Feng Jiu’er crouched down in front of her and took her hand.

“Xiao Yingtao, do you really not remember anything from your childhood?”

Xiao Yingtao frowned and asked, “What do you mean? Didn’t I tell you before — I’m an orphan, adopted by Mother when I was seven?”

“And everything before you turned seven — you’ve forgotten all of it?” Feng Jiu’er said.

Xiao Yingtao swallowed the fruit in her mouth, her eyes rolling for a moment, then shook her head.

“I don’t remember.”

Xing Zizhou brought over a low stool and set it down behind Feng Jiu’er.

His expression carried a certain gravity, much like it had in the courtyard earlier.

“Do you remember — I once told you I’d had people investigate your background?” Feng Jiu’er watched Xiao Yingtao without blinking.

“Didn’t you say nothing could be found?” Xiao Yingtao blinked.

“That’s true, nothing could be found.” Feng Jiu’er pulled a chair over and sat down.

“But, less than a month before Mother adopted you, a county nearby reported a missing child — and the one who filed that report was a visitor from the Kingdom of Ximu.”

“Are you saying Xiao Yingtao might be from the Kingdom of Ximu?” Xing Zizhou asked in a low voice.

“But they called me ‘Princess’?” Xiao Yingtao swallowed hard, then laughed.

“How could I possibly be a princess? I don’t look the least bit like one.”

Feng Jiu’er let go of her hand and looked up at Xing Zizhou.

“Xing Zizhou, is there any way to confirm the identities of those two people in a short amount of time?”

“I’ll try.” Xing Zizhou nodded. “Jiu’er, you should also—”

“Since they’ve already come looking, it wouldn’t hurt for us to pay attention.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together.

“If it turns out to be true, then Xiao Yingtao would have a family.”

“It can’t possibly be true.” Xiao Yingtao waved a hand.

Xing Zizhou looked at her, then nodded.

“Stay here, I’ll go take a look at the situation. Don’t worry — I’ll be back soon.”

“Xing Zizhou.” Xiao Yingtao stood up, watching him turn to leave.

Xing Zizhou turned back, met her eyes, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Don’t worry. No matter what, we’ll all be by your side.”

Xiao Yingtao composed herself and said softly, “Mm. Be careful.”

“We set out tomorrow. Let’s just pretend what happened earlier never did. I—”

“Let him go.” Feng Jiu’er pulled Xiao Yingtao back a step.

Xiao Yingtao turned and returned to Feng Jiu’er’s side.

Xing Zizhou said nothing further and left.

“Jiu’er, how could I possibly be a princess?” Xiao Yingtao still found it hard to believe.

“I never said you were.” Feng Jiu’er stood and ruffled her hair.

“But…” Xiao Yingtao stood up again.

“We’re just going to take a look. Don’t overthink it.” Feng Jiu’er walked over to Jian Yi. “Any news come in today?”

Jian Yi shook his head and picked the book back up that he’d set down.

Just then, however, from behind the house came the chirp of a cricket.

The three inside the house instantly grew alert.

“I’ll go.” Feng Jiu’er tossed out the words and turned to walk outside.

Beyond the back courtyard, in the woods, Feng Jiu’er had just arrived when a man in black dropped down from a tree in front of her.

“Miss, something’s happened. Over a thousand people in Li County to the east of the city have been detained, three hundred of them our own brothers.”

“Li County?” Feng Jiu’er’s brow furrowed.

“Yes. I heard it’s because too many refugees have been fleeing there, and the county magistrate has grown suspicious,” the man in black continued.

“Alright, understood.” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand. “Keep watching the situation and report back at any time.”

“Yes.” The man in black cupped his hands and turned.

With a light leap, he sprang up into the treetops and vanished from sight in an instant.