The little dark guard who travels between two lives

On the official road thirty miles outside the capital, a carriage was coming towards the capital. Although the carriage was not luxurious, it looked like it was not something that ordinary people could afford.

What's more, there were several guards on horseback protecting the carriage. Their sharp eyes and swords at their waists made pedestrians afraid to approach.

In the carriage, a woman dressed as a woman was gently comforting a girl in her arms. The woman was about thirty years old, but she had a pretty face. Her ordinary peasant woman's attire did not diminish her beauty.

Although the woman had a beautiful face, her eyes were cold. She looked out the window through the car curtains that were blown by the wind, and murmured, "We are very close to the capital, Qingyan, you will be able to see your parents soon."

The girl named Qingyan in the woman's arms threw herself into the woman's arms, choking with sobs and saying, "Mother Lin, I'm scared. Will my parents dislike me? Don't they say I have a younger sister and a younger brother at home?"

The woman's eyes still looked at Qingyan without any warmth, but when Qingyan raised her head and looked at her, she was smiling and her eyes became much softer.

She patted the girl's head gently: "Silly child, you are their own flesh and blood, how could they not like you?" Mother Lin's eyes flickered and then continued with a smile: "You just need to remember what your noble master told you. Do you remember what your noble master said?"

Qingyan nodded obediently: "The noble said that my mother and I look the most alike. As long as I am well-behaved, sensible and considerate, my mother will definitely like me."

Mother Lin nodded: "The nobleman has hired someone to teach you music, chess, calligraphy and painting in the past two years, and you have learned very well. These are all things your mother likes. She will definitely like a daughter like you."

Qingyan thought of the support and education that the mysterious noble had given her over the past two years. Although she had never lacked food and clothing since she was a child, she could not be said to be rich. After all, her adoptive mother had limited abilities and was barely able to support the two of them.

But things were different after this noble person appeared. This noble person was extremely generous and hired many masters to teach her music, chess, calligraphy and painting. He educated her strictly according to the standards of a lady from a noble family.

Now, hearing Lin Ma say that her mother was also a talented woman, Qingyan felt relieved, but she was still uneasy: "Lin Ma, my younger sister and brother grew up with our parents, so they must be more liked by our parents than me, right?"

Qingyan lowered her head and whispered, "Didn't you say that sister has been crowned as a princess? I am just a child who grew up in the countryside. How can I compare with my sister?"

When Aunt Lin heard the word "Princess", she gritted her teeth and said, "Back then, there was a chance to replace you in the Qin Mansion, but that little girl ruined the situation, causing your Aunt Su to die in an unclear way. Otherwise, the position of Princess should be yours now."

Mother Lin remembered something and grabbed Qingyan's arm and said, "You have to remember, if anyone asks you, just say that you have been raised by me since you were a child. Aunt Su only comes to see you occasionally and has not come in the past few years."

Qingyan nodded. She still remembered Aunt Su. She often saw her coming to see her when she was a child. She heard from Aunt Lin that the money to support her was all given by the kind-hearted Aunt Su.

But later I heard that Aunt Su was burned to death in a fire, and I never saw her again since then. Fortunately, after Aunt Su's death, that noble man found me and said that he was entrusted to take care of me. If it weren't for this noble man, it would have been difficult for Aunt Lin to support the two of them alone.

Mother Lin continued to solemnly instruct: "Remember, no matter who asks, you must say that you survived by relying on my embroidery work and the money left by Aunt Su. Don't ever mention the matter of that noble person, remember!"

Qingyan was a little confused: "Why don't you mention the noble man? He has done us a favor. Now that I have found my parents, I can ask them to thank the noble man!"

Mother Lin smiled and said, "There are many things to say here. I will tell you when the time comes, but listen to me now. Don't mention the noble. If you mention the noble, your father will definitely not like you."

Qingyan nodded quickly. The most important thing for her now was to please her father and mother and live a good life.

Seeing that she looked unhappy, Mother Lin touched Qingyan's face again and said, "Yan'er, after entering the Qin Mansion, I can no longer call you that. I have to call you Miss."

"Yan'er, remember, you were victimized and forced to wander outside for many years. You suffered a lot and have never been loved by your parents. Your father and mother must feel guilty and pity you. This is your biggest trump card. They will not treat you badly."

