The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly strange.

Deng Weili and the others were completely bewildered. Li Guangyuan and Madam Li wore expressions of shock as Lin Chengyou stepped forward to pick up the cloth doll from the floor, continuing the conversation that Li Huaigu had interrupted earlier.

“Miss Du, you say this doll is identical to Miss Teng’s?”

Du Tinglan replied, “That’s right. My sister has an identical doll that our aunt made for her by hand when she was still alive.”

“What a coincidence!” Madam Li exclaimed with wide eyes. “Our Third Miss has had such a doll since she was little too.”

“When did she get it?”

“It should have been—”

“I’ve had it since my earliest memories,” Li Huaigu calmly interjected. “Mother made it for me in Yangzhou, and it’s been with me ever since—about ten years now.”

Madam Li gazed at the doll with a fond smile. “Yes, yes, I remember now. It was made at the Minchun House in Yangzhou. Third Miss was only five or six that year when she suddenly told me she wanted a cloth doll. This child drew the design herself, bought the fabric, and in the end, had one of the embroiderers at Minchun House make it. That embroiderer should still be in Yangzhou—we could easily verify this with a quick inquiry. Young Master Lin, why do you ask about this?”

Although Lin Chengyou had long suspected Li Huaigu of deception, even he felt confused at this point. The evidence, both testimonial and physical, seemed to support her story. Li Huaigu spoke with absolute certainty, clearly unafraid of any cross-examination. If this was truly an elaborate deception, who would begin laying the groundwork ten years ago?

If Teng Yuyi hadn’t happened to visit today, they wouldn’t have discovered so quickly that Li Huaigu had an identical doll.

Suddenly, he recalled the items sent to the Imperial Uncle’s manor—

According to his uncle’s investigators, the lacquer box and the “Immortal Dance” tea set from the “Teng Manor” were genuinely old items, not new items artificially aged. This meant whoever was framing Teng Yuyi had been planning this for years.

Previously, he had found this incredible, but with the discovery of this doll, he could finally glimpse a corner of the mystery.

These items shared a common thread: they were all things Teng Yuyi regularly used.

Li Guangyuan was Teng Shao’s deputy commander, and the Li family women had frequent contact with the Teng family in earlier years. Teng Yuyi herself had mentioned that Li Huaigu often visited her home as a child.

Li Huaigu would have had ample opportunity to access these items of Teng Yuyi’s.

If all of this was orchestrated by Li Huaigu, this technique of aging items wouldn’t be new to her.

But what confused him was that Li Huaigu had only been five or six years old ten years ago. Logically, a child couldn’t have been planning so far ahead.

Could Li Guangyuan have planned it? The timeline would make more sense, but Li Guangyuan was a decorated warrior who had killed enemies on the battlefield. Now considered a rising star due to his repeated military achievements, such a person wouldn’t resort to these underhanded feminine schemes. Besides, harming the Teng family’s daughter would do nothing to advance his promotion.

Wait—Lin Chengyou’s heart jolted. Speaking of Li Guangyuan’s promotion… He’d long heard rumors that Li Guangyuan had a daughter who could foresee future events. If that daughter was Li Huaigu, could it be possible that in this world, someone truly could…

First came shock, then his brows furrowed. Li Huaigu’s actions all pointed toward Teng Yuyi. Beyond the identical doll, she had forged so many items from the Teng Manor…

If one item was fake, naturally the rest were too.

Lin Chengyou slowly turned to look at Teng Yuyi.

Without a doubt, that doll belonged to her.

Counting back the years, Madam Teng had just passed away then. Teng Yuyi, consumed by thoughts of her departed mother, had taken the name “A’Gu” (The Lonely One)—a name reflecting solitude and loss. This wasn’t surprising at all.

He remembered that day when the Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion held an unprecedentedly grand banquet, yet Teng Yuyi sat alone by the lake with her doll, thinking of her mother.

