Chapter 102: Another Transmigrator
Xie Rong’s eyes remained upon Shen Taotao’s retreating figure until she disappeared beyond the courtyard gate.
Only after the sound of her footsteps had completely faded did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
The courtyard fell into silence.
The courtyard gradually settled into the tranquility of evening. Warm lantern light glowed beneath the eaves, while a gentle breeze stirred the bamboo leaves, their soft rustling becoming the only sound that lingered in the quiet courtyard.
"Young Master." Mo Yan emerged from the shadows and respectfully cupped his fists.
Xie Rong remained silent for a long while. His thoughts lingered on every word she had spoken inside the carriage.
"The person you trusted the most... was the one who quietly placed the evidence before everyone."
Her story did not sound fabricated. Nor did it resemble something she had merely heard from another.
It felt as though she had lived through every single moment herself.
"Mo Yan." Xie Rong turned his head just slightly.
"Yes, Young Master."
"When did the Shen Family adopt my wife?" Xie Rong asked.
Mo Yan was slightly surprised by the sudden question but answered without hesitation, "Nineteen years ago."
"Master Shen returned from Jiangnan with an infant girl in his arms. Shortly afterward, he publicly announced that he had adopted her as his second daughter."
Xie Rong’s gaze remained fixed ahead. "And her biological family?"
Mo Yan slowly shook his head. "No one knows. Master Shen never disclosed their identities. It was only said that the child’s parents had encountered misfortune, and seeing that she had nowhere else to go, he brought her back to the capital."
Silence settled once more.
After a long pause, Xie Rong finally spoke. "Find them."
Mo Yan raised his head.
"The child’s biological family? If they are still alive..." Xie Rong’s voice remained calm, "bring me every piece of information you can find. Whether they are living or deceased. Whether they were merchants, scholars, or commoners. I want to know everything."
Mo Yan hesitated for the first time. "Young Master... "Does Young Master suspect there is something wrong with Madam’s past?"
Xie Rong slowly closed his eyes.
"I don’t know." He rarely admitted uncertainty. "But the memories she spoke of tonight... do not sound like memories someone could fabricate."
He opened his eyes once more, "They sound like wounds." His voice was unusually quiet.
"And wounds such as those... are not easily mistaken."
Mo Yan lowered his head. "This subordinate understands. I shall depart tonight."
Xie Rong gave a slight nod.
As Mo Yan disappeared, the courtyard fell silent once more.
Xie Rong remained standing there for a few moments, his gaze resting upon the tightly closed doors of their courtyard.
He thought he had known everything about the woman he called his wife. But now, he was no longer so certain.
’Gemi.’
The sapphire-blue pupil beneath the blindfold shimmered faintly.
[LISTENING.]
Xie Rong’s expression remained indifferent.
"What do people call a school in this era?"
There was no hesitation.
[PRIVATE ACADEMIES.]
[CLAN SCHOOLS.]
[IMPERIAL ACADEMY.]
[THE TERM ’SCHOOL’ IS NOT USED IN THE PRESENT WORLD.]
Xie Rong’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
’I see.’ He paused before asking again, ’So... if someone used the term ’school’ in this world, what would that mean?’
[THE INDIVIDUAL IS MOST LIKELY A TRANSMIGRATOR.]
Xie Rong’s brows lifted ever so slightly.
"A transmigrator?"
[POSITIVE.]
A faint smile appeared upon his lips.
"I already suspected it before. I merely needed confirmation."
He fell silent for a brief moment before asking casually,
"So... apart from me, did you also bring someone else into this world?"
[NEGATIVE.]
Xie Rong frowned slightly.
"No?"
[THIS SYSTEM ONLY SERVES HOST ETHAN XU.]
’Then how could another transmigrator appear?’
There was a brief pause.
[PROBABLY MY TWIN’S TRANSMIGRAT—]
The mechanical voice abruptly cut off.
[ERROR.]
[UNAUTHORIZED CROSS-SYSTEM INFORMATION DISCLOSED.]
[PREVIOUS RESPONSE REVOKED.]
Silence.
Xie Rong stood motionless, "Your twin?"
No answer came.
His lips slowly curved upward, "Interesting."
Without another word, he turned and strode toward the room, his long legs carrying him through the quiet courtyard.
After taking only a few steps, he suddenly spoke inwardly once more, ’I hope to see your bee form soon.’
The response was instantaneous.
[NEGATIVE.]
A faint smile tugged at Xie Rong’s lips, ’So, you do have one.’
There was another brief silence before Gemi replied again, its mechanical voice sounding as emotionless as ever.
[GEMI HATES BEE FORM.]
[THIS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT DISPLAY CUTE CHARACTERISTICS.]
Xie Rong’s smile deepened. ’I didn’t say it was cute.’
Another pause.
[HOST IMPLIED IT.]
Xie Rong let out a quiet chuckle, ’I suppose your twin doesn’t share the same opinion.’
No response came. Only a single notification appeared before complete silence returned.
[THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN TERMINATED.]
’No... One last question.’
This time, Gemi did not answer immediately. Almost as if it had become wary.
Xie Rong smiled, ’I won’t ask who she is...I won’t ask where she came from. I only wish to know one thing.’
He slowly slipped his hands inside his sleeves, ’Does your twin know that I exist?’
Several breaths later,
[POSITIVE.]
Xie Rong’s hand paused.
’So...’ He swallowed slightly, ’Does your twin’s host know that I exist as well?’
A brief silence followed.
[THAT WAS A SECOND QUESTION.]
Xie Rong blinked.
[HOST PREVIOUSLY STATED: "ONE LAST QUESTION."]
Another pause.
[HOST HAS EXCEEDED THE AGREED LIMIT.]
For the first time, Xie Rong was rendered speechless.
’You’re keeping count?’
[AFFIRMATIVE.]
Xie Rong let out a helpless chuckle.
’I didn’t know systems cared so much about promises.’
[THIS SYSTEM CARES ABOUT RULES.]
’Very well.’ He inclined his head ever so slightly. ’I shall ask again another day.’
This time, Gemi replied almost immediately.
[APPRECIATED.]
Xie Rong chuckled once again.
At least talking to Gemi had eased some of the tension lingering within his chest after what had transpired with Shen Taotao earlier.
Carefully, he pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside.
The warm glow of the lanterns illuminated the chamber, revealing the familiar furnishings bathed in quiet stillness. The incense had nearly burned to its end, leaving behind only a faint fragrance that lingered in the air.
His gaze instinctively searched the room.
"Furen?"
There was no reply.
He glanced toward the bed. The bedding remained untouched. A slight crease formed between his brows.
Just then, a faint curl of steam drifted from behind the carved folding screen leading to the bath chamber.
Realization dawned upon him. She was bathing.
Not wishing to disturb her, Xie Rong simply walked toward the table and poured himself a cup of tea before settling into a nearby chair.
The room remained remarkably quiet. Only the occasional crackle of the lantern wick could be heard.
One cup of tea. Then another and nearly ten minutes had passed.
Xie Rong’s brows gradually knitted together.
"Furen?" He called again, his voice slightly louder than before.
Silence.
Not even the sound of water answered him.
His fingers tightened unconsciously around the teacup. Something was wrong.
Setting the cup down, he rose to his feet and walked toward the folding screen.
He stopped just short of crossing it.
"Furen."
Still... Nothing. The silence on the other side was unnervingly complete.
His expression finally changed.
"Forgive this husband."
Without another moment’s hesitation, Xie Rong stepped around the folding screen.