Xiao Yan never expected that Di Shuangcheng would have ties to the He family.
When he first learned about the military token, he had been tempted to go to the northwest. Before setting out, he had sent people to investigate all matters related to the northwest army, including royal in-laws, distant blood relatives, and anyone with connections to the Zhen’an Army and the generals of the Longting Guard. No information was overlooked.
It was during this investigation that He Rongzhang was discovered.
Xiao Yan was not familiar with this illegitimate uncle, who was considered dead in the eyes of the He family, but he had noted his rebellious actions. At first, he didn’t consider this person useful, but when he realized Di Shuangcheng was far different from the reckless military general he had imagined, things began to change.
Di Shuangcheng was sharp-witted, hard to deceive, and even noticed when he had the upper hand with Madame Di.
So, Xiao Yan had no choice but to use this “convenient” uncle to his advantage. He never expected it would lead to such an unexpected discovery.
...
Xiao Yan’s first visit to the Di family’s General’s Residence was nothing like the bustling capital. The Di family estate was much simpler and more unadorned. The furnishings were all quite ordinary, and the best feature of the residence was probably the training platform, which was filled with weapons.
Most of the Di family’s servants were military men, and it wasn’t until they entered the inner courtyard that Xiao Yan saw a few maids.
Xiao Yan followed Di Shuangcheng into the study, where Di Shuangcheng waved for the servant who had brought tea to leave.
“You’re from the He family?” Di Shuangcheng asked, his gaze sharp.
Xiao Yan remained silent, only keeping his eyes warily on Di Shuangcheng.
Di Shuangcheng continued, "When the He family was exterminated, not only did all the relatives in the capital die, but even the He family’s branch in Zhangxing was wiped out. How did you survive? Which branch are you from?"
Xiao Yan pursed his lips and said nothing, continuing to look at Di Shuangcheng with suspicion.
Di Shuangcheng smiled slightly. "Since you’ve come to Fengcheng, it must be because you have something important to ask."
"He Rongzhang left the He family before the age of twenty. Four years later, when the He family was implicated in the case of the mad prince, He Rongzhang had already been severed from the family. As an illegitimate son, he was able to escape the massacre."
"If you’re truly from the He family, your search for He Rongzhang must be for family matters, but He Rongzhang likely knows less about the He family than I do."
Xiao Yan looked at him suspiciously, clearly unconvinced.
Di Shuangcheng laughed softly. "I’m not from the Di family. My surname is Ling, and I once received education from the He family."
Xiao Yan’s mind raced as an old memory surfaced. He widened his eyes in shock. "You’re the son of Ling Sicao?" He paused, his expression softening. "Ling Yu?"
Di Shuangcheng raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"
Xiao Yan was truly surprised. When he was younger, the He family hadn’t yet fallen, and he had been very close to the He family’s uncles and older brothers. Naturally, he was familiar with the He family’s school.
He remembered when he was five or six years old, a very unfamiliar, fierce young man had joined the He family school. This young man had a bad temper and was quick to fight. Xiao Yan overheard that he was the son of a Sicao (commander) from the southern regions, whose parents had died in a disaster relief incident, leaving him an orphan.
This Sicao had been wrongfully executed, and his uncles had taken pity on the boy, bringing him to the capital to shelter him, planning to give him a position in the future. Unfortunately, the boy had a terrible temper and no aptitude for learning, but he was naturally gifted in martial arts. Eventually, the He family had found a way to send him into the military.
This had happened more than seventeen or eighteen years ago, and Xiao Yan’s memories of it were hazy, though he vaguely remembered the person.
Now, hearing Di Shuangcheng mention the name "Ling," those memories resurfaced.
Xiao Yan’s wariness faded, and he spoke with more sincerity. "I remember seeing you at the He family school when I was young. You fought with Lord Luo Lin’s son, knocked over the teacher’s desk, and almost drowned him in a water tank. Later, Uncle locked you in the ancestral hall and punished you with a whip."
At this, Di Shuangcheng suddenly laughed and lowered his guard. "You remember that? It seems you truly are from the He family. Which branch are you from?"
Xiao Yan replied, "I’m from the third branch, the youngest son."
Di Shuangcheng recalled the time he had spent at the He family, and the image of those pampered children came to mind. They were delicate and young, treated like treasures.
Although Di Shuangcheng had stayed with the He family for a while, he had mostly interacted with those of a similar age and the main figures of the family. He didn’t remember what the youngest of the third branch looked like.
However, since Xiao Yan could recall details from the He family school, even the incident where he had been punished with a whip, it was clear his identity was authentic.
Di Shuangcheng’s demeanor immediately became warmer, and his eyes reflected a trace of excitement. "When I learned of the massacre in the capital, I secretly returned and found that the entire He family had been wiped out. The capital was in turmoil, and anyone connected to the He family suffered a terrible end."
"I spent months searching for survivors but found none. Eventually, I brought He Rongzhang back to the northwest, thinking I could preserve a trace of the He family’s bloodline. But I never imagined that someone from the He family was still alive."
"How wonderful… truly wonderful…"
His voice faltered with emotion, and his eyes even glistened with tears.
Xiao Yan could sense his emotions and felt a warmth in his own expression.
"When the disaster struck, I was in the palace. The East Palace was in chaos, and both my cousin and the prince perished in the flames. But by chance, I was outside the palace at the time and was protected while escaping."
His gaze grew distant, tinged with the sorrow of past events.
"I hid for a long time, barely surviving, while the He family was wiped out overnight. Later, I returned to Zhangxing to rally those hidden He family members. I came to the northwest looking for He Rongzhang to ask him about a few things."
"But General, how did you end up in the northwest? And why did you change your name? If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have recognized you."
Now that Di Shuangcheng knew Xiao Yan was from the He family, he relaxed, explaining:
"After the He family sent me into the military, they hoped I would gain some experience and eventually be given an official position in the capital. But at the time, I was too proud to accept their help. When war broke out in the northwest, I secretly came here."
Being young and energetic, he wanted to make a name for himself. He was afraid that his relationship with the He family would be known, and that the He family would secretly protect him, so he hid his name and stayed in the northern border under the name of Di Shuangcheng. Later, after a series of wars, he gradually came to the fore and was appreciated by his superiors.
"I was promoted to a sixth-rank valiant officer and wanted to return to the capital to visit the He family. But when I arrived, I realized something was wrong. The late emperor and the current emperor were purging anyone connected to the He family and the mad prince’s faction. My father’s involvement in the disaster relief case was part of the charges."
Ling Yu, once associated with the He family, had many who knew his identity. He had to keep a low profile, so he continued to use the name Di Shuangcheng.
The people who had come with him from the capital were mostly dead in battle, and he had quietly erased his past, leaving no one the wiser.
Xiao Yan now understood why he had been unable to find any trace of Di Shuangcheng’s past.
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