Chapter 192: Recognition

Otherwise? If I hadn't heard that you were in Liangzhou and that someone in the team had been infected with the time plague, would you think I would have run here without rest for four days?

When Old Chi heard that she had been running without rest for four days, what else could be in his eyes but concern?

How can these tea snacks restore the body? Quickly have the kitchen prepare something like ginseng soup and bring it up.

Ginseng soup?

So restorative?

She had thought there would be only a bowl of ginseng soup, but upon seeing the table piled with whole fish and meat, Chi Nan Yi was stunned there, unable to recover for a long time.

"Eat!" Old Chi plucked a chicken leg for her, then a chopstickful of fish meat, and thereafter, as if he had discovered a new joy in life, kept serving her dishes.

Looking at the bowls piled like a small mountain, Chi Nan Yi waved her hands repeatedly: "Grandfather, have you been raising me like a pig?"

"Look at how thin you are, with skinny arms and legs; a gust of wind would topple you. You need to eat more."

A gust would knock you over?

Ji Bai heard clearly from outside the courtyard; the family head probably hadn't seen the girl take action, but her swift and decisive manner would even make him willingly concede.

"Yi Er, the medicine you gave Grandfather—did you make it yourself?"

"Yes! What's the matter?"

"Yi Er, tell Grandfather the truth—who is your master? Grandfather will have to thank him properly; without your pills, not to mention my old bones, the Chi family would all have perished here."

That was indeed true; the entire Chi family had taken the pills Chi Nan Yi left, only two gatekeepers hadn't, and those two contracted the plague and died within days.

But none of the other Chi family members who took the pills were infected.

Before Chi Nan Yi could answer, a trembling shout came from outside the courtyard.

"Grandfather? What Grandfather?" Uncertain when they had arrived, Chi Xianshi and Chi Xingzhi stared dumbfounded at the two people chatting merrily in the courtyard, their faces full of disbelief. They had heard that the kitchen had prepared an extremely lavish spread and sent it to Chi Zhongshan's courtyard, and thought the old master would again overindulge, so they hurried over to intervene. They never expected that before even reaching the courtyard, they would hear that crystal‑clear "Grandfather".

In this world, there is only one person who can call the old master "Grandfather".

"Father." Chi Xianshi stepped forward, looking at the face that increasingly resembled his little sister's; so excited that his body began to tremble slightly: "Southern First Young Master... she..." The rest he could not utter, not because he refused, but because his excitement left him speechless.

Chi Nan Yi, seeing the situation, decided not to pretend any longer, smiled, bent a knee and bowed: "Nan Yi has seen Uncle."

Uncle?

If he is her uncle, then isn't she... the child of his own sister?

But didn't they say the little sister gave birth to a daughter?

Xie Yuwei, who had been completely ignored, realized it was not appropriate for him to stay, and hurriedly rose to take his leave.

Before leaving, he received a slightly warning glance from Old Chi, and Xie Yuwei naturally understood its meaning.

Chi Nan Yi's identity must never be exposed.

After Xie Yuwei left, Chi Xianshi approached Chi Nan Yi, his voice light as if afraid to break something: "Child, you... you are..."

Chi Nan Yi untied her hair, a head of ink‑black long hair drifting, and seeing this scene, what else could they not understand?

If they had known early that she was a woman, they could have determined her identity long ago.

"Yi Er, so you really are, really are my niece?"

"Yes." Chi Nan Yi nodded: "It is I, Uncle."

"You are my aunt's daughter, and you're still alive!" Chi Xingzhi exclaimed excitedly: "You're really still alive! This is truly a wonderful piece of news!"

Old Chi, seeing the two of them enter the courtyard and immediately surround his granddaughter, had a look of pure displeasure in his eyes.

"Can the two of you shut up first? I had the kitchen prepare so many dishes, and you both delayed them; now the food is cold—how are we supposed to eat it?"

"Father, I didn't expect the little sister's daughter to still be alive; isn't this just a momentary joy?" Chi Xianshi said with a smile: "Yi Er, whatever you want to eat, just tell Uncle, and Uncle will get it for you."

"Me too!" Chi Xingzhi, shedding his usual dignified demeanor, leaned toward Chi Nan Yi: "Little sister, I am your big brother; you haven't called out 'big brother' for me to hear yet."

"Big brother."

"Hey!" Chi Xingzhi thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Shao Yuan, did he perhaps already know your identity?"

As his words fell, everyone's gaze landed on her.

Especially Old Chi.

As if saying: If you dare claim today that I wasn't the first to know, I'll go all out against you.

"No, Second Brother still doesn't know yet."

Chi Xingzhi heard this and his face was full of joy.

"Great! That means I'm the first person to hear little sister call me brother." Chi Xingzhi continued coaxing Chi Nan Yi: "Come, call 'brother' again so I can hear it."

"You stay over there!" Old Chi kicked Chi Xingzhi's butt: "I haven't even heard Yi Er call me Grandfather a few times! You all come here to take advantage, get out, get out, get out."

The old master wasn't joking; he truly wanted to drive the annoying father‑son pair away.

Since they arrived, Yi Er hasn't been able to speak to him attentively.

"Grandfather, why did you decide to return to the capital?"

Old Chi had long guessed she would ask that, so he simply told her all his plans.

"I've discussed it with your Uncle. Earlier, the situation in the capital changed abruptly; your mother passed away, and this old bone of mine is nearing the end, with only a few years left. I have been thinking of preserving the Chi family's assets as much as possible. Leaving Daqi might ensure the Chi family's lineage continues. But now it seems those behind the scenes intend to exterminate us, pressing the Chi family to the brink without relenting. Therefore, we will confront them. I actually want to know what exactly the Chi family possesses that makes them so fixated and fearful of us." He finished, looked at Chi Nan Yi, patted her shoulder, and said softly: "Now that Grandfather knows you are still alive and intends to avenge your parents, Grandfather naturally cannot let you face the wolves, tigers, and leopards alone. No matter what happens or who you meet, the Chi family will always be your backing!"

"Yes, little sister, the Chi family is always behind you, no—standing shoulder to shoulder with you."

When Chi Xingzhi finished speaking, he received Old Chi's angry stare.

This grandson, after speaking so passionately, hadn't even earned a moved look from his granddaughter before he was cut off!

"Yi Er, whatever you need us to do, just tell us, and we will wholeheartedly help."

"Thank you, Grandfather, thank you Uncle and big brother."

Hearing her call him big brother again, Chi Xingzhi inhaled deeply, wishing he could give her the entire family fortune.

"Yi Er, just now Xie Yuwei..."