Duty?

Pei Xiao’s gaze shot toward Yan Sanhe. He suddenly recalled a minor incident.

When resolving Tang Zhiwei’s heart demon, Lu Shi had asked Yan Sanhe several questions.

What’s your name?

How old are you?

Where are you from?

He asked three times in total, until Yan Sanhe became annoyed.

Why was this?

Lu Shi and Yan Sanhe had only met a few times, yet on his deathbed he ordered Lu Da to protect Yan Sanhe.

Why was this, too?

Pei Xiao clutched a palmful of sweat, asking cautiously:

“Yan Sanhe, I’ve only heard you mention your grandfather. I’ve never heard you speak of your parents. Your parents are… who are they?”

Yan Sanhe slowly and gently swept a glance at everyone, then said calmly:

“When I was eight years old, I came to my grandfather Yan Xing’s side. Yan Xing had been exiled to Fugong County in Yunnan Prefecture. I grew up with him beside the Nu River. I have no memories of anything before the age of eight.”

Merciful Buddha!

Pei Xiao felt like he was about to suffocate.

Eight years old;

The eighth year of Yonghe;

The timeline matched perfectly.

“Who, who sent you to Yan Xing’s side?”

“I don’t know.”

“You, you, you, you…”

Pei Xiao felt his scalp about to explode, stuttering at once.

He raised his hand in frustration and slapped himself hard across the face, then his gaze shifted, staring straight at Lu Da.

“You killed those people connected to the Zheng family case, was it really to protect Yan Sanhe?”

“Yes!”

“Thud—”

Pei Xiao’s body leaned forward, his legs bent, and he collapsed to his knees.

Jade Emperor!

Queen Mother!

Great Merciful and Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva!

Which of you can come explain to me, what is the deal with this Yan Sanhe before my eyes?

She, she, she, she…

Could she really be the orphan of former Crown Prince Zhao Rongyu, hidden away by Old General Zheng?

To the side, Huang Qi was holding a teacup drinking water, the tea dripping from the corner of his mouth without him even noticing.

Zhu Qing and Ding Yi had turned themselves into human-shaped wooden sticks, completely motionless.

They didn’t dare move.

Afraid that one movement would make them unable to resist collapsing to their knees like Young Master Pei.

The orphan of former Crown Prince Zhao Rongyu…

How could it possibly be… Miss Yan, who had lived alongside them day and night???!!!

Ding Yi’s eyeballs turned toward Li Buyan: Quick, pinch me to see if it hurts, to see if I’m dreaming?

Li Buyan frowned, thinking to herself that this lady would like someone to pinch her too.

Her Sanhe was truly the daughter of the former Crown Prince, with imperial blood flowing through her veins. No wonder that old monk at the Eastern Terrace Summit refused to accept her kowtow.

Her shocked eyes looked toward Xie Zhifei: Third Master, why don’t you say something?

Say what?

Xie Zhifei’s heart ached faintly.

Say, Yan Sanhe, if only you could protect yourself well! If only you could be a bit more selfish!

At this moment, Yan Sanhe pulled from her bosom a piece of paper folded neatly and squarely. The paper was slightly yellowed.

She carefully unfolded the paper and placed it on the table, then gently smoothed it with her hand, looking very precious.

Li Buyan looked at Xie Zhifei with shock and uncertainty.

Xie Zhifei stepped forward and picked up the paper from the table.

“Brother Wenzhong:

Years have passed since we parted, are you well?

…

I have a child under my care. I wish to protect her for a lifetime of peace, but worldly matters are unpredictable. If one day I cannot protect her, I ask you to do so in my stead.

…

There is no need for thanks.

If there must be thanks, it will be in the netherworld where you and I meet, and I shall bend my knee and bow to you.

Your foolish elder brother: Qi Ming”

After reading the last character, Xie Zhifei’s head shot up, looking toward Yan Sanhe.

