Ming Huashang’s abrupt interruption made Ming Huazhang’s original words get stuck in his throat. He glanced at her coolly, and said, “Feihong Garden is at the peak of Mang Mountain, so it’s not convenient for horse carriages, and it snowed heavily recently, so the road on the mountain may be difficult to travel. Since you are not feeling well, just don’t go.”

The young man frowned as he spoke. He had his usual arrogant and indifferent expression, but his eyes were serious. Among so many people present, Ming Huazhang was probably the most difficult to get close to, but Ming Huashang felt warm inside when she heard his words.

It turned out that when Ming Huazhang came in and glanced at her several times, he wasn’t doing that because he felt her yawn was disgraceful, but because he was worried that she was feeling unwell.

Ming Huashang was kept awake by a nightmare for most of the night. Even though she tried her best to pull herself together, her face was still pale, and her mind was hazy. It had been so long since she arrived, and neither her grandmother, aunts, nor her two cousins paid attention. Instead, Ming Huazhang, who was notoriously cold, noticed.

Ming Huashang felt very moved. It turned out that her elder brother still cared for her. In the past, she was intimidated by Ming Huazhang’s indifference. On top of that, the two of them were twins, but one was excellent, and the other was a good-for-nothing. She felt that Ming Huazhang would definitely look down on her, so she tactfully never bothered him. Looking at it now, it seemed that she had thought wrongly.

Even siblings needed to maintain their relationship. They didn’t have much interaction with each other in the first place, so if she still doesn’t take the initiative, how could the two ever be on speaking terms?

Although they were not biological brother and sister, they had lived under the same roof for sixteen years, and Ming Huashang truly regarded him as an elder brother. If the relationship between the two of them became better, and Ming Huazhang was willing to give her more protection, then would the people behind the scenes not kill her if they saw that?

In the worst case, if she hugged Ming Huazhang’s thigh, even if the real daughter returned to the manor in the future, she could ask Ming Huazhang to send more people to protect her and let her leave the Ming family safely.

Her biological grandmother momo Su was greedy and inadequate. She disturbed the real daughter’s life. Even if Ming Huashang wasn’t responsible, she owed the real daughter after all. She had enjoyed splendor and wealth that did not belong to her for sixteen years, so she should be content. After Su Yuji returns, she was willing to abdicate and take the initiative to get out of the Duke manor.

However, she did not initiate the switch of the daughters, so she should not have to owe her life for it. She didn’t care about the wealth and power of the Ming family, instead, she cherished her own life very much.

She wanted to live well, and if possible, she wanted to catch her murderer.

To accomplish that, she will do whatever she can. Compared with her safety, what was a mere snowy road?

Ming Huashang gritted her teeth and said without hesitation, “Don’t worry about me, as long as I can follow my second elder brother, it doesn’t matter where we go. Second elder brother won’t think I’m burdensome, right?”

Old Madam Ming frowned inwardly, how could a lady who had yet to leave her boudoir say such things? She was too unreserved. But after considering that the two of them were twins, growing up hand in hand and foot to foot in their mother’s womb, it was understandable that they were closer than ordinary brothers and sisters. So, Old Madam Ming only frowned, and did not say anything.

In fact, Ming Huazhang still disagreed. He didn’t want Ming Huashang to attend the Feihong banquet, not because the snowy mountain was difficult to travel, but because the Wu family members including Wei Wang, Liang Wang, and Gaoyang Wang were all going to attend. Taiping Gongzhu liked extravagance and indulgence, and there was no imperial censor outside the city to monitor them. The banquet will definitely be tumultuous with the good and bad intermingling. He was not willing to let Ming Huashang confront all of that.

But Ming Huashang stared straight at him, her eyes were black and round, looking at him expectantly like a deer. Ming Huazhang couldn’t bear to say the words of rejection, so he could only take a step back helplessly, “Alright. But once we’re outside, you must listen to me, and you are not allowed to act on your own.”

Ming Huashang did not expect Ming Huazhang to agree. She was stunned for a moment and then she reacted, overjoyed, “Thank you, elder brother! Second elder brother, you are the best!”

The girl’s joy was straightforward and enthusiastic, without any concealment, and her eyes dazzled so brightly that he had to look away. Ming Huazhang was used to being cold and distant, so he was caught off guard by such a sudden bright smile.

He only agreed to take her out, was being so happy necessary?

Ming Huazhang was used to issuing orders, but this time he was the first to avert his gaze. Seeing that her second elder brother, who was usually ice cold towards everyone, actually made an exception for Ming Huashang, Ming Shuo was so angry that she kept wrenching her skirt. Watching the brother and sister from the main branch behave affectionately, they were like thorns in second madam Zhao-shi’s eyes.

Only Old Madam Ming was very pleased to see this scene. Ming Huazhang was the main branch’s only son and he was very outstanding in both talents and skills and was a master of both the pen and the sword. Furthermore, there were no flaws in his character or appearance. Old Madam Ming was very satisfied with Ming Huazhang and had already regarded him as the succeeding Duke, but it was a pity that this child was too rigid and cold-tempered. Except for Duke Zhen, he was not close to any of the other Ming family members, so it was a good thing that he was willing to talk to Ming Huashang.

Old Madam Ming would also think more highly of a person that Ming Huazhang liked. Old Madam Ming said unhurriedly, “You brother and sister are fraternal twins. You stayed together in your mother’s womb for ten months. Apart from your father, you two are the closest people in the world. Neither your future bride nor groom can compare to your strong sibling connection. As twins, you two should be closer. The others will also be happy to see that. Baoqin, go and bring that bolt of vermillion brocade with the dragon and phoenix pattern from my dowry for the second young master and second miss to make new clothes. Both brother and sister have good looks and if they wear matching clothes to the banquet, it’ll add some joy for Her Highness Taiping.”

When Ming Yu heard that Old Madam Ming had even taken out that brocade from the bottom of her dowry chest, she gave Ming Huashang an obscure and resentful glare. Old Madam Ming clearly said before that bolt of brocade would be reserved for their dowries, but now she gave it all to Ming Huashang just because of a banquet?

Ming Huashang thanked her and asked Zhaocai to take the fabric. She noticed that the gazes of the second and the third branches directed at her were not friendly. She snorted inwardly, thinking that they only knew how to bully the weak. Did they forget Ming Huazhang, why didn’t they dare to glare at him?

From the beginning, Old Madam Ming wanted Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang to attend, so now that everything was going the way she planned, Old Madam Ming could relax. She said, “Although Feihong Garden is an imperial garden, it still can’t compare to home after all. Once you go there, it’ll be for a few days. Quickly go and pack your things then. As for the second and third branches, you can take the girls back too, don’t delay yourselves here with me.”

Everyone stood up and saluted, and after their greetings, they put on their shoes and stepped back. Ming Huazhang put his clothes on the quickest. He casually put on his cloak and lifted the curtain and left. Ming Huashang hurriedly put on her boots and chased after Ming Huazhang.