Madam Song the Second held her hand tightly. "Some things are better forgotten. It's not necessarily a bad thing to forget everything."
The family of four sat by the spring. On the small stove beside them, the spring water was already bubbling, but no one paid it any mind.
Song Ze said, "Second Aunt is right."
Xie Jiang lowered her gaze slightly, looking at Madam Song the Second's hand gripping hers as if afraid she might vanish. The grip was very firm.
Though her hand was hurting from the squeeze, she felt an unprecedented sense of peace and stability.
Xie Jiang did not pull her hand away, allowing Madam Song the Second to continue holding it.
Song Xun sat close by, his brow furrowed with distress. "So, Second Sister was unheard of for so many years because she forgot her past. Then, bringing Second Sister back from Lan Yong, so far away, must have been incredibly difficult..."
Song Xun choked, his throat feeling as if it were blocked by cotton, rendering him unable to speak further. Song Ze's usual smile had also vanished.
Xie Jiang smiled reassuringly at them. "Don't overthink it. It was a bit difficult, but not as arduous as you imagine."
"The time I spent with the Qian family must have been hard, but whether it was hard or not, it's all in the past. Besides, I've forgotten it all, haven't I?"
"After arriving in Lan Yong, the sky was the limit for me. I've been back in Da Yu for quite some time now. Do I look like I haven't been living well?"
"It's you all who are trapped in this capital city, which is countless times harder than my situation." Xie Jiang sighed.
Madam Song the Second said, "We are overjoyed that you are back safe and sound. You don't need to worry about us. Although we lack freedom, we are not at the mercy of others."
Song Ze poured a cup of tea and handed it to Xie Jiang.
Only then did Madam Song the Second release Xie Jiang's hand.
Xie Jiang took it, smiling, "Thank you, Brother."
A smile returned to Song Ze's face.
Song Xun's eyes were fixed on Xie Jiang, unwilling to look away. "Will Second Sister stay in Da Yu from now on and not leave?"
Xie Jiang said, "I went to so much trouble to find my way back, and you are all here. Of course, I won't leave again."
Madam Song the Second said softly, "You returned under the guise of the young master of the Xie family. Can the Xie family be trusted?"
Xie Jiang drank half the cup of tea. "Second Aunt, the Xie family obeys my command."
The three members of the Song family were stunned for a moment.
Hearing that the four southern islands were controlled by the Xie family, the meaning of the Xie family obeying her command implied...
Song Xun's mouth fell slightly open, disbelief evident.
Although Song Ze had already had suspicions, he was still very surprised.
However, despite the surprise, Song Ze and Madam Song the Second quickly accepted it.
Even though their memories of Song Zhi were of a delicate young girl who would cry if a feather brushed her, she still carried the blood of the Song lineage.
To bring the four southern islands under control, besides the hardships unknown to outsiders, it was likely also due to seizing the opportune moment.
Madam Song the Second nodded. "If there's anything you need us to do, Nian Nian, please don't hesitate to ask."
Song Ze looked in her direction. "Nian Nian, you deliberately sought proximity to the Duke of Wei's mansion, was it to deal with Xu Hengdan?"
Xie Jiang said, "Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its owner."
Xu Hengdan deserved to go to hell.
Song Ze reminded her, "Behind Xu Hengdan, there are not only the Xu clan and the Duke of Wei's mansion, but also the Daoists."
Xie Jiang said, "I know."
It didn't matter who stood behind Xu Hengdan.
He deserved to go to hell.
Neither Song Ze nor Madam Song the Second asked further about her plans or schemes.
She had returned with the four southern islands, and she needed time to establish her footing.
Madam Song the Second looked at Xie Jiang with increasing fondness. "Originally, I came to Nanzhao Temple to fulfill a vow, and I never expected to meet you in the temple."
Song Xun said, "Why did Second Sister also come to Nanzhao Temple? Is it because of His Highness?"
Xie Jiang blinked. "You mean Xia Rongyu?"
Song Xun smiled, his eyes crinkling. "I heard that His Highness happens to be at Nanzhao Temple these days."
Xie Jiang's gaze towards Song Xun changed. She hadn't expected her young cousin to be so interested in gossip at such a young age.
Song Xun: "..."
Was her guess wrong?
Was Second Sister not here because of His Highness?
She had always felt that the rumors outside weren't necessarily baseless. Wasn't it only natural for her Second Sister to be closer to His Highness?
Others saw it and made wild guesses, which only led to more exaggerated rumors.
Upon arriving at Nanzhao Temple that morning, she heard that Second Sister and His Highness were also in the temple. Her first thought was that Second Sister and His Highness were meeting in secret.
Song Ze said, "Does Nian Nian not remember His Highness?"
Song Xun suddenly realized that her Second Sister had amnesia!
Xie Jiang asked suspiciously, "Should I remember His Highness?"
Scanning the faces of the three Song family members, Xie Jiang's gaze paused. She suddenly realized the matter was not simple.
Song Xun said blankly, "The matter of Second Sister bullying His Highness was all over the place. I thought Second Sister was planning to... to... with His Highness..."
If Second Sister didn't remember His Highness, then, then...
Xie Jiang suddenly recalled Shen Chan's words, "It is said that Xia Rongyu grew up with my brother. Was I also very familiar with Xia Rongyu when I was young?"
Looking at the expressions of the three Song family members, her relationship with Xia Rongyu was more than just familiarity.
Xia Rongyu's attitude towards her had changed drastically this morning. Had he already known her identity?
Madam Song the Second said, "Because of the relationship between Noble Consort Rong and your mother, although His Highness is several years older than you, he had already arranged your engagement early on."
Xie Jiang was shocked.
She was engaged to Xia Rongyu?
Seeing her surprised expression, Madam Song the Second couldn't help but laugh. "His Highness has always doted on you the most, even more than your elder brother."
Xie Jiang looked at Song Ze and Song Xun.
Song Ze nodded without any pretense. "Although we are full siblings, when it comes to caring for you, I am indeed far inferior to His Highness."
Song Xun said very seriously, "His Highness even declared at the time that Second Sister was his treasure."
W-what on earth?!
Xie Jiang's eyes widened, and her body trembled.
Song Ze couldn't help but chuckle softly. "His Highness was young then, but he did say those words."
Song Xun added, "The entire capital knew about it."
Later, when Second Sister was harmed by Xu Hengdan, and His Highness went to fight Xu Hengdan, resulting in his injuries, thinking of this made Song Xun feel distressed.
Xie Jiang gasped, goosebumps prickling her skin.
How could the Xia Rongyu of that time have uttered such words! Didn't he know what shame was?
However, thinking of Xia Rongyu's unusual behavior today, a dignified prince acting like a fool and staring at her, smiling incessantly.
Xie Jiang suddenly felt that such foolishly effusive words were indeed something the young Xia Rongyu would say.
Madam Song the Second asked, "You don't remember at all?"
Xie Jiang shook her head.
In the beginning, she was dazed, not knowing who she was or where she came from. She only felt an urgent need to grasp everything. Later, when her condition improved, she gradually recalled some vague memories.
Logically, she should have been able to piece together some of the people Song Zhi cared about from her fragmented memories, but there was nothing about Xia Rongyu.
Since Xia Rongyu doted on Song Zhi so much, didn't Song Zhi care about Xia Rongyu at all?