Chapter 178: The Third Prince

"My foot!" Cheng Biao shouted stubbornly. "Do you have any idea how powerful my big brother is?"

Gu Zhinan was just about to draw his saber when he suddenly looked at Guan Yanqing, frowned, and asked in disbelief, "You... Guan Yanqing? Are you Guan Yanqing?"

At these words, Guan Yanqing smiled.

"It has been many years. I didn't expect the Third Prince to still remember me."

Lin Sangqian was startled once more.

Gu Zhinan turned out to be the Third Prince! What on earth was going on?

Why would someone with the noble status of a Third Prince run off to become a mountain bandit?

"Brother Gu, y-you're the Third Prince?" Zhang Qianqian was equally shocked, and Lin Sangqian felt as though little hearts were about to float out of her eyes.

Ignoring her completely, Gu Zhinan tossed his saber to the ground and said in dejected defeat, "If you're Guan Yanqing, what's the point of even trying to play this game? I surrender, I surrender!"

Lin Sangqian: "..."

Was Guan Yanqing really that formidable?

She couldn't help turning her head to look at him, only to find that he was looking right back at her.

Their eyes met once more. Lin Sangqian felt her heart skip a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze, though her face stubbornly grew a little warm.

Lin Sangqian, oh Lin Sangqian, it's not like you've never laid eyes on a handsome man before. Was this really necessary?

Guan Yanqing led his men forward, taking Gu Zhinan and the rest of the bandits away.

Lin Sangqian followed Lin Hongda down the mountain, where she immediately saw everyone waiting for them.

"Little Gouzi!" Liao Shuxia was the first to sprint over, holding Lin Sangqian as she laughed through her tears. "You're safe! Thank goodness!"

"Mother!" Lin Sangqian's eyes also grew damp. Looking at her family members, all of whom gazed at her with faces full of affectionate concern, she smiled and said, "I'm sorry for making you all worry."

"What are you talking about, apologies or no apologies?" Zhao Lan'er wiped away her tears and said, "Weren't you just trying to protect us?"

"That's right, thank goodness you're okay," Xiao Yawen said tearfully. "Otherwise, how could we have gone on living!"

Her three older brothers also crowded around, looking her up and down with meticulous care to ensure she wasn't hurt in the slightest before finally setting their minds at ease.

"Mother, Father is back!" Lin Sangqian grabbed Lin Hongda's arm and pulled him forward.

"We just saw each other," Liao Shuxia said, wiping her tears with a smile.

A moment ago, just as they were at their wit's end, they had suddenly spotted Guan Yanqing and Lin Hongda hurrying toward them, followed closely by a troop of soldiers.

Lin Hongda announced that the war had ended, and both the Yidian people and their allies had already surrendered.

Furthermore, Lin Hongda had rendered distinguished service.

Initially, the reigning emperor had expressed a desire to summon and meet him.

However, yearning for his family above all else, he had requested permission to return home and see his loved ones first before proceeding to the capital for an imperial audience, a request the emperor had graciously granted.

Consequently, he had accompanied Guan Yanqing, leading his own personal guards to hurry back to the town ahead of time.

Upon seeing Lin Hongda, Liao Shuxia had been beside herself with emotional excitement, and the thought that her daughter was still up on the mountain had only driven her further into a frenzy.

Fortunately, Lin Sangqian was now back, safe and sound.

And their family was finally reunited.

Lin Sangqian remained deeply puzzled: What on earth was Guan Yanqing's true identity?

Why had Gu Zhinan surrendered the instant he realized who he was?

Moreover, the people they had brought back seemed to be split evenly between Lin Hongda's men and Guan Yanqing's.

Unable to hold back any longer, she asked Lin Hongda, only for him to freeze in surprise. "You still don't know General Guan's identity?"

"General Guan? Guan Yanqing is a general too?"

"This isn't the place to talk. Once we get home, I'll explain everything in detail."

Having no choice, Lin Sangqian had to suppress her burning curiosity.

Since the bandits had already been captured, it was naturally time for them to return.

Just as Lin Sangqian was about to leave with her family, a soft sob rang out from behind her.

She looked back and saw that it was none other than Zhang Qianqian.

Moments earlier, Zhang Qianqian had actually wanted to leave together with Gu Zhinan, only to be chased back.

And yet, she still had the nerve to stand here crying.

"Oh, isn't this Shopkeeper Zhang's daughter?" Liao Shuxia was still unaware of how Zhang Qianqian had behaved up on the mountain. "You're safe too? That's wonderful! Your parents were worried sick about you. Come on, come back with us!"

Zhang Qianqian merely wept without uttering a word.

"Must have been frightened out of your wits, huh? It's alright..."

"Mother," Lin Sangqian interrupted, "never mind her. Let's go."

Though Liao Shuxia had no idea what had happened, since Lin Sangqian told her to ignore the girl, she instinctively categorized Zhang Qianqian as part of the enemy camp and simply walked away with the rest of the group.

Left with no alternative, Zhang Qianqian could only follow behind them back to the town.

With her mind still fixated on Gu Zhinan and having no clue where to find him, she had no choice but to return home. Her parents, completely oblivious to the turmoil in her heart, were overjoyed to see her.

...

As for the Lin family, they returned to their own courtyard.

Lin Hongda paced back and forth, examining the compound with awe. "I never imagined our home could become this nice!"

Knowing that his wife and children had lived well during his absence filled him with profound happiness.

"Stop pacing around and come inside to sit by the fire," Liao Shuxia said, pulling him into the room and looking at him with tender heartache. "You've lost weight, but you look much sturdier."

"That's right, my muscles are as solid as iron now!" Lin Hongda boasted proudly.

"No matter what, it's enough that Father came back safe and sound," Lin Sangqian said.

"Indeed, Father," Lin Wenyan added. "The battlefield must have been terribly grueling, right?"

"It wasn't too bad," Lin Hongda replied.

Four years of military life were thus summarized in just two simple words.

Now that he had returned safely, there was no need to dwell on the hardships and cause unnecessary worry for his family.

A knock sounded at the door, and Xiao Yawen hurried over to open it.

"Young Master Yu is here."

Yu Jingxiao had not only come in person, but he also brought two large sacks of crabs.

The moment he stepped through the threshold, he offered Lin Sangqian a profuse and guilt-ridden apology.

Naturally, Lin Sangqian bore him no grudge; he had only meant well in the first place, and who could have foreseen that mountain bandits would target the Yu residence?

Even so, Yu Jingxiao remained plagued by guilt, especially now that Guan Yanqing had returned.

He had failed Guan Yanqing's trust, and upon seeing Guan Yanqing earlier, though thrilled, he had been too ashamed to speak to him.

Half of the crabs he brought were steamed in a pot, while Lin Sangqian prepared the other half as spicy stir-fried crabs.

With Lin Hongda's return and the smooth resolution of the bandit crisis, Lin Sangqian was in high spirits and prepared several extra dishes.

"Where is the young master of the Guan family? Should we wait for him?" Lin Sangqian asked as they prepared to eat.

"No need," Lin Hongda answered. "He mentioned earlier that he had matters to discuss with the Third Prince and probably won't be able to come over until very late."

"By the way, how did Gu Zhinan end up being the Third Prince? And what on earth is Young Master Guan's actual identity?"

Lin Hongda smiled and said, "Over the past few years, you must have heard tales of that young God of War general, haven't you?"

"Um... Father, are you saying that Young Master Guan is that very God of War?" Lin Sangqian asked in astonishment.

"That's right. It's him."