Reborn as a concubine's daughter and entering a noble family: Xie Lang, don't be too seduc

That was his master.

Before meeting his master, he was just a child who fled with refugees.

At such a young age, he had no one to protect him and spent his days hungry and hiding.

Even if one manages to sneak into the city, if spotted by the patrolling constables, they will be driven out. Once outside the city, there are only equally hungry refugees, unable to even get a meal...

“The wild fruits, tree bark, and grass roots that could be eaten by the roadside... were all eaten. In those years, there was war everywhere, and there were refugees everywhere, homeless people. So whenever they saw something edible, they would swarm over it and snatch it all.” He continued, his gaze piercing through the years, perhaps seeing the child who had once been on the run.

Hawthorne felt only desolation.

In her limited childhood memories, even though she wasn't loved by the Huo family, she had never suffered such hardship.

Little did she know that she had an older brother. While she was all alone, envying the other children of the Huo family, she was living in exile, hungry and in hiding.

"But sometimes I meet kind people. Like that time, I was so hungry that I fainted on the edge of the village and met an old woman. She gave me a barley cake, which was the best thing I had ever eaten. However, I only ate a little bit and kept most of it on my person."

At this point, Lu Ming turned around and looked at Huo Sanghua beside him, his smile growing even warmer.

He continued, "I know I have a younger sister. I'm looking for her; I'm worried she's also fleeing, and I don't know where she's gone. I know she's young and wouldn't be able to compete with others. As long as I don't starve, I can keep looking for her. I want to save the bread for her. I think that if we're together, no matter how hard things get, we can get through it..."

A tear slid down Hawthorne's cheek.

She wiped it away awkwardly, not wanting Lu Ming to see her embarrassment.

Lu Ming didn't care. He had already found his sister. Although she looked a bit thin, thankfully... she survived.

That's enough.

With him looking after her from now on, Sang Hua will naturally not be bullied anymore.

"...You learned your medical skills from your master?" Hawthorne recalled what had just been said.

“Yes,” Lu Ming admitted. “My master’s medical skills are excellent. He is the best doctor in the village and surrounding areas. He had me follow him and learn medicine for several years, saying that if you have skills, you can always make a living. A gentleman should be upright and honest and should not steal.”

His master had a great influence on him.

If it weren't for his master, he wouldn't be alive today.

These words also touched Hawthorne's ears.

Having medical skills can indeed be a valuable asset...

She asked, "Is medicine easy to learn?"

If she also knows medicine, she should be able to make a living after leaving the Xie family. Even if she doesn't leave the Xie family, Xie Lin...

She can help anyone in the Xie family who is injured.

"Do you want to learn?" Lu Ming immediately saw through her thoughts. "If you want to learn, I can teach you."

“But… ……” Hawthorne hesitated.

"Don't worry, seeing that you're doing well in the Xie family makes me feel at ease to do my own thing. These things have nothing to do with you. You can continue to stay here unless you want to leave on your own, in which case I can take you with me... Otherwise, I won't reveal our relationship to the Xie family and bring you into danger."

Lu Ming originally had no intention of involving her.

He just wanted to spend more time with Sang Hua, to keep an eye on his sister whom he couldn't acknowledge, and to see that she was doing well.

What he's about to do will definitely cause a huge uproar, before everything is settled—

We will never allow Sang Hua to be put in danger.

"Alright, alright." Hawthorne genuinely wanted to learn, even if it was just a superficial understanding.

Lu Ming smiled as he looked at Sang Hua beside him, wanting to say something more and say all the things he hadn't been able to say over the years. But the moment he heard the approaching footsteps behind him, he suddenly stopped smiling.

Seemingly recognizing the visitor's identity... "In that case, I'll take my leave now."

He left with that remark and deliberately walked away in front of Hawthorne.

Before Hawthorne could react, completely bewildered, she was stopped by Si Qingyue's voice—

"Sang Hua".

She looked towards Si Qingyue's voice and, coincidentally, saw Si Qingyue craning her neck to look at Lu Ming's back before finally arriving.

“Sister Si.” Huo Sanghua said in surprise.

Shouldn't Si Qingyue be by Xie Lin's side at this time?

She clearly came to visit Xie Lin about his injuries.

"Are you alright?" Si Qingyue was worried about Sang Hua, so she made a special trip to check on him before leaving.

Unexpectedly, she saw Lu Ming and Sang Hua talking together, and went up to Sang Hua, taking her hand and carefully observing her reaction.

"It's nothing," Sang Hua shook her head.

"I came to talk to you about Xie Lin." Si Qingyue was afraid that she would be upset about Xie Lin, so she tried to explain to her that there was nothing between her and Xie Lin.

Hearing Xie Lin's name from Si Qingyue's mouth still made Huo Sanghua feel a little awkward.

She knew she shouldn't take her anger out on Si Qingyue, but she also didn't want to admit that she genuinely cared about Xie Lin's situation.

"No need to say anything, I... I know what kind of person he is."

Lu Ming's sarcastic remarks weren't enough, and now Si Qingyue has come to explain things to her, as if everyone can see how much she cares about Xie Lin. This makes her very uncomfortable; she's afraid everyone will think she's jealous of Xie Lin.

So, forcing a magnanimous expression, she said, "Sister Si, don't worry. I heard about his outrageous deeds before we got married, but it has nothing to do with you... Besides, even if it wasn't you, he had other women."

With so many outrageous stories circulating in the streets and alleys of Shengjing, there's probably not enough room in this courtyard for all the women who have been with Xie Lin.

"...That's fine then." Seeing this, Si Qingyue didn't continue to explain. "Sang Hua, you mustn't fall for Xie Lin. Not even a little bit. He's not a good match for you. He's a heartless person, so he's always having affairs. If you fall for him because of his kindness, you'll probably be heartbroken every day in the future."

Worried that Sang Hua might fall in love with Xie Lin and be hurt by him, Si Qingyue gave her this serious advice.

Just then, someone from Guanyue Tower came to urge her to go back early.

Left with no other choice, Si Qingyue prepared to leave.

Before leaving, she said to Sang Hua, "If you have time and nothing to do, you can come and visit the Moon-Viewing Pavilion."

Huo Sanghua was taken aback at first, wondering if it would be inappropriate for her to go to a place like the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. But then she thought, if Xie Lin can come and go as he pleases, why can't she go and see Sister Si?

"Ok!"

I promised Si Qingyue that I would definitely visit the Moon-Viewing Pavilion when I have the chance.

Si Qingyue didn't want to linger, fearing that Guanyue Tower had other matters to attend to. After giving Sang Hua a few instructions, she hurriedly returned.

"It's a deal then. You'll definitely come over when you have time. I'll be waiting for you."