127. Traces of Yu Yao

When Le Qianxue returned to Qingyu Courtyard, Zhan Lianjing followed her. Seeing him pushing his own wheelchair, Hua Tao couldn't help but hesitate, wanting to step in and assist, yet she dared not act without Le Qianxue’s permission. Noticing Hua Tao’s sluggishness, Le Qianxue sighed, "Well, what are you dawdling for?"

She walked behind Zhan Lianjing and took over pushing the chair. She hummed with dissatisfaction, "You could walk perfectly fine on your own, yet you insist on being pushed. Do you have any idea how heavy you are?"

Zhan Lianjing breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed Le Qianxue was all bark and no bite. He replied, "Since you’ve been pretending all this time, why stop now?"

Le Qianxue pushed him beneath the flower trellis and instructed Hua Tao to prepare some tea and refreshments. Zhan Lianjing then asked her, "Do you not want to marry me now?"

Le Qianxue lowered her gaze and chuckled softly. "Do you think that just because our names have been linked in such rumors, I am obligated to marry you?"

He was slightly stunned. In truth, he had harbored such thoughts. However, hearing her words, he realized she would never be that way; she had always been different from other women. He said, "I will wait for you."

Le Qianxue laughed and said nonchalantly, "Suit yourself." She would rather spend her life in solitude than choose the wrong person.

Zhan Lianjing reflected that their current relationship was indeed strained, and the fact that she was willing to engage with him at all was a positive sign. Why force her to choose now? Having come to this realization, he said, "I won't pressure you anymore. I will keep in mind what you said earlier."

Le Qianxue listened distractedly, offering only a slight nod. As a maid served tea, she took a sip and, her eyes flashing, asked, "Prince Zhan, you are looking for the descendants of the Four Great Families, aren't you?"

Zhan Lianjing nodded. "You have always known this. The Yuan family has been found, and the Yan family has always been present."

"And the remaining two?" Le Qianxue asked.

"No clues," Zhan Lianjing replied.

Le Qianxue’s gaze dimmed. Was what Zhan Lianjing said truly the whole truth? She was now nearly certain she was a descendant of the Qian family. Had Zhan Lianjing approached her because he knew this all along? One Yu Guhan was enough; she did not need a second. This was why she had not agreed to his proposal—she had her own considerations. Hearing him now, he seemed genuinely unaware, yet that felt impossible. Given the old Emperor and Yu Guhan both knew, it was unlikely that someone as formidable as Zhan Lianjing would be ignorant of it.

Seeing her lost in thought, Zhan Lianjing asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Le Qianxue shook her head, though she added half-jokingly, "Could it be that I am also a descendant of the Four Great Families?"

Zhan Lianjing laughed at this. "Highly unlikely."

"Why is it impossible?" she asked. Was Tong Xianxian not of mysterious origin? Back then, Le Yongcheng had also said it was impossible, but he refused to tell her about her mother’s background. It was infuriating to have such a father.

Zhan Lianjing tapped the table and said, "Your mother’s origin wasn't exactly mysterious, it’s just... well, never mind. In any case, it is highly unlikely."

Le Qianxue frowned. Why did even Zhan Lianjing say it was unlikely? Yu Guhan’s information shouldn't be wrong. Had she misunderstood something? She pressed, "What about my mother? Why won't even you speak of it?"

Zhan Lianjing said, "If your father hasn't told you, how could I? It’s not a major matter. Once your mother married your father, her past identity became unimportant."

Le Qianxue’s face darkened, and she could only nod. It seemed they were all in league with one another. She didn't know what it was that caused both Zhan Lianjing and Le Yongcheng to keep their lips sealed.

Seeing her looking gloomy, Zhan Lianjing remembered something and produced an invitation. "Are you interested?"

Le Qianxue recognized it as an invitation to the Yan family’s annual auction. Being an annual event, the items presented were always incredibly precious. She had heard that this year’s auction would be held in Night City and had long hoped to attend. However, the Yan family did not send invitations lightly; you had to have either power or wealth. Seeing that the auction was in five days, her eyes brightened. "Of course I am interested!"

Zhan Lianjing said, "Very well, we shall go together then."

Le Qianxue was delighted and examined the invitation repeatedly. Once the trip was planned, she worried about the impact on Zhan Lianjing’s injury and concocted a medicinal pill for him. Two days later, the wound had healed—truly miraculous. When the Ghost Doctor was famous, Zhan Lianjing had been skeptical, but after spending more time with Le Qianxue, he knew her medical skills were indeed peerless.

