Chapter 925: Chapter 922: The Intersection (4)

The immediate danger lay bare before him, without any warning.

He held the teacup in his hands, nearly crushing it.

It was because of him that his mother was implicated, injured, and even lost the child she just had.

Because of him.

He shook his head, unable to accept it, looking at Fourth Master Xiao in disbelief, and then, as if seeking confirmation, turned to Xiao Yanyi. Xiao Yanyi furrowed his brows and said calmly, "Min, you’re still young. We didn’t plan to let you know these things so early, but now they are right before us, and we can’t retreat. Regardless of how you choose in the future, we must solve the problems at hand."

Min shakily placed the teacup on the table, stood trembling, realizing that within a single day, he had gone from being Xiao Huaimin to a scion of the Imperial Family. When he painfully made a decision, he found out that his identity had already caused irreparable harm to the most important person in his life... And now, he needed to face the problems head-on...

He didn’t know how to face it.

The helpless face of Xiqiu, injured, lying in the arms of Fourth Master Xiao, appeared in his mind. He couldn’t help but step back, avoiding the issue altogether, shaking his head, "I... I don’t know..."

He really didn’t know.

"Min," Fourth Master Xiao said, "You don’t need to worry about these things, but since you know and are involved, I’ll tell you straight: focus on your studies, and leave the rest to me."

"Father!" Min spoke, but felt as if there was a barrier between him and the word ’father’. What should he do, what should he do?

He turned and quickly ran out, into his room, closed the door, and wept softly.

What should he do? His mother was hurt because of him, yet he had no ability at all. He couldn’t protect her and was like a coward hiding under his father’s wings seeking shelter. If one day his identity was exposed, facing challenges head-on will only lead to more hardships, would he continue to hide at home, protected by his parents, and live his life like that?

Would he continue to curl up like this, without facing anything, even if his loved ones were once again hurt because of him?

He didn’t know; the decision he just made and the promise he made to his mother were beginning to waver...

No matter what he chose, he would have to give up something.

He couldn’t bear it!

The sky gradually darkened, and Min stayed in his room, ignoring Dongling’s persistent knocking outside. He had no face to see his mother. If not for him, how would she have gotten hurt? And he had just made grandiose promises to her that he would only be Xiao Huaimin for this lifetime.

He had no right to be Xiao Huaimin!

Fourth Master Xiao leaned against the desk while Xiao Yanyi held a cup of tea, the two brothers were silent for a long time until there was a knock at the door. "Master, the people have been brought."

"Come in," Fourth Master Xiao replied coldly. The study door opened, and guards, along with Shen An, Shen Ning, and two men in black, stood outside. They were all tightly bound, and the two men in black had their mouths gagged and were thrown onto the ground.

"Great Governor, what’s going on? What do you mean by this?" Shen An asked uneasily, not understanding why he and his brother had suddenly been captured.

Fourth Master Xiao squinted, his gaze like arrows fixating on Shen Ning. Shen Ning almost imperceptibly trembled, shrinking behind Shen An...

"What’s the matter? Is there a misunderstanding?" Shen An asked, sensing the complexity of the situation since Fourth Master Xiao never gets angry without reason.

Fourth Master Xiao paced with hands behind his back, coming before Shen Ning, looking down on him, and then told Shen An, "Ask him what he did." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Shen An paused, turning to look at Shen Ning, who shook his head fearfully, "... No... not me, I... I just wanted to see... see Fourth Madam..." Shen An only half-understood but sensed trouble might be severe, sternly demanding, "Explain clearly what you’ve done."

Shen Ning glanced fearfully at Fourth Master Xiao and replied, "I stopped Fourth Madam’s carriage on the street in the afternoon, intending to just say a few words." Kicking one of the men in black on the ground, he added, "But I didn’t expect them to come out and start a senseless killing spree before I could finish speaking, scaring me to run away, but little did I expect that it would disrupt Fourth Madam’s carriage..." Explaining to Fourth Master Xiao and Shen An, "Great Governor, I just wanted to ask Fourth Madam to persuade the young master to think it through, allowing us to follow and protect him, so he could return early to the Imperial Palace and reclaim everything that belongs to him and us. I had no malicious intent... It’s their fault. These beasts committed murder in broad daylight!"

Fourth Master Xiao did not speak, but Shen An kicked Shen Ning, "You are the beast. Haven’t I repeatedly told you to think things through before doing anything?" Upset, he kicked him again, "How could you cause such trouble!" Though the outcome wasn’t yet clear, seeing Fourth Master Xiao’s anger hinted at serious consequences.

Finished, Shen An turned to plead with Fourth Master Xiao, "Great Governor, he’s always been dull and thoughtless, causing trouble for you and Fourth Madam. Punish him as you see fit." Fourth Master Xiao was their greatest support, and they couldn’t afford to offend him, no matter the cost.

Still silent, Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze made Shen An shiver, instinctively shielding Shen Ning, then pointing to the two men in black on the ground, "Great Governor, these two must be assassins sent by the Shen clan. They followed us to the Capital and are acting now, having possibly discovered the young master’s presence here. What should we do? We can’t let them harm the young master!"

"You don’t need to worry about what to do next!" Fourth Master Xiao gave him a casual glance, but even so, Shen Ning broke into a sweat, his neck stiffening, "What do you mean? We have an irreconcilable animosity with the Shen. How could it not be related?" Pausing, he continued, "Great Governor, if Fourth Madam’s injury started because of me, you can kill or torture me, Shen Ning won’t flinch." Puffing out his chest, "Just say what you want me to do."

Fourth Master Xiao stopped, suddenly turning to look at him, but before he could speak, a delicate voice echoed from outside, and Min strode in, "Great!" He stopped before Shen Ning, indifferent to the other’s shock, his gaze icy!

"I’ll tell you what you need to do!"