Chapter 98 "What happened in the front yard? What's going on..."

"What happened in the front yard? Why such a commotion?"

Xie Baoqiong, distracted by Meng Rui's questioning, turned her probing gaze to Sixi, whose expression kept changing.

Si Xi glanced at the guests in the courtyard and said vaguely, "Young Master, a cultivator has come to the manor."

Xie Baoqiong nodded indifferently. There were always quite a few cultivators around him. Not to mention Lin Zhechun, who would occasionally visit his residence, even Qi Gui, who was sitting in his courtyard today, could be considered one of them.

The curious expressions on Meng Rui and Qi Gui's faces faded, but Meng Rui added, "Are they cultivators from outside? If they're causing trouble, the Anti-Evil Division should be arriving soon."

Xie Baoqiong glanced at Sixi, who seemed to have more to say, and gestured for him to continue.

"That man insisted on seeing the Marquis and made a scene at the door, so the young master temporarily led him to the front hall."

"That person is still in the front hall. Is my brother alright?" Xie Baoqiong glanced at the sky. It was indeed not yet time for Xie Zhuo to finish his shift.

"Your Highness is unharmed, but... that person specifically requested to see you."

Xie Baoqiong was already worried about Xie Rongjing, so she immediately jumped off the chair. Then, remembering the other two, she hurriedly said, "I'll go check on the situation first. We'll get together another day."

After saying this, he walked outside, instructing Sixi, who had followed behind him:

"Sixi, send someone to escort them back."

"No need, Ah Qiong, I'll take Qi Gui back with me." Meng Rui waved to him and said goodbye to Qi Gui.

—

Xie Baoqiong walked quickly and hurriedly, and Sixi hurriedly caught up with her.

Halfway there, Xie Baoqiong suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Sixi, who was catching up, and asked:

What are the characteristics of the person who has arrived?

The reason for asking this question was not for any other reason than that a figure suddenly popped into Xie Baoqiong's mind. It seemed that the only person who would come looking for him in such a grand manner was Xiaochun.

Especially after Xiaochun returned to the mountain and heard from Xinxuan that he wanted to stay down the mountain for a few more years, it was not impossible for him to block the door directly.

He abruptly stopped his forward step and asked carefully:

"Is he a boy, a little taller than me, very handsome, and smells nice?"

For each characteristic he described, Sixi would recall the appearance of the people he had seen and answer accordingly:

"I am a bit taller than you, and in terms of appearance..." Sixi paused slightly, then raised her eyes, "I have the same good looks as you, young master. As for the fragrance, I was too far away to smell it."

Xie Baoqiong's steps seemed to be turning back, but he still gritted his teeth and walked towards the front hall, constantly thinking about how to explain to Xiaochun that the Xie family was really not bad.

But her steps unconsciously became a little lighter.

Si Xi's voice swept away both the joy and nervousness of this reunion:

"That person seemed to call himself Shuangmu. Is he someone the young master knows?"

Xie Baoqiong frowned and quickened her pace: "Never heard of it."

—

"elder brother!"

Ignoring the strange looks from the guards outside, Xie Baoqiong barged into the front hall. Before she could even see who was inside, Xie Rongjing, who had come to greet her, grabbed her arm.

"What brings you here? Weren't you entertaining guests in the courtyard?"

With her shoulders held down, Xie Baoqiong tilted her head and tried to peek out, but she couldn't see anyone in the hall.

The sound of porcelain clashing rang out simultaneously with a cold, sharp voice:

"Oh? There are guests at your residence? I guess I've come at an inopportune time."

A voice, both utterly unfamiliar and strangely familiar, reached Xie Baoqiong's ears. He racked his brains, but couldn't recall where he had heard it before. He could only look at the person in front of him.

"Brother, who is he?"

An emotion he couldn't understand flashed in Xie Rongjing's eyes. He gently rubbed Xie Rongjing's hair with his palm, let out a soft sigh, and turned his body to the side, revealing the scene behind him.

Just then, the figure sitting upright in the armchair turned his head, his face, hidden in the shadows, was fully exposed to the light streaming in from the doorway.

His face was as handsome as jade, but his round, soft eyes revealed a coldness that met Xie Baoqiong's gaze.

His voice, when lowered slightly, definitely sounds like this.

"My name is Shuangmu." Shuangmu raised his hand, rested it on his chin, and a mocking smile curved his expressionless face.

"So you're the imposter?"

The person who called himself Shuangmu had a face exactly like Xie Baoqiong's, except that he lacked the red mole between his eyebrows.

Furthermore, their distinctly different temperaments and expressions make them easily distinguishable.

Xie Rongjing frowned upon hearing Shuangmu's malicious words, and was about to speak when Xie Baoqiong beside him interrupted:

"I wonder what you mean by 'counterfeit'?"

His kind expression when facing Xie Rongjing a moment ago had completely disappeared.

He was absolutely certain that the body in Princess Huayang's coffin had not given birth; he was indeed a fake, and the person before him could not possibly be real either.

Shuangmu shifted her gaze away from him, appearing unwilling to speak further, and instead spoke calmly to Xie Rongjing:

"Has Lord Xie not returned yet?"

"A message has already been sent. Before the matter is clear, please refrain from speaking disrespectfully to my younger brother."

Xie Rongjing coldly reminded him, his original subtle expectations for Shuangmu completely vanished. He had thought that if there were no problems with Shuangmu's identity, he could be happy for Xie Zhuo, but Shuangmu's terrible attitude towards Xie Baoqiong made him worry.

