Now that his aunt and uncle were back safely, Tao Sheng had no reason to stay at his aunt’s house. He feared that she would soon be taken away by the Luo family.

Especially since Grand Master Luo had just given Tao Sheng a house. Although it wasn’t located in the inner city, it was bigger and better than the current Ji House, making it more suitable for a family to live in.

Thinking he might not see Tao Sheng again when he returned home, Ji Yanming frowned.

“Aunt, please don’t say that. My cousin has helped the family a lot over the years, and my mother likes her and truly treats her as her own daughter. It’s just that my mother has been busy away from home in the past few years, and I will soon be on a diplomatic mission to the northern border. Tao Sheng will be alone at home, and my mother and I are worried. Now that Mr. Wei and the two of you have returned, why don’t we live together in the future so that you can have company?”

Tao Sheng remembered her mother’s concerns from earlier. Since her brother and sister were still outside and it wasn’t convenient to bring them over, she quickly spoke to Ji Yanming and whispered, “My mother just told me that during the years she was away, she had a brother and sister for me. If we live together in the future, it will inevitably be noisy. My cousin always likes quietness, so I’d better help my parents find another place to live.”

At this time, the benefits of owning multiple properties in the capital city were evident. The house given by the Luo family was still empty, and it would be a waste not to live in it. Tao Sheng wanted to arrange for her parents to live there temporarily and make other plans when they wanted to return to Qin County in the future.

Ji Yanming insisted, “My mother has taken me to study all over the world for half her life. It has not been easy for her to travel around for many years. Now that she is older, she just wants to enjoy time with her family. She always complains that it’s lonely at home without children. My aunt’s family moving in will truly fulfill my mother’s wish.”

The Luo couple were very moved after hearing this. They never thought their nephew would have such a big heart. Wei Liyou’s eyes also warmed up, and he said to Luo Xiu: “I told you a long time ago that Xiao Ji is a very good-natured child. He is the most reasonable among the younger generation. Not only is he knowledgeable and talented, but he is also very sincere to others. It is truly a blessing for you to have such a good nephew.”

He was so envious!

Faced with such a happy and harmonious scene, Tao Sheng sat beside them, holding a teacup and smiling.

Ji Yanming’s emotional intelligence has improved significantly recently. He has easily won the favor of his parents and teacher. I think this mission to Ling State will also be successful.

_ 

At the turn of spring and summer, the weather gradually became warmer. Xu Xiang became a little lazier on his journey and slowed down.

Unexpectedly, the sun was shining brightly in the morning, but in the afternoon, strong winds began to blow and the sky turned gloomy.

There were many people vaguely following him. Xu Xiang felt something was wrong and started to run desperately toward Yuncheng ^[1]refers to a city.. 

But he was just one man with two legs, and he could not run faster than those people riding horses behind him.

He was just a servant, and a useless one at that, who seldom handled secret affairs around the Crown Prince. Why was he being targeted just after going out on business?

In the moment of panic, a thought he dared not think about and did not want to believe crossed his mind.

It’s the young lady.

_ 

A few days later, Shen Ruojin heard a report from his companion that the process of tracking Xu Xiang was relatively smooth, but he still failed in the end.

It seemed like everything was about to go wrong, but someone came to help Xu Xiang.

Xu Xiang was just an ordinary servant in Duke Ling’s mansion. He had been sold to the mansion by human traffickers when he was young. He didn’t know where he came from or who his parents were. Who could possibly help him in such a situation?

Shen Ruojin thought this was very strange. She heard that it happened in a mountainous area near Yuncheng. Could it be that local outlaws helped him because they saw something unfair happening?

She really miscalculated; she never expected an ordinary servant to have such good luck.

The housekeeper felt anxious because she had delayed things for Shen Ruojin, but she quickly explained: “My husband, Mr. Li, had already made arrangements for a robbery. Those people are skilled and took the money a long time ago. I doubt even the local government can figure it out.”

Shen Ruojin nodded sadly.

With no money, Xu Xiang couldn’t go to Fujian and had to return to Beijing.

This was fine; it would be better to plan something once he got back to Beijing.

In the courtyard of the eldest son of the Guan family nearby, the maid Mu’er hurried into the main house and whispered to Fang, “Grandma, Xu Xiang has confessed. There is indeed something wrong with the Shen family.”

Fang was both surprised and excited: “Really?”

“Of course!” Mu’er replied. “At first, he didn’t want to say anything, not wanting to betray his master. But after I interrogated the two pursuers at night, he realized it was the young lady who did it. He was so shocked and emotional that he confessed everything.”

Fang asked eagerly, “What’s the truth? Is there a hidden story? Tell me everything.”

“You guessed right; there’s a hidden story.” Mu’er said. “When Madam Shen was giving birth outside, the maid accidentally lost the daughter of the Marquis’s family. She was afraid of being blamed, so she secretly brought back another baby girl.”

“What?” Fang exclaimed in surprise. “So, the young lady we married into our family is not the daughter of Marquis Wenyuan at all?”

“You got it right.” Mu’er confirmed. “The young lady has no ties to the Marquis’s Mansion. Lady Luo from the Imperial Music Bureau is the true daughter of the Shen family.”