“Regarding the family matters from before… I only remember that we were a wealthy family, with many horses. As for whether we were the Weiyuan Marquisate, I really don’t recall,” Xue Xiaoshan said, turning his gaze to the bustling street, his thoughts drifting far away with the crowd. “These events feel like a distant dream, like they have nothing to do with me now. Rongrong…”

“Second Brother, just speak your mind.”

Xue Xiaoshan hesitated for a moment before asking, “What happened to the Weiyuan Marquisate twenty years ago?”

Rongrong had asked the Crown Prince about this when she was at the East Palace.

At that time, she thought of it as just a story, but now that she knew it was related to Xue Xiaoshan’s past, her feelings changed completely.

She sighed. “At that time, enemy forces were aggressively invading the borders. The Conghe Guard, which was the main force under the Weiyuan Marquis’s command, was out fighting the enemy, leaving the city vulnerable. The Marquis, feeling the situation was dire and fearing the city gates might fall, decided to send his wife and family to the provincial capital. However, shortly after they left, news came that they were attacked. The Marquis rushed out of the city with his guards but fell into an ambush by the bandits. The Marquis was killed by a stray arrow.”

“So I…”

“The Marquis’s wife and the heir’s carriage fell off a cliff, and their bodies were never found, so everyone thought…”

“You mean, I’m the Marquis’s heir?” Xue Xiaoshan asked in confusion.

“Yes,” Rongrong nodded. “The Marquis had only one son, who was five years old when the incident happened.”

“Then what was the name of that heir?”

“It’s a beautiful name.”

Hearing Rongrong say this, Xue Xiaoshan’s previously dim expression brightened a little. “How beautiful?”

Rongrong, seeing him finally showing some spirit, said seriously, “Liang Mubai.”

Xue Xiaoshan stared blankly.

“Didn’t I tell you? Isn’t it a beautiful name?”

Liang Mubai.

Xue Xiaoshan frowned and softly repeated the name several times before shaking his head, feeling dejected. “I don’t remember this name at all. No impression whatsoever. Rongrong, could it be a mistake?”

“It’s not,” Rongrong said firmly.

“Why not?”

Rongrong wanted to say that Liu Zhen wouldn’t make a mistake, as he was very intelligent and had sent people to investigate, so he must have been certain before sending her to ask.

However, she couldn’t say this directly to Xue Xiaoshan.

Rongrong pointed to the circular scar on his wrist. “This Qilin Fire is concrete evidence. Second Brother, even if you don’t remember your name, you still remember the Qilin Fire, don’t you?”

Seeing that Xue Xiaoshan was silent, it seemed he believed her. Rongrong continued, “Don’t worry. Although the Crown Prince says that having the Qilin Fire is enough, he is still searching for people and evidence related to it. They will tell you everything if you have any questions later.”

“If, and I mean if, my identity really is the heir of the Weiyuan Marquis, what kind of status could the Crown Prince give you?” Xue Xiaoshan asked.

Rongrong smiled faintly and shook her head. “Actually, I don’t know.”

Liu Zhen only asked her to come and see my second brother, and didn’t mention anything else.

Xue Xiaoshan said, “I heard from Chunxing that the third young lady of the Jingning Marquis’s residence likes the Crown Prince and might become his consort.”

“The Crown Prince doesn’t like her, and she made a mistake. The Jingning Marquis’s residence has already sent her out of the capital, and she won’t be back for at least three to five years.”

Xue Xiaoshan then said, “The Weiyuan Marquis’s residence doesn’t seem any worse than the Jingning Marquis’s residence. Why can that third young lady become the Crown Prince’s consort, but you can’t?”

“The third young lady is a legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s residence. I… I’m just a maid.” Rongrong’s smile was a bit bitter.

“I’m supported by my maid sister!” Xue Xiaoshan became displeased. “What does that make me?”

Rongrong was amused by Xue Xiaoshan and thought for a moment before saying, “I didn’t ask him and don’t want to ask him. Whatever he decides is fine with me.”

In fact, Rongrong’s desires were quite simple. As long as she could be by Yuanbao’s side in a proper manner, she would be content.

She wasn’t demanding anything else.

