Li Youran finally got the household registration she had been longing for and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I am very grateful for Young Master Liu's help today." Li Youran bowed and said, "If you need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

Although Li Youran disliked owing favors to others, she knew that with her current abilities, she was simply unable to repay Liu Zhiyuan's kindness.

They were strangers who had helped her by chance; how could she not remember it? If Liu Zhiyuan ever needed anything in the future, she would do everything in her power to help.

"Second Prince's Consort, His Highness the Second Prince is currently in a sensitive situation. If he were to conduct such a high-profile investigation of household registrations, it might arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble..."

After hearing her subordinate's words, Ouyang Wenwan sighed softly, a hint of sadness on her face.

"Listen to the Crown Princess and investigate." Just then, the Second Prince walked in, waved to his subordinate, and the man left.

"Why are you back so early today?" The Second Prince's wife said, stepping forward to help the Second Prince remove his cloak.

After each court session, the emperor would keep the second and third princes, along with several other princes, behind to ask them for their opinions on matters of state.

It was ostensibly an assessment of the princes, but in reality, it was an attempt to see if the princes had formed factions with the ministers.

Although the emperor was over fifty years old, he had no intention of abdicating. Moreover, he wanted to hold a selection of concubines to expand his harem.

"Father found out about my third brother's faction with the ministers. After court today, he kept my third brother behind alone. I heard from the eunuchs that Father also broke several tea sets."

As the second prince spoke, he pulled his wife into his arms.

"I figured my father wouldn't be in the mood to talk to me today, so I came back early."

Have all the other princes left as well?

"No," the Second Prince laughed. "Anyway, in their eyes, I'm just a lazy prince who has no interest in politics, so it makes sense for me to do this. It would be abnormal for me to stay."

Seeing this, the Second Prince's wife didn't say anything more, after all, the Second Prince's thoughts were much more profound than hers.

“At this critical juncture, if we were to check the household registration again…” The Second Prince’s wife did not want the Second Prince to take the risk for her.

“Instead of hiding it, we should investigate openly,” the Second Prince explained. “Even if I do nothing, countless eyes are watching me. Rather than hiding it and arousing their suspicion, we should put this matter in the open.”

After hearing the Second Prince's words, Ouyang Wenwan suddenly realized what was going on.

The second prince's subordinates were extremely efficient; they checked the household registration in the capital on the same day.

Unfortunately, Li Youran's household registration was moved out. Although she had a separate household registration, due to the short time frame, the household registration officers could not find her registration when they were investigating. As a result, Li Youran missed the opportunity to reunite with her relatives once again.

"Have you heard? The Second Prince's wife has a younger sister who was lost among the common people. In order to put the Second Prince's wife at ease, His Highness the Second Prince has begun to thoroughly investigate the household registration."

"With such a big commotion, I'm afraid no one is unaware of this matter. I also heard that the Second Prince's sister was separated from her family, and she is estimated to be around sixteen years old."

Several customers bought some cooked food and two jin of wine from Li Youran's shop. They drank and chatted, talking about the most exciting things happening right now.

"I also heard that the Second Prince's wife's surname is Ouyang, which is a very rare surname."

Li Youran, who was looking through the ledgers at the counter, suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart when she heard the name Ouyang.

"Boss, what's wrong with you? Should I go and call a doctor?"

Xiao Zhou rushed over and helped Li Youran up.

Li Youran waved her hand, gesturing for Xiao Zhou to help her sit down.

After slumping into a chair and quickly drinking a large glass of water, Li Youran finally recovered.

Li Youran suddenly recalled the original owner's memories before the age of three. Although they were very vague, the surname Ouyang was very vivid in her mind. Moreover, when she heard the name Ouyang, the piercing pain seemed to be engraved in her bones.

Li Youran suddenly had a bold and crazy guess: Could the Second Prince's Consort be her relative...?

No, Father clearly said he found her in a small alley. If I were from a wealthy family, how could I be alone in such a place?

"Little Zhou, do you know which family the Second Prince's consort belongs to?"

"Popular rumors suggest that the Second Prince's wife has a lowly status, but the specifics are unknown."

Li Youran nodded without saying anything.

That night, Li Youran lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, constantly thinking about what had happened during the day.

The name Ouyang seemed to unlock memories deep within her, and Li Youran increasingly felt that this bold and crazy guess was very likely true.

However, she had no birthmark, no keepsake, and no recollection of what happened before. Even she herself couldn't be sure, let alone others believing her; it was just a guess.

Li Youran pondered this all night, so much so that she felt groggy when she woke up the next day.

Fortunately, she had prepared the filling for the steamed buns and handed over the task of collecting the money to Hua Ruyu. She then went back to bed for a nap.

"Brother, here's your change." Hua Ruyu said, handing over several dozen copper coins to the man who bought the steamed buns.

People who work on the docks year-round have thick calluses on their hands, and their palms are stained with black stains that can't be washed off.

However, although the man was dressed as a dockworker, his hands were very clean, and the calluses on his hands were obviously from years of handling weapons and pulling reins, which were completely different from the calluses on the hands of dockworkers.

Hua Ruyi observed the man discreetly, silently memorizing his appearance.

It's all thanks to Li Youran for letting her collect the money today, otherwise we wouldn't have made such a big discovery.

So when Li Youran came out of the room, she was picked up by Hua Ruyu, who was very excited, and spun around in a circle.

"Ruyu, what's driving you so crazy?" Li Youran was completely bewildered.

Hua Ruyu opened her mouth, but didn't speak. Although she considered Li Youran a friend, there were some things she really couldn't say.

"I'll tell you another day," Hua Ruyu said, then stuffed the money she earned from selling steamed buns that day into Li Youran's hand. She added, "I have urgent business to attend to, I must go now."

"You're not eating steamed buns anymore?"

Before Li Youran could finish speaking, Hua Ruyu had vanished without a trace. Li Youran shrugged helplessly, then, with dark circles under her eyes, counted how much money she had made that morning.

"Boss, someone is looking for you."

Li Youran, who was counting money, looked up when she heard Xiao Zhou's words.