Chapter 230 · Bonus | Twins in Yongzhou 3

Before Qingmei could figure out the connection, the brother and sister jumped out of the window one after the other, their agile movements showcasing the excellent talent of the Gu family.

While jumping around, he didn't forget to call out again, "Uncle."

Two sweet voices drew the attention of the group of people surrounding Shen Xu.

"Meow!"

"Meow meow meow".

The cat raised its front paws and tugged at Shen Xu's robes, its sharp claws drawing out a few thin red threads.

Shen Xu paused, looking in the direction of the sound. In the shimmering peach blossoms, he saw two small figures running towards him.

Huh?

Is it them?

Shen Xu recognized the person at a glance.

Hearing them affectionately call him "uncle," Shen Xu's brow twitched slightly, thinking: Gu Yican has also come to Yongzhou? Then...

Shen Xu raised his hand, signaling not to stop them—the people below didn't recognize the two children.

The guards surrounding him bowed and made way for him. The next moment, the brother and sister rushed towards him, one hugging his leg and the other holding his waist.

Caught off guard, Shen Xu's body froze instantly.

The last time I saw them was last year, so much time has passed, but these brother and sister aren't shy at all?

Who does he look like?

Being so close made Shen Xu feel a little uncomfortable, and his fingers twitched slightly.

"you……"

He parted his red lips slightly, wanting to ask them how they came to Yongzhou, and also, where was Gu Yican?

Two delicate, sculpted faces looked up at him simultaneously, their smiles sweet and endearing: "Uncle." Their voices seemed to be filled with honey.

The tabby cat sitting at Shen Xu's feet immediately became unhappy. It let out a short "meow," then leaped onto Xie Yunyao's head, and with a little momentum, nimbly jumped onto Shen Xu's shoulder.

"Meow!"

It looked down at the siblings, raised its front paws, and slapped them twice on the forehead, leaving two dark, plum-blossom-like marks. The series of movements was incredibly fast. Then, it pressed its furry little face against Shen Xu's face.

"Meow~"

She called out in a sweet and coquettish voice.

Not to be outdone, the brother and sister raised their voices at the end of their sentences: "Uncle~"

The tabby cat, unconvinced, growled, "Meow~"

"Uncle~"

"Mimi~"

Two people and a cat, each meowing their own tune.

The officials from Blackwater Fortress who were accompanying Shen Xu were all dumbfounded and looked at each other in bewilderment.

uncle?

Are these two children the governor's nephews?

They did know to some extent that the governor had an older sister, who was a county princess bestowed by the imperial court. But the county princess of Fu'an was unmarried... Was she a distant relative?

"Mimi~"

Shen Mao pressed her little head even closer, and short cat hairs drifted onto Shen Xu's lips.

Shen Xu: "..."

Veins bulged on his forehead, his slender fingers gripped the small jade pendant tightly, and a cold smile crept across his lips.

It's over!

Qingmei, who was about to step forward, stopped and shrank back. Turning around, she met Sheng Jiang's gaze. Sheng Jiang cautiously glanced in Shen Xu's direction and mouthed to Qingmei, "Why are the Crown Prince and the First Princess in Yongzhou?"

Qingmei's story is too complicated to explain in a few words.

She couldn't very well say it was because the Crown Prince didn't know the way, could she? She could only say that to her master.

Sheng Jiang thought she hadn't understood his lip reading, so he quietly moved a few steps closer, only to suddenly hear a voice from ahead: "Qingmei."

Her soft, feminine voice seemed to contain shards of ice.

Qingmei shuddered.

"Yes! This servant is here."

As soon as she finished speaking, her heart skipped a beat.

Shen Xu held the cat by the scruff of its neck with one hand and Xie Yunyao by the back of his collar with the other, even the lifting motions were exactly the same.

The cat curled up its hind legs and tried to rub its head against the back of his hand.

Xie Yunyao chuckled with delight, while Xie Yunxi looked at her brother and the cat with envy, tugging at Shen Xu's sleeve and bouncing around.

It was in complete chaos.

Shen Xu, carrying them, sneered repeatedly: "Where is the Prince of Zhenbei?" This question was directed at Qingmei.

"The Prince of Zhenbei?" Qingmei suddenly realized. She carefully considered her words and looked at Shen Xu's expression before saying, "Yaoyao and Xixi are... calling for you..."

Uh-huh!

The brother and sister nodded at the same time. Xie Yunyao looked up at him with her little face and didn't forget to emphasize, "Uncle, we've come to see you."

Xie Yunxi: "Yes, yes!"

The cat, not understanding what they were talking about, joined in with a meow: "Meow~"

When did he become their...uncle?!

Xie Yunxi said sweetly, "Our mother said she treats you like an older brother."

Xie Yunyao: "That's right."

Xie Yunxi: "Mother said that Blackwater Fortress is so beautiful now, so we secretly ran away."

Xie Yunyao continued, "We came specifically to see you..." He emphasized the word "specifically."

"right!"

They definitely didn't go the wrong way!

Shen Xu's temple throbbed slightly, and his gaze at Qing Mei seemed to say: If you don't explain things clearly, go and cut off your own head.

Qingmei's neck felt chilly, and she forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

Fortunately, Xiangyang arrived in time.

Qingmei let out a long sigh of relief; she had escaped death.

"Lord Zhou Mu."

Xiang Yang strode forward, greeted him without looking to the side, and then took out a letter from his pocket.

"This is……"

With so many people around, Xiangyang naturally wouldn't reveal the siblings' identities easily, only saying, "Young Master asked me to give this to you."

This letter was brought by Chongjiu from the capital.

