Duke Wu An Mansion. Discover more novels at noᴠelfire.net The summer weather had already set in, with the sun glaring down and the heat even seeping into the lush and shady backyard. For the Xia Family, accustomed to the cold climate of Beizhi, it was even more so. Even with ice buckets to keep cool, they were still sweating profusely. "The capital is really too hot. Back home, we’d still have a few snowfalls in May or June... Hah, the cool breeze is so refreshing." Chen Yi’s uncle, Xia Zhonghe, tugged at his thin silk robe, revealing a sturdy neck, then placed ice directly inside his clothes, not caring if it would wet them. Mrs. Xia glared at him, "You think this is the warm bed back home? Such manners." "Mother, when are we going back to Beizhi?" Xia Zhonghe pulled out the ice, looked at the snickering Lu Luo and Xia Wanwan beside him, and said with an embarrassed smile, "The ceremony ended days ago, we’ve seen the lively sights, visited the nearby mansions, any longer and the Prefecture Lord will have something to say about it." He couldn’t stay idle, with the straightforward and bold temperament of Beizhi, once the novelty wore off, he wanted to return to the office. "What’s the rush? Didn’t your sister say? Taiping will be back to the capital in no time, we can wait these few days." "It takes several days to return..." As he spoke, Xia Zhonghe recalled how Chen Yi had brought them to the capital, swiftly crossing thousands of miles from Beizhi to Duke Wu An Mansion. Now that Chen Yi was not around, their return to Beizhi would be a long, exhausting journey by carriage, likely taking at least a month. If they were to sightsee along the way, it could take two to three months. Ah, he truly missed those rough men at the office. Xia Wanwan covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother, if you’re in a hurry, I can ask my husband to arrange a few fine horses, each capable of covering 800 li in a day." While the mansion had strong horses, they were better suited for charging in battle, whereas the barb horses at South-Garrison Pass had more endurance. "That sounds good..." "Good? Even though your husband’s family is a Military Marquis Family, you can’t act too openly. Wan Wan, I must tell you, being favored by Taiping is your good fortune, but you should not carry yourself too proudly." "It’s not like before. Your husband is Duke Wu An, and Yi Er is now Heroic Marquis. As the equal wife of the mansion and the Marquis’s own mother, you should be more modest and cautious." Mrs. Xia’s eyes flashed, and Xia Wanwan had to obediently comply, nodding earnestly with a smiling face. "Mother, your daughter understands." "Mother, you know Wan Wan is Yi Er’s mother. As the old saying goes, ’a mother’s status rises with her son,’ her life at the mansion is much better than before." Xia Zhonghe said boldly. "I am still Yi Er’s grandmother. Do you see me doing anything disrespectful? If I made a mistake, it’s one thing to disgrace myself, but it would be unacceptable to involve my son-in-law’s family." Mrs. Xia’s thoughts were clear as a bell as she snorted: "And you, Xia Zhonghe, when you return to Beizhi, if you dare to behave arrogantly, if your father doesn’t beat you, see if your mother doesn’t." Xia Zhonghe put on a bitter smile, seeing everyone around him laughing, he had to plead, "Mother, please give your son some face..." "Family matters are spoken behind closed doors, what face?" Before Mrs. Xia could continue to scold, a knock on the door sounded from outside, followed by Chen Taixing’s voice, filled with restrained joy: "Sister-in-law Xia, quickly, let’s go to the main hall to receive the Holy Decree!" Xia Wanwan froze for a moment, but Mrs. Xia directly pulled her and started walking outside, "What are you dazing for, hurry up and go?" Xia Zhonghe exchanged glances with the others, following along and discreetly listening to the conversation between Xia Wanwan and Chen Taixing at the front. "Uncle, this Holy Decree is..." "Sister-in-law, it’s a tremendous good news, haha," Chen Taixing, for once not looking slovenly, was dressed in elegant blue attire, with a face barely able to conceal his joy, said: "Yi Er, Yi Er has achieved an achievement that is shockingly great this time!" "Yi Er?" Xia Wanwan asked in confusion, "Isn’t Yi Er cultivating in seclusion at the Grand Void Sect?" "I originally thought so too, but only today did I learn he..." Chen Taixing’s smile wavered, and he refrained from mentioning the Taizhou Mountain Battlefield upon remembering it, not daring to speak further. He was well aware of Xia Wanwan’s temperament, normally graceful and generous, but when it came to matters concerning Chen Yi, she would change. If Xia Wanwan knew about the dangers of Taizhou Mountain, she would undoubtedly be worried sick. "What happened to him?" "Sister-in-law, please don’t make it difficult for me. Let’s wait until we’ve received the Decree or until brother returns..." Seeing him speak unclearly, Xia Wanwan’s heart sank, and she hurried her pace toward the main courtyard. The members of the Xia Family, along with Mrs. Xia and the newly awakened Master Xia, all followed to the central hall. At this moment, the central hall was already filled with people. Not only was the Old Madam Chen seated at the high seat, but the Second and Third Old Masters and their descendants were all present; even Zhou Wanyi, who had secluded herself recently, was seated with Chen Fan by her side. Noticing Xia Wanwan’s arrival, Liu Gao, unlike before, ran over with a bright smile, bowed low and said with a big grin: "Second Madam, we were just waiting for you to arrive, please sit, sit quickly." Xia Wanwan was led to the Old Madam’s right-hand side opposite Zhou Wanyi, bewildered by the situation. Usually, one kneels to receive the Decree, so why this time... Before she could think further, Liu Gao returned to the hall and announced: "By the word of the Holy Emperor, the Chen Family of Duke Wu An for its proper upbringing, may receive the decree without kneeling." Then he added with a smile: "From now on, there’s no need."