Father...
Chen Xuanji...
Chen Yi had not heard that form of address in a long time.
The last time had been in the letter Chen Family's First Madam, Cui Yu, had written.
He had not expected Chen Xuanji's reply to Chen Yunfan to include a letter for him as well.
Chen Yi fell silent for a moment before accepting the letter. "Chen... Father, has he returned from the Western Regions?"
Chen Yunfan nodded, then shook his head. "His reply said he intends to return."
"But he has not set out yet. No one knows when he will make it back to Capital Prefecture."
Chen Yi gave a quiet acknowledgment and opened the letter in his hand.
There were only two sheets, yet both were packed full of writing.
[My son Yi, personally opened.]
[I have heard of your becoming the Xiao Family son-in-law. I feel some regret. I regret entrusting every matter, great and small, in the household entirely to your mother, allowing her to cause this mistake...]
Chen Yi's brows rose slightly at that.
What was this, an after-the-fact cannon?
As the head of the Chen Family of Jiangnan, if Chen Xuanji had truly cared, how could he possibly have left without arranging everything properly?
[...However, a man born into this world must stand upright beneath heaven and earth.]
[I believe that even while living with the Xiao Family, my son will not forget the heart he held in his youth, the heart that wished to serve the nation.]
[Therefore, I shall send a memorial to His Majesty and request permission for you to participate in the next imperial examination, or arrange an official post for you.]
[The Commander's Office or the Prefectural Yamen of Shuzhou—what do you think? Consider it this father's way of easing his concern for