Jiang Xiu sneered inwardly. If he weren't privy to the details, he too would've believed Jiang Yishan had finally regained his conscience, relinquished his prejudice and wished to welcome back his son whom he had driven away.
It was quite unfortunate, but that man only had eyes for power and no place for affection in his heart. His situation was quite terrible right now and required the Nangong family's support to make it through this crisis, but Jiang Xiu and his parents were unwilling, so that old man could only lay down his indifference and play this trick to appease them.
"How is father now?" Jiang Xiu asked her.
Lin Yueling replied in a worried tone, "He got drunk that night and keeps smoking all day long, not even saying a word…" She paused for a moment, "Son… never mind…"
Jiang Xiu knew what was going on in Lin Yueling's mind right now. In fact, Jiang Yi and Lin Yueling understood it pretty well. The condition for returning was that Jiang Xiu must marry Nangong Kou'er.
As for whether Jiang Yi wished to return to that family, Jiang Xiu believed that he wanted to, though the Jiang family had done nothing when he fell from his position. He didn't wish to return because he coveted the Jiang family's power, else he wouldn't have had the courage to leave home back in those days. He felt a burden in his heart, an emotion hidden deep under the already scabbed injury on his heart.
Jiang Xiu said flatly, "Don't hold too much hope."
In the previous timeline, he had wailed in front of Jiang Yishan while holding his father's ashes, yet only a look full of contempt and disdain answered his pleas. In the end, even his father's ashes hadn't returned to the Jiang family, never getting the chance to enter the memorial hall.
Could such a person answer someone's expectations?
Lin Yueling said, "Mhm. Mother knows that. Well… Since you and Susu are at the Imperial University and have hardly got married, it would be inconvenient to make a round trip. How about this? I'll call the in-laws and we shall celebrate the Mid-autumn festival at the Imperial Capital, okay?"
These words were empty and just a pretense with other intentions hidden behind them.
He was already at Jiangnan, so were they and Cheng Lingsu's parents, only Lingsu was at the Imperial Capital. This was just a weak excuse.
Billows welled up in Jiang Xiu's heart when he heard these words. He could make out how much his mother cared about his father from them. As a son, he couldn't retort her, "Alright."
He was also planning to return to the Imperial Capital.
Lin Yueling's voice turned cheerful, "If you feel it's okay, it's settled then. We shouldn't delay. I'll leave for Hang City along with your father. You can arrange the plane. Right! Send a car to get Cheng Hanlin and his wife from Jiang City as well."
She hung the call after saying this.
Jiang Xiu looked at the hazy, rainy weather outside, embracing the cool of the autumn hitting his face. "It's time to bring everything with the Jiang family to an end."
The noise outside the loft turned lower. Soon after, Wang Xintong's footsteps came through. She stated quietly, "They have already left. I also instructed to send anyone except for Old Father Tang away if they come to report anything."
Jiang Xiu nodded. The Heaven Treading Sect Master wasn't someone whoever could meet. On the Immortal Martial Continent, many people used to rack their brains all day long to think of a way to get an audience with the Heaven Treading Sect Master. "My mother wants to celebrate the Mid-autumn festival at the Imperial Capital. Plan for that. Send someone to get Cheng Hanlin and his wife from Jiang City as well and arrange a plane…"
"Understood."
"By the way, what are your plans for the Mid-autumn festival?" Jiang Xiu asked her.
Wang Xintong looked at Jiang Xiu helplessly. The battle between you and Ji Wudao is during the Mid-autumn festival's night. Your life or death is directly tied to mine. You think I have the mood to celebrate the festival?
Looking at his easy-going appearance, Wang Xintong really admired his ability to remain calm, "The talks for the extraction equipment and technology are completed already. My father will return from Europe before the Mid-autumn festival."
Cheng Hanlin was currently working as a small-time office worker at a firm with a salary of 3000 RMB/month while Sun Xiaohong sold clothes at a shopping mall. Though she didn't know much, she had a good understanding of clothes as she was accustomed to them due to living lavishly.
"Mr. Jiang wants us to come to the Imperial Capital?" Cheng Hanlin was a bit stupefied. Jiang Xiu didn't have a good impression towards them, so he felt it was unexpected that they were invited to celebrate the Mid-autumn festival at the Imperial Capital.
On the other hand, Sun Xiaohong seemed quite happy. "Hanlin, what are you dazing around for? My son-in-law sent a car. Quickly pack. We can't make him wait."
Cheng Hanlin's expression became somewhat unnatural, "Would it be proper for us to go?"
