Xiao Chen: Mother, I Want to Take You to Live in Dao-Seeking City

"Whoa..."

Prince Ding, riding at the head of the column, pulled his reins taut and raised a hand. "Halt!"

On the street, several hundred cavalrymen stopped a mere hundred paces from Xiao Chen and his companions.

Without a word, Prince Ding jumped down from his Ferghana horse and strode toward the group.

His hurried, unsteady steps laid bare the anxiety in his heart.

After the people from the Dao-Seeking Academy had dispersed, the king had canceled the palace banquet as well.

There were already guests visiting his residence, so Prince Ding had hurried home at once.

While he was still halfway there, he had witnessed a great battle. The two combatants were none other than Elder Bai of the Supreme Purity Sword Sect and the honored guest from the Dao-Seeking Academy.

The sight had nearly scared Prince Ding out of his wits.

Neither the Dao-Seeking Academy nor the Supreme Purity Sword Sect was a power that a mere Prince Ding could afford to offend.

But as master of the residence, he could not stand by and do nothing, so he had whipped his horse and raced home.

Even so, the battle had ended before he could return.

What surprised Prince Ding even more was that the young man from the Dao-Seeking Academy had defeated Elder Bai with ease.

But what he most wanted to know was why the two sides had started fighting at his doorstep.

"This humble prince greets the honored envoy. I did not know you had graced Prince Ding's Estate with your presence and failed to come out to welcome you. Please forgive me."

Elder Huang did not reply. Instead, he turned his gaze to Xiao Chen.

"Martial Nephew Xiao, this is your family's affair. I will not interfere."

Prince Ding was utterly dumbfounded by his words.

He raised his head slightly and cautiously looked at the young man who bore some resemblance to him. He thought:

There's someone from Prince Ding's Estate at the Dao-Seeking Academy?

How come I don't remember?

Wait, there's that boy from Orchid Courtyard.

At that thought, Prince Ding's expression changed dramatically. Xiao Chen said calmly, "Prince Ding, may I now bring Elder Huang and my fellow disciples from the academy in through the front gate?"

"Yes, of course."

Prince Ding secretly wiped the sweat from his brow. "This is your home. Naturally, when you bring people back, you should walk proudly through the front gate. Otherwise, people might think Prince Ding's Estate had failed to show proper hospitality."

He was no fool. From Xiao Chen's few words, he guessed that someone had been currying favor with the powerful and looking down on the weak.

They had refused to let Xiao Chen enter the residence through the front gate, so Xiao Chen had stepped in to teach them a lesson.

By chance, people from the Supreme Purity Sect had arrived, and that had led to the scene he had witnessed earlier.

Prince Ding could afford to offend neither of the two great powers, but if he had to choose between them,

there was no doubt it would be the Dao-Seeking Academy.

The Supreme Purity Sword Sect was, in the end, only the foremost sect in Great Wei. Its strength was not worth mentioning compared with the Dao-Seeking Academy, one of the holy lands.

Xiao Chen did not respond. He turned and said, "Martial Uncle Huang, senior brothers, junior brothers, I'm sorry you had to see that. Please follow me."

Elder Huang smiled. "It's nothing. Today, we had the pleasure of feasting our eyes on the Dao-Seeking Academy's number one genius in action."

Although he was speaking to Xiao Chen, he glanced at Prince Ding out of the corner of his eye.

When Prince Ding heard the words "the Dao-Seeking Academy's number one genius," he shuddered involuntarily.

But that was replaced by boundless elation.

His son was the Dao-Seeking Academy's number one genius. Didn't that mean he could ascend the throne of the Liang Kingdom one day?

The others from the Dao-Seeking Academy also spoke up. "That's right, Junior Brother Xiao. There's no need to stand on ceremony with us. If you feel bad about it, just spar with us sometime over the next couple of days."

"Exactly. We're all fellow disciples. There's no need to be so polite."

"..."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly. "Gladly."

With that, he led the people from the Dao-Seeking Academy into Prince Ding's Estate in a grand procession, without so much as another glance at his father.

The people of Prince Ding's Estate stood there as if turned to stone.

When they saw Xiao Chen and his companions approaching, they all fell to their knees.

"We welcome the Sixth Prince home."

Xiao Chen gave them no reply and continued into the residence.

Prince Ding followed close behind. Before entering, he gave a signal to a trusted subordinate, indicating that everyone who had stopped Xiao Chen today was to be beheaded.

