Qin Yining’s mind turned over countless thoughts, connecting all the things she had discovered about Xiao Lian, and an answer was already emerging!

Qin Yining placed the jade seal back in the wooden box and opened the letter addressed “Jin Xuan’s Personal Opening.”

The letter’s content was brief but shocking.

The general meaning was: Pang Zhixi’s army has already reached the city gates. I fear my time is running short. In this lifetime, I have committed countless sins and death is what I deserve. Only I feel heartbroken for Yongfu. The princess is young and truly innocent. I earnestly beg Brother Liu to come help. If I can receive your assistance, I will be eternally grateful and in my next life will repay Jin Xuan’s profound righteousness with devoted service.

The signature was the three characters “Zhou Weixian,” with a personal seal beside it.

Seeing the signature Zhou Weixian, what was there that Qin Yining didn’t understand?

The Northern Ji Kingdom’s royal surname was Zhou.

The tyrant’s courtesy name was Weixian. Because of this courtesy name, the tyrant was mocked and discussed behind his back by the people of the world, who said his name contained “xian” (virtuous), but he wasn’t “virtuous” at all.

From this, it could be determined that Xiao Lian should be Princess Yongfu, surnamed Zhou, with the pet name Xiao Lian.

And that uncle who died protecting Zhou Xiao Lian should be General Liu Jinxuan.

Qin Yining’s expression was grave as she put away the letter and placed it back in its original position along with the jade seal.

She had originally guessed that Xiao Lian’s background was extraordinary, but she never imagined she would be a princess of the former dynasty.

Since they had met in the deep mountains, they were fated. Qin Yining would absolutely not leave this lovely little girl in the mountains to fend for herself.

The mountains were full of dangers and wild beasts. Having survived in the mountains herself, she understood best the difficulties of survival there.

For a small child to survive in the mountains from age five or six, living safely until nine years old, constantly eating half-cooked food, sometimes hungry and sometimes full, becoming like a little wild person, yet not being eaten by wild beasts or dying from illness—this was already a heaven-sent miracle!

Qin Yining couldn’t guarantee that Zhou Xiao Lian would continue to be so lucky if she kept living in the mountains.

She must take her away!

But the most difficult thing was her background.

Zhou Xiao Lian’s father was the tyrant who had harmed Pang Xiao’s father.

Pang Xiao had killed the tyrant and destroyed the Northern Ji Kingdom that had become utterly corrupt to avenge his father. In the eyes of the people, he was a hero, but in Zhou Xiao Lian’s eyes, he was an enemy.

And in Pang Xiao’s eyes, Zhou Xiao Lian was also the daughter of his enemy.

Moreover, Zhou Xiao Lian possessed the imperial jade seal of the Northern Ji Kingdom.

She believed that Great Zhou had been searching for this jade seal from its founding until now.

Qin Yining truly couldn’t guarantee that after learning Zhou Xiao Lian was a Northern Ji Kingdom princess, Pang Xiao would still spare her little life.

Even if Pang Xiao didn’t kill her, what about Emperor Zhou? What about others?

No, no!

Such a small child shouldn’t bear the burdens left by previous generations! Since she had encountered her, she couldn’t stand by and watch. She must take Zhou Xiao Lian away and protect her survival, even if it meant deceiving Pang Xiao—she couldn’t let people know her background.

Just as Qin Yining was frowning and lost in thought, rustling sounds came from outside the wooden house.

The door was pushed open, and Zhou Xiao Lian entered carrying a bloody wild rabbit and a net bag of small sparrows flapping their wings trying to escape. Her body was covered in dirt, and she said excitedly: “Sister, eat.”

Seeming to notice that the wooden house was clean and tidy, with the floor cleaner than ever before, Zhou Xiao Lian quickly stepped back a few paces, threw the dripping prey outside, and used her small feet in animal hide boots to rub at the blood traces remaining on the floor, then smiled at Qin Yining.

Uncle had once taught her not to bring dirty things when entering the house, and to keep living spaces clean. Although Zhou Xiao Lian had been small then, and although she’d been unable to maintain these rules while living alone all these years, seeing the clean and tidy floor now reminded her of Uncle’s words.

Qin Yining smiled and walked to Zhou Xiao Lian, pulled her to sit by the fire, and touched her hair that hadn’t been washed in who knows how long, smiling gently: “Xiao Lian went hunting? You’re amazing!”

Being praised, Zhou Xiao Lian smiled happily: “Sister, hungry, eat little birds.”

“Good, you warm yourself here, I’ll go take care of things.” Qin Yining got up to go outside and clean the prey.

Zhou Xiao Lian couldn’t sit still and followed Qin Yining outside. The two walked to a more distant spot, first dug a pit in the accumulated snow, then began processing the wild rabbit and small sparrows. After cleaning out all the internal organs and washing them thoroughly with snow water, Qin Yining buried all these traces with snow as usual before carrying their food back to the house.

Qin Yining discovered there was a small iron pot in the house, along with a small bag of coarse salt. She washed the pot clean, set it over the fire, and used snow water to cook a pot of rabbit soup, while simultaneously skewering and roasting those small sparrows.

Zhou Xiao Lian crouched beside her the whole time, her bright eyes fixed on the food.

Qin Yining then asked: “Xiao Lian, do you still remember things about your home from before?”

Zhou Xiao Lian was startled at these words, then squinted her eyes trying hard to remember, slowly saying: “Home, many people, lived in big house, had little brothers, little sisters, played with me, had candy, had lotus seed porridge, had big courtyard, planted lotus in jars, full courtyard of jars, all planted lotus.”

Qin Yining smiled: “Do you still remember your father?”

Zhou Xiao Lian nodded: “Father, very tall, had beard, beard pricked me, let me pull it.”

Qin Yining felt a complex mix of emotions hearing this.

People all said the Northern Ji Kingdom’s tyrant was cruel and inhumane. Who could have imagined that this tyrant who had done countless bad deeds would actually allow his little daughter to play wildly on him and pull his beard?

Qin Yining smiled: “Xiao Lian, sister will be going home in a few days. I want to take you with me. From now on you’ll stay with me, okay?”

Zhou Xiao Lian was stunned at these words, then large tears actually began pouring from her eyes, washing two streaks down her dirty little face: “Sister don’t go, sister, don’t go.”

Seeing her cry, Qin Yining quickly pulled her close and used her handkerchief to wipe her tears.

“Don’t cry. Sister isn’t abandoning you. It’s just that sister also has a home, with father and mother. If sister disappears, they’ll be sad. If you come home with sister, from now on you’ll be my little sister, and I’ll take care of you, okay?”

Zhou Xiao Lian sobbed: “Uncle, said, can’t go out, outside, has bad people.”

Qin Yining held the constantly crying little girl in her arms and said: “Don’t be afraid. From now on you’ll be with sister, and sister will definitely protect you! Moreover, sister’s father is a very capable person—he’ll protect you too. If you come out with me, change your name, don’t tell others what your father was like, don’t say what your home was like, and especially don’t tell others what Uncle was like, then no bad people will come to trouble you, okay?”

“Really?” Zhou Xiao Lian used her sleeve to wipe her face, making her whole face dirty like a little tabby cat. Her eyes that had cried appeared even brighter.

“Of course it’s true. I won’t lie to you.” Qin Yining looked at her seriously.