Longing into Sickness

The table was laden with delicacies, yet Feng Ruoxue had no appetite for them.

She casually picked at a few bites, her attention entirely focused on Chen Cheng, who sat across from her and ate with elegance.

He actually looks quite handsome like this, Feng Ruoxue thought.

As the princess of a weak imperial dynasty, Feng Ruoxue could not live a carefree life. From a very young age, she had known her own fate.

It was nothing more than waiting for the day the royal family faced a crisis and sending her away as a bargaining chip for peace.

Her marriage was not hers to decide. She could not fall in love with anyone. She could only wait for the day her imperial father sent her to the home of the husband fate had chosen for her.

Feng Ruoxue's eldest and third sisters had already been sent to the Hundred Poisons Sect. Now, it was her turn.

Marriages of alliance like this rarely brought happiness. Feng Ruoxue did not ask for her husband to devote himself wholeheartedly to her; she only hoped that whenever Chen Cheng had some free time, he would remember that he had a wife like her.

For now, Chen Cheng's appearance left Feng Ruoxue quite satisfied. At the very least, it gave her some comfort.

She held her chopsticks and stared blankly at Chen Cheng.

At that moment, the door to the room opened. A man dressed in the uniform of a Chen Family Guard walked to Chen Cheng's side and whispered a few words into his ear.

After listening, Chen Cheng nodded and said to the man, "I understand. You may leave first."

Chen Cheng set down his bowl and chopsticks, only to find Feng Ruoxue staring at him. Slightly surprised, he asked, "Why aren't you eating? Do these dishes not suit your taste? If so, I'll have them replaced."

Hearing Chen Cheng's voice, Feng Ruoxue was startled. Once she came back to herself, she instinctively took a few more bites before saying, "There's no need. These are all dishes I like."

"Mm, that's good. Eat more. I originally planned to accompany you around the city this afternoon, but something came up, so I can't keep you company. Take a look around the city by yourself for now. I'll pick you up from the post station tomorrow," Chen Cheng said.

Chen Cheng did not bother questioning whether these dishes truly were Feng Ruoxue's favorites.

"It's all right. If the Young Family Head has matters to attend to, please handle them first. There's no need to worry about me," Feng Ruoxue said rationally.

After lunch, Chen Cheng did not linger. He rushed back to the Chen Family at full speed. Led by a servant, he arrived at a secluded courtyard within the family estate.

"Old Family Head, the Young Family Head has arrived," the servant called into the courtyard as he knocked on the door.

After a while, a man around forty came over and opened the door. Seeing this middle-aged man, the servant who had brought Chen Cheng here bowed respectfully.

The middle-aged man did not look at the servant. Instead, he looked at Chen Cheng and said, "Young Master, the Old Master has been waiting for some time. Please follow this old servant."

Though the middle-aged man called himself an old servant, Chen Cheng could not see the slightest trace of a servant's lowliness in him. Instead, he gave Chen Cheng a very peculiar feeling.

It was as though he were concealing a sharp edge.

"Copy System, inspect his information," Chen Cheng ordered the system.

Name: Duan Jianghai

Cultivation: Eight Star Dou Wang

"Eight Star Dou Wang?" Chen Cheng was greatly shocked when he learned this middle-aged man's cultivation through the system.

Chen Cheng had met all four Dou Wangs of the Chen Family's direct line. Although he had not met the three Dou Wangs with outside surnames, he knew their names. Yet there was no one named Duan Jianghai among them.

Who is this man? Chen Cheng was puzzled, but he did not ask directly in front of him.

"Please lead the way." Chen Cheng spoke solemnly to Duan Jianghai.

Duan Jianghai walked ahead, with Chen Cheng following closely behind.

Along the way, Chen Cheng carefully observed his surroundings. With an unknown variable like Duan Jianghai present, he had no choice but to be more cautious.

The courtyard was arranged with great elegance. Several servants were cleaning and trimming flowers and plants.

Chen Cheng followed Duan Jianghai through several arched gates before finally stopping in front of a room.

"Young Master, the Old Master is inside. I will not accompany you in. Please." Duan Jianghai spoke very humbly, then gestured for Chen Cheng to enter.

