There was no anger or persistence in Wei Xiu's voice; he was just calmly stating a fact.

Sheng Yan touched his head and felt that what he said seemed to make sense, then turned to look at his sister.

Sheng Xiyan was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. I won't force you to return to the Sheng family."

It doesn't really matter.

Wei Xiu's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time since they met, his expression changed subtly, as if he had not expected that she would be so easy to talk to. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Sheng Xiyan picked up the teacup, intending to calm her excited emotions, but her hands couldn't help shaking slightly, and the tea lid hit the tea bowl, making a slightly crisp sound.

Chu Yuanchen took the teacup and brought it to her lips.

Sheng Xiyan moistened his throat and said, "It's just about the Sheng family. I have to tell you, and also about mother."

Wei Xiu’s little finger trembled slightly.

Sheng Xiyan said, "The Sheng family prospered after my grandfather passed the imperial examination and entered the government. Our family is simple, with only two uncles and an aunt. My father is now the Minister of Rites, a third-rank official. You are the legitimate son of the Sheng family, the second among brothers. Mother gave birth to you and me. I am four years older than you. Sheng Yan is your half-brother, two months older than you. There is also..."

Sheng Xiyan briefly told him about the situation of the Sheng family, and then emphasized the experience of him being kidnapped.

"At that time, mother didn't know that it was the Sun family who was causing trouble. Because you got lost, she felt remorseful and blamed herself, and she fell into the lake." Sheng Xiyan sighed softly, and then emphasized, "However, mother never gave up looking for you every moment of her life. We didn't abandon you."

When hearing this, Wei Xiu's eyes were obviously moved.

Sheng Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly.

When her brother was kidnapped, she was only eight years old. Her mother had just passed away and her father had married a stepmother. What could an eight-year-old girl do? She wanted to find her brother, but she had no money and could not go out... Even if she could go out, how could a little girl walk alone in the chaotic world?

She could only ask her grandfather for help, but because of her mother's early death and her younger brother's disappearance, her grandfather became bedridden and passed away within a year.

Later on, she was left alone and unable to protect herself.

Until her death, her younger brother was always the biggest regret in her heart.

Fortunately, she was reborn.

Fortunately, God gave her a chance to make up for it.

Having experienced two lives and seen too many regrets, it is enough for her to know that her brother is still alive and can see him again.

They had been separated for eight years. To Jue'er, she was just a blood-related stranger. It was only natural that she could not compare to the adoptive parents who raised him.

Eight years cannot be made up by just saying "I am your sister".

Sheng Xi's face showed expectation, and he said softly: "Xiu'er, do you want to come with me to burn some incense for mother?"

Wei Xiu nodded: "When?"

Sheng Xiyan asked anxiously, "How about tomorrow? Mother... Mother has been looking forward to seeing you."

Wei Xiu responded in a clear voice: "Okay."

Sheng Xiyan's eyebrows relaxed, her clear black and white almond eyes were bright, and she said briskly: "Then I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Wei Xiu said, "I'll go there by myself. You tell me where it is."

"That's fine." She thought that they would be living in the capital for a long time anyway, so it would be good to get familiar with the roads. "Then let's meet in front of Huangjue Temple at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow."

After the arrangement, the waiter came and served the dishes. When the meal was over, Chu Yuanchen asked for digestive tea and asked, "Wei Xiu, was it Wang Qinghe who killed your adoptive parents?"

A trace of hatred flashed across Wei Xiu's eyes. He put down the digestive tea in his hand, sat up straight, and nodded, "Yes."

He wouldn't be wrong!

"Tell us what happened."

"My Lord." Chi Yu said first, "Let me tell you."

Chu Yuanchen glanced at him and asked, "Were you there at that time?"

Chi Yu: “…” Of course he wasn’t there. He was on his way home from the capital at that time.

Chu Yuanchen knew that Chi Yu didn't want Wei Xiu to mention the past again, but he never felt that there were any scars that could not be mentioned. Since he wanted revenge, it would be okay even if he had to dig the scars until they bled.

