Reunion of Brother and Sister, Silence Speaks Louder Than Words

Xue Ke opened the carriage window and looked outside. Prince's Mansion was visible in the distance, and a familiar figure seemed to be standing at its entrance. Xue Ke froze slightly, her hands unconsciously clenching as they trembled faintly.

The carriage slowly stopped before Prince's Mansion. Xue Ke lifted the curtain and stepped down, then looked up and immediately met a pair of eyes brimming with anticipation, excitement, and delight.

"Xiao Ke!" Xue Qinghe's deeply affectionate voice became a warm current, like a gentle spring breeze and drizzle, flowing into Xue Ke's heart.

"Brother!" Xue Ke looked at the hollow-eyed, utterly haggard Xue Qinghe before her with mixed emotions, and her heart ached slightly. She slowly walked up to him and took his pale, slender hand of her own accord.

Neither sibling spoke. Holding hands, they strolled through the courtyard as warm sunlight shone down upon them. The leaves rustled beneath Clear Wind's gentle caress.

Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke arrived at a pavilion and sat facing each other. Xue Qinghe picked up the teapot and slowly poured steaming tea into the cups before them. They exchanged a glance, then picked up their cups and drained them in one gulp.

Xue Qinghe watched Xue Ke slowly set down her teacup. She still wore her silver short hair, which suited the shape of her face, along with an exquisite oval face and rosy little dimples.

As Xue Qinghe gazed deeply into Xue Ke's brown eyes, he could no longer find the hope, playfulness, and innocence that had once been there. All he saw was fighting spirit, resentment, and tenderness.

Not a single word Xue Qinghe had prepared to say left his lips. A thousand words became the silence between them. Neither of them needed the other to speak to know what the other wished to say.

People whose hearts were connected could understand each other's thoughts without saying a word. People who were insincere could speak endlessly and still never enter each other's hearts.

In the end, Xue Ke was the first to break the silence.

"Brother, have you been well lately?"

"Xiao Ke, I thought of you every day. When I heard that something had happened to you, it felt as though the sky itself had collapsed. But I refused to believe you were dead. I kept waiting for the day you would return. Fortunately, I finally waited for you!" As Xue Qinghe spoke, tears streamed down his face.

Xue Ke stood and slowly walked to Xue Qinghe's side, reaching out to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes. Xue Qinghe stood as well. At last, unable to endure any longer, he pulled Xue Ke into his arms and held her tightly. Only after a long while was he willing to let go.

Then, Xue Ke slowly recounted the entire course of Tang Hao's attack to Xue Qinghe, withholding nothing. She even confessed the existence of the Sunflower Scripture, the Dao Heart Seed Demon Method, and the Dao Demon Space. Only her identity as a Transmigrator remained undisclosed.

"Xiao Ke, why are you telling me this? These are your greatest secrets. You could have kept them from your brother, and I would not have blamed you." Xue Qinghe looked at Xue Ke with a complicated expression.

"Because Brother is the most important person in Xiao Ke's heart, and the person I trust most!" Xue Ke said, her gaze filled with sincerity.

"Brother, do you know? At the instant Tang Hao's hammer swung toward me, someone appeared in my mind without me even realizing it. That person was you, Brother!" Xue Ke's tone was slightly agitated.

"This made me finally understand my own heart. Brother is the most important person in Xiao Ke's life, the person Xiao Ke will protect with her life for the rest of her days!"

Xue Ke's words were like a heavy hammer smashing fiercely into Xue Qinghe's heart. His heart suddenly clenched, his fists tightened, and struggle filled his eyes.

"Xiao Ke, do you know? Actually, I..."

Just as Xue Qinghe was about to explain further, the mansion's steward suddenly approached. After bowing, he said respectfully, "Crown Prince, Princess, an imperial decree has just arrived from the palace. Your Majesty summons Princess to enter the palace tomorrow for an audience."

"I understand. You may leave first," Xue Ke replied.

"Brother, what were you going to say just now?"

"It was nothing. Come, Xiao Ke. It is about time. Let us have dinner together."

Xue Qinghe had been moved by Xue Ke's sincere words. Heat had rushed to his head, and in a moment of impulse, he had nearly confessed everything to her. Fortunately, the steward had interrupted him in time, and he had gradually calmed down.

Forget it. The time is not right yet. Besides, if I confess everything to Xiao Ke, will she still treat me as she does now? Will I lose this hard-won familial affection forever?

Xue Qinghe felt uneasy and flustered. The image of Xue Ke learning the truth, flying into a rage, and breaking with him surfaced in his mind, and sorrow rose within him.

Dinner was once again steeped in a deathly silence. By mutual understanding, neither of them spoke.

Xue Ke naturally stayed at Prince's Mansion that night, in the same room as before.

Qian Renxue nearly confessed everything to me today, didn't she?

Sure enough, only sincerity can earn sincerity. My wholehearted honesty completely moved Qian Renxue and made her consider confessing to me as well.

Qian Renxue, my dear sister, I hope you will not disappoint me! I have told you nearly all my secrets. If you still refuse to be honest with me, I truly do not know what to do next!

The person Xue Ke trusted most was Qian Renxue. If Qian Renxue ultimately still chose not to reveal her identity, it would prove that Xue Ke's place in Qian Renxue's heart could never compare to her imperial ambitions.

There was nothing inherently wrong with that. It would prove that Qian Renxue was someone capable of achieving great things, someone who always placed the greater picture first. Yet Xue Ke would still be deeply hurt. She had exposed herself completely before Qian Renxue and offered genuine feelings without the slightest falsehood, only to receive Qian Renxue's evasions in return. No one would feel good about that.

For now, I will set Qian Renxue aside. Over the next two years, I must cultivate properly. Tang Father and Son and I have already become enemies. I have to grow stronger as quickly as possible.

Now that I am in Heaven Dou City, Tang Hao probably will not dare act recklessly. When I meet Xue Ye tomorrow, I will tell him about Tang Hao's attack on me and have him send a few reliable guards to protect me while I am at it.

Xue Ke, Xue Ke, you need to get your act together quickly. Otherwise, you will not even know how you died.

Let me think carefully about what happens next. Xue Ke frowned slightly, doing her best to recall the plot of the anime from her previous life.

According to the original plot, after Tang San and the others were driven out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they went to Blue Tyrant Academy. Then Tang San was captured by Dugu Bo, Dugu Bo fought Golden Iron Triangle, Tang San brought immortal herbs back from Dugu Bo for Six Freaks to consume, and after that came the Auction House...

The Auction House... I will begin there. Xue Ke murmured.

...Author's Note...

As for why Xue Ke has such a special attachment to Qian Renxue, those who do not understand should carefully reread the first nine chapters.

1. I spent a great deal of time writing about the protagonist's memories of her previous life, as well as her family in that life and her feelings toward her mother from that life. My meaning should be obvious enough: what do the parents in this life amount to? Besides, imperial families are the most heartless of all. Xue Ke had never even met Second Prince or Third Prince, and Xue Ye had barely cared for Xue Ke. What feelings could there possibly be?

2. Qian Renxue had murderous intentions toward Xue Ke from the very beginning. Xue Ke originally wanted to slack off, but to survive, she had no choice but to win Qian Renxue over.

3. There was only a tiny accident during the process of winning her over. Xue Ke developed genuine feelings as well, and after recalling Qian Renxue's ending in her previous life, she decided to side with Qian Renxue.

I had clearly laid all the groundwork in the first nine chapters, writing all that stuff and so on. Surely it was not all written for nothing?