Chu Congning’s eyes lit up at first, but then he seemed to think of something and pursed his lips.
“Boys and girls shouldn’t be so close. Besides, you’re not my real sister.”
Chu Mo smiled and said optimistically, “A half sister is still a sister.”
Chu Congning retorted, “Not at all. Father King and Mother Consort never acknowledged you as their daughter.”
At those words, Chu Mo’s upturned lips slowly drooped. She just stared fixedly at Chu Congning with her big, round eyes.
The next second, tears fell from her eyes like beads off a broken string, pitter-pattering down.
“I know. I’m just a little beggar with no father or mother. You’re the precious Fourth Young Master of the Prince’s Mansion, of noble status. How could you have a sister of such humble origins like me? I’m not worthy.”
Chu Congning froze.
Wait, how did she start crying just like that, without even giving him a moment to prepare?
“Don’t cry. That’s not what I meant. What I meant is that you haven’t been entered into the family register yet.”
Chu Mo sniffled, her nose tip reddening, and her tears fell even harder, her voice unusually choked up.
“My status is so lowly—how could I be entered into the family register of Prince Yong’s Manor? It’s my fault for not knowing the rules and annoying you.”
“As long as I can live in the manor and get a bite to eat, I’ll be content.”
Seeing Chu Mo cry harder and harder, Chu Congning panicked. How could she cry even better than him?
He hastily raised his hand, wanting to wipe her tears, but didn’t know whether he should or could.
“We don’t despise you. If we did, Second Brother wouldn’t have let you stay in his courtyard.”
“I… I’ve never looked down on you either. Don’t overthink it.”
Chu Mo looked up, her eyes glistening and brimming with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
“Really, Fourth Brother? You really don’t despise me?”
“Really, really—as true as pure gold.” Chu Congning had long forgotten his anger; all he wanted now was to coax Chu Mo and stop her from crying.
It was the first time he’d seen someone cry better than him.
Wait, no—he didn’t think he’d ever actually seen anyone else cry.
Chu Mo’s tears turned to laughter. She lowered her head and wiped her tears and snot clean on Chu Congning’s sleeve.
“Fourth Brother, you’re so nice. You’re a really, really good person.”
Chu Congning: “…”
He raised his arm and looked at the wet patch of tears on his sleeve, his mouth twitching.
He had just changed into new clothes today!
Oh well, whatever. As long as she stopped crying, it was fine.
He had plenty of new clothes anyway.
Chu Mo was overjoyed. Father was a good person—he spoke up for her and helped her out of awkward situations.
Mother was a good person—she didn’t object to her staying in the manor.
Second Brother was a good person—he let her stay in his courtyard.
Fourth Brother was also a good person—she just cried a little and he got all anxious.
Hee hee.
In this life, she had found herself the very best family.
This was a sure win.
“Fourth Brother, I’ve only met Second Brother and you. Where are Eldest Brother and Third Brother? Why haven’t I seen them?” Chu Mo asked.
She couldn’t wait to meet Eldest Brother and Third Brother—they must be good people too.
Chu Congning gave a light snort. “Eldest Brother is a Deputy General of the Constabulary. He’s gone to suppress bandits by imperial decree and won’t be back for at least a month. Third Brother is highly skilled in martial arts and always runs off outside the city—he comes and goes like a ghost. It’s normal that you haven’t seen him.”
“Oh, oh.” Chu Mo nodded, indicating that she understood.
Eldest Brother was so impressive—suppressing bandits by imperial decree. He must be in the Emperor’s good graces.
Third Brother wasn’t bad either—highly skilled in martial arts. Just hearing about it made her feel safe.
Seeing the admiration all over Chu Mo’s face, Chu Congning felt inexplicably annoyed.
“Eldest Brother is only a little older than me. When I grow up, I’m going to serve as an official at court too.”
“Really?” Chu Mo cupped her cheeks, eyes sparkling as she looked at Chu Congning, not thinking he was bragging at all.
