Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

"I heard yesterday that your father passed away three months ago. Why did Magistrate Tao suddenly pass away at the age of forty?" Shen Zhiyi narrowed his eyes slightly, with a hint of inquiry in his expression.

Tao Qingwan and Tao Jiuxi had already thought on the way that if their aunt's family took them in, they would definitely ask.

But if they told her that their family was murdered, her aunt's family would probably refuse to let them in.

So we have to say that my father died of illness.

My uncle is an official in the capital. Even if some bad guys find them, they will definitely not dare to attack them.

"My cousin, for some unknown reason, my father contracted a serious illness and passed away within a few days." Tao Qingwan lowered her head slightly, her brows slightly furrowed on her porcelain-white face, and a trace of sadness flashed in her eyes.

"Dead from illness?" Shen Zhiyi's face was originally calm, but at this moment his brows were slightly furrowed.

"Father's illness is severe and incurable. When he was conscious, he asked us to come to the capital to find my aunt." Tao Qingwan said, the sadness in her tone was not fake, and the guilt in her tone was even stronger.

My father is still alive, but we can only say that he is dead.

She twisted the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her heart filled with helplessness and grief.

"Have you ever come to my aunt's house... to Xie's house before?" Shen Zhiyi stared at them intently, as if he wanted to see something from their expressions.

"No. After my mother died, my father only informed my aunt in a letter."

However, my aunt did not go back herself, but only sent her servants to express her condolences.

My grandfather and my uncle's family from the border came to pay their respects despite the long journey. My grandmother was old and she was so heartbroken when she heard the news that she couldn't get out of bed.

"Then how did you find Xie's house?" Shen Zhiyi raised his chin slightly, with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

"After entering the capital, I asked someone and came all the way here." Tao Qingwan answered softly.

"How do you ask?"

Tao Jiuxi muttered to himself, is it necessary to be so detailed?

"It is said...it is said that he is an official in the court, comes from a family of scholars, and is a wealthy family." This was all the information they knew, but they were lucky enough to find the Xie Mansion after asking a few people.

A sneer came out of Shen Zhiyi's mouth.

Then he muttered again with deep meaning: "Official in the court? From a family of scholars? From a wealthy family?"

Tao Jiuxi showed a hint of panic on his face when he heard this.

Did he say something wrong? Tao Jiuxi was far away and looked down on Shen Zhiyi's expression, only feeling that his tone was a bit sarcastic.

"Cousin, but Qingwan...Qingwan was wrong?" Tao Qingwan looked at Shen Zhiyi nervously, feeling uneasy.

Shen Zhiyi hid the mocking look on his face.

"What will you do if the Xie Mansion doesn't take you in?" There was a hint of amusement in Shen Zhiyi's eyes.

Tao Qingwan twisted the handkerchief tightly in her hand. Was she unwilling to take him in? "If...if..."

Tao Jiuxi complained in his heart, what else can he do if he is not taken in?

I can only go out and find a shabby yard to stay in for the night. If I don’t freeze to death, I will find a way to go out and make money.

If I freeze to death, I pray that I won’t be so miserable in my next life.

No, it’s better to be alive. She looked at her elder sister, the weak little white rabbit sister, who was so nervous that the handkerchief in her hand was about to be crumpled.

Tao Jiuxi raised his voice, fearing that Shen Zhiyi in the distance could not hear clearly, and said:

"Why wouldn't my cousin be willing to take me in? I've heard along the way that your family is well-known for being kind and generous. Even if there's a beggar at the door, they'll give him a bowl of hot porridge."

"My uncle is an official in the court, and he is highly praised. He would definitely not turn away two young, helpless nieces who have come from thousands of miles away to visit him, and ignore them."

"My cousin is already old enough to discuss marriage. If people see that the Xie family is willing to take care of an orphan, they will definitely think that the Xie family is kind and benevolent."

Shen Zhiyi's gaze fell on the little girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old in front of him. He was secretly surprised. He didn't expect that this little girl would be so shameless, but she was not stupid either.

At this moment, he seemed to have noticed something interesting. If he did not take them in, the Xie family's attitude towards distant relatives would seem to be worse than beggars. Moreover, Xie Mi was an official in the court. If he acted in this way, he would definitely give people a chance to criticize him.

