Chapter 113: The Fu Family Has an Heir!

"I heard that General Yang Yichen is coming?"
"Is that for real?"

Within the Li residence, the clansmen and various officials were whispering incessantly among themselves upon hearing the news.

In the main hall, the old man sat kneeling, watching as Li Gang maintained a sour expression all day, making even his wine taste bitter. Fortunately, after knowing each other for so many years, the old man had long since grown accustomed to Li Gang’s temperament.

"Wenji, I ask you, can’t you just let me enjoy a drink in peace?"

As he said this, the old man set down his wine cup, his expression turning serious.

"Zi Hou is Zi Hou, and the old lady is the old lady! Even if something happens to Zi Hou, it is his fate; one cannot blame others! Having someone like Zi Hou in the Fu family is our pride. When I meet our ancestors in the future, I can proudly say that even if the worst should happen to him..."

As he spoke, the old man’s weathered face, usually so tough, could not help but show signs of distress, yet he felt he had to say it.

"...It would still be a source of honor for the Fu family!"

After saying this, a heavy lump formed in his throat. Despite his words, thinking of his young grandson, Fu Zihou, the old man felt a pain more profound than anyone else could imagine.

Those damned rebels! How could they, out of the blue, attack Taiyuan Prefecture? And why did Fu Zihou have to be in the East City of Jinyang? The old man had never been there, but he had heard from others that the East City of Jinyang was simply indefensible.

"You are just stubborn! Your young grandson is far better than the descendants of my Li family. Had he not encountered this situation, he would surely have achieved great things in the future!" Li Gang remarked, glancing at the old man.

Already feeling miserable, the old man felt his chest tighten even further upon hearing Li Gang’s words. Looking at him, he sometimes truly felt like throwing his straw sandal at his face; sometimes, he felt that staying silent wouldn't kill the man. The old man deeply suspected that during Li Gang’s time in the imperial court, all his political enemies were made exactly because of that mouth of his. He never considered anyone else’s feelings!

"Master! General Yang Yichen and Assistant Prefect Yang have arrived at the gate!"

Amidst the noisy and bustling main hall, a servant of the Li estate came forward to report. Upon hearing this, the old man quickly stood up, dusting off his robes, and caught the sight of Li Gang’s frowning expression.

"The Great General is here! I should make room for him!" the old man said with a smile.

"Do you really need to move?" Li Gang asked coldly, his face set in a stern expression.

Madame Li, who had overheard, looked at the old man and instructed him to stay seated. There was no need to vacate his spot; General Yang Yichen could take her own seat, and as for Assistant Prefect Yang, he could sit in the front rows on either side of the hall, with Li Shaozhi making space for them.

"This seat belongs to you today!" Madame Li smiled at the old man.

Just as the old man had insisted on holding this birthday banquet—even to the point of arguing about it—Li Gang had specifically reserved this seat of honor for him. Madame Li understood her husband well; let alone an assistant prefect, even if other prefects or garrison commanders were to arrive, they would still have to sit below the old man. Li Gang had even stated in front of his sons, Erlang, Silang, and Wulang, that if anyone felt slighted, they were free to leave; but if they came to the Li residence to offer birthday wishes, they were to show respect to the guests of the Li family.

"I will go to welcome them!" Li Gang glanced at the old man, straightened his face, and walked out of the main hall.

Yang Yichen was a Grand Master of Palace Leisure of the Sui Dynasty, a position higher than that of a Right Grand Master, and his status and rank were far beyond those of ordinary generals, prefects, or assistant prefects. Naturally, Li Gang had to rise to greet him.

"General Yang is really here!"
"I never expected that even General Yang would come today..."

Those seated in the main hall were no ordinary clansmen, and upon hearing of Yang Yichen’s arrival, everyone’s expression turned tense. Yang Yichen had led the Sui armies in battle for many years, had been granted the imperial surname by the late Emperor, and possessed illustrious military achievements. He had long commanded the northern Sui forces, and under normal circumstances, he was not someone one could easily meet. For many, his presence was a significant opportunity.