Wei Xiu was silent for a moment, then said, "That day I went with my parents to visit my grandparents. My mother hadn't been home for almost a year, so my parents were very happy. My grandparents lived in another town, so we had to walk for a whole day. We left in the morning and arrived in the evening. We took two old servants and some cloth and cakes with us. We took the official road, and just after noon, we encountered robbers."

No matter how rational Wei Xiu is, he is just a twelve-year-old child.

When he got to this point, he paused for a few breaths before continuing, "They came up and started hacking people to death, killing the two old servants."

His voice was extremely indifferent, as if he had to stand in the perspective of a bystander in order to calmly continue to recall the past.

"Later they wanted to hack me to death," Wei Xiu still remembered the feeling of the knife coming down on his head, "but my mother hugged me and blocked the knife with her back. My mother held me tightly the whole time. I don't know how many times they hacked at her. I only know that my body was covered in blood, all her blood. My mother held me tightly until she died, and I didn't get hurt at all."

After they hacked their mother to death, the leading robber came over. His face was covered, so his features could not be seen clearly. Only his eyes were visible, which were vicious and cruel, with a kind of contempt that looked down on them, as if their family were just insignificant ants in front of him, who could be crushed to death with just a kick.

Wei Xiu thought they would kill him too.

But no.

"They brought my father here, cut off his right hand first, and then put the bloody knife to my neck."

"Dad had never begged anyone in his life, but that day he knelt down and begged them to let me go."

"They asked him to write a letter to Brother Yu, and he agreed."

"Dad has justice in his heart and he never compromises with anyone, except that day..."

Later, he watched with his own eyes as his father wrote a letter in blood with his left hand stained with blood.

When he said this, Chi Yu's face showed sadness. He tilted his head slightly, trying hard not to cry, and his fists on the table were clenched tightly.

Wei Xiu's tone remained flat as he continued, "Then, Dad died. They killed him one by one. Before he died, he told me through his lips that I must live. He said that as long as I could survive, nothing else mattered."

He thought so too. Death is death, and from now on one will return to the dust. Only by living can one day avenge his parents.

"I pretended to be frightened and panic-stricken. I begged for mercy and tried to hint to them that I could personally hand the blood letter to Brother Yu and tell him how his parents died tragically. If Brother Yu was scared, he would not interfere again."

"Later, they let me go. Maybe they thought I was only ten years old and too scared to play any tricks."

After saying this, Wei Xiu sighed lightly.

"Brother, don't be afraid, I'll help you!" Sheng Yan patted his chest and said carelessly, "If anyone dares to bully you, tell me and I'll help you beat him! My kung fu is great!"

"I will help you get revenge! No one will bully you anymore."

Wei Xiu was stunned, and the corners of his mouth curved up in an almost invisible arc. Sheng Yan noticed it with sharp eyes: "Brother, you are smiling!"

Wei Xiu: “I didn’t.”

Sheng Yan: “I saw it!”

Wei Xiu: “…”

He silently moved his chair aside.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't help but laugh, and felt a slight pain in her heart.

The Wei couple are good people. They really raise Jue'er as their own child.

Before Wei Lin died, he even forgot to remind Wei Xiu to show weakness. Wei Xiu's age at that time was his greatest advantage, and they would not be too wary of him. If they wanted to shock Chi Yu, leaving a frightened person alive would be more useful than killing the entire family.

Wei Lin fought for a glimmer of hope for Wei Xiu until the very last moment.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't tell which was more important, the grace of giving birth or the grace of raising, but the grace that the Wei couple had shown to Sheng Jue was far more than just the grace of raising him.

Chu Yuanchen nodded slightly, asked some more details, and then said: "When did you recognize that the leading robber was Wang Qinghe's?"

“Early last year.”

Both Chi Yu and Wei Xiu knew that these so-called robbers were just used to warn them, so they must be related to the prefect of Jiangnan or the governor of education of Jiangnan who was dismissed from his job because of cheating.

After this incident, Chi Yu was no longer young and frivolous. In the following year or so, they seemed to be living a peaceful life, some preparing for exams, some studying.

In fact, we have been looking for the robbers that day.

