Find the ledger
Late at night, a light knocking sound came from the door frame outside.
"explain!"
Cen Yan touched the sleeping spot of the person next to him.
"Master, Ruyue went to Yelan's room and left a quarter of an hour later."
What did they say?
"Your subordinate dared not approach, for fear of alerting the enemy. Ruyue had previously taken the half of the jade pendant from Madam's private treasury, but just now returned from the guest courtyard and put it back."
"Continue to follow Ruyue, but don't get close to Yelan. Also, go and make a replica of that jade pendant and give it to Qingyi so he can investigate it."
After giving his instructions, Cen Yan turned around and fell asleep in his arms.
At dawn, Xu Lanxin, who was sitting in front of her dressing table, was thinking of calling Xiaoxi when she saw Ruyue hurriedly enter the room. When she got to her, she deliberately calmed down.
"Madam, let me comb your hair."
Seeing Xu Lanxin nod, Ruyue took the comb and combed her hair a few times.
"Madam, someone from the estate came yesterday and said the oranges there are ripe. Would you like me to pick some for you?"
Xu Lanxin stared at the person behind her in the mirror, trying to figure something out, but the person kept their head down and combed their hair, as if they had said something unintentionally, yet it seemed somewhat deliberate.
Logically, when the produce on the estate is ripe, it should naturally be delivered by the people on the estate; there's no need for them to pick it themselves.
Was there something about the estate that attracted her?
"Let's go pick them together!"
The person behind her raised their head, looking somewhat surprised. Xu Lanxin simply smiled innocently.
Upon exiting the door, I was surprised to find that the two door gods were not guarding the entrance, which seemed a bit unusual. I wondered what they had gone to do.
"impossible!"
Inside the outer courtyard, a furious roar echoed from the room.
It was rare for anyone to anger Lin Yun'an. Standing by the table, he glared at the person opposite him.
As night fell, Ye Lan leisurely picked up his teacup and blew on it.
"Believe it or not, Xin'er is my aunt's daughter. My aunt was adopted by your family by mistake when she was born."
So the one who is truly related to her by blood is me; I am Xin'er's cousin.
Lin Yun'an was shocked and stood there stiffly before finally slumping onto the stool in despair.
How did you find out?
“Xin’er has half of my family’s jade pendant. When my grandmother was fleeing, she split the jade into two pieces, one for each of my two aunts. However, she accidentally lost the younger aunt at the time.”
Lin Yun'an gave a wry smile, as if he still wanted to struggle a little:
"What does a single piece of jade amount to?"
"Why do you think I would follow Xin'er based on just one meeting? Xin'er looks eight parts like my aunt, and my aunt and my lost little aunt are twins."
Otherwise, why would I have bothered to investigate her?
Ye Lan took out a portrait and laid it flat on the table.
Lin Yun'an immediately buried his head in his hands in disappointment.
“If Xin’er ever recognizes her ancestors and returns to her family, she will still be willing to call you cousin. I don’t mind if Xin’er has another relative to love her.”
Lin Yun'an was deeply shaken. When he looked up, he only saw Ye Lanyi's departing figure.
The Cen family's estate wasn't far, just in the suburbs, an hour's drive away.
The servants on the estate knew their master was coming and had prepared lunch in advance.
After lunch, Xu Lanxin, led by the head of the estate, went to the orange grove.
She deliberately walked slowly, while Yue Ru behind her lowered her eyes, tightly gripping her hand, her fingertips turning white, appearing slightly anxious.
Upon arriving at the orange grove, Xu Lanxin suggested that everyone could have free time and pick oranges if they wanted, while she would sit in the grove and enjoy a leisurely cup of tea.
Ruyue hesitated for a moment, then put the oranges into the basket one by one.
But when she looked over, met Lan Xin's gaze, then lowered her eyes and turned her head away.
Finally, Yue Ru seemed to have mustered up her courage and walked towards Xu Lanxin.
“Madam, I see that the oranges over there on the west side are redder. I’ll go pick some for you.”
Xu Lanxin nodded in acknowledgment. After seeing Yue Ru walk more than a hundred meters, she winked at Qingyu beside her, and the two of them quietly followed behind her.
