### Chapter 262: The Truth from Twenty Years Ago

### Chapter 262: The Truth from Twenty Years Ago

Ji Ming is a tough-talking coward.

At the time, he hung up the phone with great dignity but turned around and eagerly brought the investigation results to Yun Mu.

Yun Mu looked at the detailed information Ji Ming had sent, pondered for a moment, and then contacted Qingyuan.

When Xuanyuan Ming met Yun Mu again, it was on the day of her wrap party.

After attending the wrap party and walking out of the hotel, Qingyuan's car was waiting there.

"Sorry, our boss went home to handle some matters recently and wasn't in China, so we could only meet you now."

Yun Mu didn't mind, "It's fine; your boss is always busy."

It was still the same high-end club as before, and Yun Mu was somewhat familiar with it on her second visit.

However, this time Qingyuan did not take her to the previous hall but to a tea room instead.

Yun Mu followed the butler inside, where the air was filled with the rich, sweet aroma of tea.

But Yun Mu's sense of smell was sharp, and she still detected a faint scent of medicinal herbs, indicating that Xuanyuan Ming was indeed ill.

She hadn't noticed it last time, but now Yun Mu observed that Xuanyuan Ming's complexion was pale, showing signs of illness.

Seeing Yun Mu enter, he forced a smile and gestured for her to sit down.

After greeting her, he couldn't wait to ask, "Tingcheng...?"

"He doesn't want to see you."

Yun Mu's words made Xuanyuan Ming pause with his teacup halfway to his mouth, looking at her, "Does he... hate me?"

"Shouldn't he? He grew up living in fear and hatred of his father. After finally escaping from a fake father, now another one pops up. Anyone would find it hard to accept so quickly."

Yun Mu spoke bluntly, yet her words were not without reason.

Xuanyuan Ming was left speechless by her straightforwardness.

Yun Mu continued, "So, I came here today to ask clearly what happened back then."

"I already told you everything about what happened back then..."

"Mr. Xuanyuan, are you still unwilling to tell me the truth?" Yun Mu's tone turned cold.

Xuanyuan Ming raised his eyes, his expression changing slightly.

Yun Mu's demeanor was calm as she said, "You told me before that you and Yi Qinglan separated because your parents disagreed with your relationship, right?"

Xuanyuan Ming nodded, "Yes."

"But your families were equally powerful and well-matched. Wouldn't a marriage between your families be beneficial? Why did they disagree?"

Xuanyuan Ming hesitated, seeming to have something difficult to say.

Yun Mu answered her own question, "Because at that time, you were engaged, and your family, due to the curse of short lifespans in the Yi family, wouldn't allow you to break the engagement and marry Yi Qinglan."

Xuanyuan Ming gave a bitter smile, "What else do you know?"

"I don't know much, which is why I'm asking you about what happened back then. Mr. Xuanyuan, you know Tingcheng's abilities. If you hide anything from him, and he finds out the truth someday, it will only increase the conflict between you two." Yun Mu advised, "If you still want my help, please tell me the truth."

Xuanyuan Ming stared at Yun Mu for a while, eventually conceding, "Yes, I did have an engagement at the time, and the wedding was approaching. We agreed that she would go home to persuade her parents to agree to our marriage, and I would go home to break off the engagement. But we both underestimated the situation..."

"Do you remember when I told you that my father was killed by an enemy? The person who killed him was Qinglan's father. To prevent my grandfather from seeking revenge, I had to promise not to see Qinglan anymore and married my current wife."

Yun Mu was shocked.

According to Ji Ming's investigation, the cause of Xuanyuan Ming's father's death was unclear, and the Xuanyuan family did not pursue the matter further.

She wondered why after reading the report.

The truth was like this.

"Your families have a grudge?" Yun Mu continued to press, wondering how she didn't know about this.

Concerning the honor of both families, Xuanyuan Ming hadn't planned to reveal it.

But now, there was no point in hiding it.

"It was just a private feud between my father and Qinglan's father. Qinglan's mother had a past relationship with my father but was forced to marry into the Yi family. There were rumors back then that Qinglan was my father's child..."

Yun Mu was stunned and hurriedly asked, "Is it true...?"

"No," Xuanyuan Ming immediately denied, "My father swore that he and Qinglan's mother were innocent. However, Qinglan's mother lived under suspicion in the Yi family and committed suicide when Qinglan was very young. Her father then hated my father, so when he found out about Qinglan and me, he..."

The rest of the story was as Yun Mu knew it.

Yi Qinglan's father must have thought his daughter was Xuanyuan Ming's half-sister and to prevent them from being together, he made Yi Qinglan "fall ill" and sent her away.

And Xuanyuan Ming, due to his father's tragic death and to avoid a feud between the families, made a deadly vow before his grandfather's death, promising never to seek Yi Qinglan again and thus married his current wife.

Thus, their lives passed each other forever.

Yun Mu's heart skipped a beat, another suicide.

Was it bad luck or a real curse in the Yi family?

Either dying from illness or committing suicide.

Then Huo Tingying...

Just as Yun Mu fell into deep thought, a commotion erupted outside the door, followed by the teahouse door being kicked open from the outside.

At the doorway, Feng Shuo led a group of people in directly.

"Feng Shuo, why are you here?" Yun Mu frowned.

Xuanyuan Ming's bodyguards also surrounded them, and tensions rose as both sides faced off.

Feng Shuo immediately shielded Yun Mu behind him and confronted Xuanyuan Ming, "Sir, it's getting late. I need to take our Young Lady home now. Do you have any objections?"

The moment he heard Feng Shuo refer to Yun Mu as the Young Lady, Xuanyuan Ming’s eyes lit up.

"Are you one of Tingying's people? Where is Tingying? Is he outside? Has he come to see me?"

Feng Shuo sneered coldly, his tone echoing the authority and coldness of his master.

"Mr. Xuanyuan, you're overthinking. Our Young Master came to pick up the Young Lady. He doesn't like meeting strangers."

Xuanyuan Ming’s excitement was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water.

He narrowed his eyes, intending to push through and meet Huo Tingying, but was stopped by Feng Shuo's men.

Seeing his boss blocked, Qingyuan also stepped forward with his own men.

Realizing that a fight seemed inevitable, Yun Mu intervened.

"Let's call it a day, Mr. Xuanyuan," Yun Mu reminded him. "There's no rush for us to meet."

Xuanyuan Ming regained his composure, knowing that rushing out now would not make Huo Tingying acknowledge him and might even anger him.

After some deliberation, he reluctantly suppressed his strong desire to see his son and waved at Qingyuan.

"Let them go." He looked at Yun Mu, pleading, "Then I'll wait for your good news, Miss Yun."