Wei Xiu said, "Last spring, Wang Qinghe brought his niece to Jiangnan for a visit. He was so impressive that the local government had the people line the streets to welcome him. I saw him from a distance and recognized his eyes."

He will never forget these eyes until his death.

Chu Yuanchen did not doubt whether he had recognized the wrong person, and only asked: "Then what?"

"Then, I told Brother Yu, and only Brother Yu."

"I understand." Chu Yuanchen said solemnly, "I will take care of this matter."

These few words represent his attitude.

No need for promises, his words are as good as gold.

Chi Yu was overjoyed, and quickly pulled Wei Xiu up and bowed.

Chi Yu knew that if he and Wei Xiu were alone, even if he could pass the imperial examination six times in a row and become the top scholar, he would only be at the bottom of the officialdom after three years in the Hanlin Academy. Even if he was appointed as an official in other places and gained some qualifications, it would take many years for him to be promoted to a level that could compete with the Wang family. What's more, Wang Qinghe's brother-in-law was Zheng Chongming, the governor of the Beijing Camp.

It is true that scholars are good for nothing.

Chi Yu originally planned to settle Wei Xiu down and then risk his life to go to the capital to file a complaint again. At worst, he would just kill himself in front of the drum. However, Wei Xiu stopped him and told him to find a wise leader to join.

It was Wei Xiu who suggested joining the King of Zhenbei.

"No need to thank me." Chu Yuanchen smiled and said casually, "Wei Xiu, after all, I am also your brother-in-law. Even if you have concerns and cannot trust us completely, it doesn't matter. After all, it takes time for people to trust each other."

Chu Yuanchen never believed that a person should unconditionally trust another person, even if they are relatives.

Just like Jiang Ting, if I had to trust him wholeheartedly just because he was my father, I would have died long ago without leaving even a trace.

Therefore, it was reasonable for Wei Xiu to be somewhat wary of them when he first met them.

Moreover, Wei Xiu had suffered the annihilation of his entire family and had been hunted down. If he had trusted others so easily, it would have been extremely stupid and he would not be alive today.

Chu Yuanchen said to him with interest, "You can be on guard, but don't risk your own safety." He raised his finger and shook it gently, his tone unchanged, but his eyes were fierce, "Don't do anything too dangerous, your sister will be sad."

There was a hint of something strange on Wei Xiu's calm face.

He realized that Chu Yuanchen was talking about the silver ingot.

Whether or not there is the official silver will not affect their judgment. This is not a government trial that requires witnesses and physical evidence.

However, in order to find "evidence", getting some injuries would arouse more sympathy from the other party than appearing in front of them unscathed. His young age is his biggest bargaining chip.

Chu Yuanchen smiled and said, "No matter what happens to others, your sister is sincere to you, you can't let her be sad, understand?"

"Your sister asked me to look for you. Otherwise, how could I find you?"

Wei Xiu was silent for a moment, then replied, "Yes." His voice was as soft as a mosquito.

"Me, me, me! And me." Sheng Yan pointed at himself and said, "I am sincere too."

"I gave your portrait to Ah Cheng. Ah Cheng's uncle likes to travel around. I only know what you looked like when you were a child. Ah Cheng even scolded me for drawing an ugly picture."

"If it's painted like this, it's impossible to find it."

"and……"

Wei Xiu had never met such a self-familiar person before, and he couldn't help rubbing his ears. Even he didn't notice that the curve of his mouth corners had risen a little higher.

The atmosphere in the elegant room couldn't help but become relaxed.

Sheng Xiyan asked with a smile: "Where do you live?"

Wei Xiu: "I live with Brother Yu."

Chi Yu added: "It's in Yunyan Hutong."

Sheng Xiyan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

After drinking the digestive tea, it was almost time for curfew. Chi Yu said first, "Prince, Miss Shengda, there is no need to see us off. We can go back by ourselves."

Sheng Xiyan agreed and said goodbye to them reluctantly, but she became happy again when she thought about going to burn incense for her mother together tomorrow.

After leaving the restaurant, Chi Yu asked, "Xiu'er, are you really not going back to the Sheng family?"

If Wei Xiu went back, both his studies and career would be much smoother, and he wouldn't be in such a precarious situation and being hunted down like he is now.

