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

In the study room.

Xie Yuhe, Xie Yuze, and Song Qingyang sat at the tea table.

Xie Yuhe poured Song Qingyang a cup of tea and glanced at Song Qingyang sitting opposite him.

Despite his humble origins, Song Qingyang stood tall and straight, dressed in a light blue robe, his face calm and composed, showing no signs of nervousness as someone newly entering a large clan.

He doesn't look like someone from a poor family; he looks like a young master from a fallen clan.

"I've heard that Young Master Song's teacher is the Grand Tutor?" Xie Yuhe handed the tea to Song Qingyang.

Song Qingyang accepted it: "I am grateful for your appreciation, sir."

Xie Yuhe rubbed his fingertips against the teacup and said, "Young Master Song is so talented, and he is also a student of the Grand Tutor. He must have some understanding of the current situation in the court."

"The political landscape in the court is complex and intertwined, and my Xie family does not wish to be entangled with any of these forces," Xie Yuhe said calmly. "I noticed that Young Master Song showed considerable concern for my younger sister today."

"Young Master Song is so outstanding, the Xie family is naturally pleased that Young Master Song and my sister have a close relationship, there's just one thing."

Xie Yuhe raised his eyes: "I think Young Master Song dotes on Xing'er like a younger sister, but now Xing'er represents the General's Mansion, so I have to ask Young Master Song in advance whether you have joined anyone's household as a retainer?"

Talented scholars would be recruited by various forces even before they entered the palace examination.

Someone like Song Qingyang, who was also appreciated by the Grand Tutor, was even more sought after.

Song Qingyang took a sip of tea: "Don't worry, Young Master Xie, I have not joined anyone's sect, so naturally I will not have any connection with the General's Mansion."

Song Qingyang put down his teacup and said calmly, "As far as I'm concerned, I only care about Xing'er."

Xie Yuze said irritably, "Xie Xing has already entered my General's Mansion. She's our own sister. You think you can take her away?"

"Why not?" Song Qingyang looked at Xie Yuze indifferently: "If your General's Mansion can treat an imposter as your precious daughter, why can't my Song family?"

"You!" Xie Yuze was furious. "Who are you calling an imposter!"

“Young Master Xie knows this very well.” Song Qingyang sneered, “Even though my Song family is poor, Xing’er has never suffered a single grievance in my Song family. She has been pampered and spoiled by my Song family since childhood.”

"She was spoiled and willful, how come she became so obedient after coming to your Xie family?"

Song Qingyang watched Xie Xing grow up, how could he not see the changes in Xie Xing?

He didn't know that his younger sister, whom he had truly doted on since childhood, had long been forced to her death and was now a completely different person. So he attributed this change to the grievances she suffered in the General's Mansion, which was why she had become so obedient.

The more Song Qingyang thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt.

Xie Yuze remained silent.

Song Qingyang was right. Before hearing Xie Xing's true feelings, no one in the Xie family disliked Xie Xing, including Xie Yuze, who was the one who hated Xie Xing the most among the three brothers.

When he was bored, he would even play little tricks on Xie Xing.

It often made the little girl feel wronged and shed tears.

Xie Yuze felt guilty about this, so he didn't say anything more.

“Young Master Song.” Xie Yuhe put down his teacup, looked at Song Qingyang, and said, “The relationships between major clans are not as simple as those of your Song family.”

"The General's Mansion holds significant military power, which is highly valued by His Majesty, and both civil and military officials are eyeing it covetously."

“My father and grandmother supported His Majesty’s ascension to the throne and were founding heroes. My grandmother was a first-rank imperial consort and my maternal grandfather was a first-rank Grand Tutor. These things destined that the daughters of the Xie family could not live innocently and carefree.”

"otherwise……"

Xie Yuhe said coldly, "You will die."

A moment of silence fell over the surroundings.

Song Qingyang remained silent, neither agreeing nor denying what he said.

"I heard from Yuze that Young Master Song seems to be able to sense the difference in Xing'er as well?" After a long silence, Xie Yuhe spoke first.

Song Qingyang glanced at Xie Yuze.

Xie Yuze said, "The three of us could also hear Xie Xing's thoughts, just a while ago."

Song Qingyang asked in surprise, "This isn't a secret technique unique to your Xie family?"

Xie Yuze was speechless: "What kind of secret technique could be so miraculous?"

Xie Yuhe said, "Currently, we have found that not everyone can hear Xing'er's thoughts."

"I wonder if Young Master Song has ever read any storybooks?"

Song Qingyang said, "No."

Xie Yuhe paused for a moment, then took out a storybook he had bought from the market from his study, placed it in front of Song Qingyang, and said in a low voice, "Young Master Song can go back and take a look."

“Some time ago, we often heard Xing’er talking to a strange thing in her inner voice. The general idea was that we are people living in storybooks and that our fate is predetermined.”

"Whether it's true or not, based on my observation, besides us, the only other people who can hear Xing'er's thoughts are Prince Jin, Jun Lanjin."

Jun Lanjin?

Song Qingyang looked up from the storybook and stared at Xie Yuhe in astonishment.

Xie Yuhe said calmly, "Young Master Song should know about Prince Jin, right? This man is extraordinary, with unparalleled wisdom and a deep mind."

"No woman in the entire capital city could catch his eye, but after we were able to hear Xing'er's inner thoughts, he treated Xing'er with exceptional special care."

Xie Yuze added, "Xie Xing seems to have been completely misled by Jun Lanjin."

On the day she was being hunted, the little girl's heart was filled with worry and praise for Jun Lanjin.

Song Qingyang is a smart man; he must know the reasoning behind this.

Having said that, Xie Yuhe looked at Song Qingyang and said, "Young Master Song is a smart man. My Xie family has already shown our sincerity. For Xing'er's sake, you can cooperate with us."

"It's not the Xie family, it's me."

Xie Yuhe added a sentence.

Song Qingyang picked up the storybook on the table, but did not agree immediately. Instead, he said, "Let me think about it."

Xie Yuhe wasn't in a hurry and nodded.

Having said all he needed to say, Song Qingyang saw no need to stay any longer. He bowed to Xie Yuhe and then left the study.

Watching Song Qingyang's departing figure, Xie Yuze asked, "Big brother, is it alright if we just tell him everything like this?"

"What if he tells someone else about it?"

Xie Yuhe looked in the direction Song Qingyang had left, put his hands behind his back, and sighed, "This is not good for our Xie family. If he really cares about Xie Xing as he says, he will cooperate with us."

“If it’s not…” A cold glint flashed in Xie Yuhe’s eyes: “Then we’ll kill him to silence him and reduce the chances of something happening.”

Song Qingyang did indeed have a Grand Tutor behind him, but he was, after all, just a poor scholar.

The two stood in the study, looking at each other in silence.

In fact, both of them knew very well that there was a knife hanging high over the Xie family's head, just waiting for an opportunity to strike.

"Brother, do you have any leads on the former regime's party?" Xie Yuze asked.

Xie Yuhe shook his head: "No."

"What about my second brother..."

Of the three brothers, only Xie Tongchen was still unclear about the matter.

Xie Yuhe said, "His feelings for Mingzhu are extraordinary; let's not let him know for now."