After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Thirty miles outside the city, at the end of a country road overgrown with weeds, stands a manor that has been abandoned for many years.

Xiao Jingyu's carriage stopped at the back gate.

When he got out of the car, his usual憨笑 (simple, honest smile) had vanished.

At this moment, his features were cold and sharp, and his eyes beneath his brow bone exuded a chilling calmness.

It's like he's become a completely different person.

No, he was never Xiao Jingyu.

He was Helian Shuo, the son of the Left Wise King of the Northern Barbarians.

Pushing open the rusty door, the weeds in the yard were already ankle-deep.

Three men in black knelt on one knee under the eaves, none of them daring to raise their heads.

Helian Shuo glanced around the courtyard.

Half of the earthen wall on the west side has collapsed, and broken bricks are scattered all over the ground.

The marks left by the torrential rain are still clearly visible.

Ule, the trusted confidant kneeling at the front, touched the ground with his forehead, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"My lord, I deserve to die. Last night, there was a heavy rain, and the west wall collapsed. I was afraid that the people inside the house would be injured, so I sent two guards to move bricks and clear the way."

With a "bang," Helian Shuo raised his leg and kicked him in the shoulder.

"Reassign the guards?"

He didn't use the Mandarin of the Great Yong Dynasty, but rather the pure Northern Di language.

"A frail scholar and an ordinary woman, and you ten of you can't keep an eye on them?"

Ule lay prone in the mud and water, too afraid to raise his head.

"That old man is very cunning. While the guards were moving bricks, he actually led the woman out through the dog hole."

Helian Shuo laughed angrily, "What use are you to me?"

"Please spare my life, my lord! I have already sent men to chase after them."

Ule hurriedly defended himself, "That old man has difficulty walking and is carrying a burden, he certainly can't go far."

Helian Shuo stepped forward, stomped on Wule's hand, and ground it hard.

"Do you know that if that old man falls into the hands of the Third Prince, my entire plan will be ruined!"

Ule kowtowed repeatedly, "Your subordinate understands, your subordinate will certainly bring the person back."

Helian Shuo took a deep breath and spoke again after calming down.

"Get out of here! Go find them and bring them back, alive or dead, find their bodies too."

"What if someone else discovers it first..."

He didn't finish speaking.

But the few people who knelt down with Ule all shivered.

They had witnessed Ah Lang's methods firsthand.

Last time, a man who had failed in his duties was tied to a pillar by Ah Lang, who then peeled off the skin from his entire back piece by piece with a dagger.

Like skinning a sheep.

They could already imagine what their fate would be if they couldn't find the two of them.

"Yes, I will go find it immediately."

The men kowtowed in response and then silently withdrew.

The courtyard returned to silence.

Helian Shuo stood alone in front of the half-collapsed earthen wall, his face gloomy.

Neither Lian Jiliang nor the woman saw his face.

This is the only thing to be thankful for.

He had these two hot potatoes intercepted in order to keep the case under his control.

We must neither let it reach the emperor's ears, nor allow Xiao Jingchen to use it as an excuse.

Qin Lie's true identity must be revealed by him.

At the time he chose, in the manner he arranged.

Helian Shuo leaned against a pillar and closed his eyes.

Several months ago, he sneaked into the Dayong Palace during a fire.

Liang Meiren was a pawn that her father had placed in his early years.

Her original mission was to get close to Marquis Qin Feng and gather intelligence on military matters.

For some reason, it was Aunt Helian Shuang who ended up by Qin Feng's side, while Consort Liang stayed in the capital and climbed onto the emperor's bed.

When he arrived in Dayong, Consort Liang was already an insignificant low-ranking concubine in the harem.

So he kidnapped the real Xiao Jingyu and used his life to coerce Liang Meiren.

Liang Meiren had no choice but to cooperate.

These days, Helian Shuo has become "Xiao Jingyu".

After further investigation, it was discovered that Aunt Helian Shuang had left behind a child.

This child is none other than Qin Lie, the third son of the current Princess's residence.

His cousin had the blood of the Northern Di royal family flowing through his veins.

Therefore, he wanted to muddy the waters of Dayong.

Let the Xiao family members kill each other, plunging the Great Yong Dynasty into chaos.

Then he installed his cousin as the new master of Dayong.

His father will also replace the current Khan of the Northern Di and become the master of the Northern Di.

