Cheng Jinyang was discharged from the hospital.
He quietly returned to the clan grounds without alerting anyone.
At the entrance of the family council hall, he encountered his cousin, Cheng Huaiyan.
"Cousin," Cheng Jinyang said softly.
He felt somewhat uneasy and despondent because his second and third uncles had gone with him, but in the end, only he returned alive.
"It's good that you're alright," Cheng Huaiyan patted his shoulder.
"About Third Uncle..."
"It wasn't your fault," Cheng Huaiyan comforted him. "Father was an old Tianluo."
"Dying in battle is a warrior's destiny. He had written his will before setting out."
His cousin sighed softly and pointed upstairs.
"Yuexian is up there."
Understanding his meaning, Cheng Jinyang bid farewell to his cousin and entered the family council hall.
On the second floor, he saw Cheng Yuexian with her back to him, sorting through files in a cabinet.
"Cousin," Cheng Jinyang called out.
He then saw his cousin wipe her face vigorously twice before turning around, faint traces of tears still visible.
"Jinyang?" She exhaled a long breath. "You're finally back."
"While you were hospitalized, many things in the clan piled up. If your health has recovered, could you start handling them as soon as possible..."
"Cousin, are you alright?" Cheng Jinyang asked hesitantly.
Cheng Yuexian fell silent.
"About Second Uncle, I'm really sorry..."
"Mm, I don't blame you." She turned away again. "I just... need some time."
She went to the bathroom. Cheng Jinyang followed to the door and heard the suppressed sobs coming from inside.
.........
"A discharge ceremony?" Cheng Jinyang asked helplessly.
"Yes," Xing Yuanzhi said. "To wash away the illness."
"What illness..." Cheng Jinyang was speechless. The idea of having a feast right after his discharge felt a bit odd to him.
However, given the clan's current somber mood due to the deaths of his second and third uncles and two other clansmen, holding a banquet to lift spirits seemed reasonable.
"Alright, go ahead with it," he agreed.
"I'll start preparing then," Cheng Yuexian said.
After his cousin left, Cheng Jinyang quietly asked Xing Yuanzhi:
"What's going on? Everyone was just in mourning, and now suddenly there's a banquet? What are you all planning?"
"This was my idea," Wang Wanrou's voice came from behind him.
"Wanrou?" Cheng Jinyang was a bit surprised. "Why are you here too?"
"My father wants to see you," Wang Wanrou said succinctly.
Under normal circumstances, Cheng Jinyang might have teased her with, "Why does the future father-in-law want to see the prospective son-in-law?" But he wasn't in the mood for jokes now. With a sigh, he said:
"Using the banquet as a pretext to send the clansmen away so I can meet him privately? Isn't that too much trouble? He could just summon me directly."
"My father doesn't want the Emperor to know about this," Wang Wanrou said.
Cheng Jinyang pondered for a moment.
"Alright," he finally said. "But I want you to be there too."
"Of course. I wouldn't feel at ease with you meeting him alone," Wang Wanrou responded without hesitation.
"Do you know why he wants to see me?"
"No, but I can guess," Wang Wanrou said. "Jinyang, how much do you know about your mother?"
"My mother..." Cheng Jinyang said. "She was an academician at the Imperial Academy of Sciences?"
"That's right," Wang Wanrou said. "But her other identity is known to very few."
"Another identity?"
"In the beginning, the Shendu Cheng family mistakenly assessed the attitude of the Five Great Families. They thought they were wary of Xie Guyan's royal background, hence their strenuous opposition to your parents' marriage," Wang Wanrou said coldly. "But that's not the case... I can't say much now; I'll tell you once I'm certain."
"Is she the Emperor's sister?" Seeing that Miss Wang was unwilling to say more, Cheng Jinyang guessed speculatively.
"Why do you say that?" Wang Wanrou asked in surprise.
"Sister Xinnan once told me that my mother used to be her teacher." Cheng Jinyang pondered and said, "If my mother was just an ordinary Imperial Academy of Sciences academician, how could she have become a princess's teacher? But if she had another identity, like being sister Xinnan's aunt, wouldn't that make sense?"
"In that case, your Sister Xinnan would be your cousin," Xing Yuanzhi suddenly interjected. "So you're a sis-con?"
"Ahem, I was just speaking off the cuff," Cheng Jinyang quickly clarified.
That afternoon, the banquet at the Cheng family estate was held as scheduled.
Due to the remote location and the fact that the Cheng family no longer had a fifth-grade supernatural, the only responses to the invitations were from the Hejian Xing family and the Sanchuan Zhu family.
