Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 210: Chapter 204: Mom’s Family is a Daughter’s Confidence.

”Dad!”

The first to spot Yang Zhenshan was Yang Yunxue, who greeted Yang Zhenshan with a bow and a beaming smile.

”Your daughter-in-law kowtows to Dad!”

Upon seeing Yang Zhenshan, Ms. Li also kowtowed three times with loud thumps.

Following behind, the three little ones also kowtowed.

Yang Zhenshan first glanced at Yu Qingyi and saw her standing beside the carriage, smiling at him, which fully eased his mind.

”Get up, get up!”

He first beckoned Ms. Li to rise, and then went up to pat Yang Chengmao’s little head.

”Did you miss grandpa?”

”I did!” Yang Chengmao looked up, his face filled with joy.

Yang Chengxian and Yang Wanting were not familiar with Yang Zhenshan, but Yang Chengmao was well-acquainted with him, as Yang Zhenshan had often played with him before. Even though he was young at the time, he still retained plenty of memories.

Yang Zhenshan, with a face full of kindly smiles, started talking to the three little ones.

Although Yang Chengxian was very unfamiliar with Yang Zhenshan, he wasn’t scared but rather enjoyed being close to him.

Yang Wanting was very young and seemed a bit shy, clinging to the hem of Ms. Li’s clothing, not daring to look up.

”Alright, let’s go inside and talk!” Yu Qingyi walked over, breaking up the conversation between the grandchildren.

Ms. Li let out a long breath, her face blossoming with brilliant smiles.

She had been very nervous about returning this time, after all, they had been away from home for over three years.

She feared that Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t be close to the children, that Yu Qingyi would disapprove of him, and that the family would feel alienated from them.

However, it seems all these worries were unnecessary.

The family returned to the main courtyard, and Yang Mingcheng immediately called the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Ms. Wang was still in her confinement period, so it was not good for her to come out. The Liang Family, supported by maids, came over.

Yang Minghao was still at Shaling Castle and would not be returning today.

The family sat together for dinner, Yang Chengye sitting next to Yang Chengmao, occasionally serving him some dishes.

Now eight years old, Yang Chengye had become even more composed, looking like a little adult, but after all, he was still a child, and seeing Yang Chengmao again filled his heart with joy.

The other children in the family were unfamiliar with Yang Chengmao, only Yang Chengye was different. In the past, Yang Chengmao always followed right behind Yang Chengye, wherever Yang Chengye went, Yang Chengmao would follow.

”Brother, I’m full!”

However, sometimes, special care can become a burden.

Yang Chengmao looked at the full bowl of food and face with distress.

”You ate so little?” Yang Chengye looked puzzled at his younger brother.

Though he served plenty of food for his brother, it should not have been enough.

”Really full!” said Yang Chengmao, pursing his lips.

Seeing this, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but find it amusing, yet he also felt a bit guilty towards Yang Chengmao.

It was funny how Yang Chengye served food according to his own appetite for Yang Chengmao. Although Yang Chengmao was only eight years old this year, he was as big as a small calf, looking like a teenager, tall and big.

The reason for this was two-fold. First, due to genetics, Yang Mingcheng was tall and burly, Ms. Wang was wide and plump, naturally making Yang Chengye slightly taller and bigger than other children of his age.

Second, it was because Yang Zhenshan looked after him particularly well. Everything from the Spiritual Spring Space was dedicated to Yang Chengye’s consumption, with the nourishment of the Spiritual Spring Water, naturally, Yang Chengye’s physique was much stronger.

In comparison, Yang Chengmao had not been in the Yang family for the past two years, and Yang Zhenshan had no way of giving him extra care, lacking the nourishment of Spiritual Spring Water, Yang Chengmao’s physique was far inferior to that of Yang Chengye.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan felt somewhat indebted to Yang Chengmao.

”Chengye, your brother is still young, he can’t eat that much!” said Yang Zhenshan.

”Oh!” Yang Chengye felt a little regretful, but then he looked at Yang Chengxian next to him and put a large piece of fish in his bowl, ”Third brother, eat more!”

Yang Chengxian lifted his head and smiled honestly at him, then buried his head and started eating.

This little guy seemed to have the potential of a good eater.

Could eat a lot!

Yang Zhenshan watched this scene with a chuckle.

But Yu Qingyi’s eyes were somewhat somber; they were all good children, it’s a pity her womb was not up to par, and she had not gotten pregnant.

After a warm dinner, Yu Qingyi asked Nanny Lin and Nanny Song to help Ms. Li tidy up the yard, and the others dispersed.

”Everything went smoothly, right?”

The couple returned to the bedroom, and Yang Zhenshan finally asked.

With the children around before, he didn’t ask too much. Now it was just the two of them, he had no reservations.

Yu Qingyi, with a serious expression, took out a letter from the Marquis Mansion entrusted to her and handed it to Yang Zhenshan.

”This is from the Marquis to you!”

Yang Zhenshan was somewhat surprised. Why would Liang Chu write to him?

He took the letter and opened it, Yu Qingyi said, ”The Marquis Mansion seems to have taken a fancy to Yunxue and intends to have the Third Young Master Liang to take Yunxue as his wife!”

Yang Zhenshan paused as he opened the letter, ”Did they say that explicitly?”

”No, but after the birthday banquet, the Marchioness brought Third Young Master Liang to meet with us!” Yu Qingyi said.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, then started reading the letter.

After reading the contents, his brows knitted tightly.

Liang Chu indeed wanted to form a marital alliance with the Yang family.

But why?

What could the Yang family possibly possess that would be of importance to Liang Chu?

Or rather, why does Liang Chu pay such close attention to Yang Zhenshan?

