Chapter 4: The Elder Brother Hears the Thoughts

“What?”

Madam Meng suddenly looked up at Fang Yuean, her gaze sharp for a moment.

The delicate little child stood there, her large, grape-like eyes innocent as she looked at Madam Meng, as though the slap just now was a figment of the old woman’s imagination.

Madam Meng looked at her eyes, and her expression slowly changed.

Even Nanny Zhang, who was standing beside her, looked as if she had seen a ghost.

Qin Xuan caught the subtle reactions of the pair.

“Mother, I am truly sorry. This child was brought to me by someone I sent out to search for. She was once a beggar and doesn’t know proper manners. I will make sure to teach her well in the future.”

Qin Xuan held the hand that had struck the slap and secretly massaged it.

“What did you bring her here for?” Madam Meng’s face grew darker.

She had come because of the rumors, thinking that the child was simply someone who looked like Er Er. After all, four years ago, Nanny Zhang had thrown the child into the river with her own hands.

But after seeing the child with her own eyes, she began to suspect that the child might not have died.

“I heard from an old sage about a method to gather the soul of Er Er by finding someone who looks exactly like her.”

“You must think it’s strange, right?” Qin Xuan gently stroked Fang Yuean’s head. “There really are people in this world who look so alike.”

This all caught Madam Meng off guard. She glanced at Nanny Zhang, whose face had turned pale. Fearing that staying any longer might reveal a flaw, she hurriedly said:

“Mother Xuan, no matter how urgent, don’t let anyone deceive you. Be cautious. I’ve been too worried about Eldest, and now I’m feeling unwell, so I’ll return for now.”

[Old thing, now that you see me, you’re feeling guilty, right?]

[Madam Meng had an affair with the son-in-law of the Chen family, got pregnant, and to protect her reputation and that of your Meng family, you used my whole life to cover for you.]

[Look at the dowry prepared for my elder sister’s marriage; you were jealous and didn’t want Fang Miaoyi to get less of a dowry because of Er Er, and you even planned to kill another daughter of mine. Truly despicable!]

As Qin Xuan stood up to send her off, her body froze for a moment before quickly returning to normal.

She then called for the eldest maid, Hong Xiang, and instructed her to take Fang Yuean back first.

After the two were gone, Qin Xuan whispered to Nanny Zhang:

“Your second son has been with the eldest since he was young and is very skilled in lightness martial arts. Have him secretly listen to what they say when they return.”

“Later, I’ll write two letters. Have our people deliver them anonymously to the Chen family’s daughter and the old madam of the Chen family.”

To catch the adulterers, they would need to investigate within the Chen family to see if Madam Meng had ever given birth.

Qin Xuan remembered that the Chen family’s son-in-law was a man who had married into the family.

After the death of Chen Da, the family had no sons.

In the future, the Chen family was supposed to pass on to this son-in-law.

Given this situation, the Chen family would be especially cautious and would not allow betrayal or sweep things under the rug.

On the way back to Mingyue Residence, Fang Yuean was in a good mood, skipping along.

Hong Xiang and the other three maids quickly followed behind her.

As they reached a corner of the corridor, Fang Yuean bumped into someone.

“Ow!” she cried out, covering her forehead.

[Your jade pendant hit my head.]

Fang Xunli froze for a moment, then joyfully squatted down, lightly gripping Fang Yuean’s shoulder and searching her eyes.

“Er Er? You can speak now? You can feel it, right?”

Fang Yuean put her hand down, and the refined young man, with his handsome features, gazed at her with eyes shining with joy.

“Eldest Young Master, she is not Sixth Miss.”

Hong Xiang explained in detail what had been said by Madam Qin and the others to Fang Xunli.

“Gather Er Er’s soul?” How come he’d never heard his mother mention this before?

Fang Xunli’s gaze was slightly complicated as he looked at the child before him, deep in thought. He suddenly heard:

[You’re my big brother, right?]

[Mother even asked you to name me. Hurry up, I’m in a hurry to use it.]

Fang Xunli’s eyes flickered.

She didn’t speak, so he could hear her thoughts?

Fang Xunli instinctively withdrew his hand, unable to hide his surprise.

【Don’t say it, Big Brother is quite handsome, not only is he talented, the heir to a noble title, but he is also engaged to the beautiful and capable Miss Xu. Truly, he’s a winner in life.】

【It’s just a pity that there are too many jealous people envious of Big Brother.】

“Eldest Young Master, if there’s nothing else, may I escort the young lady back?” Hong Xiang asked respectfully.

Fang Xunli stood up in a daze, looking at the maids’ natural expressions, knowing that they couldn’t hear her thoughts.

“Alright.”

Fang Xunli watched the bouncing figure leave.

No, he had to go ask his mother what was really going on.

Arriving at Yunxiang Courtyard, Fang Xunli dismissed the servants and invited his mother into the room, but after hesitating for a while, he didn’t know how to start.

Qin Xuan looked at her unusually silent son and, remembering Fang Yuean who had just left, cautiously asked:

“What did you hear?”

Fang Xunli widened his eyes, looking at his mother, and lowered his voice: “You can also hear that child’s thoughts?”

Receiving a confirmed answer, Qin Xuan decided not to hide anything from her son.

She told Fang Xunli everything that had happened today, from the information in the heart’s voice to Madam Meng’s reaction.

As Fang Xunli listened, his expression shifted with disbelief, and by the end, he was in utter shock.

He never expected that his kind and gentle step-grandmother would do something so wicked.

Qin Xuan took a sip of tea and then admonished him: “This matter must be kept a secret. Don’t tell anyone, not even that child. We’ll observe further and see if anyone else can hear, and make sure this doesn’t get out.”

Fang Xunli understood his mother’s concerns and nodded. Then, he thought of something and seriously asked:

“Mother, if both Father and I were to disappear from the Marquis Mansion, who would benefit the most?”

When the news of his father’s disappearance reached them, he had wanted to go search for him personally.

But his mother stopped him, saying that his father’s disappearance seemed suspicious and that he must have been harmed by someone. If he left the capital, he would play into the enemy’s hands and be easily dealt with.

Fang Xunli cautiously glanced at his mother, “And when I think about Zhiyi getting into trouble, isn’t it to sever our limbs, afraid that we might form alliances with higher-ranking families?”

His father held military power. His elder sister Fang Zhiyi was talented, beautiful, and skilled in martial arts. If nothing had happened, it was even possible for her to become the Crown Princess.

Qin Xuan’s voice was strained. “You mean the second branch, wanting the title?” Her tone was firm.

She remembered Fang Yuean’s thoughts, saying that the second branch wasn’t a good bunch.

“My son is only speculating boldly based on today’s events. I don’t know if I’m wrongfully accusing them. After all, my second uncle and aunt have always been very kind to me. But if the step-grandmother can deceive, why couldn’t they?”

Fang Xunli thought back, though he wasn’t very close with the second branch’s younger siblings, there had never been any real conflict between them.

Qin Xuan sighed deeply, “Be wary of them. If it’s really as we suspect, you’re in danger, so be careful.”

She couldn’t help but feel worried.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve grown up, and I’ll protect myself.”

Fang Xunli couldn’t help but think of the thought: It’s just a pity there are too many jealous people envious of Big Brother.