The Duke did not know what had gone wrong. Recently, bad things had happened one after another.

  Even his wife had problems with her body and mind.

  She thought that after finding her biological daughter, their family would be able to live happily together. But now, that seemed nothing more than a dream.

  The Duke’s hair had turned white.

  After Long Ming and Xiao Ying left with the Duke’s wife, the Duke said to Liu Yiyi, “I’ve already contacted a university for you overseas. After I reveal your identity, you can go and study abroad.”


  Liu Yiyi widened her eyes and looked at the Duke in disbelief. Her lips trembled slightly and she looked like she was about to cry. “Dad, I don’t want to be separated from you and Mom. Our family just reunited and I’ve only just gotten your love. I don’t want to leave…”


  In the past, when the Duke heard Liu Yiyi’s words, he felt extremely guilty and wanted to make up for all the love he had lost for her.

  But tonight, seeing how his wife was so dependent on Xiao Ying, he was a little lost.

  Did he dote on Liu Yiyi too much?

  The Duke rubbed his temples and waved his hand. He said tiredly, “I’m a little tired.”


  Liu Yiyi had no choice but to return to her room. The moment she entered, she lay on the bed, her hands clenched into fists as she punched the pillow.

  That stupid Xiao Ying! She always ruined her plans!

  …


  In the palace.

  Long Ming got his private doctor to treat the Duke’s wife.

  “Madam’s condition is a little serious, but as long as she doesn’t continue to take that medicine, and nurses herself back to health, she will recover. She just needs time.”


  The doctor put a drip on the Duke’s wife and with Xiao Ying’s company, she slowly fell asleep.

  After the Duke’s wife fell asleep, Xiao Ying came out of the room.

  Long Ming was sitting on the living room sofa reading documents. Xiao Ying walked over and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap.

  Xiao Ying did not struggle. She leaned her head on his broad shoulders and thought of the Duchess’ condition. She frowned and said, “The Duchess is Liu Yiyi’s biological mother. How could she do something to her?”


  Even though they had not been together for many years, blood ties could not be severed. The Duke’s wife was so kind. How crazy was Liu Yiyi to be so ruthless to her own mother?

  Long Ming caressed Xiao Ying’s long hair that was spread over her shoulders. His well-defined hand lifted a strand and played with it. He rested his chin on the top of her head and said in a low and cold voice, “Don’t you think that everything from the discovery of the jade pendant in the Duke’s palace to the paternity test and her entering the palace to chasing you out was arranged by her?”


  Xiao Ying froze.

  She looked at the man. “You mean…”


  “It’s not impossible.”


  “Then I’ll investigate this matter carefully tomorrow.”


  “Do you want me to help you?”


  Xiao Ying raised her hands and hugged Long Ming’s neck, taking the initiative to kiss his handsome face. “I know you love me, but there are many things you have to deal with. I can investigate these things myself.”


  Long Ming pinched the woman’s pretty nose, a faint doting gaze in his deep eagle eyes. “Alright, do whatever you want. I’ll support you from behind.”


  He knew that she was stubborn and did not want to rely on him for everything.

  When they got married in the future and she became his Princess Consort, there were indeed many things that she needed to handle alone.

  …


  Xiao Ying was a person of action. If she wanted to investigate something, she would do it very quickly.

  That night, she went to the granny’s room.

  Although the granny had entered the palace and had everything, the old lady had still brought some of her things over.

  Xiao Ying knew that it was not good to check the old lady’s things without permission, but the situation was special now. Even if the old lady woke up, she would not blame her.

  Xiao Ying looked around and found a photo in a rusty iron box.

  It was a photo of Liu Yiyi when she was young.

  The photo was a little old, but she could still see the words “Children’s Heart Orphanage” written on it.

  Liu Yiyi was from an orphanage?

  Xiao Ying immediately checked the location of the Children’s Heart Orphanage online.

  The next day.

  Xiao Ying bought a plane ticket and headed to the Children’s Heart Orphanage with the two bodyguards Long Ming had arranged for her.

  The Children’s Heart Orphanage was located in a remote suburb. Before Xiao Ying went there, she had bought many gifts. After explaining the situation to the staff of the orphanage, she met the director.

  Xiao Ying took out Liu Yiyi’s childhood photo. “Director, do you still remember this little girl?”


  The director put on his glasses and took the photo Xiao Ying handed over, looking at it carefully.

  “It must be Liu Yiyi!”


  Xiao Ying was surprised. She did not expect that after so many years, the director would recognize Liu Yiyi at a glance.

  “Director, did Liu Yiyi have this jade pendant with her when she came to the orphanage?” Xiao Ying showed the jade pendant she had drawn to the director.

  He frowned. “I remember that this jade pendant belongs to Liu’er! But…”


  Xiao Ying looked at him. “But what?”


  “It was just a jade pendant. Liu’er said it was lost, but I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I tried.”


  Xiao Ying’s heart beat faster. “Director, who’s Liu’er?”


  “Wait a minute, I’ll go get some documents. There should be a photo of them together when they were young.”


  “Alright, thank you, Director.”


  After half an hour, the director brought the documents over.

  He opened the document box and took out two photos.

  “Liu Yiyi is about the same age as Liu’er. Liu’er came to the orphanage first and Yiyi came later. After they got to know each other, they became friends very quickly.”


  “However, Yiyi was a stronger child while Liu’er was quieter. I thought that the two girls were very compatible with each other. It was only when I heard Yiyi badmouthing Liu’er behind her back and making the other children in the orphanage discriminate against Liu’er that I realized Yiyi was a scheming girl.”


  “I assigned Liu’er and Yiyi to different rooms and didn’t hear Yiyi badmouth Liu’er again.”


  Xiao Ying nodded. “The jade pendant belongs to Liu’er. How did she lose it?”


  “Liu’er was a sensible girl. When I was sick once, she heard that there was a herb on the mountain that could help me recover, so she went up the mountain. Unfortunately, she got lost and even fell and hit her head. When we found her, her jade pendant was gone and she had forgotten some things.”


  Xiao Ying already had an answer in her heart.

  Liu Yiyi must have had something to do with Liu’er getting lost on the mountain, falling, and falling unconscious.

  It was very likely that Liu’er had told Liu Yiyi about her background when they were still on good terms. Although Liu’er was still young when she had gone missing and could not remember what her parents did, she would definitely remember that her family background was good and how her parents doted on her.

  Liu Yiyi was envious and jealous, so she took away her valuables.