With a wave of his hand, the Prince's Mansion's fortune exploded throughout the entire cap

Just then, Qingzheng quietly approached, his footsteps so light they were almost silent, as if afraid of disturbing the surrounding tranquility, and even more afraid of alerting Guangming and the others inside the quarantine zone. He bowed deeply, his waist bent extremely low, and leaned close to Xiao Chengyan's ear, reporting respectfully in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Your Highness, I have discovered some information and dared not delay, so I came to report to you immediately. The girl's name is indeed Lu Qingyuan, and she is exactly twelve years old this year. She has always claimed to be Mr. Guangming's granddaughter, but after much inquiry, I have learned that she is not Mr. Guangming's biological daughter, but rather someone he found twelve years ago on a barren slope outside Liangzhou City."

Qingzheng paused, then continued in detail, her tone serious: "Years ago, when Mr. Guangming was passing through Liangzhou, he encountered days of torrential rain. The barren slopes were muddy and impassable. Under a sheltered earthen slope, he found a tightly wrapped swaddled infant, Lu Qingyuan, who had just been born. At the time, she was ice-cold and barely breathing. If Mr. Guangming hadn't been skilled in medicine and provided timely rescue, she would likely have died long ago. The swaddle was made of fine brocade, embroidered with delicate crescent moon patterns, the stitches neat and precise. It was clearly made by a court embroiderer, not something from an ordinary family." "Yes, I can have her." Beside the brocade lay a thin letter, bearing only the two characters "Qingyuan" in delicate handwriting, but without a signature or any clues about her background. "Mr. Guangming, seeing her pitiful state and feeling pity, took her in and brought her back to his secluded mountain retreat. He taught her to read, write, and practice medicine. Over the years, he has carefully concealed her true identity, never revealing a word to anyone. Even during this trip to Youzhou, he only allowed her to secretly help brew medicine, forbidding her from showing herself easily, and forbidding her from mentioning her age or background."

"Twelve years ago?" A hint of understanding flashed in Xiao Chengyan's eyes. He tapped the armrest of his wheelchair lightly with his fingertips, lost in thought. His tone was firm. "Twelve years ago was the year Lu Songchuan and Lu Qingyuan were born. They were both twelve years old, born only an hour apart. They were indeed twin sisters. Back then, when Lu's sister-in-law gave birth, the palace sent imperial physicians to be on duty. Logically, there shouldn't have been any mistakes. Someone must have secretly tampered with things, deliberately concealing Lu Qingyuan's existence and keeping only Lu Songchuan by her side. This led the entire Lu family to mistakenly believe that there was only one child, forcing these twin sisters to be separated from birth for twelve whole years, each on their own."

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze once again falling in the direction Lu Qingyuan had left, his eyes filled with regret: "Back then, when Mr. Guangming found Lu Qingyuan, she was wrapped in brocade embroidered with crescent moon patterns. I'm sure you've also investigated this brocade; it's of excellent quality and exquisite embroidery. The crescent moon pattern on it corresponds perfectly to what Lu Wenshu once mentioned, when the high monk prayed for the Lu family's unborn child: 'A daughter with a crescent moon birthmark on her neck, embroidered with a crescent moon on brocade as a mark.' This brocade must belong to the Lu family, which further confirms that Lu Qingyuan is indeed the Lu family's daughter, Lu Songchuan's twelve-year-old twin sister, there's no mistake about it."

"Yes, Your Highness, I have confirmed it." Qingzheng nodded respectfully and continued his report, "I also found that when Mr. Guangming found Lu Qingyuan, he discovered some signs of a struggle near the barren slope, and there were a few drops of dried blood on the ground. After examination, the blood did not belong to the infant, suggesting that a fierce argument must have occurred back then, and someone deliberately abandoned Lu Qingyuan there. Perhaps because the matter was exposed or obstructed, they left in a hurry and did not have time to take the child with them. In addition, I also found that Mr. Guangming has never given up on finding out about Lu Qingyuan's background over the years. Every year, he sends people to Liangzhou and the capital area to search for clues. However, the traces from back then have long been washed away by time, and he has never found anything."

