The Chen family had lived in Jiangning for generations. They were not a great clan, but they had plenty of members, especially after Chen Qing Shan's father, Chen Tianfu, made his fortune. He was willing to help his kinsmen rise, and relatives both near and distant moved there one after another, gradually forming a family enclave. Later, Chen Tianfu was convicted and executed. Some relatives were implicated; others fled to avoid suspicion. Within a few years, the clan had scattered and dwindled.
Now, only her aunt and uncle's household and a few branches of distant relatives remained in Jiangning. Today, word came that Chen Qing Shan had returned-and brought a noble young master of the Langya Wang clan with her! Those relatives all hurried over, some leaning on canes, some carrying children, along with female cousins around her age. They clustered around Chen Qing Shan, asking her all sorts of questions, their eyes straying toward Wang Yang from time to time. Steam billowed in the kitchen, voices hummed in the courtyard, and the old residence, silent for years, recovered a little of its former bustle and homely warmth.
While Chen Qing Shan caught up with the women, Wang Yang listened to several older men. Her voice drifted over:
"...What's your name?"
"Quick! Your little aunt is asking you a question!"
"Hello, little aunt. My name is Qingzhi."
"Qingzhi, is it-"
The hubbub swallowed whatever came next.
Qing as in noble? Qing as in clear? Qing as in light-Qing as in celebration!
Could it be?!
Wang Yang's heart gave a sudden leap!
He whipped his head around, his gaze passing through a gap in the crowd to settle on a small boy.
The boy was so thin that his cheekbones protruded slightly. His neck was slender and long, and patched homespun