Chapter 49 Truth and Lies: Wishing my brother a long and healthy life.

Jin Suiqing was definitely not out of the running.

She didn't forget her original intention: to photograph the mine to complete the mission, and incidentally investigate why her treatment was different from that in the book. Since the previous mission was completed too smoothly, she naturally wanted to find out the reason.

After leaving the East Room, Jin Suiqing didn't leave immediately. Instead, she followed her pre-planned route and wandered around the Great Ci'en Temple for a long time. She avoided people and explored the entire temple grounds, inside and out, as if she were visiting a tourist attraction.

While wandering around, Jin Suiqing happened to see Jin Shiyu hurriedly leaving the west room and looking for her everywhere. Hidden in the corner, Jin Suiqing instantly understood and muttered, "So the organizers of the singing party are the two brothers."

This is not mentioned in the novel.

Looking back now, there are many clues in the text that subtly point to Huangfu Li. After the clothing ceremony, Huangfu Li inexplicably became more wary of Huang Tufeng, who had photographed the blueprints. He personally went to the final exam to observe, and by chance, witnessed the exposure of Huangfu Feng's identity.

It can be described as one link after another.

Huangfu Li was absent, so Jin Shiyu took charge. Jin Suiqing, unaware of the situation, played her cards openly, which is why she received extra care when she entered the temple.

Jin Suiqing frowned. She had already experienced Jin Shiyu's suspiciousness that night at Zhanxing Tower. She also thought about the items he had bid on today, which she had all raised her paddle for. If she went home without knowing the details, Jin Shiyu would use the items to blackmail her, and she would probably face another round of difficult torment. Caught red-handed, she would have no way to escape.

Thinking of this, Jin Suiqing felt a chill run down her spine, and sweat broke out on her back.

She couldn't just sit and wait to die.

After much deliberation, Jin Suiqing slipped out of the corner, turned her back to the monk who was looking for her, paid the auction fee, took the peace token, and then grabbed a few scriptures. Using a zipline, she climbed out of the Great Ci'en Temple and waited for Jin Shiyu at the back gate.

Since she is in the open while Kim Shi-ok is in the shadows, why not break the balance, reveal our cards, catch him off guard, counter his moves, adapt to the situation, and resolve the crisis in a timely manner?

Jin Suiqing waited all afternoon, until she was drowsy, and finally caught sight of Jin Shiyu. She quickly called out to him, "Brother!"

Jin Shiyu turned around, his breathing rapid but his expression calm. Jin Suiqing cursed his poker face inwardly, but feigned a pitiful look, "Brother, I've been waiting for you for so long, my legs are so numb I can't stand up..."

Jin Suiqing blinked, squeezed out two tears, and said aggrievedly, "Quickly pick me up."

Jin Shiyu looked slightly surprised. He paused for a moment before quickly dismounting and walking briskly to a corner. He reached out to help her up, but Jin Suiqing shook her head, dodging Jin Shiyu's hand, and stretched out her arms, saying, "Brother, pick me up."

It's no lie; her legs were genuinely numb from squatting for so long.

Jin Shiyu stopped moving, and Jin Suiqing urged him, "Hurry up, brother, I'm thirsty, tired, and hungry, I want to go home."

Jin Shiyu still didn't reach out to hug her as she wished. He lowered his head, half of his face hidden in shadow, so she couldn't see him clearly. She only heard him ask, "What are you doing here?"

Jin Suiqing blinked her eyes. "Pick me up, and I'll tell you."

Jin Shiyu was stunned for a while before bending down, putting his arms under Jin Suiqing's armpits, holding her back, and picking her up.

Jin Suiqing wrapped her arms around his neck, groaning repeatedly, saying "It's so numb, it's so numb," and clung to Jin Shiyu. Once she could stand up a little, she let go of Jin Shiyu's neck but still clung to him, saying, "Of course I'm waiting for my brother to come out."

Jin Shiyu looked down at Jin Suiqing, who was leaning against his chest, and it took him a while to come to his senses. His sister was answering him why she was there.

She was waiting for him.

Jin Shiyu's body trembled slightly. His anger, which had not yet dissipated, transformed into something hot and soft that filled his chest, with his sister's soft face pressed against it.

Jin Shiyu's pupils flickered slightly. Jin Suiqing's cheeks were soft and plump, so soft they seemed to curl up together. Reluctant to push her away, he let her lean against him. Jin Shiyu pinched her cheek and said softly, "How did you know I was in there?"