Chen Cheng nodded, then pushed open the door and walked inside.

Inside the room stood a man in a gray robe, his back facing Chen Cheng as he looked up at a painting hanging on the wall.

It was a painting of everyday life, depicting a family of three gathered together.

In the painting, an elderly man lay in a reclining chair, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. The father was busy at work, seemingly laboring for the family's livelihood. Several children gathered together, playing games fit for children.

Name: Chen Ye

Cultivation: Nine Star Dou Huang

Chen Cheng learned the man's identity through the system. If there was not another Nine Star Dou Huang named Chen Ye in the Chen Family, then this man was Chen Cheng's grandfather.

This was the identity the Summoning System had arranged for Chen Cheng.

"Cheng pays his respects to Grandfather."

Having learned the man's identity, Chen Cheng immediately cupped his hands in salute.

When the man heard Chen Cheng's voice, Chen Cheng could clearly sense his body trembling slightly.

Chen Ye suddenly turned around. His gaze upon Chen Cheng was filled with deep longing. He raised a hand as though to touch Chen Cheng, but it trembled and stopped in front of him, unable to reach any farther.

He feared that this was another dream. He feared that the moment his hand touched Chen Cheng, Chen Cheng would become nothing more than an illusion, just as he had in his dreams.

Chen Ye did not look old. He appeared to be only in his forties. Yet the hair atop his head had already turned completely white.

"How long has it been since I last heard that voice? Are you really my Cheng'er?" Chen Ye looked at Chen Cheng, his eyes filled with longing.

At that moment, there was nothing unfathomable about him as a Nine Star Dou Huang. He was merely an old man who had not seen his grandson in a long time.

Family ties were not something just anyone could cast aside.

Chen Ye had only one son, Chen Yuan, and Chen Yuan had only one son, Chen Cheng. With the affection skipping a generation, it was easy to imagine just how important Chen Cheng was to him.

"Making Grandpa worry was Cheng'er's fault. Cheng'er apologizes to Grandpa."

Chen Cheng could feel Chen Ye's sincere emotions, and he himself unexpectedly felt the urge to cry.

Although Chen Cheng was not truly Chen Ye's grandson, the identity the system had implanted in him was his real identity.

Just then, Chen Ye's hand suddenly touched Chen Cheng's shoulder. Even extending that hand, which had paused earlier, had taken all his courage.

Feeling the solid touch beneath his palm, Chen Ye tightly gripped Chen Cheng's shoulder, afraid that Chen Cheng would slip from his grasp again.

"Haha, it's my Cheng'er. It really is my Cheng'er. I don't blame you, I don't blame you. It was Grandpa who failed to protect you and let you disappear for eleven years." Chen Ye spoke excitedly, his eyes brimming with tears.

The force on his shoulder caused Chen Cheng some pain. He frowned, but said nothing and silently endured it.

After a while, Chen Ye seemed to notice the strange expression on Chen Cheng's face. He hurriedly released him and asked with concern, "Grandpa didn't know his own strength. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"I'm fine." Chen Cheng shook his head.

"Don't just stand there. Sit down quickly and let Grandpa have a good look at you." Chen Ye took Chen Cheng over to the chairs and spoke to him.

After Chen Cheng and Chen Ye sat down, Chen Ye kept his gaze fixed on Chen Cheng, his eyes full of warmth and affection.

The more Chen Ye looked, the more excellent he felt his grandson was. Whether in appearance, bearing, or talent, he was first-rate in every way.

One's own grandson was always the most outstanding.

Chen Ye said nothing and merely looked at Chen Cheng. Naturally, Chen Cheng did not speak either. After a long while, Chen Ye finally opened his mouth, breaking the silence.

"After you returned, I began paying attention to you. But I never dared acknowledge you."

"This scene had appeared in my dreams countless times, yet every time I met you, I would wake up."

"I was afraid that meeting you now would turn out to be another dream."

"So I only dared watch you from the shadows. Even if it was only a dream, I still wanted to look at you a little longer in that dream."

"But because of one mistaken decision by your father, I had no choice but to reveal myself and meet you. Thankfully, Heaven has eyes. This time, it is no longer a dream. I have finally found you again. This time, I will never allow anyone to hurt you again."

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