All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Two heads popped out from under the covers at the same time, staring blankly at Zhang Cheng.

"Yes, go and propose marriage to Prince Duan." Zhang Cheng nodded, then turned to Zhong Ling, "If your mother is still alive, we'll arrange your marriage as well."

He paused, looking at the two of them: "What, you two don't want to?"

Zhong Ling blinked, then suddenly shrank back under the covers, leaving only her eyes showing, and whispered:

"Then...then you have to tell Sister Mu first...I...I'm at the back of the line..."

Zhang Cheng was taken aback, then chuckled. This girl, at this moment, actually has quite the self-awareness.

"So you've learned how to take numbers now?"

Zhang Cheng reached out and patted Zhong Ling's head through the blanket. "Alright, get up. The food is on the table. We'll leave after you eat."

After saying that, he pushed open the door, went downstairs, found a seat, and poured himself a drink.

Not long after, Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling got dressed, ate breakfast, and went downstairs. The three of them returned to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion together.

From afar, three people could be seen outside the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

The two men sat on the steps by the door, both dressed as young masters in white robes. The only difference was that one had a full head of black hair, while the other had a full head of white hair.

The two men were playing a game of chess on a wooden chessboard in front of them.

A person in a black robe with his face covered walked around them listlessly, glancing at the chessboard every now and then before looking away again.

It was Duan Yu, Duan Yanqing, and Yue Laosan.

Zhong Ling leaned closer and said with a grin, "Old sir, what brings you here so early in the morning to guard someone's gate?"

Duan Yanqing reached out and picked up another chess piece, placing it steadily before slowly speaking:

"I saw that the three of you had not returned for a long time, so I waited for you here."

Duan Yu turned around and added, "I was afraid Mr. Duan would be bored, so I stayed here to play chess with him and wait for Master Zhang and the two ladies."

After saying that, he turned to Duan Yanqing and said, "Mr. Duan's chess skills are amazing. If we continue playing, I will not be able to beat him."

"It just so happens that the three of you, Master Zhang, have returned as well. Mr. Duan, how about we end the game here today?"

Zhang Cheng and Mu Wanqing both noticed the change in how Duan Yu addressed Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling, but Zhong Ling was unaware of the reason and therefore paid no attention.

Upon hearing Duan Yu's words, Duan Yanqing nodded. He hovered his hand over the chessboard, flicked it left and right, and with a surge of internal energy, the black and white pieces returned to their respective positions, neatly falling back into the chess box.

Duan Yu, who knew no martial arts, watched in amazement.

Duan Yanqing stopped playing and looked at Duan Yu, "It's already quite remarkable that you have such skill at such a young age. But this is ultimately just a minor skill; you still need to cultivate your literary and martial arts skills."

Duan Yu opened his mouth, wanting to say that he considered his literary talent to be quite good, and that he had a broad knowledge of the Five Classics.

Before he could finish speaking, Mr. Duan, as if reading his mind, spoke again:

"Your uncle has no sons, and your father is his only brother. The Duan family's ancestral legacy will eventually be passed down to you."

The classic texts you've read are indeed useful—the principles of governing a country and ensuring the people's well-being are indispensable. But what happens after you've finished reading them? Have you ever considered how these things will be applied to governing the country in the future?

Duan Yu's lips moved, but he couldn't answer.

"Have you ever thought about how you can make the people of Dali live better than when your uncle was in power when you took that position?"

Furthermore, although the Duan family of Dali seized power and became emperors, they never forgot their roots. For generations, the Duan family considered themselves江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world).

If your uncle and father both abdicate and become monks, will your martial arts skills be enough to uphold the reputation of the Duan family? Will they be enough to deter those petty villains who covet Dali?

After Duan Yanqing finished speaking, he stood up.

"If Brother Zhang was indeed a villain who came seeking revenge yesterday, your family would have had no chance of escaping unscathed. Without martial arts skills, this feeling of helplessness, of having your life and death in someone else's hands, will likely be a recurring one in the future."

I will have your father and uncle urge you to study hard and test you regularly.

After saying that, he walked over to Zhang Cheng and the other two, nodded to Zhang Cheng, and said, "Let's go. After this matter is settled, you will come with me to Tianlong Temple."

Then he walked back to his residence and headed towards his room.

Zhang Cheng nodded upon hearing this. It seemed things were progressing smoothly.

Duan Yu stood there, still not quite recovered from his shock.

He never expected that he would be scolded and ordered to study just for playing a game of chess with Duan Yanqing.

But the other party was a senior member of the Duan family whom his uncle had personally acknowledged, so he could only obediently accept it.

Fortunately, he hadn't forgotten why he was waiting there.

He took a deep breath, turned around to greet Zhang Cheng and the other two, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Great Hero Zhang, please come in. My parents have been waiting for you for a long time."

Duan Yu led the three to a side hall.

There were no servants in the hall, only Duan Zhengchun, Dao Baifeng, and Qin Hongmian.

When Duan Zhengchun saw Zhang Cheng and the other two enter, he stood up to greet them.

Zhang Cheng returned the greeting, glanced at the people in the hall, and smiled, "It seems that Your Highness has handled everything properly. Congratulations."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun's expression flashed with a hint of emotion, but he still nodded with a smile:

"I must thank Brother Zhang for his hard work and for making this possible. Please have a seat."

Everyone took their seats.

Zhong Ling looked around but didn't see that familiar figure. She couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Duan, is my mother still at the manor?"

Duan Zhengchun's expression darkened slightly, and he said gently, "Baby, she has already returned to Wanjie Valley."

Before you left, please ask me to take good care of you. If you need anything, you can come to your uncle.

Zhong Ling felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this. Now that her mother had returned home, her marriage could no longer be arranged.

Therefore, she didn't think about why her mother would entrust her to someone else's care.

Seeing that she was in low spirits, Duan Zhengchun said with concern, "I am an old acquaintance of your mother, so I will call you Ling'er, just like she did."

You look a little sad, but what's bothering you?

Zhong Ling shook her head. This was something she couldn't easily tell outsiders.

Seeing that she was unwilling to talk, Duan Zhengchun didn't force her. Instead, he took Mu Wanqing's hand:

"Wan'er, you came here with this Brother Zhang, so you probably already knew that you are the daughter of me and your master."

His voice choked with emotion: "Over the years, your father has wronged you and your mother."

From now on, this will be your home. Let your father make it up to you and your mother, okay?

Duan Zhengchun originally planned to conduct the family reunion privately behind closed doors.

But Zhong Ling is currently an "outsider," and he doesn't want to exclude her.

It just so happened that Zhang Cheng had done him a great favor in resolving the conflict with his wife, and he also seemed to have a close relationship with Wan'er. For some reason, he was quite knowledgeable about his own romantic history—so I decided to keep Zhang Cheng and Zhong Ling together.

Mu Wanqing was well-prepared for this matter.

She looked at Duan Zhengchun, whose eyes were filled with tears, and then at her mother, whose eyes were also red, and nodded gently.

Dao Baifeng stood to the side, her face kind and loving towards her—though her occasional glances at Duan Zhengchun still carried a hint of hostility.

Mu Wanqing felt a deep sense of emotion. From this day forward, she too had parents.