She even hoped that Liu Zhen wouldn’t try to make her a consort or side consort but let her quietly stay in a corner of the Eastern Palace, not attracting attention.

Xue Xiaoshan looked at Rongrong with mixed feelings.

Rongrong really liked the Crown Prince, didn’t she?

As long as she could be with him, she didn’t care about her status.

“Second brother, in a few days, Feicui will bring the imperial physician to check on your scar. When that happens, let the physician examine it. If it’s not really Qilin Fire, you can relax.”

Xue Xiaoshan shook his head, pressed the scar on his wrist with determination, and said, “No, they will definitely say it is Qilin Fire.”

“Why?” Rongrong asked curiously.

Xue Xiaoshan looked at Rongrong’s puzzled gaze, smiled slightly, and looked out the window, remaining silent.

He didn’t know the Crown Prince, and whether the Weiyuan Marquis’s residence had an heir seemed irrelevant to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s strong interest in the Qilin Fire and his urgent wish for Xue Xiaoshan to restore his status could only mean it was for Rongrong’s sake.

Rongrong came from a peasant family and was a maid, so her status was too low.

The young lady of the Jingning Marquis’s residence had the qualifications to become the Crown Prince’s consort.

If Rongrong became the Weiyuan Marquis’s sister, even if just an adopted sister, she would at least have the qualification to be a consort on paper.

If it was just about making Rongrong a concubine, the Crown Prince wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.

However, it seems Rongrong hadn’t considered this.

“Rongrong, starting today, you should not return to the East Palace.”

“Ah?” Rongrong was surprised by Xue Xiaoshan’s sudden remark. “Why?”

“If the Crown Prince wants to restore your identity, he must intend to formally marry you into the Eastern Palace. If you stay in the Eastern Palace before your marriage, it might harm your reputation.”

Xue Xiaoshan made a valid point, but… “I’ve already been living in the Eastern Palace for a while. Returning home now, wouldn’t that be a bit like covering up the truth?”

“Previously, you were taking care of the young prince. Now that you’re going to discuss marriage, it’s naturally different.”

Indeed.

Rongrong was actually curious about what it felt like to be formally married.

A properly betrothed woman wouldn’t be living with a man every day before marriage.

Thinking about the nights spent with Liu Zhen recently, Rongrong’s ears felt flushed with embarrassment, especially as she stood in front of Xue Xiaoshan.

She felt extremely self-conscious.

He hadn’t broken that barrier, but he had done everything else he could.

But how was she supposed to explain this to Liu Zhen?

He was still waiting to take her to Liangzhou! She couldn’t go; if she went, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her current position.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Liu Zhen’s resolve; she didn’t trust her own!

“Rongrong?”

“I understand, Second Brother. I’ll go back today to pack and then move back home.”

Hearing this, Xue Xiaoshan’s smile finally became more genuine.

---

In the Palace of Kunning:

The Empress was reclining on a carved rosewood couch while a maid was trimming her nails.

Anru entered and bowed. “Your Majesty, Prince Qing and Princess Qing have arrived.”

The Empress did not move, waiting for the maid to finish trimming the last nail before looking up. “Have them come in.”

Moments later, Prince Qing and Princess Qing entered the palace, bowed to the Empress, and said in unison, “We pay our respects to Mother, and wish you peace and longevity.”

Prince Qing was elegant and refined, while Princess Qing was graceful and lovely—a perfect match.

The Empress nodded in satisfaction. “We’re all family. Anru, grant them seats and bring over the jasmine tea just sent from the imperial kitchen for them to taste.”

“Thank you, Mother. The food from Kunning Palace is always the most delicious.”

Prince Qing smiled brightly, revealing his white teeth in a dazzling manner.

Among the Empress’s two sons, the Crown Prince resembled the Emperor, while Prince Qing looked more like the Empress.

People often say parents favor their younger children, but the Empress was an exception.

Since Liu Zhen was born, all her energy was focused on him.

After Liu Zhen went to the monastery, she worried day and night, always thinking of ways to clear obstacles for him to secure his place in the Eastern Palace.

Prince Qing, who had always stayed in the palace, seemed to have remained out of the Empress’s attention.

“I called you here today to discuss something.”