Chong Xuan Sheng hadn't spread his network too wide in Linzi.
But both Jiang Chen and Chong Xuan Sheng had been busy all night, as had the Jumbo Trade Association, scrambling to save themselves.
Yet these minor ripples were nowhere near enough to disturb the night of a colossal city like Linzi.
Linzi passed the night in silence.
Early the next morning, a servant came with a message—the old marquis summoned him!
Chong Xuan Sheng looked a bit tired, but his spirit was high. He only said, "My dear uncle, for all his other shortcomings, is an absolute master at tattling!"
Jiang Chen seized the gap to tend to his Heaven-Island realm, listening to him complain.
"My uncle told me that he was neither scholarly nor martial, but he was very much favored since childhood."
The uncle Chong Xuan Sheng spoke of was none other than his cousin-uncle, Chong Xuan Chuliang.
By pure blood relation, he was actually closer to Chong Xuan Mingguang, but in terms of genuine closeness, the two were worlds apart.
Cousin-uncle Chong Xuan Chuliang had been his reliance since childhood. But the regret lay precisely there—his greatest reliance was also Chong Xuan Zun's cousin-uncle.
Chong Xuan Zun was also an outstanding junior of Chong Xuan Chuliang. Being blood relatives, even with the ruthless decisiveness of the Butcher, Chong Xuan Chuliang couldn't truly do anything to him.
"When I was young, I always wondered how someone like my grandfather could favor such a foolish uncle."
"I figured it out in later years!"
Perhaps because the situation had reached a critical juncture, Chong Xuan Sheng was inevitably a bit tense, his words becoming chatty. It was a way of soothing his emotions.
"Grandfather had four sons. My father and Third Uncle are both gone. Fourth Uncle lives far away on an island, rarely returns, and we've never received a word from him. But my eldest uncle, though he doesn't like being lectured and moved out to live separately, makes sure to visit every morning or noon without fail."
"So you see, everyone has their merits. Everyone's preferences and what touches them may differ! Even a fool like Uncle Mingguang has his filial side. A hero like my grandfather, in his old age, inevitably has a soft heart!"
Jiang Chen was surprised. "You thought of that when you were young?"
"Yes. When I was young, I'd lie in bed alone, thinking about what made me different from others, why I was different. Fourteen would always bring food, sit by the bed and feed me, afraid I'd starve. I'd eat and think at the same time!"
Did thinking a lot make one smarter? Or perhaps sometimes the environment forced one... to become clever?
Imagine a lonely little fatty, agonizing over the answers to why he was treated so coldly—the scene was inevitably a bit heart-wrenching.
Jiang Chen deliberately laughed. "You're so fat—it's all Fourteen's fault!"
"Yes, it's all Fourteen's fault!" Chong Xuan Sheng said, but then probably remembering that Fourteen was still injured, he lost interest in talking. He pushed the ledger in front of him. "Let's go. Accompany me to the Bowang Marquis Residence!"
Jiang Chen had finished his cultivation by now and didn't ask why, simply standing up to follow.
"They say entering a marquis's gate is like plunging into the sea. Thanks to you, I've only been in Linzi a short while, and I've already plunged into the sea twice!"
Chong Xuan Sheng burst into hearty laughter. "You're a good swimmer!"
...
Following Chong Xuan Sheng directly into the Bowang Marquis Residence, there were no further complications.
Jiang Chen saw the Bowang Marquis himself for the first time in the main hall.
He was a majestic old man. Though the wrinkles on his face were deep, his aura was stern. Though dressed in casual clothes, he seemed to wear battle armor, sitting perfectly upright.
He was tall and broad. Even sitting, he gave the impression of a mountain.
Chong Xuan Mingguang was notably absent, perhaps unwilling to confront Chong Xuan Sheng face-to-face, or for other reasons Jiang Chen didn't know.
But to his surprise, standing beside the Bowang Marquis was a figure clad in black armor.
It was none other than Fourteen, who was supposed to be recovering at the Chong Xuan clan estate!
When exactly he had healed, but hadn't immediately returned to Chong Xuan Sheng's side, was unknown.
This was a subtle reminder. In terms of status, Fourteen was Chong Xuan Sheng's personal bodyguard and also a clan death warrior—clan first, master second.
