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

but……

Wan Liang looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, then glanced at the lanterns placed in the courtyard.

Does anyone know how to air their books out at night, or by candlelight?

Unfortunately, his prince started sunbathing every night after that night.

Apart from the military books, the only person in the entire courtyard was the prince.

Even from a great distance, Wan Liang, Wan Zi, Uncle Qin, and even Xie Yunli frowned as they watched the man carrying a lantern moving among the military books in the courtyard.

In everyone's sight, Xie Xuanjin could only be seen walking among the military books drying in the sun, sometimes in front of one table, sometimes in front of another, as if he were chasing after someone.

He seemed to be reading a military treatise, yet he didn't quite look like one.

He would occasionally glance down at his military books, but most of the time, he would look elsewhere beside him, as if someone were standing there.

But where is anyone?

"Is the prince possessed?" Wan Zi frowned, her brows furrowed with worry.

"Possessed by evil spirits?"

Wan Zi's words startled Wan Liang, who looked to Uncle Qin beside him for help. "No, no way! The Prince doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, and neither do I. Uncle Qin, you're knowledgeable and experienced. There are no ghosts or gods in this world, right?"

Uncle Qin did not answer.

But looking at that figure in the courtyard, the same worry lingered.

The more they looked at him, the more they felt that their prince was possessed. But a few days later, when they fought against the "pacification" army sent by Emperor Yuan, they saw the prince as a god of war.

A resounding victory in one battle—how could he possibly be possessed?

After returning, he continued to show off his books, enjoying it immensely.

Several days passed like this.

Finally, one day, Xie Yunli was pushed out.

In the courtyard, Xie Xuanjin sat down, a rare occurrence. Instead of carrying a lantern, he instructed Wan Liang to hang lanterns in front of each table.

The courtyard was much brighter than usual today.

Xie Xuanjin was brewing tea. He would occasionally look up, his gaze shifting from one place to another, but each time it was fixed on the military treatise.

Xie Yunli followed his gaze, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Suddenly, he got up, walked to a spot, stopped abruptly, and picked up a military treatise from the table.

"Xie Xuanjin..."

Song Qingning was engrossed in reading the military manual, pondering the formation of a particular array, when the manual was suddenly snatched away. She assumed it was Xie Xuanjin.

When he looked up, he saw Xie Yunli.

At her shout, Xie Xuanjin looked up.

"Fourth Brother, these military treatises..." Xie Yunli met Xie Xuanjin's gaze, noticed his slight frown, and paused.

unusual!

Xie Yunli smiled and continued, "These military treatises are all rare copies. They've been airing out for so many days; shouldn't they be put away now?"

Should we put it away?

Song Qingning frowned; she hadn't finished reading yet.

As if hearing her sigh, Xie Xuanjin stood up, strode towards Xie Yunli, took the military book from his hand, and then carefully unfolded it before placing it back on the table.

I turned to the next page.

"No need to put it away, it's fine to just leave it here in the courtyard," Xie Xuanjin said.

Song Qingning breathed a sigh of relief, said "Thank you, Your Highness Prince Huai," and continued reading the military book.

Xie Xuanjin went straight back and continued brewing tea.

Xie Yunli found this even more unusual.

There are "others" in this garden!

The "others" he can't see!

After a long pause, Xie Yunli finally spoke, "Fourth Brother, everyone is very worried about you. Wan Zi suspects you're possessed, and Uncle Qin has found a sorcerer..."

At this point, Xie Xuanjin's hand, which was brewing tea, clearly paused.

Xie Xuanjin quickly raised his eyes, looked in a certain direction, and muttered "absurd" under his breath. He then said urgently, "I am not possessed by any evil spirit. I will explain to Uncle Qin that there is no sorcerer involved."

These words sounded exactly like a reassurance.

This wasn't said to Xie Yunli!

Xie Yunli sensed this, which further fueled his suspicions.

"Fourth Brother..."

"Yunli, I want to go to the capital again to bring the Empress Dowager out. Runan County and the Shence Army are in your hands for now!" Xie Xuanjin interrupted Xie Yunli, trying to divert his attention.

As expected, Xie Yunli's expression changed drastically.

Back to the capital!

"Fourth Brother, I'll go with you."

Xie Yunli was worried and wanted to go with him, but Xie Xuanjin did not agree.

The following day, Xie Xuanjin set off with a team of secret guards, disguised along the way, and arrived in the capital a few days later.

Zhuque Street was bustling with activity.

As Song Qingning walked beside Xie Xuanjin, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"I simply don't want to paint. I am the dignified Marquis of Yongning. If he asks me to paint, I will? Ha, those old fools, who do they think they are?"

That voice was so familiar; she would recognize it even if it turned to ashes.

Song Mingtang!

Song Qingning paused, and Xie Xuanjin beside her stopped at the same time.

Xie Xuanjin subconsciously looked to his side, but still couldn't see her. However, he could tell her mood from her breathing.

"I am the Marquis of Yongning, the proper Marquis of Yongning. My younger sister, Qingyan, is the heir apparent of the Duke's mansion. If she weren't pregnant and unable to come to celebrate my birthday, it wouldn't be your turn to drink with me right now."

birthday……

Today is Song Mingtang's birthday, and also my elder brother's birthday!

"Your birthday gifts are all too ordinary. Do you know what the most impressive birthday gift I've ever received was?"

"It was a man! He was given to me by my sister. A woman? No, no, no, it was a man. Unfortunately, he's dead, beaten to death with clubs, and the one wielding the clubs was none other than this old man, my birthday celebrant!"

Song Mingtang seemed to have been drinking.

The sound reached Song Qingning's ears.

He said "beat him to death with sticks," and Song Qingning instinctively thought of something, her voice trembling, "Brother..."

She had no idea that the day her brother died was actually his birthday.

He was beaten to death with sticks on his birthday...

The hatred in Song Qingning's heart grew wildly. She looked up at the restaurant in front of her and saw many people in the private room on the second floor of Jinsheng Restaurant.

She couldn't see Song Mingtang, but she could imagine his face.

Song Mingtang's smug laughter rang out, and Song Qingning finally couldn't resist taking a big step forward. But she had only taken one step when Xie Xuanjin's voice sounded behind her:

"You can't hurt him!"

Song Qingning paused in her steps.

Yes, she can't hurt him!

"But I can!"

Those few words seeped into Song Qingning's gloomy heart like water, and in an instant, a light ignited in her eyes.

"But this time, you are here to save the Empress," Song Qingning said.

Xie Xuanjin glanced at Jinsheng Tower, then lowered his eyes, his gaze cold and resolute. "If Mother wants to save him, this man's life is secondary!"

It was said to be a convenient stop, but an hour later, Xie Xuanjin had already tied up Song Mingtang and thrown him in front of her.

In a pitch-black room.

Xie Xuanjin sat in a chair in front of the hall, where a black cloth bag covered a person who had been knocked unconscious.

"He should wake up!"

Xie Xuanjin spoke in a deep voice and gave Wan Liang a wink.

Then Wanliang picked up a bucket of water and poured it hard on the man.

Song Mingtang was awakened by the splashing and immediately began to curse:

"Who is it? Which blind fool do you know who I am? I am the Marquis of Yongning, and my sister is the heir apparent of the Duke's mansion. The heir apparent's cousin, Prince Rui, will be the emperor someday! Who is it that is so blind? Release me at once!"

"Letting you go is out of the question! Killing you, however, is possible!"

In the darkness, Xie Xuanjin's voice was laced with murderous intent.