( This pulls him up short, the confusion on his face leaking into his voice. )

I... because we helped Song-daozhang recover, after. I don't have reason to talk about him in general, but between him and living through A-Qing's memories—

( But he cuts himself off, shaking his head and clutching his potatoes like pearls. )

Shishu, you what? That doesn't make sense. I met you before the war, not long after leaving Gusu Lan. ( Another tick of a discrepancy he doesn't know is one. ) You'd been tracking down Xue Yang? Both you and Song-daozhong.

( Keeping to that address, following his martial uncle's lead. )

Qinghe Nie too custody after you captured him. Does none of that sound familiar? I wasn't—nothing happened for at least two years after.