A letter from Father? The brother and sister exchanged a quick glance. Could it be that Father already knows they are in Yongzhou?

Oh no!

Shen Xu released Xie Yunyao and reached out to take the letter.

Before Xie Yunyao could even stand up straight, she immediately hugged his arm tightly and smiled sweetly.

Xie Yunxi tugged at his sleeve, smiling sweetly.

The smiles of these two people were all too familiar to Shen Xu! They were obviously fake.

Seeing that he was finally only carrying himself, the cat meowed proudly at the brother and sister.

The next moment, the cat was thrown away too.

"Meow~"

Cats are animals that never think they are wrong.

As soon as its limbs touched the ground, it nimbly leaped onto Xie Yunyao's back, mimicking him by using its front paws to pry at Shen Xu's arms, and even using its head to push Xie Yunyao away.

Shen Xu: "..."

He tugged at his arm, but couldn't pull it away; he was almost at the edge of his wits' end.

"read!"

Let him see it? He wouldn't have a hand to hold the letter!

Sheng Jiang stepped forward, took the letter with both hands, and read aloud, "Uh..."

The title used at the beginning is "Ah Xu," which I wouldn't dare call him that directly.

He glossed over the question, saying vaguely, "...We're going to the north. These two little ones are in your care."

After a long while, he didn't continue. Shen Xu said impatiently, "Continue."

"No, that's all."

Sheng Jiang lowered his head even further, obediently holding the cup, and replied, "Just this one sentence."

Shen Xu: ?

For the first time in his life, Shen Xu's mind was a little blank.

He asked, "Did they go to the North?"

Xiangyang: "Yes."

He looked down and met the eyes of the two siblings, who smiled innocently.

He asked incredulously, "Give them...to me?"

Xiangyang scratched his head, feeling a little guilty, but still forced a bright smile: "Y-yes..."

After saying that, he added, "The young master said that you should treat him like his own child. He trusts you the most."

Shen Xu laughed in exasperation.

They went to the north for fun, and asked me to come and look after their child?!

The brother and sister shivered, and even the cat shrank its neck, feeling a sudden chill in the air. Was it just an illusion?

Shen Xu's fingers caressed the small jade pendant on his wrist, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Prepare the carriage. Send them back to the capital first thing tomorrow morning."

"Uncle~"

Xie Yunxi pinched his sleeve and shook it.

Xie Yunxi and he chimed in perfectly, their voices perfectly in sync: "Uncle, please don't send us away~"

Shen Xu remained unmoved, slowly withdrawing his hand with utter indifference.

Sheng Jiang bowed and gave the order.

Xiangyang and Qingmei didn't try to dissuade them; Chongjiu's message was that there was no need to interfere.

After giving his instructions, Sheng Jiang added, "Sir, it's almost time. Shall we head to the trade market first?"

Shen Xu came to Blackwater Fortress for trade.

A few years ago, Heishuibao was a dead city. To bring it back to life, in addition to encouraging the people to relocate, Shen Xu also opened a trade market. Over the years, Heishuibao has gradually become bustling again thanks to the trade market.

Shen Xu came here because he received news that someone was selling tobacco at the border market.

This is explicitly prohibited by the imperial court.

Moreover, it is said that this tobacco is addictive, and long-term consumption can lead to an inability to stop, resulting in emaciation.

Given Shen Xu's temperament, he should have directly taken down all the foreigners in Blackwater Fortress and searched for tobacco.

They'll behave themselves if you chop off a few in public.

However, this would deter foreign merchants from coming to Yongzhou, and the Blackwater Fortress, which had only gradually prospered through trade, would fall into decline, resulting in more harm than good.

Therefore, he plans to come and take a look first before making a decision.

If these foreign merchants are truly so ungrateful, they should still be chopped off.

Shen Xu never minded drawing blood.

The more blood is lost, the more obedient people will become.

"Let's go," Shen Xu said calmly. "Qiu Yan, you come with us. Everyone else, disperse."

This was said to the officials at Blackwater Fort.

After speaking, he stepped forward, his bright red sleeves drooping as he moved, the gold embroidery on them shimmering in the sunlight.

Xie Yunyao beckoned to his sister with his finger, and the two of them leaned their heads together, whispered a few words, and then skipped after him, each grabbing one of his sleeves.

They were small and had short legs, so it was a bit difficult for them to keep up, and their little faces turned red from straining.

The cat was very indignant. It would jump in front of Xie Yunyao and meow, then jump in front of Xie Yunxi and meow, keeping itself very busy.

"Uncle, where are we going now?"

He had gotten used to hearing his uncle address him repeatedly, and Shen Xu subconsciously replied, "Trade."

As soon as he spoke, the siblings' eyes lit up. Did his willingness to talk to them mean he wouldn't send them back?

Mother said that Uncle Shen is the most stubborn but soft-hearted person.

They are so adorable, sensible, and obedient! Their uncle will definitely miss them!

"Uncle, where is the trade market?"

“Uncle, there are also foreigners in the capital, and their eyes are blue.”

"Uncle, why do they have so many silver rings around their necks?"

"Meow~"

Unbeknownst to him, Shen Xu slowed down to accommodate them.

Once they were no longer so tired from following him, the brother and sister took advantage of the situation and soon went from tugging at his sleeve to holding his hand.

The little hand is pressed against the big hand.

It is neither as cold and hard as the Buddhist prayer beads of the past, nor as warm and smooth as the small jade pendant.

Shen Xu's palm was soft and warm.

"Uncle~"

He didn't let go.

[Author's Note]

It's getting late, so I'll send out some small red envelopes~ Wishing all the girls happiness every day!