Shen Xiaoming rushed into the main room like a gust of wind. Without wiping the sweat from his face, he panted and asked, "Big sister, what happened? I heard they dug up our mother's grave?"
By the end of his sentence, Shen Xiaoming's voice was already choked with tears.
He had never met Zhen Shi, but it was precisely because of this that his longing for her was even deeper.
Now, someone had actually dug up his mother's grave. This made him feel a fire burning in his heart, so hot that his chest felt like it would explode.
"Xiaoming, listen to me," Shen Xiaoyan said, handing Shen Xiaoming a towel and gesturing for him to wipe the sweat from his face.
Shen Xiaoming was extremely anxious. He took the towel Shen Xiaoyan handed him, vaguely wiped his face, and then plopped onto a wooden chair, looking expectantly at Shen Xiaoyan, waiting for her to tell him the truth.
Shen Xiaoyan carefully considered her words before speaking with difficulty, trying her best to explain the entire incident as gently and clearly as possible, including their suspicions, of course.
"It must be Baili Ziyun. I knew she was no good. We should have just killed her back then."
When Shen Xiaoyan finished speaking, Shen Xiaoming's eyes blazed with fury, and his words were filled with chilling coldness.
Shen Xiaoyan could understand Shen Xiaoming's reaction.
No matter who it was, wouldn't they react this way if their mother's grave was dug up?
Even if it was an empty grave.
"Yes, we suspect it was her too. But we don't know where she is now. Did she only send someone, or did she come herself? Therefore, for now, we still can't do anything to her," Shen Xiaoyan said soothingly.
"I understand, sister. Impatience leads to chaos, and I won't lose my composure," Shen Xiaoming said seriously.
If this were in his previous life, before the apocalypse, and a 12 or 13-year-old child said this to Shen Xiaoyan, she would have dismissed it with a laugh and thought the child was precocious.
But after the apocalypse, she no longer held that view.
Because back then, let alone 12 or 13-year-olds, even 7 or 8-year-olds knew that when you couldn't win, you had to endure temporarily, and when you had the strength, you would strike a fatal blow to the enemy.
"Then, sister, why was there an empty coffin in Mother's grave?" Shen Xiaoming asked another question. A flicker of hope in his eyes, he said in a low voice, "Since Mother's body isn't there, does that mean Mother isn't dead yet?"
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Shen Xiaoming's bright, clear eyes and heard his cautious words, and her heart ached.
This was the thing she feared most that Shen Xiaoming would ask her. In fact, she also harbored this vague hope.
But she couldn't be sure, nor did she know how to answer.
"But if Mother isn't dead, where did she go? Why didn't she come to find us? Does she not want us anymore?" Shen Xiaoming's voice lowered again as he spoke.
Looking at Shen Xiaoming's wronged little face, Shen Xiaoyan's nose stung.
She understood how much someone who had never met their mother longed for her, because she had felt the same way in her previous life.
"No, if Mother is still alive, maybe she had something important to do, or maybe she just can't come for now. She wouldn't abandon us," Shen Xiaoyan said in a low voice, comforting Shen Xiaoming.
Shen Xiaoming shook his head upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words. "Big sister, you don't need to comfort me. I understand."
"Big sister isn't comforting you; she's speaking seriously. Think about it, who would abandon their own children? Wouldn't they?"
"But didn't Xu Xiao'e's own mother marry her off to an old man? And they cut off ties, and no longer associate with each other," Shen Xiaoming retorted.
Shen Xiaoyan: ...
"How can you compare her to our mother? Our mother is the best mother, the gentlest person in the world," Shen Xiaoyan said sternly.
Shen Xiaoming was startled by Shen Xiaoyan's sudden change in tone and stared blankly at her, momentarily unsure how to react.
