Chapter 1: Discovering One's Heritage

"Second brother, you must find the dish just now too greasy. Let me pour you a cup of tea..."

At the age of seven, the boy's eyes burned intensely due to poisoning, preventing him from sleeping. His master carried him back and forth throughout the night.

Meanwhile, in Suzhou, the night is cool as water

"You sit down," he said in a cold voice

"Xiao Qi, tomorrow I will return to Kaifeng with you." Before returning to the inn to rest, regardless of the presence of Zhan Zhao and Han Zhang, he spoke to Mo Yan.

After waiting for thirteen years, he is no longer the child who longed for his parents. He has long understood that his parents, like other senior brothers and sisters, have probably passed away long ago

Xiao Chen actually did not know where he was going; he just did not want to stay at home and needed to go out for a walk

The five-year-old boy returned after collecting countless bird eggs: "Master, there is only yolk inside the eggs, no little babies. Master, you are deceiving me."

Regarding Li Xu's matter, we can find a way ourselves. Haven't we seen enough of the officials protecting each other? By assisting them now, are you not afraid of being used, of becoming an accomplice to their wrongdoing?" he said angrily

It was actually a mistake by the master; when the master passed by Kunlun Mountain, a large fruit fell from a tree at the mountain's peak and landed in the master's arms. When the master peeled it open, you were sitting inside the fruit, laughing.

The signature is from my fifth junior apprentice, Li Xu

The master said he would understand

Very far away

In the end, it all comes down to her belief in them. Xiao Chen's face was cold, and he felt gloomy inside. Due to his visual impairment, he was already a very reclusive person, and with matters weighing on his mind, he found it inconvenient to speak fully to Mo Yan at that moment. Thus, he chose to remain silent, which made Mo Yan constantly observe his expression.

Sigh, scattered with the wind

Regarding this person, Xiao Chen has hardly heard a single commendable word, except for his undeniably outstanding appearance. Yet, even so, he has still been bestowed with the title of the enchanting figure in the court.

Then why is it that I feel so miserable, and they do not come to see me?

That night, lying in bed, fragments of the past that had been heard repeatedly surfaced in Xiao Chen's mind, his thoughts tangled, resulting in a sleepless night

It was said by Lord Bao of Kaifeng Prefecture

Second brother, it is not that I do not wish to return with you, but the case of Fifth brother truly requires me to go to Suzhou to handle it properly

"How many times have I told you to just stay on the railing outside? Every time you fly into the house, it leaves a terrible smell everywhere." Xiao Chen scolded, while his hand still reached into the small compartment under the coffee table, grabbing a handful of millet.

Second elder brother

Miss, sir, he...

The visitor was the steward of the residence, his face pale and somewhat frightening, staring at Bai Yingyu. He moved his lips for a long time but could not utter a word

Before Xiao Chen could speak, Mo Yan had already interrupted Zhan Zhao, pushing Xiao Chen into the room and shutting the door with a bang. She then eagerly guided Xiao Chen to sit down in a chair.

Li Xu mentioned that Mo Yan had not yet arrived in the capital. Although he knew that Mo Yan was clever and quick-witted, he still felt some concern, as she was a young lady. Therefore, he decided to head towards the capital, considering it a search for Mo Yan.

"Second brother," Mo Yan said cautiously, "would you like to go to Gusu with us?"

At the age of twenty, the boy calculated, "There are still thirteen years to go."

Indeed, thirteen years will soon pass by

And this person is actually his father

Master Zhang, this is a matter between our senior and junior disciples, please do not interfere

Since they have all grown up, Master’s innate nature of being a carefree wanderer has become increasingly difficult to suppress. He set out on a journey three months ago and has yet to return. Xiao Chen does not expect Master to remember his birthday; even if he does, he does not anticipate that he will rush back.

In the past, he had also contemplated what his parents might be like, perhaps impoverished individuals fleeing from disaster, too poor to sustain themselves, or perhaps, due to carelessness, abandoned by the roadside. Yet, he could never have imagined that his own origins would turn out to be like this

Mo Yan immediately sat down obediently

Seeing Mo Yan's troubled expression, the nearby Zhang Zhao approached gently and said, "Hero Xiao, I fear there may be a misunderstanding regarding this matter..."

Is Kunlun Mountain far away

"Tomorrow, return to Kaifeng with me," he replied

"Second brother?" Mo Yan bit her lip, "... I still have to go to Gusu."

Xiao Chen let out a cold snort, did not respond, and briefly said: "I want to rest, you go out"

He could only turn around and walk into the house... In order to accommodate him, everything from the large furniture to the small oil lamp was fixed in place, and there would absolutely be no movement. He had memorized the positions of various items in the house since childhood, so he naturally walked without thinking, and at a distance of 65, he stopped, finding himself right next to the small stove.

Now that you have reached the age of twenty, I can finally reveal everything to you. The reasons for this, I believe you will understand.

notorious, and his father was executed for treason and collusion with the enemy

"What happened?" Bai Yingyu asked softly, her hand clutching a handkerchief tightly against her chest.

