Chapter 20

Observing Zhao Yang's displeasure, Li Jun put down his chopsticks. The other three individuals—General Wang, the woman, and the man—were surprised by his action. They had always enjoyed a higher privilege and shared meals with the Emperor on multiple occasions. However, in the past two years, the treatment they received from the Emperor was beyond their imagination. Whenever they were free and so was the Emperor, he would invite them to the palace for tea or a meal. Yet during those times, the Emperor never deviated from his usual demeanor.

"You asked me why I told you to come look for me instead of me looking for you," Li Jun spoke, looking at Zhao Yang, who simply nodded in response. Li Jun offered a small smile.

"Obviously, it was to make your life easier. You were going to come here when you turned 18 anyway," Li Jun explained before resuming his meal. After the intense exercise he had just experienced, he was quite hungry. However, Zhao Yang had no appetite. Hearing Li Jun's answer, he felt a sense of confusion. He couldn't piece everything together. But for the couple, it was a different story. The assumption in their hearts turned out to be not just an assumption, but a reality.

"How is Zhao Yan and father?" the man asked. Upon hearing his question, Zhao Yang felt all the pieces falling into place. He stared intently at the couple before standing up and embracing them both.

Finally, it was confirmed. His parents, who had been missing for the past 18 years, were indeed in the Demon Kingdom. The three of them cried in each other's arms as Li Jun gestured for General Wang to start eating as well. They watched as the father, mother, and son shed tears of joy. Once their crying subsided, they all began to eat. It was during this time that Zhao Yang was officially introduced to his maternal grandfather. The five of them enjoyed the meal, with Li Jun and the general speaking only a few times while the other three talked non-stop.

After the meal, Yang naturally followed his parents. Observing this scene, Jun felt displeased. He regretted telling Yang about his parents; otherwise, he could have had him all to himself.

"Where are you going?" Li Jun finally asked as he saw Yang and his mother, Wang Rou, walking hand in hand.

"I'm going to live with my parents," Yang said with a smile. Li Jun wanted to object, but seeing him so happy, he didn't have the heart to say anything. With a heavy heart, he bid farewell to the Wang family, their son-in-law, and grandson.

Inside the carriage, it was just Yang and his mother. Wang Rou held Yang in her embrace, as if afraid that he would disappear. The ride to the Wang mansion was quiet and comfortable, thanks to the well-built roads. Once they reached the mansion, everyone working there was informed about Zhao Yang. Naturally, everyone was overjoyed. The Kingdom's only general now had a grandson.

The family of four sat in the main hall and talked—a lot. They discussed everything that had happened since they parted, as well as Yang and all his accomplishments.

"Am I really Jun's fiancé?" Yang asked, not realizing the peculiar look on his parents' faces.

"Yes, you are. Also, sweetheart, please don't casually call the Emperor by his name like that. You should address him as 'Your Majesty'," Wang Rou advised. She had witnessed the nature of their relationship, but if someone were to hear Yang casually calling the Emperor by his name, it could lead to problems. Not to mention, their relationship would be exposed. The noble ladies in the Kingdom all desired to marry the Emperor, and if they discovered their biggest competitor was a man, it would create various complications.

"Sorry, I will keep that in mind," Yang replied. He had a sense of why his mother cautioned him. Although his grandfather didn't say much, he already felt loved. His grandfather had even prepared a courtyard specifically for him, the largest one in the entire mansion. 'This grandfather of his was really adorable,' Yang thought.

As it grew late, both of his parents tucked him into bed. Perhaps because they hadn't had the chance to do so when he was younger, Zhao Yang allowed them. After they bid him goodnight and left, Zhao Yang felt tears streaming down his face.

When he was still Ming Chen, his parents had never tucked him into bed. However, his younger brothers always enjoyed that privilege. They never said goodnight to him or read him bedtime stories. Now, with parents who actually cared about him, he realized how much love and care he had been deprived of by his real parents. Wiping away his tears, he acknowledged that he was no longer Ming Chen but would live as Zhao Yang. He had a loving family and was also engaged to the person he loved. His life couldn't be any better.

A whole week had passed since Yang started living with his parents. Naturally, when others within the noble circle heard about General Wang's grandson, they all came to see him. Much to their surprise, he was big and bulky like the general, but he was petite with smooth white skin. The people in the circle were also aware that another grandson was on his way.

It was then that Yang found out his grandfather, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew were heading there and would arrive in a few days. He also realized that he had wasted almost a year trying to get there when he could have used a portal.

During this time, he completely forgot about a certain man. During the morning court, Li Jun's face darkened, and besides General Wang and Zhao Shen, no one else knew the reason. Once the court was finished, everyone was given permission to leave except for Zhao Shen.

"How long do you plan on keeping him with you?" Jun asked with obvious anger in his tone. He knew that this man would soon be his father-in-law, but he couldn't help his anger. A whole week had passed, and Yang hadn't thought about contacting or visiting him. Zhao Shen could see that the Emperor was angry and jealous, so he had to find a way to appease him.

"My wife's birthday is coming up in four days. By then, my oldest son along with the rest of the family will be here. Your Majesty can use this time to make an announcement," Shen said respectfully. Although they would soon be family, it didn't change the fact that he was the Emperor. He deserved all the respect he commanded, for various reasons, with the biggest being the flower incident 18 years ago. To think that a 7-year-old would willingly give something that could save his father away made him realize how mature Yang was even at a young age.