The carriage arrived in Jinzhi City on the afternoon of the second day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After parting with the couple, Jiang Ning carried her bundle to the same inn asst time and requested a room. After finishing her meal and freshening up, she went out to confirm the passenger ship to Qushui City for the next day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Once everything was arranged, the sky had turned a faint grayish-ck. As Jiang Ning walked from the dock back to the inn, she realized halfway that she was being followed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The person tailing her was unskilled, almost a novice, with no sense of caution. Jiang Ning easily got a full look at the person''s face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was a slovenly man, unkempt and unsavory in appearance, with eyes fixed on Jiang Ning in a lustful gaze. His intentions were obvious.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Time to kill again, huh?" Jiang Ning sighed, feeling somewhat helpless. After being with Liu Ming''an for so long, she had grown to despise bloodshed and murder.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The man was also a coward. With other pedestrians around, he didn''t dare to do anything, only following Jiang Ning at a distance, waiting for an opportunity to strike.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning gave him this chance, changing her course towards the thousand-year-old tree outside the city.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was a good ce for murder; even the Prince of Xiang had nearly died there. It could be considered a ce of auspicious feng shui.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As the man watched Jiang Ning walk further away from the main road, he grew increasingly excited. When they reached the lush red bean tree, with no one else around, he could no longer contain himself. He rushed up to Jiang Ning, rubbing his hands together with a lewd grin, spouting vulgar words.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hehe... little miss, out sote? Were you waiting for big brother?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning let out a light chuckle, her dagger already in hand. "You''re quite eager to die, aren''t you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As soon as the words left her mouth, the man saw a sh of silver before his eyes. The next instant, a searing pain shot through both his eyes, and the world before him suddenly vanished, leaving only an endless darkness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ah! My eyes! Ah—"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The dagger shed across his throat, abruptly silencing his agonized screams. The man fell straight down, blood gushing from his neck, with two horrifying bloody holes where his eyes had been.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Ning bent down, using his clothes to wipe her de clean, then slipped into her spatial realm and left the scene.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Murdersmitted on impulse were always difficult to solve. She had no prior connection or grudge with this man, and there were no clues left at the scene. Even if the body was found there, no one would suspect her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Back at the inn, Jiang Ningy on the bed, finding it hard to fall asleep.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What was Liu Ming''an doing now?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What should she say when she sees Lan Xu?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her thoughts were in disarray, leaving her restless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Meanwhile, in another part of the Capital City, Liu Ming''an was sighing as he looked at the olddy before him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You''re mistaken. I''m not Qingzhi."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After saying this, Liu Ming''an pulled back his sleeve that had been grabbed, bowed respectfully to Lou Baili and Lou Lianyu behind him, and then left without hesitation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Qingzhi!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The olddy wanted to chase after the departing young man, but Lou Lianyu and Lou Baili quickly moved to support her, trying to persuade her gently.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mother, he''s not Qingzhi. Let''s go back to your room and rest."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Grandmother, you''ve mistaken him for someone else again. Yancui, Huafei, take the old madam back to her room!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As the two maids were about to approach, the old woman brushed their hands away. Her expression was sorrowful, her eyes half-confused and half-clear. "If he''s not Qingzhi, then who is he? Why does he look so much like Qingzhi?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Lianyu answered calmly, "He''s a friend of mine."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Lies!" The olddy looked at her grandson and demanded sharply, "I saw himing out of the study. Which friend of yours has such privilege to enter your grandfather''s study? And even have your father see him off when he leaves?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing the olddy''s expression, Lou Lianyu knew she was lucid at the moment. He felt uneasy and looked towards Lou Baili.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Baili also realized the situation. He just wanted to muddle through this moment, knowing she would forget everything after a while.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, before Lou Baili could speak, the olddy had already started towards the study. "I want to ask Lou Yuhuan myself. I want to get to the bottom of this!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The study door was pushed open. Lou Baili, Lou Lianyu, and the two maids who had followed, had exhausted all their persuasions along the way, but the old woman ignored them. She walked straight into the room and closed the door, shutting everyone out.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Father, what should we do?" Lou Lianyu was uncharacteristically flustered, looking helplessly at Lou Baili.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Baili stared at the closed door, his brows tightly furrowed. "I don''t know either."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How did she happen to see him?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Why did her condition improve at this moment?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It seemed as if everything had been arranged by heaven. Lou Baili let out a deep sigh, cing his hope in Lou Yuhuan. "Let''s hope your grandfather can handle this well."