Jiang Xue hesitated for a moment, recognizing so quickly? She wasn’t mentally prepared for this yet, so she immediately held Murong Han back.

"No rush. The main reason I came to Lanyue this time was to find you. I didn’t expect the storm to bring me here, which could be seen as fate for us siblings. Over at the Imperial Palace, is that Noble Princess Consort Bai the mastermind? I think the first thing we should do now is not to recognize each other, but to find our mother first."

"Of course, it’s them. Over the years, the Bai Family has wielded significant power, their glory unmatched. Nowadays, everyone in court and the people follow their lead. Father Emperor and I, we’ve long been sidelined. The reason they haven’t acted against us is that there are still royal relatives with good conscience. Even if the support ratio is seventy-thirty, because our foundation is solid, they find it difficult to shake us, so it’s come to a stalemate."

"Then his health, is it really bad?"

"With me here, his health is within controllable limits. However, he’s suffering from heart disease; years of anxiety have led to this condition. That’s also the reason I’m in a hurry to send you back, hoping Father Emperor will quickly regain his spirit. Only when he pulls himself together can I handle my affairs without worries!"

"So, the rumors outside saying you’re despised by him are untrue?"

Murong Han laughed, "It seems you know a bit about Lanyue. Yes, Father Emperor gets upset whenever he sees me and tries to send me away all the time, out of fear that I might get poisoned. He has already lost you and doesn’t want to lose me as well, so the ’rejection’ he’s shown all these years is just a means to protect me. Similarly, our patience isn’t due to weakness, but to gather strength."

"Brother, any news about mother?"

Murong Han shook his head, "There’s nothing concrete yet. Some rumors, once checked, quickly crumbled. The greater the hope, the harsher the disappointment. When did you find out about your origin?"

Jiang Xue looked towards Shui Yixuan, "Just a few months ago. Thanks to his help, otherwise, even with this Jade Pendant, I wouldn’t have known I have such a troubled background. Also, it’s certain that mother is still alive. Though I don’t know where she is, I have the Mother-child Poisonous Insect — Heart Connection — implanted in me by her!"

Not sure if it’s called telepathy, Jiang Xue had just spoken when she felt her heart suddenly tighten. Before Murong Han could say anything, the familiar feeling made her instinctively grab Shui Yixuan’s hand beside her.

"Oh no, that familiar feeling is back, ah, it hurts so much, I can’t stand it, it’s too painful, ah..."

In the next instant, Jiang Xue began convulsing, and seeing this, Shui Yixuan quickly scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.

Soon after, Jiang Xue began vomiting blood, mouthful after mouthful of blood, which made Murong Han’s heart race with alarm, "Could this be the symptoms of Heart Connection?"

Shui Yixuan glanced at him, "Looks like you know a bit. Yes, this is the most direct reaction of the Mother-child Poisonous Insect. This reaction indicates your mother is undergoing hardship. This time seems even more intense than before. Look at the blood she’s vomiting; it could fill a bowl."

"At a time like this, you still have time for jokes?"

Murong Han looked tensely at Jiang Xue, who was writhing in pain, completely ignoring Shui Yixuan’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

"Brother, how do you know about this insect?"

While explaining, Murong Han’s eyes carried memories of the past.

"Mother told me herself. Before she left the Imperial Palace with you, she came to see me. At that time, her face was ghastly pale. I asked her, and she said it was nothing to worry about, that she was researching a kind of insect. This insect was passed down by our grandparents and is called Heart Connection. To implant it requires a lot of blood from the host. She was so pale because of severe blood loss."

"If this insect is successfully implanted, it can alleviate many common ailments for little sister. Seeing you like this now, imagine how much she has silently endured?" Mentioning their mother, Murong Han’s eyebrows and eyes revealed nothing but heartache.

"Brother, are you saying this insect was passed down from our grandparents? Well..., did Mother ever tell you what her real name is?"

Although she had read the original novel, certain formalities still needed to be addressed. If she didn’t ask, the subsequent conversation couldn’t follow.

Murong Han looked at Jiang Xue in confusion, "Her real name? Could it be that Lanshu Yue is not Mother’s real name?"

Jiang Xue shook her head in disappointment, "Grandpa Shui once said he had been to a mysterious island named Xiran Island, and this kind of insect could only be found there. It was something the Island Master couple had painstakingly researched. If my guess is correct, Mother likely came from Xiran Island, and as for the name Lanshu Yue, it might just be an alias."