How could this pretentious Li Huaigu possibly fake the deep loneliness that A’Gu had carried?

Lin Chengyou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. At this moment, he suddenly felt that peculiar nervousness one experiences when approaching their hometown after a long absence.

His heart surged with joy, but even more with bewilderment. He had searched for so many years, yet Teng Yuyi had no recollection of him whatsoever.

They had shared a life-and-death experience, and he had even coaxed her to eat his pear blossom candy, yet she had completely forgotten him.

At this point, only two mysteries remained unsolved, and this matter needed to be confirmed directly with Teng Yuyi.

Just as he was about to speak, Li Huaigu said, “Has Evaluator Lin finished his questions? I’m preparing to entertain my classmates in the adjacent room.”

But Teng Yuyi interjected, “Wait.”

She looked around the room in surprise. Previously, her attention had been entirely focused on the doll, but now she noticed that the room’s arrangement resembled her maiden chambers from years ago.

Du Tinglan noticed it too, linking arms with Teng Yuyi as she remarked with surprise, “What’s going on here?”

Lin Chengyou’s gaze shifted: “Is something wrong with this room?”

Teng Yuyi couldn’t make sense of it.

She had already guessed that Li Huaigu was someone who had been reborn, but she couldn’t understand why Li Huaigu would have replicated her mother’s handmade doll ten years ago, nor why Li Huaigu’s room arrangements were so similar to hers. The scene before her gave her the illusion of being back in her old Chang’an residence.

When Lin Chengyou asked, Teng Yuyi responded with an “Oh” and said, “I thought I was dreaming—Third Miss’s room is remarkably similar to how mine was arranged years ago.”

Du Tinglan nodded in puzzlement: “It is similar, even the kites on the wall are arranged the same way.”

Lin Chengyou’s heart, already beating rapidly, was struck by a sudden realization. So that’s how it was.

He should have understood earlier.

A corpse demon could only create illusions from living people’s memories, so that time in the Caifeng House when he was enchanted by the corpse demon, the illusory dream he had stumbled into was Teng Yuyi’s genuine memory.

The corpse demon, a king among evil spirits, had wanted to use his emotional vulnerability to enchant him but didn’t want him to find his benefactor through clues in the illusion.

So it had deliberately misled him in the dream, making him see the character “Li” embroidered beside the bed.

Because of this, he had mistakenly believed his benefactor’s surname was Li.

He had guessed then that A’Gu had come to Chang’an, but never imagined that A’Gu was Teng Yuyi, who had been by his side that very night.

He remembered that year, when he couldn’t find A’Gu, he had hazily dreamed of A’Gu’s room.

In the dream, A’Gu lay sick in bed, and the room’s arrangement was almost identical to the one before him now.

Upon waking, he thought this might be a good way to find his benefactor, so while the memory was still fresh, he had sketched the scene from his dream. His parents had hired artists to make many copies of the drawing and sent people to make inquiries everywhere.

At the time, they had dispatched many people to search, even sending some to Yangzhou. Anyone who knew of his search for A’Gu knew about his dream of A’Gu’s chambers.

If Li Huaigu had long planned to impersonate A’Gu, she would naturally have heard about this. To make today’s “recognizing the benefactor” scene more convincing, she had simply arranged the room according to Teng Yuyi’s early preferences.

Lin Chengyou looked at Teng Yuyi again, careful not to show any trace of his feelings on his face, though he was overcome with joy. After searching for so long, who could have imagined that Teng Yuyi was the A’Gu from back then?

He only needed to ask Teng Yuyi one question publicly to expose Li Huaigu’s scheme. Restraining his overwhelming excitement, he was about to speak casually when he suddenly remembered Teng Yuyi’s sachet that had nearly been cut. The words died on his lips.

Li Huaigu had tried to harm Teng Yuyi more than once or twice. If he exposed her publicly now, Li Huaigu’s half-revealed fox tail might slip back into hiding.