Qingzheng slowed her speech and added, "This time, when Mr. Guangming learned of the plague outbreak in Youzhou, he disregarded his advanced age and took the initiative to come and treat the people. Lu Qingyuan was worried about her grandfather's safety, so she quietly packed her things and followed behind him without letting anyone notice. Along the way, she silently helped Mr. Guangming organize herbs and brew medicine, never showing her face, and never mentioning her identity or her age of twelve to outsiders. Even the imperial physicians in the quarantine area only regarded her as an ordinary little medicine boy by Mr. Guangming's side and did not pay much attention to her."

"Furthermore, the guards I dispatched to Jiangnan have already set off at full speed. They were all chosen for their excellent riding skills, discreet nature, and meticulous attention to detail. They won't stop along the way and should arrive in Jiangnan in less than three days. They will find Lu Songchuan's father, Lord Lu, and discreetly inquire about all the details of his childbirth, especially the whereabouts of the missing midwife and whether there were any abnormalities during the delivery." Qingzheng's tone was precise and thorough. "In addition, I also discovered that the midwife who delivered Lu's sister-in-law was named Wang Ma..." A well-known midwife in the capital, Wang Ma, was notorious for her greed and avarice, but her skills were superb, which is why the Lu family hired her to deliver their babies. Shortly after Lu's sister-in-law gave birth, Wang Ma suddenly disappeared. The Lu family searched everywhere, turning the capital upside down, but to no avail. Some say she took a large sum of money and fled to another place, living a quiet life under an assumed name; others say she knew too much she shouldn't have known and was silenced, her remains never found, remaining an unsolved mystery.

"Wang Ma?" Xiao Chengyan frowned slightly, a cold glint in his eyes. His grip on the wheelchair armrests tightened unconsciously, causing them to tremble slightly. "It seems this Wang Ma was indeed bribed. She received a large sum of money and secretly stole Lu Qingyuan, forcibly separating twelve-year-old twin sisters, leaving them to suffer for twelve years. As for whether she was silenced or fled to another place, the guards sent to Jiangnan should be able to find out soon. If we can find Wang Ma, we can follow the clues to find out who sent her to steal Lu Qingyuan, and uncover the conspiracy behind it. If it's truly related to Liu Ruyan and Marquis Yongyi, I will make them pay the price they deserve, without any leniency!"

His tone carried a hint of authority, and his aura turned icy. Years of being a prince had instilled in him an unyielding presence. Now, thinking of the twelve years of separation the twin sisters had endured, and the possible conspiracies lurking behind them, his anger was hard to contain. He had long been aware of Liu Ruyan and the Marquis of Yongyi's ambitions, but had never found concrete evidence. Now, Lu Qingyuan's background might be the key to breaking everything down.

"Father, do you know everything?" Little Jingjing sat quietly beside Xiao Chengyan, listening intently to his conversation with Qingzheng. Although she only vaguely understood some of the words, she had caught a glimpse of something. She looked up at Xiao Chengyan's expression and asked softly, her tone a mixture of expectation and trepidation, "Cousin is Lu Qingyuan, Mother's niece, and Second Cousin's sister. They're both twelve years old and twins, right? She's not Grandpa Guangming's biological granddaughter; he found her, right?"

Xiao Chengyan lowered his head, looking into Xiao Jingjing's innocent eyes. The coldness in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by tenderness and heartache. He gently rubbed Xiao Jingjing's head and said in a gentle tone, "Yes, you're right. She is Lu Qingyuan, your mother's niece, and Lu Songchuan's older sister. They are both twelve years old and are twin sisters separated at a young age. Back then, she was stolen by bad people at birth and abandoned on a barren slope. Fortunately, she was found by Mr. Guangming and raised until now, allowing her to grow up safely."

He paused, then continued, his tone tinged with pity: "Mr. Guangming concealed her background not out of intentional deception, but to protect her, to prevent her from being harmed, and to prevent the person who stole her from finding her and causing harm to this twelve-year-old child. Over the years, Qingyuan has been living away from home, without any relatives to accompany her. At such a young age, she has been learning medicine and brewing medicine with Mr. Guangming, suffering a lot. It is truly heartbreaking."

