foster siblings

A cold, deep, and emotionless voice suddenly rang out from the shadows of the bamboo forest behind the two.

Gu Jinghong and Xie Yan's bodies stiffened instantly at the same time.

The two of them turned around abruptly!

Xiao Chengyan, dressed in a black casual suit, stood with his hands behind his back, and it was unclear how long he had been standing there.

Changfeng stood silently behind him like a ghost.

Moonlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, falling on Xiao Chengyan's cold and stern face. His left cheek, where he had been slapped, seemed even more taut in the shadows than his right. His deep eyes, at this moment, were as still as the sea before a storm, churning with anger that had not yet subsided and a cold scrutiny.

“A late-night rendezvous, heated words…” Xiao Chengyan slowly stepped out of the shadows, his voice breaking the deathly silence, “Gu Jinghong, do you need to introduce this man to me, and why he is in my residence?”

His hands, clasped behind his back, unconsciously twitched at his fingertips, as if trying to erase some lingering sensation.

Gu Jinghong was stunned for a moment, because she couldn't believe that Xiao Chengyan would still come out to arrest people when such a serious conflict had just occurred and it was already past midnight.

Gu Jinghong lowered her eyes, and a plan formed in her mind: "Your Highness, please forgive me, but my sworn brother does have something important to discuss with me."

Sworn brother—

Xie Yan and Xiao Chengyan both looked at Gu Jinghong.

Xiao Chengyan's lips pursed down almost imperceptibly, and a fleeting hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

In an instant, Xie Yan readily withdrew his hand, clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Xiao Chengyan, and said in a manner that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Highness, please forgive me! I did not mean to trespass into the Prince's residence; I was simply anxious to find my sister!"

Xiao Chengyan naturally didn't believe it, but he still stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged, as if waiting for the two to continue talking.

Gu Jinghong's face instantly contorted with immense "grievance," tears welling up uncontrollably. Her voice trembled with disbelief as she grabbed Xie Yan's arm, sobbing "sincerely" while secretly pinching Xie Yan hard.

"Brother...is what you just said true?! Is Godfather...really dying?"

Xie Yan felt a sharp pain in his arm from her grip, his face instantly filled with sorrow. His voice choked with emotion and a reproachful tone, as if from the perspective of an elder brother: "Silly girl, it's all my fault, I failed to take good care of you..." He glanced at Xiao Chengyan, hesitating to speak, his expression a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear, "It's all thanks to the Prince for taking us in! But my godfather..."

With tears streaming down her face, Gu Jinghong bowed to Xiao Chengyan and said, "My godfather is seriously ill. I hope Your Highness will allow me to leave the manor to see him one last time."

As Xiao Chengyan watched the tears rolling down her face, his mind involuntarily flashed back to the scalding heat of a tear that had fallen onto his hand in the bathroom. An indescribable irritation mixed with icy suspicion instantly gripped him.

As if possessed, he stared into Gu Jinghong's eyes and coldly asked, "Gu Jinghong, didn't you keep saying you admired me? Now that you've left the manor, will you come back?"

He was surprised to even ask the question. He wanted to tear off her disguise, especially after the farce in the bathroom and the current "brotherly and sisterly affection." He was eager to know how she could continue to cover up this lie of "admiration."

But to others, it didn't sound the same. Even Changfeng seemed to faintly sense the expectation in the prince's words.

Gu Jinghong was suddenly taken aback by the question, but her expression remained unchanged.

Just as she was thinking about how to reply to Xiao Chengyan, Xie Yan preemptively bowed deeply to Xiao Chengyan: "Your Highness, please calm down! All the faults are your elder brother's fault!"

