Chapter 123 Chapter 123

Chapter 123

That day, by the time Xu Duanyi woke up, Xu Pingyi had already left the house.

He sent someone to relay a message to Xu Duanyi, saying he had matters to attend to and would return once they were settled.

Xu Duanyi assumed it was military affairs and naturally didn’t question it.

She was no longer at an age where she needed her father’s constant company.

However, since her father wasn’t home, Xu Duanyi recalled what Xie Qingya had said on their way here the previous day and decided to go out for a stroll with him.

After breakfast,

she and Xie Qingya each wrote a letter of well-being and had them delivered to the capital. Then, without asking Uncle Qin to arrange an escort or taking a carriage, she headed out with Bixi and the others for a leisurely walk.

Under her father’s governance, Liaodong was lively and bustling.

Though not as prosperous as the capital, the people were warm and unpretentious, and goods were surprisingly affordable.

Passersby and street vendors alike were all smiles.

Bixi and Shiyu had also been born in Liaodong, so coming back home put them in high spirits. Not wanting to dampen their fun while following her, Xu Duanyi simply gave them the day to themselves to have fun on their own.

Lingji, who was always up for some excitement, naturally didn’t want to stay with them either and went running after Shiyu's group.

Looking away with a smile,

Xu Duanyi didn’t feel awkward holding Xie Qingya’s hand.

“Shall we keep exploring?” she said to Xie Qingya.

Xie Qingya naturally had no objections, and so the couple walked on hand in hand.

People here in the north were open-hearted, and seeing the couple holding hands, they just gave them knowing, approving smiles.

“Liaodong has been governed exceptionally well by your father,” Xie Qingya remarked after a while.

Xu Duanyi had always been bursting with pride for her father.

As they walked slowly, she told him, “Father cares deeply for the common folk. He often says he was fed by their labors—without them, there would be no him. So once he had the ability, he always hoped to give back to them, to live up to their kindness.”

“In my memories, common folk often came to our home, bringing homegrown vegetables or eggs from their own hens… Father was always delighted to receive them, and Mother was happy too.”

“But if officials came bearing gifts or money, Father would scowl, chase them out, and later mark them down for punishment.”

Recalling these past events brought a smile to Xu Duanyi's face,

making her feel lighthearted.

Xie Qingya could tell.

Gently holding her hand, he softened his expression and gazed down at her.

Both of them were strikingly handsome and beautiful, and countless admiring glances followed them along the way.

Yet in each other’s eyes, there was only one person.

"If the people didn’t trust Father-in-law, Liaodong wouldn’t have been so peaceful before, nor could it have recovered so quickly to its current state."

"Father-in-law is a good man."

Xu Duanyi didn’t hesitate, smiling as she agreed, "Yes, Father is great." But remembering last night, her smile wavered for a second.

But she quickly shook it off.

Whatever went down last night, she had decided to talk things through with her father when she saw him today.

However, Xu Duanyi hadn’t expected to spot her father entering an alley before she even got the chance to look for him.

At that moment,

she and Xie Qingya were loaded down with shopping bags.

As Xie Qingya handed over the money, Xu Duanyi caught sight of Xu Pingyi’s figure.

At first glance, she almost thought she’d mistaken someone else, but she blurted out “Dad” without thinking, and her feet unconsciously followed the direction the man had gone.

So when Xie Qingya finished paying and turned, he saw Xu Duanyi walking ahead.

"Zhaozhao?"

Not sure what was going on, Xie Qingya immediately moved to catch up.

The vendor, noticing this, quickly called out, "Sir/Miss, your things!" Xie Qingya thanked the person, grabbed the bags, and hurried after her.

"What’s up?"

When he reached her side,

Xie Qingya grabbed her arm to keep her from walking off.

Xu Duanyi stopped and came clean. "I just saw Dad."

"Your dad? Here?"

Xie Qingya looked surprised.

He looked at her, then squinted down the alley.

Figuring she’d be distracted unless she checked, he took the initiative to lead her into the alley.

They’d see if it was really him—better than her worrying over nothing.

The alley was hushed, away from the street noise.