After a moment’s consideration, he quickly made up his mind, though its success would depend on whether Teng Yuyi would cooperate with him.

Meanwhile, Li Huaigu was leading her classmates out: “Father, I’ll take my classmates to another room.”

“Wait, we haven’t finished talking,” Lin Chengyou picked up a sachet from the ground with “A’Gu” carved on it. “The others may leave, but Madam Li and Third Miss Li, please stay.”

His tone had become cordial.

Li Huaigu stopped in her tracks. Unlike her previous reluctance, this time her figure noticeably hesitated.

Teng Yuyi seized the opportunity to keep her classmates from leaving.

Lin Chengyou handed the items to Yan Zhizhi, and they compared them.

Yan Zhizhi quickly made his assessment: “They all appear to be aged items.”

Lin Chengyou turned the sachet in his hand, murmuring, “A’Gu, A’Gu.”

Teng Yuyi was startled. Li Huaigu had impersonated Lin Chengyou’s benefactor in her previous life, and now she was using the same trick again. Given Lin Chengyou’s shrewdness, he shouldn’t fall for it. No, she needed to observe quietly.

Unexpectedly, Lin Chengyou looked very seriously at Li Huaigu, then said to Teng Yuyi: “You say you have an identical doll—could you bring it to show us?”

Teng Yuyi replied: “It’s at my residence.”

Lin Chengyou said with mild sarcasm: “Is your doll brand new? Anyone can see this one from the Li household has been used for many years.”

Teng Yuyi was stunned—had Lin Chengyou lost faith in her? No, that wasn’t it. He wouldn’t make such a move without reason. This sudden confrontation must have a purpose.

However, the others in the room didn’t think so. Everyone knew that Teng Yuyi had publicly rejected Lin Chengyou’s marriage proposal just days ago. Given Lin Chengyou’s proud temperament, he might not be able to swallow that humiliation.

See, now he was publicly making trouble for Teng Yuyi.

Teng Yuyi said calmly: “My doll has also been used for many years. Whether it’s old or not would be obvious at a glance.”

But Lin Chengyou’s attention had suddenly shifted to Li Huaigu. He cleared his throat and asked Li Guangyuan and Madam Li: “Regarding the case, may I ask Madam Li, what is Third Miss’s childhood name?”

Madam Li was slightly taken aback. Though the question was abrupt, Lin Chengyou was here to investigate a case after all.

“She’s called A’Gu. She’s been called that since she was five or six. Our family relatives all call her that.”

Lin Chengyou’s expression showed increased belief as he examined the other items on the table, remarking thoughtfully: “No wonder these all have ‘A’Gu’ carved on them.”

In front of everyone, he then asked Du Tinglan: “May I ask Miss Du, what is your sister’s childhood name?”

Du Tinglan, assuming this was related to some case, quickly replied: “My sister has been called A’Yu since childhood.”

“She’s only ever been called this name, never anything else?”

“This… no, nothing else.”

Lin Chengyou gave a short laugh, no longer bothering to look at Teng Yuyi. He turned his head to carefully examine Li Huaigu, then said seriously to Li Guangyuan: “General Li, I came here today to investigate a case, not knowing I would coincidentally meet my benefactor from years ago. In the eighth year of Long Yuan, when I attended a banquet at the Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion, I accidentally fell into a pond and was saved by your daughter. She was about five or six years old then, called herself A’Gu, and carried this doll. This doll is unique—I recognized it immediately just now.”

Li Huaigu still maintained her guarded expression, frowning slightly at his words.

Li Guangyuan and Madam Li exchanged surprised looks: “This—this is—”

Zheng Shuangyin and Liu Siniang wore expressions of surprise.

Teng Yuyi calmly watched Lin Chengyou, wondering what game he was playing.

Du Tinglan froze for a moment, her face growing cold as she pulled Teng Yuyi aside.

