Finally, they reached the depths of the light.
Inside the reception hall of the Duke Mansion, the lights were bright, and as soon as they approached, they heard hearty laughter coming from inside, just like when they first t, almost deafening.
It was Yu Wenquan’s laughter.
He was heard saying, "Not only has my son returned, but your son has returned as well. At last, we can breathe a sigh of relief."
As they spoke, they had already reached the door.
Looking up, they saw Yu Wenquan sitting in the central position of the hall, wearing a casual outfit despite being at ho. His figure was brawny, his voice resonant like a bell, and even sitting and laughing couldn’t conceal his strong presence as a military general. Nowadays, among that formidable aura, there seed to be an added confidence in mastering worldly affairs.
Sitting at his lower left was a sowhat slim figure, none other than Shang Ruyi’s uncle, Shen Shiyan.
His face bore so traces left by the winds and frost he experienced during these tis, appearing much older than before but still calm. As he talked and laughed, he constantly looked outside, clearly anticipating sothing.
Then, that anticipated figure appeared in front of him.
Upon seeing his wife and Shang Ruyi, accompanied by Shen Wuzheng, reaching the door, his eyes suddenly widened with surprise and delight, almost unable to restrain himself from getting up. He rose halfway, but then controlled his eagerness and sat back down.
Yet, the tears welling up in his eyes fully disclosed his emotions at that mont.
Yu Wenquan also saw them.
The Duke Sheng, now holding considerable power, showed joy on his face but remained seated, watching his son and daughter-in-law walk in, nodding lightly.
Yu Wenye imdiately led Shang Ruyi forward to bow, "Father."
"You have returned,"
Yu Wenquan couldn’t contain his happiness but suppressed the excitent in his heart. However, his sharp eyes reddened slightly as he nodded repeatedly, saying, "It’s good to be back, good to be back."
Yu Wenye then stood up, saying, "These days, I have worried Father."
Yu Wenquan looked him over again before smiling, "I wasn’t worried about you. I was only worried about Ru Yi."
Speaking, he looked at Shang Ruyi, who appeared sowhat pale, and softly asked, "Was the journey smooth?"
Shang Ruyi hurriedly replied, "Thank you, Father, for your concern. Everything was smooth on the way. It was unfilial of to let Father worry about us."
"Ah,"
Yu Wenquan waved his hand, saying, "There’s no need to say such things. Otherwise, your uncle might really think I’m angry with you and then worry that I don’t treat you well."
Speaking, he burst into laughter again.
Shang Ruyi then turned to her uncle, Shen Shiyan, who already had red eyes. Filled with emotion, she could only suppress the excitent in her heart and softly said, "Uncle...."
Even though Shen Shiyan tried to disguise it, he couldn’t resist the mont and tears dampened his collar.
He hastily wiped his face with his sleeve and said with a smile, "Brother Yu Wen jokes. Today, indeed—my clumsy wife missed Ru Yi too much, so upon hearing they would return today, we ca to bother you. Hope brother won’t mind."
Yu, standing beside him, showed an embarrassed expression only then.
In fact, as an elder, she wasn’t supposed to be at the door to welco the younger generation. Moreover, being partly from Shang Ruyi’s family, they shouldn’t have co right now and disturbed the family reunion, which was against etiquette; but Yu was a barbarian, straightforward in nature, and inherently sincere and lively. Her husband and son indulged her, so even after marrying and having children, her nature didn’t change.
So today, she ca thick-skinned to see Shang Ruyi in person.
But feelings sotis have no rhy or reason.
In fact, the more unreasonable, the less controlled by rites and laws, the more genuine the emotion.
Seeing Yu sowhat ashad, yet firmly grabbing her hand, Shang Ruyi felt a warm current spread from her palm to her heart, unable to help softly saying, "Aunt..."
Yu Wenquan, a family friend of theirs, naturally knew Yu’s temperant, bore no grudge, only laughed, "Just here to see Ru Yi? Aren’t you also concerned about your son?"
Speaking, he smiled at Shen Wuzheng, "I have long heard of Young Master Shen’s great na."
His words, of course, helped Yu with the situation, and Shen Wuzheng, who smiled quietly standing aside, imdiately stepped forward upon hearing himself being ntioned. He respectfully saluted Yu Wenquan, "Greetings, Pri Minister."
"Ah,"
Yu Wenquan waved broadly, saying, "Today, there are only friends and family, no officials here."
Shen Wuzheng replied, "Greetings, Uncle."
Yu Wenquan laughed, "That’s better."
He looked Shen Wuzheng up and down again, laughing, "I knew your father had a good son, yet he hid you far away like a treasure. Now seeing you, no wonder you were hidden away. Were it otherwise, comparing, I’d long known my three sons were all useless by comparison."
His words, naturally, were polite remarks.
Yet, hearing this, everyone in the hall felt a pang in their hearts for a mont—three sons.
Shang Ruyi instinctively glanced around.
In fact, the instant she stepped through the door, she had already scanned around. The hall, besides the chatting and laughing Yu Wenquan and Shen Shiyan, only had a few serving attendants, and others were nowhere to be seen.
But tonight, Yu Wenye had finally returned to Daxing City. Shouldn’t the whole family be gathered together?
Wasn’t Yu Wencheng, along with that never-seen eldest son Yu Wenye, also supposed to be here?
Why hadn’t she seen any of them?
Wondering, she hesitated to respond to Yu Wenquan’s words, only Shen Shiyan quickly saying, "Brother Yu Wen, your words might sha my little pet. Not to ntion the eldest son’s capture of Daxing City with unparalleled rit, the third son’s defense of Taiyuan relieves worries for , the second son’s journey paved with challenges and greatness, how could my son even compare in any way?"
Yu Wenquan waved his hand and simply smiled.
Upon hearing, Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi exchanged a glance.
The third son guarded Taiyuan?
Could it be Yu Wencheng wasn’t in Daxing City, but left in Taiyuan Mansion?
Thinking it over, it wasn’t surprising. Although Daxing City was the true capital of the Da Ye Dynasty, crucial for supporting the new emperor and commanding the realm, Yu Wenquan had spent most ti in Taiyuan since being appointed Shanxi Comfort Envoy, cultivating influence there. Thus, occupying the key spot in Central Pass didn’t an completely abandoning Taiyuan, necessitating leaving soone there to guard it.
However, leaving Yu Wencheng was unexpected—after all, in their eyes, this third brother was violent, absurd in behavior, not fit for the major task.
Yet now, that wasn’t the most important thing.
The important thing was, with Yu Wencheng in Taiyuan, missing his presence here, where was Yu Wenqian?
Why hadn’t he been seen either?
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