Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

At this moment, Lin Yan had a bold idea in her mind.

But this is incredible.

She couldn't believe it.

With trembling hands, she took the contents of the package out and carefully turned it over.

The eight characters “By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous” appeared before her eyes!

Lin Yan's pupils suddenly contracted!

Even if you've never eaten pork, haven't you seen a pig run?

Even if she were completely ignorant, she could understand the meaning of those eight characters...

No wonder the fourth and fifth princes both wanted this so much.

Who wouldn't want the Imperial Seal of the State?!

At this moment, Lin Yan's body seemed to have been struck by lightning, and she froze in place, unable to move an inch.

She never considered herself the kind of person who was vain.

But now...

Now that the Imperial Seal of the State was lying so brightly in her hand, she felt an absurd feeling that she was about to ascend the throne!

This stuff is poisonous...

You absolutely cannot touch it!

Once you've touched it, you really don't want to let go...

Lin Yan closed her eyes tightly, took a breath, and painfully put the jade seal back into the package.

When I opened my eyes again.

Her eyes gradually regained their calm, and the frenzy she had shown earlier had diminished considerably.

Lin Yan desperately suppressed the surging emotions and shock within her, looked at the boy beside her in confusion, and stammered:

"How...how did you get this?! You didn't steal it, did you? Are you out of your mind?"

Xie Muqing did not miss Lin Yan's excited expression just now.

I was utterly astonished!

Judging from her demeanor, it was clear that she recognized those eight characters and knew what that "stone" was.

But how could she have known?

Unconsciously, Xie Muqing thought of what his mother had said that day...

"He looks like he'll die young, yet no one knows why he's still alive."

Could it be that she really was reincarnated?

He had doubted it before.

But now, he seemed certain that she was indeed not the person who had maliciously flirted with him before...

However, Xie Muqing quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts, pursed his thin lips slightly, and began to recall the past.

"This imperial seal was left by my grandfather. During the war, he and the late emperor became sworn brothers and fought together to conquer the world. Their power was roughly equal, but my grandfather, as a descendant of the previous dynasty, had a greater reputation among the people and in the army. However, the late emperor once saved my grandfather's life on the battlefield, and my grandfather voluntarily gave up the throne to repay the favor. But he was also worried that one day he would be 'killed after the hunt,' so he did not hand over the imperial seal to the late emperor."

Xie Muqing paused at this point.

He poured himself a cup of warm tea, drank it to moisten his throat, and then continued speaking:

"Grandfather's original intention was that as long as the Imperial Seal remained, the Xie family would at least not be destroyed. But he underestimated the Imperial Seal's importance in people's hearts. Even though the late emperor successfully ascended the throne, there was always a thorn in his side. However, perhaps because he cherished his brotherly bond with my grandfather, or perhaps because he was wary of my grandfather's power, he did not take any action while he was in power. But the current emperor does not think that way, which is why the matter of confiscating the family property came about."

After explaining everything, Xie Muqing carefully observed Lin Yan's expression, not wanting to miss any detail.

His cautious and meticulous manner made him seem like someone waiting to be sentenced to death.

After all, hiding this thing means facing countless dangers and dangers.

He couldn't guarantee it.

Even after learning the truth, she would still choose to stay by his side...

Xie Muqing was completely overthinking it.

Lin Yan's mind was completely focused on the imperial seal; she had no time to think about getting away from him.

Her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, staring intently at Xie Muqing.

"I never knew you were a descendant of royalty!"

Looking at the square jade seal, Lin Yan couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering her:

"Wait a minute! Something as obvious as the imperial seal, how come the officials didn't find it when they searched the house?"

Seeing that she did not distance herself from or blame him because of the jade seal, Xie Muqing was excited and his heart was pounding.

A distinct smile appeared on his handsome face.

He stared intently at the person in front of him.

"On the eve of the raid, I had the gyrfalcons hide it. Only after we had settled down in Xiaolin Village did I have them bring the imperial seal back."

Lin Yan also thought of those two exceptionally intelligent large birds and couldn't help but sigh:

"Your big bird is really amazing!"

"Cough cough..."

Xie Muqing, who was drinking tea, was choked by her shocking words and coughed incessantly, covering his mouth.

Lin Yan was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with what she said.

He looked at Xie Muqing, puzzled.

Seeing that he was still coughing, she quickly put down the jade seal, reached out and gently stroked his back to help him catch his breath.

Are you alright?

Feeling those soft little hands "messing around" on his back, Xie Muqing's body suddenly trembled.

He lowered his eyelids silently, not daring to meet Lin Yan's gaze, but his exposed ears were already blushing with embarrassment.

A dragon head quietly rose up somewhere beneath him...

Xie Muqing gritted her teeth and changed her sitting posture, trying to hide the strangeness.

He glanced at Lin Yan discreetly, and seeing that she hadn't noticed him, he relaxed and replied in a hoarse voice:

"It's nothing, I just choked a little."

"It's good that you're alright."

Lin Yan stopped playing with the jade seal only after Xie Muqing's breathing gradually returned to normal.

Suddenly.

She suddenly remembered the plot of the original book.

The imperial seal also appears in the book later on.

Of course, the person holding the imperial seal was not Xie Muqing; by then, that cannon fodder had long since died.

But Lin Yan felt something was amiss and a suspicion arose in her heart, if she remembered correctly.

That person's surname was also Xie...

As far as she knew, the Xie family had no other members.

Lin Yan quietly stroked the jade seal in her hand, and tentatively began to speak:

"Xie Muqing, have you chosen a courtesy name yet?"

"My father did name me when he was alive, but because I was still a minor, it was never officially used."

When Xie Muqing mentioned her deceased father, a trace of grief flashed in her eyes, and her mood became depressed.

Lin Yan didn't have time to comfort him; her tone was slightly anxious.

What's your courtesy name?

Xie Muqing was puzzled, wondering why she was behaving this way, but she still answered honestly:

"Mo Ran".

Upon hearing those two words, Lin Yan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her mouth gaped open, and her almond-shaped eyes widened in shock!

The shock on her little face was undisguised!

She unconsciously swallowed, slowly turning her head in disbelief, muttering to herself:

"You're Xie Moran?!"