Chapter 199: Return to the Capital

As Chi Nan Yi's words fell, the man's pupils shrank sharply, his eyes filled with shock.

From his reaction, it was not difficult to tell that Chi Xingzhi's words were not baseless.

"You… how did you…" Seeing Chi Nan Yi's burning gaze, he realized he had said something he should not have. The black-robed man pressed his lips tightly together, his round eyes glaring at Chi Nan Yi: "You tricked me?"

"No, I only suspected it before. Now I am certain."

In the original owner's memories, she had not found any clues about Seek Dragon Gate. When it came to matters of Seek Dragon Gate, it seemed she would have to find a way to pry open his mouth.

Chi Nan Yi gave him a pill. The black-robed man's eyes rolled back and he fainted. She stored him in her space. The epidemic in the city was now under control, and Liangzhou would reopen the day after tomorrow. They too would set off for Jingcheng. There would be plenty of opportunities to make him talk later—no need to rush at this moment.

As for Seek Dragon Gate, sooner or later, she would march right up to their door and kill them.

Because Zhao Cheng had been assassinated and killed, the investigation's leads were severed. Xie Yuwei could only first escort Ge Linquan back to the capital, while Chi Nan Yi traveled together with the Chi Family members all the way to Jingcheng.

The distance from Liangzhou to Jingcheng was not far; by horse carriage, they arrived in five or six days.

Having learned the date of their return, Chi Shao yuan had brought people to wait at the city gate early, his gaze fixed intently on the official road.

As the convoy drew closer and closer, Chi Shao yuan immediately stepped forward to greet them, heading straight for the second carriage—that was the carriage his grandfather always rode in.

"Grandfather!" But before Chi Shao yuan's voice could even fall, the carriage curtain was opened from inside first.

A bright, radiant young woman with a smile like a flower appeared in the carriage.

A woman?

Was this not Grandfather's carriage?

Wait, why was this face so familiar to him?

She was… she was…

Was she not Brother Nan Yi? How could she be… a woman?

"Nan… Nan…" Chi Shao yuan's throat tightened; he could not even speak smoothly.

"Second Brother." No longer using the deliberately lowered voice from before, Chi Nan Yi's tone was clear and soft, carrying a trace of intimacy, like a spring breeze drifting into Chi Shao yuan's ears.

Second Brother?

She had just called him Second Brother?

So… Chi Shao yuan's expression changed several times. When exactly had his parents produced a younger sister for him?

How did he not know at all?

"Shao yuan." Chi Zhongshan's voice came from the third carriage.

Hearing his grandfather call his name, Chi Shao yuan barely managed to snap out of his shock.

"Grandfather, your grandson is here."

"You fool, what are you still standing there for? Yi'er is tired from the long journey. Hurry up and lead everyone into the city!"

"Ah, yes… yes…"

The Chi Family ancestral estate was located in the most prosperous core district of Jingcheng. Those living in the surrounding area were all court officials and prominent noble families.

Back when Chi Shao yuan returned to renovate the ancestral estate, quite a few people had overtly and covertly sent people to make inquiries. Hearing that the Chi Family was returning to Jingcheng, many eyes were fixed on this place.

The Chi Family's convoy had barely entered the city when quite a few people came to watch.

The Chi Family's return to the capital this time was not low-key. The luggage alone filled over a hundred carriages, entering the city in batches. Masters and servants combined numbered in the hundreds—a truly grand spectacle.

Even so, this was merely the tip of the Chi Family's iceberg.

When Chi Nan Yi saw such an enormous entourage, she could not help but reflect inwardly: since ancient times, century-old noble families had always been feared by the imperial house. With such deep-rooted heritage and a spectacle where one call summoned a hundred responses, the word "fear" was far from sufficient to describe it.

No wonder the late Emperor back then had made the heads of each noble family consume poison. The power hidden within these centuries-old noble families and their intertwined, deep-rooted foundations—even imperial authority had to carefully weigh them, relying on them yet unable to avoid guarding against them.

The Chi Family was precisely such a house.

Chi Shao yuan rode a tall horse at the very front. From time to time, he turned his head to look toward the second carriage, his eyes full of confusion.

Along both sides of Jingcheng's streets, the common folk stopped to watch one after another. Meng Qinghe was among them.

She looked at the long convoy and could not help asking, "Whose family is this? Such a grand display?"

Caiping shook her head: "Replying to Miss, this servant does not know either. There is no servant in the convoy that this servant recognizes."

"Isn't that the Chi Family's Second Young Master?" In the crowd, a man pointed at Chi Shao yuan and said softly, "Truly dignified in appearance. I heard earlier that the Chi Family was renovating their ancestral estate. This convoy must be the Chi Family then."

"Yes, yes, yes, I heard that too. It looks like the Chi Family is returning to the capital!"

The Chi Family?

Hearing this surname, Meng Qinghe frowned tightly, a trace of irritation arising in her heart.

Why did it have to be the same surname as that little wretch Chi Nan Yi?

What rotten luck.

"As expected of a noble family spanning hundreds of years. Look at their heritage—even the maids and servants are dressed so neatly."

"Isn't that why they say you'd rather marry a maid from a high house than a wife from a poor one? The way I see it, the Chi Family's attending servants carry themselves better than the young ladies of many small households."

The common folk on the street discussed back and forth, while Meng Qinghe's gaze fell on the several carriages passing before her.

Apart from the second carriage, the other carriages were all made of red sandalwood. Many wealthy and noble houses would use this wood for the frames and armrests of their carriages to display their status and position, but even that had its limits. She had never seen any household use red sandalwood for an entire carriage, yet the ones before her were all made of this wood. Even the exceedingly expensive golden-thread nanmu was only used for the wheels.

And the most extravagant was the second carriage, which was actually made of dalbergia odorifera—a wood far more precious than red sandalwood. Ordinary people could not even bear to obtain a little of it to make prayer beads, yet she used it to build a carriage!

Even royal nobles would not dare to be so lavish!

Just how deep was the Chi Family's heritage!

Just then, a gentle breeze blew past. The curtain of the second carriage lifted slightly, and a small section of a familiar chin flashed before Meng Qinghe's eyes. Before she could see clearly, the carriage had already moved some distance away.

Who was the person in the carriage just now? Why did they look somewhat familiar?

At this moment, inside a private room at the World's Number One Manor, Mo Junyan sat by the window, his gaze locked onto the Chi Family's convoy.

"Prince, Miss Chi will likely go directly to the Chi Family's old estate."

"Mm."

"Prince, the palace has sent people to urge you again. Today is your birthday, and the Emperor has been waiting all along!"

"Tell my imperial father, no need to wait."

Yun Shan naturally understood his Prince's intentions — he wanted to spend time together with Miss Chi. He steeled himself and walked out, only to run straight into Su Yuqing.

Ever since she was injured by Mo Junyan last time, Su Yuqing had grown fearful of him. When she returned to the Su family, the Su family members saw that she was injured. Old Master Su in particular doted deeply on this granddaughter; seeing her hurt so badly, he flew into a rage.

In Jingcheng, someone actually dared to lay hands on their household. He immediately asked who had done it, intending to take the fight to their door.

However, upon learning that the one who had injured her was Mo Junyan, Old Master Su forcibly pulled back the foot he had already stepped forward.

Who didn't know that Prince Li, Mo Junyan — even the Emperor could do nothing about him.