"I know," Xin Jiuwei said urgently, "I saw the confidential files... You are my mother's child?"

Xiao Xun's pupils contracted slightly, then he smiled bitterly: "You went to the Second Prince's study." He sighed softly, "That's right, Qi Mingyue is my birth mother, but I am not of the late Emperor's bloodline."

"What?" Xin Jiuwei was struck dumb.

"The late emperor suspected that the child in my mother's womb was not his own and forced her to have an abortion. My mother escaped from the palace, gave birth to me, and to save my life, sent me to Lingyin Temple." Xiao Xun spoke very quickly, "Later, she married into the Xin family and gave birth to you... so we are not blood siblings, but cousins."

Footsteps approached from afar, and Xiao Xun immediately pulled Xin Jiuwei into the shadow of the artificial hill. The two were very close, and Xin Jiuwei could smell the faint scent of medicine and blood on him.

"And the current emperor..."

"I don't know. Those who knew back then were all executed by the late emperor." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Xun's eyes. "The Second Prince somehow obtained a clue and has been investigating all these years."

Xin Jiuwei's mind was in complete chaos. Her mother entered the palace as a concubine, escaped to give birth, and then married her father... How much untold pain and struggle had she endured?

"Time is running out." Xiao Xun suddenly took out a small copper whistle from his pocket. "When you see a red light, blow it. Remember, no matter what happens, don't leave my sight."

Xin Jiuwei took the bronze whistle, her fingertips touching his, and a jolt of electricity coursed through her body. Even knowing their blood relation, her heart still trembled for him...

"Xiao Xun, we..."

"Between you and me, there has never been just one possibility." Xiao Xun gave her a deep look, then turned and left.

Xin Jiuwei stood frozen in place until the distant bells rang, snapping her out of her daze. She had to get back to her sister's side before the Second Prince made his move!

Taking advantage of the chaos, Xin Jiuwei slipped out of the palace. Just as she turned into a small alley, a strong arm pulled her into the shadows—it was Old Zhou.

"Young lady, something terrible has happened!" Old Zhou's face was ashen. "Qi Huaiyu has sent men to surround the Xin residence, saying he's going to arrest the traitors!"