He spoke earnestly, “My younger sister is young and ignorant, and having lost both parents at a young age, and with her adoptive father seriously ill, she may have acted inappropriately due to her confused state of mind! Her words of admiration for Your Highness must have been a case of mistaking gratitude for admiration, seeing Your Highness as a lifeline in times of crisis. Your Highness’s status is as noble as the bright moon in the sky; how could she possibly aspire to such a position? This misunderstanding is truly absurd! On behalf of my adopted sister, I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness! Upon returning home, I will certainly discipline her strictly and never allow her to speak nonsense again, thus offending Your Highness’s ears!”

Xiao Chengyan narrowed his phoenix eyes, looking at Xie Yan thoughtfully.

This person's words were watertight, completely discrediting Gu Jinghong's "admiration" and severing all ties, which only fueled the nameless anger in Gu Jinghong's heart.

It seems that at this point, not letting Gu Jinghong leave would make him, as a prince, appear petty.

A sense of emptiness and unease, of being manipulated and completely losing control, surged into my heart like a cold tide.

Gu Jinghong lowered her head and leaned against Xie Yan, her voice weak and filled with shame and resignation: "Your Highness... Jinghong... Jinghong was confused. It was Jinghong who was confused for a moment and said things she shouldn't have... I beg Your Highness... please be magnanimous and don't hold it against me... My father is seriously ill, please let my brother and me go home..." She gripped Xie Yan's sleeve tightly, as if it were her only support and cover.

Looking at the "brother and sister" who "depended on each other for survival" and were "eager to return home," and seeing Gu Jinghong's head hanging low, as if she were ashamed and only wanted to escape as soon as possible, Xiao Chengyan felt a kind of empty and restless unease rising in his heart.

He was silent for a moment, then finally waved his hand, "Since they are looking for relatives and have family matters to attend to, then go ahead. Changfeng, escort them out of the mansion through the back gate."

"Yes, Your Highness," Changfeng replied.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness!" Xie Yan pulled Gu Jinghong along, bowed deeply again, suppressing the mockery in his eyes.

Gu Jinghong kept her head down, half-protecting and half-pulling Xie Yan as they hurried toward the back door. She dared not turn around, feeling as if the cold gaze behind her was tangible, almost piercing her through.

Xiao Chengyan stood there, watching the two figures hurry away. He looked at Gu Jinghong's profile, clinging tightly to his "brother" as if seeking protection. His hands behind his back clenched slowly and unconsciously, his nails almost digging into his palms.

His slapped cheek seemed to throb again in the night wind, mingling with the burning sensation of that tear and the lingering, disgusting yet inescapable delicate touch on his fingertips, creating a chaotic vortex.

When Changfeng returned, Xiao Chengyan said coldly, "Keep an eye on Gu Jinghong and see where she took that Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass."

"yes."

Changfeng's gaze involuntarily tightened—he had always known that the King of Jin's intelligence far surpassed that of ordinary people, but just now, in such a situation where the brother and sister recognized each other and the adoptive father was seriously ill, the king was still able to use the word "admiration" to confuse the two of them, which made Changfeng even more respectful and fearful of his master.

Changfeng accepted the order and left, while Xiao Chengyan turned and walked towards the main hall of Chen'an Residence.

The night breeze stirred his dark robes, carrying a faint, lingering scent of her fragrance, which inexplicably stirred a restlessness within him.

...

Gu Jinghong and Xie Yan walked silently, one after the other, through the streets leading to Zhuoyue Tower.

A faint medicinal fragrance lingered around Gu Jinghong's nose; it was the comforting, bittersweet scent emanating from the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass in her bosom.

The footsteps behind him were neither hurried nor slow, carrying Xie Yan's unique, infuriatingly leisurely air.

Suddenly, Xie Yan paused almost imperceptibly, then resumed his normal pace. His nonchalant voice rang out lazily, as if he were casually discussing the weather: "Hey, those two 'little crows' behind us have been following us for three blocks. The Shadow Guards of the Jin Prince's Mansion are getting worse and worse, following us so blatantly, as if they're afraid we won't notice?"

Gu Jinghong didn't stop walking, nor did she even turn her head. Her cold voice carried a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm: "They followed us from the side gate of the Prince's Mansion. Two sparrows, nothing to worry about."

