If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

In the evening, Xi Song returned from the government office, still in his official robes, and went to Xi Lingxian's courtyard.

Xi Lingxian hadn't seen her younger brother for nearly three or four days, and now, seeing him suddenly dressed in official robes, looking solemn and dignified, she almost didn't recognize him.

"Is this still my little brother who only knows how to eat and play?"

Xi Song scratched the back of his head. "Sister, don't make fun of me. No matter what I'm like, I'm still your brother."

"Are you still handling things with the government? Are things going smoothly? Is anyone bullying you?"

She had never worked for the government, but having spent three years with Wang Jue in her previous life, she knew a thing or two about how things worked in government.

That's not a place where you can rest easy just by relying on a powerful backer. If you can't stand on your own two feet, even a prince will suffer.

"Fortunately, my second brother taught me very diligently, and I can manage."

"My second brother said that I shouldn't be afraid of falling down or making mistakes, and that I should make as many mistakes as possible during the six months he's in Jiangzhou."

"..."

Is this something Wang Jue would say?

Xi Lingxian found it strange; he was genuinely good to her younger brother, though.

"Alright, go change your clothes. I've asked the kitchen to make your favorite cabbage and mutton soup. Come back and wash your hands before eating."

Xi Song rubbed his stomach and nodded: "Okay, to be honest, everything else in the government office is fine, except for the food. The noodles are already mushy when they arrive, and the vegetable leaves are overcooked and unrecognizable."

"Then I'll have the maids bring you meals every day?" The Xi family's children have never been deprived of their food, clothing, or daily necessities.

"No, everyone else is eating in the restaurant. I'm already conspicuous enough as a newcomer; if I try to be special, others will disapprove even more."

In just a few days, the once carefree young master has changed.

Xi Lingxian felt both gratified and heartbroken.

"Okay, then we'll make do with the dine-in meal. When you get home, your sister will have someone make a more substantial meal for you."

Xi Song changed her clothes and came out, rolling up her sleeves, saying, "As long as my elder sister is here, I can still eat well; once you and my second brother return to Jiankang, I will have no one to care for me or ask about me."

Xi Lingxian handed him a damp handkerchief to wipe his hands. "Are you really willing to stay and guard Jiangzhou?"

"Sister, this is not a matter of willingness; this is Jiangzhou. Second Brother's willingness to entrust it to me is an immense trust. If I don't appreciate it, it would be a disgrace to our family."

Many members of the Wang family clan wanted this position but couldn't get it. Wang Jue openly placed Xi Song in this position, and no one would believe he didn't have some selfish motives.

"I'm willing too!"

As the boy spoke, his eyes gleamed with excitement, "Sister, actually, everything in officialdom has its own set of rules. As long as you figure them out and make use of them, some things in it are really quite interesting."

"And those officials, the old foxes are all old in their own way. Some don't speak up unless it's their business, while others are so shrewd that they don't offend anyone. After seeing so many of them, it's quite amusing."

Seeing that he was beaming with joy and genuinely enjoying himself, Xi Lingxian was completely relieved.

Then he took out the letter he had just received that day. "Take a look. My elder brother has shot himself in the foot. Now he has nowhere to cry about his regrets."

Xi Song loved to see his brother make a fool of himself. He hurriedly opened the envelope, skimmed through it, and laughed gleefully.

"Serves him right, serves him right for pretending to be reserved. Now Miss Xu won't talk to him anymore."

"It's not that I'm pretending; I think my brother genuinely didn't know whether he liked Miss Xu or not at first."

"So what's next? ...He's the highest-ranking official in Guangling; surely he won't resort to force or robbery?"

Xi Lingxian's expression was complicated. "Do you think my older brother would be that smart?"

"No." Xi Song replied without hesitation.

As they were talking, Wang Jue walked over, and Xi Song saw him even more affectionately than Xi Rui.

Just then, the maidservant set out the meal, and Xi Lingxian couldn't send them away, so the three of them ate together.

"I've been reading the official gazette from Jiankang these past few days and haven't paid much attention to things here in Jiangzhou. How's it going?"

Wang Jue was very patient with Xi Song, which naturally stemmed from his affection for Xi Song.

"Very good. Mr. Chen is learned, knowledgeable, wise and quick-witted. I feel very at ease with him by my side."

"That's good."

Wang Jue took a sip of soup. "I have some bad news that I think you two need to know."

"What?"

"The search of Liyang Village that day did not yield Xi Hui."

"what?"

"Yu Bing died on the spot, where could he have escaped to?"

Xi Song pondered, "Xi Hui is very meticulous and cunning; he's even more difficult to deal with than the Yu family father and son."

"But Yu Liang has already been taken to prison, who else can he rely on?"

"It's hard to say. If he's prepared to fight to the death, we really need to be on guard."

Xi Song bit her chopsticks, as if she had thought of something, glanced at Xi Lingxian, and then shook her head.

Xi Lingxian looked puzzled: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I thought of something, but it feels a bit too much... it shouldn't be."

"What is it?"

"...I'd better not say anything."

"Stop beating around the bush, just say it!"

Xi Song chuckled awkwardly, somewhat avoiding Wang Jue's gaze. "It's just that, when Xi Hui and I were on good terms... I once saw a portrait of you in his room. I found it strange at the time, and Xi Hui said that he had just finished painting and wanted to paint a picture for you as a gift."

"What painting? I've never received one before."

"We used to be siblings, so I didn't think he could have any wicked intentions; but now that I think about it, if he weren't Father's child, wouldn't he treat you, my sister, like this..."

Xi Lingxian felt a chill run down her spine and got goosebumps all over.

"Who are the people in the Yu family?"

Wang Jue's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

Xi Song belatedly realized what was happening and angrily cursed, "That bastard, his mind is too dirty! Regardless of whether he's biologically related to us or not, we've lived under the same roof as each other for so many years."

Xi Lingxian didn't want to get angry over this kind of person; she felt it wasn't worth it. But Wang Jue couldn't just let it go.

He summoned his personal guards and ordered them to go to the government office to find a skilled painter and issue a warrant for his arrest.

A moment later, Doctor Wen came in to deliver a message, saying that all preparations for removing the poison were complete and that the two could be cured at any time.

With something stuffed in his mouth, Xi Song mumbled, "Are you sure they really have some kind of Gu worm inside them? I feel like they're even stronger than normal people."

Doctor Wen smiled knowingly: "The love potion is indeed extraordinary."

"On the surface, everything seems peaceful and calm, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging and things are anything but ordinary."

Xi Song's curious gaze swept between Wang Jue and her own older sister. "What's the underlying tension?"

Doctor Wen paused for a moment, then asked, "May I ask how old Young Master Xi is?"

"My older sister and I are twins, a boy and a girl. How old do you think I am?"

Doctor Wen glanced at Xi Lingxian with a long, thoughtful look.

Xi Lingxian rubbed her forehead, and after a long while, she couldn't help but laugh.

If that's the case, it's not surprising that her younger brother, who has never dealt with women in his two lives, is a bit naive and simple-minded.

Wang Jue suddenly smiled and said to Xi Lingxian, "Before we go back, let's arrange a marriage for Asong."

Xi Song: "...How did you and my older sister become 'you'?"

Xi Lingxian didn't nitpick the wording; she felt that Wang Jue's suggestion resonated with her!