The tenth lunar month had just arrived, and though winter had not yet officially begun, the weather was gradually turning cold. Even the several pots of chrysanthemums that the Old Madam loved most, arranged along the corridors of the upper courtyard of the Prime Minister’s manor, appeared somewhat withered. With major events occurring in the manor, the servants had no time to tend to them, leaving the autumn chrysanthemums to stand proudly alone against the frost.

Nanny Qin rubbed her hands together and breathed on them as she hurried into Cixiao Garden. Passing through the main hall, she stepped along the pathway paved with azure stone square bricks, her footsteps urgent as she headed straight for the main building. Her dark green fine cotton cloak spread out fan-shaped behind her due to her haste.

Upon reaching the corridor, a young maid who had not yet had her hair styled respectfully presented a brass hand warmer of appropriate temperature with both hands. “Nanny Qin has returned.”

“Mm.” Nanny Qin glanced at the young maid from the corner of her eye, and the girl immediately withdrew.

Outside the main building, the dark green curtain embroidered with endless patterns of fortune and longevity was lifted by Ji Xiang, the head maid, who had heard the sound and come out to greet her.

Upon seeing Nanny Qin, Ji Xiang quickly pulled her aside and whispered, “The Old Madam is feeling better now. The young misses are accompanying her in conversation.”

Nanny Qin warmed her ice-cold hands on the hand warmer and asked in a low voice, “Is the First Madam here now?”

Ji Xiang shook her head, pointing her pale finger toward Xingning Garden and making a gesture of tears, “The Second Madam and Third Madam are both at Xingning Garden trying to console her.” She then asked seriously, “Has the Master brought the person back?”

Nanny Qin nodded gravely.

Even Ji Xiang’s expression became subtle at this.

The two lifted the curtain and entered the room, placing the hand warmer on the red wood round table with drum legs and束腰 design in the corner of the outer room.

Nanny Qin patted her face, which had grown stiff from the cold, forced an appropriate smile, and only then hurried around the black lacquered screen carved with “Magpies on Plum Branches” to reach the side hall.

Compared to the outdoors, the side hall where the Old Madam usually rested and entertained was now warm as spring.

Sunlight streamed through the latticed windows covered with fine Korean paper, coating all the exquisite red wood carved furnishings in the room with a soft glow. The chairs were uniformly covered with light green cloud brocade scattered flower chair covers, and the floor was covered with soft Persian carpets with brocade floral patterns. A brazier was placed in the center, already filled with the finest silver thread charcoal. Two pearl-adorned and jeweled young women had moved folding stools to sit beside the brazier for warmth, while five charming young ladies surrounded a red wood ruyi-carved arhat bed placed by the window, some standing and some sitting.

The Old Madam wore a tea-gold cloud brocade front-opening round-collar jacket, with a matching colored brocade headband inlaid with emerald on her head, and a large gold and emerald flower hairpin inserted diagonally. She sat cross-legged on the arhat bed, leaning against a light green elastic ink large pillow behind her, holding the hand of a refined young lady dressed in a light blue jacket as they talked. Her expression was extremely loving, no different from usual.

Nanny Qin felt a chill in her heart. Fourth Miss was indeed the most favored – even after such a major incident, her standing in the Old Madam’s heart hadn’t diminished in the slightest!

“Old Madam.” Nanny Qin performed a bow.

Everyone in the room fell silent in unison, looking at her with various expressions.

The Old Madam’s face darkened as she said sternly, “The person has returned?”

Nanny Qin carefully bowed her head and bent her waist, “Yes, this servant heard someone come to report at the second gate, saying that First Master, Second Master, First Young Master, and Second Young Master had brought the newly arrived young lady through the ceremonial gate. This servant immediately hurried to report to you.”

The Old Madam frowned even more tightly, “Did you see what kind of person she actually is?” Without waiting for Nanny Qin’s answer, she continued coldly, “How can they say that person is a young lady from our manor! Our Hui Jie’er has been raised for fourteen years, held in the palm of my hand and treasured like a pearl or precious stone. How could she suddenly change from a real granddaughter to a fake granddaughter!”

