Chen Residence

On the execution ground, the other seven criminals were swiftly beheaded and displayed to the public, while Li Xintian and Bai Yang departed together.

“Brother Bai, it’s been so long since we last met—how did such a thing happen?” Li Xintian paid no further mind to the magistrate, instead approaching the young man clad in mourning clothes.

“Brother Zhixian, how come you’re here? If not for your help today, my father would have been made a scapegoat. It’s all that Cao Zhenshi, the one who makes fake medicine—he brought this undeserved calamity upon my father,” Bai Yang replied, his indignation toward Cao Zhenshi evident, then turned the conversation toward Li Xintian. “You hadn’t returned to the capital in years, everyone thought you’d never come back. If they knew you’ve returned, they’d be overjoyed.”

“Don’t worry about Cao Zhenshi. He’ll be caught soon enough,” Li Xintian assured him. “I came to the capital this time on behalf of my mother, intended to keep a low profile. But since your family’s in trouble, I couldn’t stand by. Now you can take off your mourning clothes—your father still lives.”

Bai Yang smiled, quickly stripped off his mourning attire, stuffed it into a basket to burn at home, and said, “Come to my house, so I can properly thank you for saving us.”

“It was nothing. I must visit the Chen residence first, pay my respects to my grandparents. When your father is released, we’ll celebrate together,” Li Xintian replied, feeling it right to visit the Chen family first.

“Very well, safe travels, Brother Zhixian,” Bai Yang said, not insisting further.

“Farewell,” Li Xintian called as he left, Hu Qiuyan by his side.

“Who would have thought Brother Zhixian would have a lady companion? I forgot to ask about her—what a pity,” Bai Yang remarked, clapping his hands, a hint of gossip in his tone as he watched them walk away together.

At the Chen residence.

“Come here, let your grandmother take a good look at you,” Huo Wanping pulled Hu Qiuyan along, making her feel quite awkward, leaving Li Xintian unattended.

“My nephew has arrived!” Chen Zishan’s booming voice filled the hall as he embraced Li Xintian.

“Greetings, uncle, cousin, cousin-in-law,” Li Xintian greeted, his martial prowess now exceeding Chen Zishan’s, easily freeing himself from his uncle’s hug.

“You’ve made progress, I see,” Chen Zishan said, clapping Li Xintian heavily on the shoulder.

“Hard work makes up for shortcomings. But where’s grandfather?” Li Xintian had not seen Chen Linqing since entering, while Huo Wanping busied herself questioning Hu Qiuyan as though conducting a census.

Whenever Li Xintian brought women to the house before, they were always classmates or groups of friends visiting together. Never had he brought a single female companion.

“Grandfather’s in the courtyard, resting on the rocking chair you made him, enjoying himself,” Chen Yuanwen said from the side.

“Who says I’m enjoying myself in the courtyard? My grandson is here, how can I not come? Especially when he’s brought a prospective granddaughter-in-law—I must assess her myself,” Chen Linqing walked over.

“Greetings, grandfather,” Li Xintian greeted, noting the silver strands in Chen Linqing’s hair.

“Grandfather, you won’t see her now—grandmother already pulled her off to chat in the room,” Li Xintian added.

“In the blink of an eye, it’s been three or four years. Xintian, you’ve grown thinner. Stay here and eat well, so you can give your grandfather a stout great-grandson,” Chen Linqing said with a broad smile.

“That’s right, Xintian, do your best!” Chen Zishan chimed in, eager for excitement.

“Grandfather, uncle, you’re both mistaken. She’s just a friend, not a marriage prospect,” Li Xintian hastily explained, shooting a look at Chen Yuanwen.

“Enough explanations! Come, let me take you for a stroll,” Chen Yuanwen, sensing the moment, placed his hand on Li Xintian’s shoulder.

“Grandfather, uncle, cousin-in-law, I’ll head out for now. I’m sure the capital has changed a lot in these years,” Li Xintian said, escaping the Chen residence with Chen Yuanwen.

“Don’t forget to come home tonight!” Chen Zishan called after him.

“So, tell me what’s really going on,” Chen Yuanwen pressed, knowing Li Xintian’s character—he would admit if something were true, otherwise not.

They came to a pavilion.

“I’ll tell you, but don’t be alarmed—she’s a fox spirit who cultivated into human form, so none of you could tell,” Li Xintian said directly.

“A fox spirit?!” Chen Yuanwen stared at him in shock.

“Yes. I happened to meet her family on the day they were facing a heavenly tribulation—the thunder nearly destroyed them all. I assisted, and since then she’s followed me,” Li Xintian nodded.

“Lately, there have been many snakes in the Prince’s estate and at Imperial Censor Wang’s residence. With the Prime Minister about to retire, everyone is vying for his position. Do you think there might be snake spirits involved?” Chen Yuanwen pondered recent events.

“Snakes? For now, don’t leave the Chen residence. I fear something is about to happen,” Li Xintian recalled Lu Pan’s warning.

At the Hall of Benevolence.

“Nephew, I, Wang Dahai, have never seen someone who could decide life and death so easily. Does he have some official authority?” Wang Dahai inquired upon returning.

“Uncle, he has good connections with the palace, but no official power. He claims only to have the status of a scholar, and that’s truly all he has,” Bai Yang replied, not thinking much of it.

In the palace.

“Li Xintian has finally returned? Are you sure?” Princess Ziyan asked, upon hearing the eunuch’s report.

“It’s absolutely true—many saw him at the execution ground,” the eunuch knelt.

“Very well, go collect your reward,” Ziyan waved her hand.

“Thank you, Princess,” the eunuch replied, withdrawing after expressing his gratitude.

“Sister, have you received the news? Li Xintian has finally come to the capital,” Zhao Wanquan entered Ziyan’s chamber, being her brother.

“Sister, aren’t you happy?” Zhao Wanquan noticed her somber expression.

“What’s the use? I am to be married off to a foreign land. What does it matter now?” Ziyan had felt a fleeting joy upon hearing of Li Xintian’s return, but the thought of her impending diplomatic marriage dispelled it.

“It’s all my fault, for lacking the power to help you, letting you suffer,” Zhao Wanquan said, pounding his fist into his palm.

“That foreign prince is still here, right? Perhaps I should negotiate with him, ask him to choose another princess—there’s also Wang Shu’s daughters,” Zhao Wanquan suggested, recalling the princes and their eligible daughters.

“It’s useless. I’ve already pleaded with Father, but he said the foreign prince insists on marrying me,” Ziyan shook her head.

“Will you see Li Xintian? I heard he brought a female companion to the Chen residence,” Zhao Wanquan continued.