When the prince is reborn, he will only hit me if he doesn't hit the wall!

"That's right. You must have recognized that the dice belonged to my mother, so you took it."

He Xuehuai tightened the teacup in his hand with an apologetic look, and said, "That's true... I accidentally saw the dice in your hand at that time, and was shocked, but I estimated that your age did not match your mother's.

My first reaction was to think about the worst possible scenario, whether this item was something your mother pawned to get money when she was escaping, or whether it was bought by you.

You were extremely resistant to me at that time. I saw that you looked anxious, as if you wanted to get the Hanyang Grass and leave as soon as possible, and didn’t want to stay in the wild fighting field any longer... I had no choice but to come up with this plan... I thought about it, after searching for so long, I finally got some information about your mother's whereabouts... but I never thought..."

His tone was low and he seemed to be regretful.

"...Is that so? My mother is your sister?"

"Yes, she is my sister from the same mother. You probably don't know about this past. When the He family was rumored to have committed treason, the emperor had his doubts and did not exterminate the entire family, but he also exiled some and sent some into exile... The entire family was torn apart, like a pile of loose sand.

I guess your mother met your father during her escape... Was her life going well when she was alive?"

Although it was too late to ask now, He Xuehuai still wanted an answer as he had been worried about it for several years.

Xu Xinyue felt quite sad after hearing this: "Dad said that he met Mom in Jiangnan, which seems to be half true... But he really loves Mom very much. Grandmother's dislike for her is obvious, but Dad did not take a concubine because of this. Instead, he supported the third room alone... Since Mom passed away, Dad has never remarried until now..."

Hearing that his sister had spent her last days happily, He Xuehuai smiled with relief, drank the tea in the cup in one gulp, and quickly wiped the crystal tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.

"Can you tell me...why did your mother go?"

"...died of illness..."

"……Um."

Perhaps the topic was too heavy, and there was another period of silence. The two were speechless and just drank tea with their eyes lowered.

Looking at Xu Xianyue rubbing the rim of the cup with both hands, He Xuehuai remembered that Xu Mingxi had said that he and Xu Yuanshan had been expelled from the Xu Mansion, and took the initiative to speak again: "Are you willing to go back to the Zhenguo Mansion with me?"

Xu Xinyue raised her head, with tears still in her eyes, and looked at He Xuehuai in surprise, not knowing how to answer.

Xu Xinyue thought that he must want her to go back. After all, she was his mother's only daughter and his only remaining relative. It was understandable that he wanted to bring her under his protection.

But she has many concerns...

It’s about Daddy, Qin Yuechuan, and He Yunyin…

Xu Xinyue lowered her eyelashes again, pursed her lips and remained silent, as if she was thinking.

But to He Xuehuai, this scene meant rejection. He Xuehuai looked at Xu Xinyue's lowered head with a heavy gaze and asked her:

"You, don't want to?"

Xu Xinyue shook her head.

"I'm very happy to have another relative, but... I think my life is good now, peaceful and quiet. If I were to tell everyone that I'm the heir of the He family... it's not an exaggeration to say that the He family is in the cusp of the storm now, and I... don't want to be the target of public criticism...

Daddy is used to being free and easy, so he probably won’t agree to it, and…”

At the end, Xu Xinyue suddenly paused, looked up at his reaction, and seeing that he did not look unhappy, she asked tentatively:

"I have a question, which may be a little presumptuous and abrupt, or you don't have to answer it..."

"Speak everything you know, and speak everything you know."

"Are you... planning to take back the military power in the future? Although I am a girl and only know a little, if the Zhenguo Mansion wants to last long, I must have my own military power. Otherwise, wouldn't I be at the mercy of others?

Although you seem to be the 'fish' now, I know that you will not be like this for long."

He Xuehuai raised his eyebrows in surprise: "You really have the blood of our He family flowing in your body. This is very clear."

"It's not like the He family can see clearly... Since you want to take back the military power in the future...

I actually..."

"Because of Prince Rong?"

Xu Xinyue nodded solemnly at this moment: "Part of the reason is that I want to be with him.

I know, well... you may think I'm crazy...

Although as a young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, she will be surrounded by people, and there is a high probability that the emperor will even give us a title of princess like He Yunyin to compensate us.

Even if I want to get that title, I can't have anything to do with the Duke's Mansion.

I can see it clearly, and the emperor must see it clearly too. He will never allow two important officials who hold military power to become relatives.

He would certainly not like to see you form a group and become a hindrance to him.

In this case, as the key point, I may not be able to escape the fate of being arranged to marry someone else...

Why should I hold you and him back because of me?"

At this point, Xu Xinyue looked at him and said, "If I have to be with someone for the rest of my life, I hope that I can choose it myself.

I don’t want my marriage fate to be controlled by others, and I don’t think Dad would want to see that either…”

"But even if you leave the Duke's Mansion, it is fate that cannot be violated. If His Majesty still separates the two of you..."

"So, I asked Qin Yuechuan before, 'Are you really determined to be with me?' Now that he has made up his mind, he must make some efforts for it.

Love is a matter between two people, and I am willing to take a gamble with him this time.

I believe that even if I am not the heir of the Duke's Mansion, I can still stand shoulder to shoulder with him...

Besides, I don’t want you to become enemies later…”

Her eyes were sincere, like a piece of pure jade without any impurities. She analyzed each item, dissected the pros and cons, and confessed what she was thinking.

As if thinking of something, Xu Xinyue added:

"If that's the case, don't worry. I won't tell anyone about our true relationship, and I won't use the name of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to solicit benefits. After all, I can't avoid harm and enjoy benefits for no reason at the same time..."

As she spoke, Xu Xinyue felt that she was really a bit "heartless". The other person took the initiative to come and recognize her, but she was busy "dissociating herself from him". Seeing that He Xuehuai didn't say anything, she stopped talking and just lowered her eyes quietly, sipping the tea that had already cooled down.

After a long time, Xu Xinyue suddenly felt that her head was covered by something large and warm.

He Xuehuai's low and gentle voice sounded from above: "I understand, I respect your wishes, I just hope you can live a better life.

If becoming a young lady of the Duke's Mansion won't make your life more comfortable than it is now, I won't force it."

He Xuehuai's hand caressed Xu Xinyue's head lovingly, just like when he was young and stroked his sister's hair: "You don't have to worry, you are a member of our He family after all, this is unchangeable whether you admit it or not.

If you need anything, just send someone to the Duke's Mansion to deliver the letter to me."

Until this moment, Xu Xinyue said with true feelings: "Thank you, uncle."

He Xuehuai smiled and nodded, "Nothing."

It was getting dark, and Xu Xinyue had to leave.

She seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden. She took the dice from his hand, said goodbye to He Xuehuai and went back briskly. When she was about to open the door, she suddenly turned around and asked him:

"Uncle, if He Yunyin and I have a dispute, who will you help?"

Such a childish question was completely different from the way he discussed the situation with him just now. He Xuehuai smiled helplessly: "I don't know where she came from. You are my sister's daughter. Who do you think I will help?"

Xu Xinyue seemed very satisfied with this answer. She waved at him, pushed the door and left.