As soon as these words fell, the blue-clad young lady sitting close beside the Old Madam began sobbing softly again.

The Old Madam sighed and coaxed her, holding the blue-clad girl’s hand, “Hui Jie’er, don’t cry anymore. Your crying breaks your grandmother’s heart.”

Qin Huining sobbed and leaned closer to the Old Madam’s side, tears hanging on her cheeks, her pair of bright almond eyes already swollen like walnuts from crying: “Grandmother, your granddaughter has received your love for so many years in vain. Your granddaughter has failed you and failed the Qin family… How could your granddaughter be fake? How could she be fake…”

Her tearful complaint made the room so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard, and the young ladies looked toward the Old Madam in unison.

The Old Madam couldn’t bear to see the only granddaughter of the first branch in tears, embracing Qin Huining and calling her “my precious heart and flesh,” “Don’t be sad. No one dares to make you leave. You grew up under my very eyes – how could you not be your parents’ own child? This matter is uncertain – perhaps the one brought back is some scheming wild child trying to climb to wealth! No matter what, grandmother will keep you and love you.”

“Grandmother!” Qin Huining was moved and knelt before the Old Madam, embracing her legs and pressing her tear-wet face against the Old Madam’s knees.

No matter what, as long as the Old Madam was willing to cherish her, she would still be the legitimate daughter of the first branch!

The Old Madam’s wrinkled hand, adorned with an emerald ring, gently stroked Qin Huining’s head repeatedly.

The scene was so touching that how could the others not understand? The young ladies from the second and third branches all shed a few sympathetic tears.

“Old Madam, First Master, Second Master, First Young Master, and Second Young Master have returned.” Outside the door, a young maid’s voice was very clear as she reported.

As the warm curtain was lifted, a gust of cold wind rushed in.

Everyone craned their necks to look outside, and saw First Master, Second Master, First Young Master, and Second Young Master enter one after another around the screen, followed by a tall young lady with mountain-like eyebrows and water-like eyes, whose beauty put peaches and apricots to shame.

Upon seeing her, everyone’s eyes couldn’t help but brighten.

The young lady was thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing a brand-new goose-yellow plain makeup-flowered jacket. Her gait was light and graceful as she walked. Though her figure was slender, she naturally possessed a certain bearing. Her raven-azure long hair was styled in double flat buns, secured only with two goose-yellow satin ribbons. Her powdered face bore no cosmetics, her cherry lips were slightly pale, her willow eyebrows swept into her temples, and her almond eyes sparkled brilliantly.

Her appearance was a full seven parts similar to how Qin Huaiyuan, the First Master of the Qin family, had looked in his youth!

Clearly, the young lady was unaccustomed to such grand scenes as the Qin family presented. She slightly lowered her beautiful head at this moment, and though she appeared calm and gentle, she also seemed somewhat timid and uncomfortable, making her even more pitiable.

The Qin family produced beauties, and Qin Huaiyuan was the outstanding one among his generation. In his youth, he had been ranked first among the “Four Gentlemen of the Capital.” How many young ladies had flocked to him – if he rode a carriage around the city once, flowers and fruits would surely fill his carriage.

He was learned and resourceful beyond compare. At twenty-three, he had used a stratagem of sowing discord to eliminate the enemy nation’s Protector General Pang Zhongzheng, causing the Northern Ji Kingdom to fall into great chaos and gradually perish. From then on, his official career had been smooth sailing, and he had now risen to become Prime Minister of Great Yan.

Although the Northern Ji Kingdom had now changed dynasties to become Great Zhou, and the posthumous son of Protector General Pang Zhongzheng had fought his way into Great Yan and was close to attacking the capital, Qin Huaiyuan’s talent and appearance were still renowned. For years, the teahouses had continued to feature the story segment “The Intelligent Pan An’s Brilliant Plan to Eliminate the Treacherous General.”

