“Rongrong, you’re back?”

Xue Xiaoshan opened the door and, seeing Rongrong, was delighted and welcomed her into the courtyard.

“Second Brother,” Rongrong greeted him sweetly.

Xue Xiaoshan looked Rongrong up and down.

Previously, Rongrong had been pale, but today her cheeks were slightly flushed, looking healthier and more charming.

“Little sister, you look well. Your job must be going smoothly,” Xue Xiaoshan remarked.

He wasn’t familiar with expensive clothing or jewelry, but he could tell that Rongrong’s outfit was much more luxurious than those worn by wealthy people on the street.

“I’m doing well. How’s the family? What about Grandmother?” Rongrong asked, looking into the courtyard, which was quiet and empty.

“The family is fine. Grandmother went out to buy vegetables with Chunxing. You know how Grandmother is; she’s always busy and often goes out with Chunxing these days,” Xue Xiaoshan said, his face showing some concern. “The only issue is that Feicui suddenly said she wanted to return to the Marquis’s residence. She was very insistent, and we couldn’t stop her.”

Rongrong smiled upon hearing this. “Don’t worry, Second Brother. After Feicui goes back to the Marquis’s residence, She’ll go to my place.”

“Feicui is going to your place?” Xue Xiaoshan was taken aback.

He remembered Chunxing saying that Feicui had been sent away because of her disability, and they wanted Chunxing to return to work. “Don’t mention this to Chunxing; she would be really upset.”

Rongrong was surprised by Xue Xiaoshan’s attentiveness and how he knew about Chunxing’s feelings.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t worry, I have other plans for Chunxing and will make sure she’s well taken care of.”

Xue Xiaoshan smiled awkwardly, scratching his head. “I know you won’t mistreat her. She tends to grumble a lot when she’s unhappy, and I’m afraid of hearing her complain.”

Rongrong couldn’t help but laugh.

Chunxing was very capable, but she was also known for her incessant chatter.

“If Feicui’s departure makes things busy at home, Second Brother, you can get another maid.”

Xue Xiaoshan declined, saying, “No need. With Grandmother’s recovery, it’s enough for just the two of us.”

Rongrong took out a purse from her belongings. “Grandmother is getting older and deserves to enjoy life more. Don’t worry about the money. I’ve received my monthly wages this month.”

Xue Xiaoshan glanced at the purse but didn’t take it. “Rongrong, I’m able to make a living now. You don’t need to give me this money. Keep it for yourself.”

Rongrong blinked and, with a playful smile, said, “This isn’t for you; it’s for Grandmother’s support. Please accept it.”

Xue Xiaoshan was momentarily dazed by her smile and quickly turned his face away.

“Then you give it to Grandmother yourself. Don’t bring it to me.”

“Second Brother!” Rongrong called out in a feigned displeased tone.

Her delicate voice made Xue Xiaoshan’s ears burn with embarrassment. “Alright, I’ll take it. You sit down first, and I’ll get you a cup of tea.”

“No need,” Rongrong said, tugging at his sleeve. “Let’s go to Huibin Building for tea.”

“Huibin Building?” Xue Xiaoshan was about to ask why they were going out but was already being pulled by Rongrong.

Once they arrived at Huibin Building, Rongrong requested a private room on the upper floor, which faced the street, allowing them to see the bustling crowds below through the open window.

“What would you like to eat, sir and miss?” the waiter asked cheerfully.

“Brewing a pot of Biluochun tea, and bring four freshly baked tea snacks. Make sure they’re fresh; I won’t pay for stale ones.”

“Got it,” the waiter said with a smile. “Rest assured, this is a restaurant that the emperor has visited, a century-old establishment. We guarantee the freshest ingredients.”

The waiters in Huibin Building were experienced and aware of the common tricks.

They often saw local patrons or those who saved up to enjoy a good meal and would sometimes serve cheap snacks like melon seeds and peanuts instead of the promised quality.

But seeing Rongrong’s luxurious attire and jewelry, the waiter knew better than to try and cheat her.

Soon, a tea master arrived with a pot of Biluochun tea, and another servant brought four types of tea snacks.

Once the tea master and servant left, Rongrong said, “Huibin Building’s tea snacks are a major highlight. They make different ones every day. Second Brother, try them.”

Xue Xiaoshan picked up a piece of almond cake, took a bite, and put it down. “It’s very good.”

“If it’s good, why not eat more?” Rongrong encouraged.

Xue Xiaoshan smiled shyly but felt uneasy.

Rongrong had suddenly returned home and brought him to Huibin Building with such ceremony.

He wondered what was going on.

“Rongrong, you came back today and brought me here. Is there something you need to tell me?”

Xue Xiaoshan’s straightforward question made Rongrong feel a bit uncomfortable.

Three days ago, the Crown Prince had mentioned Xue Xiaoshan’s situation to her. She had been skeptical at first, but the Crown Prince had provided evidence, forcing Rongrong to believe.

After pondering for two days in the Eastern Palace, Rongrong had come home to find Xue Xiaoshan.

“Second Brother, how much do you remember about your life before you came to our family?” Xue Xiaoshan had been around five or six years old when he came to the Xue family.

He had always claimed to forget his past. Now, looking at the four-year-old Yuanbao, Rongrong felt that a five-year-old child wasn’t completely unaware of things.

Facing Rongrong’s clear, watery eyes, Xue Xiaoshan hesitated, his mind racing through countless possible answers.

Don’t remember anything. If you want to stay alive, just forget everything your mother told you before she died.

“Rongrong, why did you suddenly think of asking this?”

“Well…” Rongrong swallowed her prepared words. If she was here to get the truth from Xue Xiaoshan, she shouldn’t be playing games with him.

