The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

Eyes facing each other.

Xie Qing's handsome face changed from blankness to astonishment, and finally to ecstatic joy.

He was trembling in disbelief.

"Shun...Shun Shun?"

His voice was hoarse, and he was cautiously probing.

Jiang Guo'er's hands and feet were cold, and her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

She subconsciously bit her lower lip, forcing herself to calm down, and quickly lowered her eyes.

Why is this bookworm still acting so simple-minded?

Why shout it out in public? Do you want everyone to know my true identity?

She took Xue Lingyi's hand and turned to leave.

"Miss! Miss, please wait!"

Xie Qing rushed over like a madman, spreading her arms to block them.

"Shunshun! It's you, you...you're still alive?!"

People in the bookstore all turned to look.

Xue Lingyi's face darkened, and she stepped forward to protect Jiang Guo'er behind her.

"Young master, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a certain authority.

"I didn't make a mistake! I would never make a mistake!" Xie Qing's eyes were red as he stubbornly stared at Jiang Guo'er. "Shun Shun, look at me! I'm Xie Qing! You have a small scar on your forehead, it's from when you were eight years old and the kite string got caught on you..."

Jiang Guo'er's heart clenched into a knot.

She could feel the genuine pain in Xie Qing's words, the ecstatic joy of regaining what was lost, and the cautiousness, like a dull knife, cutting into her heart again and again.

But she couldn't respond.

She raised her head to meet Xie Qing's gaze, using all her strength to suppress all the emotions in her eyes, leaving only unfamiliarity and estrangement.

"Young master, this servant has no idea what you are talking about."

She curtsied, her voice calm and undisturbed.

"This servant is a maidservant in the Prime Minister's residence. I have offended you, young master. Please forgive me."

"A maid?" Xie Qing was struck dumb, staggering back a step. "No...it's impossible...you're clearly from the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion..."

"Insolence!" Xue Lingyi shouted sharply, preventing him from uttering those fatal words.

"Guo'er is a member of the Prime Minister's household; how dare you, an outsider, cause such a ruckus here! Green Ripple!"

"Here!" Green Rhyme stepped forward, blocking Xie Qin's path.

The guards all pressed down on the swords at their waists.

"Young master, please have some self-respect," Xue Lingyi said coldly. "I am Lady Xue, the wife of the Grand Secretary. If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame us for reporting you to the authorities!"

Xie Qing was stunned. He looked at Xue Lingyi, then at Jiang Guo'er, who was hiding behind her and refused to look at him again. All the color drained from his face.

What exactly is going on?

Could there really be people in the world who are so similar?

A wave of immense loss and pain washed over him, engulfing him completely.

He could only watch helplessly as Jiang Guo'er, surrounded by guards, disappeared into the crowd, just like she had been over a year ago, gone without a trace.

Xie Qing stood there, lost and dejected, not moving for a long time.

Jiang Guo'er sat in the carriage, looking down and tugging at her sleeve, her eyes stinging.

Brother Xie, I'm so sorry.

Our fate has long since run its course. Just consider me... completely dead.

A few days later, Pei Yan brought home some news.

Xie Qin, son of the Vice Minister of Works, petitioned the Emperor to reinvestigate the case of the Marquis of Dingyuan's family's treason four years ago.

The emperor was furious and had him flogged thirty times in court, leaving him with lacerated skin and flesh. He was unconscious when he was carried home.

At that time, Pei Yan was handling official business in his study, and Jiang Guo'er was grinding ink for him.

"That Xie family lad is quite the romantic," Pei Yan remarked casually as he flipped through the memorials.

Jiang Guo'er's hand trembled, and a drop of thick ink fell onto the Xuan paper, staining the entire surface.

"My hand slipped," she quickly apologized, her voice trembling slightly.

Pei Yan put down his vermilion brush, pinched her chin with his slender fingers, and forced her to lift her face.

His deep eyes remained calm, yet his scrutinizing gaze was like a knife scraping her face.

Ever since the little one returned from the Xue family, he has been somewhat absent-minded.

"What are you thinking about?"

When I wanted to hear her thoughts, I couldn't.

Moreover, she hasn't worn the silk doll around her neck in the last few days.

Jiang Guo'er dared not meet his gaze; her eyelashes trembled and drooped.

"This servant...this servant just feels that Young Master Xie was too impulsive."

