The two remained, watching for a long time. Only when Yan Si was out of sight did Shi Nan Xuan ask, looking troubled, "His Highness's sworn brother... what is his true name?"
RongCheng pondered for a long time and replied, "It seems his surname is also Shi. His given name is Yan Si."
"Shi Yan Si, you say!?" Upon hearing the name, Shi Nan Xuan's expression instantly turned pale, and he even looked slightly unsteady on his feet.
Observing the other person's reaction for a moment, RongCheng smiled again and said, "General, please be seated."
After the General had settled down, RongCheng suddenly sighed, "Speaking of this younger brother, he is truly quite unusual. General, do you know the state I found him in when I took him in?"
Shi Nan Xuan shook his head. RongCheng slowly recounted the past story. About a youth struggling to survive in the deep forest, who went without food during the day, and had to curl up at night against the cold, his body emaciated to skin and bones: "...He once told me that he had no father, no mother."
"No father, no mother?" Was it truly no father, no mother?
RongCheng continued, "Initially, I didn't believe it, but when I heard him say that if he had a father and mother, why would they let him live like that, I realized his words made a lot of sense..."
Hearing this, Shi Nan Xuan felt utterly distressed. He suddenly slammed his hand onto the chessboard, asking through clenched teeth, "Enough! Your Highness, are you doing this deliberately?"
The chessboard, struck by the sudden, great force, instantly broke in two, and the chess pieces rolled and fell to the ground. Shi Nan Xuan abruptly stood up, intending to leave, but RongCheng stopped him: "Wait a moment, General, do not be angry. I merely recounted what he said; what intent could I possibly have? Moreover, how does this matter relate to the General, that you should be so furious?"
That is right, who was Shi Yan Si? Why should Shi Nan Xuan be so angry about it? By now, RongCheng had the answer, and so did the General. From birth, he had carried many features resembling his mother, and seeing him now in that attire, it was truly difficult for anyone to deny it.
The story RongCheng just told seemed to trigger a memory in Shi Nan Xuan. More than two years ago, a scrawny, shabbily dressed young boy had indeed come to the Shi General's Residence, claiming to be Shi Yan Si, carrying a jade pendant as a token. The gate guards, naturally unaware, provoked a fight and severely wounded him, and after he awoke...
Suddenly recalling the past event, Shi Nan Xuan's head throbbed with a splitting headache. Hadn't he returned that day because he wanted to see his parents? Why did he ultimately give up and not even dare to ask for his own jade pendant back?
If it weren't for today's encounter, Shi Nan Xuan might never have guessed that his own child had been forced to live such a miserable life in the forest... Thinking of this, he merely clenched his teeth, truly unable to utter a word.
RongCheng silently watched the other person for a long time. His eyes suddenly turned cold, yet he still said with a smile, "Well, the past is over and should not be brought up too much... Now he not only has a father and a mother, but he also has an Elder Brother in me. He is truly living much better than before."
The sarcasm in RongCheng's words made Shi Nan Xuan ponder deeply. Perhaps RongCheng now knew for certain that the General could not acknowledge his son, which was why he was so blunt... Thinking this, the General suddenly sighed, "That is also good."
What could be better than Yan Si being protected by the Crown Prince? He only hoped the fortune-teller's prophecy from years ago would not come true, otherwise, it would once again shatter his family...
No matter what, he wished for his child to live well. Nevertheless, Shi Nan Xuan still felt he should offer a word of caution: "Speaking of which, Your Highness, you should still be cautious and take him away soon. He truly..."
Guessing what Shi Nan Xuan was trying to hint at, RongCheng merely smiled and nodded, "Thank you, General, for the reminder, but he is not going anywhere."
RongCheng knew that the baseless prophecy from that year was what caused Yan Si to be abandoned, didn't he? Before inviting the General here, he had already thoroughly investigated everything. He merely wanted to see it with his own eyes.
He didn't expect that even now the General was still like this, not only abandoning his son but also wanting others to cast him aside. Had he truly never felt a sliver of pity for his own flesh and blood?
What kind of father was this!? A brave general on the battlefield turned out to be a heartless, merciless person.
The more RongCheng learned, the more pity he felt for Yan Si. It turned out there were parents so despicable in this world; this incident truly broadened his perspective. Although he hated that behavior, RongCheng did not do anything inappropriate to lose Shi Nan Xuan's favor, as their friendship had always been good.
After the conversation, Shi Nan Xuan left with a belly full of rage. Just thinking of Yi Chang Hua made the fire of hatred in his heart rage uncontrollably. He hadn't expected the child raised under Yi Chang Hua's tutelage to turn out so terribly...
Shi Nan Xuan clenched his fists. When he wanted to seek out Yi Chang Hua to demand an explanation, he suddenly realized he had no right... After all, what had he done for the child throughout all those years to demand punishment for the other person? In the end, he could only nurse his resentment.
After Shi Nan Xuan had departed, RongCheng hurriedly went to visit Yan Si. When he arrived, he indeed saw a large blanket rolled up tightly on the bed, and it was trembling.
RongCheng looked at Xiao Yi beside him. Xiao Yi quickly said, "Your— Your Highness, don't look at this servant. The Master has been like this ever since he returned from the rear garden."
Hearing this, RongCheng merely shook his head and sighed, "You may withdraw. Leave him to me."
"Yes!" Xiao Yi immediately backed out.
RongCheng sat down by the bed and gently pulled at the blanket, calling softly, "A'Si... A'Si... come out quickly. I have something to tell you."
Hearing RongCheng's voice, Yan Si clutched the blanket even tighter, absolutely refusing to come out...
He hadn't expected that RongCheng had tricked him... tricked him into meeting Shi Nan Xuan while in such a shameful appearance...
"Does... does the General... know about me?" If by chance he did, he would certainly look down on him even more.
"A'Si... quickly crawl out! Hurry up, aren't you hot in there? Come out now!" Finding that calling him out was fruitless, RongCheng became slightly irritated. He immediately gave a strong tug on the blanket and pulled Yan Si out.
The moment Yan Si was pulled out, RongCheng grasped him and pulled him into an embrace, patting his back in comfort, "Don't be angry... don't be angry... Elder Brother knows his mistake. I truly should not have forced you like that."
"Mistake...?" Did he know what mistake he had made? Could it be... could it be that he already knew, and yet did it intentionally? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? Thinking this, Yan Si looked up at RongCheng, asking awkwardly, "Elder Brother, did... did you already know?"
RongCheng gently nodded, "Not only do I know... I know very well..."
He didn't even need Yan Si to tell him himself... RongCheng suddenly sighed and said, "I did that only because I wanted an answer, to see if the General would acknowledge his own child or not."
Hearing this, Yan Si felt a pang of sadness. He shook his head and said bitterly, "No... he absolutely will never acknowledge me."
That was the cruel truth that Yan Si had known the answer to for a long time, and thus never wanted to think about it again...
RongCheng suddenly held Yan Si tightly and said, "I know now... Don't worry, Elder Brother will never abandon you."
If he wouldn't acknowledge him, so be it. Didn't he still have a very good sworn brother right here? Why should he tremble in fear to this extent?
RongCheng's words were sweeter than honey, piercing deep into Yan Si's heart. Yan Si looked at him with wide eyes and asked, "Are... are Elder Brother's words true?"
RongCheng immediately nodded, "Of course."
At this moment, Yan Si could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Before, he was only afraid that after RongCheng learned about the dark curse he was afflicted with, he would cast him aside.
Elder Brother truly was the best; it had always been this way. He loved RongCheng the most in this world.