struggled to help him up, only to see that he was already crying with tears streaming down his face.

  Time travel? Resurrection? Or body snatching? Tang Song calmed down, he eagerly wanted to know if he was still human or not.

  "Brother Yuanming..." Seeing that Tang Song was no longer moving, Mu'er asked cautiously from the side.

  Tang Song didn't say a word, stretched out his hand and hugged the beauty into his arms. Mu Er's small face turned red, but she also didn't struggle, gently stroking Tang Song's back.

  "If I don't remember anything, and even lose the meaning of living, then what's the point of me living?" Tang Song whispered, as if asking himself or Mu Er, leaning on her shoulder.

  "Mei lay in Tang Song's arms, speaking softly: 'Forget everything and start anew. Brother Yuanming, I'll always be by your side. There are many surprises in this world, Brother Yuanming must cheer up.'"

  Start anew? Tang Song was taken aback, yes, this girl named Mu'er was right, before figuring out the reason, he couldn't be disheartened, he still hadn't experienced this world after rebirth.

  Tang Song opened his arms and looked at the blush on Mu Er's face, gratefully saying: "Thank you for your guidance, Miss. From now on, please take care of me too. I have completely lost my memory, just like a three-year-old child. Everything in the world is up to you to explain to me."

  Mei'er listened and smiled: "Three-year-old child? This is quite interesting, Yuanming brother can rest assured, I will help you recall your memories."

  Under Mu Er's explanation, Tang Song finally understood his current situation. This is the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo in the Song Dynasty, and the emperor at that time was Emperor Taizong Zhao Guangyi. He is now a manager at Cao Family Manor in Caojiazhuang, a small village with over 100 households. The owner of the manor is Cao An, a distant relative of the founding minister Cao Bin. Tang Song's current name is Tang Liang, also known as Yuanming, and he is 20 years old this year. He was rescued by the old manager Tang He at the age of three from bandits and became his adopted son. He is known for being honest and having good relationships with others. Two years ago, after Tang He's death, Tang Liang was promoted to be the new manager by Cao An, and he has been managing the manor well since then. However, three months ago, while on a trip to Bianjing City to deliver goods, he encountered an accident, fell into the water, and has been unconscious ever since.

  He took a deep breath, and at this moment, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. From today on, he would be Tang Liang, and the name Tang Song would only be known to himself. He had to live on as Tang Liang.

  ——————

  The news of Tang Liang's death and resurrection spread quickly throughout Caojiazhuang, causing a stir among the villagers. Some said that Tang Liang was a heavenly star, his life harder than an immortal; others claimed that he had been possessed by the River God, who had ascended to heaven after achieving enlightenment, and naturally woke up afterwards. There were even those who believed that Tang Liang's soul had been taken away by the Fox Spirit, and that his soul and the Fox Spirit indulged in carnal pleasures every day, only returning when his body was exhausted. Of course, this last explanation came from Li Guang, a notorious gossip in the village. In short, all the villagers were eager to catch a glimpse of Tang Liang himself.

  At this moment, Tang Song was kneeling in the main hall of Cao's mansion, and the one sitting upright in front of him was none other than Cao An, who had passed his sixtieth birthday.

  Although Cao Yuanwai is over sixty years old, he still looks spirited and energetic. His one-foot-long beard is neatly combed, his face is full of wrinkles but appears kind and amiable, and his simple purple long gown has a dignified air about it.

  Tang Song learned from Mu Er that Cao Yuanwai was a gentle and low-key person who never put on airs. He was also very good to his servants, but had a weakness for women, with two beautiful concubines in the house and often went out to flirt with women. Tang Song's impression of him was not bad either, after all, in feudal society, he treated him as a human being, and even kept him in the mansion when he was ill for three months, which was truly a kind person. However, no matter what, Tang Song did not dare to be arrogant, so from the moment he entered the house, he knelt down respectfully and told his story of losing his memory.

  "Come on, get up already, old master. My waist hurts from talking to you like this." Cao Mouwai stroked his beard and said, "Although you young lad got lucky and rested for three months for free, I'm really envious. But now you say you've lost all your memories? It's hard for me to bear the pain of substituting for you." After speaking, he let out a deep sigh.

  Tang Song still didn't get up, his mouth moved slightly and swallowed the words that were about to come out, and he bowed deeply to Cao Yuanwai.

  Cao Zhi's expression changed instantly, and he pretended to step forward to help him up, saying: "You were told to get up but you're still lying down. Are you waiting for me to personally lift you?"

  Tang Song stood up straight and slowly said, "Master, I am deeply grateful for your kindness to Yuan Ming, which is as heavy as a mountain. Now that Yuan Ming has become like this, I really don't want to stay in the Cao Mansion as a burden. Please, Master, expel me from the Cao Mansion." Tang Song finished speaking and bowed again towards the front.

  Unexpectedly, Cao's expression changed greatly after listening, and he said seriously: "If I, Cao, were a heartless and unrighteous person, you would have died on the street three months ago. Now that you have hands and feet and can move around, how can you not stay? When your memory recovers, this large mansion will still need to be handed over to you to manage."

  Cao Zhen's wife finished speaking and with a wave of her large sleeve, she turned around and left.

  "These days, just follow Old Zhang in the kitchen and do things. If there's anything difficult, come find me. I'm really being bothered by your old-fashioned words today, I'll go take a rest, you should head back early too."

  Tang Song was truly grateful to this Cao Yuanwai, and he stood up and bowed deeply towards his back.

  "Originally bright, humbly following the old master's instructions."

  As soon as he came out of the hall, Tang Song saw a small figure shivering at the inner courtyard gate. He let out a sigh and took off his thick coat, walking softly over to gently drape it over her from behind.

  Mei'er turned around and saw that it was Tang Song, and immediately smiled with a happy expression, saying: "Elder brother Yuanming, you've come out so quickly! What did Master say?"

  Tang Song didn't respond, silently brushing off the snowflakes on Mu Er's body, smiling as he touched her scorching hot cheeks.

  "I'm going back."

  Two people walked hand in hand on the snowy ground, leaving behind two rows of long footprints.