On the way back to the Prince Ji's mansion.

The whole way, Little Red Bean kept staring at her with that complicated look in her eyes. Staring was one thing, but she didn't say a word.

The Empress felt the atmosphere was rather awkward, so she reached out and lifted the carriage curtain to look out onto the street.

But even as she pulled her head back, Little Red Bean's gaze remained fixed on her face.

Di Beiyao sighed, "Heavens above! This is going to kill me!"

"Little Red Bean, is there something you want to say to me? If so, please feel free to speak your mind; I won't mind."

As long as it's not some melodramatic story where he recognizes you as his father's or mother's killer from your necklace or something, it's fine.

But then, Beitang Feng slowly took out a necklace from around his neck. Di Beiyao stared at it intently, and his whole body went cold.

Oh no, this is a big deal! How come this little red bean's necklace is exactly the same as the one I'm wearing around my neck?

Di Beiyao's mind went blank for a moment, and after a while he spoke somewhat uncertainly.

"So, Little Red Bean, you wouldn't happen to be my long-lost sister, would you?"

Beitang Feng shook his head, and Di Beiyao breathed a sigh of relief, but then the person opposite him spoke.

"I am your brother." These few words were astonishing.

Di Beiyao: "...?!?"

What the heck?! Little Red Bean is her own brother? So, Little Red Bean is actually a boy?

Oh no! How could her little red bean beauty turn into a boy?!

(Author: Your Majesty, isn't your focus a bit off? Di Beiyao: Mind your own business!)

Beitang Feng looked at Di Beiyao and said seriously, "It's true. Your original name was Beitang Yao, and you are my biological sister."

Our Beitang family is a well-known merchant family in Canglan Kingdom. Twelve years ago, your wet nurse took you, who was only nine years old, to play in the street.

We never imagined that a moment of carelessness would cause you to get lost. We've been searching for you all these years, and we never expected to find you by Jun Wuji's side.

Di Beiyao: "..." This is too melodramatic! The plot is so ridiculous! The Empress doesn't want to accept this mindless premise.

She finally understood where that inexplicable sense of closeness she felt when she first met Little Red Bean came from—it turned out this guy was the original owner's brother!

Seeing that Di Beiyao seemed somewhat distrustful, Beitang Feng took off the necklace from his neck and held it out to Di Beiyao.

"The maple leaf and sunset design on this necklace was specially commissioned by my parents after our names. There are only two of these in the world, and it is the best proof of that."

"So...you're my brother?" Di Beiyao rubbed his temples: Sigh, this is tricky.

"Yes, my name is Beitang Feng, and I am your older brother." Beitang Feng feigned composure, but his heart was in turmoil.

He originally entered the Prince Ji's mansion only to get closer to Jun Wuji, but unexpectedly, he found his long-lost sister by a twist of fate.

Is this some kind of divine guidance?

"Then why do you look like a woman?" Could it be that her extra, adopted older brother has such a peculiar fetish?

Beitang Feng saw his younger sister looking at him with an expression that seemed to say, "Do you have some kind of hidden illness?"

His face flushed instantly, and he coughed lightly, saying, "I do want to befriend Jun Wuji, but Jun Wuji is too difficult to approach."

I thought I'd start with his woman, get on your good side, and then... you know...

He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly seemed to remember something and abruptly changed the subject.

"Bah! What woman of Jun Wuji? She's clearly my own younger sister!"

Little sister, listen to your brother, we're not getting married!