Considering that the younger generation would be easier to interact with, the Hejian Xing family sent Xing Yuanzhi to attend, while the Sanchuan Zhu family sent Zhu Xinchu. Additionally, although the Hongnong Yang family and the Yangdi Chu family did not officially respond, young members from both families came uninvited and were secretly led in by Cheng Yuexian, avoiding appearing in front of other clan members.
"Xinchu, I heard you've recently joined the Yulin Army?" Cheng Jinyang asked politely.
"Yes." The once arrogant Zhu Xinchu had now donned the Yulin Army uniform, appearing serious and unsmiling. "Brother Jinyang, I've heard of your heroic deed the other day. It's a pity you didn't manage to break through the rebel mothership."
He poured a glass of wine as he spoke, "I salute you for your valor."
Cheng Jinyang quickly returned the toast, feeling a bit embarrassed to admit that he was merely an observer the whole time and ended up with a concussion after taking a hit from the main cannon, spending three days in the hospital. It really couldn't be considered a heroic deed.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhu Xinchu went off to find Cheng Huaiyan. His visit was not purely social; the Yulin Army hoped to temporarily borrow some personnel from Tianluo, so Zhu Xinchu, a newly appointed officer, was tasked with trying to open a channel through the Shendu Cheng family.
Turning around, Cheng Jinyang sighed, "He has changed a lot. But you and I, it seems we haven't changed much since we first met."
"It's just me who hasn't changed," Xing Yuanzhi also sighed. "He went from an inexperienced clan scion to an officer in the Yulin Army. And you? You've gone from having nothing to being the head of the Shendu Cheng family. Isn't that enough change?"
"Enough, enough," Cheng Jinyang laughed. "It's just that the future is so unpredictable and unsettling."
"No matter the hardships," Xing Yuanzhi also poured herself a glass of wine, "Jinyang, I'm willing to face them with you."
"Face them together," Cheng Jinyang clinked his glass with hers.
They quietly drank for a while, then Cheng Yuexian came over quietly and whispered, "He's here."
"Yuanzhi, I have to go. Feel free to mingle," Cheng Jinyang bid her farewell.
Xing Yuanzhi knew he was going to meet Wang Wanrou's father, nodded, and went to find Chu Qingqing and the others.
In the inner chamber of the family council hall, Cheng Jinyang saw Grand Secretary Wang Maohong standing by the window, gazing at the distant Shishou Mountain.
Wang Wanrou stood behind him, nodding slightly without any expression.
"Cheng Jinyang." Wang Maohong turned around with a warm smile. "I've been wanting to meet you for a while, but I've been too busy with affairs to find the time. Now that I've temporarily stepped down from my position, I finally have time to do some things."
"Grand Secretary," Cheng Jinyang cupped his hands in salute.
"No need to call me Grand Secretary," Wang Maohong waved his hand. "I'm older than your father; you can call me Uncle."
Wang Wanrou raised her eyebrows. Other scions of noble families all respectfully called her father "Lord Wang," yet he was willing to let Cheng Jinyang call him Uncle?
"Ahem, nephew greets Uncle," Cheng Jinyang immediately complied with the gesture of closeness.
"I heard you were bedridden for three days after returning from the battlefield the other day. Are you feeling better now?" Wang Maohong asked kindly.
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I'm almost fully recovered."
"Good," Wang Maohong stroked his beard, "Has your body experienced any abnormalities?"
"No abnormalities."
Although there was no clear evidence, Cheng Jinyang somehow sensed that Wang Maohong seemed a bit disappointed.
After ending the conversation, Cheng Jinyang left feeling completely baffled.
From start to finish, Wang Maohong only asked him about mundane matters, such as the current state of the Shendu Cheng family, the current business of Tianluo, and the future plans for the family.
However, he felt that Wang Maohong did not really care about these things. The only question the Grand Secretary seriously asked from start to finish was the very first one: Has your body experienced any abnormalities?
Watching Cheng Jinyang go to the courtyard to entertain guests, Wang Maohong stood by the window with his hands behind his back, seemingly lost in thought.
"Father," Wang Wanrou said softly, "Do you suspect that Cheng Jinyang has inherited something from his mother..."
"...that kind of power?"
"It's not me who suspects," Wang Maohong replied, "It's the Emperor who suspects."
"Ever since Cheng Qinghe and Xie Guyan died in the demon attack in Wujiang Town three years ago, the aristocratic families stopped paying attention to their orphan."
He sighed deeply:
"But if he really inherited that kind of power, then this calamity for the court..."
"Setting aside the court's disaster, father, what do you think about the common people?" Wang Wanrou asked softly, "For this world, would it be a blessing or a curse?"
"I don't know."
"Is there something that even you don't know, father?"
"One cannot know everything," Wang Maohong chuckled, "Wanrou, if that day truly comes, could you look into his heart for me?"
"I will," Wang Wanrou said, lowering her head.
With my own eyes.