Seeing that even his soft-hearted and amiable son-in-law avoided his eyes, Xie Shi’s father felt a chill in his heart. He realized that today’s matter would not be easily resolved and could only say, “Yuer’s mother has done wrong and deserves punishment. Our Xie family has also failed our in-laws. Whatever compensation you require, we will provide it, if only to make partial amends.”
Only then did the Dowager Lady Yan speak. “Compensation is unnecessary. The Yan family lacks nothing. However, Xie Shi absolutely cannot remain here any longer…”
“Mother of my son-in-law—” Sensing the finality in the Dowager Lady’s words, Xie Shi’s father tensed and couldn’t help interrupting.
But the Dowager Lady acted as if she hadn’t heard and continued, “I intend to send Xie Shi back to our ancestral home in Qingzhou—along with Yan Jingyu. A mother and daughter share a bond. Since Xie Shi was willing to disregard both her marital and natal families for Yan Jingyu’s sake, I naturally cannot separate them. What do you think?”
At first, Xie Shi’s father had feared the Dowager Lady meant to take Xie Shi’s life. But now, hearing that she only planned to send her back to Qingzhou with Yan Jingyu, he realized he had been mistaken. Though he might never see his daughter again, knowing she was alive was enough.
He replied at once, “The Dowager Lady is magnanimous. Naturally, everything shall be as you decide.”
What Xie Shi’s father did not know was that the Dowager Lady had not spared Xie Shi out of mercy. If Xie Shi were to die now, Yan Jingshu, as her son, would have to attend the funeral, delaying his journey north. Thus, her life was temporarily spared.
The Dowager Lady nodded, then added, “There is one more matter. Xie Shi threatened to expose Shu’er’s origins. I trust you would not wish this to become public knowledge and disgrace both our families. Though the Yan family values past affections and cannot bear to cast Shu’er out, his birth parents remain a concern. Do you recall where you first brought Shu’er from?”
Xie Shi’s father fell silent. Behind the door, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu could not see his expression. After a long pause, they heard him say, “...You need not worry about this. Shu’er was originally bought from a child trafficker. His birth parents despised him for being a shuang’er and sold him off. The trafficker died of illness years ago, and even if his birth parents wished to find him, they could not.”
The room fell quiet again. After a moment, the Dowager Lady said, “If that is the case, then let it be. Would the Xie patriarch and matriarch wish to see Xie Shi one last time?”
After brief consideration, Xie Shi’s parents agreed. The Dowager Lady remained seated, instructing servants to escort them to the courtyard where Xie Shi and Yan Jingyu were confined.
Yan Jingshu and Jiang Chenghan stood just outside the door. When Xie Shi’s parents stepped out, they came face to face.
“Grandfather, Grandmother—” Yan Jingshu instinctively called out.
Xie Shi’s parents were startled at the sudden sight of him. His grandfather’s face twisted with an unreadable complexity, while his grandmother, already red-eyed from crying, grew even more emotional, tears spilling anew. Yet, in the end, she said nothing.
Jiang Chenghan observed the starkly different reactions of Xie Shi’s parents toward Yan Jingshu. Recalling Xie Shi’s father’s unusual silence when questioned about Yan Jingshu’s birth parents, he felt an indistinct unease. But the feeling was fleeting, leaving no trace to grasp.
“Shu’er and Chenghan are here? Why not come in?” The Dowager Lady’s voice from inside broke the tense silence.
Yan Jingshu bowed slightly to his grandparents before stepping past them into the room, Jiang Chenghan following close behind.
Inside, the Dowager Lady sat on the luohan couch in the seat of honor, while the Duke of Anguo occupied the first chair to the right. When Yan Jingshu and Jiang Chenghan entered, the Duke’s expression was complicated, devoid of the warmth he had shown during their homecoming visit days prior.
Though Yan Jingshu had expected this, his heart still ached. Suppressing his emotions, he and Jiang Chenghan stepped forward to pay their respects.
“Good, good. Rise,” the Dowager Lady said, her tone as kind and unchanged as ever.
“R-Rise,” the Duke of Anguo echoed stiffly. Though his voice was strained, there was no trace of anger or disgust, easing Yan Jingshu’s heart slightly.
“Grandmother, Father, unrest stirs in the northern border. The Emperor has ordered General Kou to return to Ningcheng, and as his aide, I must accompany him. We depart tomorrow, so today, we’ve come to bid you farewell,” Jiang Chenghan explained once they had risen.
The Dowager Lady, already informed, showed no surprise. But the Duke of Anguo was taken aback. “The journey is arduous, how can Shu’er go with you?”
Having attended court that morning, he knew of the border troubles and expected Jiang Chenghan’s departure. But he had not imagined Yan Jingshu would join him. Though he now knew Yan Jingshu was not his blood, years of affection had become instinct. Concerned words spilled out unbidden.
Seeing Yan Jingshu’s eyes redden at his words, the Duke’s own heart twisted. But remembering his mother’s advice, he couldn’t bring himself to forsake the child he had raised. “Shu’er, though you are not of Yan blood, you’ve called me ‘Father’ for over a decade. If you are willing to keep the Yan name, I will still claim you as my son. Military life is harsh beyond your imagination. You’ve been pampered since childhood, how could you endure it? Stay for now. Later, I will personally send you to Ningcheng. Wouldn’t that be better?”
“Father, I—” Yan Jingshu had not expected his father to still acknowledge and care for him after learning the truth. Overwhelmed, he nearly agreed on the spot.
But the Dowager Lady cut in, “Enough. Shu’er is not as delicate as you think, have you forgotten he trained in martial arts since childhood? Besides, they’ve only been married a few days. How can you bear to separate them so soon?”
The Duke had initially opposed Yan Jingshu’s departure, but his mother’s words gave him pause. Seeing she approved, he said no more.
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