He ignored Shuangmu's reaction to his words and changed his tone, speaking instead:

"Qiong'er, sit here and have some snacks. If you don't want to stay here, go back to your courtyard and we'll discuss this matter when your father returns."

Both options Xie Rongjing offered were considerate of him, but Xie Baoqiong refused the option of sending him back without hesitation. He was worried about Xie Rongjing being with the unknown Shuangmu across the street.

"My brother and I are together."

He sat down next to Xie Rongjing, and soon a figure appeared at the door.

When Xie Zhuo arrived, someone had already explained what had happened at the mansion. At this moment, he glanced at Shuang Mu's face, which was exactly the same as Xie Baoqiong's, and then looked away.

But in his words, he still pretended not to know:

"May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

"Recognizing relatives." These two concise words came from Shuangmu's mouth.

Xie Zhuo had just nodded when a child's pouty voice suddenly echoed in his mind:

"He's a fake!"

Xie Zhuo suppressed the smile on his lips, his gaze meeting Xie Baoqiong's, who stood beside Xie Rongjing, for a fleeting moment before he looked away, then asked without any emotion:

"What kind of kinship do you have? What proof or token can you give to prove it?"

Shuangmu's expression remained unchanged throughout, and he calmly delivered his prepared statement:

“I am the son of you and Princess Huayang…”

Xie Zhuo's lips were flat, and his eyes were deep as he waited for Shuang Mu to finish her sentence.

"After my mother died, I was still alive when my master pulled me from her body and raised me. He didn't hide my origins from me. Now that I've made some progress in my cultivation, I've gone down the mountain to gain experience and wanted to see what my biological father looked like, but I never expected..."

Shuangmu turned his hostile gaze towards Xie Baoqiong halfway through his sentence:

“I never expected to hear that someone would take my place in recognizing my ancestors and enjoying the joy of being with my parents. That’s why there was some commotion. I hope my father won’t be offended.”

His words were sincere and heartfelt, but only the three listeners themselves knew how much they actually believed.

Xie Zhuo might need to know more about another person's thoughts:

"He's lying."

The voice transmission in his mind was so lifelike that only he could hear it, almost exactly like when Xie Baoqiong was humming in his ear.

Xie Zhuo blocked Shuang Mu's hostile gaze and raised his hand to rub the ruffled stone:

"Don't take the rumors outside seriously. Xiao Bao has some relationship with the princess and is registered under my name. If there's no problem with your identity, he should be your younger brother."

Do you have any evidence to support your statement just now?

The hostility in Shuangmu's eyes vanished, and he replied:

“There are spells that can verify my relationship with my father.”

Before Xie Zhuo could raise his concerns, he spoke first:

"However, it would be suspicious if I used such magic on my own. I have heard that my father is on good terms with the Grand Preceptor. Why don't we ask the Grand Preceptor to verify it?"

Hearing Shuangmu's confident tone, Xie Baoqiong couldn't help but feel suspicious. Chisong's reminder flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but doubt Lin Zhechun.

The next moment, Xie Zhuo's calm voice rang out:

"The Imperial Preceptor Lin is not in the capital."

Shuangmu's expression remained unchanged. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Zhuo interrupted him:

"I'll have a guest room prepared for you to stay here for now. We'll make a decision after Grand Preceptor Lin returns to the capital."

"I will follow my father's arrangements."

Shuangmu showed no dissatisfaction on his face, accepted Xie Zhuo's decision, and left with the people Xie Zhuo arranged.

As I passed by Xie Baoqiong, those eyes, though identical on the outside, were completely different inside, and she glanced at me with disdain.

No sooner had the person left than Xie Baoqiong stared intently at Xie Zhuo with a bitter expression:

"Father, he's lying. Princess Huayang didn't give birth at all. Why did you keep him here?"

Although Xie Rongjing was learning for the first time that Princess Huayang had not given birth, he believed Xie Baoqiong's words in an instant. He looked at Xie Zhuo in confusion:

"Does Father have other plans?"

Xie Zhuo nodded and hugged the child who had turned into a bitter gourd:

"Father believes you, but when the coffin was opened for examination before the princess's burial, the child was not found."

Xie Zhuo's voice was calm, as were his eyes, which quietly met Xie Baoqiong's gaze.

"How could this be?" Disbelief flashed in Xie Baoqiong's eyes, then she realized, "Someone must have stolen it while I was going down the mountain."

Xie Zhuo continued patiently, following his words:

"So your father wants to catch the thief behind this, and you have to believe me."

"Father can't lie to Stone." Xie Baoqiong had already believed Xie Zhuo, but she still added a sentence.

Xie Zhuo affectionately rubbed against the child's chubby cheek. Ever since he learned that the age and mental maturity of demons and humans could not be generalized, these actions had become increasingly natural to him.

"Dad can't fool our little liar."

Xie Rongjing suggested from the side, "If Qiong'er is worried, make a pinky promise with your father, and your brother will help you keep an eye on him."

Xie Baoqiong stared blankly at Xie Zhuo's outstretched little finger, then imitated him by extending the little fingers of both her hands.

"You only need to extend one arm." A voice with a slight smile sounded in my ear.

A pinky promise, a hundred years from now, never to be broken...

Xie Baoqiong withdrew his little finger. His fair finger showed no new marks or shortening. He rotated his wrist and examined it repeatedly, but still couldn't find any change.

I thought the rituals of human promises were really strange, that they were so simple to make both parties keep their promises, but then I thought that the validity period was only a short hundred years, so it seemed normal.