Jin Suiqing nuzzled against his chest, looked up, and smiled, her eyes crinkling as she said, "Of course I saw you inside, brother. You were talking to a monk, and I was afraid of disturbing you, so I thought I'd come out and wait for you."

What she said was true.

"How long did you wait?"

Jin Suiqing pretended to lightly punch his chest, feigning anger, "I've been waiting for more than an hour, brother is so slow."

This statement is also true.

Jin Shiyu felt his chest grow even warmer, grabbed Jin Suiqing's fidgeting hand, and asked again, "What are you doing at the Great Ci'en Temple?"

Jin Suiqing grinned and said, "I heard there's a fashion show today, and I saw something I wanted, so I came to check it out."

This statement is still true.

Upon hearing her words, Kim Shi-ok's breath hitched. She swallowed back countless doubts, curled her lips into a smile, and asked casually, "What did you buy? May I see it?"

Looking into Jin Suiqing's bright, sparkling eyes, Jin Shiyu thought that if she was willing to tell him the truth, he would give her whatever she wanted.

If she wanted the Jin family's sulfur-burning machine, he would help her seize it; if she wanted the throne, he would help her take it; if she wanted his life, he would give it to her.

He didn't want anything, he just wanted Jin Suiqing to keep looking at him like that. Jin Shiyu held his breath and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Next time you can just ask me, and I'll buy it for you."

“That’s different,” Jin Suiqing shook her head, pushed Jin Shiyu’s chest away, and presented him with the Diamond Sutra peace plaque in both hands. She lowered her eyes and said, “I took a liking to this peace plaque at first sight. I bought it as a gift for you, brother, hoping it will bless you with peace and good fortune.”

This statement is a lie.

Jin Shiyu stared at the peace plaque, his Adam's apple bobbing.

In a few days, the person who signed the lease agreement would come to her to sign and seal it, and the ownership of the abandoned mine would be transferred. She would have no room for regret. Jin Shiyu should have reminded her in time.

But now, he couldn't say it; Jin Shiyu's heart was filled with Jin Suiqing's soft cheeks.

He didn't want Jin Suiqing to lean on someone else.

Afraid of giving herself away, Jin Suiqing feigned distress, her brows furrowing slightly. "Don't you like it?"

Kim Shi-ok licked his lips and held back, "Why did you give me this?"

Hearing his question, Jin Suiqing relaxed and said frankly, "I don't want my brother to get hurt again."

She thought to herself, "This is the truth."

She always speaks a mixture of truth and falsehood. If you were to ask her to identify which of her statements is true, she would probably need to think about it for a while.

But right now, it's true that I don't want Kim Si-ok to get hurt again.

From the moment Jin Shiyu carried her back to the Jin family from the cave, Jin Suiqing did not want Jin Shiyu to get hurt again.

Jin Suiqing held the peace talisman close to his face, looking up directly into Jin Shiyu's eyes. Jin Shiyu looked back at her, his honey-colored eyes gleaming like a clear, still sea, both cold and bright.

The still sea rippled slightly. Jin Suiqing didn't understand what he was thinking, but she guessed that he must have believed her.

Jin Shiyu responded with an "okay," took a step back, moved out of the shadow cast by the eaves, and stepped into the sunlight. Smiling, she opened her arms, revealing her waist, and said earnestly, "Would it be alright if you tied it for me yourself, little sister?"

Today, Kim Shi-ok wore a round-necked robe in auspicious colors and a turban. He was probably busy today, as his temples were slightly disheveled with a few stray hairs sticking out. His light-colored hair looked like flying golden threads in the setting sun.

Jin Suiqing suddenly felt that the name Jin Shiyu was particularly good. He was handsome and beautiful, like a finely crafted piece of mutton fat jade, shining with gold light, beautiful but not vulgar.

Holy crap, how can there be such a good-looking person in the world?

"Aren't you coming yet?"

Hearing his urging, Jin Suiqing suddenly came to her senses, quickly stepped forward, buried her head in tying the tag around his waist, and muttered, "How can someone be so good-looking..."

Jin Shiyu heard her clearly, but pretended not to, staring at the whorl of her hair and asking, "What did you say?"

Jin Suiqing raised her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said, "I have to say, how can my brother be so handsome!"

