A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

In the Imperial Garden, in the pavilion.

Xie Rouan was painting, and Song Qingning was giving her guidance.

As soon as the group entered the Vermilion Bird Gate, Xie Rou'an couldn't wait to have someone bring her painting for Song Qingning to critique.

It is a picture of plum blossoms in winter snow.

Although the brushstrokes are still somewhat immature, they represent a significant improvement compared to before.

Overjoyed at the praise, Xie Rou'an was itching to make a move. Just then, Song Qingning had her maid bring her a New Year's gift, a set of paintings.

In addition to the commonly available colors, many colors are even those not found on the market.

Xie Rouan was overjoyed.

She immediately ordered someone to prepare the Four Treasures of the Study, as she wanted to try out this newly acquired set of paintings.

Not far away, in another pavilion, Empress Meng and Princess Yu chatted and drank tea, occasionally glancing at Song Qingning and Xie Rouan in the pavilion.

"Rou'an does like her fourth sister-in-law."

When Empress Meng saw that scene, she thought of the days when she and Lu Jingshu used to play together, and it felt like a lifetime had passed.

"They are so happy together, if only they could stay like this forever." A hint of sadness appeared in Princess Yu's eyes, but then quietly disappeared.

Empress Meng glanced at her, but did not think deeply about the meaning of her words.

At the same time, inside the viewing pavilion.

Xie Xuanjin and Xie Yunli sat facing each other by the window, with warm wine in front of them. However, they did not drink the wine at this moment, but looked at the two people painting in the pavilion outside the window.

"Have you been very busy lately?" Xie Xuanjin broke the silence first.

Xie Yunli used to want to go to the Prince of Huai's mansion every day, following Xie Xuanjin around, and he enjoyed it immensely.

However, ever since Emperor Yuan bestowed marriage upon Xie Xuanjin and Song Qingning, Xie Yunli has rarely come to the Prince of Huai's residence to see Xie Xuanjin. In fact, Xie Yunli has not been seen at some banquets.

I had anticipated that Xie Xuanjin would ask such a question.

Xie Yunli, as usual, raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, "I've been studying behind closed doors lately."

"Studying?"

This answer made Xie Xuanjin frown, quite surprised.

"Isn't your ambition to travel the world? Studying? Is it to take the imperial examinations?"

As the heir of Prince Yu's mansion, he didn't need to take the imperial examination if he wanted to enter officialdom.

Xie Yunli is free-spirited and unconventional, yet he is not lacking in talent.

Several years ago, Emperor Yuan had intended to bring Xie Yunli into the court, but after Xie Xuanjin returned to the capital and became close to him, Emperor Yuan stopped mentioning the matter of bringing Xie Yunli into the court.

Xie Yunli picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back and took a sip, barely managing to avoid feeling guilty under his fourth brother's gaze.

"My mother used to say that there are houses of gold and beauties in books. I'm bored now, so I'd like to explore those so-called houses of gold and beauties."

Xie Yunli chuckled, his smile as bright as ever.

However, Xie Xuanjin still noticed the slight abnormality that was revealed in an instant.

"What happened?" Xie Xuanjin asked in a deep voice, his tone becoming more serious.

Xie Yunli's expression stiffened slightly.

He knows it!

Fourth Brother knows him too well; nothing unusual about him can escape Fourth Brother's notice.

Therefore, he tried his best to avoid meeting his fourth brother during this period.

"I still couldn't hide it from Fourth Brother."

Xie Yunli let out a long breath, poured some wine into his glass, and took a small sip.

The wine was particularly strong today, and he drank several cups in a row, his cheeks and ears turning slightly red.

Xie Xuanjin had been watching him drink, waiting for his answer.

But he kept drinking one cup after another.

Finally, just as he was about to raise his glass again, Xie Xuanjin reached out and stopped him, saying, "Drinking like this is too harmful to your health. I won't force you unless you say so."

Xie Yunli was slightly taken aback.

A warm feeling lingered in his heart, and he cherished this kinship with his fourth brother protecting him.

But the more this happened, the more determined he became to make his decision.

"Fourth Brother, there's nothing I can't say." Xie Yunli pushed away Xie Yunli's hand that was pressing down on the wine glass and drank the wine in one gulp.

Seemingly emboldened by the alcohol, Xie Yunli met Xie Xuanjin's gaze and asked, "When did Fourth Brother find out that Song Qingning was Mingyue Xian?"

Xie Xuanjin frowned, surprised that he had brought up this matter.

"Fourth Brother is smart; he probably knew about this earlier than everyone else, and even earlier than I knew about it."

Xie Yunli's lips curled up slightly, a smile on his face.

But that smile was different from before.

His smile at that moment was both unruly and sarcastic.

His eyes were too clear to bear such sarcasm.

This is precisely why Xie Xuanjin felt even more pain in his heart.

"Yunli..." Xie Xuanjin began, wanting to explain.

Xie Yunli interrupted him, "Fourth Brother, if explanations are useful, what about my broken heart? Fourth Brother, I like Mingyue Xian. If I had known earlier that Song Qingning was Mingyue Xian, could I have tried to win her over?"

"Heh, maybe I can't compete with Fourth Brother, but every time he calls her Fourth Sister-in-law after that, I feel so sad."

Do you know what that kind of sadness is?

Xie Yunli tilted his head back and drank another glass of wine.

"Yunli, you're drunk." Xie Xuanjin stood up and finally took the wine glass from Xie Yunli's hand.

However, the movement was too big, causing Xie Yunli to stumble.

Xie Yunli took a few steps back to steady himself, looking at the wine glass in Xie Xuanjin's hand. In his drunken state, self-mockery and sarcasm intertwined.

"Now that Fourth Brother has gotten Fourth Sister-in-law, he won't even let me drink?"

"Fourth Brother, if I were to compete with you for the position of Fourth Sister-in-law, would you give way to me?"

Xie Yunli met Xie Xuanjin's gaze, then looked out the window at the pavilion as if in defiance.

After a while, he turned around and strode towards the outside of the pavilion. He had just taken one step when his wrist was intercepted.

A deep, serious voice came from behind:

"I won't give in!"

Every word was spoken with resounding force.

"Yunli, I knew she was Mingyue Xian before you did, but I didn't tell you because I had my own selfish reasons."

"In this world, I can give you anything you want, as long as I have it. I can also find something for you that I don't have. But I can't do that with Song Qingning."

"Her mind isn't on romance, and I don't want you to bother her."

Xie Xuanjin's words echoed in the pavilion.

Xie Yunli had his back to him, his eyes flickering slightly.

The phrase, "Whatever you want, whatever I have, I will give it to you; whatever I don't have, I can find for you," echoed in his mind.

Fourth Brother has always been completely open with him.

That's why he had no choice but to push him away.

"If that's the case, then please keep an eye on her, Fourth Brother." Xie Yunli sneered and broke free from Xie Xuanjin's hand.

He strode out of the pavilion.

A gust of wind blew, dispelling the effects of the alcohol and clearing his mind.

He knew that his fourth brother was watching him.

He wanted to tell his fourth brother that he liked Mingyue Xian, but what he couldn't let go of was her and their years of friendship.

But those words cannot be said.

By taking this step, no matter what the future holds for the Prince Yu's mansion, Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law will not be implicated.

As long as it's Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law, ignore him!

Xie Yunli walked straight to the pavilion and called out from afar, "Fourth Sister-in-law."

Song Qingning looked up when she heard the sound.

Xie Yunli walked towards us with a big smile on his face.

The way he looked at her was a little strange.

Before Song Qingning could process what was in that look in his eyes, a figure bypassed Xie Yunli and arrived in front of her first.