Yes, he certainly understands, as he has also heard of Xiao Yi.

The night breeze, carrying a hint of moisture, brushed past him, lifting the corner of his blue robe slightly, creating a sense of grace. Xiao Chen leaned against the bamboo railing, with the sound of flowing water gurgling beneath his feet

Despite wrinkling his brow at the smell emanating from the pigeon, Xiao Chen patiently waited for the pigeon to finish the millet in his hand. Only then did he pick up the pigeon and untie the small bamboo tube tied to its leg, extracting two rolled-up letters from the tube.

Big Bird

Unfolding the letter, my hand glided over the paper, feeling the slight raised ink. On the first sheet of stationery, there were only a few sparse words: "Second Brother, has Xiao Qi gone out yet? I have been waiting in the capital for half a month, why have I not seen her yet?"

The maid was just about to ask her if she was hungry and whether she wanted to have some snacks when they suddenly heard someone approaching quickly from outside, startling both of them.

And today marks his twentieth birthday

The second note should be slightly longer

"... ... I ... ... I believe it." Mo Yan stammered, noticing Xiao Chen's furrowed brow, and quickly added, "Because he discussed this case with me, and his arguments were logical and well-founded."

A man with an extraordinarily beautiful appearance, yet possessing the worst reputation, seducing the court, indulging in pleasures, colluding with the enemy and betraying his country, and then being executed by being cut in half in public—recalling the words he had heard in the past, Xiao Chen felt somewhat bewildered, slowly folding the letter and quietly sitting in the chair for a long, long time

Before he could put down the millet, the pigeon had already eagerly poked its head over, pecking at the seeds in his palm one by one

"My disciple, upon seeing this letter, I feel as if I am meeting you in person." — It was from my master. Xiao Chen was momentarily taken aback, for his master had never had the habit of writing letters. He hurriedly ran his fingers down the handwriting.

This case is indeed quite complex: Bao Zheng is currently investigating the corruption case in Jiangnan, uncovering that Bai Baozhen, the Suzhou textile official, embezzled a substantial amount of silver and colluded with the high-ranking court official Zhang Yaozu of the Three Departments. At this moment, Bai Baozhen is murdered in the capital, with treasures found in the room of a certain Li Xu. Although Bao Zheng has imprisoned Li Xu, he suspects that Li Xu is a victim of framing and that the true murderer is Zhang Yaozu, who orchestrated the killing to silence him. Therefore, he dispatched Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao to Jiangnan to find evidence of the collusion between Bai Baozhen and Zhang Yaozu. Although Bao Zheng has imprisoned Li Xu, he suspects that Li Xu is a victim of framing and that the true murderer is Zhang Yaozu, who orchestrated the killing to silence him. Therefore, he dispatched Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao to Jiangnan to find evidence of the collusion between Bai Baozhen and Zhang Yaozu.

Lost in thought, I suddenly heard the small stove in the room bubbling as it boiled water for tea

Oh

Upon arriving at the town at the foot of the mountain, I hired a carriage and proceeded northward, inquiring along the way. As fate would have it, while resting at an inn, I encountered Han Zhang, the Earth Rat, one of the Five Rats of the Hollow Island. Han Zhang was also searching for Xiao Qi, so the two of us traveled together. When we reached Jiangning, we finally met Xiao Qi, Mo Yan, only to learn that Xiao Wu, Li Xu, had been falsely accused by the authorities and was deeply imprisoned, while Xiao Qi had surprisingly entered the public service and was working with Zhan Zhao on this case.

"Second Brother!" Mo Yan was also quite troubled. After a pause, she said: "I... once Fifth Brother's matter is resolved, I will naturally resign from this position."

Thirteen years later, the green mountains are faintly visible, and the green waters stretch far away

Xiao Chen does not care about the esteemed reputation of Bao Zheng as a just official; he only feels that if Bao Zheng were to wrongfully accuse Li Xu of murder and imprison him, then Bao Zheng cannot truly be considered a just official. Since ancient times, officials have protected one another, and it is lamentable that even Bao Zheng cannot escape this custom.

The next morning, Xiao Chen packed a few pieces of casual clothing and walked over the small bridge, heading down the mountain path

Your father, Xiao Yi, was originally the governor stationed in Shunde. Twenty years ago, he was executed for treason. Your mother was pregnant at that time and was sent out of Shunde overnight. On the way, she encountered pursuing soldiers and was rescued by me. Your mother was severely injured and gave birth to you at dawn, after which she passed away. Due to the urgency of the situation, I still do not know her name.

They are very eager to come, but they have made an agreement with their master to wait until Chen Er reaches the age of maturity.

Mo Yan hurriedly said: "No, it's just that I must go to Suzhou."