The houses made it clear this was a neighborhood.

They sped up a little and, just as they were about to turn a corner, spotted a tall figure walking ahead.

They both recognized that tall frame right away.

Then they saw him stop at a house with pomegranate blossoms trailing over the wall, rap on the door, and go inside.

Xie Qingya felt Xu Duanyi freeze beside him.

So did he.

Glancing at Xu Duanyi beside him, Xie Qingya’s voice turned hesitant: "...Should we go over?"

Xu Duanyi didn’t respond immediately.

Just as Xie Qingya was about to suggest they go home first to calm down, she finally spoke: "Let's go."

She did feel a little heavy-hearted.

But hadn’t she already made up her mind? No matter what, she wanted to have a proper talk with her father.

Instead of going back with lingering doubts and overthinking things,

it was better to go see her father directly.

She had faith in him.

Even if he really wanted company now, he would never choose someone improper, nor would he tolerate disrespect toward her mother.

Besides, she also wished for her father to live a happier life.

If this person was truly decent and could take proper care of her father, she... wouldn’t object.

Thinking this, Xu Duanyi drew a deep breath and loosened up.

"Let's go."

She told Xie Qingya once more.

Then she made the first move toward the pomegranate-flower house.

At the doorstep,

she shot Xie Qingya a look first.

Xie Qingya got the message—she didn’t want him uncomfortable around her father—so he gave her head a reassuring pat and said, "I’ll wait for you up ahead."

Xu Duanyi nodded.

Xie Qingya then took their things and stepped aside to wait.

Xu Duanyi drew another deep breath before stepping forward to knock.

"Who is it?"

An elderly servant’s voice answered.

Xu Duanyi faltered, unsure how to introduce herself, so she remained silent. Fortunately, footsteps approached, and soon the door opened.

A gray-haired old servant stood in the doorway.

The servant frowned at the stranger outside: "You are—"

His eyesight was failing with age,

yet he squinted, studying her intently. As he did, his clouded eyes slowly widened in realization.

"You... you are the daughter of Marquis Wu'an?" The old man sounded surprised.

Xu Duanyi was stunned at first that this old man recognized her. Did Father show them my portrait? But before she could ponder further, she found the old man strangely familiar.

"You—"

Xu Duanyi frowned, studying him.

Before she could make sense of it, her father's voice came from inside: "Wenbo, who is it?"

Xu Pingyi walked out as he spoke, still admonishing, "When you and Zhao'er are alone, don’t open the door casually. I’ll have some guards sent over later. Now that you’ve moved here from outside the city, it’s busy and less secure."

As he spoke, Xu Pingyi caught sight of Xu Duanyi’s face.

He had meant to say more, but the sudden sight of his beloved daughter froze him in place.

"Zhaozhao?"

He took a moment to recover.

Though he didn’t know how Zhaozhao got here, Xu Pingyi immediately strode forward.

"How did you get here?"

Only one explanation came to him, so he asked, "Did you see me earlier?"

Xu Duanyi nodded, dazed.

Something felt off about this...

Then she recalled her father mentioning Zhao'er.

Zhao'er...

A familiar face flashed in her mind, and she whipped her head back toward the old man.

"Wenbo? You are..."

"Uncle Xu, Grandpa Wen, who’s here?" A bright voice called from inside.

Xu Duanyi couldn’t see the speaker, but the voice had changed with time, yet she’d know it anywhere—perhaps because she had already begun piecing it together. The memory sharpened with each passing second.

"Yi-jie, you teach me write?"

"Yi-jie, I like you. When I grow up, I marry you!"

"Yi-jie, you marrying the Crown Prince? Then do you like the Crown Prince or *Cousin Xie* more?"

"Yi-jie, Yi-jie..."

...

Childhood memories came rushing back, along with a chubby-cheeked boy’s grinning face.

Xu Duanyi went rigid, wheeling toward her father. "Father, he…"

Seeing she’d figured it out, Xu Pingyi didn’t bother denying it. He nodded and said, "—Let’s go inside first."

With that, he instructed Elder Wen to close the door first, planning to bring Zhaozhao inside.