Deng Weili frowned as he studied Li Huaigu, seeming to struggle to recall something.

After a moment’s stunned silence, Li Guangyuan burst into hearty laughter: “Young Master Lin’s words greatly surprise me. In all these years, my daughter has never mentioned this incident.”

Lin Chengyou nodded understandingly: “I suppose your daughter has forgotten it.”

He walked to Li Huaigu’s front and bowed with a smile: “Allow me to apologize to Miss Li. I was too abrupt earlier. Over the years, many have claimed to be my benefactor, so for the sake of caution, I had to ask several questions.”

Li Huaigu glanced at Teng Yuyi, who had been left ignored to the side. Since confirming her childhood name, Lin Chengyou hadn’t spared Teng Yuyi a single glance. Li Huaigu’s defensive posture relaxed slightly as she returned his bow with dignity, her expression notably confused: “It happened so long ago, I had forgotten until Young Master Lin mentioned it.”

Lin Chengyou nodded: “No wonder I could never find you. You must have been living away from the capital and left Chang’an shortly after the incident. It’s natural not to remember after so many years. Fortunately, these items can’t be fake, and neither can my memory. Why don’t you think about it more carefully? I’ve been searching for this young lady for years, eager to repay my debt of gratitude. As long as you can confirm this yourself, I can write to my parents immediately.”

Write to his parents…

Li Huaigu’s face reddened.

Madam Li’s eyes sparkled as she quickly gestured for her daughter to think carefully.

Li Huaigu blinked, turning her head in confusion to look at the kite on the wall: “I seem to have some impression. I only remember saving a young gentleman, but I don’t remember who he was.”

Lin Chengyou reminded her with a smile: “You said your name was A’Gu, and you were anxiously looking for your mother. Oh yes, do you remember what you used to save me?”

Li Huaigu tilted her head in thought, then pointed at the kite on the wall: “That I do remember—it was a kite.”

Lin Chengyou let out a relieved sigh: “Then there can be no mistake. The first time you almost fell into the water trying to save me, and only on the second attempt did you use the kite.”

These were details known only to the two of them. The fact that Lin Chengyou volunteered this information showed he truly believed Li Huaigu was his benefactor.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became livelier. The Li household servants were all beaming with joy as maids served tea and refreshments, inviting Zheng Shuangyin and the others to seats by the window.

Meanwhile, Li Huaigu smiled dreamily for a moment before nodding: “Now that you mention it, I seem to remember. That day I went with mother to attend a banquet at a very bustling household.”

“The Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion,” Lin Chengyou said. “The old Marquis’s reputation was widespread, and it happened to coincide with when officials from all regions came to the capital for their duties. Many out-of-town officials attended the banquet that day.”

He continued with a heartfelt smile: “After searching for so long, who could have imagined my benefactor came to Chang’an just months ago? This is truly an unexpected joy. I’ll write to my parents immediately about this.”

Lin Chengyou’s eyes were full of joy—he was overjoyed. Li Guangyuan and Madam Li watched their reunion with satisfaction. Making connections with the Prince of Cheng’s mansion was something many could only dream of. Madam Li was especially delighted—seeing Lin Chengyou’s demeanor, he seemed very willing to converse with their Third Miss. Perhaps with some back and forth, good fortune might come their way…

Lin Chengyou said to Li Guangyuan: “By the way, His Majesty and the Empress have been very concerned about this matter. Now that I’ve finally found my benefactor, I, as their nephew, should make them happy too. I remember Uncle once told me that when we found that little girl, to reward her righteous deed, Uncle would issue an edict conferring upon her the title of Virtuous County Princess, with a fief of two hundred households. Today we need to wait no longer—let’s request the reward from His Majesty immediately. General Li, might I trouble you for writing materials? My attendant is just outside. I’ll write a letter right away and have him deliver it to the palace.”

Madam Li nearly fainted from joy.

