“I’ve worked myself to the bone,” I’ve finally broken through the prohibition.

Can’t I even say a word, to ask the master for some credit?”

However, Emperor Zhou of the Great Zhou wasn’t even sparing him a glance, not even for a moment.

This left Zhao Jin feeling somewhat disappointed, but he had grown accustomed to it.

The way of the eunuch and the Emperor.

It’s like the relationship between a loyal dog and a goddess.

If you lick well, you might get something to eat; if you don’t, you get nothing.

If the goddess wishes not to be licked and you still insist, you lose even the right to be a loyal dog.

Having been a eunuch for hundreds of years, Zhao Jin knew all too well the difficulty of a eunuch’s life.

Not everyone could become a eunuch.

Zhao Jin still had a bit of pride.

He followed Emperor Zhou’s gaze toward Crane-Crying Island.

Quickly, he spotted a figure.

Was that the Princely Heir?

Zhao Jin noticed that something seemed off about the Princely Heir, as if he had just been through a great battle?

Zhao Jin hurriedly looked around and, before he could search carefully, noticed a body lying on the ground.

The person was dressed in a black robe.

His face, battered beyond recognition, still vaguely resembled someone… was it Qiu Zhiman…?

Was Qiu Zhiman a member of the black-robed ones?

Zhao Jin had only reached this thought when his expression turned incredibly odd.

He hadn’t been watching the projection, unaware of what had happened on Crane-Crying Island.

Seeing Qiu Zhiman as a member of the black-robed ones, possibly even the leader, his face momentarily stiffened in shock.

He was utterly stunned.

At this time, Emperor Zhou also spoke.

“Let’s go, take a look below.”

Emperor Zhou led the ministers, while Empress Wei of the Great Wei didn’t follow Emperor Zhou’s steps but went instead to find the students from her own Great Wei’s Martial Academy.

Emperor Zhou appeared before Cheng Guang.

Cheng Guang vaguely remembered that the last time he met Emperor Zhou was, indeed, the last time.

That time, at the Lakeside of Daming… No, it was by an unknown lakeside where they played a game.

It was exhilarating.

Although he was a substitute then, and still a substitute now.

But not just any substitute—evolved to a substitute max plus pro enhanced version.

Cheng Guang was confident that Emperor Zhou couldn’t possibly recognize him as a fake.

Thus, he was very relaxed.

First, he greeted Emperor Zhou respectfully and obediently called out,

“Uncle.”

Emperor Zhou’s majestic and icy countenance remained unchanged, still sizing up Cheng Guang as if looking at a stranger.

But Cheng Guang knew that Emperor Zhou just felt the “change” in “himself” was too great, so much that he needed a moment to adapt.

His identity hadn’t been exposed at all.

After greeting Emperor Zhou, Cheng Guang was about to greet Cheng Zhihai.

But Cheng Zhihai couldn’t hold back any longer, stepping forward immediately. His usually impartial, stony demeanor softened, his tiger’s eyes quivering, tears gleaming in his eyes.

His nose felt sour.

He had truly feared that Cheng Guang had just died.

In his excitement, he wanted to embrace Cheng Guang.

But he felt that Cheng Guang was already grown up.

Taller, even taller than himself.

And in front of so many people.

Cheng Zhihai hesitated for a moment, then with a tearful smile, said, “You rascal, if you had such skills, why didn’t you use them earlier and make your dad worry so much.”

Cheng Guang laughed and took the initiative to hug Cheng Zhihai.

Cheng Zhihai’s body stiffened a little.

His old face turned bright red.

He felt extremely embarrassed by his son’s affection.

But at the same time, he was very moved.

Ever since Guanger’s body was injured, Cheng Zhihai had been either busy with the work of the Bureau of the Lamp or traveling afar to find Spiritual Medicine to treat Guanger’s injuries.

They had never before…

Displayed such closeness.

For a moment, Cheng Zhihai felt that his child had truly grown up, and he was once again moved to tears.

In public, the unforgiving Cheng Zhihai, who had purged many noble families, in front of Cheng Guang became a sensitive and emotional old dad.

Motionless, he would become sentimental and cry.

Even more like Lin Daiyu than Lin Daiyu herself.

Perhaps Cheng Zhihai should change his name to Lin Zhihai…

That was what Cheng Guang thought inwardly.

But, truth be told, the name Lin Zhihai did sound quite pleasant.

As Cheng Guang and Cheng Zhihai were chatting, other officials dispersed to look for their own children.

Cheng Zhihai immediately wanted to take Cheng Guang home.

Cheng Guang seemed to remember something, handing over the Statue of Ten Thousand Bugs and Qiu Zhiman’s Storage Wooden Ring he had acquired to Cheng Zhihai.

“Dad, this is from that Qiu Zhiman. I don’t know if there’s anything valuable inside, take a look for yourself.”

Cheng Zhihai took it over and just glanced at it, his expression changed.

Before he could say anything, Cheng Guang spoke again.

“Dad, Mom doesn’t know about what happened here, does she?”

As soon as Cheng Zhihai heard Cheng Guang’s words, his expression lightened into a smile.

How could Yuemei possibly not know?

Seeing such an expression on his face, he immediately wished to plead with Cheng Guang to speak on his behalf when they got home. He knew that if he returned home just like this, he would definitely be scolded to death by Yuemei, the kind he couldn’t refute.

—The pain of being henpecked.

Cheng Guang helplessly gave Cheng Zhihai a look that said he was powerless to help.

Cheng Zhihai sighed and, after entrusting the treasures to Emperor Zhou, took Cheng Guang back to Duke Zhen’s Mansion in the Capital city.

After bringing Cheng Guang to Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Cheng Zhihai ultimately did not dare to step inside directly.