Chapter 111: Wait, Who Are You? Thank You, Mother Dearest! (Subscription Requested)

Cheng Guang’s suggestion was ultimately not adopted.

Qin Yanqiu’s cold, exquisitely beautiful face remained unchanged. She silently burrowed into Cheng Guang’s arms and closed her eyes, seemingly intending to just fall asleep like that. To her, the matter of the bridal chamber appeared to be as simple as that. Cheng Guang could not tell if she was truly ignorant or just pretending. He grimaced, wanting to say something, but then he glanced at the long sword clutched tightly in her hand.

Forget it. He wouldn't lower himself to the level of this big block of ice. Once they returned to the capital, he would confiscate her Silver Moon armor and show her who was really in charge.

The night passed without incident.

***

The next morning, the weather turned much cooler. Cheng Guang departed from Zhenbei City at dawn. His accompanying guards had already finished packing. Aside from the miscellaneous items brought on the journey there, several new carriages had been added for the return trip. The Duke of Zhen, Cheng Shiyuan, had given Cheng Guang a large quantity of demon flesh and blood, telling him to eat it whenever he had time to nourish his body. Most of this was from high-ranked demons; consuming even a little occasionally could increase one's internal energy and blood, something every martial artist in the world dreamed of. Ordinary people could exhaust their life's wealth and still not obtain even a fist-sized piece. Yet, this time, the Duke of Zhen had prepared several large carts filled with high-grade demon meat, some even from demon kings. Even if he ate it like a daily meal, it would last for more than half a year. In a sense, it was a "happy burden."

The return journey to the capital was much faster than the trip there. In just five days, they arrived. Compared to Zhenbei City, the capital’s climate was much warmer and far more bustling. Just as they entered, they could hear the cries of vendors, the wisps of cooking smoke rising before teahouses, and the endless stream of pedestrians. Returning to the capital felt, for a moment, like a lifetime ago. Zhenbei City lacked this vibrant aura of human life; after all, it was a city of war, where everything was prepared for the sake of conflict.

Cheng Guang peered through the carriage curtain, then let it fall, his gaze shifting to Qin Yanqiu, who sat beside him. This was also her first time leaving Zhenbei City. Having grown up there, her world had been limited to that environment. Although she had witnessed various customs along the way, she was still stunned by the prosperity of the capital. She stared out the window, eyes fixed on the peddlers selling strange and curious goods, her beautiful eyes flickering with light, full of wonder. Unconsciously, the coldness on her face faded, replaced by an excitement for an unknown, novel world.

*Tsk, how long has this poor child been cooped up in Zhenbei City? It’s too pitiful. She probably hasn't even had a candied hawthorn stick,* Cheng Guang thought as he watched her. He planned to take her out to explore properly when he had time, but for now, the priority upon returning to the capital was to head home. He had to set off for the Great Yan Dynasty soon to hunt down the remnants of the Great Chu.

Cheng Guang could not afford to waste time. He did not know when news of the Great Chu remnants would spread; once it did, the eyes of the entire world would converge on Tianhuo City, the imperial capital of Great Yan. If that happened, finding those remnants would be no easy task.

As he pondered, he looked out the window again. The long procession of carriages slowed as it entered the capital. Pedestrians passing by saw the banners hanging on the carriages and, without needing a word from the coachmen or guards, respectfully and fearfully moved aside on their own.

The journey passed without further trouble. When the carriages arrived at the Duke of Zhen’s mansion, they came to a halt. Cheng Guang stepped out and immediately spotted Cheng Zhihai and Wu Yuemei waiting at the gate. Cheng Zhihai scrutinized him; having likely heard of Cheng Guang’s actions from the Duke of Zhen, a flicker of pride and satisfaction crossed his face. His son had accomplished one great deed after another in Zhenbei City—first saving Qin Yanqiu from a secret realm, then helping the Duke capture Qin Beifeng, who had betrayed the Northern Expedition Army. This was truly remarkable.

Cheng Zhihai’s gaze shifted to Qin Beifeng, who stood silently nearby. Qin Beifeng looked much thinner than before; he was like a different person. Cheng Zhihai felt a complex mix of emotions. He had never expected Qin Beifeng to betray the Northern Expedition Army. He had once even prepared for them to become in-laws, only to nearly end up as enemies. Now, Qin Beifeng was a prisoner, and Qin Yanqiu’s position as the primary wife was gone. If not for the Duke’s soft heart—knowing that Qin Yanqiu was innocent—they wouldn't even be family by marriage.

