The next morning.
Chen Zhian, who had been pondering all night, just opened his eyes to see a middle-aged man with a simple and honest smile standing in front of him.
The man was dressed in a brocade robe, holding a delicate food box in his hands, and his not-so-tall figure carefully blocked the sunlight that was leaking in.
Seeing Chen Zhian waking up, the man quickly offered the food box and said in a weak voice, "Son, it's all because of my fault. I've cause you have been wronged!!"
Chen Zhian opened his mouth.
But the phrase that the original owner often said, "old man," never came out.
Taking the food box, he picked up a meat bun and started to eat slowly.
This man was none other than the Marquis of Chenliu in the Great Tang, Chen Aman, Chen Zhian's father!
Chen Aman had an ordinary appearance, ordinary cultivation, and ordinary talent, and he had turned the prestigious position of Marquis of Chenliu into just a Marquis...
Over the years, he had been ridiculed by the original owner, calling him "old man" all the time, and showing no respect for his father. Yet, Chen Aman still loved this unfilial son the most.
No matter how much trouble the original owner caused, Chen Aman never said a harsh word to him.
He just happily cleaned up the mess behind him.
Even with Chen Zhian's two lifetimes of experience, he couldn't figure out the reason behind this.
It was the original owner who was brainless, thinking that he should naturally receive such treatment because he was the Qilin son of the Marquis of Chenliu, the designated successor.
Seeing Chen Zhian finish a basket of buns, Chen Aman quickly took out a bowl of stone-milled soy milk from the food box and said with a simple smile, "It's the soy milk from Zuike Tower, your favorite. Drink it while it's hot!"
Upon hearing this.
Chen Zhian's outstretched hand froze in place.
Drink it while it's hot?
Was it because he had bitten a few mouthfuls of Li Xin's body, torn a few pieces of clothing, and it had escalated to the point of execution?
Chen Zhian remained frozen in place, but Chen Aman, with a carefree smile on his face, said, "Drink up quickly. Your elder brother and younger sister are waiting at home to welcome you back and clean you up.
There's also a huge opportunity waiting for you. You'll find out when you get back!"
As he spoke, he gave Chen Zhian a sly smile, as if inviting him to take credit.
Chen Zhian was speechless.
After gulping down the soy milk, Chen Zhian pushed open the door of the prison.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly caught sight of a figure in the shadows, sneaking over and chuckling, "Little Second Brother, did you draw the fierce tiger on your chest with a brush? It's fading a bit!"
Zhang Xiaoer's face flushed red, one hand pulling up his pants, the other covering the faded tiger on his chest, feeling bitterly resentful.
He had a fierce tiger on his chest, but he was defeated in this small prison.
He didn't dare to show even a hint of resentment.
Although the Marquis of Chenliu was not very prominent, he was still one of the eighteen vassals of the Great Tang, not someone a lowly prison guard like him could provoke.
Chen Zhian patted Zhang Xiaoer on the shoulder, laughing heartily as he walked out of the prison gate.
Behind him, Chen Aman muttered about how his son had grown up and finally called him dad, and other such words, following closely behind...
...
Marquis Xibo's Residence.
Madam Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, and the dragon-headed cane in her hand made a dull sound on the bluestone slab.
Beside her, Madam Wei, the widow of Marquis Xibo, had slightly red eyes, her voice filled with sorrow and despair. "Madam Yu, do you intend to betroth Ning'er to that despicable scoundrel? But..."
"Shut up!"
Madam Yu's eyes flashed with sharpness as she coldly interrupted, "What else can we do? Ning'er's affair with that little rascal has already spread throughout Chang'an. Do you want to drive her to death?"
Under the glare of Madam Yu's eyes, Madam Wei couldn't help but tremble uncontrollably, her towering figure becoming more apparent.
Madam Yu had accumulated power for a long time. Not to mention Madam Wei, even Marquis Xibo himself had feared her like a tiger when he was alive.
But thinking of her own brother's promise, Madam Wei gathered her courage and trembled as she spoke, "That little rascal frequents brothels, gambles, and bullies people. By betrothing Ning'er to him, aren't you pushing her into a fire pit?"
"Where isn't a fire pit?"
Madam Yu stared at Madam Wei, her voice hoarse and indifferent. "The Wei family of Hejian? Your nephew who forced the young men of Ruyuge to death at the age of thirteen?"
"Or is it still your despicable cousin?"
"Dare to speak another word, and I'll cane you to death right here!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Wei's face instantly turned as pale as paper, and she knelt on the ground, silent.
