Chapter 432: A Brother’s Name

Chapter 432: A Brother's Name

Cen Yueyi murmured, "Something's off..."

Xingxing almost simultaneously murmured, "Something's off..."

Cen Yueyi couldn't help but look at Xingxing: "You also think it's odd that my sister hasn't been picking fights, right?"

Xingxing let out an "Ah," gently scratching her cheek: "I do think Second Miss Cen is acting odd, but not because she hasn't been picking fights... Sister Cen, have you noticed how much more plainly Second Miss Cen is dressed today?"

The Marquisate of Jiangtai is actually quite modest. Cen Yueyi, for instance, has always dressed in a modest and elegant manner. Cen Yuehua, however, is different. She's the Marchioness of Jiangtai's favorite, and many good things are lavished upon her.

In the past, whenever Xingxing saw Cen Yuehua, she was decked out in glittering jewels. But this time, Cen Yuehua's accessories were much fewer, with only a mediocre ruby hairpin to keep up appearances.

It's not that Xingxing judges based on looks, but compared to Cen Yuehua's usual style, the difference is quite stark.

Upon hearing Xingxing's observation, Cen Yueyi thought back and realized it was true.

The maid suddenly had a thought and said indignantly, "...Ah? Could it be that Second Miss is copying our Miss Cen?"

Both Cen Yueyi and Xingxing turned to face the maid.

The maid hesitated but couldn't hold back, lowering her voice in barely contained anger: "...Earlier when I went back to the courtyard to fetch something, I saw Second Miss putting on a pitiful show, trying to bother General Yu..."

Cen Yueyi's face slightly changed.

The maid quickly added, "Miss Cen, don't worry. General Yu clearly wasn't interested in Second Miss. I was too far away to hear what General Yu said, but he looked annoyed, clearly impatient, and even waved his sleeve to brush Second Miss off."

Cen Yueyi bit her lip and remained silent.

The maid was still fuming, her chest rising and falling with anger: "...Second Miss has gone too far!"

Cen Yueyi's face paled slightly, clearly not wanting to discuss the topic further. She only said, "Alright, I understand. Please stop."

The maid opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing more.

Cen Yueyi drifted into thought for a moment, then snapped back to see Xingxing watching her with concern. She couldn't help but smile gently, her face still slightly pale but resolute as she whispered to Xingxing, "I believe in your Big Brother."

Xingxing immediately perked up, nodding emphatically: "Yes! Sister Cen, my Big Brother really likes you! He definitely won't let you down!"

Though Xingxing is still young, hearing such words from her made Cen Yueyi blush shyly, turning her head away to cough softly.

Xingxing smiled with her eyes curved.

The Marquisate of Jiangtai didn't hire a troupe to perform, and shortly after the banquet, it ended.

Wei Pozi, Bai Xiaofeng, and Su Rouer were exhausted, leaning back in the carriage with their eyes closed.

When the carriage returned to the residence, Xingxing saw that it was still early. After informing her family, she called for the coachman and household retainer and headed to Fan Pingfang's courtyard.

After Master Hao returned, An Ningxin's health improved day by day.

A few days ago, she even sent some homemade cured chicken and fish as New Year gifts to the Yu family.

However, since Xiao Ancheng hasn't been found yet, even when An Ningxin smiles, a faint worry lingers between her brows.

Xingxing thought, since it's still early today, she might as well visit An Ningxin again.

When they reached the small alley, Xingxing lifted the carriage curtain to jump down but paused for a moment.

She glanced around, puzzled, but didn't see anyone—strange, she felt like someone had been watching the entrance.

But as she looked around, the feeling of being watched disappeared.

Xingxing scratched her cheek, wondering if she was mistaken.

"Oh, Sister Xingxing is here!"

Master Hao, clutching a small wooden lantern, was running joyfully to the entrance with Ling Jier. Seeing Xingxing standing on the carriage outside, he cheerfully called out to her.

Xingxing snapped out of her thoughts, smiled, and got off the carriage. She pulled two candies from her pocket, giving one to Master Hao and one to Ling Jier.

The kids adored Xingxing and chattered around her incessantly.

Suddenly, Ling Jier, with the candy in her mouth, mumbled, "When will Sister Cheng come back?"

Master Hao stood still.

Ling Jier, just over two years old, was too young to understand why the sister she had played with for so long had disappeared.

Fan Pingfang had reassured her, saying that Little An Cheng had gone to play somewhere else and would return after a while.

In Ling Jier's young mind, Xingxing was also a sister who would come back after a while, and now Little An Cheng was another sister who would return after a while.

Sister Xingxing is back, so when will Sister Cheng come back?

Master Hao, who was older, already had the concept that his sister had been kidnapped. Suddenly thinking of his sister, he stood there, his eyes welling up.

Abruptly, Master Hao threw the small wooden lantern in his hand and burst out crying, "Sister! Sister!"

Ling Jier, startled by Master Hao's outburst, also started crying.

Amid the children's cries, a hoarse 'brother' sounded, both sudden and almost like a hallucination.

Xingxing wondered if she had heard it right.

However, Master Hao's eyes lit up, and he cried even harder, "Sister! I heard Sister calling me!"

The little chubby boy dashed outside.

But in his haste, he fell halfway.

The fall was quite heavy, and Xingxing quickly helped him up, only to see that the little boy's palms were bleeding.

Ling Jier, frightened, cried even louder!

An Ningxin and Fan Pingfang rushed out of the house.

An Ningxin, unaware of what had happened, only heard her son crying and calling for his sister, her heart aching, "Master Hao!"

Xingxing handed Master Hao over to An Ningxin, without time to explain, and hurried outside.

But the alley outside was empty, only her family's carriage still parked there.

The coachman sat on the carriage shaft, idly cracking melon seeds.

Xingxing ran out and asked, "Did you see anyone outside just now?"

The coachman paused, then shook his head, "No, I didn't see anyone."

Xingxing looked around but couldn't see anyone.

However, just as she was about to turn and leave, she spotted something odd on the alley's ground.

This patch had a thicker layer of fallen leaves and snow compared to the rest.

Xingxing's gaze shot upward, and she saw something clearly amiss on the large tree covered in yellow leaves and snow.

It seemed as though... someone had been up there, trampling the snow and leaves, making them scatter.

Recalling the urgent cry of "brother" earlier, the last syllable was abruptly cut short, as if someone had muffled the voice.

Xingxing's brow furrowed even more.