Passing through the orange grove, there is a small courtyard with three thatched huts. The courtyard is surrounded by a fence.
This month, as if by magic, he piled up stones, stood on them, and looked into the courtyard.
Xu Lanxin stood behind a tree not far away, looking at Qingyu in bewilderment.
This girl has the front door but doesn't use it; instead, she's spying here. Is this really the same Hong Fu she knew back then?
Has someone possessed my body?
Suddenly, she crouched down under the fence, and the courtyard gate opened from the inside, and a servant carrying a food box came out.
After seeing that person walk away, Yue Ru came to the courtyard gate, pushed it open, and went inside.
A handsome young man with fair skin sat under a tree in the courtyard. Hearing the sound, he turned his head and looked over. His eyes showed a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and joy.
But none of that could compare to the tears that quickly welled up in his eyes, dripping down the corners of his eyes one by one.
Yue Ru covered her mouth with her hand, her face already streaked with tears.
The person in the wheelchair reached out shakily, trying to stand up, but lacked the strength. After taking a few difficult steps, they collapsed to the ground.
Startled, Yue Ru rushed over.
"Ah, brother, how could you do this?"
However, the person being held only cried silently and did not answer.
Xu Lanxin stood outside the door watching the dramatic scene of the two recognizing each other, without going forward to disturb them.
Why is Yue Ru's younger brother at the Cen family's estate?
Somewhat curious, she asked the blue fish beside her.
"Madam, do you remember that time when you and the master were strolling through the night market, and you encountered that person who fell off the carriage near the shadow puppet stall?"
Him? I didn't expect him to be here.
"At that time, the man was on the verge of death. The adults sent him to the clinic. The doctor said that his tongue had been cut off and his tendons in his hands and feet had been severed. No one knew how he escaped."
The official felt this man was innocent, so he ordered Qingyun to bring him here to recuperate. However, it seems his limbs have recovered somewhat.
What a wonderful twist of fate! After all these twists and turns, the siblings were reunited.
Xu Lanxin didn't disturb them any further and led Qingyu back the way they came.
When Kisaragi returned, her eyes were red, and her basket was full.
"I saw it."
As she walked in, Xu Lanxin said, noticing a hint of shock in her eyes, but not much.
"You deliberately led me there, didn't you?"
The hem of her light blue skirt was spread out on the ground. The man knelt in front of her, his upper body prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the back of his hand.
"From now on, you can tell me anything directly. You don't need to play these tricks on me. I've said before that you can leave anytime you want."
"Madam, I'm sorry."
There was a hint of guilt in Yue Ru's voice.
"You should stay on the estate and take care of your younger brother!"
Xu Lanxin didn't look at her again and left with Qingyu.
Upon returning to the Cen residence, they happened to run into Cen Yan, who had just arrived home. The two of them went back to Qingzhu Garden hand in hand.
"I saw that man recuperating in the village today. Can you guess who he is?"
Cen Yan, who was changing his clothes, turned around and looked over.
Just as she was about to reveal the answer, Xiao Xi came to report that Ru Yue had arrived.
How did she come back from the village?
As soon as she emerged from behind the screen, Ruyue entered with a booklet in both hands. After bowing, she handed the booklet to Xu Lanxin.
"This is...?"
Xu Lanxin was somewhat surprised.
"My brother sent me to deliver this to the master."
Account books?
After she left, Cen Yan came out from behind the screen.
"Zijin, I said it's for you."
After handing him the ledger, Xu Lanxin continued the previous topic:
"You know Ruyue, right? Back in Jinling, Hongfu and the person you saved were actually siblings. This ledger was given to you by her younger brother."
"Jinling..."
Cen Yan quickly opened the account book in his hand.
"These are the ledgers of tax embezzlement by officials in Nanjing. I never expected them to be on him."
"What? Judging from your expression, is there something you need here?"
Cen Yan smiled calmly and gently tapped her forehead.
"Xiao Muhan's uncle is listed here. Perhaps we can find something by following the names listed here? Don't forget that Xiao Muhan was also there when we went to Jinling."
In a good mood, Cen Yan took the booklet to the study.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com