The title of County Princess and a fief of two hundred households—these were unexpected honors. She’d heard that even a Prince of the Command only had a fief of one thousand households. With their daughter receiving such a special favor, she would be no ordinary noble lady in Chang’an from now on.

Li Huaigu only smiled slightly.

Li Guangyuan’s face glowed as he called out: “Third Miss always has plenty of writing materials in her room. Quickly bring some for the Young Master.”

Lin Chengyou took up his sleeves and picked up the brush: “Several years have passed in the blink of an eye. I didn’t expect I’d remember so much from back then. After you saved me, do you remember what you called me?”

His tone was very familiar, clearly no longer treating Li Huaigu as an outsider.

Du Tinglan turned to look at Teng Yuyi—her sister’s expression wasn’t good. Since recognizing Li Huaigu, Lin Chengyou hadn’t spared her sister a single proper glance. She wanted to pull her sister away, but her sister remained seated firmly in her place.

Madam Li pushed her daughter to the table’s edge. This was a letter full of honors—once sent, her daughter’s status would be transformed. At this crucial moment, she absolutely couldn’t say she couldn’t remember clearly.

Li Guangyuan had complete faith in his daughter’s memory and didn’t rush her. However, Li Huaigu suddenly became shy: “Ah, it was so long ago. I only remember that young gentleman was about eight or nine years old, and he said his name was A’Da.”

A flash of fury crossed Lin Chengyou’s eyes, but he quickly smiled again: “That’s exactly right.”

He wrote swiftly in the letter: Li’s Third Miss forcefully recounted the details of the rescue that day, all details matching perfectly… called herself A’Gu, and so on.

“I remember I gave you a pack of preserved cherries, but you didn’t like them. After all these years, do you still not like sour things?”

“Those preserved cherries were too sour. I remember after I saved Young Master Lin, he went off to fight with other noble children.”

Lin Chengyou smiled as he added all of Li Huaigu’s words to the letter one by one, then had someone take it outside, ordering Kuan Nu to hurry to the palace and quickly request the reward from His Majesty.

After finishing that letter, Lin Chengyou wrote another to his parents in front of the Li family. After writing both letters, he rose and bowed to Li Guangyuan: “From now on, your daughter’s affairs are the affairs of the Prince of Cheng’s mansion. By the way, I heard your daughter has faced several attempts at framing her since arriving in Chang’an?”

Li Guangyuan said: “Indeed, she encountered a fierce ghost on the way to Le Dao Manor, was cursed by someone recently, and was suddenly attacked yesterday.”

Lin Chengyou thought for a moment: “I think I know why your daughter is being framed.”

He then asked Li Huaigu: “Miss Li, do you have any suspects? Did the perpetrator leave any evidence when attempting to harm you?”

His tone was unprecedentedly patient, his eyes gleaming brightly. Li Huaigu raised her eyes to look at Lin Chengyou trustingly, then softly instructed her maid: “Go bring it.”

The maid handed over the items: “Young Master, one night when my mistress was studying at the academy, someone snuck into her room to steal something. Fortunately, my mistress woke up and prevented the theft. In their hasty escape, the thief accidentally dropped this.”

Lin Chengyou lowered his eyes to look at the silk handkerchief. It appeared to be an old item, with a faint fragrance emanating from it—a scent he knew all too well. Lin Chengyou’s inner fury surged, nearly breaking his composure. He forced a slight smile: “Officer Yan, this is important evidence. Let’s keep it.”

Yan Zhizhi opened a cloth wrapper and carefully placed the handkerchief inside. Lin Chengyou also handed the talisman-stuffed doll to Yan Zhizhi.

Li Guangyuan let out a relieved sigh: “We’re grateful for Young Master’s efforts.”

As they were about to invite Lin Chengyou to the main hall, he earnestly added: “This case involves evil magic. Might I trouble Madam Li to write out your daughter’s birth date and time for me?”

Madam Li complied.