Taking them in, however, would demonstrate the Xie family's kindness.

But, those were all matters of Xie Mi's family. What did they have to do with him, the upstart of the dynasty, Shen Zhiyi, the Duke of Shen?

"But if we take you in, what benefit will it bring to the Xie Mansion?" Shen Zhiyi spoke again, his tone not as sharp as before.

When Tao Qingwan heard this, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought Shen Zhiyi would be angry after hearing those words. After all, those words were naked threats.

But as for how to express their gratitude, they had nothing at the moment and didn't know how to repay their aunt's family.

Before Tao Qingwan could speak.

"If the Xie family is willing to take us in, we will be grateful. My elder sister and I are still young, and we will definitely repay you in the future." Tao Jiuxi hurriedly answered.

She thought that if her eldest sister were to say it, she would probably say something like "serve the old lady" or "serve your aunt."

She simply pretended to be stupid and since her cousin didn't say it clearly, she didn't say it out loud.

"It's too naive to expect the Xie family to take you in with just a few empty promises."

"Cousin, although my elder sister and I are women, we must keep our promises." Tao Jiuxi continued to respond in a roundabout way. If you don't tell me what you want us to do, I won't tell you either.

"Heh. Cousin." Shen Zhiyi's tone was playful.

"Hey, cousin." Tao Jiuxi feigned sincerity. Shen Zhiyi had never seen such a shameless woman before, and she wasn't pretending to be scheming. She looked as if to say, I'm just thick-skinned.

moment.

"I just want to find out this time. My two cousins, please feel free to stay here." Shen Zhiyi's words surprised the four people present except him.

"Thank you, cousin." Tao Qingwan spoke first.

"Thank you, cousin. You are not only handsome and dignified, but also kind-hearted and loyal." Tao Jiuxi's tone was sweet at this time, and his face was full of flattery.

Shen Zhiyi didn't even bother to look at her, thinking to himself: How shameless and hypocritical.

"Cousin, can I go and pay my respects to the old lady and my aunt?" Tao Qingwan bowed slightly and asked softly.

"My mother went to Jiangnan half a year ago and is living there temporarily. It will probably take another year or two for her to come back." Shen Zhiyi replied in a flat tone.

Tao Qingwan was secretly surprised. They weren't even in the mansion? She frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "There must be other elders in the mansion. Jiuxi and I should pay New Year's greetings."

"I recently bought this mansion, and I'm the only master in it." Shen Zhiyi leaned back in his chair with an indifferent expression.

Tao Qingwan suddenly felt that it was not appropriate to live in this place.

I should go to the yard where my aunt is, but why did my cousin leave the family at such a young age?

This is rare.

Maybe he's already married.

"Is my cousin's wife here?"

"I'm unmarried." Shen Zhiyi frowned slightly, feeling a little annoyed by Tao Qingwan's endless questions.

"Since my cousin is not married yet, it would be unreasonable for Jiuxi and I to stay with him again. Can you send us to my aunt..." Tao Qingwan looked embarrassed, with a hint of hesitation in her words.

Upon hearing this, Tao Jiuxi immediately ran to Tao Qingwan.

There are no elders in this huge mansion, only one master. Doesn't that mean there is no need to visit relatives and friends every morning and evening, and pay respects to this person and that person?

Besides, my cousin is not married yet, so if I really want to have any evil thoughts about him one day, I don’t have to worry about anything.

"Eldest sister, if you still want to say that, my cousin was angry and kicked us out. My aunt is not at home, and my uncle is at home, so it will be inconvenient for us to go there." Tao Jiuxi kept winking at Tao Qingwan, then lowered his voice to advise Tao Qingwan.

Tao Qingwan felt a little embarrassed when she heard this. She bit her lip and felt very conflicted.

But he felt that Tao Jiuxi's words made some sense, so he nodded slightly towards Tao Jiuxi.

"Qingwan thanks cousin for taking care of me. I will definitely do my duty in the mansion and won't bother you."

"It's okay. Since you are my cousin, just stay here and feel at ease." Shen Zhiyi picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.