Chapter 267 Recognizing the Master
The servant stepped forward to add tea for Du Zhong.
He said with a disdainful look, "How dare a mere warrior act so arrogantly towards you, sir."
Du Zhong took a sip of tea. "Of Qin Ye's four adopted sons, only Dian Fengyang is the most foolish and reckless. All four of Qin Ye's adopted sons have received the letter. Do you see any of the other three come here rashly? If they join my ranks, all the troops under his command will naturally belong to me. At that time, whether Dian Fengyang lives or dies will be up to me."
The servant flattered him, saying, "Master is brilliant."
Li Muli and Fu Yuanzhong deliberately called Xue Huaiyi out of the palace.
The three of them agreed to meet at a restaurant.
When Xue Huaiyi arrived, he saw only the two of them and no sign of Dian Fengyang, and a strange look flashed in his eyes.
"Why hasn't Second Brother arrived yet? He'll definitely be punished with a drink later."
Li Muli chuckled and said, "Your second brother is not feeling well, so it's just the three of us brothers today."
Fu Yuanzhong also spoke up, "Fourth brother, please sit down. Your elder brother and I specially prepared some strong liquor that we brought back from the border for you."
Xue Huaiyi sat down between the two and sighed.
"Big brother, third brother, let's skip the formalities and speak frankly."
Li Muli and Fu Yuanzhong exchanged a glance, then Li Muli took the letter he had received from his pocket and handed it to Xue Huaiyi.
Xue looked up at the two suspiciously, "A letter from a prominent family in the capital?"
Li Muli was somewhat surprised, "How did Fourth Brother know?"
Could it be that the Prince's Mansion has been monitoring them all along?
Seeing Li Muli's expression, Xue Huaiyi raised his hand and said, "Brother, please don't be suspicious."
He then pulled a stack of letters from his pocket.
"These were delivered today. The messengers were all from various noble families. I guessed that my brothers must have received them as well, and when I saw them just now, I was right."
Li Muli's expression turned serious. "Fourth brother, you've always been decisive. What do you think we should do about this?"
Xue Huaiyi looked at the two men with a solemn expression, "Eldest brother and third brother, do you intend to betray your master?"
Both of them were taken aback.
Xue Huaiyi walked to the side and picked up a candle.
He lit the letter in his hand.
Watching the letter being consumed by the fire little by little.
“Eldest brother, third brother, times have changed. I have pledged allegiance to the princess and will follow her lead.”
The two couldn't believe that Xue Huaiyi, the most arrogant of the four, had actually acknowledged Qin Jinzhi as his master.
It wasn't out of necessity; she had already recognized Qin Jinzhi as her master while her adoptive father was still alive.
Xue Huaiyi had been brothers with the three men for many years, and not wanting to beat around the bush, he simply stated his position directly.
Li Muli said with some disbelief, "Fourth brother, is this really true? But the princess's life or death is currently unknown. If news of her death is announced, the future of my brothers and I will be in jeopardy."
Xue Huaiyi stood in front of the table and looked at the two of them. “I know why you two brothers came to me today. The princess’s life or death is unknown. You two brothers have elderly parents and young children to support. You need to plan carefully. However, if you two brothers trust your younger brother, then put away your disloyal thoughts. If you two brothers stand against the princess in the future, then our brotherhood will also disappear.”
He didn't believe that anything could happen to the princess, no matter who else in the entire capital was in trouble.
Considering the current situation in the capital, he guessed that it was a trap set by the princess.
The two of them appearing here further confirmed his guess.
That's all he could say.
Li Muli had originally intended to ask Xue Huaiyi for advice, but now Xue Huaiyi had clearly sided with the princess.
Fu Yuanzhong frowned and asked, "Even if the princess really dies?"
Xue Huaiyi looked at the two of them with some disappointment.
My two elder brothers, the four of us brothers owe our success today entirely to our adoptive father's appreciation.
Without our adoptive father, we would be nothing more than nameless soldiers. There are many who have made great military achievements on the battlefield but remain unknown. Without our adoptive father, could we possibly become generals on our own?
Even if the two elder brothers are dissatisfied with the princess, they shouldn't have said such things or harbored such thoughts out of respect for their adoptive father.
Li Muli stared at Xue Huaiyi in surprise, "Fourth brother, don't you resent it?"
Xue Huaiyi was the bravest and most resourceful of the four, yet he was crippled and trapped in the capital.
They always thought that Xue Huaiyi harbored resentment.
Xue Huaiyi simply looked at the two of them and said, "I have said what I needed to say. I will not stop you from making your choice. There are still many matters to attend to at the Prince's residence, so I will go back first."
Just as he was about to leave, Xue Huaiyi stopped at the door and said, "One last piece of advice: sever ties with your second brother."
Xue Huaiyi cannot expect everyone to be like him; people's hearts are always inclined to seek advantage and avoid harm.
But Li Muli and Fu Yuanzhong at least still had some conscience.
The fact that Dian Fengyang did not appear today indicates that he has already chosen a path to death.
If there are any disagreements among the brothers, this is my final piece of advice.
After Xue Huaiyi left, he was about to ride away.
Suddenly, a woman appeared in front of the horse.
The young woman was none other than Xue Niaoniao, whom Xue Huaiyi was investigating.
Tears welled in Xue Niaoniao's eyes as she stepped forward.
"Someone told me that you are my father, is that true?"
Xue Huaiyi's expression darkened. "Someone's here. Who is it?"
Xue Niaoniao's expression was somewhat agitated, "Are you really my father?"
Upon seeing this, Xue Huaiyi dismounted and said, "There's a noodle stall up ahead; let's talk there."
Xue Niaoniao followed Xue Huaiyi to the noodle stall he mentioned with a stubborn expression.
Xue Huaiyi ordered two bowls of noodles.
"Eat it while it's hot."
Xue Niaoniao didn't touch her chopsticks, but stared straight at Xue Huaiyi.
Why did you abandon me and my mother?
Xue Huaiyi didn't even look up. "Did your mother tell you that?"
Xue Niaoniao bit her lip and didn't speak.
Xue Huaiyi picked up a mouthful of noodles, looked at Xue Niaoniao, and said, "I'll leave after I finish this bowl of noodles."
If you don't speak up, you won't have another chance to ask him questions.
Xue Niaoniao clenched her fist. "It wasn't my mother who said that. My mother is already dead."
She stared intently at Xue Huaiyi.
Xue Huaiyi was stunned. Dead?
When did he die?
Xue Niaoniao looked at the usually indifferent Xue Huaiyi and her tone turned angry.
"When I was eight years old! She worked herself to death raising me!"
Xue Huaiyi placed the chopsticks on the noodle bowl.
“When I was about to return to the capital, I asked your mother whether she wanted to come with me or go back to Yangzhou. Your mother said she wanted to go back to Yangzhou. I left most of my wealth to your mother, enough for her to live a peaceful life. When I left, your mother did not tell me that she was pregnant, nor did she ever come to the capital to look for me. If you are really He’s daughter, how could you not even know these things?”
Xue Niaoniao's eyes widened. "Impossible! You're lying! You're the one who abandoned my mother!"
Xue Huaiyi stared at Xue Niaoniao, "Who told you that I abandoned your mother, and who told you my identity, making you wait for me here today?"
Xue Niaoniao shivered as she was stared at by Xue Huaiyi's icy gaze.
I don't know what you're talking about!
The man said that his identity must never be revealed.
Xue Huaiyi stood up. "I can acknowledge you, after all, I genuinely loved your mother back then."
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