In the days that followed, Xuanyuan Ling threw himself wholeheartedly into the task of managing the plague relief. The officials who had accompanied him, seeing his dedication, naturally felt compelled to follow suit and work tirelessly for the disaster-stricken area. It was as if he were trying to prove a point; Xuanyuan Ling was exceptionally earnest in his mission.
As for Xiao Yan, plagued by the recent revelation of his true parentage, he had little heart for administrative duties in the disaster zone. Seeing Xuanyuan Ling’s eagerness, he was more than happy to hand the reins over to him. Xiao Yan had always served as the Emperor’s secret right-hand man. Whenever a matter required discreet investigation or a covert hand, the Emperor almost always dispatched him. Previously, Xiao Yan could fulfill these imperial missions without a second thought, never needing to conjure excuses. But now, after his biological mother had revealed that he, too, was of royal blood, Xiao Yan was in turmoil, unsure of how to proceed.
Days turned into weeks, and still, Xiao Yan had not breathed a word of this to Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu was so preoccupied with her work that she naturally failed to notice the change in his demeanor.
Chapter 178