Xiao Yingtao raised her eyes to look at the old man. After a moment, she shook her head. “There’s nothing between us worth talking about.”

“Little girl, we mean no harm. You look very much like an old friend of mine. I only wish to go in and speak with you for a few words.” The old man’s face was full of kindly warmth.

Xiao Yingtao frowned and pointed at herself. “Me?”

“Yes.” The old man nodded, replying gently.

Xiao Yingtao blinked and turned around.

“Let them in.” Feng Jiu’er saw that the old servant showed no ill intent, so she did not refuse either.

Their identities were sensitive right now, and they didn’t want to alarm the neighbors.

Xiao Yingtao nodded and stepped aside to clear the way. “Come in.”

Once the two men had entered, she closed the door, turned, and walked a few steps further inside.

“You’ve been living here all along?” The old man glanced around the surroundings, then turned back.

Xiao Yingtao met his gaze, stepped over to stand beside Feng Jiu’er, and said nothing.

Feng Jiu’er looked at the old man and said, “Not exactly. We only just moved here recently.”

She glanced at the simple house and sighed.

“My husband is in poor health. In order to treat him, we’ve had no choice but to travel around seeking doctors and medicine.”

From inside the house came the sound of coughing again, but Jian Yi did not come out.

Instead, Xing Zizhou, who had heard the sound, hurried over from the side of the house.

“Little sister, what’s happened? Who are they…?” Xing Zizhou looked at the two strangers and frowned.

“Don’t know them.” Xiao Yingtao shook her head.

The old man looked at Xing Zizhou, then back at Xiao Yingtao, and asked softly, “Young sir, is this little girl truly your sister? A full sister, born of the same father and mother?”

Xing Zizhou walked over, took Xiao Yingtao’s hand, and shielded her behind him.

“Old sir, what do you mean by that? Xiaoxiao is not my sister — could she be your family’s young lady?”

“My master means no harm.” The attendant hastened to explain. “Your sister resembles someone we are searching for, so…”

“Who are you people?” Feng Jiu’er’s brows knitted.

“To be honest, we come from the Kingdom of Ximu.” The old man smiled faintly. “We’ve come in search of someone.”

“You said little sister resembles the person you’re looking for?” Feng Jiu’er asked.

She hadn’t forgotten — when the attendant first came through the door, he had looked at Xiao Yingtao and called her “Princess.”

His gaze had indeed been fixed on Xiao Yingtao at that moment, not on her.

“That’s right.” The old man nodded in acknowledgment. “Could you tell us more about little sister? She—”

“She is my sister. My true sister.” Xing Zizhou held Xiao Yingtao’s hand tightly, as if afraid of losing her.

Seeing this, the old man found nothing more to say.

“Since that’s the case, we won’t intrude any longer. I hope, if fate allows, we may meet again.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and waved a hand. “Please, this way.”

“Very well.” The old man turned and left.

Seeing this, the attendant hurried to follow. “My lord, is it truly not her? She really does look exactly like…”

The two who had entered turned and left in the blink of an eye. Xiao Yingtao went over and closed the door.

“I thought they were talking about you — I never expected it would turn out to be about me?” Once Xiao Yingtao confirmed no one was outside, she muttered to herself as she walked back.

Feng Jiu’er stared at this little one, then swept a glance over the house.

Xiao Yingtao understood and followed her back toward the house.

Xing Zizhou said nothing, but followed along as well.

The house was not large. In the outer hall, a frail man dressed as a scholar sat on a bench, a book in his hand.

Jian Yi raised his eyes to glance at the people entering, then set down the book in his hand.

“Jiu’er, what happened?” Xiao Yingtao sat down on a low stool and casually took a piece of fruit from the basin.

“Those people just now — were they suspicious?”