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inside the room, Lou Yuhuan was intently studying the policy essay left by Liu Ming''an when the door was suddenly pushed open. He looked up to see his wife, Wang Lanzhi.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wang Lanzhi had several people behind her, but before Lou Yuhuan could ask what had happened, she raised her hand and closed the door, shutting everyone else out.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mydy?" Lou Yuhuan was greatly puzzled.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Who was that young man just now?" Wang Lanzhi stared directly into Lou Yuhuan''s eyes as she asked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mydy!" Lou Yuhuan was shocked, instantly understanding what had transpired. Seeing Wang Lanzhi''s serious expression, he knew she was in her right mind at the moment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"He looks too much like Qingzhi, too much..." Wang Lanzhi murmured, her eyes unknowingly filling with tears. "You must have noticed his resemnce to Qingzhi too, right? Could there be two people in this world who look so alike? He was even allowed into your study. Lou Yuhuan, tell me, who is he?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Yuhuan''s heart was filled with bitterness, not knowing where to begin. After a moment of hesitation, he stammered, "He''s just a young man, don''t think too much about it. Please, go back to your room and rest."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Lou Yuhuan!" Wang Lanzhi suddenly shouted, two clear streams of tears rolling down her cheeks. "When we got married, you promised you would never lie to me in this lifetime. I''ll ask one more time, who is he?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Mydy, he..." Lou Yuhuan opened his mouth, struggled for a long while, and finally chose to tell the truth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Perhaps the painful rity was more suitable for this mother who had been living in regret for half her life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"His name is Liu Ming''an. He is Qingzhi''s child, his only child."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then... what about Qingzhi? Why hasn''t hee back?" Wang Lanzhi asked softly, some things she had never dared to think about.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Qingzhi... died fourteen years ago." Lou Yuhuan said each word slowly, his voice indescribably sorrowful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
These few short words were like a sharp knife piercing Wang Lanzhi''s heart. An immense grief suddenly overwhelmed her, and she was powerless to resist it. She felt the world spinning, shattering around her in that moment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Lanzhi!" Lou Yuhuan rushed forward to support his copsing wife, anxiously calling out to the door, "Lianyu, Baili,e in quickly!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The people waiting outside rushed into the room in an instant, surprised to see the olddy unconscious.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Father, did you tell her everything?" Lou Baili asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Yuhuan nodded, watching as Lou Lianyu carried Wang Lanzhi towards her courtyard. He earnestly instructed the two maids, "Take the old madam back to her room and take good care of her."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Yancui and Huafei responded with a "Yes" and hurriedly followed Lou Lianyu''s steps.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Father, why did you..." Lou Baili still couldn''t understand. It was his father who had told them to keep it from Wang Lanzhi before, and now it was also his father who voluntarily revealed the truth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Your mother is ill, not foolish. Ming''an will inevitably have to face her in the future. Even if we don''t tell her now, she will find outter."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"But..." Lou Baili wanted to say that they could keep it hidden for as long as possible. Theter she knew, the less pain she would suffer. Wasn''t that better?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A father knows his son best. Lou Yuhuan understood Lou Baili''s thoughts, after all, he had thought the same way before.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"But Baili, we can''t keep it hidden. Ming''an and Qingzhi look too alike. Your mother had already guessed it and came to question me. She just wanted confirmation."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Father and son both fell silent, knowing in their hearts that some sins needed to be atoned for.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"When mother wakes up, she will probably want to see Ming''an..." Lou Baili said slowly after a long while.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Don''t go disturbing Ming''an. We''ve finally managed to establish a slight connection with him by using his fondness for Nangong Ling to get him to visit the Lou mansion asionally. Don''t push this child away again because of this..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Baili nodded in agreement. "Then the next time Ming''anes, I''ll instruct Yancui and Huafei to keep a close eye on mother, and try our best to prevent them from meeting."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hmm," Lou Yuhuan walked to the table, picked up the essay Liu Ming''an had left behind once more, and handed it to Lou Baili. "Ming''an is an exceptionally intelligent child. He''s no less brilliant than Qingzhi. What Qingzhi couldn''t aplish, he will certainly be able to do!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Lou Baili took the piece of paper and quickly scanned it, inwardly shocked: "He doesn''t need our teaching at all! He could win the top schr title on his own!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''ve known that for a while. Lianyu and I have both seen his provincial exam papers."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then why did you..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Why did they work in concert to bring him to the Imperial Academy? Was it to pave the way for his official career?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Firstly, it''s to do Nangong Ya a favor, letting him y the role of a caring father, to see if he can repair his rtionship with Nangong Ling. In this world, having a patron is always better than having none. I hope their young couple''s path will be smoother in the future."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Secondly, I have my own selfish reasons. I want to see more of this grandson. I''m still foolishly hoping that maybe, just maybe, he might acknowledge his ancestral roots..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0