Xu Yangshuo trembled, shaking his head, "How... how is that possible?"
"How is it not possible?" Lin Shishu asked through gritted teeth.
"You're not, you're not..." Xu Yangshuo stumbled backward, shocked by the news.
"I'm not? Then how would I know her name?"
"You're just guessing..."
Lin Shishu sneered, "Guessing? If it's a guess, why are you so concerned?"
"I... I..." Xu Yangshuo stammered, unable to speak. Yet, he still couldn't believe that the girl before him was the child of his sister, Shu'er.
"When I heard this news, I was also shocked and couldn't believe it. My uncle, the only relative I have in this world besides my mother, is a bandit. If I had a choice, I would rather not have a relative like you."
Xu Yangshuo trembled all over and looked up at Lin Shishu. Perhaps it was the first time he had ever looked at the girl before him so intently. He wanted to see a trace of Shu'er in her eyes.
Shu'er had been gone for many years, and her image had lingered in his mind for years. Although he had sent people to search for her, there had been no news of Shu'er.
He had deceived himself into believing that Shu'er was living happily in seclusion, unknown to him.
They had once relied on each other, having only each other. But after Shu'er left, he realized that no one in this world was indispensable to another. So, he gradually chose to forget. In recent years, he could no longer recall Shu'er.
To the extent that now, as he tried to recall Shu'er's face, only an outline remained, without any distinct features.
"Is your mother well?" Xu Yangshuo asked.
Lin Shishu nodded, "Very well. My father treats her very well. My mother is the primary wife."
Upon hearing this, the corner of Xu Yangshuo's lips curved slightly. "Is that so? Then he was indeed very good to Shu'er."
"Yes, my father is a rare good official, both towards the court and his family."
Xu Yangshuo lowered his gaze, "I should have been the closest person to you besides Shu'er, but now, we have become enemies."
"Yes," Lin Shishu replied.
"You hate me, don't you?" Xu Yangshuo looked up and asked.
Lin Shishu, suppressing her tears, said, "When you pinned me down, besides despair, I felt more shame. I wondered if this was the uncle I had never met?"
Xu Yangshuo involuntarily took a step back, "I... I didn't know you were Shu'er's child."
"I never intended to tell you, but if I don't speak now, I might not have another chance."
Xu Yangshuo knew Lin Shishu was right. Upon learning Xue Zining's true identity as the Empress, he had entertained the thought of killing them.
If Lin Shishu hadn't spoken up, he would have already acted.
"I..."
"Are you still going to kill me now?" Lin Shishu asked, word by word.
Xu Yangshuo trembled all over.
Lin Shishu sneered, "Are you going to kill your own sister's child? Her only child?"
Xu Yangshuo turned his face away, conflicted. If he didn't deal with Xue Zining here, he might not survive.
Lin Shishu walked step by step, approaching Xu Yangshuo, and asked coldly, "Are you going to kill me?"
"Great Chieftain, bad news! There are officers and soldiers outside, all..." The messenger's words were cut short as an arrow pierced his jaw, instantly mangling his flesh.
Lin Shishu screamed, startled by the sudden turn of events.
Xu Yangshuo grabbed Lin Shishu and retreated backward.
In an instant, arrows rained down from outside.
Xue Zining leaped up, flying towards the rafters above to evade the arrows.
Outside the door, Xue Yan yelled, "Stop! Stop! My mistress is still inside!"
Prefect Lin looked at Xue Yan, his eyes red, and angrily retorted, "My daughter is also inside!"
Xue Yan gritted her teeth, "Prefect Lin, how can your daughter be compared to my mistress?"
"You..." Prefect Lin's eyes turned red with anger.
"If my mistress is harmed in any way, Prefect Lin, you will face execution..."
"Xue Yan, your mistress will be fine. You must believe her," Yan Jin Chao suddenly interrupted Xue Yan's words.
Xue Yan looked at him coldly, "Yan Jin Chao, today I realize that no one is more cold-blooded than you..."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xue Song was displeased.
Xue Yan looked at Xue Song coldly, her gaze seeming as if it could devour him.
Xue Song jumped back.
Xue Yan turned and flew into the room.
"You... you come back..." Xue Song was anxious.
Prefect Lin was about to order the archers to fire again, but Yan Jin Chao stopped him, "Prefect Lin, that's enough. Leave them alive."
Prefect Lin then, with trembling hands, ordered, "Hold."
He staggered towards the room.
"You... you're bleeding." Lin Shishu felt a warm liquid flowing down her face.
Xu Yangshuo smiled and slowly retracted his arms that were shielding her, "Shu'er, are you hurt?"
Lin Shishu shook her head, "No."
Just then, a large contingent of officers and soldiers rushed in. A man in white then walked in. Lin Shishu's eyes lit up, and she stood up, running towards him, "Young Master Yan, you've come to save me, haven't you?"
Yan Jin Chao glanced at her indifferently, surveyed the surroundings, and when he spotted the figure on the rafters, his heart settled.
"Young Master Yan, thank you for coming to save me, I..."
"Prefect Lin is also here," Yan Jin Chao interrupted her.
Lin Shishu trembled and looked towards the door, seeing a man walk in. She was overcome with emotion, "Father, Father..."
"Shu'er..." Prefect Lin's tense heart finally relaxed. He even felt a hint of regret, thinking how he would have regretted it if Shu'er had been injured by an arrow.
Yet, given the chance to relive it, he would still have done so without hesitation.
He did not want to let Xu Yangshuo escape this time.
Seeing that Lin Shishu was unharmed, Prefect Lin pulled her behind him, "Stay close behind your father."
Lin Shishu nodded, "Okay."
Xu Yangshuo, supporting himself on the table, stood up and walked towards Prefect Lin step by step. Officers were already blocking Prefect Lin, their swords held horizontally before him. "Shu'er eloped with you, didn't she?"
Prefect Lin froze, "You... how do you know?"
"Father, it was critical just now, I told him," Lin Shishu said.
Prefect Lin was surprised how Shu'er knew, but he had no time to ask. Looking at Xu Yangshuo, he said, "This place is surrounded by my men, Xu Yangshuo. You cannot escape. Surrender!"
Xu Yangshuo laughed loudly, "I, Xu Yangshuo, never surrender."
Prefect Lin frowned, "Xu Yangshuo, you refuse to surrender?"
"Lin Feng, is Shu'er well?" Xu Yangshuo suddenly asked.
Prefect Lin replied, "That has nothing to do with you."
Xu Yangshuo's gaze tightened. He looked at Lin Shishu behind Prefect Lin and said, "Shu'er, please tell your mother to live a happy life."