Wei Xiu shook his head, and he still said, "The Sheng family doesn't need me."

If he didn't have his parents, he would have died long ago, or been sold into slavery somewhere, and would never have become the Wei Xiu he is today. Even though his parents didn't give him life, they still gave him this life.

If he ignores his biological father, sister and brother-in-law's kindness and changes his surname and clan name just because they hold high positions, then he is no different from an ungrateful person.

Chi Yu patted the boy's thin shoulders and said, "Your sister and brother are both good. You should spend more time with them and don't be alone all the time. After all, you have relatives in the capital."

This child used to be very lively, but after he encountered a disaster, he hardly even smiled.

Chi Yu sighed, "It's all my fault..." It was just his youthful vigor.

"Dad said he doesn't blame you." Wei Xiu said, "Dad said that life is short and there are things you can do and things you can't do. There's nothing wrong with you pursuing justice. The only problem is that this world is not clear enough."

Wei Xiu changed the subject and asked, "Why did Wang Qinghe ambush us in Gyeonggi? Was he afraid that we would file a complaint?"

"It should be." Chi Yu said, "Now that the emperor is seriously ill, the court is ruled by Xiao Duzhu of the Imperial Household Department."

It was only after Chi Yu arrived in the capital that he realized how complicated the situation in the court was.

Chi Yu continued, "Wang Qinghe is afraid that we will report him to the Imperial Household Department, and let the Imperial Household Department get a hold of the Wang family."

Wei Xiu asked, "Is the Wang family afraid of the Imperial Household Department?"

Chi Yu looked around warily and whispered in his ear, "As far as I know, Wang Qinghe is the brother-in-law of Zheng Zhongming, the governor of the Beijing Camp. Governor Xiao has always been at odds with Zheng Zhongming. As long as the two of us are alive, we will have a huge handle on him."

Now, Wei Xiu understood.

He didn't ask any more questions and continued walking forward.

People on the road were walking hurriedly, and by the time Sheng Xiyan and the others returned to the mansion, it had already become completely dark.

Sheng Yan couldn't help but ask, "Sister, why don't you ask your brother to come back and live with you?"

Sheng Xiyan chuckled and said, "What good is there in our house?"

Sheng Yan thought about it and agreed.

When he grows up, he can start his own business as soon as possible, so that his sister can still rely on her family in the future! Then, his brother might be willing to come and live with him.

Thinking of this, he suddenly became energetic and decided to practice for two more hours starting tomorrow!

Then, his sister asked:

"Brother Yan, why are you there today?"

Sheng Yan hadn't explained it clearly before, so when Sheng Xiyan asked, he honestly said, "The emperor is ill, and the military exercises of the imperial guards should have been cancelled, but they never notified me. I went every five days as requested at the beginning. After I went today, they told me that they had notified me that I was on leave today, so I could go back. Obviously, they hadn't notified me! Then I went back."

Sheng Yan kicked a small stone on the ground in annoyance: "On my way back, I met Mu Bai and followed him."

Sheng Yan has been in the Zhenbei Palace and is familiar with Mu Bai.

“Then we were attacked.”

Sheng Yan explained everything his sister asked, except that he did not say that the wound on his arm was caused by Wei Xiu blocking a stray arrow.

After listening to this, Sheng Xiyan asked, "You don't have to go tomorrow?"

Sheng Yan: “Not going.”

Sheng Xiyan: "Then let's go to Huangjue Temple together tomorrow."

Sheng Yan's eyes lit up, and the slight fear of gain and loss that he had originally felt disappeared.

It turns out that his sister still cares about him.

He and Sheng Jue are both good brothers to their sisters!

He suddenly felt happy, and the joy on his face was obvious.

Sheng Xiyan also understood why he was laughing so foolishly, so she smiled as well and said, "Don't tell father about your brother's matter for now."

Sheng Yan didn't ask the reason at all, he just said "OK". In his opinion, whatever his sister did was right.

"Call a doctor later and let him take a good look at the wound on your arm..."

