Chen Dong fell silent for a moment, saying nothing.
"Where's Xiaopeng?"
Chen Yan then spoke up to ask.
But Chen Dong remained silent.
Chen Yan found that reaction somewhat surprising, because by all accounts, Chen Peng should only have been around forty by now.
"Four years ago, Xiaopeng came down with a serious illness. He was vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, with a high fever. He didn't hold on for long before passing away."
After a moment of silence, Chen Dong said, "Father passed away seven years ago. After Xiaopeng died, Mother's health kept worsening, though the old lady's mind is still as clear as ever."
Chen Yan nodded upon hearing this, but there was still one person whose news he had not heard.
"What about Nier?"
Chen Dong shook his head again.
"Ten years ago, Nier said she wanted to travel the rivers and mountains. I agreed, and I assigned her an escort of over twenty men. For the first few months, she often sent letters home, but around the seventh month, all word from her ceased."
"Have you tried looking for her?"
Chen Yan asked.
"We have."
Chen Dong answered, "We're still searching now, but we haven't uncovered any useful information."
The elderly man before him, dressed in fine robes and leaning on a cane with his left hand, was filled with guilt in every word he spoke.
He felt guilty toward Chen Yan.
Because as the elder brother, he had failed his younger brother's expectations.
He had failed to take proper care of the entire family.
The present-day Marquis Jingyuan, Chen Dong, was still a figure of real power in the Great Yan court.
Though he had long since lost his greatest patron at court, Duke of Qi Jia Wen.
During Xiao Jue's later years, however, Xiao