"Great! Great!" Little Jingjing clapped her hands excitedly upon hearing Xiao Chengyan's confirmation, a bright smile spreading across her face, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I knew it! I didn't make a mistake! We've finally found my cousin! She's the same age as my second cousin, both twelve years old. They're twins! Mother will be so happy when she finds out! My second cousin will be so happy too; he'll never be lonely again!"

She tugged at Xiao Chengyan's sleeve, shaking it gently, her voice filled with urgency: "Father, when can we tell Mother the good news? When can we take my cousin back to the capital to reunite with Mother and my second cousin? I really want Mother to see my cousin, and for my second cousin to meet her. They're both twelve years old; they'll definitely get along well, and my second cousin won't have to study and play alone anymore!"

Seeing Xiao Jingjing's excited expression, Xiao Chengyan felt gratified, but he also had to soothe her. He gently patted her little hand and said softly, "Don't worry, Jingjing, be good. Right now, the plague is raging in Youzhou, and the people are still suffering. Our most important task is to fight the plague and save the people. Qingyuan is only twelve years old. Now we are going to a dangerous place like Black Wind Mountain to find herbs that can control the plague. Her safety is of utmost importance."

His tone was gentle, yet tinged with seriousness: "Once she returns safely, once we have developed an antidote and quelled the plague so that no more people suffer, we will send someone to take her back to the capital to reunite with your mother and second cousin, shall we? Moreover, Miss Qingyuan is still unaware of her origins. She has always believed herself to be an orphan, adopted by Mr. Guangming. If we were to tell her the truth abruptly, it would frighten this twelve-year-old child and make it difficult for her to accept."

"She's suffered a lot these past years, wandering far from home, and hasn't experienced the warmth of family. If she suddenly learns she has family, a twin brother of the same age, and loving aunts and grandparents, she might find it hard to accept, and might even fall into confusion and pain." Xiao Chengyan's tone was tinged with pity. "We need to give her time, wait until she's ready, and when we find the right opportunity, we can slowly tell her the truth, helping her gradually accept her background and her family, okay?"

"Okay!" Little Jingjing nodded vigorously, a determined smile on her face. Although she was still anxious, she understood Xiao Chengyan's intention. "Then we'll wait for our cousin to come back, and after the plague is over, we'll take her back to the capital! Father, I also want to help our cousin. I want to go with her to find herbs, okay? I can see the Red-finned Golden Carp. The Red-finned Golden Carp can help us find treasures, and it can also help us find the Dew-Gathering Grass and the Heart-Connecting Flower!"

Her eyes lit up, and she continued, her tone full of confidence: "The Crimson-Finned Golden Carp also said that my cousin carries the aura of a treasure, the same aura as my second cousin. They are both twelve years old. If they find the treasure, they can completely defeat the plague and make their fortunes complete, without any flaws! That way, my cousin and my second cousin can grow up together peacefully and healthily, never to be separated again!"

In her haste, focused only on helping her cousin and second cousin reuniting as soon as possible, she inadvertently revealed that she could see the Red-finned Golden Carp and sense treasures. Only after speaking did she realize her mistake; her face instantly paled, and she quickly covered her mouth, her eyes filled with panic, whispering, "Father, I didn't mean to. Mother forbade me to tell anyone. Please don't be angry, okay? Mother said that if others find out I can see the Red-finned Golden Carp and sense treasures, it will bring me danger, trouble to us, and harm those around us."

Seeing Xiao Jingjing's flustered appearance, her little hands tightly covering her mouth, her eyes filled with anxiety and unease, as if she had done something terribly wrong, Xiao Chengyan felt a pang of heartache. He gently patted Xiao Jingjing's head, his voice so tender it could melt water: "Father isn't angry, Jingjing, be good. Father knows you didn't mean it. You just wanted to help your cousin so much, you wanted your second cousin and cousin to be reunited, right?"

Little Jingjing nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly reddening, and said softly, "Yes, Jingjing just wanted to help. She didn't want her cousin to go on an adventure alone, nor did she want her second cousin to be lonely all the time."

