SGSHE134

“What?!”

The premium Da Hong Pao tea, which Jing Heguang had specially obtained from the Imperial Palace, spilled across the tea table as Qin Yingbo’s hand jerked in surprise.

“You really found my son, Xingguan!”

Qin Yingbo swept his sleeve across the spilled tea. His eyes widened with astonishment, and he leaned his upper body forward.

It was as if leaning just a fraction closer to Jing Heguang might allow him to learn the answer a moment sooner.

Jing Heguang had shared tea with him many times, yet this was the first time he had ever seen Qin Yingbo lose his composure.

Mentally repeating the name ‘Xingguan’, suspected to be Xing Qi’s childhood name, Jing Heguang said, “He carries a black jade pendant carved with the character ‘Xing’, and he has a red birthmark on the left side of his chest.”

Details such as a child’s personal token or a distinctive mark hidden beneath one’s clothing were things outsiders could not possibly know.

Yet, both details Jing Heguang mentioned matched perfectly.

A smile of uncontrolled emotion broke across Qin Yingbo’s face as he stammered, “Yes, yes! He does have a red birthmark on the left side of his chest!”

“Where is he now?” Qin Yingbo asked in rapid succession. “Could I see him?”

As he spoke, he gazed earnestly at Jing Heguang and glanced repeatedly toward the door.

However, Jing Heguang had not yet spoken to Xing Qi about the matter, so the young man was naturally not present. The jade pendant serving as the token of identity was still hanging around Xing Qi’s neck.

Jing Heguang spoke in a gentle, soothing tone to reassure his future father-in-law: “Uncle Qin, there is no need to rush. I have located the person, but I haven’t told him yet, I wanted to be absolutely certain first.”

While offering reassurance, Jing Heguang also steadied Qin Yingbo’s teacup.

The gesture snapped Qin Yingbo out of his reverie, making him realize he had been acting uncharacteristically.

Qin Yingbo straightened up and said apologetically, “Forgive me; I was so startled by the happy news that I forgot my manners.”

He promised, “If my son is truly found, then you, Lord Imperial brother-in-law, shall be an honored guest of the Qin family! Should you have any requests, do not hesitate to speak them.”

Jing Heguang hurriedly shook his head. “There is no need for that, you are too kind.”

He didn’t need a seat of honor, just having a stool to sit on would be plenty!

He was easily satisfied.

He just hoped that when his future father-in-law found out his son had become Jing Heguang’s wife, he wouldn’t get too angry.

Jing Heguang felt a twinge of guilt, as if he had made off with someone else’s prize cabbage.

Qin Yingbo was too overcome with emotion to wonder why Jing Heguang was being so polite.

After a moment of thought, he asked tentatively, “Could you tell me…what is his name now? And is he…is he doing well?”

“His name is Xing Qi.”

“He has a family of his own now and is living a good life. He’s even put on a little weight recently.”

Jing Heguang weighed his words carefully as he spoke.

Qin Yingbo murmured, “Xing Qi? Xing Qi…that sounds…somewhat familiar?”

Jing Heguang felt even guiltier.

But the truth had to come out eventually. It was better to tell him now, while the bond between father and son felt distant and Qin Yingbo’s goodwill toward him was high.

Jing Heguang rubbed his nose and poured another cup of tea for Qin Yingbo.

“You’ve met him before, uncle Qin. On the day of my wedding, the two of us even offered you a toast together!”

Clatter—

The delicate blue-and-white porcelain teacup was shattered.

Qin Yingbo did not have a poor memory. The moment Jing Heguang gave the hint, he connected the name ‘Xing Qi’ to the person.

— It was the young man who had married Jing Heguang.

Under normal circumstances, Qin Yingbo wouldn’t have minded two men marrying, that was other people’s business.

But after his son had been missing for so many years, and just when he finally got news of him, he discovered the boy had already become someone else’s ‘wife’?!

Qin Yingbo looked at Jing Heguang, his teeth grinding together audibly with a sharp ‘click’.

Jing Heguang stole a glance at his future father-in-law’s teeth and offered a sheepish, guilty smile.

He tried to salvage the impression he was making: “It was only while we were spending time together, and I saw that jade pendant, that I remembered the business regarding uncle Qin’s family.”

In other words, he was the one who had done a great service!

But to Qin Yingbo, those words grated on the nerves.

Spending time together?

How exactly were they spending time?

