Chapter 100: News of Yao’er

…

In Bianjing.

Mo Jinnan had already uncovered Hu Zhaodi’s background. At that moment, he was visiting the Taifu’s residence with Minister Xiang Taifu.

After sending the servants away, he lowered his voice and asked, “Lord Xiang, is your daughter, Xiang Xinyu, your biological daughter?”

Lord Xiang froze for a moment, then shook his head, saying, “No.”

Mo Jinnan furrowed his brow, his gaze filled with curiosity.

Lord Xiang’s eyes reddened slightly, and with a sorrowful expression, he continued, “My biological daughter’s name is Xiang Xinyao. When she was three, she got separated from her mother during a trip to the market.

All these years, I haven’t given up looking for her, but I still haven’t found any trace.

As for Xinyu, she’s a child we rescued while searching for my biological daughter. Since we couldn’t find Yao’er, and because Xinyu was so pitiful, my wife and I decided to adopt her after much consideration.”

Mo Jinnan nodded. “So, she’s not my fiancée?”

Lord Xiang nodded. “That’s right, she is not your Highness’s fiancée.

I always thought I would find Yao’er, but it’s been eleven years now, and she’s still nowhere to be found. I don’t even know if she’s alive or dead.”

Mo Jinnan’s expression darkened further. “If you haven’t found your biological daughter, are you planning to have your adopted daughter marry me instead?”

Lord Xiang shook his head without hesitation. “I have no such intention. Since your Highness hasn’t proposed, I haven’t had the opportunity to inform you of Xinyu’s background.

Xinyu is a good and obedient child, but her personality is not suited to marry into the royal family. I never considered having her enter the palace.

Now that I hold a high position, I don’t need a marriage alliance to secure my position.

Your Highness, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Xinyu bears no resemblance to my wife and me, which is why you asked this question.

If you wish to break off the engagement, I won’t object.”

Mo Jinnan smiled faintly. “Who said I want to break the engagement? But the person I intend to marry isn’t your adopted daughter—it’s your biological daughter.”

Mo Jinnan had already made up his mind when he came to the Taifu’s residence.

If Lord Xiang had admitted that Xiang Xinyu was his biological daughter, he would have immediately broken the engagement and found a chance to repay Hu Zhaodi for saving his life.

He couldn’t ignore such a life-saving debt.

But since Lord Xiang had directly confirmed that Xinyu was merely his adopted daughter, Mo Jinnan no longer needed to break the engagement.

Over the past few months, whenever he thought about the petite and adorable Hu Zhaodi—her love for money, and her ability to cook—his heart couldn’t help but stir.

He was really looking forward to seeing her again.

Lord Xiang froze for a second, then stood up excitedly from his chair. “Your Highness, do you know where my daughter is?”

Mo Jinnan smiled and nodded. “It’s about ninety percent certain. If my investigation is correct, the girl is indeed your biological daughter.”

“She… she… where is she?” Lord Xiang stammered, his excitement so overwhelming that he could hardly speak.

After eleven years of searching and hoping, finally, there was news of his daughter.

“She’s in a small mountain village in Fulin County, Yun City. I was ambushed and escaped to the mountains, and it was she who saved me.”

Tears instantly welled up in Lord Xiang’s eyes, and his face was filled with excitement and disbelief.

“After eleven years, I finally have news of my daughter!”

Mo Jinnan said, “Lord Xiang, hurry and request leave from His Majesty. Set off immediately to bring your daughter back. When I met her, she was in poor condition—so thin that there was almost no flesh on her, and she was very small. Her clothes were no better than a beggar’s.”

“Alright, I’ll ask for leave from the Emperor first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Good. The round trip will take two months, so you won’t make it back in time for the New Year. You might as well spend the New Year with your biological daughter in Yun City. You’ll need to request a leave of three months.”

“Three months? Do you think the Emperor will approve?”

“If you’ve been separated from your biological daughter for eleven years and the Emperor refuses, are you not going to bring her back?”

Lord Xiang shook his head. “No, even if I have to resign, I will bring my daughter back.”

Mo Jinnan raised an eyebrow, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. “Then I will take my leave first.”

“Your Highness, please travel safely.”

After sending Mo Jinnan off, Lord Xiang couldn’t wait to call his wife, three sons, and adopted daughter to the main hall.

His eldest son, Xiang Yanzhuo, was twenty-three and had already entered the officialdom as the top scholar of the previous year. He currently held a position at the Hanlin Academy, ranking at the fifth level.

His second son, Xiang Yanlin, was twenty and had chosen a martial path, planning to take the imperial military exam the following year.

His third son, Xiang Yanchen, was a business prodigy at seventeen and had already accumulated quite a fortune in Bianjing.

As for his adopted daughter, Xiang Xinyu, she was sixteen, with a delicate appearance. While she had no notable talents, she had an extraordinary gift for needlework.

The family gathered in the main hall, and with a face full of excitement, Lord Xiang began, “I’ve called you all here to share some good news—our Yao’er has been found!”

The entire family froze for a moment.

Then, in the next second, Madam Xiang’s tears began to flow uncontrollably. “My husband, what did you say? Yao’er has been found? Is it true? Where is she?”

Xiang Yanzhuo, Xiang Yanlin, and Xiang Yanchen’s eyes all turned red, and they stared intently at Lord Xiang, awaiting his answer.

Lord Xiang was so emotional that his lips trembled. “It’s true. Just now, Mo Jinnan came to the house, and he told me that our Yao’er is in Fulin County, Yun City.”

Xiang Yanzhuo spoke up excitedly, “Father, then we should go ask the Emperor for leave and bring my sister back. We don’t know how she’s been all these years. Has she suffered?”

Xiang Yanlin said, “It will take two months for the round trip from Bianjing to Yun City. The Emperor probably won’t approve such a long leave. How about my third brother and I go to bring her back?”

Xiang Yanchen nodded in agreement.

Xiang Xinyu wiped away a tear. “I’ll go too. My sister is younger than me, and she’s a girl. I’ll be able to take better care of her.”

Having lived with the Xiang family for eleven years, Xiang Xinyu had seen her adoptive mother’s sorrow every day. Her mother’s constant longing for her biological daughter had made her unable to eat or sleep well, and her health had gradually worsened. Xinyu had felt helpless and heartbroken, wishing she could do something, but she could only watch.

Now that she finally had news of her younger sister, she was eager to meet her and take care of her.