“Second Brother, that scar on your hand,” Rongrong pointed to Xue Xiaoshan’s wrist, “Someone said that it’s a mark belonging to a very powerful family, so I came to ask you about it.”

“Who said that?” Xue Xiaoshan asked immediately.

“The Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince? How does he know about my scar… Did you tell him?”

Rongrong shook her head. “I noticed that the scar seemed unusual, but I couldn’t figure out its origins.

It was Feicui who mentioned it.

Feicui is an undercover guard from the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince used to have her protect me, and she saw it by chance.

She said it was some sort of ‘Qilin Fire.’ Second Brother, do you know what ‘Qilin Fire’ is?”

Xue Xiaoshan tightly gripped his wrist, covering the mark, and moved his lips but said nothing.

“Why did the Crown Prince send an undercover guard to protect you? What’s your relationship with him?”

Rongrong was surprised by Xue Xiaoshan’s concern and blushed, feeling a bit flustered.

Xue Xiaoshan’s face grew dim. “So, what you said about taking care of the child was a lie?”

“No, it wasn’t a lie,” Rongrong said, nervously clutching her handkerchief. For some reason, being looked at by Xue Xiaoshan made her feel oddly guilty, as if she had done something wrong. “I did take care of the Crown Prince’s son in the East Palace, but… but…”

Rongrong’s face turned bright red, and she became incoherent. It was difficult for her to admit her relationship with the Crown Prince in front of her brother.

“Rongrong, I understand. I was wrong to say that,” Xue Xiaoshan said, feeling guilty seeing Rongrong so upset.

Though his face still looked troubled, he tried to comfort her.

Rongrong was so beautiful and charming that it was natural for the Crown Prince to like her.

What man wouldn’t like Rongrong? Even Yang Tong, who had only met Rongrong a few times, often visited her.

As her brother, he was always just her brother.

He had no right to be concerned about who she was with.

“I just worry that if you face difficulties in such a place, no one will back you up.”

Rongrong blushed and said, “He’s quite good to me.”

Seeing Rongrong’s sweet and shy appearance, Xue Xiaoshan found her smile particularly painful to look at.

He took another bite of the almond cake and found it even more bitter, wondering why such a thing was used to make pastries.

“Second Brother, do you really not remember anything?”

“Why does the Crown Prince care about this? Why did he send you to ask me?”

Rongrong pressed her lips together and said, “The ‘Qilin Fire’ on your hand is a mark only the head of the Liang family from the Weiyuan Marquisate has. The Crown Prince wants to help you restore your identity.”

“Why did he do this? What does my status have to do with him? What benefit does it bring him?”

Xue Xiaoshan, who was usually quiet, spoke with unexpected sharpness today.

“The Crown Prince does have his own interests.”

“What interests?”

Rongrong looked down and took a moment before responding, “My status is lowly. If I entered the Eastern Palace, at most I’d be a concubine. But if I had a brother who could inherit a marquis title…”

Xue Xiaoshan’s gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Rongrong.

“I’m sorry, Second Brother. I’ve been so selfish, thinking only about having you do something for me…”

“I really don’t remember much from when I was young,” Xue Xiaoshan said after a moment of silence, speaking slowly.

Rongrong felt deeply uncomfortable, realizing it was unfair of her to pressure Xue Xiaoshan because of her own status.

“If you don’t remember, then forget it. Second Brother, let’s pretend I never mentioned this.”

Xue Xiaoshan looked up at Rongrong and asked earnestly, “Rongrong, do you like the Crown Prince very much?”

Like him?

Rongrong thought that her relationship with Liu Zhen couldn’t simply be described as liking.

Through all the ups and downs, entanglements, and trials they had endured, if she were to leave Liu Zhen, she doubted she would ever love another man in her lifetime.

“I understand now,” Xue Xiaoshan said, having already received his answer from her shifting gaze, “I really don’t remember much from my childhood. I remember quite a bit when I first arrived in Linwan Village, but I intentionally avoided thinking about it and gradually forgot. So, I have no impression of the Weiyuan Marquis’s residence or the Liang family.”

Xue Xiaoshan touched the scar on his hand. “I only remember this.”

“The Crown Prince said this scar is called ‘Qilin Fire.’”

Xue Xiaoshan gave a bitter smile. “Maybe that’s what it’s called. I just know it was very painful.”

The pain was so intense that it was engraved in his bones, lingering even after more than twenty years.

“How did you get this ‘Qilin Fire’ scar?”

“I remember that day my father took me to a place that looked like a prison, with a brazier burning fiercely beside us. I was a bit scared, but my father told me that from that day on, I would be a real man.”

“And then?”

“He took out a jade seal and threw it into the brazier. I watched as the white jade slowly turned red. I was frightened and asked him what he was doing, but he wouldn’t tell me. He took the jade seal out of the fire and pressed it hard onto my wrist.”

Rongrong was startled.

Even a splash of oil while cooking hurt, and she couldn’t imagine the pain of a red-hot jade seal.

“I cried and begged him to let me go, but he held on tightly without hesitation,” Xue Xiaoshan said with a bitter smile. “I remember very clearly the smell of burning flesh. That smell… it still makes me nauseous.”

“Second Brother.” Rongrong didn’t know how to comfort him, so she simply called his name.

“Later, my father finally let go and said he would apply medicine. I believed him, but when the medicine was applied, my hand hurt even more, and I fainted from the pain. Later, I learned that this medicine meant the scar would never heal.”

When Rongrong first heard about Xue Xiaoshan’s past from the Crown Prince, she was skeptical.

Now, hearing Xue Xiaoshan’s detailed account of the scar’s origin, she finally believed it.

Her Second Brother was indeed the legitimate heir of the Weiyuan Marquis family!