"Brother Qin, why did you do this?" Cheng Zhihai sighed. Qin Beifeng’s eyes dimmed, but he said nothing, merely shaking his head.

Knowing Qin Beifeng was in no mood to talk, Cheng Shiyuan shifted his gaze to Qin Yanqiu. He had seen her in portraits, but seeing her in person was different. Her armor and pure military bearing were striking; she was not a scheming person. If not for the incident with her father, she would have been perfect for his son. Now, that opportunity was largely gone. Cheng Zhihai sighed again, feeling it was a pity.

Qin Beifeng could empathize with Cheng Zhihai’s thoughts, though he felt no less miserable. Yet, he considered these sacrifices necessary for the sake of Great Chu. If his plan had succeeded, the Duke’s mansion would have collapsed, and the scene would hardly have been pleasant. Now that the plan had failed and he was reduced to this, he had to bear the consequences. He didn't care much about his own fate, only feeling sorry for Qin Yanqiu.

While the two older men were preoccupied, Wu Yuemei seemed "carefree." Her face lit up with a brilliant, gentle smile as she saw Cheng Guang. She hurried over, took his hands, and cupped his face to inspect him. "Guang’er, did you suffer while visiting your grandfather in Zhenbei City? You look like you've lost weight. I heard you accomplished great things and earned much merit—truly amazing—but you must take care of your health."

"By the way, did you get hurt? I heard someone attacked you... Qin Gaozhi? Is that him? ...Dead? Then never mind. Our Guang’er is so honest and well-behaved; how could anyone have the heart to bully you?" Wu Yuemei rambled on, and Cheng Guang responded with a smile.

After a while, she rolled her eyes at him with a mix of indulgence and frustration. "You child, you never let us rest easy when you go out. It was the same during the martial arts tournament between Great Zhou and Great Wei, and now the same in Zhenbei City. Why did you have to run into the Great Yan Dynasty’s civil unrest and their troop withdrawal? Thankfully, nothing happened this time, otherwise, what would your mother do?"

Cheng Guang patted her hand. "Mother, don't worry. I have a long life; it's not that easy to die."

Wu Yuemei hummed, let go of his hand, and turned to Qin Yanqiu, looking her over carefully. "So, this is Yanqiu."

Qin Yanqiu knew this beautiful woman was the mother of the heir. Her cold face twitched as she tried to force a smile, but it looked quite laborious, resulting in only a slight curl of her lips. Even so, it was still beautiful. Wu Yuemei chuckled, covering her mouth. "Child, you can call me 'Mother' just like Cheng Guang does. We originally planned to hold a wedding in the capital before you changed your address, but under the circumstances... just stay in the mansion for now."

Wu Yuemei seemed to remember something and added, "Yanqiu, the Duke of Zhen told me that as long as you bear a child for Guang’er, you can choose whether to stay in the mansion or return to Zhenbei City and the Northern Expedition Army."

Hearing this, Qin Yanqiu felt a small sense of relief; she wanted to return to Zhenbei City. Although the capital was prosperous, she was an outsider who could not fit in. That was where she belonged. "Yes... Mother..." She nodded, hesitating before finally uttering the word. She was cold, but not stupid. She knew she would be living in this mansion for a while and needed to please her future mother-in-law.

As she said it, Qin Yanqiu felt a sense of disorientation. Since she could remember, she had no concept of a mother, having been raised by her father. She had asked Qin Beifeng before, but he had always brushed it off. Her cold eyes lowered, a flash of loss crossing them. She decided she would ask him again later; not knowing if her mother was alive or dead left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Wu Yuemei didn't notice this, instead pulling Qin Yanqiu toward the entrance while calling for Cheng Guang. Cheng Guang followed, shaking his head with a wry smile. *So, the Duke is using a child to keep her in check? Is this the obsession of a family with only one heir per generation?* He felt he had a heavy task ahead.

***

After being away for days, the Wuxiang Garden was not messy; Wu Yuemei had obviously ordered the servants to keep it clean. Cheng Guang sat in the pavilion, watching Qingluan tidy up, his gaze drifting outside. After the conversation at the gate, Wu Yuemei had learned that he and Qin Yanqiu had not yet shared a room, and her brow had furrowed. Immediately after, she had whisked Qin Yanqiu away. Meanwhile, Cheng Zhihai had taken Qin Beifeng aside.

Cheng Guang was left alone. He sipped his tea, waiting for them to return while contemplating how to convince Cheng Zhihai to let him go to the Great Yan Dynasty. It was far, and the journey could take weeks or even months if complications arose. If they refused, should he sneak out?

