Tai'an City, the Twin Jewels of Great Zhou

"Young Master, we've arrived in Tai'an City."

As the capital of Great Zhou, Tai'an City had a constant population of millions, bustling with people coming and going every day.

"Is this Tai'an City, Young Master? It's so magnificent, much larger than Qingping County," said Biyuan, pulling back the curtain to admire the grandeur of Tai'an City.

Tai'an City had a special status since ancient times, having served as the capital for several dynasties. Even the former Emperor Da Chong chose Tai'an as his capital, emphasizing its significance.

Qingping County's city walls were only a few meters high, while Tai'an City's walls stood over ten meters tall. From a distance, it resembled a colossal beast coiled around, making any comparison between the two cities impossible.

Soon, the carriage entered the city, and they encountered no trouble from the city guards. These guards had sharp eyes and realized they were better off not provoking the opulent carriage adorned with the Xiaoxi banner.

It was merely a formality when they questioned Tie Feng and casually commented on the figure lying on the cart's bed.

In Tai'an City, common folks rarely had the opportunity to enter Tai'an Lane, where the nobility and dignitaries of Great Zhou gathered, being the closest residential area to the Imperial Palace.

Here, you might encounter high-ranking officials and even nobles of the second and third ranks just by chance.

As a member of the Xiaoxi noble house in Great Zhou, the Xiaoxi Mansion was naturally located in Tai'an Lane.

Once they entered the city, the curtain of the carriage was never drawn down. This was Biyuan's first time in the capital, and her immense curiosity made her excited about everything.

Xiaoyi didn't find anything wrong with her enthusiasm. Biyuan was just in her early twenties, a time when she should be enjoying herself the most. Over the years, she had been taking care of Xiaoyi's daily life in Qingping County, and this was a rare opportunity for her to relax.

Watching the adorable and lively Biyuan, Xiaoyi couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness. He reached out and lightly touched her forehead.

Near the gate of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, an observant servant boy saw them and shouted excitedly, "Young Master is back!"

Without waiting for them to lead the way, Xiaoyi asked the servant boy to guide Tie Feng in parking the carriage and taking care of Yue Shan.

As for Tie Feng, as the legitimate child of the family, he had been with Xiaoyi since childhood. Although he had been away for many years, his residence in the mansion was still intact.

The servant boy immediately complied and led Tie Feng towards the carriage to handle the situation.

Xiaoyi, on the other hand, didn't hurry to enter the mansion. He looked around and noticed that the entrance of the Marquis Mansion was similar to what he remembered.

The same two large stone lions stood tall at the entrance, and the plaque bearing the title "Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion" bestowed by the emperor still shone brightly on the two large columns.

Upon entering, Xiaoyi turned his head and glanced into the distance. Then, he withdrew his gaze without any sign of emotion and led Biyuan across the threshold.

"Young Master, will we be living here from now on?" Biyuan asked in a soft voice, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Xiaoyi nodded and replied, "We'll stay here as long as you like. I'm just afraid that you might get tired of it after a while."

Biyuan shook her head and earnestly said, "As long as Young Master is there, Yanyan will never get tired of it."

Xiaoyi looked at Biyuan, and his heart was filled with tranquility. He reached out and gently touched her forehead.

Not far from the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, in a tavern, two men observed Xiaoyi's entrance into the mansion and then turned their attention away.

Both men appeared to be in their early thirties, well-dressed in silk clothing, clearly from affluent backgrounds.

One of them looked neat and tidy, exuding an air of authority. Although his complexion was somewhat pale, his aura remained strong.

The other man had long disheveled hair, soaked in wine, yet he seemed unperturbed by it, with slightly hazy eyes.

It was difficult to imagine how these two seemingly incompatible individuals could be together. However, those around them were accustomed to it; they were the renowned "Twin Jewels" of Great Zhou.

One of them was the second son of the Duke of Jiang, Jiang Dingbian, and the other held an equally prestigious position. He was the eldest son of the former Marquis of Zhenyuan, Xiao Yuntian.

These two had been the dazzling young geniuses of their time and were once celebrated as the "Twin Jewels" of Great Zhou. However, their brilliance had faded over the years, and the title had become somewhat of a jest.

"Yuntian, your son seems... different," Jiang Dingbian commented, watching Xiaoyi disappear into the mansion and hesitatingly asking.

Xiao Yuntian, his usually blurry eyes unusually clear, stared at Xiaoyi until he disappeared. He then took a sip of wine and casually replied, "He's my son, after all. How could he be ordinary on the surface?"

Jiang Dingbian nodded in agreement and asked, "But your son has something special, it seems."

Xiao Yuntian cast a sidelong glance at Jiang Dingbian and said indifferently, "Everyone has their own path to walk, and they have their own thoughts on how to choose. Back then, when he made up his mind, I naturally wouldn't stop him."

Jiang Dingbian agreed and raised his wine glass. Having been a recluse for so many years, he had long grown accustomed to it.

He clinked glasses with Xiao Yuntian and curiously asked, "By the way, how did you agree to let that young Xiao Yi go to Qingping County back then? He was only seven or eight years old, after all."

Xiao Yuntian glanced at Jiang Dingbian, his expression calm, and said, "Everyone has their own path to walk, and how they choose is their own business. When he was determined to go, I naturally wouldn't stop him."