Sangkan City was the second-largest city in Nanluo Kingdom and the stronghold of the Cao family.Nestled along the river and coast, its natural conditions were excellent, with strategic significance to match. Offense or defense, it was well-positioned; and if things went south, one could always escape by boat.
Cao Yang's convoy didn't enter the city proper. Instead, they stopped at a coastal estate in the outskirts.
Before Cao Yang even got out of the car, he noticed two hundred ceremonial guards standing in formation.The car doors opened, and the guards fired their rifles into the air.
Immediately, a group of servants ran out, lined up, and bowed deeply, shouting in unison:
"Welcome home, Young Master and Young Lady!"
Young Lady, of course, was Cao Yiyue.Young Master… was that supposed to be him? Cao Yang had never received such treatment and felt completely out of place.
"Cao Yang, Grandpa is waiting for you inside," Cao Yiyue said, taking his hand and leading him into the estate.
Upon entering, a middle-aged man was pushing a wheelchair.Seated in it was an elderly figure, frail but still clad in a Nanluo military uniform.
"Father… Grandpa."
Both Cao Tailin in the wheelchair and Cao Hua pushing it nodded slightly, then fixed their gaze on Cao Yang.
Cao Yang awkwardly stepped forward, unsure what to say.
"Call him properly," Cao Yiyue reminded him softly.
"Great-Grandfather!" Cao Yang said dryly.
Cao Tailin's eyes lit up."Exactly like… it's uncanny! I can almost see your father when he was young!"
He grabbed Cao Yang's hand, inspecting him from head to toe, excitement apparent in his trembling voice.
"Father, please have Cao Yang sit inside," Cao Hua said, smiling at him.Cao Hua was Cao Yiyue's father and the current mayor of Sangkan City.
"Heh heh… Come in, sit down. Hurry, call the staff to prepare the meal."
Soon, dishes were served. Relatives from the Fourth and Seventh Branches arrived, all there to see Cao Yang.
"This is your Fourth Uncle, Cao Hua. This is your Seventh Uncle, Cao Rong. This is your Fourth Aunt… Seventh Aunt… Second Sister… Third Brother…"
Cao Tailin introduced the whole family, his pride evident.Cao Yang smiled politely at each person but barely remembered anyone's name.
The others were kind and discussed Cao Yang quietly amongst themselves.
After the meal, most departed, leaving only Cao Tailin and Cao Hua's family.
Cao Tailin asked Cao Yang to offer incense to Cao Ying—a formal ritual of ancestral recognition.
Then he grabbed Cao Yang's hand and started asking about family affairs: from his grandfather to his father, then himself.
Cao Yang answered honestly, expecting Cao Tailin might be able to help in some way, so he hid nothing.
Hearing about the last few years, Cao Tailin nodded repeatedly, full of praise.
"Not bad, not bad. Truly a Cao. No matter where you are, you stir up a bit of chaos."
"Your great-grandfather was like you in his youth—fighting, causing trouble, gathering followers, building his organization step by step, eventually becoming the number one warlord in Xiangnan!"
"You not only resemble him in appearance but in style as well. A pity you were born in the wrong era, or you too would have commanded the world!"
The elder continued praising, then asked Cao Yang about the other branches and how they had survived.
Cao Yang shook his head; he had no idea.
Cao Tailin sighed."Those who didn't escape back then met grim ends. Why did your branch survive?"He murmured to himself, then said, "Perhaps it was because of your great-grandmother, who spared your family."
"My great-grandmother?" Cao Yang asked.
"Her name was Lin Yuezhi. She was a famous figure in her day."
"Only the exceptional genes of the Eighth Aunt could produce such a handsome descendant," Cao Tailin said with pride.
Cao Yang froze. "Uh… Great-Grandfather, are you mistaken?"
He had seen Lin Yuezhi on TV—a renowned beauty, an intellectual from a prestigious family.The story went that Cao Ying, a schemer, had forcibly taken her as a concubine after a failed marriage proposal, capturing her family.
But last time, Cao Tailin had said he was from the Eighth Branch. Now it was the Eighteenth?
Cao Tailin's eyes flashed angrily."Those scriptwriters don't know anything! Your great-grandfather had only the Eighth Concubine. They added ten more branches to smear him!"
Cao Yang nodded."So the story about Cao Ying capturing Lin Yuezhi's family… is that true?"
Cao Tailin glanced around, then slapped the table."How would I know? I was just a child. That's all nonsense!"
Cao Yang squinted. His great-grandfather wasn't telling the full truth, obviously avoiding speaking ill of his father. The facts seemed to check out: Cao Ying had indeed acted despicably.
"Well, it's all in the past. What matters is, if Father hadn't married the Eighth Aunt, our line wouldn't exist… and neither would you," Cao Tailin added.
Cao Yang thought about it—it made sense.
Cao Hua changed the topic."I heard about your attack in Thailand. Cao Yang, you saved Prince Nanda?"
Cao Yang nodded.
Cao Hua laughed."You're quite skilled. Saving the prince now means you have the protection of both our Cao family and Prince Nanda. Your future in Nanluo Kingdom is limitless. I can even arrange positions for you."
Cao Yang quickly waved his hand."Fourth Uncle, I just came to see you this time. After that, I'm going back to the U.S."
"Back to the U.S.? To lead your so-called Loyal Righteous Hall?"
"Listen to your great-grandfather. Stay in Nanluo. I can't promise you a lifetime of wealth, but honor and influence? That's guaranteed."
"I have family back in China," Cao Yang said.
"Bring them over."
"They can't leave the country," Cao Yang explained, referring to his agreement with the Han family.
Cao Tailin suggested smuggling them across the border.Cao Yang shook his head—if they escaped, the ones in prison couldn't.
Cao Tailin sighed."Child, it's not that I don't want to help. In another country, we could try. But China… there's nothing we can do. Their King has repeatedly failed China; relations are abysmal. Truly beyond help."
"No matter. I'll find a way myself," Cao Yang said.
He was assigned a luxurious guest room.Lying there, he turned over and over. He already knew China and Nanluo's relations were poor, so there was little disappointment.
But he was surprised to learn that he was a descendant of Lin Yuezhi.He had seen her cheongsam in old photos—stunning—but never thought she was his great-grandmother.
Cao Tailin had said everyone who didn't escape back then met disaster. Why had his branch survived?Was it truly because of his great-grandmother, as his great-grandfather guessed?
Why had his parents never mentioned it? Perhaps they didn't know.
And where was his great-grandmother now?She would be close to ninety years old… probably no longer alive.