After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Song Ci'an could only find Xie Xing a clean set of men's clothing for her to change into.

After Xie Xing changed, the two sat by the stream. Moon, having just taken a bath, lazily lay down next to Xie Xing and started snoring.

Song Ci'an said coldly, "Now you can finally talk, right?"

Xie Xing sighed: "Brother, it's a long story."

Song Ci'an crossed his arms and looked at Xie Xing with a half-smile; "It's alright, I have plenty of time, you can tell me more."

Xie Xing then told Song Ci'an everything that had happened recently.

"The general's mansion was sealed off, and I was rescued by the prince. But I was unlucky and was hunted down. I even encountered wolves in the jungle."

"Luckily, the moon saved me."

Xie Xing sighed.

Song Ci'an squinted: "You mean, my elder brother was assassinated?"

Xie Xing's expression gradually faded. She pursed her lips and nodded: "Someone has their eyes on my elder brother. They tried to assassinate him on his way back home after he became the top scholar in the imperial examination."

"Fortunately, it didn't work."

Song Ci'an pursed her lips.

So many things have happened in Shengjing in such a short period of time.

While in the army, he learned that Xie Tongchen had been arrested and was extremely worried about Xie Xing. He never expected to encounter Xie Xing here.

She was still in such a disheveled state.

Song Ci'an was heartbroken.

He rolled his eyes at Xie Xing, annoyed: "I told you to go after someone rich and powerful, and now look what's happened, you're about to lose your life."

"Now that you've left the Xie family, I suggest you never go back to that Xie family again. This will allow you to sever all ties with them and go back to your parents right now."

"They haven't seen you in a long time and they miss you."

Song Ci'an was referring to Song's father and mother.

The mere mention of them caused a tightness to rise in the body's chest.

Compared to Xie Ansheng and his wife, Song's father and mother were the ones who truly loved her.

The original owner felt guilty towards the couple.

"From now on, you will still be Song Xing, and you will have no connection with the Xie family whatsoever."

As Song Ci'an spoke, he reached out and ruffled Xie Xing's hair: "Fame and fortune, your brothers will earn them back for you. Once your brothers have achieved success, you will once again be a noble young lady."

"What does the Xie family's name matter?"

“Brother…” Xie Xing felt a pang of sadness welling up in his heart when he heard these words.

The Song family treated Xie Xing exceptionally well.

With teary eyes, she pulled Song Ci'an's hand from her head, and looked at him with tearful eyes, saying, "What you said is so beautiful, so touching."

"but!"

Xie Xing released Song Ci'an's hand expressionlessly: "I've already told you, I didn't go back for wealth and glory!"

What kind of person have I made of her?

Song Ci'an looked at Xie Xing in astonishment: "If it's not for wealth and glory, why give up the good life of the Song family and go to live a life where you're about to be beheaded, are looked down upon by others, and have ended up in this miserable state?"

Song Ci'an looked Xie Xing up and down.

Xie Xing had some abrasions and bruises on his face, not to mention his body.

The woman's skin was delicate to begin with, and after experiencing so much, Song Ci'an could imagine how hideous and terrifying it must be inside without even seeing it.

Xie Xing choked.

She realized that Song Ci'an was right, and she was powerless to refute him.

Compared to the Xie family, the Song family lacked neither fame nor fortune, but they were not short of money.

If she were only after money, Song Ci'an might have thought she was smart, at least there was something to gain from her.

But if she wasn't after money, what else could she possibly want from the Xie family?

Feelings?

Just those few people from the Xie family?

That's a complete idiot.

The way Song Ci'an looked at her now was as if she were looking at a stupid pig.

Xie Xing: "..."

She closed her eyes briefly, and finally said helplessly, "Fine, I did get a few shops, a few manors, and several hundred acres of land from the Xie family."

Song Ci'an's gaze became even more intense.

"But that was earned for me by my third brother."

"Which third brother? The third son?"

Xie Xing nodded.

Song Ci'an sneered and said disdainfully, "Third brother only knows these little tricks. He's not as good as your second brother, who's actually good at fighting."

He stood up, patted Xie Xing's shoulder forcefully, and said confidently, "Just wait for your second brother to earn you fame and fortune. At that time, all those daughters of generals' families will be nothing but trash."

“I’ll earn you a princess title.”

Xie Xing was moved again.

"elder brother……"

Song Ci'an waved his hand: "Let's go home."

Xie Xing shook his head: "Brother, you are so touching, but I don't want to go home, I want to stay with you."

Song Ci'an was so startled by these words that he staggered.

He turned around and looked at Xie Xing in astonishment: "Why aren't you home? What are you doing?"

Xie Xing chuckled: "Following you."

"Nonsense!" Song Ci'an refused almost without thinking. "If someone finds out, it's a capital offense!"

"Don't you think you've lived long enough?"

Xie Xing fiddled with her fingers, looking aggrieved. "But brother, it's dangerous for me to go home alone. There are refugees everywhere these days. What if they see a poor, lonely girl like me and want to cook and eat me?"

Song Ci'an looked at the tiger.

Xie Xing quickly added, "Tiger meat is even more nutritious, brother. They'll eat it all up, leaving not even bones."

Song Ci'an was so angry he laughed.

He crossed his arms and stared at Xie Xing: "Aren't you afraid that if the soldiers find out you're a woman, they'll devour you until there's nothing left but bones?"

Xie Xing chuckled and leaned closer to Song Ci'an: "Brother, aren't you here too?"

Song Ci'an kicked Xie Xing away impatiently, "This isn't child's play, it can't be taken lightly."

"Ouch!" Xie Xing fell weakly to the ground, her eyes filled with tears as she accused Song Ci'an in an exaggerated tone: "Brother, you kicked me."

Song Ci'an...

Song Ci'an was speechless and laughed at her.

He rolled his eyes in annoyance: "Get lost, I'm not buying it."

Xie Xing could only shamelessly plead, "Oh, brother, please let me follow you, brother, brother, brother."

Xie Xing's brother shouted like a rooster crowing.

Song Ci'an remained unmoved.

Xie Xing felt a sense of helplessness, as if he couldn't handle things well even with someone he knew.

Song Ci'an and the original owner were too familiar with each other; the original owner even had more unreasonable methods than her.

Xie Xing sighed, then pulled a human skin mask from her pocket. She put the mask on and looked at Song Ci'an: "Brother, look, this way no one will recognize me, right?"

The human skin mask was the one Xie Yuze had torn off earlier.

Xie Xing didn't know how to wear it, so he could only stick it on like this.

She asked Song Ci'an to help her put it on.

Song Ci'an really couldn't do anything about her.

It wasn't that I was completely helpless because she was pestering me, but rather that what Xie Xing just said might also be a reason.

There are too many refugees, and this place is far too far from the Song family. It would be too dangerous for Xie Xing to go back alone.

Helpless, Song Ci'an could only help Xie Xing put on the human skin mask and said, "Let's make this clear first, I'll only let you follow me for a short while. When we pass by this area, you have to leave."