These two sentences, paired with the undisguised murderous intent in Tang Shigong’s eyes, already explained the problem quite well.

Xin Yi was in disbelief and panic: "Ah Dad... don’t you remember Xin Yi?"

Tang Shigong’s eyes shifted, looking at Xin Yi, frowning as if trying to recall something.

"In the second year of Taixing, didn’t Duke Yan settle you and your mother in Fengxian County?" Li Mu suddenly asked.

Xin Yi nodded. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Tang Shigong looked surprised: "Fengxian County?"

Gu Ning raised her hand, revealing the old and almost worn-out patterns of the gold Yue Que.

Xin Yi’s eyes lit up again upon seeing it: "Ah Dad, this gold Yue Que was left to me by you!"

"Was your biological mother’s surname Yu?" Li Mu asked again.

Xin Yi shook her head: "My mother’s surname is Xin—"

"No, her surname is Yu!" Tang Shigong took the gold Yue Que, casually glanced at it twice, and said, "This gold Yue Que is indeed mine—"

"Back then, you caught a cold and were at death’s door, your mother carried you out of Fengxian County, it was I who took a doctor to save you," Tang Shigong laughed at himself, "Unexpectedly, I saved a long-lost daughter for myself!"

Xin Yi collapsed to the ground, her gaze gradually turning vacant.

"You are not my father... really... really?"

Tang Shigong looked at her in that state, sighed lightly, and said: "At that time, you were so thin and small, like a kitten, burning all over... I asked your mother how old you were, she said you were three and a half... three and a half, about the same age as my Jiaojiao’er, but so much smaller than Xiao Bai—" After observing her for two eyes, he nodded in gratification, "You have grown up well now."

It seemed Xin Yi didn’t hear his words, still muttering absently: "You are not my father..."

"I am not your father," Tang Shigong said, "Your biological father’s surname is Yi, your biological mother’s surname is Yu, she was called Yu Xin Niang—" At this, he suddenly turned his head to look at Li Mu.

Li Mu’s eyes moved, he nodded at him, and said, "I’ll take Xin Yi away first!"

...

Seeing the crowd leave, Gu Ning softly asked: "That Yu Xin Niang, is she—?" A pinch on her hand, made her stop.

"Yes," Tang Shigong said, gently caressing her hand, "It was my mishandling at that time that caused the lady troubles."

Gu Ning snuggled into his embrace: "Yes, I was almost furious..."

Tang Shigong sniffed the fragrance on top of her hair, saying: "It’s just a Yue Que, left and forgotten, didn’t expect it to cause this misunderstanding for the child... Maybe Yu took pity on the child for losing her father, so she didn’t clarify..." He bent down to lightly kiss her fair and delicate forehead, "I have Ah Ning, why would I care for others?" A kiss fell on her cheek, "Ten years in Longyou... how well-behaved I was... doesn’t Ah Ning know?" He suddenly lifted her up and walked inside the house.

Gu Ning held onto his lapel and said: "I always believe in you, but the children don’t understand, especially Ziqian, before you came back, he just couldn’t take the hit and ran out."

Tang Shigong paused his steps, his brows furrowed tightly: "Please fetch the eldest young master over!"

Mistaking oneself for having been overly intimate with one’s own sister is not a trivial matter after all.

With the eldest son’s temperament, under such a shock, if not harming others, he might harm himself.

Moreover, he also had other matters to discuss with Tang Ziqian.

Putting Gu Ning onto the table, he said: "The Empress Dowager will soon issue a decree demoting Princess Runan to a Commandery Princess, betrothing her to Yan Family’s third son, with nuptial rituals a year later after fasting."

Such a punishment was not light and even exceeded Gu Ning’s expectations.

She couldn’t help but let a smile spread across her eyebrows, lifted her face to kiss his chin softly, and whispered: "My husband will always look out for us."

Tang Shigong fiercely kissed her for a moment, then said in a low voice: "The emperor also is not appeasing us for nothing, there’s banditry mishaps in Hedong, wanting Ziqian to accompany Li Shu in the suppression of bandits!"