Her perception was equally sharp, perhaps even noticing it earlier than Xie Yan's. However, she was always inclined to remain silent and, unless absolutely necessary, was too lazy to speak.

"Tsk," Xie Yan chuckled, his tone tinged with disdain, "The servants of the Prince's mansion are truly boring. I was just thinking of enjoying a romantic evening with you under the moon and snow, but I have to be stared at by flies. How annoying."

He tapped his jade flute lightly in his palm, seemingly deep in thought. "Ah Hong, what do you think... should we just deal with them and get rid of them, or play with them a bit and stretch our muscles?"

Gu Jinghong finally stopped and glanced at him sideways. In the moonlight, his eyes were clear and sharp: "This is the inner city. It's too close to the government offices. If we make a move, it will easily attract the attention of the Five Cities Garrison. That would be troublesome."

“That makes sense.” Xie Yan nodded readily, a sly glint in his narrow phoenix eyes. “Then… shall we play hide-and-seek with them?”

His gaze swept over the intricate network of alleyways ahead, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "I've heard that 'Shadow Raven' has an exceptional sense of direction. I wonder if it'll still be any better in 'Thousand-Turned Alley'?"

"Thousand-Turned Alley" is a well-known maze in this area, with numerous branching paths and complex terrain, and it is even more like a ghost town at night.

Gu Jinghong nodded slightly, indicating his agreement to the plan. At the same time, he subtly reached into the hidden pocket at his waist and pinched a small amount of colorless and odorless special tracking powder between his fingertips.

"Stay close, or you'll get lost." Xie Yan chuckled, and before he finished speaking, he suddenly accelerated, shooting like an arrow towards a narrow fork in the road to the left, barely wide enough for one person to pass through!

Almost at the same instant he set off, Gu Jinghong followed closely behind, her speed no less!

...

About an incense stick's time later, the two figures emerged almost simultaneously from a secluded alley. The area suddenly opened up before them, revealing a street near the back wall of Zhuoyue Tower. The sounds of their pursuers had long since ceased, leaving only the night wind whistling softly through the empty alley.

"Tsk, all done." Xie Yan casually dusted off his sleeves, his expression relaxed and carefree. "'Shadow Raven's' ability to find its way around is nothing special after all. Manager Gu's little tricks are still quite effective." He raised his phoenix eyes slightly, glancing meaningfully at Gu Jinghong beside him.

Gu Jinghong's eyes were cold and clear, sweeping over the surroundings like a cold star. Only after confirming that there were no more tails did she take a step forward.

Xie Yan was not about to give up. He immediately followed and walked alongside her. He turned his head, his gaze lingering on Gu Jinghong's profile, which was so beautiful that even in the night, it was impossible to hide her stunning beauty. He then raised his hand and tapped his own handsome face, which was almost otherworldly. A playful smile played on his lips as he brought up the old topic again.

"Speaking of which, in the Prince's mansion, you told Xiao Chengyan that we were 'sworn siblings'? Just based on our looks, one of us is stunningly beautiful and the other is handsome and dashing, even if you said we were biological siblings, Xiao Chengyan would believe it to some extent, right? Why bother telling this lie?"

Gu Jinghong knew Xie Yan too well. As long as she struck up a conversation, Xie Yan would continue the topic endlessly, like a stubborn plaster that she couldn't shake off.

Seeing that she remained silent, Xie Yan's mischievous glint in his eyes intensified. He suddenly held his jade flute horizontally, blocking Gu Jinghong's path. He leaned slightly closer, his lowered voice carrying a deliberate, subtle ambiguity, like a feather tickling the heart, echoing in the quiet night.

"Let me guess... Could it be... that Manager Gu actually harbors some feelings for me that he doesn't want to share with outsiders? Is that why he deliberately calls us 'sworn siblings' to leave room for maneuver? So that if something really happens between us in the future... it will be more natural, hmm?"