Of course, he also believed she possessed another unique skill: the art of disguise. Her disguises were so perfect that even he couldn't spot a flaw. He had naturally mentioned this to Zhan Yunge, who, being mischievous, immediately came to find Le Qianxue.

"Sister Le, I’ve studied the art of disguise, but brother says mine is completely unusable," Zhan Yunge complained. "I have to wear a veil when I go out, which is so stifling, and because of this, brother often forbids me from leaving."

Le Qianxue, eating a pastry, asked, "Why doesn't he let you out? Is it just out of fear for your safety?"

Zhan Yunge replied, "It’s because my brother’s status is a bit special, and it’s inevitable that some people would want to capture me to threaten him. He hasn't told the outside world that he has a sister; only you and Physician Yuan know."

"I’ve never seen you in the capital before. Where were you living?"

Zhan Yunge blinked and evaded the question. She knew the importance of discretion; some things could not be said. Instead, she tugged on Le Qianxue’s wrist and pleaded, "Sister Le, come on, don't talk about that! Teach me the art of disguise!"

Le Qianxue scoffed, "My unique skills are not something I teach just anyone."

Zhan Yunge looked saddened. "But look at me, I’m so well-behaved and cute. Won't you even consider it?"

Le Qianxue touched her own face and replied, "No, because I find my own face quite sufficient."

Zhan Yunge pouted. "Fine, fine! I’ll tell you where I used to live."

Le Qianxue raised an eyebrow and continued eating her pastry. This tactic was effective.

Zhan Yunge fidgeted with her fingers and said, "In the Mu Kingdom, there is a clan called the Xuan tribe. The Mu Kingdom has no jurisdiction over that place. I always lived there, and that is where my brother and Sister Yu Yao grew up."

Le Qianxue’s eyes narrowed. "Yu Yao?" She asked, "By the way, do you know where that Yu Yao is?"

Zhan Yunge covered her mouth, staring at Le Qianxue with wide eyes. Finally, she said, "Sister Le, are you jealous?"

Le Qianxue frowned. "Jealous? What are you talking about? Do you not know that your brother’s legs were crippled because of the poison Yu Yao gave him? If you know where she is, tell your brother so he can get the antidote."

Zhan Yunge was stunned by this. There were many things Zhan Lianjing never told her because she had always suffered from poor health, and he was too protective of his sister to bring up such matters. She felt a chill run through her. "How is that possible? I..."

Le Qianxue continued, "It seems you didn't know. No wonder you used the alias 'Yu Yao' before. Your brother said she disappeared long ago, and her whereabouts were unknown."

Zhan Yunge looked at Le Qianxue, her voice trembling. "Sister Le, is what you say true? My brother... my brother knows how much I like Sister Yu Yao. Eight years ago, when she left, I thought it was my brother who had betrayed her. I didn't realize... my brother always treated me like a child, refusing to tell me anything. Or rather, my brother likes to bury many things in his heart."

Le Qianxue waved her hand, telling her not to wallow in self-pity. "It is better that you know now. But you must not treat Yu Yao as a good person anymore; it will only hurt your brother’s heart."

Zhan Yunge’s thoughts became a jumble. She clutched her clothes and said, "But..."

Le Qianxue asked, "But what? Do you think your brother is lying?"

Zhan Yunge shook her head. She hesitated, but eventually confessed, "Sister Yu Yao has arranged to meet me at the Night City auction in three days."

"What?" Le Qianxue was shocked.

Zhan Yunge hurriedly grabbed Le Qianxue. "Sister Le, please stay calm. We cannot let my brother know about this."

"Why? You need your brother to find her and get the antidote! Do you want your brother to remain like this forever? Besides, he doesn't have many years left with that poison in his system!" Le Qianxue was furious. She hadn't expected Zhan Yunge to be like this. If she were her own sister, she would be livid.

Zhan Yunge felt guilty, having not known that Yu Yao had harmed Zhan Lianjing. She said, "Sister Yu Yao won't show herself. She said she only wanted to see my brother from afar. I don't know where in Night City she will appear. I only told her about my brother’s itinerary in advance."

Le Qianxue said angrily, "She harmed your brother like that, and now she only wants to see him? If she’s just watching him, she’s surely gloating. She must have ill intentions."

"But I don't believe Sister Yu Yao would do that. There must be some misunderstanding," Zhan Yunge insisted. "Sister Le, I beg you, do not tell my brother. I will find a way to contact Sister Yu Yao and beg her for the antidote."