"Your mother doesn't want you to tell anyone to protect you. Your father knows that your mother is also worried about you getting hurt." Xiao Chengyan gently wiped away the tears from Xiao Jingjing's eyes and said softly, "It's a good thing that Jingjing was able to help us find the treasure and the herbs. It's Jingjing's blessing and our hope in fighting the plague. However, this matter really cannot be told to anyone else, including Miss Qingyuan and Mr. Guangming, understand?"

Little Jingjing nodded.

[Hey, Father, Jingjing isn't stupid!]

As soon as Lu Qingyuan and Lin Mo disappeared through the city gates of Youzhou, Xiao Jingjing could no longer sit still. She clung to Xiao Chengyan's sleeve, gazing longingly at the hazy sky outside the city, her mind filled with thoughts of her twelve-year-old cousin. In her heart, the red-finned golden carp gently swayed its tail, tiny golden rays falling on her fingertips—a faint glimmer of spiritual energy visible only to her.

Xiao Chengyan was explaining the follow-up epidemic prevention matters to Qingzheng, his gaze serious, not daring to relax for a moment. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Xiao Jingjing quietly shrank back behind a pillar, her little hand forming a soft little spell that only she knew. It was a protective spell that her mother, Consort Lu Wenshu, had secretly taught her. It didn't harm people, and could only be observed and sensed from a distance; it was called the Mirror of Harmony. A warm golden light gathered at her fingertips, which she gently pressed to her brow, chanting an extremely soft incantation. Her target was Lu Qingyuan, who had just left.

She meant no harm; she was just overly worried.

This cousin is only twelve years old. She's going to Black Wind Mountain, a dangerous place teeming with wild beasts and shrouded in mist, to gather Dewdrop Grass and Heart-to-Heart Flowers. What if she gets injured, gets lost, or encounters danger? She wants to see if her cousin is safe, to know how difficult it is for her cousin to gather herbs, and to confirm whether this relative she has never met and who has been separated from her family for twelve years is truly as the Red-Finned Golden Carp described—pure-hearted and connected by fate.

The instant the spell landed, a hazy scene suddenly unfolded before Xiao Jingjing's eyes—

It was a rugged and steep mountain path, the grass and trees withered and yellow, the cold wind biting like a knife against the face. Lu Qingyuan, dressed in a coarse blue cloth robe, the edges torn by tree branches, walked at the front, her small body holding a withered branch to probe the path. She was only twelve years old, but her steps were surprisingly steady; even when she slipped, she would quickly grab a tree trunk and not utter a sound. Lin Mo followed behind her, carrying a medicine basket, occasionally reminding her, "Junior Sister, be careful," but Lu Qingyuan would always nod gently, her gaze fixed firmly on the depths of the mountains.

My cousin is amazing... but the mountain path was so difficult to walk on; her shoes were all worn out, and her hands were scratched by tree branches.

Xiao Jingjing covered her mouth, feeling both pain and admiration in her heart, as the scene continued to move forward.

Deep within Black Wind Mountain, the air was bitterly cold, and the pool water was so icy it could crack bones. The Dew-Gathering Grass grew on the slippery moss along the pool's edge; a single misstep would send her plunging into the frigid depths. Lu Qingyuan crouched down, her small hands carefully parting the weeds, her fingertips red from the icy water, even her fingernails clogged with mud. She held her breath, plucking the Dew-Gathering Grass one blade at a time, her movements so gentle as if afraid of disturbing something. Beads of sweat on her forehead fell onto the grass blades, instantly cooled by the cold wind.

The Twin Hearts Flower is even harder to find, growing on cliffs and only blooming at dawn. Before daybreak, Lu Qingyuan was already halfway up the cliff, the mountain wind making her clothes flutter. Her small body hung in mid-air, making Xiao Jingjing's heart clench. With one hand she gripped the crack in the rock, and with the other she reached for the two white, heart-shaped flowers that grew side by side. The petals were so thin they would break at the slightest touch. She could only hold her breath and carefully dig the flowers out, roots and all, and place them in the soft cloth bag she had prepared beforehand.

