Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Chapter 212 Brother and sister recognize each other

Yaoqin looked at her mistress with a puzzled expression, thinking to herself, "Your Majesty, you clearly already knew about this, so why are you asking this question?"

At this moment, Su Nuannuan first looked at the seemingly innocent and silly girl in front of her, Yaoqin, and then turned her gaze to Xiao Yanfang beside her. She couldn't help but sigh: "Look at these two. They are siblings, but their personalities are too different! One is too smart, while the other is silly all day long."

Then, Su Nuannuan slightly raised her chin, stared sharply at Xiao Xingfang, and asked in a serious tone: "I just asked you, do you have any conclusive evidence to prove that Yaoqin is your biological sister? You should know that daring to impersonate the lady-in-waiting beside me is a serious crime!"

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Xingfang quickly clasped his hands and bowed, replying, "Your Majesty, my younger sister has a special plum blossom mark on her right arm. Years ago, my family suddenly encountered a tragedy, and before my mother passed away, she resolutely took a plum blossom hairpin and branded this special plum blossom mark firmly onto my younger sister's right arm, who was still in swaddling clothes."

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "Why does this scene sound so familiar? Isn't this exactly what Aunt Qiong Yao wrote in 'Plum Blossom Mark'?"

Thinking about this, she truly couldn't understand how that heartless mother could have the nerve to leave such a mark on such a tender baby's arm with a hairpin. After all, a baby's skin is so delicate; the slightest carelessness could cause irreparable damage. She simply couldn't fathom how that mother could be so cruel as to do such a thing.

As for what kind of sudden misfortune had befallen their family, Su Nuannuan didn't inquire. After all, she had absolutely no interest in other people's affairs. Besides, she hadn't even sorted out her own problems yet! How could she have the leisure to meddle in other people's family matters?

"Yaoqin," Su Nuannuan called softly, lowering her voice slightly.

Upon hearing the shouts, Yaoqin snapped out of her daze and quickly stepped forward. She bowed respectfully to Su Nuannuan and replied softly, "Your Majesty, there is indeed a plum blossom mark on the upper side of my right arm."

Su Nuannuan glanced at Yaoqin with a helpless expression, sighing inwardly: This silly girl, why can't she be a little more reserved? How could she let him acknowledge her so quickly?

After a moment of silence, Su Nuannuan slowly spoke, "Your mother is truly heartless." After saying this, she stood up, picked up two account books placed to the side, and made as if to turn and leave.

Seeing this, Yaoqin hurriedly took a step to catch up with Su Nuannuan, but Su Nuannuan stopped her and kept her there.

Su Nuannuan turned around and said gently to Yaoqin, who was following closely behind, "Now that you siblings have recognized each other, you must have many things on your mind to say. I don't need your service here for the time being, so you can have a good chat with your brother." After saying that, she took the two account books in her hand and left the room gracefully and unhurriedly, leaving Xiao Xingfang and Yaoqin standing there, staring at each other.

After a long while, Yaoqin finally mustered up her courage and asked in a hesitant and cautious tone, "Are you... really my biological brother?"

Xiao Xingfang gazed tenderly at her younger sister, who looked so cautious, and a wave of indescribable pain welled up in her heart. Once, their family had lived a happy and fulfilling life. If it weren't for the terrible tragedy that struck their family years ago, this lovely younger sister would have been a pampered and cherished young lady from a prestigious family, instead of a servant girl.

Xiao Xingfang raised her right hand and gently placed it on the spot on her right arm where the plum blossom mark was. Then she said softly to her sister, "Sister, if you can confirm that there is indeed such a plum blossom mark on the upper side of your right arm, then without a doubt, you are my sister."

However, Yaoqin did not immediately respond to her brother's words. Although she was deeply moved, she maintained a rare composure. Unlike Su Nuannuan, Yaoqin did not easily believe this sudden reunion with her brother.

So she raised her head, looked firmly at Xiao Xingfang, and asked, "Then... how will you prove that you really are my brother?"

Hearing her sister's question, Xiao Xingfang smiled slightly and explained calmly, "Because, on the upper side of my left arm, there is also a plum blossom mark that is exactly the same, without any difference. Moreover, there is this exquisite plum blossom hairpin, which was carefully crafted by my father for my mother. It is the only one of its kind in the world."

After saying that, Xiao Xingfang slowly rolled up the sleeve of her left arm.

Fortunately, Xiao Xingfang did not arrive in his usual heavy armor; instead, he wore a simple yet neat long robe. When he revealed the plum blossom mark on his left arm, identical to the one on Yaoqin's right arm, Yaoqin's eyes instantly welled up with tears, which streamed uncontrollably down her face. She clearly saw that the plum blossom mark on Xiao Xingfang's arm was exactly the same as hers!

If Su Nuannuan were present at this moment, she would definitely criticize without reservation: "Your mother is really too talented. When other families separate, they will carefully prepare precious items such as jade pendants and bracelets as tokens for recognizing each other in the future."

But your mother is different. She's worried that these items might get lost easily, and if someone else finds them and uses them to impersonate someone else, then there'll be no way to hide the body.

So she came up with this unique method to confirm her identity.

She even wondered if their mother had read Qiong Yao's "Plum Blossom Mark" and gotten the inspiration from it.

Unfortunately, Su Nuannuan was not there at this moment. She was quietly in her study, intently reviewing the two account books that had been taken from Ruan Guicai.

After carefully examining the first ledger, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but frown slightly. The ledger contained little valuable information; most of it was simply a detailed account of the bribes Ruan Guicai had received.

However, when Su Nuannuan's gaze shifted to the second ledger, the situation suddenly changed. A hint of astonishment and surprise flashed across her previously calm eyes, as if she had discovered some astonishing secret in this ledger.

Immediately afterwards, Su Nuannuan gently closed the account book in her hand and softly called out, "Listen to the wind, listen to the rain."

Almost the instant she finished speaking, two figures appeared like ghosts. It turned out that Tingfeng and Tingyu, who had been waiting in the shadows, had heard the summons and quickly appeared, respectfully bowing to Su Nuannuan and replying in unison, "Your subordinates are here."

Without hesitation, Su Nuannuan handed the two account books to Tingfeng and Tingyu, and solemnly instructed, "You two must escort these two account books back to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion as quickly as possible. Remember, you must ensure that nothing goes wrong. After the morning court session tomorrow, you must have my father present these two account books to the Emperor. This matter is of utmost importance and must not be neglected!"

"Yes, Your subordinates obey." Tingfeng and Tingyu said respectfully after taking the account book.

After they left with the account books, Su Nuannuan murmured, "You really were just pretending to be crazy."