Chapter 66: Yuehu Commandery

"Isn't it just visiting relatives?" Xu Mingxian's face showed slight suspicion.

The Yang and Xu families had been in contact for several years. Yang Ronghua was dignified, gentle, generous, and proper. After marrying into the Xu family, she was beloved by the household servants.

Yang Zhao and his son were also honest and forthright, worth befriending deeply.

"Uncle Yang and the others wouldn't act against Elder Brother and them, would they?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "They won't, but individuals and families, Yunnu, you shouldn't conflate the two."

"With aristocratic families, many times individuals will uphold the family for the sake of profit, but the family won't necessarily uphold individuals. Sometimes, they must even learn to sacrifice them."

Xu Mingxian pondered thoughtfully and nodded slightly.

Xu Chuan lowered his brows with a shallow smile and patted his shoulder, "Alright, stop worrying needlessly. Just cultivate your technique properly. Your father always plans thoroughly before acting. What I said just now was only speculation, nothing definite."

"The Yang family is after all a great family, passed down for hundreds of years. They naturally have their own bearing and style. If they truly only relied on plundering to develop, they definitely wouldn't have survived peacefully until now. They would have long been a thorn in the eyes of all the commandery capital families, targets they'd want to eliminate at all costs."

"Just let them go out and see. In the future, it won't just be them. You, I, and Mingshu will all leave the Xu family to seek opportunities for the family's development."

After speaking, Xu Chuan said no more.

Xu Mingxian looked at the group gradually disappearing over the horizon, radiance bursting from his eyes, as if anticipating what situation would arise when he left the Xu family.

…

Yuehu commandery capital.

Xu Mingwei and the others rode in carriages to the vicinity of the Yuehu commandery capital gates.

Inside the carriage, Yang Ronghua held two-year-old Xu Dewen, with Xu Dezhao sitting properly beside her.

Besides them, there were also two maidservants.

As for the two brothers Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan, they rode horses along with six guards.

Wu Rushan ultimately didn't come along.

"So this is the commandery capital. It's truly magnificent and imposing, incomparable to the county seat."

Xu Mingyuan looked at the grand pass that came into view and sighed with emotion.

The city walls built of bluestone were like a coiled giant dragon. Previous dynasty arrowheads were embedded in the rammed earth layers, with stubborn thorns growing through the brick crevices.

Above the main gate hung a gilded plaque reading "Yuehu."

Below the plaque, three arched gateways swallowed merchants and travelers from all directions. The iron-clad city gates had been worn to show the original wood grain, with copper nails dotting the surface like frozen rainstorm.

Beneath the flying eaves of the watchtowers hung rusted warning bells that still carried echoes of battle when the wind passed.

Layers of rammed earth had accumulated at the base of the city walls. New moss and old bloodstains intertwined on the brick surface into historical emblems.

There was also the wide moat encircling it, reflecting the mottled wall shadows.

"Truly imposing." Xu Mingwei also said.

Just arriving at the city gate, the two saw the Yang Manor's steward who had been waiting, whom Xu Mingwei had met at the Yang residence in Qingjiang.

"Steward Yang."

"Young master, the master had me wait every day. Finally, you've arrived."

Hearing the voice, Yang Ronghua lifted the curtain of the carriage. Seeing a familiar person, a smile immediately appeared at the corners of her mouth, "Steward Yang, did Father send you to receive us?"

"Yes, miss. Let's first go to the manor to settle in."

"Thank you for the trouble."

The group walked along the broad streets of the commandery capital. People coming and going flowed endlessly. Wine shops, rouge shops, street vendors, and more lined both sides, countless in number. The noisy sounds were bustling and lively, full of vigorous vitality.

"It's truly lively, incomparable to the county seat."

Xu Mingyuan's eyes shone as if seeing infinite business opportunities, wanting to make great achievements in the commandery capital.

Two quarters of an hour later, they arrived at the Yang Manor.

The Yang Manor immediately became lively.