Qingyan threw herself into Lin Ma's arms again, choking up and saying, "Lin Ma, you have been by my side for so many years. If you hadn't been with me, Yan'er might not be alive anymore."

Mother Lin smiled and patted Qingyan on the back: "Okay, let's stop talking. We're going to Beijing soon. Let's be happy. We're going to live a good life soon."

The carriage moved forward slowly. After entering the city gate, it did not go towards the Qin Mansion, but went to a villa on the outskirts of the city.

Mother Lin lifted the curtain and looked out, surprised to see that this was not the way to the Qin residence. She smiled and asked the guard beside the car: "Excuse me, sir, where are we going?"

The guards knew who they were looking for this time, so they were very respectful and polite to the two of them. When she asked, they immediately bowed and replied: "We have received orders from the master to place the young lady in a courtyard outside the city first. After a day of rest, the master will come to pick her up in person."

Mother Lin thanked the guard and her face changed after she lowered the curtains. Qingyan asked Mother Lin: "Mother Lin, aren't we going back to our father and mother?"

Mother Lin sneered at Qingyan and said, "Yan'er, it seems that they still don't believe us!" Qingyan's mouth pursed and she said unhappily, "Daddy and mother don't want Yan'er anymore? They have lost Yan'er for so long, shouldn't they be in a hurry to take their daughter back?"

Mother Lin said in a cold voice: "Your father is the Prime Minister of the dynasty, how could he easily believe someone who said that she was his daughter?"

"That's right. We've been separated for so long, I have to interrogate her in detail." Mother Lin remembered what that man had told her. She must make her and Qingyan's experiences clear. Qin Mingxuan is not someone who can be easily fooled.

Mother Lin looked at Qingyan who was unhappy, smiled and pinched Qingyan's cheek: "Don't be angry, Yan'er, your father is a cautious person, and recognizing a daughter is not a trivial matter. Don't be afraid, we are not fake, so we are not afraid of them coming to investigate."

The leader of the guards properly settled Lin Ma and Qing Yan in the villa, left a few guards to guard the villa, and then went to the Qin Mansion to report the matter to Qin Mingxuan.

In the Qin residence, Ji Wanran was waiting anxiously. When she heard the guard report that the girl had been placed in the other courtyard, she looked at Qin Mingxuan in surprise: "Why didn't my husband let my daughter come home directly? Why did he place her in the other courtyard in the suburbs? She is our beloved daughter!"

Qin Mingxuan comforted his wife helplessly: "Madam, don't worry. It is precisely because she is our daughter that we have to be more cautious. I still need to investigate it carefully. Please be patient. I will definitely bring our daughter home."

Ji Wanran obviously disagreed with Qin Mingxuan's opinion: "I can definitely recognize my own daughter. It is said that mother and daughter are connected by heart. How could I not recognize my own daughter?"

Ji Wanran held Qin Mingxuan's hand and looked at her husband eagerly: "Husband, are you going to the other courtyard? I want to go too, I want to go with you, I must see my daughter first."

Qin Mingxuan couldn't persuade his wife, so he had to take her to the other courtyard. After entering the other courtyard, Qin Mingxuan persuaded his wife to stay at home for the time being and only show up after he had asked everything.

However, Ji Wanran still insisted on hiding behind the screen and listening to Qin Mingxuan's questioning.

Qin Mingxuan had no choice but to ask his men to arrange a room for Ji Wanran, let her sit behind a screen, and then ordered someone to bring the woman up.

Mother Lin followed the guards into the room and saw the man sitting on the armchair at a glance. This was the famous Prime Minister Qin, Lord Qin.

After Lin Ma's eyes flickered several times, she quickly lowered her head to suppress the hatred in her eyes and knelt on the ground.

Mother Lin kowtowed to Qin Mingxuan: "Greetings, Lord Qin." Qin Mingxuan hurried forward to help Mother Lin up personally, then signaled his men to leave.

Qin Mingxuan smiled and asked Lin's mother to sit down. Seeing that Lin's mother looked uneasy, he smiled and said, "I heard that you are the one raising the child. Don't be afraid. Let's just chat casually. I also want to know more about the child. After all, she has not been with us for so many years. We must know more."

Mother Lin quickly pretended to understand, but she sneered in her heart. What did she mean by understanding the child? She was just worried and wanted to question him more.

