Tang Xin led Huang Ye to a pavilion and sat down. Inside, there were some tea and snacks, and the two chatted while eating.

"Aren't we going to meet your father?"

"We can just wait here. I already told you, he has a keen nose."

Sure enough, before Tang Xin's words had even faded, a middle-aged man in his forties, with his hands behind his back, pretending to admire the flowers, walked over.

"Old man, stop pretending. Your son-in-law is here, hurry up and come assess him."

Huang Ye glanced at Tang Xin in surprise. This girl, daring to speak like that in front of her father, truly bold.

The middle-aged man approached with a smile, and the father and daughter exchanged a glare.

"Haha, I didn't expect a guest. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

The middle-aged man cupped his hands in greeting.

Huang Ye immediately stood up to return the gesture.

"Uncle, you're too kind. I've heard Xin'er mention you often."

"Uncle is a well-known figure in Silver Moon City. I've always wanted to meet you. Now that I see you, you truly have an impressive presence."

"Hehe, you speak well, nephew. I like hearing that."

He was quite pleased with the compliment, though he was a bit displeased with Huang Ye's use of "Xin'er."

Could this kid really have won over his daughter? It seemed like quite the act.

"May I ask where you are currently employed, nephew?"

"Uncle, I'm still young and currently studying at the Martial Arts Academy."

"Oh! You're still in school."

"How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen."

Tang's father looked at his daughter strangely. This daughter of his, how could she be involved with a student? A teacher-student romance, what a scandal.

"Does your family know about you and Xin'er?"

"They don't know yet. They don't restrict me; I decide my own marriage."

"Oh! Your family is quite open-minded."

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"Unlike you, always going on about matching social status," Tang Xin retorted unceremoniously at her father.

Tang's father rolled his eyes. This daughter of his, not giving him face even in front of outsiders.

"May I ask your family name, young man?"

"Uncle, my surname is Huang, and my name is Ye."

"Huang? Is your family not from this city?"

"We are. I've always lived in Silver Moon City."

"Oh, how come I've never heard of a Huang family here? Are you related by marriage?"

"Uncle, I'm not related by marriage. I was adopted from a young age, but my name was never changed."

"Hehe, it seems your adoptive parents are kind-hearted. What is your adoptive father's surname?"

"My adoptive father's surname is Wu."

Wu family? It doesn't seem like there's such a family. Tang's father searched his mind for the Wu family, but there were no first or second-tier families by that name.

Wait, he suddenly remembered there was a Wu family.

"Young Master Huang, could your adoptive father be the City Lord?"

"Father guessed right. He is the third son of the City Lord's mansion."

Upon hearing this, Tang's father did not seem pleased. His face darkened immediately.

This puzzled Huang Ye. It seemed Tang's father was not very friendly towards the Wu family.

"Young Master Huang, I'm sorry, but I need to take Xin'er out later. It's not convenient to keep you here today."

"Father, what do you mean by this? I brought him here. He's my future husband."

"Husband? I haven't agreed to that." Tang's father spoke in an unfriendly tone.

Seeing that things were not going well, Huang Ye quickly interjected.

"Since Uncle has things to do, I will take my leave."

"No, you haven't even eaten yet. Why are you leaving?"

"Xin'er, Uncle has matters to attend to. You're not a child anymore; you should understand. I'll be going now."

After speaking, he didn't wait for Tang Xin's agreement and quickly disappeared.

Tang Xin was about to chase after him when a large hand firmly grabbed her collar.

"Old man, what are you doing? Why did you chase my husband away?"

"What am I doing? Sit down quietly, or don't blame me for using family discipline."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Do you think I wouldn't?" Tang's father said angrily.

Seeing her father genuinely angry, Tang Xin settled down.

She just couldn't understand why her father turned hostile upon hearing about the City Lord's third son. Usually, her father had no dealings with the City Lord.

"Father, I want to know the reason. Otherwise, I won't give up on him."

"You really like him?"

"Yes, even though he's a bit younger, his potential is limitless. At first, I wanted him to marry into our Tang family, but I gave up when I found out he was the City Lord's third son."

"You know to give up."

"Let me ask you, do you know his background?"

"I do. He lost his parents when he was young, and the City Lord adopted him. He's lived with the City Lord ever since."

"You know nothing. Not only do you not know, but he doesn't know either."

"You know he was once a fool, right?"

"Yes, I know. He was foolish for seven years and only recently woke up."

"Aren't you afraid he'll become foolish again?"

"Haha, Father, that's impossible. Do you know his abilities? He memorized all the textbooks I gave him in one day."

Tang's father was taken aback. "How is that possible?"

"If you don't believe me, you can test him yourself."

"Being able to memorize isn't that special, just a sharp mind."

"He's not just sharp. The hidden weapons I taught in class, he learned them after class."

"The hidden weapons he throws are no worse than mine. His martial arts talent is also astonishing."

"Uh, really? How could he change so much after being foolish for seven years?"

"I don't know. I just know he's a genius, which is why I wanted to invite him to join us, even willing to entice him with marriage."

Tang's father pondered for a moment. He hadn't expected Huang Ye's talent to be so remarkable. Such abilities were indeed tempting, but he had made up his mind.

"Xin'er, you've told me what you know. Now let me tell you what I know."

"Oh, you know about him too?"

"Not just him, I know something about his family too."

"Isn't his family the Wu family?"

"Not the Wu family, his own family."

"The Huang family was once the largest family in Silver Moon City, but their only flaw was having only one heir per generation, so their numbers were always small."

"Back then, Old Master Huang took more than ten concubines but only had his father. Later, Old Master Huang was so angry he dismissed all the concubines."

"And his father only had him as a son."

"Later, the Huang family faced a calamity, leaving only him and his mother. His mother soon passed away too."

"Oh, what kind of calamity?"

"It was tragic. After his father's death, the Huang family members died mysteriously, regardless of status, none were spared."

"I was even invited to investigate, but couldn't find any cause of death until I accidentally discovered they might have been poisoned."

"This poison is mysterious. Strictly speaking, it shouldn't be considered poison. It can cause sudden death, and autopsies reveal nothing."

"And as far as I know, a branch of the Tang family possesses this poison."

"Ah! Could it be the Tang family acted?"

"I don't know. Anyone can use this poison, and it requires no preparation."

"As long as you're willing to pay, you can buy it, but this information is very secretive, known to very few."

"Father suspects that branch is the mastermind; they have a grudge against the Huang family."

"A grudge is impossible. That branch is at least tens of thousands of miles away, no chance for enmity."

"The one who poisoned is truly connected to the Huang family, not necessarily with a grudge. The Huang family's wealth was already a curse."

"Then why didn't he die?"