Xu Duanyi was still dazed as she followed a few steps before suddenly remembering Xie Qingya was still outside.

It was meant to avoid impropriety.

But now—

"Elder Wen, my husband is still outside," Xu Duanyi managed to speak, though her words came out brittle.

Elder Wen looked at Xu Pingyi.

Xu Pingyi gave a nod. As Elder Wen stepped out to summon him, Xu Pingyi turned to Xu Duanyi and said, "I’d wondered why you came alone."

While father and daughter were talking, Xie Qingya arrived as well.

Xie Qingya was even more familiar with Elder Wen than Xu Duanyi—after all, the person inside was his blood cousin, just like the one currently seated on the imperial throne.

Truth be told, he had watched him grow up.

He never expected to see Elder Wen here.

The moment he laid eyes on Elder Wen, he stood thunderstruck, only snapping back to reality when Elder Wen turned and invited him inside.

He scanned the courtyard.

Recalling the black-clad figure from the previous night, shrouded head to toe.

At the time, he had been too startled to think deeply, but now, reflecting on it, that figure seemed too tall to be a woman.

Unless—

At the thought of one possibility, Xie Qingya’s heart suddenly began to hammer against his ribs.

Back then, Prince Xin had been at war.

When news of the late emperor’s passing spread, he had intended to return for the funeral but was killed by bandits along the way. Then, on a dark night, the Prince Xin’s residence was set ablaze.

Some said it was the deposed second prince, plotting for the throne, while others claimed it was Cao Da and Empress Dowager Zhaoyu who orchestrated it… The truth of what happened that year had been buried with the past, impossible to verify.

But everyone believed that Liu Zhao, Prince Xin’s only child, then just nine years old, had been lost to the flames.

After the fire was extinguished, someone had even found his remains in his bedchamber.

It was Xie Qingya himself who had retrieved those remains.

No one could have imagined that, seven years later, in distant Liaodong, he would catch sight of him and those close to him again.

In truth, Elder Wen was now a shadow of his former self.

In his younger years, though old, Elder Wen had been hale and booming, unmatched by most.

But now, his hair was white, his face bore burn scars, his voice had grown hoarse, and his spine now bowed with age.

After entering, Xie Qingya remained silent for a long while, his gaze locked onto Elder Wen and Xu Pingyi.

At length, he rasped: "Father-in-law, just what is…?"

Xu Pingyi, reading his distress, sighed and said, "We’ll speak within."

With that, he went in first.

Xu Duanyi stepped forward and grasped Xie Qingya’s hand.

His hand felt ice-cold to the touch.

Xu Duanyi wasn’t taken aback.

Back when Prince Xin’s estate caught fire, she’d been confined to the palace but had known how frantic he’d been—how he’d charged into the blaze before the flames died down, ignoring everyone who tried to stop him.

He’d been a thorn in people’s sides since he was a kid.

The likes of the second prince (now deposed) saw him as brash and defiant, and despised him for it.

But the sixth prince—now emperor—and Liu Zhao idolized their older cousin.

They revered his carefree boldness.

Since Xu Duanyi ran in the same circles as Xie Qingya, she naturally grew close to these two children as well.

Hearing Liu Zhao had died in the fire shattered her.

To think he’d survived…

Xu Duanyi ushered Xie Qingya in. No sooner had they stepped inside than he asked her father, "Uncle Xu, who’s come?"

At that moment, Xu Duanyi finally caught sight of him.

The pudgy kid she remembered now stood tall and lean.

He was the spitting image of the late Prince Xin.

Like he’d been stamped from the same die.

Xu Duanyi noticed he was clutching a mask in his hand. No doubt he wore it outdoors to stay unrecognized.

Otherwise, anyone who’d known Prince Xin would surely grow suspicious at the sight of his face.

"It’s—"

Xu Pingyi barely got a word out when hurried footsteps cut him off.

Xu Duanyi’s hand fell loose as Xie Qingya pulled away.

Qing Ya surged ahead, letting what he carried clatter to the ground, and she didn’t try to hold him back.