How else would a married couple spend time together?

Qin Yingbo felt a sourness rising in his heart, as if he’d just bitten into a kilo of tart hawthorn berries.

Yet, since Jing Heguang was the one bringing him such good news, he really had no grounds to give him a cold look.

Swallowing his sour feelings, Qin Yingbo refocused on the joy of having found his child: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Heguang, to go back and tell the lad first. See when it’s convenient for you to arrange a meeting for us?”

Jing Heguang seized the opportunity: “I’m free lately. I have time whenever. Once Xing Qi agrees, I’ll bring him to see uncle Qin.”

Hearing the word ‘uncle’ again, Qin Yingbo couldn’t help but glance at Jing Heguang.

No wonder he called him ‘uncle’…

Jing Heguang chatted with Qin Yingbo about Xing Qi for a while before heading back home.

***

But upon returning home, he wasn’t greeted by his well-behaved little shadow guard. Instead, he received news that Xing Qi had slipped out to play and had managed to shake off his security detail.

A row of people knelt on the ground, awaiting punishment.

Jing Heguang took one look and felt a headache coming on.

Clutching a slip of paper in his hand, he lowered his head to read it carefully.

[Having someone following me every moment is so annoying. I’m going for a wander on my own. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be home before sunset.] — Xing Qi

Jing Heguang was away from home, and Xing Qi had been granted permission to go out.

However, fearing something might happen to him, Jing Heguang had assigned people to follow him.

Xing Qi was always docile toward Jing Heguang, yet, unexpectedly, he showed a bit of a temper with outsiders, finding their surveillance annoying.

Reading those childish complaints, Jing Heguang’s furrowed brows relaxed.

He no longer felt irritated by the person kneeling before him. Instead, he waved his hand and said, “Let it slide for today. You may all withdraw.”

***

Xing Qi had slipped away quite some time ago.

The men originally tailing him on the street were his former colleagues.

Because they knew each other well, Xing Qi, who had been secretly plotting this for ages, managed to give them the slip.

He had snuck out to reveal his true identity to the Qin family.

First, he visited one of the Qin family’s covert shops to have a message sent to a trusted steward at the Qin manor, then, he produced his jade pendant, instructing the steward to contact his family.

By the time Jing Heguang returned home, Xing Qi had already reunited with his grandfather, Qin Yuande.

Beyond the reunion, Xing Qi selectively shared details about his past life, including the fact that he had returned from that previous life.

He had little choice. The covert shops and stewards he knew of, along with the secret evidence used to convince his grandfather, were all closely guarded Qin family matters.

It was precisely these secrets, known only to the closest kin, that caused his grandfather to believe him without needing an investigation.

Of course, he said nothing about the gu…He simply claimed he had passed away from a severe illness.

Nor did he mention Jing Heguang’s future actions.

Qin Yuande was utterly astonished to acknowledge this grandson and learn of his experiences.

Yet, the evidence presented was something only a close family member could possibly know.

Furthermore, Xing Qi appeared guileless, and his features bore a striking resemblance to his birth mother, details that made it impossible for Qin Yuande to harbor any suspicion.

Xing Qi sat there for quite a while before looking up to realize it was already getting late!

Xing Qi shifted restlessly in his seat and said to his grandfather, Qin Yuande, “Grandfather, I have a family of my own now. I promised to be back before sunset. if I don’t return soon, my family will worry.”

Qin Yuande was reluctant to let him go. “Your father will be home soon, won’t you see him? Just stay the night here. Tell me where you live, and I’ll have someone send word back for you.”

Xing Qi looked conflicted. “He has a bad temper.”

Jing Heguang was a petty man who was prone to intense bouts of jealousy. If Xing Qi failed to keep his promise, Jing Heguang would undoubtedly push his luck and demand all sorts of things from him.

As Xing Qi thought of Jing Heguang, a blush crept up his cheeks.

Xing Qi had gained quite a bit of weight recently. His face had filled out, his complexion had improved, and his skin had become noticeably fairer. He looked every bit the young master of a noble household.

The change in his appearance was so drastic that Qin Yuande didn’t even connect him to the person he had first met at the imperial brother-in-law manor.

Seeing Xing Qi blush, Qin Yuande assumed he was missing his wife.

Qin Yuande huffed, “A young woman shouldn’t have such a temper, it comes from being spoiled! I’ll back you up. I’ll teach her a thing or two about proper behavior.”

