Fourth Master Xiao’s face changed, he looked at him coldly, and Shen An’s bright eyes didn’t notice Fourth Master Xiao’s expression change at all, he excitedly said: "Can you guess what I discovered? I saw that among the remains of the late Empress, there were no infant bones at all." He was impatient: "The late Empress’s body was moved after the Emperor ascended the throne, the remains couldn’t have been tampered with, and according to my observation, the remains were intact, what does this mean, Great Governor... It means that the late Empress clearly died after giving birth to a child, not as the rumors say, dying of childbirth with one corpse and two lives."

After Shen An finished speaking, he looked at Fourth Master Xiao, waiting for Fourth Master Xiao to show an incredulous expression, but after waiting for a while, he still had a calm and composed expression, he was startled, and asked: "Great Governor, you... don’t believe it?"

"Is this the reason you want to see the Emperor?" Fourth Master Xiao asked in return.

Shen An nodded yes, then shook his head: "Not completely, I believe if this child is still alive, the Emperor must know, I just want the Emperor to tell me where the child was raised back then, even if he cannot be brought back to the palace now, I can secretly protect him!"

If the late Empress’s child is indeed still alive, then he is the Emperor’s legitimate eldest son... In the future, when he ascends the throne, he will surely be able to avenge the Shen family’s genocide back then, and the Shen family can rise again!

"How many others know about this?" Fourth Master Xiao asked indifferently.

Shen An responded without thinking: "Such an important matter, I couldn’t possibly tell others, only you and I know now!" Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze shifted slightly, and he said: "Lord Shen, tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn night, the Emperor will host a grand feast for the court officials, it’s inconvenient for me to bring you into the palace, why don’t you go to the place I found for you to rest for a few days, when the time is right, I will take you to the palace to see the Emperor."

Shen An was startled, nodded and said: "Alright, I’ll follow the Great Governor’s guidance."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly: "I’ll send you out, someone will lead you." Shen An acknowledged and left.

Once out the door, someone intercepted him in secret, the two whispered: "Brother, how did it go, how did the Great Governor respond?" Shen An replied: "The Great Governor said to wait a few days, these two days are inconvenient."

"The Great Governor indeed, as the rumors say, has been in the Capital for the past two years, no longer having the courage and decisiveness of the past, I think we’ll have to make our own plans for this, I don’t want to live like this anymore." That person spoke bitterly and cynically, but Shen An lowly reprimanded: "Don’t mess around, following the Great Governor will not be wrong, he understands court affairs better than us."

"Got it, got it." The person replied impatiently, then asked: "Where are we going now?"

Shen An pointed towards the empty alley: "Someone will take us to a safe place, let’s hide for now!" The two spoke as they entered the depths of the alley, then turned to the other side and disappeared.

Fourth Master Xiao watched Shen An’s back, instructed Tiancheng: "Have someone follow him, report back to me if there is any movement."

"Yes!" Tiancheng respectfully took the order and left.

Fourth Master Xiao stood by the door, his gaze dark, staring at the entrance, though the blazing light shone overhead, he was enveloped in coldness.

After Fourth Master Xiao left, Tianjing tidied up the guest room, carrying a teacup to wash, but saw Ziyang’s figure flash by at the door, he was taken aback, and asked: "Ziyang?"

Ziyang did not turn back, hastily entered the inner courtyard.

"Fourth Master." Xiqiu put Zhi down: "You haven’t eaten yet, I’ll have the kitchen cook for you again." Saying this, she lifted the curtain and went out.

Zhi had already clung to Fourth Master Xiao’s side, showing off his rabbit lantern: "Made by Mr. Ji." Fourth Master Xiao picked up his son, then glanced at the rabbit lantern, frowned and said: "Why make such a lantern, tonight father will make you a tiger lantern."

Zhi’s eyes lit up, nodded and said: "Alright." Then he looked happily at Fourth Master Xiao and said: "Father, I can now shoot an arrow and hit the target within fifteen feet every time."

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, showing interest: "Oh? Dare to compete with me?"

"Of course I dare!" Zhi patted his chest: "Tell me, what shall we compete in!" He had a heroic demeanor.

Fourth Master Xiao laughed loudly, patted Zhi’s buttocks, and said: "Let’s compete in reciting poetry, the loser recites five poems, how about that?"

This wager was a bit difficult for Zhi, but having agreed with his father, he couldn’t lose face by reneging, he nodded and said: "Alright, it’s a deal." Then he jumped off Fourth Master Xiao’s leg, the father and son went to the courtyard to play pitch-pot.

Xiqiu came in from the door, seeing no one inside: "Where are they?" Bihuai covered her mouth and laughed: "They’re playing pitch-pot in the courtyard, Fourth Master and Young Master Zhi are competing, five poems as the wager."

"Such a child." Xiqiu shook her head, walked to the window, and indeed saw the father and son playing in the sunlight, Zhi grabbed a bow half his height, waved his arm and threw it into the pot, Fourth Master Xiao let him a distance of three steps, and also shot steadily...

Zhi was full of spirit, his laughter joyous, his innocence adorable.

"Let’s eat." Xiqiu went out, laughing as she wiped Zhi’s face, holding his hand: "Quickly wash your face and go back for a nap." She handed him to Mrs. Zhou: "Not allowed to come out, I’ll check later."

Zhi pouted, looked at his father unwillingly: "I’ll definitely win next time." Then smiled and turned to Xiqiu: "Mother, please come with me, I want you to tell me stories."

Fourth Master Xiao laughed secretly, this little rascal is competing with him, having just lost and had to return to recite poetry, now deliberately monopolizing Xiqiu...

Xiqiu shook her head, pinched Zhi’s nose and said: "Mother and father have something to discuss, you go first, I’ll come to accompany you later, okay?"

"Alright." Zhi reluctantly nodded, muttering: "I still have to go back and recite poetry..." Holding Mrs. Zhou’s hand, he went to the backyard.

Xiqiu turned to Fourth Master Xiao and said: "Fourth Master, do you have to go out again in the afternoon, let’s eat first then." Fourth Master Xiao nodded, the two went into the room, he looked at her, frowned and asked: "Why does your complexion seem bad, are you feeling unwell?" He reached out to touch her forehead.

"It’s nothing." Xiqiu smiled, took down his hand, sat opposite him at the table where dishes were set, and served him some food: "Fourth Master, eat first!"

Fourth Master Xiao suspiciously glanced at her, held the bowl, and quickly finished eating, placed the bowl and chopsticks down, after Bihuai and Lyuzhi finished tidying up, he then asked: "What’s wrong?"

Xiqiu thought for a moment and said: "I went to Marquis Jinxiang Mansion this morning, Madam Le is returning to Huainan tomorrow."

"Hmm." Fourth Master Xiao didn’t find it unexpected, she came to visit Le Xiu, and it was normal to return after a long time, but also knew Xiqiu wouldn’t mention this for no reason, so he waited for her to continue.