There are three female students in the academy: Tang Xiaobai, Qin Rong, and Cheng Zi.

Usually, all three wear men’s clothing in the academy, but while Tang Xiaobai and Cheng Zi wear the academy’s standard green robes, only the leading lady wears flowing white clothes, standing out from the crowd.

At this moment, Qin Rong leaned against the door, shaking a folded fan, exuding endless charm and elegance.

Tang Xiaobai admired the lead lady’s captivating beauty for a moment, then turned to see the Little Ancestor studying intently without even lifting his eyelids.

"Your elder sister is here!" Tang Xiaobai slapped his book.

He looked up, glanced at Qin Rong, nodded, and then lowered his head to continue reading.

Tang Xiaobai: ...

This is too cold, isn’t it? Not even a greeting?

Tang Xiaobai turned back, giving Qin Rong an awkward smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed as if she hadn’t taught her own child properly.

Qin Rong closed the folded fan, smiled at Tang Xiaobai, and said, "Second Miss, might I borrow you for a word?"

Looking for her?

Though surprised, Tang Xiaobai nodded and followed her out.

After a few steps, she noticed someone behind.

Turning around, she saw the Little Ancestor following with a lowered gaze, and realized.

She had become a tool once again!

Qin Rong walked ahead for a while and suddenly said, "I’ve already reported to Father; you can move to the Ye Mansion anytime."

"Not necessary." Li Mu replied.

Qin Rong turned back, gazing at him gently, "We’ve been separated for years, finally reunited, how could I let you stay outside?"

Li Mu looked up indifferently, "Considering your age, you’re about to discuss marriage, no need for another reunion."

"Elder sister plays a motherly role, I don’t plan to marry until I see you settled down. If you don’t like living in the Ye Mansion, we can set up another Qin Mansion."

"I said there’s no need!" Li Mu’s expression turned cold.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Tang Xiaobai looked at one, then the other, feeling it was inappropriate for an outsider like her to overhear their sibling quarrel, so she stepped back and said, "You take your time discussing, I’ll go for a walk over there!" She finished and ran off.

Watching her retreating figure, Qin Rong smiled slightly, "This Second Miss Tang seems to have quite a connection with our Qin Family—"

"I’m not Qin Xiao." Li Mu interrupted with a frown.

Qin Rong turned back, "I know."

She knew? Li Mu frowned more tightly, she knew but still talked about Second Miss having ties with the Qin Family? 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Whether you’re Qin Xiao or not, I knew from the first look. Yet, though you’re false, I’m real, and since it’s about reopening the Qin Family’s old case, I mustn’t be absent," Qin Rong said.

Li Mu nodded, "Since you know, there’s no need to mention reunions again."

Qin Rong chuckled, "Outwardly, we are long-lost siblings. Recognized but not reunited, does that sound right to you?"

"It’s appropriate." Li Mu replied without hesitation.

Far better than living together with Qin Rong.

"Alright then," Qin Rong nodded approvingly and changed the topic, "Do you know that the Crown Prince is going to Ren Zhi Palace for a summer retreat?"

...

"The Crown Prince’s going for a retreat? I haven’t heard at all!" Tang Xiaobai was surprised and puzzled.

She thought they were bonding, but how did they start discussing the Crown Prince?

"I hadn’t heard either." Li Mu said flatly.

He didn’t even know he was going for a retreat, yet Qin Rong knew.

Tang Xiaobai pondered and guessed, "Could it be Prince Jin who told her?"

Li Mu nodded, "That’s what she said."

"Then it must be true!" Tang Xiaobai believed immediately.

"Prince Jin is not someone bewitched by beauty."

"That’s because he hasn’t met Miss Qin!" Tang Xiaobai asserted confidently.

Seeing the Little Ancestor’s dubious look, she added, "Think about it, yesterday at Ganlu Hall, wasn’t there a huge shift in the situation before and after Miss Qin’s arrival?"

Reluctantly, Li Mu nodded.

Before Qin Rong’s arrival, the Emperor’s stance was unclear, and the rest watched from the sidelines. After she came, Prince Jin was the first to stand up and request a retrial of the old case.

"Whether you believe it or not, some people can just make those around them seem... uh, less clever," Tang Xiaobai commented reflectively.

The heroine, after all, often has a halo that lowers the IQ of others by ninety percent.

"In the future, for any difficult matters, just leave them to your sister, I have faith in her!" After thinking for a moment, she added, "But you might want to keep a little distance from her."

Just to avoid being affected by the halo.

To Li Mu’s ears, this sounded different: "Does Second Miss think that standing next to Qin Rong makes me appear foolish?"

"No, no!" Tang Xiaobai hastily denied, "How could you think that way?"

"Then why hand difficult matters to her? Does Second Miss think I’m less capable?"

Faced with the Little Ancestor’s stern and pressing demeanor, Tang Xiaobai felt her scalp tingle, so she could only think of some sugary words to appease him, "I’m just worried you’ll get worn out or injured, those dirty and tiring tasks should be left to others to do!"

The Little Ancestor’s eyes remained cold.

Tang Xiaobai earnestly said, "Really, if Ah Xiao gets worn out, I’d feel heartbroken!"

The young man’s cheeks suddenly tinted with red, and his eyes turned soft in an instant.

Oh dear...

Tang Xiaobai was charmed, tilting her head to get a better look at his face.

Li Mu turned his head aside and coughed lightly, "Li Shu told Qin Rong about the Crown Prince’s retreat for different reasons."

The young girl let out an "Oh", withdrew her hand to her lap, gazing at him with wide, expectant eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"The decision for the Crown Prince’s retreat was made very hastily, likely only decided after the edict was issued yesterday to reopen Qin Family’s old case—"

It’s well known that the current Emperor is diligent, rarely going to the Palace for retreats, last year’s rare trip was for the frail Crown Prince.

This year’s trip was also for the Crown Prince, and the Emperor himself is not going.

But if it’s for the Crown Prince’s health, preparations should normally be made in advance, yet none were made.

"Qin Rong received news that the Crown Prince will leave the Capital City in three days and travel to Ren Zhi Palace."

"Ren Zhi Palace?" Tang Xiaobai was taken aback, "Not Taihe Palace?"

Last summer’s retreat was to Taihe Palace.

Taihe Palace is located in Zhongnan Mountain, a swift horse ride only two hours from the Capital City.

Yet Ren Zhi Palace is outside the Capital Prefecture, a day’s ride away from the Capital City on a fast horse.

If they said it was to let the Crown Prince retreat and recuperate, but chose a faraway place, isn’t that deliberate?

"This is actually a good thing," Li Mu said, "the Emperor has intentions to overturn the Qin Family case."

The Qin Family has old connections with Emperor Hui Zhao, essentially sharing familial ties.

The Emperor doesn’t want the Qin Family to become his leverage after the case is overturned, so he wants to send the Crown Prince away.

Looking at it this way, sending away the Crown Prince indeed indicates the Emperor’s genuine intention to reopen the Qin Family case.

While explaining these intricacies, Li Mu noticed that Tang Xiaobai had tilted her head, staring at him for quite a while, her eyes sparkling joyfully.

"What is it?" Feeling slightly warm under her gaze.

"Do you know why His Majesty is willing to reopen the Qin Family case?" she asked with a smile.

"Why?"

"Because he’s taken a liking to you!"

The Qin Family’s old case wasn’t orchestrated by the Emperor, but could have been tacitly approved.

After so many years, why reopen it if there’s no advantage to gain?

Hurriedly sending the Crown Prince away clearly shows the intention of bringing the Qin Family back under his control!

Who could blame her Little Ancestor for being so outstanding!