All Hail Cousin Brother

374 Using the Zither to Send a Message

But in the end, he broke his leg.

In the past, he had been a well-dressed heir. After experiencing the destruction of his family, he had become an unfathomable crippled youth.

He restrained his sharpness and elegance.

Yu Youyao felt her heart ache so much that she could barely breathe.

Zhou Linghuai laughed sarcastically. “Back then, I was indeed shot off my horse by the Marquis of Changxing’s arrow. I was a soldier beside him, and I did not hesitate to use my body as a shield to block the trampling of the horses for me. After that, I was seriously injured and was in a coma for more than half a month. My legs were crippled, and the You Residence had a broken wall. The news of my death spread to the capital. Father was convicted of colluding with the enemy to betray the country, and I also became the son of the King of Sins.”

Yu Youyao felt a lump in her throat and held back her tears. “Then who’s the ‘Prince Yin Huaixi’ who entered the palace with Mr. Xian Yun?”

Zhou Linghuai said calmly, “The substitute sacrificial soldiers are people of the same age, height, and appearance. They have eaten and lived together since they were young. The sacrificial soldiers will imitate their master’s words and actions. If necessary, they can act on behalf of their master. I still have to use the identity of Zhou Linghuai, so it’s not convenient for me to appear personally.”

Yu Youyao stepped forward and held his hand. “Cousin, King You and the Consort will live and die together. They’ll also be in love for the rest of their lives. They’ll die with their loved ones in this life and be intimate with each other in the next life. That’s their choice. Ye Hanyuan has entered the capital, and King You’s crime will be washed away. Then, you can also live openly in the future. Uncle Sun said that in two to three years, your leg will recover to its original state. At that time, you can come and go as you please.” She said hoarsely, “Cousin, don’t be sad.”

Zhou Linghuai felt a lump in his throat. The little girl looked at him solemnly, her eyes dark and clear, filled with concern and worry for him.

He smiled. “Aren’t you angry?”

When she saw him just now, it was as if she had seen a ghost. She even called him “Cousin” reluctantly.

Even though all of this was under his control and within his calculations, he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. He was afraid that if he angered her, she would really disown him in the future.

Yu Youyao looked embarrassed. “I-I-I was too shocked and couldn’t react in time. I wasn’t angry with Cousin.”

Previously, on Chang An Street, she had already been shocked by the scene of Ye Hanyuan beating the drum and causing her to be covered in blood. Blood had splattered on Chang An Street and she had shouted that the Marquis of Changxing had sinned ten times. Today, the weather was already hot, and the carriage had been moving at full speed. She was dizzy in the carriage.

As soon as she returned home, she did not even slow down. She had learnt about her cousin’s true identity from her grandmother.

Everything happened one after another without any pause. It was inevitable that she would be a little stupid.

However, at this moment, she only felt sorry for her cousin and was not angry.

Zhou Linghuai heaved a sigh of relief, and his grip on the armrest quietly loosened, dropping to his side. Only then did he realize that his palms were sweating. “You’re still calling me Cousin?”

Yu Youyao pouted. “If you don’t call me Cousin, what should I call you? Young Master Yin or Young Master?”

Zhou Linghuai was also stunned. He was used to hearing her call him cousin, so he felt that other forms of address were unpleasant.

Yu Youyao shook her cousin’s arm. “I don’t care. As long as your identity isn’t made public, as long as it’s not made public, you’re my cousin. Whether your surname is Zhou or Yin, I recognize you as my cousin, and the person I like the most.”

Looking at the little girl’s delicate face, Zhou Linghuai also felt a little happy.

Seeing that her cousin was silent, Yu Youyao said, “Cousin, you’re not allowed to disown me after changing your identity. You promised me before that you would treat me well for the rest of your life. I’ll always remember it.”

Zhou Linghuai’s mind exploded. She was probably the one who said that she would treat him well for the rest of her life!

Yu Youyao held her cousin’s hand and shook it gently. “Cousin, what do you mean by not saying anything? I’m going to be angry!”

Zhou Linghuai suddenly smiled. “Don’t be angry. I still have to stay in the residence for a while. I’ll always remember my promise to you.”

Yu Youyao immediately smiled. “Cousin, that’s great!”

She had subconsciously neglected the fact that her cousin might stay in the Yu Residence in the future. In any case, everything would work out when the time came. She would think about the future later!

Zhou Linghuai smiled.

Yu Youyao said softly, “Actually, I’m still a little angry, but the person who has always been good to me is Cousin, not the so-called Cousin Zhou or Prince Yin, but Cousin. Therefore, in my heart, Cousin is Cousin. He’s not angry because of his status, let alone his surname.”

She wasn’t a fool.

On careful thought, her cousin had never deliberately hidden anything from her.

It was just that her cousin’s identity was too sensitive, so it was not appropriate to tell her openly.

Moreover, no matter what identity her cousin used to live in the Yu Residence, no matter what his motive was, she had eyes and heart to feel that all of this was true.

In that case, why bother with those indifferent matters?

Zhou Linghuai nodded. Seeing that the little girl’s hair was messy and her clothes were wrinkled, he said, “Go back to the Jade Courtyard to wash up first.”

The little girl did not look too good. It was probably because she had been suffering in the carriage all the way back.

The two of them returned to the Jade Courtyard.

Zhou Linghuai was reading under the Parasol Tree.

Yu Youyao took a bath again. After washing up, her mind cleared. Without even wiping her hair, she rushed into the study and carried the zither that her cousin had given her previously.

On the back, there was a calligraphy inscription on the top of the dragon pool. Below it, there was a carving of the Thousand Rock Ridge. The sun was shining brightly, and the wind sounded even more valiant.

On the left were engraved with the words “Yuan 18th Year.”

After reading it, Yu Youyao asked, “This zither is called Ru Ling? Cousin’s friend visited the Thousand Rock Ridge in the 18th year of the Yuan Dynasty and listened to the wind blowing the leaves. With a rustling sound, he cut off the wood on the ridge and made this zither?”

Thousand Rock Ridge, Ling Tongling—

The next day…

Ling Huai…

“Ah ah ah—” Yu Youyao rubbed her forehead and cried out a few times. She clenched her fists and pounded her little head a few times. “Yu Youyao, you’re really stupid. Such obvious evidence is right in front of you, but you actually haven’t discovered it.”

Zhou Linghuai heard the commotion outside and turned his wheelchair into the study. “What’s wrong?”

After asking, he saw the little girl hugging the zither that he had given her previously with a broken expression. He couldn’t help but laugh. He clenched his fists and pressed them against his lips to hide the smile on his lips, afraid that the little girl would anger him again if she saw it.

Yu Youyao looked at her cousin resentfully and pouted. “So, Cousin, why did you give me this zither early in the morning?”

It was obvious that he was deliberately using the zither to pass on his message.