Family

Family

In the heart of the Wu King Manor, emotions ran high as Qin Chuan and Qin Yao enveloped Qin Wentian in powerful, heartfelt hugs. They patted his back with relief, their voices filled with gratitude and joy as they exclaimed, "It's wonderful that you've returned. Truly wonderful."

"Father, I've been unfilial," Qin Wentian confessed with a tinge of guilt, his gaze locked on Qin Chuan.

"You've been pursuing your martial path outside. Everything is peaceful here, and there's no reason for you to dwell on the past," Qin Chuan assured him. He released his son from their embrace, but Qin Yao, reluctant to let go, continued to hold her brother close.

"Sis, let me check if you've put on any weight," Qin Wentian teased. He leaned in closer, studying Qin Yao's teary eyes. With a sudden motion, he scooped her up onto his back, eliciting a shriek from her. Ignoring her protests, he playfully added, "Sis, you're as slim as ever. No pressure at all for me."

Qin Wentian placed her back on the ground, grinning from ear to ear. "Sis, you're still as svelte as ever. No worries for me at all."

Playfully jabbing a finger at Qin Wentian, Qin Yao responded, "Oh, stop teasing. Have you brought a girl back, or are you still a bachelor?"

"Go to hell! Did you come back just to mock me? My little brother is so exceptional; how could I ever fall for an ordinary man? But you, you'd better not be hiding anything. Did you bring a girl with you?" Qin Yao playfully scolded him. Although ten years had passed since their last meeting, their bond remained as strong as ever. Time had not eroded their closeness, and the moment Qin Yao and Qin Wentian locked eyes, they were transported back to their carefree youth, where laughter flowed freely.

Back then, they had been carefree and unburdened by life's challenges, sharing moments of unrestrained joy.

"Mhm, I've brought a sister-in-law for you. But, you'll need Father's help to arrange the proposal," Qin Wentian announced with a smile.

"Really?" Qin Yao exclaimed.

"Wentian, is that true?" Qin Chuan was equally surprised.

"You don't have to doubt me," Qin Wentian chuckled, shrugging off their skepticism.

"Where is she from? Why didn't you bring her to our home?" Qin Chuan inquired.

"She just returned to Chu. Initially, she wanted to accompany me, but I advised her to stay with her family for now," Qin Wentian explained.

"A woman from Chu?" Qin Chuan and Qin Yao spoke in unison, exchanging knowing glances. Qin Yao broke into laughter. "You've done well. Tell me, is my future sister-in-law none other than the once-revered beauty of Chu, Mo Qingcheng?"

"You're too clever, Sis," Qin Wentian admitted, his words prompting hearty laughter from Qin Chuan. "Indeed, I knew you would succeed in winning her heart. Congratulations on your success. When do you want me to arrange the proposal? I'll start making preparations right away."

"Why are you in such a hurry, Father?" Qin Wentian shook his head, wearing a wry smile. Asking Qin Chuan to propose was a sign of respect to both families' elders. Naturally, Qin Wentian hoped his wedding would be perfect in every way.

Standing nearby, Bai Qingsong and Autumn Snow couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow and remorse upon hearing the news of Qin Wentian's impending marriage. Even Autumn Snow's eyes dimmed as she recalled how she had once chosen to marry into the Ye Clan, ending her relationship with Qin Wentian. In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed, and she had come to realize the narrowness of her and her father's judgment back then.

Time had the power to change many things. Initially, their vision had been limited to Chu, but Qin Wentian had transcended those boundaries, conquering even the entirety of Grand Xia.

"Wentian, congratulations!" Bai Qingsong offered his sincere blessings, despite his feelings of regret.

"Thank you, Uncle Bai," Qin Wentian replied with a nod. He then turned to Autumn Snow. "How have you been?"

As Qin Wentian's bright eyes met hers, Autumn Snow felt an unfamiliar panic rising within her. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, so she nodded in silence.

Autumn Snow was no longer the young girl she had once been, but her beauty had matured, becoming even more captivating.

"Autumn Snow, has Father finished his chess game yet?" a voice called out, and a man in his thirties entered the scene. He was momentarily stunned when he saw the handsome figure beside Autumn Snow. With a broad smile, he approached her and linked arms with her. While his face radiated warmth, a hint of rivalry flickered in his eyes as he gazed at Qin Wentian.

Autumn Snow tensed up, her body reacting awkwardly to the unexpected encounter. Despite the severed ties between her and Qin Wentian, she couldn't help but feel a storm of emotions in his presence.

"Autumn Snow, is something bothering you?" The young man inquired gently, his concern evident in his voice.

Autumn Snow shook her head, her emotions a turbulent mix. A strange gleam flickered in the young man's eyes as he turned to Qin Wentian and introduced himself with a polite smile. "Hello, I'm Bu Xiao. I've come from the Greencloud Imperial Empire, and Autumn Snow is my fiancée."

Qin Wentian greeted him warmly, acknowledging the complex dynamics at play. "I'm Qin Wentian. I consider Autumn Snow a dear friend."

Bai Qingsong, feeling a sense of both happiness and regret, congratulated them as well. "Congratulations to you both."

Qin Wentian's warm smile and cordiality eased some of the tension in the room. Still, Bai Qingsong couldn't help but reflect on the Greencloud Imperial Empire's presence in Chu. He knew the true reasons behind the Nine Mystical Palace's downfall, and even the current master of the Greencloud Pavilion would show deference to Qin Wentian once they learned of his identity.