After completing all this, Li Huaigu walked to her classmates and smiled gently: “Sorry to keep you waiting. I’d been wanting to entertain you, but who knew this would suddenly happen.”

Liu Siniang and the others rose to congratulate Li Huaigu: “Congratulations! A good deed done in childhood bears fruit in adulthood. Though you appear gentle and delicate, you’re both wise and brave.”

Teng Yuyi watched Li Huaigu with an ambiguous smile.

Du Tinglan forced a smile and pulled her sister up: “Congratulations, Third Miss.”

Teng Yuyi rose languidly.

Turning around, she saw Deng Weili still in a daze and pulled him: “Stop spacing out, get up.”

Li Huaigu smiled brightly: “Let’s have lunch in the garden.”

Just as the group was leaving the room, a servant came running: “Third Miss, there’s an imperial edict from the palace. Master wants you to quickly come to receive it.”

So fast—the entire household instantly buzzed with joy. Li Huaigu returned to her room to change clothes, then hurried to the main hall to receive the edict.

Du Tinglan and the others couldn’t stay in the back courtyard, so they also went out with Li Huaigu.

In the main hall, Lin Chengyou and Li Guangyuan were speaking with people from the palace. The one delivering the edict was Guan Gong Gong, who served at His Majesty’s side. Seeing Li Huaigu emerge, Guan Gong Gong cast her a kindly glance, cleared his throat, opened the imperial edict, and proclaimed: “By Heaven’s mandate… Li’s Third Miss, for her virtuous conduct and brave rescue… is hereby conferred the title of Virtuous County Princess, with a fief of two hundred households. So be it.”

Li Guangyuan’s face shone with glory as he led his wife and children to prostrate themselves and receive the edict.

With this edict, his daughter was now truly a noble lady.

Lin Chengyou watched Li Huaigu receive the edict, then rose with a smile: “Thank you for your trouble in coming especially, Lord Guan.”

Guan Gong Gong pursed his lips: “His Majesty misses Young Master and invites you to dine at the palace.”

“Having finally found my benefactor, I should indeed pay a visit to the palace. After leaving the palace, I’ll need to go to the Court of Judicial Review to handle the case.” As he spoke, Lin Chengyou made a show of unfolding the paper Madam Li had written, which contained Li Huaigu’s birth date and time.

In front of Guan Gong Gong, Lin Chengyou asked Madam Li: “Are you certain these are your daughter’s birth date and time?”

Madam Li hurried over: “Yes.”

“Of course, how could a mother forget her daughter’s birth date.” Lin Chengyou smiled, then suddenly frowned. “But wait—your daughter was born on the seventh day of the third month, yet my little benefactor was born on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month.”

With these words, the joyous atmosphere in the main hall froze.

The imperial edict had been issued, and the Li family had already received the reward. If there was a mistake, this would be the grave crime of deceiving the emperor.

Guan Gong Gong asked: “Could Young Master be remembering wrong?”

Lin Chengyou flicked the paper with his finger: “I absolutely cannot be wrong. I remember everything that little girl told me that day. She was born on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month. I’ve never told anyone this before because I feared someone might falsely claim to be her.”

The air froze.

Li Huaigu’s face turned deathly pale.

Lin Chengyou put on an expression of sudden realization: “I was so excited earlier that I forgot to confirm this with Third Miss Li. This isn’t right—”

His expression turned cold: “Third Miss Li, how dare you! You are not the A’Gu from back then—why did you impersonate her?”

Li Guangyuan’s face changed dramatically: “There must be some misunderstanding. Third Miss has always been timid and would never dare to impersonate anyone. Perhaps Young Master remembered wrong.”

Li Huaigu bit her lip and stepped forward: “I intentionally gave the wrong birth date back then. I’ve had all these items since childhood, as Young Master confirmed earlier. I would never deliberately deceive you.”

“Are you certain you told me yourself? Think carefully before answering.”