"The case of Marquis Dingyuan was appointed by the Emperor himself. If he rashly submits a memorial, wouldn't he be asking for trouble?"

"Impulsive?" Pei Yan chuckled, his fingers caressing her smooth chin.

"To make a scene in the imperial court over a dead man is not just impulsive, it's downright foolish."

Jiang Guo'er felt a tightness in her chest, and her heart sank straight into an ice cave.

Yes, in Pei Yan's eyes, Xie Qing's behavior was simply foolish.

Her throat tightened, and she forced a smile: "What the Prime Minister says is true."

Pei Yan looked at her quietly for a moment, and sensing that she was absent-minded, perhaps tired, he mercifully let go of her hand.

"Go back and rest. You don't need to grind the ink tonight."

A short while later, Xue Lingyi arrived at the side room.

"Guo'er, you can't delay any longer."

Jiang Guo'er sat on the couch with her hair down, hugging her knees and remaining silent.

Xue Lingyi lowered her voice and sat down next to her.

"Xie Qing's antics have already caught the Prime Minister's attention. Given his suspicious nature, he will surely send someone to investigate."

Jiang Guo'er closed her eyes, her throat tightening.

She knew all along.

But once she says, "I am Murong Shunshun, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Dingyuan," she is handing her life over to the other party.

Even though she has fallen for Pei Yan now, falling for someone and entrusting one's life to him are two different things.

"What if he doesn't believe me? What if he thinks I'm deliberately deceiving him and wants to kill me?"

"He won't," Xue Lingyi said earnestly, holding her hand. "You've seen those Xue Tao letters before; he has you in his heart."

"Instead of waiting for him to find out and get angry on his own, you should speak first."

Jiang Guo'er remained silent for a long time.

She thought of the elegant handwriting on Xue Tao's stationery, of him making her sugar dumplings by hand, of him holding her in his arms and teaching her how to deal with villains...

Without realizing it, he clenched his fist.

Okay, she'll give it a try!

Hai hour (9-11 PM).

The candlelight flickered, filling the room with a warm fragrance.

When it was time to detoxify, Jiang Guo'er took the initiative to tiptoe to reach Pei Yan's lips.

Pei Yan bowed slightly to accommodate her.

Their lips met, their breaths mingling, perfectly sealed.

It feels the same as usual, yet something seems different.

The incense stick is about to burn out.

Jiang Guo'er stepped back half an inch, licking her lower lip with lingering satisfaction.

For a fleeting moment, she unknowingly ripped open her... Ah, stop, stop, it's too embarrassing!

"Prime Minister..."

With her face flushed, she straightened her bodice, then gently grasped his collar and slowly raised her face.

The candlelight reflected in her moist eyes, like a piece of broken gold.

"This servant has something...that I would like to tell the Prime Minister."

Pei Yan's breathing had not yet calmed down, and his chest rose and fell slightly.

He naturally raised his hand and tucked a stray strand of sweaty hair behind her ear.

"explain."

Jiang Guo'er took a deep breath and unconsciously choked on her saliva.

"Prime Minister, regarding the case of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence... do you believe... it truly involves treason?"

Pei Yan paused for a moment, his eyes darkening.

"Why did you suddenly bring this up? There are many suspicious points in this case, but the imperial judgment was too swift at the time, and I didn't have time to investigate thoroughly."

"But if the time comes one day, it is not impossible to overturn the verdict."

Jiang Guo'er's heart pounded like thunder.

He said he had doubts!

He said it's not impossible to overturn the verdict!

"My lord, actually, this servant is—"

"master!"

A steady knocking sounded suddenly at the door; it was Xiao San.

Jiang Guo'er's words, which were on the tip of her tongue, got stuck in her throat.

Pei Yan frowned, his voice cold and sharp: "Enter!"

The door was pushed open, and Xiao San strode in, bringing with him a chilly night wind, and knelt on one knee.

His face was grave. He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a low voice, "Master, something has happened at Baiyun Mountain..."

Pei Yan's expression instantly turned cold.

Without a moment's hesitation, he loosened his grip on Jiang Guo'er's waist, stood up, and straightened his sleeves.

"It's late. We can talk about it tomorrow. You should get some rest."

After saying that, Pei Yan strode across the threshold and disappeared into the night with Xiao San.