"Why won't it be good? Even if Jiang Xiu has a heart of stone, our daughter will melt his heart. The matter has passed already. The Jiang family has grown so much, and Jiang Xiu has even become Mr. Jiang."
Cheng Hanlin's face was filled with worry, and his eyes seemed somewhat listless.
"Maybe we shouldn't go."
"I'll go even if you don't. Don't act foolishly, Hanlin. Don't waste such a good opportunity to fix the relationship with our son-in-law. Do you want to spend your life serving tea and printing documents at a company?"
Cheng Hanlin hesitated a bit but finally nodded.
"That's right. You and Jiang Yi were good brothers before and even wore the same pants. Everything's in the open right now, and we've already confessed everything in front of them. It's time to lay down all the prejudice."
Nowadays, no one wished to go through hard times.
The sky was still covered by a haze, and there were no signs of the rain stopping at all. It didn't take much time to travel from Jiang City to Hang City. Three hours were enough at high speed. The Jiang couple still hadn't arrived by the time they had.
"T-This is Jiang Xiu's house?"
Cheng Hanlin was stupefied when he saw the Jiang Gardens. It was more of a holiday resort than a house. A classic flavor hit their face when they saw it, seemingly manifesting its historical essence as well as an unsurpassable regal aura.
"What Jiang Xiu's house. This is our daughter's house."
Since Jiang Xiu had married Cheng Lingsu, it meant that they shared everything. She believed that once her daughter gave birth to Jiang Xiu's son or daughter, everything would become more secure.
"Even a billion RMB isn't enough to purchase a manor like this." Since Cheng Hanlin had specialized in real estate before, he knew the value of this manor. In fact, it was priceless on the market.
But after they went in, they were doused by a bucket of cold water. Only a servant greeted them. Jiang Xiu never appeared before them. Though the reception was quite exotic, it had already cooled off their excited hearts. They could feel Jiang Xiu's apathy towards them. He still hadn't laid down the matters of the past yet.
Around 8 PM, the Jiang couple arrived from Annan. Only then did Jiang Xiu show his face. The plane was already ready, but since it was raining, it wasn't possible to take off, so they had to spend the night at the Jiang Gardens.
The dinner feast was preponed as well.
Jiang Xiu didn't say anything, and neither did Jiang Yi. Lin Yueling spoke a few words occasionally while Cheng Hanlin felt ashamed to say anything. Only Sun Xiaohong kept chirping continuously.
Wang Xintong knew how to entertain people well. She had invited famous cooks from each country to the Jiang Gardens. The standard of foods and drinks was even better than a five-star hotel's.
After the awkward feast ended, everyone went to their rooms and waited for the weather to clear up on the next day.
Cheng Hanlin stood near the railing, gazing at the faraway horizon. He hoped Jiang Yi would come out to the balcony on the opposite side. He wanted to sincerely apologize to him, but never got the opportunity to do this, neither did he have the courage to do it.
Beside him, Sun Xiaohong sighed, "I asked the servants just now. There are more than 500 rooms here which can easily accommodate around 1000 people. There are 23 servants excluding the guards and the professionals hired to handle the vegetation and other special house needs."
"How much money do you think Jiang Xiu has now? I think even the wealthiest person in Jiangnan can't afford such expenses, right?"
She spoke for a long time yet discovered that Cheng Hanlin wasn't paying attention at all.
"Hanlin, don't ponder on it much. It's already quite good that we were able to have a meal at the same table. Why are you so worried?"
Cheng Hanlin sighed, "You don't understand!"
"Tell me what it is then." Sun Xiaohong told him.
Cheng Hanlin hesitated a bit, "Actually, what happened back then wasn't like how the Tang family said."
"You were accused wrongly?"
Cheng Hanlin shook his head.
"What is it then?"
"Brother Yi's history isn't that simple… I promised to never reveal it to anyone and never to set foot on the Imperial Capital. If I go to the Imperial Capital this time, I'm afraid…"
Sun Xiaohong was baffled, "Wait a minute. What are you saying? What's up with Brother Yi? Whom did you promise not to set foot on the Imperial Capital? I'm so confused. Just what are you hiding?"
Cheng Hanlin said, "In those days, it wasn't the Tang family who made me betray Brother Yi but rather someone else… it's a powerful family of the Imperial Capital. Brother Yi was born in that family."
"Why did they make you harm Brother Yi then?"
"I guess it's due to a family dispute. The imperial households are affectionless. The waters of the rich and powerful families are quite murky and as deep as the sea."