Xiao Wang wore black brocade, his loose robe and wide sleeves embroidered with clusters of red plum blossoms across the chest, making him look tall and imposing.
Though he was past fifty, clothes made the man as a saddle made the horse, and this outfit still lent him a measure of nobility.
Yet Xiao Wang had changed considerably upon his return to Shuzhou. He had visibly aged, his cheeks much gaunter and his wrinkles far more numerous. Only his eyes had grown even gloomier than before.
Chen Yi glanced over, his brows rising slightly. Quite a few people from the Second Branch had come.
Besides Xiao Wang, there was Xiao Qiuyun, who had married into a family in Guangyue Prefecture, and a young man dressed in blue brocade.
The young man held a gentleman's fan, fanning himself leisurely as he stood to one side and stared fixedly at Xiao Wan'er, Shen Huatang, and the others.
Xiao Wan'er did not notice him. Instead, she looked at Xiao Wang in surprise. "Second Grandfather, it's you?"
Xiao Shen was equally stunned. He looked between Xiao Wang and Xiao Qiuyun. "Second Brother, Niece Qiuyun, why have you come back?"
Then he turned to the young man and asked with some displeasure, "Young Master Zhao, why didn't you mention earlier that you were bringing my second brother to Shuzhou?"
The young man folded his fan, strolled forward, and bowed. "Please forgive me, Third Master Xiao."
"Before coming to Shuzhou, I happened to encounter Second Master Xiao and Lady Zhang. We enjoyed our conversation so much that we came together."
"As for why I didn't mention this in my visit card, Second Master Xiao specifically instructed me not to. He wanted to surprise you."
He glanced sideways at Xiao Wang and Xiao Qiuyun, his smile unchanged.