The appearance and bearing of the girl before them was exactly like the young “Intelligent Pan An” – no investigation was needed to confirm that she was absolutely Qin Huaiyuan’s biological daughter.

But if she was Qin Huaiyuan’s legitimate daughter, then who was Qin Huining, who had been raised by the first branch for fourteen years?

Everyone’s gazes unconsciously moved back and forth between Qin Huining and the young lady, making Qin Huining’s face flush purple.

The Old Madam pursed her lips, patting Qin Huining’s hand soothingly while critically examining the girl before her from head to toe.

Though her clothing was still decent, she didn’t even dare lift her eyes – displaying the petty air of a country person entering the city who had never seen the world… Aside from resembling her eldest son, she really didn’t show the proper demeanor of a legitimate daughter from an aristocratic family.

Hui Jie’er, who had been raised before her eyes, was still better!

The Old Madam grasped Qin Huining’s hand even tighter, giving her infinite comfort.

“Mother (Old Madam), may you be well.” Qin Huaiyuan, along with Second Master Qin Xiuyuan, First Young Master Qin Yu, and Second Young Master Qin Han, all bowed to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam waved her hand indifferently: “Rise.” Her eyes remained fixed on the young lady.

“Yi Jie’er, why don’t you know to kowtow to your grandmother?” Qin Huaiyuan said coldly.

“Yi Jie’er?” The Old Madam raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, Mother. All these years she only had a pet name outside. Your son has already given her a formal name – Yining.” Having said this, he glared disapprovingly at the girl who was still standing there foolishly.

After all, she had grown up in the wild countryside – no knowledge, no manners, a complete blockhead.

The young lady pressed her cherry lips together, recalling the etiquette that Second Cousin Qin Han had taught her at the inn, and obediently knelt to bow: “Granddaughter pays respects to Grandmother.” Her voice was like a young oriole emerging from the valley, very pleasant to hear.

The Old Madam observed her movements sideways – barely passable – and snorted lightly: “Now called Yining? What were you called before?”

“In response to Grandmother, I was formerly called Xiao Xi.”

“Why such a name?”

“Because my adoptive mother found me by a small stream and took me home, so I was called Xiao Xi.”

These words made everyone think differently – some mocking, some sighing.

Qin Huining clenched her fists tightly, but showed a sympathetic expression on her face.

Qin Han sighed with pity, feeling great compassion for this cousin who had suffered hardships since childhood.

But the Old Madam gave a mocking laugh: “Found by a stream so called Xiao Xi? If found in a dog kennel, wouldn’t you be called Dog Boy? Ignorant common people don’t even know how to give a proper name. I think you shouldn’t be called Yining either – you’re not worthy of being called Yining. Just continue being called Xiao Xi.”

Everyone remained silent.

Qin Yining looked up at the Old Madam in surprise.

It seemed this family was very unwelcoming to her, and this grandmother particularly disliked her.

That made sense – she had heard that in the great households of the city, even concubines could engage in secret battles over a few winter trinkets for a long time. Now that she had been found by her birth father and returned to the manor abruptly, she must have taken someone’s position and gotten in someone’s way…

Actually, she felt that being called Xiao Xi was better.

But she was originally a daughter of the Qin family – what belonged to her, why should she hand it over to others? Could it be that being switched away by her father’s political enemies years ago had become her fault? Could it be that having survived through hardship meant she shouldn’t return home?

Being looked at by her pair of clear and bright almond eyes, the Old Madam inexplicably felt somewhat uncomfortable and said coldly again: “I heard you’ve been hiding alone in the deep mountains all these years?”

“Yes.”

“What made you think to go up the mountain?”

“Because of the war, the people in the city were in dire straits. There were many who profited from national disasters by specializing in kidnapping people to sell. After my adoptive mother died, I was afraid of being kidnapped and sold, so I went to the mountains alone.”

Liang City was located at the border between two countries and had been disturbed by the flames of war for over ten years without cease, already in a state where nine out of ten houses were empty.

The Old Madam snorted coldly: “You were quite clever, knowing to hide in the mountains.”