However, there were exceptions. Cui Lüxing, kneeling behind his wooden table, had his brows tightly locked. Yang Yichen was a veteran general of the Sui; with him commanding the suppression of rebellions in Hebei, not only would Duke Dou have little chance of success, but Duke Dou’s very life might be in danger. He had to mobilize the Feng, Xiao, and Lu clans to exert pressure from within the court, seeking an opportunity for Yang Guang to order the veteran general to return to Luoyang and relinquish his command.

"He is here!!!"

Lost in thought, Cui Lüxing soon heard gasps of surprise. Considering the situation and seeing everyone else stand up, he rose from behind his table as well. Within moments, he saw two figures in armor following the elderly Li Gang into the hall. As a scion of the Boling Cui clan, Cui Lüxing had seen Yang Yichen from a distance years ago, so he recognized at a glance that the old general beside Yang Shanhui was indeed Yang Yichen.

In the main hall, the old man was sitting restlessly. He looked at the clansmen below and saw that even the officials, including Assistant Prefect Yuan Baozang, had risen to welcome the guest. Although he did not personally know the old general beside Li Gang, he could sense the immense nobility of his status. Could a common old man like him really sit in such a position of honor?

Feeling uneasy, the old man caught the eyes of his second son, Fu Rui, among the crowd, as well as Fu Zhi and Old Man Liu in the back. Seeing their expressions, the old man smiled bitterly to himself and felt a surge of resentment toward Li Gang. Li Gang had loyalty, but his grasp of social etiquette was truly worrying. As a commoner, his good intentions were hard to bear in such an environment!

"Greetings, General!"

The old man watched as Yang Yichen exchanged pleasantries with Yuan Baozang and then, accompanied by Yang Shanhui, began to walk toward them. He raised his hands in a salute. Without confidence, a person appeared listless, and their movements became awkward—something easily noticed by others. If even the others could tell the old man was of humble origin, it was all the more certain for the veteran general Yang Yichen, who had seen countless people in his life.

"This is Wenji’s dear friend of many years! His young grandson is currently a captain in the Eagle-Yang Garrison, named Fu Zihou!"

Although Yang Yichen returned the salute, the fleeting flicker of surprise in his eyes did not escape Li Gang. Li Gang introduced the old man to Yang Yichen, adding at the end, "He is the very captain currently surrounded by rebel forces in the East City of Jinyang!"

When speaking to those of lower seniority, Li Gang would refer to himself as "this old man," but since Yang Yichen was his peer and held a higher position, Li Gang addressed him by his courtesy name. By mentioning Fu Zihou, he was telling Yang Yichen that the person who should have been under his command was now his friend’s grandson. Anyone with a modicum of social awareness could hear the underlying meaning.

"This is the elder of that young captain?"

Upon hearing the name Fu Zihou, Yang Yichen recalled something. When he heard Li Gang’s explanation, his aged face suddenly broke into a smile, and he looked at the old man with excitement.

This sudden change left everyone in the hall—from Yuan Baozang and the Cui, Fang, Zhang, and Feng clansmen to even Li Gang—looking at Yang Yichen in astonishment.

"Fu Zihou is indeed my grandson!" the old man said with an uneasy, pained smile. He was nervous due to Yang Yichen’s status and distressed by the thought of his grandson, whose fate remained unknown.

"The Fu family has a worthy successor!" Yang Yichen offered his heartfelt congratulations.

Upon hearing this, the people in the hall were filled with confusion. Even Zhou Shi and Li Qiong, who were serving tea to the guests, paused with their teapots, looking at Yang Yichen with curiosity. Why did it sound as if Yang Yichen had received news from Taiyuan Prefecture?

"I almost forgot to mention it!" Yang Yichen looked at the old man, realizing that Li Gang, his friend, and all the guests in the residence were still unaware of the news from Taiyuan Prefecture.