Zi Qiao's original surname was Xue. Before coming to the Wei family, she and her older brother Xue Lun, who was five years older than her, were raised by their father. When Zi Qiao was seven years old, the border war broke out, and the army conscripted men from the homes of ordinary people to serve as local soldiers. Zi Qiao's father thus joined the army and went to the battlefield.

In a fierce battle, Zi Qiao's father was killed. Before his death, he entrusted his two children to Sun Xingjian, Wei Shuwan's uncle.

Sun Xingjian had never been married and had no female relatives who could help raise the two children. The boy was relatively easy to manage; Xue Lun was already twelve years old and could stay with Sun Xingjian in the army. Even if he didn't go to the battlefield, he could at least work in the kitchen and earn a living. But Zi Qiao, the seven-year-old girl, became a major headache for Sun Xingjian.

Later, he realized that the girl was about the same age as his niece, so he wrote to his elder sister Sun Lurong, hoping that the Wei family could take the girl in to keep Shuwan company. This was how he finally arranged a safe place for Ziqiao.

The reason why Zi Qiao knows some basic self-defense skills is because she spent a few months in the military camp when she was young, and learned them from Sun Xingjian along with her brother.

For ten years, Xue Lun had been guarding the border of Daye with Sun Xingjian in the military camp. She would only send a letter to Zi Qiao in the occasional letters that Sun Xingjian wrote back to the Wei family. Although the brother and sister had kept in touch for ten years, they had never met again.

Upon learning that she would finally be able to see her brother, Zi Qiao buried her face in Wei Shuwan's shoulder and sobbed.

"When I parted from my brother, he was only a twelve-year-old boy. I wonder what he looks like now..."

Wei Shuwan gently patted her back to comfort her: "He must be tall and brave, which is why your uncle has always kept him by his side and valued him so much. He will be your support in the future!"

Zi Qiao smiled through her tears, wiping them away as she moved away from Wei Shuwan. "I just don't know how long they can stay in Shengjing."

Wei Shuwan was also thinking about this issue, so she pulled Ziqiao out from behind the tree and quietly circled around the courtyard gate. Then, she deliberately made some noise with her feet, pretending that she had heard the news and rushed to Songheju to verify it. She then boldly pushed open the door and entered the main room that she had been spying on.

"Mother, I just heard that Uncle is coming to Shengjing?" Wei Shuwan asked breathlessly, feigning surprise.

Sun Lurong had just finished reading the letter, her eyes glistening, and she nodded emphatically: "Yes, yes. Your uncle has already arrived at the official post station outside the capital with the Wei Rong Army military governor and his entourage to rest. He will enter the city at dawn tomorrow!"

Wei Shuwan's face lit up with joy. "Why did Uncle suddenly come to the capital? How long will he stay in Shengjing?"

Sun Lurong simply raised her hand and handed the letter to her daughter: "Take a look for yourself."

Wei Shuwan eagerly took the letter and quickly scanned it, roughly understanding what was going on.

It turned out that in recent years, the northern border where the Wei Rong Army was stationed had been peaceful, and the Hu enemies dared not invade. However, the southern region had been causing trouble from time to time, which greatly troubled the emperor. Therefore, he ordered Pan Wei, the military governor of the Wei Rong Army, to return to the capital to report on his duties, and then planned to transfer him to the southern region to quell the rebellion.

Wei Shuwan's uncle, Sun Xingjian, accompanied Pan Wei to Beijing this time.

As for the relationship between Pan Wei and Sun Xingjian, that is another legend in the military.

Years ago, Sun Lurong defied her father's wishes and married into the Wei family. Sun Xingjian also resolutely left the Wei family to join the army, but remained unknown and unappreciated. It wasn't until one day, when Pan Wenjun, the daughter of Pan Wei, the military governor of Weirong Army, was kidnapped by a small group of enemy soldiers using underhanded tactics, that Sun Xingjian, single-handedly, infiltrated the enemy and outwitted them to rescue her. Only then did he become famous and earn Pan Wei's gratitude and trust.

Therefore, Sun Xingjian was both Pan Wei's subordinate and Pan Wei's benefactor.

Wei Shuwan had heard his uncle mention these things in his previous letters, so he was not surprised at all that his uncle was inseparable from the military governor of Weirong Army. Over the years, his uncle had become his right-hand man.

"According to the letter, I'm afraid my uncle won't stay in Shengjing for long this time." Wei Shuwan felt a little regretful.

Sun Lurong was also somewhat regretful, but it was already difficult for the siblings to meet even once, so how could she be greedy for more? Besides, it was fortunate that Sun Xingjian arrived at this time. If he had come a few days earlier, the Wei family would still be in prison, and there would have been no way to welcome him.

So Sun Lurong was still in high spirits and went to instruct the kitchen to prepare a proper welcome dinner for Sun Xingjian at home the next day!

The three members of the second branch left Songhe Residence to rush off to prepare for the welcoming banquet for Sun Xingjian the next day. Upon hearing the news, the three members of the first branch also rushed to Songhe Residence to inquire about the situation from the old lady.

"Mother, I heard that my second brother's brother-in-law is coming to the capital tomorrow?" Wei Hai sat in his chair with a cup of tea, but his eyes were fixed on Wei Wenshi.

"yes."

"Isn't he supposed to be guarding the border? Why has he suddenly come to the capital?"

Lady Wei had not seen the letter; she only heard about it from snippets of conversation from the second wife. So she vaguely said, "They said they were going to the capital to report on their duties with that Wei Rong Army military governor, and they wouldn't be staying for more than a few days."

"Oh..." Wei Hai drawled out, seemingly relieved. His wife, Madam Meng, and daughter, Wei Shuyao, beside him also seemed to feel at ease.

The three had previously discussed the matter in their own courtyard. Now, the eldest branch of the family was living under someone else's roof, and the truth about Wei Chengxu harming Wei Chengxiu twelve years ago had been revealed. The two branches were now at odds.

Fortunately, Wei Zheng remembered the old lady's kindness in raising them and dared not go too far with the eldest branch of the family, leaving Sun Lurong alone and helpless. However, if Sun Lurong's family members came, and the siblings had to discuss everything together, the situation would become much more complicated.

Moreover, Sun Lurong's younger brother has been trained in the border army camp for many years, so he is definitely not someone to be trifled with.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!