Chen Jinzhao’s opinion did not matter in this matter.
He turned to look at Yu Mengzhi. Yu Mengzhi nodded, and Chen Jinzhao then said to Li Tiance, "Alright, you guys set a time. Mengzhi and I will go over then."
"Okay, Tiannan will contact you then."
The Li brothers did not linger for long. After discussing the main points, they left.
The two left the ward.
Li Tiannan asked in confusion, "Brother, why do I feel like you're quite happy? Chen Jinzhao still hasn't agreed. This isn't good news for us."
"Tiannan, this is where you misunderstand," Li Tiance said with a smile.
"Do you remember the gathering in Jiangning last time? Chen Jinzhao refused very readily, without the slightest hesitation. But just now, he clearly hesitated, indicating that he is already tempted. As long as we can eventually get Chen Jinzhao to join our side, what does it matter if I invite him ten or eight times?"
"What touches people's hearts the most is often sincerity."
Li Tiannan seemed to understand but also not.
Then he said, "I wonder how things are with Auntie. Are you sure Yu Mengzhi is our cousin?"
Li Tiance nodded, "It's highly likely. I've been investigating the situation from that year these past few days. Yu Mengzhi should have also asked her father, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed so readily."
"She's actually our cousin? The world is so small," Li Tiannan murmured to himself.
Li Tiance walked forward, smiling, "This is a good thing for us. Given Mengzhi's relationship with Chen Jinzhao, they will eventually tie the knot. Chen Jinzhao won't be able to avoid this relationship. Go and prepare a valuable gift for Auntie and Mengzhi."
Li Tiannan nodded.
Meanwhile, inside the ward.
Yu Mengzhi did not ask Chen Jinzhao about Li Tiance’s matters. Whatever decision Chen Jinzhao made, she would stand by his side unconditionally.
"Regarding Auntie, have you already spoken to Uncle Yu?" Chen Jinzhao asked.
Yu Mengzhi nodded, her tone complex. "Yes, he told me about what happened back then. My mother is indeed Li Zhiqing from the Li family, and she is now a nun at Lingyin Temple. I originally wanted to find some time to go to Linzhou alone, but since it's on the way with them, I'll go together."
Chen Jinzhao held her hand. "How are you feeling now?"
Yu Mengzhi gave a bitter smile. "What feelings could I have? I've never seen her since I was a child. She is both distant and a stranger to me."
"To be honest, I am a little apprehensive."
It was a strange feeling she couldn't quite describe.
Chen Jinzhao smiled and comforted her, "She must be very eager to see you, but perhaps she is afraid to see you because of the Li family."
Yu Mengzhi decided to prepare herself well.
That afternoon.
Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi left the hospital. According to the doctor, Chen Jinzhao's recovery speed was very fast. Even without treatment, he would regain his health in a week.
Staying in the hospital seemed redundant.
Chen Jinzhao went home to see his mother, which put Li Qiurong at ease. Then he set off for Jiangning.
He met Wu Gang, who had already undergone surgery, at the military hospital, along with Wu Gang's grandfather, Wu Weihua. This elder gentleman had served as the bodyguard for the Old Master of the Su family back in the day before gradually taking on important positions. He had now retired.
When Wu Weihua saw Chen Jinzhao, his gaze was a little fearful, as his relationship with the Su family was too sensitive.
"Old Sir, there's no need to be like this. I know you don't have much of a connection with the Su family, and Young Wu is a younger brother I'm very fond of. I've come specifically to see him," Chen Jinzhao's words made Wu Weihua breathe a little easier, fearing that this god of war would uproot their Wu family without a second thought.
Learning that Chen Jinzhao meant no harm, Wu Weihua opened up. He sighed, "Truly, a hero emerges from youth. I see the heroism and mettle of the older generation in you. There are very few people who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you. If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to achieve high official ranks in the future. It is truly Wu Gang's honor to be your soldier."
"You flatter me, Old Sir. I am merely doing my job by the book," Chen Jinzhao said modestly.
Wu Weihua was even more emotional. When he was Chen Jinzhao's age, he was still an ignorant young boy who only knew how to follow the commands of the Old Master of the Su family.
Their conversation returned to Wu Gang.
Wu Weihua suddenly sighed, "I don't know what's wrong with Wu Gang. Ever since he came out of the operating room, he's been lost in thought. No matter how we try to persuade him, it's to no avail. I think the one who tied the knot must untie it. Perhaps you could help persuade him?"
Chen Jinzhao nodded. "I came here specifically for this matter."
Wu Weihua thanked him repeatedly.
Then he watched Chen Jinzhao enter the ward and sighed again, thinking how truly powerful Chen Jinzhao was. He had only been promoted to general when he was about to retire, a title that was more symbolic than practical. Yet, Chen Jinzhao, at just over twenty years old, had already become a general with real power. Moreover, he had defeated both the Han and Su families, making him the talk of the town.
"This person is truly an extraordinary talent. To achieve this single-handedly is truly admirable." Wu Weihua recalled a line of poetry from Xin Qiji's "On Visiting Beiguting at Jingkou with Thoughts": "To beget a son like Sun Zhongmou." He felt that it could now be changed to "To beget a son like Chen Jinzhao."
Whoever could win over this prodigy would gain half the kingdom.
Inside the ward.
Chen Jinzhao saw the pale-faced Wu Gang.
Compared to before, Wu Gang's face, besides being a little pale, also had a lifeless look.
It was as if he had grown profoundly weary of this world.
"Young Wu, wake up," Chen Jinzhao said.
Wu Gang's eyeballs moved. Upon seeing Chen Jinzhao, his pale cheeks finally showed some expression. He said in a hoarse voice, "Instructor, why are you here?"
Chen Jinzhao stood by the bed, staring into Wu Gang's eyes. "I came to see you."
Wu Gang was stunned, then shifted his gaze elsewhere, saying weakly, "Instructor, you shouldn't have saved me. Wouldn't it have been better to let me die painlessly? I watched my comrades die in front of me, watched them being dismembered by the enemy, and I was powerless to do anything."
That scene had been too much of a blow for the young Wu Gang, leaving an indelible scar.
For Wu Gang, death might have brought more relief.
Chen Jinzhao sighed. "If you want to die just because you encountered such a problem, how can you face the comrades who helped you escape? If they knew, they would be very disappointed in you."
Wu Gang stirred slightly, his nose stinging as he choked, "But I'm so useless. When they died, I couldn't help them at all."
"What is the meaning of a waste like me living on?"
Chen Jinzhao pulled over a chair and sat down, smiling. "Did you know about what happened last night? The Su and Han families have fallen, and the major families in the capital have been severely purged. We have achieved a phased victory."
Wu Gang hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, but this phased victory doesn't belong to me, because I wasn't involved from beginning to end. This victory belongs to you, to Elder Xu and the others."
"No, you are mistaken," Chen Jinzhao shook his head.
"This victory belongs to all of us. Without your bravery, I wouldn't have obtained the evidence of the Han family's crimes, let alone brought them down. You shouldn't belittle yourself; you should look forward."
"Otherwise, according to your logic, I should have died four years ago."
"At that time, I watched with my own eyes as brothers around me fell one by one, which plunged me into despair for three years."