Li Shu’s eyes flashed urgently, his gaze deep and intense as he looked at the young man.

Unexpectedly, Qin Xiao admitted it so easily. Would he resort to desperate measures and drag him down too?

Perhaps because the mask covered part of his face, the young man’s expression seemed unchanged. He didn’t look at him, only spoke in a calm and steady tone: "But Feng Pu’s death was not caused by me. What Qin Xiao wishes for is precisely for Feng Pu to remain alive—"

He took out a letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"The injustice against the Qin Family is backed by irrefutable evidence. I humbly request Your Majesty’s grace to re-examine the case of the Qin Family’s alleged treason in the second year of Taixing!"

The letter was taken from his hands and passed to the eunuch.

Li Mu lifted his head, quietly looking at the emperor on the dragon throne.

Before entering the palace, he had specifically brought this "evidence" that an old servant of the Qin Family had hidden away.

Gongsun Yi’s false accusation had already alerted him that someone wanted his identity exposed to the world.

Moreover, he had roughly guessed who it might be.

Therefore, today’s audience with the emperor was likely to bring about unforeseen events.

Should anything happen, he would willingly assume the identity of a descendant of the Qin Family, using this as a cover to bring the old case of the Qin Family to light.

However, it wasn’t enough for him alone to stand up...

"After my sister and I obtained this forged letter, we also sought out Feng Pu, hoping to gather more evidence from him, but unexpectedly, Feng Pu died suddenly—"

"You have a sister? Where is she now?" The emperor’s expression was indifferent.

He personally gave the order for the execution of the entire family, yet two children managed to escape?

Li Mu bowed and replied, "My sister was recuperating in Jiangnan at the time, and after the family tragedy, she became homeless. Inspector Ye Liangsi of Suzhou took her in, and she has since come to the capital with Mr. Ye."

Ye Qingrong?

Li Shu’s heart leaped.

Ye Qingrong is actually a daughter of the Qin Family?

As the emperor received the letter from the eunuch, he said, "Summon the daughter of Ye Liangsi."

No sooner had he spoken, there came a report from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, a daughter of the Qin Family is beating the Petition Drum!"

Tang Shigong looked outside the hall with a smile: "It truly is a deep bond between siblings!"

Li Mu, however, was slightly taken aback.

How did Ye Qingrong arrive at such a timely moment?

...

Outside the palace gate, there is a Petition Drum provided for the people to strike and seek justice.

Once someone strikes the drum, the on-duty Imperial Censor must immediately process it and report it directly to the emperor.

When Tang Xiaobai reached the palace gate, Ye Qingrong had already been taken inside. It was imaginable that inside the palace, a fervent drama of restoring order was being played out.

Ye Qingrong was someone she had brought.

After failing to find the forged letter of treason in the little ancestor’s room, she guessed it had already been taken to the palace.

Since he was planning to use his audience with the emperor to restore Qin Xiao’s identity, the next step would logically be to request the reopening of the old case investigation.

At this moment, how could Ye Qingrong as his own sister not be present?

So she had Li Xingyuan quickly run to Huntian Academy to inform Ye Qingrong.

Ye Qingrong indeed hurried over!

"Let’s just wait here!" Tang Xiaobai eagerly watched the palace gate return to calm, her heart surging with excitement.

The little ancestor was finally going to reunite with his sister the heroine! She felt the excitement and thrill of reaching the final Chapter of a book.

"Why does the Second Miss care so much about Ah Xiao?" Li Xingyuan noticed her eyes were moist and thought she was overdoing it a little.

Tang Xiaobai sighed: "You’ve never raised a child, you wouldn’t understand."

Li Xingyuan: ...

Tang Xiaobai had no time to explain.

Her current mood was like having raised a child who was finally getting married and having children, feeling as if her life’s task was complete.

Could she start leading a carefree life just watching the protagonists strive from now on?

No, not yet.

The person who framed the little ancestor hadn’t been revealed, Zhao Jing hadn’t been found, and the little ancestor only had one long-lost sister to rely on. She also needed to look after them more...

Indeed, even if they’re married and have children, she still has to worry...

...

Tang Xiaobai didn’t wait long outside the palace gate.

By noon, everyone came out.

Tang Xiaobai quickly jumped out of the carriage to meet them, sizing them up and asking, "How did it go?"

"Ah Xiao and Miss Ye have acknowledged each other as siblings, presented evidence, and requested Your Majesty to re-examine their Qin Family case. The emperor has agreed; from now on, it’s a step-by-step process." Tang Ziqian summarized succinctly.

Li Mu didn’t get the chance to respond, so he could only nod silently.

Tang Xiaobai looked at him and then at Ye Qingrong.

Perhaps because the little ancestor was a boy, his expression and gaze were similar to usual, slightly cold.

Ye Qingrong, however, resembled a tragic orphan who had just opened an old wound, her eyes red and still wet with tears.

Tang Xiaobai, feeling both sympathy and urgency, immediately spoke: "Miss Ye, accept the change with grace. Would you like me to take you home?"

Hurry up and leave, don’t provoke her brother at home!

Ye Qingrong shook her head: "No need, I rode here, I’ll go back myself."