Shock flashed violently in his eyes. Qi Ming was the old General’s courtesy name. This letter was written by the old General to Yan Xing.

Yan Sanhe looked back at him, “Buyan, Mingting, Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, Huang Qi, you should all come look as well.”

Xie Zhifei’s hands trembled as he placed the letter back on the table.

Pei Xiao saw Xie Zhifei’s state and became anxious: “Quick, quick, help me up.”

Huang Qi was so frightened he dropped his teacup and went to help his master.

Pei Xiao stood straight, pushed Huang Qi’s hand away with a wave, and stumbled forward rushing over…

Zhu Qing and the others also hurried forward, craning their necks…

They recognized every character;

They understood clearly what they meant when strung together;

But they just couldn’t believe it.

The dignified Old General Zheng actually used such a humble tone to ask someone for help? What, what, what kind of relationship did he have with the former Crown Prince?

At this moment, they heard Yan Sanhe speak in a very light, very faint voice:

“This was what I discovered in the beams of my home when I returned to Yunnan Prefecture last time. I am that child.”

She admitted it;

She actually admitted it.

Deathly silence.

A deep, deathly silence without even the sound of breathing.

In the silence, Lu Da reached out and took the letter. After reading it line by line, he slowly lowered his head.

Tianxing hadn’t told a single false word. Old General Zheng had arranged an escape route for that child early on.

To the side, Young Master Pei’s head suddenly perked up.

“Yan Sanhe, did you already know long ago the real reason behind the Zheng family massacre?”

These words made Zhu Qing’s entire body shudder.

That’s right, with this letter, plus Yan Sanhe’s supreme intelligence, she should have guessed something long ago, so…

“Miss Yan, you deliberately led us to investigate the matter of the Zheng family twins.”

After Zhu Qing finished speaking, Ding Yi began to speak incoherently, “Once this matter is exposed, Miss Yan, your identity…”

Huang Qi jumped three feet high: “It’s over, it’s over, we’re dead, we’re dead…”

“Smack!”

A knock on the head came over.

Huang Qi covered his head and looked at the person who hit him.

Li Buyan’s eyes flashed with cold light, “All of you shut up!”

Huang Qi was so frightened he didn’t even dare let out a fart.

At this moment, Li Buyan walked in front of Yan Sanhe, several blue veins bulging at her temples, asking through gritted teeth:

“Yan Sanhe, tell me the truth. When the Zhu family’s heart demon was resolved, did you already know your own background?”

Yan Sanhe: “Yes!”

Li Buyan: “Why did you hide it from me?”

Yan Sanhe: “Afraid you would stop me.”

Li Buyan stumbled, quickly steadying herself against a nearby chair.

Why would she stop her?

For only one reason—her safety.

Which meant that for the sake of the Zheng family case, she had already prepared to stake her life.

“Who is your birth mother?”

“Shen Duruo.”

This time, it was Li Buyan’s turn to plop down into the chair, dumbstruck.

Shen Duruo was a once-in-centuries medical genius. She, she was actually Yan Sanhe’s birth mother.

Another person more shocked than her was Young Master Pei.

Young Master Pei’s eyes had gone straight at this moment, a ball of fierce fire bursting from his chest, burning until his whole person was about to explode.

Shen Duruo and the former Crown Prince?

This was fucking ridiculous—could it get any more absurd?

“Under Old Imperial Physician Shen’s scheme, Shen Duruo entered the Crown Prince’s residence. In the Crown Prince’s residence…”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was neither high nor low, calm as if she were telling someone else’s story, with which she had no connection whatsoever.

Everyone’s hearts were shocked to the extreme.

So this was how Yan Sanhe came into this world;

So this was how she survived;

So that past was so magnificent and sweeping, yet so desolate to the bone.

Only Xie Zhifei in the corner stared fixedly at Yan Sanhe, his hands and feet ice-cold.

Yan Sanhe, what is your purpose in revealing everything?