Xiao Chen had always harbored a deep disdain for the officials, and coupled with his background, his loathing was even more intense. At this moment, upon hearing that Mo Yan had become a constable, he could not help but feel a sense of displeasure in his heart

The master said that he needs to procure some items in the capital as the dowry for the young lady, which will likely take some more time

Mo Yan mistakenly believed that he had agreed, and quietly closed the door for him from outside, leaving with joy in her heart. Meanwhile, inside the room, Xiao Chen opened his bundle, changed out of the robe he had worn all day, put on a clean one, and then lay down on the bed to rest.

He slightly furrowed his brow, just about to call out "Xiao Qi," when he suddenly remembered that his junior sister Mo Yan had already gone to Kaifeng. At this moment, there was no one at home, and all the trivial matters had to be managed by him alone

Despite being blind, he still "sees" the night sky, as the heart of the Celestial Dragon, one of the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon, slowly descends from the zenith to the west. He clearly remembers that during the time of the July fire, it is also the time approaching his birthday.

"Master, why do I not have parents, only a master?" asked the innocent three-year-old child, looking up.

The maid beside her, fearing to disturb her, silently trimmed the candle flowers to make the light brighter, and then quietly stepped aside to wait.

The young lady before her is Bai Yingyu, the daughter of Bai Baozhen, a silk weaver from Suzhou. Earlier this year, she was betrothed to Young Master Sima Dai of the Sima family in Luoyang, and she is currently embroidering her dowry as the Lunar New Year approaches.

He said, do you really believe it

Bai Yingyu gently pinched her brow, feeling a bit of soreness in her eyes, and smiled as she said: "I was thinking of finishing the embroidery early to feel more at ease... Father has gone to the capital, and I do not know when he will return?"

But who exactly are his parents? And where are their graves?

At this moment, the maid stepped forward with a smile and advised, "Miss, it is time to take a break. There is still some time before the wedding day, so there is no need to rush with the embroidery. Your health is what matters most."

"Whatever they say, just listen to it. When did you become so close to these officials?" He grew increasingly impatient, emphasizing his tone, "After returning to Kaifeng, return that broken sign to the Kaifeng Prefecture. We avoid those people as much as possible, yet you still want to get involved with them"

He poured a cup of brewed tea, held it in his hand, and gently blew on it. The aroma of the tea wafted up, and on this early autumn night, the fragrance was refreshing and made the atmosphere feel even warmer.

The mother who died in childbirth due to fleeing, her name remains unknown

"Master, do my parents not want me anymore?" he asked softly, lying on my back.

It was about his own origins. For some reason, Xiao Chen's hand trembled slightly, and he could not bring himself to touch the words below. Thirteen years had finally passed, and this matter had weighed heavily on his heart for thirteen years. During these thirteen years, he had never asked again. Finally, the moment had come when his master was willing to tell him. He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and then placed his hand back on the letter.

Bai Yingyu stumbled, and in her panic, she leaned against the embroidery frame, which toppled over, causing the candle wax to drip onto it, each drop as crimson as blood.

Of course not

As for Xiao Qi, let her follow Zhan Zhao. If she truly obtains the account book, it can also prevent Zhan Zhao from tampering with it.

What happened? Speak quickly

Xiao Yi, this is the person he has always looked down upon

Who told you this?

In the depths of the bamboo forest behind, a figure stands atop the bamboo shoots. As the wind blows, the figure sways with the bamboo, yet their gaze remains firmly fixed on Xiao Chen.

In the embroidery building of the weaving mansion, a young girl who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old was still engrossed in her needlework at the embroidery frame

As soon as the clock struck three at night, he got up again, took his bundle, and, relying on his memory, made his way to the backyard to lead the horse, setting off for Kaifeng on his own. Mo Yan, after all, was still inexperienced in the world; he believed a few words from these officials, but Xiao Wu's matter was ultimately a matter of life and death, so he still had to go to the capital.

After a long while, he finally said indifferently: "Since you believe them, then so be it."

Because our Chen'er was sent by the great bird from the sky

Upon hearing this, he felt somewhat angry. Mo Yan had always listened to him since childhood, yet after just a few days of being away, she had changed: "Are you no longer listening to my words?"

You have reached the age of twenty, and I can now reveal your origins to you. You are not someone I found, but rather, your mother entrusted you to me before her passing

Just as he was about to drink, he suddenly heard the sound of a bird flapping its wings from outside. Strangely enough, the bird showed no fear of humans and boldly flew straight into the room, landing on the tea table beside him, chirping away.

After eating the millet, the pigeon felt very thirsty, so it pecked at the tea beside him, taking small sips, occasionally tilting its head to glance at him, murmuring...

Bai Yingyu let out a faint sigh, yet there was a subtle unease in her heart

Indeed, the big bird flew and flew, and when it reached the master's head, it cawed twice and laid an egg that fell into the master's arms. When the master peeled open the egg, there you were, sitting inside the egg and laughing

Just now, someone from the capital delivered an urgent message, stating that our master has been murdered

In the distance, the sound of the second watch of the night echoed outside. The embroidery girl straightened her back, gazing at the half-finished embroidery of a hundred birds welcoming the phoenix on the frame, and let out a long, leisurely sigh