Chapter 274 : Don’t Forget Your Identity
Chapter 274: Don’t Forget Your Identity
At present, Chen Ming needed to focus on the crisis coming from the Gu Family, so he took the chance to ask, “Daoist, do you know anything about the Night Banquet of the Ghost Festival?”
The old Daoist shook his head and said, “That Night Banquet is only attended by high-ranking court officials and hereditary noble families. As for what it’s truly like inside, this poor Daoist is not clear.”
“Then, does Daoist know of the Heaven’s Path Alliance’s Heaven’s Heart Manual?”
“I’ve heard a little of it. It’s a peerless cultivation art, one of the very best in the world. Its power is tremendous and its profundities unfathomable. But cultivating it requires undergoing many tribulations. It is not easy to succeed.”
“I have a friend who’s a disciple of the Heaven’s Path Alliance. She’s already reached the Third Grade, yet she’s trapped in a Tribulation of Love. I wonder if Daoist has any way to help her?”
Chen Ming had been quite worried about this. Since this Daoist was so knowledgeable and well-versed in many secrets, he casually asked.
The old Daoist said, “Although this poor Daoist does not know the precise contents of the Heaven’s Heart Manual, since it’s her own inner demon, then only she herself can overcome it. No one else can help.”
Even the old Daoist had no solution.
Chen Ming sighed in his heart and said, “This time, it’s all thanks to Daoist’s reminder. Otherwise, I fear the outcome would have been dire.”
“Young friend, the heavens bless the virtuous. Even without this poor Daoist, you would still have overcome this difficulty.”
“Regardless, I still must thank Daoist. Should Daoist ever need anything in the future, as long as it’s within my ability, I will never refuse.”
“Young friend, you are thoughtful.”
……
In the next few days, Chen Ming spent his days cultivating and his nights in Qingwei Heaven, grinding for experience points—completely shutting himself off from the outside world.
On the very day he finally accumulated the remaining twenty million experience points, Gu Zhengshan came knocking.
“Old Seventh, someone’s looking for you.”
“Someone’s looking for me?” Chen Ming was a little surprised.
Gu Zhengshan said, “It’s the Gang Leader of the Qian Money Gang from Xiazhou—Gang Leader Xia. He wishes to see you.”
Ah, so it was his cheap father-in-law.
Chen Ming suddenly realized. For this man to come all the way to the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence and even make Gu Haochuan show him respect, he must have already broken through into the Divine Repository Realm.
“Alright.”
“Fifth Uncle asked me to remind you—don’t forget your current identity. You should know what should be said and what should not.”
“I naturally understand.”
……
In the main hall sat two middle-aged men. One had a square face, wearing luxurious purple robes with a commanding presence. It was Chen Ming’s cheap father, Gu Haoran.
The other was a handsome, elegant middle-aged man—his cheap father-in-law, Xia Shaowen.
Chen Ming entered and saluted. “Father, Gang Leader Xia.”
It was his first time meeting the current Duke of Jingguo, and the man indeed matched the image in Gu Xianyu’s memories. Those eyes of his held no warmth, only cold indifference.
That was understandable. After all, he was but an impostor.
There was no way Gu Haochuan could conceal the truth from the head of the Gu Family.
If the one standing here today were truly Gu Xianyu, would the Duke of Jingguo still act this way?
Xia Shaowen looked at him with increasingly gentle eyes. “It’s been months since we last met, and my virtuous nephew has already accomplished so many earth-shaking feats. Truly, a hero is born in youth.”
Chen Ming lowered his head modestly. “Gang Leader Xia flatters me.”
This Gang Leader Xia was tactful indeed. He didn’t call him “virtuous son-in-law,” but instead “virtuous nephew.”
He must have known that calling him son-in-law before the Duke of Jingguo would only make things awkward.
However, the aura around this man was completely different from before.
It was strange—he appeared as ordinary as anyone, yet somehow felt deep and unfathomable.
So this was what they called returning to simplicity.
Clearly, he had taken that crucial step.
Xia Shaowen turned to Gu Haoran and said, “Duke Jingguo, you truly have a fine son. At the upcoming Night Banquet of the Ghost Festival, he will surely shine brilliantly.”
Gu Haoran said faintly, “Gang Leader Xia overpraises.”
“I’ve not spoken to my virtuous nephew in a long time. I’d like to exchange a few words with him, with the Duke’s permission.”
“Granted. Old Seventh, stay here and speak with Gang Leader Xia.”