After all, he was a pampered young master of the Prince’s Mansion—how could he possibly spend his whole life accomplishing nothing?
Chu Congning puffed out his chest and declared proudly, “Of course. There are no good-for-nothings in Prince Yong’s Manor.”
“Mm-hmm, Prince Yong’s Manor has no good-for-nothings—only a Crybaby.” The words slipped out of Chu Mo’s mouth.
The next second she regretted it, clapping her hands over her mouth and stumbling back two steps, eyes darting everywhere, utterly guilty.
Stupid mouth—why did I say that out loud?
Chu Congning completely exploded, cheeks puffing round as he roared, “Chu Mo!”
“Oh no, I just remembered my sow is giving birth—I have to go!” Chu Mo, eyes still darting about, grabbed up her skirts and ran.
Chu Congning, unable to swallow his anger, took off after her, shouting furiously at the top of his lungs, “Chu Mo, stop right there! Who are you calling a Crybaby? You’re the Crybaby—your whole family is Crybabies!”
Chu Mo didn’t slow down, running lightly, even turning back to make a face at him, calling back her retort as she ran.
“Fourth Brother, my whole family includes you too.”
“Fourth your foot! I’m not your brother!” Chu Congning was so furious his brows shot up, his voice rising several notches.
Chu Mo laughed slyly, her voice drifting back light and airy. “Hee hee, I don’t have a sister.”
Chu Congning: “…”
Chu Mo: “If Fourth Brother is willing to be my sister, I wouldn’t mind either.”
Chu Congning’s face flushed red in an instant, and he exploded again.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Who wants to be your sister? Absolutely ridiculous.”
Chu Mo burst out laughing. “Fourth Brother’s skin is so thin—he’d make a perfectly soft little sister.”
“I think you’re itching for a beating. Just wait till I catch you—I’ll deal with you then!” Chu Congning’s strides grew enormous, the distance between them shrinking rapidly, his hand reaching out to grab her sleeve.
Chu Mo, quick-eyed and quick-handed, nimbly dodged to the side, just barely escaping, then began circling the pavilion to evade him, even deliberately slowing half a step to tease him.
“Hee hee, catch me first if you can, Crybaby Fourth Brother.”
Chu Congning was so enraged his chest heaved, and he gritted his teeth and chased relentlessly.
The whole courtyard was filled with the sounds of the two chasing and playing.
Chu Congning’s furious shouts mixed with Chu Mo’s light laughter, drifting far and wide.
The servants in the Prince’s Mansion watching the two romp couldn’t help the corners of their mouths turning up.
The Fourth Young Master was like a ruffled rooster, wanting to peck someone but never quite able to catch them.
In the shadows not far away stood a tall, slender figure. Chu Xingyu stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching the two chasing and laughing in the courtyard, a faint coldness veiling his eyes, his dark pupils unfathomable.
Cliff City was very close to the Capital City, and the night before, the Secret Guards had sent back the information they’d uncovered.
The beggars’ den Chu Mo had mentioned did indeed exist—a dilapidated temple on the mountain, housing eight beggars of various ages, the youngest apparently only five or six years old.
In theory, beggars’ mouths should be easy to pry open, yet the Secret Guards had to fork over a full hundred taels of silver before they could extract any information about Chu Mo from them.
There was indeed a little beggar called Moli in the ruined temple. A few days ago, she had suddenly bid them farewell, saying she had found her family.
They were heartbroken over her departure, because she was their boss. With her gone, they didn’t know if they could hold on to this run-down temple. The temple might be small, but it still kept out the wind and rain.
Wherever there are people in this world, there is jianghu—even beggars have their gangs.
Chu Mo was young, but she was born with great strength, and this broken temple was something she had won with her fists, blow by blow.
Hearing this, Chu Xingyu felt a flicker of interest.
To have such a clever mind at such a young age—seizing territory, gathering underlings, and even having those underlings fiercely loyal to her.