"Do what you should do in your position."
Madam Yu said coldly, "Although Marquis Xibo is no longer here, this marquisate is still not yours to rule! If I find out about what happened in Xining, you'll have a share too. You know the consequences!"
"Madam, I understand!"
Madam Wei remained kneeling on the ground until Madam Yu's figure disappeared, before daring to slowly rise.
...
"The Marquis Mansion of Chenliu is located in the hesitant lane to the west of Chang'an City.
As the sharp sound of a young marquis returning home rang out, the vermilion gate creaked open.
Eight well-armed warriors stood in two rows, while four maidens in yellow awaited with lowered heads.
In front of them all, a man holding a scroll stood quietly at the foot of the stone steps, watching Chen Zhian, who had just jumped down from the carriage, with a gentle expression.
He appeared to be around thirty years old, tall and straight-backed, with a wooden hairpin casually inserted in his hair, dressed in a long green robe that swept the ground, and wearing cloth boots.
This man was none other than Chen Zhibai, the eldest son of the Marquis Mansion of Chenliu.
In terms of appearance alone, he was not particularly outstanding. Not to mention Chen Zhian, even compared to Chen Zhiming, who was infamous in Chang'an, was slightly inferior.
However, at this moment, Chen Zhian harbored suspicions about this elder brother, suspecting him to be a hidden big shot...
He felt that behind those gentle eyes lay countless tales of vicissitudes, making him hesitant to meet his gaze!
"It's good to be back!"
Chen Zhibai first nodded slightly to Chen Aman, then said gently to Chen Zhian, "Your younger sister has prepared your favorite drunken shrimp. Change your clothes quickly and go, don't keep her waiting."
"I'll go now!"
Chen Zhian sneakily glanced at the scroll in his hand, vaguely seeing the character "Dao." Before he could look again, he was surrounded by four maids and walked towards the courtyard.
Behind them.
Chen Aman sighed as she watched his figure recede, "Zhibai, after Zhian's ordeal tonight, he called me father. If Ah Ning knew, he would be pleased, wouldn't he?"
"Children will always grow up!"
Chen Zhibai said gently, "I've checked, his spirit is normal!"
Chen Aman patted Chen Zhibai's shoulder and smiled, "I didn't ask you to check that. In your father's eyes, you are also a child. Don't be gloomy all the time, it's worse than those old farts who refuse to die."
Chen Zhibai was slightly startled and said gently, "I understand, Father!"
"You all are too extraordinary, making me feel like I'm hardly needed as a father. Fortunately, there's Zhian!"
Chen Aman's thick eyebrows raised, her face filled with contentment.
Chen Zhibai smiled, "The second brother has entered the Sword Pavilion ruins. He has great perseverance. The Sword Intent left by the Sword Saint Zhu Hou, which split the heavens with a single sword, was forcibly absorbed into his Sea of Qi by him. When he can conceal the Sword Intent within himself, he will be able to ascend to the Void God Realm in one fell swoop. He will be able to travel thousands of miles in an instant, and among the younger generation in the world, there will be no one to match him!"
"That child is also quite stubborn."
Chen Aman's face showed a hint of pity.
The path of cultivation is fraught with obstacles, from Martial Dao Third Rank, Innate, Qi Refinement, Qi Manipulation, Form Refinement, Void God, Enlightenment, Heavenly Cave, Return to True, Sage, Great Sage, Quasi-Emperor, to Emperor Realm...
Each realm is like a sky-high barrier.
Countless geniuses have fallen, turning into piles of white bones. Few outsiders can help, and to reach the peak, one must rely solely on oneself!
Back then, Zhu Wan'er brought the geniuses of the Imperial Sword Sect to the Marquis Mansion to annul the marriage, which shattered the face of the Marquis Mansion of Chenliu.
With Chen Aman's temperament, he would have executed them on the spot, and even raised troops to directly crush the two sects.
If it weren't for his son coming to collect the debt himself, how could he possibly let Zhu Wan'er and Jiang Huayu leave unscathed?
In recent years, the Shadow Sect and the Imperial Sword Sect have formed a strong alliance.
In an era where the Sword Pavilion remains hidden and the Daoist Sect does not reveal itself, there are faint ambitions to become the leader of the Jianghu, but little do they know that someone is sitting in Chang'an, gazing into the distance every day.
Only waiting for his son to climb the mountain, and for the iron riders to crush the two mountain gates..."