In the fourth year of Jiankang, on the sixth day of the sixth month, Li Wuya and Li Qilang turned eleven years old. To celebrate their birthdays, Li Changsen and Li Sanlang traveled for two days and two nights to return home.
"At the head of the household, Sanlang, you've been on the road for nearly two months running deliveries. It must have been exhausting. After this, take some time to rest at home," said Jin Yue'e, as she continuously served dishes and picked food for the now slightly weathered Li Changsen and Li Sanlang. Li Er'ya and Li Sanya nodded their agreement.
Li Changsen laughed and said, "During the months of June and July, it's the hottest time at the border. I don't mind getting a bit darker, but Sanlang can't afford to. He'll have to find a wife in the future. We can't have him looking too rough."
Li Wuya chuckled and said, "Father, you're underestimating my brother. With his tall and handsome figure, his clear brows and bright eyes, even if he gets a bit darker, there will be many girls fighting to be his sister-in-law."
Li Sanlang playfully glared at Li Wuya and then handed her a chicken leg, saying, "You're becoming more and more disrespectful. You're actually making fun of your brother."
"Brother, don't be so serious," Li Wuya replied with a mischievous smile before taking a bite of the chicken leg.
The family finished their meal happily and contentedly.
After the meal, Li Wuya noticed that her mother had been continuously discussing matters related to their delivery trips with her father and brother, without mentioning the Jiang family at all. Thinking for a moment, she decided to speak up, "Father, last month, the second master of the Jiang family visited our house."
As soon as she spoke, the room, which had been filled with laughter, fell silent.
Li Changsen's face showed astonishment at first and then fell into silence.
Li Sanlang looked puzzled as he glanced between Jin Yue'e, his sister, and his father, asking, "Who is the second master of the Jiang family?"
Li Er'ya chimed in, "Father and the second master of the Jiang family look very much alike."
Upon hearing this, Li Sanlang understood immediately and asked, "What did he come to our house for?"
Li Er'ya answered, "He didn't do much. He sat in the main hall for a while, chatted with us, and then left."
Looking at Li Changsen, she continued, "Before leaving, he said he would come again once you and Father are back."
Li Wuya noticed that Li Changsen remained silent, so she spoke up again, "Father, seeing how much you and the second master of the Jiang family resemble each other, we all thought he was our grandfather."
"But after chatting with him for a while, it seemed like you might not be his son, but rather his sister's son."
Li Changsen's shock finally subsided, and he looked at Li Wuya in disbelief, "What did you just say?"
Li Wuya clarified, "Father, your nephew looks like your uncle. The second master of the Jiang family should be your uncle."
Li Changsen was taken aback, struggling to process the new information. Ever since he had met Jiang Anbang, he had believed that man was his biological father. But now, he was being told otherwise.
Li Wuya continued, "The sister of the second master of the Jiang family is the Countess of the Marquis Manor in the capital city. Father, if what the second master of the Jiang family said is true, you should be the son of the Marquis Manor."
Li Changsen's expression wavered, clearly struggling to process this revelation.
Li Sanlang was also stunned, his mouth wide open.
Their father's background was far more distinguished than they had ever imagined.
"Enough now, let's not discuss this anymore. It's so hot today. Go back to your rooms and take a nap."
Jin Yue'e's voice ended the conversation.
Seeing that Li Changsen needed time to digest the information, Li Sanlang and the others left quietly.
Once they were out of the main room, Li Sanlang still couldn't quite believe it, "Is this for real?"
Li Wuya reassured him, "Prominent families like the Marquis Manor wouldn't play such jokes. The second master of the Jiang family personally came to our house; he must have verified the information."
Li Sanya muttered, "That Li laohan and his wife are truly despicable."
The son of a marquis, the son of a military household... The disparity between these two statuses weighed heavily on Li Sanlang and his siblings' minds.
Li Sanlang said, "As I've said before, whether we recognize our kinship or not, we should listen to Father. We shouldn't meddle too much or ask too many questions. Father must be feeling quite uneasy right now, so let's not add to his burden."
In the following days, except for Jin Yue'e, Li Sanlang and his siblings refrained from bothering Li Changsen. They gave him ample time and space to come to terms with his identity.
On the eighth day of June, the chief steward of the Shi residence, Shi Nian, accompanied by Shi Laoye and Shi Laofu, along with their letters, arrived at the Jiang family's residence.