So blunt, Kim Shi-ok's eyelashes trembled. She thought that this face was still somewhat useful. Her lips, which had just been lowered, curled up again. "I can't find a husband uglier than my brother in the future."

Jin Suiqing was shocked. "Then there's none left."

Jin Shiyu said, "If you don't have it, don't bother looking for it."

Jin Suiqing questioned, "Does this mean I'm destined to grow old alone?"

On second thought, it's perfectly fine not to have a man, as long as you have money.

Kim Shi-ok decisively replied, "I'll go with you."

Jin Suiqing lowered her head again, concentrating on tying the peace charm. After tying it, Jin Suiqing patted Jin Shiyu's waist with satisfaction, "May my brother live a long and healthy life."

Jin Shiyu remained silent, staring down at her, waiting for her reply.

Jin Suiqing forced himself to examine the wooden plaque, thinking to himself that a two-thousand-tael wooden plaque was indeed beautiful, with a glossy sheen.

To continue avoiding his gaze, she pretended to shake her head and scrutinize him even more intently. She hid for quite a while, almost seeing right through the wooden sign, but he showed no sign of backing down. Frustrated, Jin Suiqing took a few deep breaths, then took Jin Shiyu's hand and led him towards the horse.

Kim Si-ok remained rooted to the spot, without moving.

Jin Suiqing tugged at Jin Shiyu again, but he still didn't move. Jin Suiqing looked up and pretended to be pitiful, "Brother, I'm so tired after squatting all afternoon, I want to go home."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jin Shiyu grabbed her hand, strode towards the horse, lifted her onto it, and once she was settled, he immediately stepped into the stirrups, mounted the horse, and hugged her, saying, "Okay, let's go home."

Jin Shiyu rode very fast and steadily. Facing the evening breeze, Jin Suiqing quietly pinched her slightly hot earlobe, breathed a sigh of relief, and was glad that the plot of the singing party should be considered to have been fooled.

Huang Tufeng discovers that the sketches obtained from the Changyi Association are fake, completely cutting off the possibility of obtaining the blueprints for the super sulfur combustion engine from the outside. During the final exam, he uses the schemes of the female lead, Jin Suiqing, to reveal his true identity and return to the Jin family.

She will go from being a pampered princess to a servant in the Jin family, undergoing a dramatic change in status, and who knows what she will encounter.

Jin Suiqing shook her head, banishing all distracting thoughts from her mind.

Her identity being exposed also means the storyline mission is coming to an end, and she will regain her freedom to live a carefree life with Ye Zhufeng. Instead of dwelling on those things, she should focus on the present, plan ahead, and get the factory into production quickly and on track.

With that thought in mind, the piles of silver coins were already beckoning to her.

Jin Suiqing was so engrossed in her thoughts that she remained silent the whole way home. When Jin Shiyu helped her down from her horse at the door, he asked her, "Why do you look a little unhappy?"

Jin Suiqing was preoccupied with how to build the factory. She shook her head, jumped off her horse, leaving Jin Shiyu behind, and headed towards the mansion.

Jin Shiyu stood there, stunned, forgetting to retract his hand, leaving it outstretched, and turned to stare at Jin Suiqing.

After a long while, Jin Suiqing, who was about to climb the steps, realized that no one was around. She quickly turned around, lifted her skirt, and jumped to Jin Shiyu's side. She raised her hand and patted his palm with a little force.

With a "snap," a hand smaller than his landed in Jin Shiyu's palm. Just like when they were children, he subconsciously closed his fingers and held Jin Suiqing's hand to prevent her from running away.

With the person in his grasp and unable to escape, Jin Shiyu finally calmed down and said coldly, "What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed that you don't even care about your own brother."

Jin Suiqing hurriedly explained, "It's only a couple of days. My brother is graduating, and I have my final exams. I'm just thinking about how to review my lessons."

Jin Shiyu's eyes darkened, his fingers tightened, and he squeezed her hand hard: "You still want to get last place?"

"No, no," Jin Suiqing said, pulling his hand and shaking it playfully, "I definitely won't this time."

Jin Suiqing was not lying.

After all, with the farce of the real and fake princesses happening during this final exam, she would be expelled from the National Academy, so how could she possibly get the lowest score?

By then, Jin Shiyu will no longer be her brother, and he will have no reason to control her.

Thinking of this, Jin Suiqing gripped Jin Shiyu's hand tightly and smiled at him: "Brother, don't worry, I will never be last in the exam again."