Qin Moyuan swallowed the question that was about to escape his lips.
"We hadn't been away from Tong Mu County for long when they learned you were coming to Chong Zhou and sent word to Li Xiangru, but my men intercepted it all."
Qin Moyuan's expression turned serious. "I always feel like that Li Xiangru is very afraid of you coming to Chong Zhou."
Li Yueshu also sensed this, frowning in confusion. "Did you find out why?"
Qin Moyuan shook his head, but a guess formed in his mind.
He voiced it directly: "I've thought of many reasons, but the only possibility is that her identity as a Gu family daughter is fake."
"How is that possible!" Li Yueshu immediately denied it.
Li Xiangru was the chosen one of this world. Her identity was essentially ordained by the Heavenly Dao of this world, and her established character in the book from beginning to end was the lost daughter of the Zhenbei General's mansion.
Qin Moyuan wasn't sure why she was so certain. "You and Li Xiangru have always presented yourselves as twins, but the fact that Father and Mother Li are so exceptionally partial to Li Xiangru is bound to arouse suspicion. This is the only reason I can think of why Li Xiangru wouldn't want you to come to Chong Zhou."
Qin Moyuan thought of something and said, "The Gu family also sent people to investigate. While we don't have the paternity tests you mentioned, whether it's tokens, birthmarks, or even blood matching, Li Xiangru is indeed the flesh and blood of the Zhenbei General."
His gaze unconsciously flickered to a spot behind Li Yueshu. "It's said that Li Xiangru has a red crescent-shaped birthmark on her back."
Li Yueshu paused and instinctively touched her back.
Qin Moyuan noticed her movement, and his heart stirred. "Does Ah Shu also have one on her back?"
Li Yueshu pursed her lips, but shook her head. "I only have a scar on my back."
Hearing this, Qin Moyuan frowned. "What kind of scar?"
Li Yueshu searched through the original body's memories and then said, "I remember Mother Li seemed to say that I injured myself when I was naughty as a child, but she didn't tell me the specifics of how it happened."
Qin Moyuan's expression grew solemn, a flicker of light seeming to pass through his eyes.
So coincidental?
He never believed that so many coincidences could be brought together. If Father and Mother Li truly had the intention of a "raccoon for a prince," it was not impossible that they would use means to remove Ah Shu's birthmark.
Li Yueshu didn't notice Qin Moyuan's expression, only unconsciously touching her own back.
A red crescent birthmark, was it?
In the memories of the original body, Li Xiangru did indeed have such a birthmark on her back since childhood.
But Li Yueshu remembered, she had seen a red crescent birthmark elsewhere as well...
"Mother!"
Shen Zhiyu's aggrieved voice suddenly pulled Li Yueshu back to her senses and interrupted their conversation.
As Li Yueshu turned, she saw Shen Zhiyu suddenly pounce into her arms, his face full of grievance. "Mother, as soon as Eldest Brother arrived, Yu was almost broke!"
Shen Yimin, standing not far away, looked helpless. "Fourth Brother, shaking dice is about luck. What's the point of you complaining?"
Shen Zhiyu tugged at Li Yueshu's hand and walked over. "With Mother here, my luck is the best!"
And so, Li Yueshu was pulled back to join the game.
Qin Moyuan stood behind Li Yueshu with a gentle smile, watching her, occasionally refilling her cup of hot water.
Chai Yangxinghe was already accustomed to this scene, but Shi Dongyingxin saw it for the first time.
Both of them saw shock in each other's eyes, and their regard for Li Yueshu increased.
...
Because Shen Yimin had to enter the palace the next day, and they didn't know when they would see him again, Li Yueshu personally cooked a farewell feast for him.
Seeing that most of the dishes on the table were his favorites, Shen Yimin's eyes welled up.
He picked up the kettle beside him, stood up, and poured a cup of tea for Li Yueshu. Then he raised his own cup. "Thank you for saving me back then, and thank you for your care all this time. I... I toast you."
He couldn't bring himself to say the word "Mother," but his gratitude and trust in her were no less than that of his three younger siblings.
Although Li Yueshu was a little disappointed that he still hadn't changed his address, she was also very pleased that he could say these words to her.
She picked up the tea Shen Yimin had poured for her, her eyes filled with joy. "If you can leave the palace, remember to visit us often. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to Number Seventy-Eight, Chunyang Street, anytime. Even if I have to storm the palace with a knife in the middle of the night, I won't bat an eye!"
Such rebellious words, even Chai Yangxinghe, who was used to her temperament, couldn't help but gasp, let alone Shi Dongyingxin, who had just encountered her.
Both of them were so startled that they almost dropped the trays in their hands.
Shen Yimin, who had been feeling touched, heard these words and felt warmth in his heart, yet couldn't help but laugh and cry.
He turned to look at Qin Moyuan, who was calmly drinking soup nearby, and subtly pouted.
The other party had even stated the address so clearly, clearly showing no intention of staying in the prince's mansion. It would be a long and arduous task for his father to win him over!
Shen Yimin felt a pang of sympathy for Qin Moyuan and lit three sticks of incense for him in his heart, then withdrew his gaze and sincerely drank the tea toasting Li Yueshu.
Throughout the meal, although everyone felt reluctant to part, there was more warmth and joy in being together.
After dinner, everyone was strolling and resting in the backyard, but Qin Moyuan called Mo Lian to the study.
He got straight to the point. "I promised your mother that as long as she was loyal and devoted to Ah Shu, I would give you a place in the Imperial College."
Saying this, he took out a document. "I've given you the opportunity. How far you go depends on your own abilities."
Being able to enter the Imperial College was something Mo Lian had never expected. His hands trembled slightly as he held the document.
However, when he opened the document, he saw another piece of information mixed in.
After a general glance at the contents, Mo Lian looked up at Qin Moyuan in surprise.
This document contained information about Shen Yimin and the royal family.
Qin Moyuan's expression was calm; he didn't conceal the fact that he had overheard their conversation with Shen Yimin that night. "Since you've decided to accompany Ah Min on that path, you naturally need to understand his affairs to be able to assist him at critical moments."
He then corrected his expression and added, "Ah Min's future path will not be easy. One wrong step could lead to utter ruin, with no turning back. If you truly intend to help him, you'd best think carefully before deciding. Otherwise, regretting it halfway will only harm him."
"I've thought it through," Mo Lian said with a determined expression. "Yimin is a friend I've chosen, and I have ambitions. If I can't forge ahead with Yimin, I will regret it for the rest of my life!"
A flicker of relief flashed in Qin Moyuan's eyes, but he still needed to clarify. "I am the Regent, and I promised my elder brother that I would not interfere in the struggles between the princes. Therefore, I will not pave the way for your future."
Mo Lian, being naturally intelligent, understood his meaning.
He put away the documents and bowed respectfully. "This humble one understands."
Shen Yimin was unaware of what had transpired in the study. At this moment, he was grinding ink for himself.