At that time, their family will divide the world and share the land.

Helian Shuo opened his eyes and walked along the dilapidated corridors toward the depths of the manor.

At the end of the corridor was a side room with its doors and windows tightly closed.

Two expressionless servants stood guard outside the door.

"How are the people inside?"

The servant bowed and replied, "Everything is as usual. They have eaten and drunk water today and have not made a fuss."

Helian Shuo nodded and pushed open the door.

A thin figure was curled up on the tatami mat.

Hearing the door open, the person looked up.

A face emerged from the shadows.

Thin, pale, with sunken eyes and chapped lips, he looked as if he had never seen the light of day in a long time.

It was a face exactly like Helian Shuo's, who was standing at the door.

The man stared blankly at him, his eyes filled with a numbness honed by long-term fear.

Helian Shuo looked down at the huddled Xiao Jingyu, his face expressionless.

He crouched down, even with a hint of concern.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you. Just bear with it a little longer. Once everything settles down, I'll take you back."

Go back and join your traitorous mother in a flag-raising ceremony.

……

Shen Jingque went to Yingzhu Garden as soon as she returned to the mansion.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I saw Xiao Changgeng sitting at the stone table, playing with a ruler in his hand.

It was obviously intended for use in her account.

She didn't care about any of that and rushed over to sit opposite him.

"Big brother, what does 'hula gai' mean?"

Xiao Changgeng stopped holding the ruler in his hand.

His brow furrowed. "What?"

"Hula Gai," Shen Jingque repeated, mimicking the previous pronunciation. "What dialect is this?"

Xiao Changgeng pondered for a moment, "Although the accents of Yan and Dayong are different, their official languages ​​are similar. The three words you said sound like a foreign language."

He turned to Xuan Qi and said, "Go and call the Third Young Master."

Before long, Qin Lie strode into the courtyard, still munching on a pancake.

"Is my older brother looking for me?"

Shen Jingque quickly went to greet her.

"Third brother, what does 'hula gai' mean?"

Qin Lie almost choked after taking a bite. He coughed twice and stared at Shen Jingque with wide eyes.

"You silly girl, how can a young lady speak so rudely?"

Shen Jingque was taken aback. "You understand it? What language is this?"

Qin Lie nodded: "This is a Northern Di language, meaning... bastard."

Shen Jingque's eyes widened suddenly, her mind a complete blank.

The Second Prince was clearly a prince of the Dayong Dynasty.

How come they can speak the Northern Barbarian language?

Xiao Changgeng keenly sensed that something was wrong with Shen Jingque.

"Sparrow, where did you hear that?"

Shen Jingque snapped out of her daze and bit her lip, saying, "On the way back from General Dingyuan's mansion today, I passed by the Second Prince's carriage and saw him scolding his servants, saying the same phrase, 'Hulagai.'"

Qin Lie chuckled nonchalantly and ruffled her hair.

"Sparrow, you must have misheard. The Second Prince lives deep within the palace; where would he learn the Northern Barbarian language?"

Even a general like him, who had spent many years on the frontier, could only understand a few common phrases.

Besides, why would the Second Prince learn that barbarian language? Is he going to fight on the border in the future?

Shen Jingque looked at Qin Lie with a somewhat complicated expression.

Her silly brother, he's oversimplifying things.

Previously, there had been instances of Northern Di people changing skins and impersonating others in the palace, and it was thought that Xiao Changgeng had already eliminated those traitors.

But that only applies to palace servants who have infiltrated the area.

But what if the one who infiltrates and replaces the prince is actually a prince?

Furthermore, the son has been replaced. Does that Lady Liang know about it?

As a mother, couldn't she see that the son in front of her wasn't the real person?

But if she could tell, why didn't she react at all?

There are too many questions and the implications are too broad.

Xiao Changgeng had obviously thought of these things as well, and silently met Shen Jingque's gaze.

Their previously casual gazes gradually focused and became deep and thoughtful.

The Second Prince has been acting strangely lately, not only taking the initiative to handle matters in court, but also insisting on competing with the Third Prince for the case of Lian Jiliang's disappearance.

Now another phrase from the Northern Barbarian language has emerged.

There is no such coincidence in the world.

"Xuan Qi." Xiao Changgeng looked towards the door and ordered loudly, "Go and find out who the Second Prince has been in contact with recently and where he has been."