As they were talking, the brother and sister went to the main courtyard together. Sheng Xingan had already left the court at this time, so they had to go and greet him. When Sheng Xingan saw them coming, he first asked a few questions about Sheng Yan's homework, and then told Sheng Xiyan that all her furniture had been made.

Sheng Xiyan was stunned for a moment before she realized that he was talking about the furniture in the new house.

It not only included bedrooms, but also a main room, a side room, a study, etc. He built a set of all kinds of things. Because there was not enough wood, Sheng Xingan found another caravan and bought some at a high price. It was not easy to finish it on time.

Sheng Xing'an said cheerfully: "Go and take a look tomorrow. There is still more than half a month. If there is anything wrong, let them go back to work."

Sheng Xingan looked at his graceful daughter in front of him and felt that she had grown up in the blink of an eye.

His eyes looked a little dazed.

Why did he feel that his daughter was unlovable a few years ago, as if he had been blinded by greed?

But now, the closer it gets to his daughter's wedding, the more reluctant he feels.

"The day after tomorrow," Sheng Xiyan said, "Tomorrow, Yan Ge'er and I will go to Huangjue Temple to burn incense for mother."

Sheng Xingan came back to his senses.

Although it was the Liu family's evil deeds, in the past few days, he couldn't help thinking that if he had no intention of taking a concubine, the Liu family might not have been interested in him, and his wife and children might still be by his side.

His brother Jue...

Sheng Xingan sighed, "It's time to go. Then you should go to bed early."

Sheng Xiyan knelt down and took her leave, pretending not to notice his hesitation to speak, and left with Sheng Yan.

Sheng Xiyan was in a very good mood. The corners of her mouth were raised high, her eyes and eyebrows were full of smiles, and she looked very energetic.

She first went to the small Buddhist temple, lit a stick of incense, and told her mother that she would bring her brother to see her tomorrow. Then she was so excited that she couldn't sleep well the whole night. She couldn't wait to get up early in the morning. She changed into a plain dress, took Sheng Yan with her, and went out happily.

Wei Xiu went out earlier than them.

He was not familiar with the capital and did not like to be late, so Chi Yu brought him here early.

Huangjue Temple is the most incense-filled temple in the capital. He looked up at the plaque on the temple gate, his mood fluctuating.

When he was young, he couldn't help but wonder why his biological parents didn't want him, but his parents treated him very well, so he soon stopped thinking about it. Since they didn't want him, he didn't want them either.

It turns out that they didn't want him.

And...the person who should be his biological mother was looking for him until her death.

He calmed himself down and said, "Brother Yu, you should go back first. They should be here soon..."

"It's you."

Just then, a voice interrupted them.

Wei Xiu turned around and saw a girl in a red fur cape standing less than ten steps away from them. There was a hint of displeasure on her beautiful face, and her eyebrows were raised high.

Wei Xiu recognized her.

Last year, the niece that Wang Qinghe brought with him when he came to Jiangnan was her.

He called out expressionlessly, "Miss Zheng."

Zheng Xintong stepped forward and asked unhappily, "Why are you in the capital? Are you going to file a complaint again? Who do you want to harm this time?"

Wei Xiu looked at her and said nothing.

This disregard made Zheng Xintong a little angry. She took a step forward and said, "I'm asking you a question."

Wei Xiu was calm and composed, as if Zheng Xintong didn't exist in front of him at all.

Chi Yu sneered: "Why, we can't come?"

Zheng Xintong frowned and said bluntly: "You should go back."

She said, "This is the capital, you can't get away with anything. Wei Xiu, Chi Yu, my uncle has been killed by you, isn't that enough? Why are you being so aggressive? What's more, the emperor is already seriously ill, so even if you file a complaint, it will be useless."

Zheng Xintong thought he was magnanimous: "Leave Beijing immediately, and I will pretend that I have never seen you. Otherwise..."

Wei Xiu looked over quietly, his calm eyes like a cold pond.

He asked, "What else?"

"Otherwise," Zheng Xintong sneered and said arrogantly, "In this capital, my Zheng family has the final say."

"Wei Xiu, now that you have escaped, your parents must hope that you can live well and not die in vain."

Zheng Xintong put emphasis on the words "send to death", and the threatening meaning was obvious.