Shang Xin Ci abruptly raised her head, staring at Shang Yanfei in astonishment. She never expected that as soon as she arrived at Shang Clan City, Shang Yanfei would already have such an idea, wanting her to become the Young Miss of the Shang Family, and even the future Clan Chief. Everything came too suddenly, making it a bit unbearable for her.
"Xin Ci, go and meet up with your friends first, lest they worry. This will be your home from now on!" Shang Yanfei said to Shang Xin Ci with a gentle smile and tone.
Then, he lightly clapped his hands, and a young maiden dressed in Gu Master attire walked in from outside the door and stood beside him. Shang Yanfei turned to look at the maiden and sternly instructed, "Tian Lan, from today onwards, you will follow Young Miss Xin Ci. You must serve her wholeheartedly, without the slightest negligence, do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Tian Lan immediately bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Clan Chief, I will serve Young Miss Xin Ci diligently." After speaking, she moved to Shang Xin Ci's side and stood with her hands at her sides.
Shang Yanfei nodded in satisfaction, then continued to Tian Lan, "Take the Young Miss and her friends to Red Cloud Courtyard; that will be Young Miss Xin Ci's residence from now on. As for Liu Chen, give him the Zhen Yuan Courtyard right next to it, consider it a small token of my regard."
Although Tian Lan was somewhat surprised, no unusual expression showed on her face; she merely responded respectfully, "Understood, Clan Chief."
Shang Yanfei's arrangement directly bestowed two gardens in the First Inner City to Shang Xin Ci and Liu Chen. These two courtyards not only had excellent geographical locations but also boasted serene and elegant environments, truly rare and desirable places.
Tian Lan secretly marveled at the considerable value of these two courtyards, yet she remained outwardly calm, simply nodding in agreement, indicating that she would definitely follow Shang Yanfei's instructions.
Shang Xin Ci and Tian Lan's figures gradually moved further away until they completely disappeared from Shang Yanfei's sight. His gaze lingered on the window, as if he could see someone or something far away through the glass.
After a moment of silence, Shang Yanfei suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but exceptionally clear: "Wei Yang, go to the Zhang Family and verify."
Before his words finished, a white rainbow, like a flash of lightning, streaked in through the window and instantly landed in the center of the room. As the light dissipated, a tall, stern-faced man appeared before Shang Yanfei. He was dressed in a white long gown, none other than Wei Yang, the White Light Swordsman, one of Shang Yanfei's four chief subordinates.
Wei Yang knelt on one knee, cupped his fists in salute, and respectfully said, "This subordinate obeys."
Shang Yanfei nodded slightly, motioning for him to rise. Although he already had some grasp of Shang Xin Ci's identity, to ensure nothing went wrong, he decided to have Wei Yang make a trip to the Zhang Family.
Shang Yanfei knew time was pressing; there was little time left before he officially announced Shang Xin Ci's identity. However, he was not anxious, because he believed that with Wei Yang's ability and efficiency, he would certainly complete the task within the stipulated time.
After Wei Yang received his orders and left, Shang Yanfei sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and began to ponder.
Various possible scenarios constantly flashed through his mind as he analyzed the pros and cons of each possibility. Although all current signs indicated that Shang Xin Ci's identity was normal, Shang Yanfei never dared to let down his guard.
After all, in this Gu world full of intrigue, any oversight could lead to catastrophic consequences. And Shang Yanfei, as the Clan Chief of the Shang Family, would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen to him... Tian Lan slowly extended her hand and gently pushed open the slightly heavy door. With a faint creak from the door hinges, the scene inside the room gradually revealed itself.
She followed behind Zhang Xinci, and the moment she stepped into the room, her gaze inadvertently swept over the few people inside. Although it was just a fleeting glance, the appearances of those few people were imprinted deeply in her mind, as if branded.
Tian Lan silently followed Zhang Xinci, maintaining a certain distance, walking neither too fast nor too slow.
"Young Miss, are you alright?" Xiao Die's voice suddenly came, carrying a hint of anxiety. She quickly walked up to Zhang Xinci, scrutinizing her from head to toe, seemingly afraid that Zhang Xinci had suffered even the slightest harm.
Zhang Xinci smiled slightly and gently reassured her, "Xiao Die, don't worry, I'm really fine." Her voice was gentle and calm, giving a sense of reassurance.
Xiao Die breathed a slight sigh of relief, but still, somewhat worried, she pressed, "Really? Clan Chief Shang didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
Zhang Xinci shook her head and replied definitively, "No, Clan Chief Shang was very kind to me. You don't need to worry about me."
Liu Chen, listening to their conversation from the side, interjected, "Then what did Shang Yanfei tell you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinci suddenly became speechless, unsure how to answer. On one hand, she hadn't fully accepted Shang Yanfei as her so-called "father"; on the other hand, she genuinely didn't want to deceive Liu Chen, putting herself in a difficult position.
Just as Zhang Xinci was hesitating, Xiao Die, quick to speak, asked, "Young Miss, Lord Liu Chen just told us that Lord Shang Yanfei is your biological father, is that true?"
Zhang Xinci's heart trembled, and an astonished expression appeared on her face. She first looked at Xiao Die, then slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Liu Chen. After a moment of silence, she nodded slightly.
"I really didn't mean to hide this, it's just that my mother told me to come to Shang Clan City to find my father only when there were no other options. At that time, I didn't even know that Clan Chief Shang was my biological father, and after so many years, my mother wasn't sure if father would be willing to acknowledge me as his daughter. So, I never dared to speak of this. If it weren't for that accident at Tombstone Mountain, I might have continued being a traveling merchant for a few more years," Shang Xin Ci hastily explained, her tone revealing a hint of helplessness and anxiety.
Tian Lan, meanwhile, seized this opportunity to subtly gather a lot of information, including details about Tombstone Mountain.
Seeing this, Liu Chen quickly comforted her, "It's alright, Young Miss Xin Ci, it's a great thing that you can find your Family! Moreover, I see that Clan Chief Shang Yanfei is not a heartless person; he will definitely acknowledge you as his daughter. Having the Clan Chief of the Shang Family as your backer is something many people dream of!" He said with a smile.
Just then, Tian Lan also spoke, "Esteemed guests, it's getting late. Why don't I lead you to your residences?" Her tone was very polite, making people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
Then, Tian Lan added, "The Clan Chief has already given Red Cloud Courtyard and Zhen Yuan Courtyard to the two Young Misses and this Lord, respectively. I believe you will like them."