Both Jiang Antai and Jiang Anbang received them.
Upon learning that the Shi family intended to bring Li Changsen's family back to the capital city, Jiang Anbang heaved a sigh of relief.
During this period, he had dispatched people to gather information from Tianling Tun, Xining Guard, and Dieling Pass. The more he learned about Li Changsen's life in the Li family, the more sympathetic he felt for this nephew. He genuinely hoped that Li Changsen and his family could enjoy better days.
After reading the letter, Jiang Antai remained silent for a moment before speaking, "How did Zhenkun react to this?"
Shi Nian replied, "When we left, Lao Laoye and Lao Laofu hadn't told Fourth Uncle yet."
Jiang Anbang snorted, "What's so difficult about this? Just tell him the truth. After all, he already took away Changsen's life. What else does he want?"
Jiang Antai frowned, "Second Brother, don't approach this emotionally. Zhenkun is not at fault in this matter."
Jiang Anbang retorted, "Yes, he's not at fault. But he enjoyed everything that rightfully belonged to Changsen. It's one thing to let others have those things, but he should at least feel a hint of remorse for what he did to Changsen."
Jiang Antai shook his head with a headache, knowing that he wouldn't be able to persuade his younger brother. He decided not to argue further. Then, he looked at Jiang Dafuren and said, "Since our sister-in-law is planning to bring Li Changsen's family back, you should prepare. Tomorrow, take Shi Nian and Xu Mamo to visit the Li family."
Jiang Anbang asked, "Big Brother, aren't you going?"
Jiang Antai lifted his teacup and took a sip, saying, "With your sister-in-law going, that's enough. There's no need for so many people to go. If you want, you can let your younger sister and brother accompany her."
Jiang Anbang was somewhat displeased, "Big Brother, I think you and I should both go. While Big Sister-in-law isn't an outsider, we are the true maternal uncle and aunt. If we go, it will show Changsen that we value him."
Jiang Antai chuckled, "If your sister-in-law goes, isn't that representing me? Isn't that enough of a show of respect? Fine, I'm also doing this for Li Changsen's family's well-being."
"If you think about my identity, having your sister-in-law go should make Li's family feel uneasy. If I go, they'll feel even more uncomfortable."
"Let your sister-in-law meet them first, give them some time to adjust, and then they can come to the Jiang residence. By that time, I'll naturally meet them."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Anbang's expression turned peculiar. When he thought about the day he visited the Li family's residence and was treated just like any other guest by Li Wuya, he doubted that his elder brother's presence would make a significant difference.
Jiang Dafuren took over the conversation with a smile, "Second Brother, with your younger sister and me going to the Li family's residence, along with the steward and Xu Mamo, who came all the way from the capital city, it should already show both the Jiang and Shi families' concern for Li Changsen's family."
Jiang Anbang pondered for a moment and then said, "I'll go too."
Jiang Antai looked at him, "Aren't you on duty today?"
Jiang Anbang replied, "It's just one day. I can find someone to replace me."
The next morning, Jiang Anbang, Jiang Dafuren, and Jiang Er Furen arrived at the Li family's residence with Shi Nian and Xu Mamo.
Jin Yue'e was the one who opened the door, as Li Wuya and her siblings had gone to school.
Seeing so many people arriving this time, Jin Yue'e's heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Dafuren looked at the somewhat tense Jin Yue'e and approached her with a smile, "You must be Changsen's wife, right? I'm your eldest aunt, and this is your second aunt. You've already met your second uncle."
Upon hearing this introduction, Jin Yue'e was momentarily stunned.
Did the Jiang family decide to officially recognize her husband now?!
"Child's mother, who is it?"
In the midst of Jin Yue'e's confusion, Li Changsen walked out.
This was the first time Jiang Anbang had seen Li Changsen. When he saw Li Changsen's eyes and brows resembling his own, a sense of closeness welled up within him.
Standing behind, Shi Nian and Xu Mamo looked at Li Changsen, then exchanged a quick glance.
If they had harbored doubts about Li Changsen's lineage before, they didn't have such thoughts now.
Li Changsen indeed resembled Jiang Anbang, but his features also bore some resemblance to Wu Changbo, Shi Guangyao.
There was no mistake; this person was truly of the Shi family's bloodline.
Seeing Jiang Anbang and the others, Li Changsen was momentarily taken aback before regaining his composure. He stepped aside and calmly said, "Please come in."