Given the current status and position of the Yang family, they certainly do not match well with the Changping Marquis Mansion.

If the two families were to be united in marriage, it would be the Yang family reaching above their station.

Moreover, in Chongshan Town, there should be no shortage of official families’ daughters better suited for the Third Young Master Liang!

”Does the Third Young Master Liang have any issues?” Yang Zhenshan inquired.

Yu Qingyi shook her head, ”No, although the Third Young Master Liang appears somewhat delicate, I can tell he has practiced Martial Arts and is already a Martial Artist!”

”No problems, yet he chose our Yang family, that is strange!” Yang Zhenshan was very puzzled.

He couldn’t think of any reason why Liang Chu would choose the Yang family.

To say that Liang Chu valued him, there was no need to have the two families intermarry.

Could it be because of the Duke Ning Mansion?

That’s not right either!

Although Zhou Lan is Yang Zhenshan’s major support, Yang Zhenshan can’t influence Zhou Lan, let alone the Duke Ning Mansion.

Besides, the relationship between the Changping Marquis Mansion and the Duke Ning Mansion isn’t bad. There’s no need to take such a roundabout way to establish a connection with the Duke Ning Mansion.

For a moment, Yang Zhenshan truly couldn’t comprehend it and could only say, ”Let’s investigate first!”

In fact, he didn’t want Yang Yunxue to marry into the Changping Marquis Mansion.

Because of the disparity in their family backgrounds, Yang Yunxue would feel inadequate.

Were it just an average family, Yang Zhenshan could still support Yang Yunxue if she faced grievances.

But if it’s the Changping Marquis Mansion, there’s no way Yang Zhenshan could stand up for Yang Yunxue.

After a daughter marries off, her family becomes her backbone.

Yet against the Changping Marquis Mansion, the Yang family really has no backbone to speak of.

Thus, Yang Zhenshan would rather have Yang Yunxue marry below her station than to reach for a Marquis Mansion.

Marrying below her station isn’t a big deal; just like Yang Yunyan and Jiang He, the Yang family could support them in life.

But reaching above one’s station?

That’s really like throwing out a daughter after she marries.

Putting the matter aside for the time being, Yang Zhenshan stretched out his arm to embrace Yu Qingyi, ”Wife, it’s time to sleep!”

”...”

Yu Qingyi rolled her eyes at him.

”Can’t you be serious for once!”

”When with one’s own wife, what’s there to be serious about? Would being serious be fitting?” Yang Zhenshan half-embraced and half-pulled Yu Qingyi to the heated brick bed.

The heated brick bed is truly wonderful.

Spacious, sturdy, doesn’t squeak and creak when rocked, and doesn’t feel cramped when switching positions, you can play however you like.

...

A night without words.

The next day, Yang Zhenshan arrived at the garrison office feeling fresh and alert.

”Call for Ding Qiu!”

Just after sitting down in the study, Yang Zhenshan asked Han Fei to summon Ding Qiu.

A short while later, Ding Qiu arrived at the study.

”My lord!”

”Mm, there are two things you need to do!”

Yang Zhenshan spread out some paper, writing as he spoke, ”Firstly, investigate the Changping Marquis Mansion and the Third Young Master Liang. Go to the Capital City and inquire about recent events on the court related to the Changping Marquis Mansion. Go to Chongshan Pass and investigate the Third Young Master Liang’s reputation, character, ability, health, and so on; be as thorough as possible!”

The Changping Marquis Mansion’s decision to seek marital ties with the Yang family may not be due to the Yang family itself; there could be issues with the Changping Marquis Mansion, thus the need to investigate their situation in the Capital City.

Although Yang Zhenshan was reluctant to let Yang Yunxue marry into the Changping Marquis Mansion, this did not prevent him from understanding the Third Young Master Liang’s condition first.

If this Third Young Master Liang proved to be a suitable match, perhaps Yang Zhenshan might change his mind.

”Shall I personally lead the team to the Capital City?” Ding Qiu asked.

Yang Zhenshan contemplated for a moment before saying, ”Let Wu Zheng take a team to the Capital City!”

Wu Zheng was one of the Yang family’s Protectors and a former disciple of the Sky Blue Sword Sect, now 35 years old and very reliable and level-headed in his work, which gave Yang Zhenshan a sense of ease.

With the guidance from Zhu Shanghe over the past two years, the Yang family Protectors have greatly improved in intelligence gathering and monitoring targets. Although they are not as proficient as Wei Cen’s Secret Martial Guards, they are now capable of completing some less challenging tasks.

Yang Zhenshan wrote two letters, ”This letter is for Mr. Liu, the Right Imperial Censor of the Imperial Examination Hall. Let Wu Zheng bring back Mr. Liu’s reply when he returns!”

”This letter, you arrange for someone to run to Jianning Guard to deliver it to General Zhou, and also bring back General Zhou’s reply.”

To fully understand the Changping Marquis Mansion, relying solely on the Yang family would be inadequate.

The Yang family’s level is simply too low to have an overarching understanding of the Capital City and the court, hence the need to learn from two people who can truly access the court.

And Liu Yuanfu and Zhou Lan are undoubtedly the best choices.

Ding Qiu received the letters, and after discussing with Wu Zheng, they led five Protectors towards the Capital City and Chongshan Pass, respectively.

Although the number of people was somewhat small, they were only there to collect information, so there was no need for a large contingent.

The journey to the Capital City is long; even at full speed, it would take half a month to travel there and back.

Conversely, the trip to Chongshan Pass would be much quicker, likely yielding results in three to five days.

Although Yang Zhenshan wanted to ascertain the reason the Changping Marquis Mansion sought marriage with the Yang family, he was not so anxious that he couldn’t even wait for three to five days.