"Xiaoming, I spent time with Mother. Although I was young then, Mother left me with very deep memories. Mother always had a smile on her face, very sweet, very beautiful. Mother spoke softly, and I've never heard anyone with a more pleasant voice. Mother was very good to me. When she was carrying you, she was extra careful every day, afraid of bumping or hurting you by accident. Mother was full of anticipation for your arrival. Therefore, you can't speak of Mother like that, do you understand?"
Shen Xiaoyan tried her best to explain to Shen Xiaoming in a calm tone.
Although she didn't know why these things had happened, she absolutely couldn't let Shen Xiaoming have this kind of mindset.
Shen Xiaoming's face flushed at Shen Xiaoyan's words, and he felt a bit regretful. He had spoken without thinking.
"Big sister, I understand. I misspoke just now. I believe that if Mother is alive and can, she will definitely come back to find us. She won't abandon us."
After speaking, Shen Xiaoming gave Shen Xiaoyan a big smile.
Shen Xiaoyan smiled along with him, but deep down, she hoped that if Zhen Shi were indeed alive, she wouldn't come to find them.
Otherwise, not only Shen Xiaoming, but she too would blame her.
After all, she was no longer the original Shen Xiaoyan.
Just as the siblings finished their conversation, Zheng Wei entered with a solemn expression.
"What is it?" Seeing Zheng Wei's unhappy face, Shen Xiaoyan's heart tightened.
"Grand Princess Zande is here."
"She still dares to come? Good, if she didn't, we would have to go find her."
Before Shen Xiaoyan could speak, Shen Xiaoming suddenly stood up, about to stride out angrily.
"Xiaoming, stop," Shen Xiaoyan said sternly.
"Sister?" Shen Xiaoming turned back to look at Shen Xiaoyan, confused by her tone.
"We don't know her purpose for coming. You'll follow along later, but don't say anything, understand?" Shen Xiaoyan instructed.
Seeing the unquestionable look on Shen Xiaoyan's face, Shen Xiaoming obediently nodded, indicating that he would obey.
Only then did Shen Xiaoyan feel relieved. She stood up and walked forward with Zheng Wei.
"Did she come alone?" Shen Xiaoyan asked as they walked.
"No, Baili Ziyun, and Baili Hao also came," Zheng Wei replied.
"Baili Hao?" Shen Xiaoyan stopped in her tracks, looking at Zheng Wei in surprise.
The last time Grand Princess Zande came, Baili Hao hadn't even shown his face. Why did he come along this time?
"En," Zheng Wei replied simply.
Seeing that Zheng Wei didn't want to say more, Shen Xiaoyan didn't ask further. After all, they would be there soon.
The three of them quickly walked to the front courtyard. After entering the main room, Shen Xiaoyan saw two people sitting on the main seat, looking towards the door.
On the left was Grand Princess Zande.
On the right was a man, who looked like Baili Hao.
Below Grand Princess Zande sat Baili Ziyun. Her face was full of arrogance; the meek expression from when she left was nowhere to be found.
"After a few months, Miss Baili looks much better."
Shen Xiaoyan said this and then walked slowly to the right, sitting on the wooden chair next to Sima Han.
Zheng Wei and Shen Xiaoming, without a word, also walked over and sat down.
"Hmph, you female swindler, you still dare to show your face, you slut. I'm ashamed for you," Baili Ziyun said mockingly, looking at Shen Xiaoyan.
"Oh? Miss Baili, what is the meaning of this?" Shen Xiaoyan raised her eyebrows and looked at Baili Ziyun.
"Last time, you gave me some pill, calling it a poison, but it wasn't poison at all," Baili Ziyun said, still furious about it.
"If it wasn't poison, then what was it?" Shen Xiaoyan asked in surprise.
"It was nothing," Baili Ziyun said angrily. "You just mixed a few nourishing Chinese medicinal herbs together and dared to call it poison. How dare you show your face now."
"So, are you saying Miss Baili wishes she had taken a poison pill?" Shen Xiaoyan raised her eyebrows.
"When did I ever say that?" Baili Ziyun was so angry she was about to roar.