Chong Xuan Sheng first paid his respects to the old Marquis Chong Xuan, then laughed without any reservation. "Fourteen!"
Fourteen bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. He glanced toward Jiang Chen and nodded.
For Fourteen, this was rare recognition and greeting, given only because they had fought side by side in Yangdi.
Jiang Chen also paid his respects following Chong Xuan Sheng. "Jiang Chen greets the Marquis."
Marquis Chong Xuan Yunbo raised his hand slightly. "No need for formalities. Chuliang spoke of you—he said you're not bad!"
To have Chong Xuan Chuliang mention him before the Bowang Marquis was truly an honor.
Jiang Chen humbly said, "I truly don't deserve the praise of Marquis Dingyuan."
Marquis Chong Xuan Yunbo only nodded slightly, then turned to Chong Xuan Sheng. "Our Chong Xuan family matters—shall we talk privately?"
With his status, saying even a word to Jiang Chen was already showing respect.
Now that he wanted to speak with Chong Xuan Sheng, he clearly didn't consider Jiang Chen qualified to listen.
Jiang Chen wouldn't argue about anything before the Chong Xuan patriarch and was about to withdraw.
But a chubby hand grabbed him.
Chong Xuan Sheng looked at the old marquis. "If it's grandfather and grandson chatting about personal matters, then naturally only I should speak with Grandfather. But since it's about Chong Xuan family affairs... Grandfather, there's nothing your grandson can't let Jiang Chen hear. The same goes for Fourteen."
"When your grandson had nothing, it was Fourteen who stayed by my side. When my future was bleak, it was Jiang Chen and Fourteen together who accompanied me into the Celestial Residence Secret Realm. In Yangdi, it was the three of us who fought bloody battles together to carve out a situation! Grandfather, your grandson's cause has their share."
Fourteen was always silent, and Jiang Chen was likewise quiet.
Marquis Chong Xuan Yunbo looked at his grandson for a while, then said, "The Bearer-Mountain armor has been repaired, but it's never quite the same as before!"
The Bearer-Mountain armor on Fourteen had once shattered, later being repaired, but on the Yangdi battlefield, it was damaged again under Ji Cheng's arrow.
Chong Xuan Sheng paused for a moment, then replied, "It doesn't need to be like before!"
Marquis Chong Xuan Yunbo sighed. "Armor can always be repaired, but people cannot."
In his words, there was a hint of sorrow.
What Jiang Chen didn't know was that the famous Bearer-Mountain armor had once belonged to Chong Xuan Sheng's father, Chong Xuan Futu. As he died in battle, the armor also shattered on the battlefield.
Later repaired, it never regained its former glory. This armor was left to Chong Xuan Sheng as a relic, and Chong Xuan Sheng in turn gave it to Fourteen.
"Grandfather," Chong Xuan Sheng said. "If it can't be repaired, then don't repair it. The same goes for the armor, and for people!"
Marquis Chong Xuan Yunbo wished for his children and grandchildren to be numerous and harmonious—but how was that possible?
He wished for it, but he also knew it wasn't realistic.
So he sighed and changed the subject. "I know you hate Jiang Wuliang, but he's already been imprisoned for nineteen years. You really don't need to twist the knife and sever his last hopes in this life."
Jiang Wuliang's place of imprisonment was called the Azure Stone Palace.
The name of this palace carried great significance.
Setting aside the jade-stone symbolism, just consider the word "Azure."
The Crown Prince typically resides in the Eastern Palace. The east belongs to wood, which governs the color azure. The Azure Palace often metaphorically refers to the Eastern Palace.
Though the Qi sovereign had long grown weary of his eldest son, in his heart, there remained an unspoken hope. After all, this was his first son, who had accompanied him through difficult times.
And Chong Xuan Sheng this time, through Xu Fang's death, while punishing the Jumbo Trade Association, had also dealt Jiang Wuliang a heavy blow, knocking him further into the abyss.
But... why did Chong Xuan Sheng hate Jiang Wuliang?
Why did he hate the deposed crown prince?
Jiang Chen remained silent, realizing that what he was about to hear was a sealed chapter of the Chong Xuan family's—and even the State of Qi's—past.