As for Liu Zhao—

He’d been staring at Xu Pingyi, but the noise jerked his head up.

The sight of Xie Qingya locked Liu Zhao in place.

Time had barely touched Xie Qingya’s face.

There was no mistaking him.

"Cousin—"

Liu Zhao barely got the word ‘cousin’ out before Xie Qingya yanked him into a hug.

To Liu Zhao, Xie Qingya was not just a cousin but more like an older brother.

As the only child in his family, with his mother passing early and his father often away on campaigns, he spent much of his childhood in the prince’s manor, following Xie Qingya around.

During his years away from the capital, he often thought of them.

He’d also heard plenty about them.

If not for worrying about troubling Uncle Xu, he would have gone to the capital to find his cousin or written him letters.

He’d thought he’d never see his cousin again in this life.

But then...

It’d been too long since he’d seen family.

Now, held by his cousin, Liu Zhao could barely hold back tears.

Like he was pouring out his pain or the ache of missing someone for so long, Liu Zhao—who hadn’t cried in years—couldn’t restrain himself and broke down sobbing in his cousin’s arms.

Everyone watching felt their eyes sting with tears.

Xu Duanyi wiped her eyes and, instead of going over, turned to Wenbo next to her. "Grandpa Wen, let’s go to the kitchen."

It was almost time to eat anyway.

Qing Ya and Zhao'er, finally reunited, must’ve had a lot to catch up on.

Not wanting to interrupt, she helped Wenbo pick up the fallen items before heading to the kitchen.

Soon after they left, Liu Zhao started to settle down.

He was a little embarrassed.

At sixteen, he still cried so easily.

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

But no one there would laugh.

"Was that Sister Yi before? I thought I saw her," Liu Zhao asked after composing himself.

Xu Pingyi nodded. "It was her."

He turned to call Zhaozhao, but she was gone.

"Ah, where’s Zhaozhao?"

Xie Qingya saw Wenbo and the things were missing and said, "She must’ve gone to the kitchen."

At that, Xu Pingyi relaxed.

Knowing Xie Qingya must’ve had questions, Xu Pingyi didn’t go to the kitchen but walked in. "Let’s sit and talk."

Liu Zhao served them tea.

Xu Pingyi told Xie Qingya, "Back during the fire at Prince Xin’s manor, Wenbo first—"

Yi Hua

"I took Zhao'er to find your father."

This caught Xie Qingya off guard.

His father was aware of it too, and his eyes widened in shock.

Xu Pingyi nodded at him and continued, "Your father worried Zhao'er would be found out if he stayed in the capital, so he secretly had Wenbo and Liu Zhao escorted to Liaodong. They’ve stayed there ever since."

"Before the plague, Liu Zhao and Wenbo lived outside the city. I only visited them occasionally to avoid suspicion."

"But with the recent plague, I worried remote care wouldn’t suffice, so I moved them here just a few days ago."

Who knew he and Zhaozhao would bump into them?

Still, it was for the best. Even if their reunion was short-lived, just knowing they were safe was enough.

Xie Qingya felt the same way.

Looking at the familiar smiling face beside him, Xie Qingya's heart swelled with emotion—sorrow mingling with joy.

He tousled Liu Zhao’s hair affectionately before suddenly standing and bowing to Xu Pingyi.

"My gratitude, Father-in-law."

Xu Pingyi understood his gratitude but quickly stood and steadied Xie Qingya’s arm.

"No need for formalities between family."

He motioned for Xie Qingya to sit back down.

After expressing his thanks, Xie Qingya took his seat.

The tea had steeped perfectly.

Xie Qingya sipped his tea, then steeled himself. "Father-in-law, may I ask you something?"

Xu Pingyi seemed to know what he wanted to ask.

He didn’t answer immediately, instead glancing at Liu Zhao first.

Liu Zhao had always been sharp, even in childhood.

When the fire broke out in their home, he spotted it first and raced to Wenbo, evading the assassins.

Realizing they needed privacy, he stood up and said, "I’ll catch up with Sister Yi—it’s been ages!"

With that, he walked out.