“Yes.”
Chen Ming watched as the Duke of Jingguo departed. As the man left, he cast a warning glance over his shoulder, making Chen Ming’s entire body turn cold. The vital energy in his body nearly froze solid.
This Duke of Jingguo was also a Divine Repository Realm expert. With just a glance, he could suppress him utterly.
Xia Shaowen said, “It seems that even though you’ve reached the Second Grade, your father still doesn’t hold you in much regard.”
Chen Ming, having recovered, said, “Gang Leader Xia has quite the means, to have even convinced my father to let me speak with you alone.”
“Men like your father are the easiest to deal with—everything revolves around profit. I promised him a quota, so naturally, he couldn’t refuse.”
“Gang Leader Xia is truly generous.”
A single quota could give rise to a Divine Repository Realm expert. No power could easily turn that down.
Even the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence, though possessing several Secret Realms, still suffered from a lack of such precious opportunities—the more, the better.
Chen Ming asked, “Gang Leader Xia, you didn’t come here to make me crash a wedding, did you?”
“Hahaha…” Xia Shaowen laughed heartily. “You, a mere Second Grade, want to snatch away a consort personally chosen by His Majesty?”
Seeing his reaction, Chen Ming said curiously, “Then you didn’t come to persuade me to defy the emperor?”
Xia Shaowen shook his head. “It’s already beyond salvaging. All that’s left is to accept fate.”
“……”
“To tell you the truth, it was my daughter who feared you might act rashly and asked me to come and dissuade you. In this life, you two are destined to have fate but no share.”
“……”
Chen Ming didn’t know what to say.
Xia Shaowen being this sensible actually made him feel a little off-balance. As a father, shouldn’t he risk everything for his daughter’s lifelong happiness?
Then again, marrying the emperor wasn’t exactly a misfortune.
According to rumors, the emperor wasn’t some aged man. Though he had ascended the throne over twenty years ago, he was only about thirty now, having taken the throne young.
Moreover, he was said to have a gentle disposition and a reputation for benevolence. He wasn’t lecherous either—just one empress and two consorts.
The only issue was that he had no heirs. Two children had been born before, but both had died in infancy.
Thus, there was ample justification for selecting new consorts. The Empress Dowager insisted, and even the officials supported it.
This time, besides Xia Mudan being directly conferred as consort, dozens of other beauties had been selected for the palace.
For the continuation of Great Jin’s imperial line, the emperor truly had no choice but to bear the burden.
“Well then, I’ve said what I came to say. I’ll take my leave. From now on, take care of yourself.”
After finishing, Xia Shaowen departed.
Chen Ming sat there alone, lost in thought.
……
Not long after, Xia Shaowen returned to Prince Yan’s mansion in the capital and went to meet his wife first.
Madam Xia asked coldly, “Did you make things clear to that boy?”
Xia Shaowen lowered his head like a child caught doing wrong. “I did.”
Looking at him, Madam Xia’s anger flared. This fool had trapped her while she was in seclusion and caused such chaos that nearly became uncontrollable.
“Do you have any idea? You almost got our entire family killed! Do you think I wanted to send our daughter into the palace? It was the Empress Dowager who set her sights on Yan’er! You should know what happens to those who defy the Empress Dowager’s will!”
Xia Shaowen forced a bitter smile. “Madam, you should’ve told me sooner. I thought it was your decision to send Yan’er into the palace. That’s why I acted so foolishly.”
Madam Xia said angrily, “This was the Empress Dowager’s command—no word of it can leak. If His Majesty were to find out, Yan’er’s situation in the palace would become even more dangerous.”
“Sigh.”
Xia Shaowen couldn’t help but sigh. This matter clearly involved the struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Their family had been drawn into it, and one wrong step could mean total ruin.
“It’s poor Yan’er who suffers most.”
At the mention of their daughter, Madam Xia grew even angrier. “Isn’t it all because of you? If you hadn’t stirred up all that nonsense, how would Yan’er have ever met that boy from the Gu Family?”
In the past, entering the palace, while difficult, was still bearable.
But now, with her daughter’s heart wholly tied to that boy surnamed Gu, once she entered the palace, she would surely lose all spirit. If the Emperor noticed something, she might be cast into the Cold Palace…
Her life would truly be ruined.
Thinking of how his daughter had been listless and melancholy ever since coming to the capital, Xia Shaowen sighed again. “It was my fault.”