Steward Qiu and the others were completely numb by now. They knew full well how much trouble they had stirred up.

They did not beg for mercy, but simply waited quietly for death.

In Orchid Courtyard, in the inner quarters of Prince Ding's Estate.

A maid rushed into the main room, her face brimming with joy.

"Your Highness, good news! Wonderful news!"

Behind a screen, Xiao Chen's mother was embroidering. Hearing the maid's voice, she did not stop what she was doing and continued stitching at her unhurried pace.

"Chuntao, how many times have I told you not to make such a fuss when something happens?"

"But the Sixth Prince has returned, and he even defeated an elder of the Supreme Purity Sword Sect! Now that he's back, he'll surely help you vent your pent-up anger."

As Chuntao spoke, she unconsciously clenched her delicate fists.

Xiao Chen's mother paused, completely oblivious to the pain as the needle pricked her hand.

"Chen'er is back!"

"Yes."

Chuntao nodded. "I heard that the Sixth Prince is bringing an elder and a group of geniuses from the Dao-Seeking Academy to stay at Prince Ding's Estate.

Even the prince is accompanying them with the utmost care, afraid of angering the Sixth Prince.

Our good days are about to begin."

A faint smile appeared on Xiao Chen's mother's face. "It seems Chen'er wasn't lying to me. I really must thank Chief Chu."

Seeing that her mistress was still so calm, Chuntao began to worry on her behalf.

"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince will be at Orchid Courtyard soon. Why don't you hurry and dress up?"

Since returning from the Dao-Seeking Academy, Xiao Chen's mother had not set foot outside. Her only comfort had been the letters Xiao Chen sent home.

Hearing Chuntao's words, she smiled and said, "You're right. Come and help me get ready."

In the front courtyard.

After settling Elder Huang and his fellow disciples in, Xiao Chen took Liu Yue'er to Orchid Courtyard.

Prince Ding followed them. He had only one thought in mind now: to curry favor with this son of his.

As long as he could mend his relationship with his son, his becoming ruler of the Liang Kingdom would be a nail hammered into the board.

But he had never spoken to Xiao Chen before, and Xiao Chen radiated a murderous presence.

For a moment, Prince Ding did not know how to start.

As Xiao Chen watched Orchid Courtyard draw closer, he unconsciously quickened his pace.

All he wanted now was to see whether his mother was living well.

He cared about nothing else.

A short while later, Xiao Chen stood inside Orchid Courtyard, looking at the familiar courtyard before him, his heart filled with a tangle of emotions.

"Mother, Chen'er is back!"

As soon as he spoke, the doors to the main room opened.

His mother hurried out.

Seeing how much thinner his mother had grown, Xiao Chen dropped to his knees.

"I have been an unfilial son, making you worry."

His mother hurried forward and helped Xiao Chen up. "Chen'er, it's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."

After the two exchanged a few words, his mother's gaze fell on Liu Yue'er, who stood nearby.

"Chen'er, who is this young lady?"

Xiao Chen said, "Mother, this is Liu Yue'er, Junior Sister Liu."

Liu Yue'er then bowed to Xiao Chen's mother. "Yue'er greets you, Auntie."

At this, Xiao Chen's mother broke into a delighted smile. Her son had finally moved on from that incident.

"Hello, Miss Liu. I'll have to trouble you to look after my Chen'er from now on."

Liu Yue'er's cheeks flushed slightly at those words, and she nodded. "Mm."

Prince Ding stood awkwardly to the side. He wanted to join the conversation, but could not get a word in.

Only when the three had nearly finished talking did he speak. "My beloved consort, Chen'er's fellow disciples and elders are still waiting for the banquet to begin. Let's go and meet the people from the Dao-Seeking Academy first."

Only then did Xiao Chen's mother notice Prince Ding beside them. She said coolly,

"Then please lead the way, Your Highness."

In the past, Prince Ding would have flown into a rage if she had spoken to him with such an attitude and tone.

But times had changed. Rather than getting angry, Prince Ding put on an ingratiating smile.

"Of course. After you, my beloved consort."

Xiao Chen's face remained impassive as he watched his father.

He turned to his mother and asked, "Mother, besides visiting you, I came back to the Liang Kingdom this time because I wanted to take you to live in Dao-Seeking City. Would you be willing?"

At those words, Prince Ding's expression changed dramatically...