"Does your family only have you and your sister?" Murong Shengrui inquired.
"I have two younger sisters below me."
"Why don't they come to see their older sister?"
"The third sister is out traveling and studying, and no news has been received so far. The fourth sister is young and is confined to home studying every day. Only I have the time to occasionally come and see Elder Sister. Even if I can't see her, I feel content just standing here and looking."
A smile appeared on Xiao Xiang's face. "Do you have siblings?"
"I did, before."
"They are all gone?" Xiao Xiang asked with some surprise.
Murong Shengrui nodded. "Yes, they are all gone. My family had a small fortune. After my father passed away, they killed each other over the family inheritance, and in the end, it all fell to me."
Xiao Xiang looked as if she deeply understood. "Indeed, to compete for the family fortune, everyone tries their best to appear worthy, all wanting to obtain the inheritance. Yet, one day, someone tells them that the one truly qualified to inherit the family fortune is not them, but someone else, simply because she is the legitimate bloodline."
"The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is most ridiculous. I only know that the victor is king and the vanquished is a bandit."
"Yes, the victor is king and the vanquished is a bandit." Xiao Xiang smiled brilliantly. "May I ask for your esteemed surname and given name, Young Master?"
"My surname is Sheng, and my given name is Rui." Murong Shengrui said with a smile. Previously, when Dugu Man took him out of the palace to play, she used this name to avoid his identity from being recognized.
"My surname is Xiao, and my given name is Xiang. This humble woman offers her respects." Xiao Xiang rose and performed a formal bow. Murong Shengrui immediately returned the bow.
"Are you from the capital, Young Master?"
"No." Murong Shengrui's voice was gentle. "I come from Yunzhong City."
"Yunzhong City?" Xiao Xiang's expression brightened. "My elder brother is in Yunzhong City. Speaking of which, what a coincidence."
"Yes, it is a coincidence." Murong Shengrui said with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes. He could see the admiration in Xiao Xiang's eyes, but he did not care. If it weren't for the need to track down Xiao Ling's whereabouts and to start with Xiao Xiang, he wouldn't even spare her another glance.
"I know a good place in Ganye Temple. I'll take Young Master Sheng to look around." Xiao Xiang volunteered.
"In that case, I shall trouble you, Miss." The two left together.
After they had walked far away, Yin Zhu emerged from her hiding place, looking in the direction they had left with a puzzled gaze. Recently, many strangers had come to Ganye Temple and were lingering near the entrance to the forbidden area. If it weren't for the formations and mechanisms blocking the way inside, those people would have broken in countless times.
However, what shocked Yin Zhu was not Xiao Xiang's appearance here, but Murong Shengrui!
Murong Shengrui had intruded into the bamboo forest last time, but in the end, he did nothing and left. However, Ying Xue was extremely wary of this person. Now, this person was approaching the Second Miss. Was he intending to harm the Young Lady or the General's Mansion?
Yin Zhu had a premonition that this person was problematic. However, the other party's martial arts were extremely high, and she knew no martial arts, so she couldn't approach rashly. If she alerted him, it might bring trouble to the Young Lady!
Yin Zhu hesitated. At this time, the General was long ill and not recovering, and the Young Lady was missing. She had to remind them. Yin Zhu thought of sending a message to Xiao Luo, but Xiao Luo was in Yunzhong City. Distant water could not quench nearby thirst. Moreover, the situation in Yunzhong City was dire, and the Young General could not leave Yunzhong City!
After much thought, Yin Zhu wrote a letter and asked a familiar young monk to deliver it to the Qin Wang's mansion. Based on her observation of the Qin Wang, the Qin Wang indeed liked the Young Lady. Asking him to relay a message to the Young Lady to be wary of this person, she thought the Qin Wang should not refuse.
When Ying Xue returned from outside, she saw Yin Zhu pacing by the door, looking restless.
"Yin Zhu, why are you outside?" Ying Xue handed the box of pastries in her hand to Yin Zhu. "I brought you some food."
Yin Zhu took it, her face filled with worry. "He... he's back."
"Which he?"
"The man who broke into the bamboo forest that day."
The color drained from Ying Xue's face. "You mean, that person is back?"
Yin Zhu nodded. "Today, he sat outside the bamboo forest, looking inside. The Second Miss was with him. Ying Xue, who exactly is he?"
Ying Xue was somewhat nervous. Murong Shengrui was back again, and he was with the Second Miss. Was he suspecting the Young Lady's identity?
"Did he come inside?"
"No, he sat outside the bamboo forest for a while and then left with the Second Miss." Yin Zhu carefully observed Ying Xue's expression. "That person is here for the Young Lady, isn't he?"
Ying Xue gritted her teeth and nodded slowly. "We absolutely cannot let him meet the Young Lady."
"Why?"
"In short, I can't explain. If he sees the Young Lady, he will definitely harm her!"
"Does he have enmity with the Young Lady?" Yin Zhu inquired.
"More than enmity, it's an irreconcilable hatred!" Ying Xue was a bit anxious. "No, I must send a message to the Young Lady, telling her to be extremely careful. These two must not run into each other in the capital!"
"The Young Lady is back?" Yin Zhu sought the information she wanted from Ying Xue's fragmented words. She had been with Ying Xue for a long time and understood her quite well. Whenever that person appeared, Ying Xue became very flustered.
Ying Xue hurriedly went to send the message. Yin Zhu turned to look at the person lying inside the room. She knew that person was not the Young Lady, but they had to treat this person as the Young Lady. She also knew that the Young Lady had many secrets, but she did not expect them to be so dangerous.
Yin Zhu thought for a moment, and a smile curved her lips. "I am a master at gathering information. Since he appeared here, I don't believe I can't find out his identity."
When Murong Shengrui appeared at Ganye Temple, Elder Monk Wuyou's brow did not smooth out. "What exactly does this little wolf cub want?"
"Grand-master, did you call me?" The young monk poked his head in from outside the door.
"I didn't call you."
"Oh." The young monk withdrew his head. As he turned around, he saw a person standing behind him, startling him. "Amitabha, has the benefactor lost their way?"
Xiao Man smiled, walked past him, and entered Wuyou's meditation room directly.
The young monk was about to stop her when the door suddenly closed, almost pinching his nose. Startled, he quickly retreated, giving way at the doorway, waiting for this person to be beaten out by his grand-master. However, there was no movement for a long time. The young monk curiously pricked up his ears to listen to the commotion inside.
Wuyou raised his eyebrows and glanced at the person who walked in. His eyelids twitched. This was going to be trouble! He quickly fingered his prayer beads and recited the Heart Sutra silently in his heart, lest he lose control and jump up to beat Xiao Man.
"Old monk, I'm back." Xiao Man sat in front of Wuyou and poured herself a cup of tea.
Wuyou glanced at Xiao Man and continued to chant his scriptures. Even if she was here to cause trouble today, he had to endure it. Monks should not get angry, nor should they hit people casually.