Xie Qingya and Xu Pingyi watched him leave before turning back.

"I sent the man who rescued Chen Xing," Xu Pingyi said, looking at Xie Qingya.

Yesterday, Qin Su had mentioned spotting Pei Teng while escorting Qingya and Zhaozhao back to their room, worrying he might recognize them.

Xu Pingyi had seen this coming.

Now, he came clean.

Xie Qingya had suspected as much.

The person he saw yesterday bore an uncanny resemblance to the man in black who had brought Uncle Chen back then.

He had his suspicions then.

He looked at him, stayed quiet at first, and waited for his father-in-law to continue.

Speaking of these past events, Xu Pingyi's face still darkened.

"When the news of your father and brother's deaths reached me, I was tied down by my duties and couldn’t leave Liaodong, but I always felt something was off. I had known your father since we were young—others might not have known how capable he was, but I did."

"How could those barbarians have killed him?"

"At the time, I sent people to Jizhou to investigate, and they happened to encounter Chen Xing, who was hanging on by a thread and had secretly fled the battlefield."

"Given my close friendship with your father, Chen Xing recognized Pei Teng, whom I had sent."

"Later, Pei Teng brought him to me, but the fire had left him broken—he fainted halfway and cheated death multiple times, yet he managed to survive by sheer force of will."

"It was from his white-knuckled grip that I found that piece of armor. The moment I saw it, I knew something was off, and I finally understood why your father and brother had died."

"Originally, I should've been the one to settle the score."

"But—"

Xu Pingyi sighed, looking in the direction Liu Zhao had left.

"If I had made a move, it would have drawn prying eyes to Liaodong. As Zhao'er grew older, he looked too much like His Royal Highness Prince Xin. I feared others might realize he was still alive."

"So I had Pei Teng find you, hoping the news would help you pull yourself together."

Over the years, though he had never met Xie Qingya in person or directly seen Chen Xing, he had secretly kept tabs on Xie Qingya.

When the news of his betrothal to Zhaozhao spread,

others worried that his reckless, good-for-nothing lifestyle made him unworthy of her, but Xu Pingyi only feared that he might not truly love Zhaozhao and that she would suffer.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

They were happy now.

That was enough.

The truth of the past was finally revealed.

Xie Qingya was all the more grateful to Xu Pingyi.

Had it not been for his father-in-law’s actions back then, he might never have bounced back in this lifetime.

He knew Xu Pingyi didn’t need gratitude, so he didn’t make it formal. Instead, he said with quiet conviction, "I will treat Zhaozhao well."

That was what mattered most to Xu Pingyi.

Sure enough, hearing this, Xu Pingyi’s expression lit up noticeably.

But remembering what else needed to be said, he gradually schooled his features and lowered his voice.

"Don't breathe a word about Zhao'er to anyone else, especially His Majesty."

Xie Qingya knew exactly what he meant. After a moment of silence, he finally murmured his agreement.

Xu Pingyi knew how close the brothers were, but some matters required him to take precautions.

He patted Xie Qingya on the shoulder and said, "I’m not saying His Majesty will inevitably change."

"But Zhao'er’s mere presence would stir up trouble. Rather than letting it escalate into a public uproar later, it’s better to keep it among just a few of us."

"I’ve asked Zhao'er, and he doesn’t wish to return to the capital either. The only regret is… I can’t let him reveal his true identity openly." At this, Xu Pingyi couldn’t help but sigh again.

Hearing this, Xie Qingya quickly reassured him, "You’ve done all you could."

"Not just Zhao'er and I—even Uncle Wang, if he were watching from the afterlife, would surely be deeply grateful to you." After speaking, Xie Qingya added earnestly, "Rest assured, I know how serious this is and won’t speak of Zhao'er’s existence to anyone else."

Xu Pingyi had no doubt of his discretion.

With such a promise, there was no need to say more.

However, Xie Qingya still had something to ask. "By the way, Father-in-law, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

Xu Pingyi replied, "Go ahead."

Xie Qingya looked at him and asked, "You knew my father since childhood. Do you know who among his close associates was skilled with Plum Blossom Darts?"