Yang Shichang, Madam Yang, and Wen Jing all came out to greet them.

When mother and daughter met, their eyes brimmed with tears and they hugged each other tightly.

"Mother, Mingwei and the others have traveled a long way. Quickly let them go inside and rest." Yang Shichang said with a smile, then ordered servants to go to the commandery office to find Yang Zhao.

Xu Mingwei held Xu Dewen and led Xu Dezhao by the hand. Coming before Yang Shichang, "Zhao'er, Wen'er, this is your uncle. Call him uncle."

Xu Dezhao cupped his hands, "Uncle."

Xu Dewen stared with big round eyes, observed for a while, then said in a milky voice, "Uncle."

"Haha, so well-behaved!"

Yang Shichang laughed and rubbed their heads.

Madam Yang also walked over, looking at her grandchildren.

"Call grandmother."

"Grandmother."

"This is your aunt."

"Aunt."

"Everyone, quickly come inside." Wen Jing also smiled gently.

"Mingyuan, did you bring gifts this time?" Yang Shichang chatted idly with Xu Mingyuan.

"Naturally."

The guards unloaded several jars of fine wine from the carriage and carried them inside.

The family chatted in the main hall.

Yang Shichang's son Yang Ruifeng pulled Xu Dezhao to run around the Yang Manor.

Before long, Yang Zhao also walked into the main hall with a smile.

Xu Mingwei and the others greeted him one by one.

"Father, this is Dewen. Zhao'er, come meet your maternal grandfather."

"Maternal grandfather."

Yang Zhao picked up Xu Dezhao, pinched his cheek, and laughed heartily, "You're my good grandson."

"Grandfather, I want to be held too."

"Alright, together."

Yang Zhao picked up Yang Ruifeng with his other hand. Both children were tickled and laughed "hehe" nonstop.

After a while, he finally put them down.

"Mingwei, how many days do you plan to stay in the commandery capital?"

"Father-in-law, your son-in-law has now been appointed family head. At most, I can stay in the commandery capital for three or four days. Ahyuan is the same. Family affairs are complicated and need to be handled quickly upon return."

"Is your father currently helping manage things?"

"Before coming, we entrusted Father."

"What's the rush? I still don't know your father's capabilities? Even if you stayed for a month or two before returning, nothing would happen to your Xu family. It might even advance to the next level."

Hearing this, Wen Jing was slightly shocked, not expecting Yang Zhao to value the Xu family's old family head so highly.

Xu Mingyuan also smiled, "Father is of advanced age after all. Several years ago, he stopped managing family affairs and instead tends to flowers and plants, practices martial arts to strengthen his body."

"Haha, I'm about the same age as him. By saying your father is of advanced age, aren't you saying I'm also old and muddled, fit only to retire at home?"

Wen Jing spoke with a slightly contemptuous tone, "Father, Old Family Head Xu isn't like you, an innate martial artist. This is your prime years. For some ordinary commoners, forty or fifty years old is indeed not young."

Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan said nothing, but Yang Zhao's eyelids lightly pressed down, his black pupils contracted, and the contours of his face suddenly became sharp.

"Don't speak carelessly about things you don't know. Is it your place to interrupt?"

"Father, Jing'er didn't mean it that way." Yang Shichang quickly said.

"Uncle Yang, it's just family chatting casually. Why fuss over so much? Even if my father heard, he wouldn't mind." Xu Mingyuan acted as peacemaker.

Yang Zhao sighed emotionally, "Yes, that's indeed his temperament."

"Let's end here for today. Go rest for a while first. Later, have Chang'er take you around the commandery capital. As for Zhao'er's matter, I'll discuss it with the clan."

"Thank you, Father-in-law (Uncle Yang)!"

Yang Zhao and the others stood up and left.

Cold light suddenly concentrated in Wen Jing's eyes. That bit of displeasure spread from the corner of her eyes, instantly staining her autumn-water eyes.

"Husband, what's wrong with Father? To publicly rebuke me because of someone from a remote small clan, it makes my heart cold."