"Governor, please give your orders!"

Under the vast, clear sky and the brilliant sun, a chorus of spirited and reverent shouts rippled through the air, stirring the soul.

"Stand by," Chen Yang waved his hand.

The Governor?! When Qin Yan uttered those words, he almost bit his tongue off. Peering through a gap in his cloak, he saw the familiar uniform. This… It really is him!

He had seen this uniform during the Li Family's wedding procession. Though it was only a view of the man's back, the image was etched into his memory as if carved by a knife.

Lord Yang… Chen Yang. The Nine Gates Admiral!

Even Qin Lie, who had long been prepared for death, was momentarily dumbstruck, his old, jaundiced eyes widening in shock.

Luo Sulan clutched the hem of her gown, staggering back several steps from a sudden sense of weightlessness, nearly collapsing onto the ground. The man before her, whom she had just mocked and deemed unworthy of Qin Qiu, was actually the Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince?!

This…

Luo Sulan, who had been so full of herself just moments ago, felt her limbs turn icy. Her throat tightened as she stared at Chen Yang in utter disbelief.

Qin Qiu covered her mouth, her entire body trembling violently. Qin Gang's earlier words suddenly surfaced in her mind. "Xiaoqiu, Chen Yang is stronger than you can imagine. In this world, no one can hurt him."

Back then, she had dismissed them as mere words of comfort. But now…

She also recalled the first time she had met Chen Yang. "Xiaoqiu, Chen Yang is a Hidden Dragon, merely playing in the shallows for now. When he swims into the deep sea, his brilliance will illuminate the world."

How scornful I was back then… And now… It turns out he truly is a dragon—a True Dragon! Across all mountains and rivers, under the sun and moon, who in this empire does not know his name? Who doesn't regard him as the empire's guardian? So that's how it is. You are not just my guardian, Qin Qiu's guardian, but the protector of all living beings!

"Chen… Chen Yang, I…" Luo Sulan's expression shifted again and again, a tempest of emotions raging in her heart as she spoke in a daze.

"What is it you want to say?" Chen Yang's lifeless eyes stared at her indifferently.

He had thought that after the last warning, this woman would finally settle down. He never expected her true nature to remain so unchanged. Perhaps it's true what they say: a leopard can't change its spots.

Luo Sulan hurriedly stumbled forward. "I… I was wrong! If I had known it was you…" she babbled. "In any case, I'm happy for Qin Qiu. As for what I said just now, surely you won't take it to heart, right?"

As she spoke, Luo Sulan gradually relaxed, a smug and self-satisfied smirk touching her lips. "For the Qin Family to have a son-in-law like you is a blessing from our ancestors. If Xiaoqiu's father knew from the great beyond, he would be overjoyed. Who could have imagined that my, Luo Sulan's, son-in-law would turn out to be the Zhennan Prince! Heh heh, I suppose I've really made something of myself."

Luo Sulan grew more and more pleased with herself until she couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst into laughter. Before today, she could never have dreamed of this. The things she had done and the words she had said were conveniently forgotten, tossed to the back of her mind. Besides, she believed Chen Yang wouldn't hold it against her. She was his mother-in-law, after all. What could he really do to her? She would just have to mend her ways and treat him better from now on.

With that thought, her nervousness and fear vanished, replaced by an overwhelming excitement and anticipation for the wonderful life ahead.

Even in Cangyun City, I'll be at the very top of the social ladder, won't I? Hah!

At that moment, the selfish woman was lost in her own delusion.

"Where were you wrong?" Chen Yang pressed.

Luo Sulan's expression flickered, but she laughed it off carelessly. "I shouldn't have said those things earlier. I promise, it will never happen again."

Chen Yang just shook his head with a slight smile and said nothing more.

"Chen Yang, I…"

Luo Sulan started to speak again, but she stopped abruptly as her gaze fell upon Yang Hu, who was taking off his uniform.

"I warned you back in Lingjin City," Yang Hu said, almost to himself, as he neatly folded his uniform and placed his hat on top. "Even if the Boss chops off my head for this, I still have to teach you wicked woman a lesson."

Luo Sulan was stunned. What… What is he planning to do?

CRACK!

Before she could fully process it, half of her face erupted in searing pain. Her head felt as heavy as iron and her vision went black. As the world spun, her head crashed heavily onto the ground.

Everyone present shivered.

It was a long moment before Luo Sulan regained some clarity. Ignoring the blood streaming down her face, she glared at Yang Hu with venomous hatred. "You're nothing but a lapdog at my Chen Yang's side! How dare you lay a hand on me? Chen Yang, what are you waiting for? Discipline him! Better yet, throw him out!"

In response to Luo Sulan's pleading gaze, Chen Yang replied, "Keep hitting her."

Luo Sulan froze.

SLAP!

Another heavy-handed slap landed, spattering blood.

Luo Sulan's body convulsed. "I… I've already apologized! Please, let me go!" she shrieked. "I'm your mother-in-law, for crying out loud!"

"Xiaoqiu!" Luo Sulan propped herself up with her hands and turned her head to stare at Qin Qiu.

Qin Qiu bit her lip and finally turned away.

This mother of hers was too much, too selfish! She claimed it was for my own good, but she completely disregarded my wishes, repeatedly trying to push me onto the sons of powerful men. Wasn't it all so she could live the life of her dreams? It was like that back in Lingjin City, and it's still the same here on Qiyun Road. And Chen Yang had already warned her. Yet today, she tried to push me out again. What did she think I was?! People's hearts are made of flesh. Who could remain impassive unless they'd been hurt to their very core?

"Chen… Chen Yang, I am Xiaoqiu's mother! I'm your mother-in-law…"

Chen Yang didn't spare her another glance as he slowly walked toward Qin Lie.

"So now you remember you're my sister-in-law's mother?" Yang Hu sneered, finally stopping and wiping the blood from his hands. "Tell me, what kind of mother would trade her own daughter's happiness, time and time again? You always looked down on my Boss. Did you really think you were so special?"

The crowd watched in astonishment. But as shocking as it was, they had to admit this Luo Sulan was a piece of work. When she was still unaware that Lord Yang was the Nine Gates Admiral, she had the gall to try and play matchmaker for Qin Qiu with the Zhennan Prince… right in front of him? It was utterly ridiculous.

"Governor… Governor, sir." Seeing Chen Yang approach, Qin Lie hurriedly bowed, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Chen Yang stopped in front of him, leisurely lit a cigarette, and said coolly, "I heard that because Qin Gang's progress stalled at Sixth Grade Martial General, the Qin Family expelled him. And during this time, even though he pleaded to return to the family, you all mercilessly refused him. Is that right?"

Qin Lie fell silent.

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