“Yes, I was afraid Young Master might be a bad person, so I deliberately gave the wrong birth date.”

Lin Chengyou laughed coldly: “Unfortunately, that little lady didn’t tell me herself—it was carved on one of her possessions.”

Li Huaigu swayed. Li Guangyuan and Madam Li’s faces instantly turned ashen: “Third Miss—”

Lin Chengyou shook out the doll from the wrapper and sneered: “Earlier, in front of the Court of Judicial Review officials and the Xiangxiang Academy students, you insisted you were the A’Gu who saved me with a kite at the Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion that year. You recounted all those details fluently, even prepared the doll in advance—wasn’t your careful planning all just to falsely claim this identity? I watched your act and was nearly fooled, but who knew that when it came to the most crucial detail, you finally revealed your true colors? You knowingly deceived me when I went to request rewards from the palace, daring even to deceive His Majesty—Lord Guan, how should the crime of deceiving the emperor be handled?”

Guan Gong Gong shook his head, not expecting her to be a fraud. His Majesty had been pleased for nothing. Knowing the gravity of the situation, he said: “This servant will report to His Majesty immediately.”

Li Guangyuan blurted out: “Young Master, please—”

Lin Chengyou clasped his hands: “General Li, this is your daughter’s error alone. With both witness testimony and physical evidence present, let your daughter await trial.”

The implication was clear—the Li family shouldn’t risk everyone for Li Huaigu’s sake.

With that, he left with Yan Zhizhi.

Madam Li’s eyes rolled back as she fainted. The Li household fell into chaos.

Li Guangyuan was so anxious his eyes saw stars. Deceiving the emperor was no small crime, and they had provoked Lin Chengyou no less. From the looks of it, even if he used every means at his disposal, he couldn’t help his daughter escape punishment. Worse still, once this got out, his daughter would be the laughingstock of all Chang’an. What to do now? He gritted his teeth at Li Huaigu: “What possessed you to do something so foolish!”

Li Huaigu trembled, alternating between hot and cold, and collapsed to the ground. Suddenly remembering something, she bit her lip and turned back hatefully, only to find no one there—Teng Yuyi was already gone.

***

Teng Yuyi sat with her sister in the ox cart.

Du Tinglan tilted her head to look at her sister: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Teng Yuyi rested her chin on her hand: “Why should I say anything?”

Du Tinglan pinched her sister’s plump, soft earlobe: “Seeing Lin Chengyou being so attentive to Li Huaigu, are you jealous?”

“What would I be jealous of?” Teng Yuyi dodged her sister’s hand. “That’s his lifesaving benefactor, not mine. If he could mistake his lifesaving benefactor, I’d consider our friendship a waste.”

Du Tinglan smiled: “Were you so certain he wouldn’t be fooled by Li Huaigu? When the imperial edict came, you didn’t even raise an eyebrow.”

Teng Yuyi leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder. At first, she truly didn’t know what Lin Chengyou was planning, but she knew he wouldn’t be easily fooled. When she saw him suddenly writing letters to the palace and his parents, she knew he was setting a trap for Li Huaigu.

What happened after needed no reminder from her?

Du Tinglan wondered: “Speaking of which, who was that girl who saved Lin Chengyou back then? The Prince of Cheng’s mansion has been searching for so many years—why haven’t they been able to find her?”

The ox cart entered a narrow, secluded alley, and the driver exclaimed in surprise: “Young Master!”

Lin Chengyou, on horseback, said: “Please tell your mistress I have urgent business with her.”

Without thinking, Teng Yuyi immediately said: “No.”

What a temper. Lin Chengyou smiled, cleared his throat, and called out clearly: “Today I’m not here for Teng Yuyi—I’m here for little A’Gu. Don’t you remember me at all? When you saved me from the water, I gave you pear blossom candy, I helped you look for your mother, you helped me fight—A’Gu, have you completely forgotten all of these things?”