Just then, he heard movement. Qin Beifeng and Qin Yanqiu returned. Qin Beifeng looked troubled, while Qin Yanqiu’s usually cold face was flushed with a faint crimson. Cheng Zhihai followed, rubbing his temples in annoyance.

"Guang’er, come, there’s another matter," Cheng Zhihai said.

"What is it?" Cheng Guang asked.

Cheng Zhihai rubbed his forehead. "You know about the unrest in the Great Yan Dynasty?" Cheng Guang nodded. "Well, intelligence has come out that there is news of the Great Chu remnants there. The Emperor has ordered the Lamp-Lighting Division to investigate immediately. If we can find and capture the remnant before other royal families do, it will be a great merit. If we can't, we must eliminate them in secret. The Emperor has specifically named *you* to lead this mission."

Cheng Guang was stunned. *Me?* He knew that in the Emperor's eyes, he was still just a child, despite his status. *Is this because of the previous headlines I made?* It felt like he had shot himself in the foot by being too capable. However, he quickly realized the benefits. With an imperial decree, he could travel openly, bring a contingent of Lamp-Lighting guards, and ensure his safety. And if he failed, the Emperor wouldn't execute him; at worst, he'd be scolded.

"Father, if the Emperor has commanded it, I will go," Cheng Guang agreed.

Cheng Zhihai sighed, worried. "You've just returned and haven't rested. Be careful. If I weren't held back, I would go with you. Take Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang—they are both Rank 8 masters. With Qin Beifeng by your side, no one beneath the level of a Heaven-Man can hurt you."

Cheng Guang was curious. "Father, why are the royal families so rattled by the news of a single Great Chu remnant? Why are they so cautious?"

Cheng Zhihai shook his head. "It’s not the remnant that is special, but the Great Chu royal family. Long ago, a treasure appeared in the form of a golden scroll that could predict the future. It wrote: 'Great Chu rises, the world unites.' This made every royal family see Great Chu as a fierce beast. No one wanted to be ruled by others. When Great Chu fell, it was the result of all the royal families working together. They are still curious: was it the bloodline or the people that made that prophecy possible? Now that there is news of a survivor, they won't miss the chance to investigate."

"So, Guang’er, if you find the remnant, just kill them. Don't try to bring them back. The other families won't allow anyone else to dig into those secrets. If you don't find them first, don't worry; the other families will be fighting each other anyway. Just stay safe."

Cheng Guang fell into deep thought. He realized that the Great Zhou Emperor was likely the least interested in the "secrets" and the most interested in preventing a resurgence. The Great Zhou had been the primary executioner of the Great Chu; they had the most to lose if the Great Chu returned.

After Cheng Zhihai left, Qin Beifeng stood in the shadows. He had sacrificed his life, his decades of planning, all for a future that no longer existed. He felt no regrets, but the realization was hollow. He looked at Qin Yanqiu, who was sitting near Cheng Guang, looking lost. He beckoned her over.

"Yanqiu," he whispered. They spoke for a while. Cheng Guang watched from a distance, not intruding on their private conversation. He was more curious about what his mother had told her, given how flustered and "short-circuited" Qin Yanqiu seemed.

When she returned, she looked miserable, her eyes red and puffy. Cheng Guang sighed, handed her a handkerchief, and wiped her eyes. "What’s wrong?"

"My father said... I’m not his biological daughter," she whispered.

Cheng Guang froze. *That explains everything.* No wonder Qin Beifeng could treat her as a tool.

"I don't know why," she sobbed. "He said he found me in the Boundary Battlefield as an infant. I don't understand how a baby could survive there."

Cheng Guang felt a pang of sympathy. He decided to keep the truth—that Qin Beifeng had likely sacrificed her for his own ends—a secret for now. "It doesn't matter if you aren't biological," he said gently, stroking her cheek. "We are married now; you have a new family."

Qin Yanqiu blinked, startled by his sudden tenderness, and then fled to the side room in a panic.

Cheng Guang smiled. *What a strange girl.*

That night, as he lay in bed, he heard the door open. A soft, cool body burrowed into his arms. He expected it to be Qingluan, but when he pulled back the covers, he saw Qin Yanqiu, her eyes filled with pain and confusion, looking at him.

*Qin Yanqiu?* Cheng Guang was stunned. Then, a smile spread across his face.

He pulled the covers back over them, and the room plunged into darkness.

*Well, well. Thank you, Mother.*