Chapter 201: Grandfather's Heartache

After the initial joy, Chi Shao yuan's gaze toward Chi Nan Yi was filled with heartache.

How much suffering must his little sister have endured to become as formidable as she was now?

Every time he thought of this, he wished he could march straight into Seek Dragon Gate and slaughter them all.

If not for them, his little sister would have lived smoothly and safely under their aunt and uncle's protection — why would she have suffered so much?

"There are other forces behind Seek Dragon Gate. For now, we must not act rashly," Chi Xingzhi said in a low voice. "Seek Dragon Gate has already set its sights on our Chi Family. Sooner or later, there will be a confrontation."

"Indeed." Chi Nan Yi nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, the one sent should be from the palace, and of no low rank. As for the former dynasty's royal descendant that Eldest Brother mentioned, that is indeed a real matter."

At the mention of the former dynasty, Chi Zhongshan's expression turned somewhat ugly.

"Grandfather, what is it?" Chi Shao yuan could not help but ask. "Regarding the former dynasty, is there something Grandfather wishes to say?"

"The former dynasty… sigh. If it truly is related to the former dynasty, I believe I already know why Seek Dragon Gate refuses to let go of the Chi Family."

"Why?"

Chi Nan Yi was also somewhat curious. She knew the Chi Family had been passed down for several hundred years; ever since the former dynasty began, the Chi Family could be considered a prominent noble house.

"Our Chi Family has never involved itself in court affairs, but we have never been completely ignorant of the world either. The former dynasty's emperor was incompetent and tyrannical, such that the national treasury was emptied and the people could not make a living. Our ancestors left records that, to quell the people's grievances, the Chi Family once contributed hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to the court free of charge, expecting that the court would distribute the silver to the common people. Never did they imagine that the emperor would use it to build palace pavilions and keep over a hundred Yangzhou slender horses inside for his own pleasure. Later, grievances rose everywhere, the people suffered unspeakably, warlords carved up the land, and the Daqi founding emperor led his subordinates in rebellion to overthrow the court. By then, the former dynasty's troops and provisions were of the lowest grade, lacking even the strength to defend themselves. To conscript soldiers and hoard provisions, the former dynasty's emperor once again reached out to the Chi Family. Our ancestors were loyal and righteous, but not every king was worth supporting, so they refused. In a rage, the former dynasty's emperor wanted to arrest every member of the Chi Family and execute them. Before he could make a move, the imperial city fell, and the former dynasty's emperor became a ghost beneath the blade. The Daqi founding emperor ushered in a golden age, his descendants flourished, and thus came the Daqi of today."

Hearing Old Chi's words, Chi Nan Yi understood clearly in her heart.

Since Seek Dragon Gate was connected to the former dynasty, they would naturally pin this debt on the Chi Family.

Previously, they had been left with nothing but remnants and defeated soldiers; wanting to contend with a colossus like the Chi Family was no different from an ant trying to shake a tree.

Now that they had amassed power and placed someone beside the Emperor, they fancied themselves to have the capital to stand against the Chi Family and wanted to bare their fangs.

Chi Nan Yi gave a disdainful cold snort. Fangs?

As long as they dared to bare them, she would dare to snap them off.

"Grandfather, you mentioned earlier that the court administered slow-acting poisons to the heads of your noble families — that might also be related to Seek Dragon Gate."

Chi Zhongshan nodded. "Perhaps. But no matter what, our Chi Family has now returned to Jingcheng, and all affairs proceed as before. There is no need to be excessive, nor any need to be timid. Whatever the court does, our Chi Family can withstand it. Also, regarding the matter of the Situ Family, gather evidence anew. This old man wants to avenge his daughter!"

Ever since his body recovered, his desire to avenge his daughter had grown ever stronger.

Chi Nan Yi said with a smile, "Grandfather, leave the matter of revenge to me. How old are you now? Can you still manage it?"

