“This…”

The Marquis of Nanguo looked at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Full of reluctance.

Yet he didn’t know how to persuade her to stay a while longer.

Ji Yinshu picked up the teapot in front of her and poured two cups of tea.

She handed one cup across.

She then raised her cup.

“I’ll use tea in place of wine to toast Master Ke.”

The Marquis of Nanguo sighed, his tone heavy: “Good, good!”

He responded twice with “good.”

The two each drank half a cup of tea.

The Marquis of Nanguo said: “Miss refuses to tell me where you’re staying and won’t accept Ke’s repayment. After parting today, who knows when we’ll meet again.”

So wistful!

Ji Yinshu said with a smile, “The world’s fates cannot be spoken of or understood clearly. Being able to meet Master Ke and A’Mo again today is already a great fortune. If there is fate, we’ll naturally meet again.”

“Since that’s the case, I won’t keep you any longer.” The Marquis of Nanguo glanced outside—the heavy snow was still falling—and cautioned: “The snow is heavy outside. Miss, be careful on your way.”

“Master Ke, please stay. Farewell.”

“Take care!”

Ji Yinshu cupped her hands toward him and performed a farewell bow.

Before leaving, she glanced at A’Mo, who was now huddled by the table.

The little fellow wasn’t even as tall as the table.

A pair of large eyes stared at her, and he grinned with a smile.

Completely unaware she was leaving.

Ji Yinshu smiled gently and reached out to lightly rub his small head.

Only then did she turn to leave.

But after just a few steps, suddenly—

The Marquis of Nanguo called out to her.

“Miss.”

Hearing this, Ji Yinshu stopped and turned to look at him.

“Does Master Ke have something else?”

The Marquis of Nanguo’s eyes were moist as he looked at Ji Yinshu’s face—familiar yet somewhat strange.

Twenty-some years—day and night he had longed for the day they could reunite.

But the person before him was ultimately not his sister.

He held back his tears, then pulled A’Mo, who was beside him, forward.

He lowered his head and said softly, “A’Mo, kneel down.”

Hm?

Ji Yinshu was startled!

A’Mo was very obedient. He said “Oh.”

Just as he was about to kneel—

Ji Yinshu immediately stopped A’Mo and asked, “Master Ke, what is this?”

“This child’s life was saved by you. This bow is gratitude!”

“No need…”

“Please let my family have peace of mind.”

“Master Ke…”

The Marquis of Nanguo ignored her objection. “A’Mo, be good. Kneel down.”

A’Mo’s small body knelt down.

“Kowtow.”

A’Mo placed his small hands on the ground, lowered his body, and kowtowed.

This scene brought tears to Ji Yinshu’s eyes.

She immediately crouched before A’Mo and pulled him up.

Meeting his gaze at eye level.

“No need to thank, truly no need to thank! I cannot accept such great courtesy.” Her tone choked with emotion.

A’Mo blinked his eyes looking at her.

No need for these things.

Ji Yinshu said, “A’Mo, remember this: of all virtues, filial piety comes first. In the future, you must be properly filial.”

A’Mo nodded!

Though he didn’t quite understand.

Ji Yinshu stood and bowed to the Marquis of Nanguo. “Farewell.”

“Take care!”

The Marquis of Nanguo watched her leave.

His vision gradually blurred with tears.

A’Mo raised his head and asked, “Father, why are you crying?”

“Father isn’t crying, just remembering some things!”

“Is it because big brother left?”

The Marquis of Nanguo raised his sleeve and quietly wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

He said nothing.

He just had the coachman take A’Mo downstairs first.

He then walked to the second-floor window and looked down, seeing Ji Yinshu had already left the teahouse, holding up a plain oiled-paper umbrella, stepping into the profusion of heavy snow.

Her thin, small figure stood especially upright.

Before long, Lian Que walked up behind the Marquis of Nanguo.

Standing quietly, making no sound!

For a long time—

Until Ji Yinshu’s figure gradually disappeared in the heavy snow…

Only then did the Marquis of Nanguo say, “Similar, really too similar!”

Lian Que behind him remained silent.

The Marquis of Nanguo turned sideways and asked him, “Tell me, in this world… are there truly two people who look so alike?”

“This subordinate doesn’t understand what the Marquis means.”

“When I saw her back then, her face was injured and she wore a face covering. Seeing her now, she actually resembles the Late Empress so closely, even their features are identical.”

“The Late Empress?” Lian Que’s gaze looked into the distance.

But Ji Yinshu had already left.

“That benefactor?”

“Mm.”

“Could it be that the Marquis misses her too much?”

“Although she wears men’s clothing, that face cannot be wrong.” The Marquis of Nanguo was very certain.

She was just too similar!

Extremely similar!

But his heart was troubled.

After all, she was not his sister.

The age didn’t match either.

So he instructed Lian Que, “Go investigate her. Find out exactly what her background is. Family history, origins—I want to know everything clearly.”

“Yes!”

The Marquis of Nanguo sighed, his gaze once again looking in the direction Ji Yinshu had left, saying, “Perhaps… Heaven also has a compassionate heart, sending this person to my side. I hope these twenty-some years I haven’t waited in vain for nothing.”

Lian Que asked, “Marquis, that person… truly resembles her that much?”

The Marquis of Nanguo said, “You were still young back then, perhaps you no longer remember what the Late Empress looked like.”

Regarding the Late Empress’s appearance, he indeed didn’t remember very clearly.

As a child, he had followed the Marquis of Nanguo into the palace twice, so he had only seen the Late Empress twice. After so many years, naturally he didn’t remember.

But—

He said, “But I… have always remembered A’Jin.”

A’Jin!

A person Lian Que had remembered for over twenty years.

When he was six years old, because of famine in his hometown, he had no choice but to beg along the road. He nearly starved to death by the roadside until the passing Marquis of Nanguo brought him back to the residence, saving his life.

The Marquis of Nanguo also hired someone to teach him learning and swordsmanship.

In just half a year in the residence, he was no longer that illiterate, skeletal beggar child.

It was also during that time that he met A’Jin.

The Marquis of Nanguo’s nephew.

The Late Empress’s son.

At that time, he was seven years old.

A’Jin was six years old.

Later, he was nine, A’Jin was eight.

It was also that year when Huyi fell into internal chaos, and A’Jin disappeared along with the Late Empress, whereabouts unknown.

But he still remembered those few years he spent playing with A’Jin.

“Lian Que, look.” A’Jin held a rectangular box and ran to Lian Que’s side, who was practicing with a sword.

Very happy.

Lian Que put away his wooden sword and asked, “What is this?”

“Guess.”

“Don’t want to guess. Tell me quickly. I still need to practice swordplay.”

So A’Jin opened the box.

Inside was a sword!

A long, exquisite sword.

Lian Que’s eyes lit up. “A’Jin, this sword is really beautiful.”

He took the sword out and swung it a few times.

The sword was very long. His strength was somewhat insufficient.

A’Jin asked him, “Do you like it?”

“I like it.”

“Then this sword is yours.”

Lian Que couldn’t believe it.

“You’re serious?”

“When have I ever lied?” A’Jin said, “I begged Mother for so long before she agreed to give me this sword. I know you’ve wanted a sword for so long, so I specially brought it to give to you.”

“A’Jin, thank you.” Lian Que was very happy.

A’Jin raised his head. “We’re friends. No need for thanks. As long as you like it, that’s good.”