Midway through their journey, they encountered a wolf hunting for food. Lin Mo drew his sword to defend himself, but Lu Qingyuan, though young, remained calm. She immediately took out the insect and animal repellent powder Guangming had given her and precisely sprinkled it into the wolf's eyes, working with Lin Mo to drive the beast away. At that moment, her eyes were calm and her movements swift, completely unlike a sheltered young lady, much less a twelve-year-old child.

Little Jingjing used magic to see all of this clearly.

She saw Lu Qingyuan nibble on a dry, hard wheat cake when hungry and drink a mouthful of cold mountain stream water when thirsty; she saw new blisters forming on her hands, which she simply wrapped with herbs when they broke; she saw that even though she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, she still insisted, "If we find a few more, the people can be saved a day sooner"; she saw her occasionally stop, touch the crescent-shaped birthmark on her neck, and softly ask herself who she really was and where she came from.

At that moment, Xiao Jingjing was completely certain.

This twelve-year-old cousin is kind, brave, resilient, and compassionate towards the common people. She is not an outsider; she is a true member of the Lu family, the indispensable twin sister of her second cousin, Lu Songchuan, and the beloved niece whom her mother has always longed for but never knew. She has suffered for twelve years and should no longer keep it a secret. When her cousin returns, she must tell her father, her mother, and everyone else that they have found their family.

Little Jingjing quietly withdrew her magic, her face tense, her eyes more determined than ever before. She clenched her little fists, repeating in her heart: Cousin, you must come back safely. Jingjing is waiting for you, and the family is waiting for you too.

Not far away, Qing Shi, the guard responsible for protecting Xiao Chengyan, was silently patrolling the area around the camp. He was taciturn, but his eyes were extremely sharp, and no subtle abnormality could escape his notice. Just now, when Mr. Guangming walked out of the isolation area and bent down to tidy up his medicine basket, his collar was slightly open, and a jade pendant he wore close to his body was inadvertently revealed half of its corner.

Qing Shi's pupils contracted slightly.

The jade plaque was of an ancient and simple texture, with a deep blue color. It was engraved with a powerful and vigorous Tang character, and the edge patterns were the long-lost totem of the Tang family in Northwest China.

The Tang family was a renowned medical family that had lived in seclusion in the Northwest for a century. Their medical skills were unparalleled, especially in detoxification, disease prevention, and the treatment of rare illnesses. A hundred years ago, they were the imperial physicians of the court, but later retired for some reason and disappeared without a trace. People only knew their names but never saw them. No one would have guessed that this seemingly ordinary, reclusive old doctor, Mr. Guangming, actually came from the Tang family of the Northwest.

Qing Shi subtly shifted his gaze without making a sound, but quickly walked to Xiao Chengyan's side, lowered his voice, and reported clearly, word by word: "Your Highness, I just happened to see that Mr. Guangming was carrying a Tang family jade pendant, engraved with the character 'Tang,' which is a token of the direct line of the Tang family in the Northwest."

Xiao Chengyan's hand holding the book suddenly stopped, a look of surprise flashing across his eyes.

The Tang family of Northwest China?

Is Guangming a member of the Tang family?

This matter is of utmost importance. The Tang family has lived in seclusion for many years, never participating in court disputes, yet now they have appeared in the plague-stricken land of Youzhou and adopted Lu Qingyuan, the twin daughters of the Lu family who have been separated for twelve years. The connection between these events is far more than a simple coincidence.

Xiao Chengyan's expression remained unchanged, and he simply nodded slightly: "Understood. Do not make a fuss. Continue to observe in secret and do not disturb Mr. Guangming."

"Yes." Qing Shi bowed and withdrew.

Xiao Chengyan gazed out of the tent, his eyes filled with a profound sense of mystery. With Guangming's identity revealed, many questions began to unravel. The Tang family's medical skills were unparalleled; he had saved Lu Qingyuan, abandoned at birth, single-handedly dealt with the devastating plague in Youzhou, and raised such a composed and medically savvy child as Lu Qingyuan—everything seemed perfectly logical. And was the Tang family's retreat back then related to the Lu family's infant abduction? Was it connected to the conspiracy of Marquis Yongyi and Liu Ruyan?

A hidden thread slowly began to form in his heart.