"Is Brother Qin the son of the Wu King?" Bu Xiao inquired, attempting to understand the social hierarchy.

"Mhm," Qin Wentian confirmed. Bu Xiao seemed to grasp the situation better, albeit with a hint of confusion regarding Autumn Snow's reaction.

"At present, Chu is a territory under the Greencloud Imperial Empire. If Brother Qin is interested in broadening your horizons, I would be delighted to help you secure a government position," Bu Xiao offered, his words stunning the others present. Was Bu Xiao trying to flaunt his connections in front of Qin Wentian?

"Thank you for your offer, Brother Xiao, but I don't have an interest in that," Qin Wentian politely declined.

Bu Xiao smiled knowingly. "That's a shame."

With an attempt to alleviate the awkwardness, Bai Qingsong suggested they leave. Qin Chuan agreed, and they prepared to take their leave. Qin Wentian was left with questions about Bu Xiao and his role in the Greencloud Imperial Empire's control over Chu. He hoped he was overthinking it.

"Wentian, tell us about your adventures during these years. We're eager to hear some stories," Qin Yao said, tugging at Qin Wentian's arm, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"Sis, it seems you still enjoy my company," Qin Wentian teased. "Wait for me; I'll pay my respects to my foster mother and the others first."

"Mhm, that's only natural. Let's talk while we walk, and Mother will prepare a delicious feast for you," Qin Yao said, leading the way with a playful skip. Qin Chuan followed behind, his heart warmed by the close bond between the siblings.

"It's time for a family reunion," Qin Chuan murmured, his spirits lifted by the prospect.

The Qin Residence buzzed with life that day, as they prepared to visit the Mo Residence for a formal proposal of marriage.

Qin Chuan, Qin He, and Qin Ye, as well as their cousins Qin Shang and Qin Zhi, all gathered. Qin Shang, who was already married, even had a six-year-old daughter named Qin Xin.

During the chaos of the battles in Chu, Qin He and Qin Ye had been injured. Afterward, they both yearned for their children to start families. Qin He had emerged victorious, becoming a grandfather first.

"Xin'er, call me Uncle," Qin Wentian said, embracing the lovely child, while Qin Yao teased the little one. Qin Xin, a beautiful child resembling a porcelain doll, responded with a sweet "Uncle."

Qin Wentian couldn't help but laugh and pinch her cheeks tenderly, causing Qin Yao to give him a playful scolding. A younger brother pinching his older sister's cheeks – that couldn't truly be called "doting," she argued.

"Uncle, why haven't I seen you before?" Qin Xin's arms clung to Qin Wentian's neck, as she took a liking to her uncle. She thought his eyes were lovely, much cleaner and more beautiful than her parents'.

"Uncle went to a distant place. I only just returned today," Qin Wentian explained with a smile.

"Oh? A faraway place? Was it fun?" Qin Xin's eyes sparkled with childlike curiosity.

"Can Uncle take Xin`er to visit that place?"

"Absolutely, Uncle will take Xin`er wherever her heart desires," Qin Wentian responded, gazing at the innocent Qin Xin with warmth flooding his heart. He turned to Qin Shang and added, "You're truly blessed, big brother Qin Shang."

"You should consider having a child of your own soon, Wentian. Your wife, the number one beauty in Chu, Mo Qingcheng, will surely give birth to an incredibly beautiful daughter if you do." Qin Shang, now matured, recognized his younger brother's exceptional talents and foresaw his future accomplishments.

"It's a bit early for me," Qin Wentian chuckled and shook his head. While he adored little Qin Xin, having his own child would require a level of commitment that he wasn't ready to give up just yet. Once he settled down, his wandering days might come to an end.

"Brother Qin Shang, I'd like to take Xin`er to explore Chu. Would that be possible?" Qin Wentian inquired with a smile.

"Xin`er is still quite young; will she adapt to traveling?" Qin Shang's wife, a young and beautiful woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, voiced her concern.

"Mom, Xiner loves Uncle very much. There won't be any problems," Xiner affirmed, sitting contentedly on Qin Wentian's lap, already having formed a deep bond with him.

"Of course, there won't be any issues. Xiner, promise not to cause any trouble for Uncle when he takes you out," Qin Shang admonished his daughter with a stern expression. He was worried that Xiner's mischievous nature might prove challenging for Qin Wentian to manage.

"Mhm. Wentian, this little rascal can be quite naughty at times. If you find her too much to handle, don't hesitate to bring her back to our home," Qin Shang gently squeezed his wife's hand, silently urging her not to object. Since this was her first encounter with Qin Wentian, she naturally felt protective of her daughter and was hesitant to entrust her to someone she barely knew.

Qin Wentian fully understood her concerns. His desire to take Qin Xin with him was, in fact, motivated by his intention to help adjust her constitution. Given her young age, her energy channels and meridians were still in development, making it easier to make necessary adjustments now rather than when she grew older.

Qin Wentian would never forget how his uncle, Qin He, Qin Shang's father, had selflessly stepped forward and faced danger on his behalf when the Ye Clan had sent assassins after him. He owed his life to that act of bravery, and he had genuinely grown fond of little Qin Xin over the years. Repaying this debt of gratitude and helping Qin Xin were intertwined in his decision.