Xing Qi blushed even deeper. Not daring to reveal the truth, he stammered, “Grandfather, I…I really have to go! Can I come back tomorrow?”

Xing Qi looked at him with pleading eyes. Qin Yuande nodded reluctantly and walked him to the door, even offering to take him home by carriage.

Xing Qi didn’t dare bring his grandfather back to the imperial brother-in-law manor, so he nimbly used his lightness skill to slip away.

He was somewhat afraid his grandfather would get angry. After all, he was the Qin family’s only heir, yet he had gotten entangled with a man.

And…he didn’t want to part ways!

Xing Qi hurried back, thinking that Jing Heguang must have dosed him with a love potion, or something similar, rather than a literal gu insect. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to rush back after having just reunited with his family?

After all, his initial plan had been to stay put once the reunion took place, letting his grandfather and father teach Jing Heguang a lesson.

With his mind fixed on the person waiting for him, Xing Qi raced back at full speed.

Qin Yingbo was equally anxious to get home, his horse galloping swiftly.

***

Upon arriving home, Qin Yingbo burst into his father’s study, his face beaming with joy.

“Father! I have some incredible news!”

Qin Yingbo burst into the study, a broad smile on his face.

To Qin Yuande, the sight was reminiscent of over a decade ago, back when his grandson hadn’t yet been lost and his son was still young, often wearing that same cheerful smile that lifted everyone’s spirits.

Qin Yuande smiled and said, “Father has some tremendous news too, something even more surprising than yours, I’m sure!”

Qin Yingbo was skeptical. “Impossible. I don’t believe there could be any news better than what I have today.”

Seeing his son’s unconvinced expression, Qin Yuande chuckled.

Father and son locked eyes and spoke simultaneously.

“Father found Xingguan!”

“Son found Xingguan!”

They shouted the joyful news to one another, then stared at each other in surprise.

“Father, what did you say?”

“Yingbo, what did you say?”

“You go first, Father.”

“No, you go first.”

Finally, Qin Yuande took the lead: “I’ll go first. I found Xingguan. He looks quite a bit like his mother.”

Qin Yingbo’s eyes widened. His father’s words sounded exactly as if he had just seen the boy in person.

After a moment’s thought, Qin Yingbo explained in detail: “Father, the imperial brother-in-law invited me for tea again today. After a few sips, I asked him the reason for the meeting, and he told me he might have found Xingguan.”

“He knew about the inscription on the jade pendant and the red birthmark on Xingguan’s chest.”

Qin Yuande remarked, “The imperial brother-in-law? That man doesn’t strike me as the sort to do favors out of the goodness of his heart, I fear he might have…”

Before he could utter the words ‘ulterior motives’, Qin Yuande thought of Jing Heguang, and with that, he recalled seeing Xing Qi at the wedding banquet!

And the ‘marriage’ his dear grandson Xing Qi had spoken of, it was a marriage to Jing Heguang!

The old patriarch’s face instantly darkened, turning grim and furious.

Seeing his father’s dark expression, Qin Yingbo asked in a low voice, “Father, what’s wrong?”

Qin Yuande replied, “I didn’t get the news from Jing Heguang. Xingguan came to see me himself today. But he mentioned he has a family now and needed to be home before sunset, so he rushed back without waiting to see you!”

The father and son exchanged information.

Meanwhile, Xing Qi had returned to the imperial brother-in-law’s manor.

As soon as he arrived at the gate, word was passed inside.

Jing Heguang knew he was back before he even reached the room.

Jing Heguang thought about it but didn’t get up to greet him.

He had played the role of the upright gentleman for a long time.

But their relationship had reached a point where there was plenty of kissing and caressing.

If he didn’t act soon, his future father-in-law might well tear them apart.

A sense of urgency rose in Jing Heguang, he couldn’t keep playing the saint who resists temptation!

As for what Xing Qi might think? Xing Qi liked him so much. If he pretended to be angry at first and then coaxed him a little, Xing Qi would surely agree!

Thus, when Xing Qi peeked cautiously into the room from outside, he saw Jing Heguang looking stern, as if he were angry.

Xing Qi: …Jing Heguang, you stingy grump!

If it weren’t for..If it weren’t for the fact that Jing Heguang liked him so much, he wouldn’t have come back at all.

Author’s Note: Xing Qi: I think Jing Heguang is starting to get spoiled by my affection.