The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 224 Could Zhiwan be his daughter?

The man looked to be in his forties, but his appearance was exceptionally handsome, especially his captivating peach blossom eyes. Even though his face was aloof, his eyes seemed to hold a smile, drawing people in unconsciously.

The Crown Prince once asked Jiang Shi to investigate the life of Zhi's father. Jiang Shi was always meticulous in his work, and he even obtained a portrait of Zhi's father. When the Crown Prince was researching Zhi's father's life, Jiang Shi stood behind the Crown Prince and saw the portrait of Zhi's father.

She looks exactly like the man in front of her.

Thinking of the girl's identical eyes again, Chen Jiu felt a chill run down his spine.

Could this man before me be the deceased magistrate of Jurong County, and the biological father of Miss Biao?
Realizing this, Chen Jiu broke out in a cold sweat.

How could this be?
Didn't Zhi's father pass away five years ago?

But if this person isn't Zhifu, then who is he?
Why do they look exactly alike?
For a moment, Chen Jiu felt confused and uneasy.

He needed to inform the Crown Prince about this as soon as possible.

The man was indeed the one in the black robe.

Upon seeing Liu Niang, he paused, his voice cold, "You're not dead?"

“I’m not dead. You must be very disappointed, brother?” Liu Niang clenched her fists, her face cold. “They said that you blew up the ship even though you knew the brothers were still on board, all for the sake of those jewels. I didn’t believe it then, but now that I’ve seen you, I finally believe it.”

How heartbroken must our brothers be in the afterlife?

Their respected elder brother had disregarded their lives!

"Since you're not dead, then live well." The man ignored her, grabbed the door, and was about to close it when Liu Niang stopped him. "I escaped death, and you still want to turn me away, brother?" she said, touching her stomach. "If you don't recognize me, do you not even recognize your own child?"

The man, who had been indifferent, suddenly grabbed her neck upon hearing this, his voice filled with murderous intent, "Liu Niang, this child is not mine, don't talk nonsense!"

Suddenly, her neck was grabbed, and Liu Niang's face turned purple instantly. She gasped for breath and said, "I admit... I used dishonorable means back then... but this child is indeed yours! Fine, kill me if you want, let me die with the child!"

Seeing this, Chen Jiu quickly suppressed his shock and stepped forward to help, saying, "Brother, let's talk this out. Liu Niang is just a woman, why bother arguing with her? Besides, the child in her belly is innocent."

Upon hearing this, the man paused for a moment, then finally released his grip and turned his back, saying, "Get lost, and don't let me see you again!"

The man's back looked injured, covered in a dark, greasy patch of ointment, but what shocked Chen Jiu was the tattoo on the man's left shoulder.

The tattoo design was the same as the one on the bandits, except that the design on the man's body was larger.

Is he really a descendant of the Prince of Jin?
Thinking of this, Chen Jiu's pupils shrank.

The suffocation that had just caused her death filled Liu Niang with shock, anger, and regret.

She loved this man so much and did everything for him, yet she couldn't even get a proper look from him.

He is truly heartless!
Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Niang cried out, "You really don't want this child? Your wife has been dead for so many years, why won't you look at me, or at other women?"

Upon hearing this, the man suddenly turned around in a rage and slapped Liu Niang, yelling, "Shut up! You have no right to mention her!"

Chen Jiu was horrified and quickly pulled Liu Niang away to avoid them.

Even though he reacted quickly, his shoulder was still hit by the opponent's palm strike, causing his blood to surge and him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, the man glanced at Chen Jiu again and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

Chen Jiu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I'm just a nobody. But how could you be so cruel to a woman?"

The man didn't answer him, but looked at him thoughtfully. "I heard that Liu Niang fell into the trap of her lover, which led to everyone in the village falling into the hands of the authorities. You must be Liu Niang's lover?" Chen Jiu choked, then said awkwardly, "Your words are too harsh. What lover? I only became closer to her because I felt sorry for Liu Niang..."

The man snorted coldly, interrupting him, "I don't care what your relationship is, but you're a government official, so you deserve to die!" With that, he leaped at Chen Jiu, aiming straight for his vitals.

Liu Niang had not yet recovered from the man's fierce intent to kill her when she saw him about to kill Chen Jiu. She immediately snapped out of her daze and, without thinking, stepped in front of Chen Jiu to shield him.

"Chen Jiu, you're no match for him, you'd better run!"

"You idiot, he's fooled you!" The man was furious and pushed her away.

Liu Niang clung tightly to his leg, pleading, "Brother, please let him go. He's not very capable and won't harm us."

The man angrily rebuked, "Last time you let a wolf into the house, causing all the brothers under your command to be captured. Don't you understand yet? He's a spy sent by the government!"

Thinking of how Chen Jiu had vomited blood to save her, Liu Niang shook her head firmly. "Last time he was forced into it, but he won't hurt me this time. He saved me from prison."

The man's face turned ashen with rage. "Utterly foolish!"

He ignored Liu Niang, kicked her away, and turned back into the house.

Seeing this, Chen Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly helped Liu Niang up.

But when the two entered the house, they found it was empty.

"Big brother!"

Liu Niang called out several times, but received no response. Only then did the two realize that the man had left the courtyard.

"My elder brother has abandoned me again..." Liu Niang sat on the chair, lost in thought, muttering to herself.

Chen Jiu's eyes flickered.

That elder brother was indeed perceptive, but the people sent by the Crown Prince should have arrived and been lying in ambush nearby when he came to the courtyard.

They should have caught up with that guy by now.

"What's your older brother's surname?" Chen Jiu asked casually.

Liu Niang paused for a moment before saying, "We usually call him Big Brother, and no one dares to call him by his name. I don't really know what his name is either, but once, I met one of his friends who came to visit him, and he seemed to call him Zhi Ye."

"Zhiye?" Chen Jiu was startled and immediately found paper and pen, writing the two characters on the paper. "Is this how it's written?"

Liu Niang examined him for a moment and shook her head. "I only heard his friend call him that, but I'm not sure if it's two characters. As for you, why are you so interested in my elder brother's name?"

"It's not that I'm interested, I'm just curious. After all, the surname Zhi is quite rare," Chen Jiu said vaguely.

“Speaking of the surname Zhi, it seems that your cousin also has this surname,” Liu Niang suddenly remembered.

Chen Jiu looked as if he had just realized something, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have remembered. They do indeed share the same surname."

"What a coincidence! The surname Zhi is very rare, but we know two people with the surname Zhi. Could it be... that they are relatives?" The more Liu Niang talked, the more she felt that this was possible. At this moment, she suddenly remembered that Zhi Wan also had a pair of very beautiful peach blossom eyes, and her facial features were somewhat similar to her elder brother's.

Thinking of this, her eyes widened suddenly. "Could Zhiwan be my elder brother's daughter?"

(End of this chapter)