"You lass, you don't think much of this old man." Chi Zhongshan tapped the tip of her nose. "Rather than let you go take revenge, I had better do it myself. Grandfather doesn't want you, at such a tender age, to fill your heart with enmity and put yourself in danger. You still have many things you can do."

Hearing Chi Zhongshan's words, Chi Nan Yi felt a warm glow in her heart.

"Grandfather, rest assured. Once I have avenged my father and mother and cleared the Situ Family's name, I will start living my own life anew."

"Good."

Chi Zhongshan lovingly patted her head. "Yi'er, behind you, you still have Grandfather, and you still have the Chi Family. The entire Chi Family will be your backing. Don't be afraid of implicating us. The Chi Family has endured in silence long enough — it is time to show our edge. I was wrong before, Grandfather. I thought that by retreating from the world, the Chi Family could avoid disaster. Now I see that was a grave mistake. Fortunately, it is still not too late. Even if you stir up trouble out there, Grandfather will catch you! I will absolutely not let you come to harm."

"Mm, I know."

This time, Chi Nan Yi did not say thank you. For true family, thanks were never necessary.

"Little sister, you still have us!" Chi Xingzhi and Chi Shao yuan patted their chests. "Don't worry. With the two of us here, we won't let you suffer any losses."

The Chi Family's return to Jingcheng was grand in scale; in less than half a day, all of Jingcheng knew of it.

"Have you heard? The Chi Family also brought back a young lady this time."

"What's so strange about that? Go back a dozen years or so, the master of the Chi Family was still in his prime — isn't it perfectly normal for him to have other children?"

"Exactly. You lot didn't see the Chi Family's young lady. When the carriage stopped at the Chi Family's residence, I caught a glimpse from afar. Tsk tsk tsk, she truly looks like a fairy descended to earth! Compared to her, the women of Jingcheng fall far short — one in the heavens, one on the ground."

"Is she really as beautiful as you say?"

"But of course. Do I look like someone who would lie?"

"This young lady of the Chi Family has truly soared to the heavens in one step. She's beautiful, her family background is excellent, and her figure — let's not even mention it." That man rubbed his hands together, the smile on his face somewhat lecherous. "You've all seen the courtesan queen of First-Rank Tower, right? Her figure surpasses even that."

"Shh, keep your voice down. The Chi Family is a great noble house. If the Chi Family heard you comparing their young lady to a courtesan queen, they'd twist your head off."

Hearing this, the man quickly clamped his mouth shut and looked around nervously. Only after confirming that no one was walking his way did he slowly relax.

"Wasn't I just trying to let you know exactly how beautiful the Chi Family's young lady is?"

At this moment, in a private room upstairs at Weimei Zhai, Meng Qinghe had heard every word of the whispered gossip below.

The Chi Family?

Why the surname Chi?

At the mere mention of this surname, she could not help but think of Chi Nan Yi.

Meng Qinghe felt that she seemed to have an inextricable karmic bond with anyone surnamed Chi.

It was one thing that Chi Nan Yi had opened a medicinal cuisine shop in Changxi Town. Now, the sworn rival of their Weimei Zhai — the Number One Manor in the World across the street — was also a medicinal cuisine shop. And now a centuries-old noble family surnamed Chi had returned to Jingcheng.

Chi, Chi, Chi…

All surnamed Chi.

How so vexing?

Just then, Caipin walked in quickly, her face somewhat deathly pale.

"What is it?" Meng Qinghe's tone was full of impatience.

"Reporting to Miss, this servant heard that His Highness the Crown Prince seems to be at the Number One Manor in the World."

"His Highness the Crown Prince?" Meng Qinghe's brows knitted together. Did even His Highness the Crown Prince now prefer the food of the Number One Manor in the World?

The Meng Family and the Number One Manor in the World were rivals, so naturally she could not go there.

Seeing Caipin incessantly picking at her fingers, Meng Qinghe said coldly, "What else is it?"

"The Su Family — the Su Family's eldest daughter's carriage has also stopped at the entrance of the Number One Manor in the World, and… and…"