"Your Highness, this subordinate discovered a female corpse at the county office. After investigation, she was a respectable young woman, murdered by Liu Kui in an extremely cruel manner."
Xiao Jinyan's personal guard, Feng Rao, had already learned from the Su family about Liu Kui's atrocities since arriving in the countryside.
His master was of noble status—how could he tolerate such blatant insults?
By deliberately mentioning the female corpse, Feng Rao also intended to use punishing Liu Kui as a warning to the County Magistrate.
Liu Kui, having had two fingers severed, had already fainted from the pain.
The County Magistrate glared at his son, discarded like a dead dog in the corner, and anger surged within him. A flicker of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. "This unfilial son offended Your Highness and deserves death. This humble official dares not shield him. Whether he lives or dies is entirely at Your Highness's discretion."
"Keeping such a person alive would only bring harm…"
Angered that Liu Kui had dared to mock his master as "fished out of a filthy ditch," Feng Rao retorted sarcastically, "Why not throw him into the river to feed the fish? At least he’d be of some use then."
The County Magistrate dared not utter a word, his lowered eyes concealing a fleeting trace of resentment.
"Take him back to the county office for a public trial."
Xiao Jinyan, evidently more thorough than Feng Xiao had anticipated, commanded in a deep voice, "Summon all the oppressed citizens of the county to present their grievances. He will be executed on a chosen date."
"This humble official obeys."
A public trial was a direct slap in the face to the County Magistrate.
Xiao Jinyan, having led armies into battle for years, exuded an intimidating presence. Merely sitting there, he carried an aura of undeniable authority.
No matter how much resentment the County Magistrate harbored, he dared not show it openly.
At the command, the county officers under him dragged Liu Kui out of the courtyard like a dead dog.
Not daring to linger any longer, the County Magistrate kowtowed forcefully several times before slinking away in disgrace.
Just before exiting the courtyard gate, he suddenly turned back and shot Su Xiao a sinister glance.
The malice in his eyes sent a chill down one’s spine.
Su Xiao shuddered, overwhelmed by an uncontrollable surge of panic.
The County Magistrate had lost his son. This bitter resentment was likely to be vented upon her.
Once Xiao Jinyan left, her fate would be all too predictable.
"Your Highness, this commoner has a request."
Su He had also witnessed the County Magistrate’s venomous glare at Su Xiao.
In just the few hours since rescuing the prince, this ordinarily honest and kind-hearted man had endured more fright than in all his previous decades combined.
They were powerless commoners with no influence—how could they contend with officials?
A mere Liu Kui had brought them such humiliation, let alone a member of the imperial family.
At this moment, it seemed the only one who could protect his daughter was the legendary God of War, Prince Rui.
"Father?!"
Seeing her father suddenly kneel before Xiao Jinyan, Su Xiao was so startled her face paled.
Xiao Jinyan also frowned, showing a hint of impatience.
He was severely injured and had exhausted himself by forcing his way through to deal with Liu Kui.
What he needed most now was rest, to recuperate and prepare for any potential upheavals ahead.
From this assassination attempt, he had lost seventy to eighty percent of the men he had brought from the capital.
Lin Wanru had yet to be found, and whether Xiao Ji had further schemes remained unknown. He truly had no energy to spare for other trivial matters.
"Uncle Su, you are our lord’s savior. There’s no need for formalities. Please rise and speak."
Seeing that his master showed no intention of speaking, Feng Xiao stepped forward, intending to help Su He up.
"Your Highness, please forgive this commoner’s presumption…"
Su He did not rise, stubbornly kowtowing several times to Xiao Jinyan: "This humble man had no choice but to boldly ask Your Highness for protection for my daughter, to help her find her own birth parents."
As soon as these words were spoken, the small courtyard fell into an eerie silence.
Su Hong, his brother, and Su Xiao were all stunned by the shocking revelation. Only Xu Shi, their mother who knew the truth, wiped her tears with her sleeve, a flicker of reluctance in her eyes.
They had raised this daughter for fourteen years, and she had grown increasingly beautiful.
The couple understood in their hearts that this matter could not be kept hidden forever; sooner or later, they would have to tell her the truth. They just hadn’t expected it to come so soon.
"I’m not Father and Mother’s daughter?"
Su Xiao, having lived two lifetimes, never knew that she was not her parents’ biological daughter.
"I don’t believe it."
Su Cai refused to accept it: "How could my sister not be my real sister? Father, are you mistaken?"
Su Hong also said, "Ever since I can remember, my sister has been at home. When did you and Mother pick up a child? I had no idea."
"You were only two years old then, what would you know?"
Su He was exasperated by his sons’ questions.
Fearing that Xiao Jinyan might not believe them, Xu Shi brought out a bundle from the house and opened it in front of everyone.
Inside was a set of infant clothing made of silk brocade, exquisitely crafted, clearly from a wealthy family.
"This set of clothes was what Xiao Xiao was wearing when her mother and I found her in the river."
Su He recalled the events of that year, still feeling a lingering fear: "I remember, it was a gloomy day, about to rain. Her mother and I had just packed up our fishing nets and were preparing to go home when we saw a figure floating down from upstream."
"It was a very beautiful woman, holding a swaddled baby in her arms. When we rushed over to save her, she had only one breath left. Seeing us, she struggled to lift the swaddled baby and reached out her hand toward us."
"The baby girl wrapped inside was still alive. My wife couldn’t bear to leave her, so she took the child. The woman smiled gratefully at us, then was swept into a whirlpool and dragged underwater. I tried to jump in to save her, but the current was too strong. She was swept away and never found again."
"Ah?!"
Upon hearing that her birth mother had already passed away, Su Xiao felt a sharp pain in her heart, so intense that she let out a mournful cry and nearly fainted.
"Xiao Xiao."
"Sister."
Su Hong and Su Cai rushed over, supporting her from both sides.
"That woman was Miss Su’s mother?"
Xiao Jinyan also lifted his eyelids, glancing at her with concern.
He truly didn’t want to meddle in others’ affairs, but when it involved Miss Su…
Thinking of the intimate scene he had witnessed by her bedside earlier, his ears couldn’t help but grow warm.
"Most likely…"
Su He was certain: "Her appearance was at least ninety percent similar to Xiao Xiao’s now. If that woman were still alive, standing side by side, anyone could tell they were mother and daughter."
"Wuwuwu…"
Su Xiao covered her mouth, sobbing in agony.
She had just learned of her origins when she received the devastating news of her birth mother’s death.
For someone who yearned for familial love, this was truly more painful than dying all over again.
"Granted."
Xiao Jinyan had no doubts.
In truth, even without Su He’s confession, he had already noticed the difference in appearance between Su Xiao and the other members of the Su family.
Just as Xu Shi had said, she was far too striking.
Skin as fair as jade, brows and eyes delicate as a painting, a figure slender and graceful.
Every feature was exquisite, every aspect soft and lovely.
She was vastly different from Su Hong and Su He, the two brothers—anyone with eyes could see she wasn’t born from the same mother.
No wonder Prince Xian had taken a liking to her at first glance. Such peerless beauty was rare even in the capital. Even he himself, seeing her weeping like a rain-drenched pear blossom, pitiful and delicate, felt a stir of compassion.
"Xiaoxiao, kneel quickly and thank His Highness."
Xu Shi, overjoyed at his consent, pulled her daughter to kneel.
Xiao Jinyan was about to say it was unnecessary when he heard Su Xiao’s resolute refusal.
"No, I won’t go with him!"