"Suppression of bandits..." Gu Ning’s face showed concern.

Tang Shigong kissed the space between her eyebrows, saying: "It’s merely bandit suppression, much easier than fighting the Turkic people, the emperor just wants my son to earn some military merits for his son, it’s not a problem."

Gu Ning nodded: "It’s good for him to go out a bit anyway, even if there’s nothing wrong with Xin Yi, this matter surely makes Ziqian uncomfortable," after a slight pause, she asked, "What does the Crown Prince want with Xin Yi?"

...

"Xin Yi’s biological father is named Yi Dong, was an Eastern Palace Guard of Emperor Hui Zhao, the biological mother Yu Xin Niang was a close maid of Empress Xiao’ai, after the death of Empress Xiao’ai, Yi Dong got into a drunken brawl and was found dead on the street, Yu Xin Niang was buried with Empress Xiao’ai—"

Tang Xiaobai inhaled sharply, stopped in her tracks and urgently asked: "What happened afterwards?"

Li Mu stopped alongside her, saying: "We didn’t know that Yu Xin Niang was taken away alive by Duke Yan, taking Xin Yi was partly to inquire with Yu Xin Niang, and partly because she might not be suitable to stay in Duke Yan Mansion any longer, so it’s better to bring her to Qin Mansion."

Tang Xiaobai, recalling the confusion from the beloved to a sister, felt very embarrassed, so she nodded and added a sentence: "Make sure you treat her well!"

Li Mu frowned upon hearing it: "Second Miss might rather remind Qin Rong to treat Xin Yi well." What did it have to do with him?

Tang Xiaobai nodded hurriedly in agreement.

While speaking, they had already reached outside the East Garden.

Tang Xiaobai wanted to go in to see Tang Ziqian but suddenly saw Tang Jiaojiao running out from inside.

"Where did the eldest young master go?" Tang Jiaojiao questioned fiercely.

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

Tang Ziqian didn’t come back?

...

After running out of the main courtyard, Tang Ziqian didn’t return to the East Garden but rode a horse out of Duke Yan Mansion.

"Find him back as soon as possible." Tang Shigong personally issued the order.

Suppressing the bandits in Hedong, though it was benefiting Li Shu, was not without benefits for them.

If something happened to Tang Ziqian, those benefits would go to others.

But even with hundreds of Duke Yan Mansion’s servants sent out, by nightfall, they still couldn’t find Tang Ziqian.

Tang Ziqian not only ran out of the mansion but also out of the city.

"I’ve already sent Xingyuan out with people to search outside the city, don’t worry... The eldest young master is highly skilled in martial arts and is accompanied by people, nothing will happen."

Tang Xiaobai nodded recklessly, still couldn’t help guessing: "Could he have run far? For instance... returned to Liangzhou?"

It’s normal for young people to want to escape after a major blow, right?

But Tang Ziqian went out through the nearest East City Gate.

Heading east, where could he go?

"Nearby postal stations will also send people to inquire, as soon as there’s news, they’ll report back," Li Mu saw her unable to resist yawning, and softly persuaded, "Second Miss, why not go inside to wait?"

"I’m not tired!" Tang Xiaobai shook her head.

Li Mu furrowed his brows, then changed his words: "I see the First Miss doesn’t look well."

Tang Xiaobai cast an eye at her elder sister.

She and Little Ancestor were still at the door, the First Miss had already run outside.

The autumn night dew was heavy, even with a cloak, it was slightly chilly.

Her pretty face was pale under the moonlight, anxiety burning between her brows, looking indeed not well.

Tang Xiaobai nodded, lifted her skirt to go out.

Suddenly, Little Ancestor pulled her hand, drawing her behind.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a dark figure landing obliquely on the ground.

Landing, yet with only the faintest sound.

Tang Xiaobai was startled, but then she heard Li Xingyuan’s voice.

"Quick! Get a doctor!"

As he spoke, he swiftly ran past her.

Not alone.

There was someone on his back.

Blood-stained robes, life and death unknown.