Qin Mingxuan continued to ask: "I heard from the guards who came to visit that you are Su Peiyun's friend and have been entrusted by her to take care of the child, right?"

Aunt Lin replied respectfully: "I was originally Miss Su's maidservant. After Miss Su lost her husband, Old Master Qin took pity on her and took her into the Qin Mansion. Miss Su said that she didn't need so many of us, so she gave us some silver and let us return home."

"I obeyed the young lady's orders and returned to my hometown to get married. However, I was unlucky and my husband died early. There was no one left in my husband's family, so I returned to my parents' home and lived as a widow ever since."

Later, about twelve years ago, the young lady suddenly found me and gave me a baby, saying that it was her illegitimate daughter. It was inconvenient for her to raise the child in the Qin Mansion, so she entrusted the child to me to raise on her behalf and promised that I would not lack money and property. "

There was a sudden sound behind the screen. Mother Lin looked towards the screen and saw a shadowy figure sitting behind the screen. The figure seemed to stand up suddenly and then sit down again.

Mother Lin knew that the person behind the screen must be Madam Qin. Mother Lin took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes, and continued, "When the girl came to me, she was only this big. She must have been separated from her mother right after she was born, so her health was not very good. She was a little weak when she came, and her cry sounded like a kitten. What a pitiful person!"

"I went from house to house in the village to get some breast milk. The young lady left some money, and I hired a doctor to take good care of the young lady. Only then did her health gradually get better."

There was a soft sobbing sound coming from behind the screen. Mother Lin lowered her head and a slight smile appeared on her lips, which then disappeared immediately.

Qin Mingxuan knew that his wife would be upset after hearing these words, but he couldn't go in to comfort her, so he could only continue to ask: "So have you been with the child all these years?"

"Yes, Miss Su bought a house for me and my child, and asked me and Miss Qingyan to live together. Oh, Qingyan is the name Miss Su gave to the girl."

"Over the years, I have seen Miss Su treat you very well. Miss Su would send money every once in a while, and Miss Qingyan has never lacked food and clothing."

"When Miss Qingyan grew up, Miss Su also hired a teacher to teach her. Your Excellency, you don't know that although Miss Qingyan has not been in good health since she was a child, she is very smart. She is very good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Even the gentlemen praised Miss Qingyan."

Mother Lin paused, glanced behind the screen, sighed and said, "It's a pity that Miss Qingyan has no relatives around her. She always thinks Miss Su is her mother, and always asks me why I can't be with her. Her pitiful appearance makes me feel distressed."

Qin Mingxuan also felt sad when he heard this. Mother Lin was secretly proud and continued, "What's even more pitiful is that Miss Su stopped coming. I once asked someone to go to Miss Su's in-laws' house to inquire, and only then did I know that Miss Su had unfortunately died in a fire."

"Miss Qingyan cried so hard when she heard the news of Miss Su's death. Fortunately, Miss Su left us enough money, and I have a good embroidery skill. I have been able to support Miss Qingyan by doing work for others, so she didn't suffer too much."

"Later, the master's guards found us, and I knew that Miss Qingyan was actually a lady from a wealthy family. It's a pity that she suffered a lot following me. I feel sad when I think of this!"

Ji Wanran finally couldn't hold back her tears behind the screen, and Qin Mingxuan also felt very sad. He heard what Lin Ma said, and it was consistent with the information found by Yu Huaian's secret guards, so it should be true.

Qin Mingxuan continued to ask: "Have you ever heard Su Peiyun say how she would arrange for the child in the future?"

Mother Lin thought for a moment and said, "The young lady never told me how this child came about. I just remember that one year she came to see Miss Qingyan and seemed very happy to say that she had already made arrangements to do something big during the Lantern Festival. If the plan was completed, she would come to pick up Miss Qingyan and take her back to the capital soon. She said that the mother and daughter would do something big."

During the Lantern Festival, Qin Mingxuan thought of the incident during the Lantern Festival. The assassins were probably arranged by Su Peiyun. According to what Lin Ma said, they wanted to kidnap Xinhe and then send Qingyan back to the couple as Xinhe. It was unknown what bad things the woman was planning.

Qin Mingxuan figured this out and couldn't help but slammed his palm on the table, saying harshly: "This bitch, my father's love for her was in vain. She actually turned against us and brought disaster to us. She really deserves to die!"