Prince Yan returned to the banquet. By this time, the atmosphere had become very harmonious. People were beginning to accept and even like Li Weiyang, feeling as if she had always been one of them.

Guo Dun looked at his family’s younger sister in surprise and said, “When did Jia’er become so eloquent?!”

Guo Cheng’s handsome face wore a smile as he glanced sideways at Guo Dun and said, “Not only eloquent—she’s practically born to be liked. Didn’t you see that even our normally fierce second aunt is all smiles?”

Originally, seeing Li Weiyang’s reserved smile, he had thought she was an unsociable person. Unexpectedly, she was actually so well-received. In fact, using “likeable” to describe Li Weiyang was still too simple. One should know that pleasing one person was easy, but pleasing a group of people was extraordinarily difficult, especially when each person here came from a prestigious family and was reserved and proud. For Li Weiyang to establish good relationships with everyone in less than an hour—in Guo Cheng’s view, this was simply unbelievable.

What Guo Cheng didn’t know was that Li Weiyang was very good at reading people. If she sincerely wanted to win everyone’s favor, it was actually quite easy. It was just that previously she had been willful and disdained to do so. But today, first, Madam Guo had been watching her attentively throughout, afraid she would feel uncomfortable in the crowd. To comfort her, Li Weiyang needed to integrate into the environment quickly. Second, if Li Weiyang couldn’t leave others with a first impression of being approachable, refined, and noble, she would find it very difficult to establish herself among prestigious families from then on. Because no matter what kind of family, they would strongly resist outsiders. She had to break down the barriers in their hearts and make them accept her quickly—this was the way to survive.

Guo Dun said incomprehensibly, “Didn’t they say Jia’er grew up in a merchant household? How is it that her words and actions don’t resemble someone raised in that kind of family at all!”

Guo Dao was drinking wine nearby. Hearing this, he laughed heartily and said, “That’s where you don’t understand. Jia’er was born with noble blood in her bones. Even in a lowly merchant household, she could still grow into a peony flower!”

Guo Dun found it even stranger. However, Guo Cheng glanced at Guo Dao and was secretly shocked. He knew this younger brother had always been carefree, but this intuition seemed too accurate. One should know that merchants always carried the stench of copper. The vast majority were wealthy but not noble. Girls raised in such families, no matter how much they tried to conceal it, found it difficult to remove that merchant household aura. They were still very far from true prestigious families. But Li Weiyang gave people the feeling that she was nothing like a girl raised in a lowly merchant household. She seemed like a born Guo family young miss.

At this moment, Guo Cheng felt curious about Li Weiyang’s upbringing for the first time.

When Prince Yan saw Li Weiyang surrounded by everyone, chatting and laughing freely, his expression clearly became cold and grim. He had rarely suffered setbacks in his life, yet he had fallen at Li Weiyang’s hands. This was simply his greatest humiliation. If he didn’t take revenge, he truly couldn’t accept it! Thinking this, he glanced at Li Weiyang and deliberately said loudly, “Madam Guo, I heard Miss Guo was missing for many years. May I ask where you found her?”

As soon as these words left his mouth, the originally harmonious banquet atmosphere changed. The expressions of those present became strange. Duke Qiguo’s face immediately darkened. In his view, Prince Yan Yuan Yu was deliberately being provocative. Where his family found their daughter—what did it have to do with Prince Yan? Did they need to report to him? Moreover, in this public setting, he had abruptly raised this question without any regard for the occasion. It was truly too rude.

But what was the Guo family’s status? No matter how rude the other party was, they wouldn’t let people see their inner displeasure. Just like if a person was bitten by a dog, no matter what, they wouldn’t lower themselves to the animal’s level to bite back. Yuan Yu was counting on the Guo family’s self-respect to ask such a question.

Everyone’s expressions were splendid, because Yuan Yu had asked what they wanted to know but had never dared to ask. Pei Bao’er, who had been watching Guo Jia quickly integrate with cold eyes, now smiled and said, “Yes, I’m also very curious how Madam Guo found her long-lost daughter!”

Although Madam Guo was displeased, she was after all an elder and couldn’t possibly quibble with juniors. So she only smiled slightly and said, “My, when did His Highness Prince Yan and Miss Pei become so telepathic?” Both running here to target her daughter—how absurd!

Prince Yan smiled and said, “Madam Guo, we’re merely curious. I believe it’s not just us—other guests attending the banquet must also want to know. After all, to find a daughter lost for so many years is simply a miracle! So we want to hear how this miracle was created. Surely Madam Guo won’t mind!”

He used not “happened” but “created”—these two characters. Yet Li Weiyang’s face only showed a reserved smile, as if she hadn’t heard the ill intent in Yuan Yu’s tone at all.

Madam Guo glanced at Duke Qiguo. Seeing him nod at her, she then smiled and said, “I accidentally saw at the Charity House a string of rare prayer beads that I had personally kept on Jia’er’s wrist. That’s how I found her. These prayer beads were personally commissioned by my husband. I had touched each bead. I absolutely wouldn’t mistake them. Speaking of it, this is also the karmic reward from my years of donations to the Charity House. If not for this, I wouldn’t have seen Jia’er.”

Hearing this, others said one after another, “Yes, this really is a rare coincidence!” “If not for Duke Qiguo’s wife’s good karma bringing good rewards, how could she have found her daughter lost for over ten years!” “Right, right, it must be heaven’s protection!”

Hearing everyone’s whispers, Yuan Yu’s face showed a cold smile as he said, “Then may I dare ask—just based on a string of prayer beads, Madam Guo confirmed Miss Guo’s identity? Weren’t you afraid someone would learn this secret and deliberately impersonate her?”

As these words were spoken, Princess Chenliu, Duke Qiguo, and others all changed color. Especially the three Guo sons—their expressions all became grim. Guo Dun said angrily, “His Highness Prince Yan, what do you mean by this! Would my mother mistake my sister?”

Yuan Yu smiled and said, “Yes, the person in the world who understands a daughter best is her own mother. Madam Guo is Miss Guo’s biological mother, so naturally she can distinguish the prayer beads’ authenticity. But the problem is, Madam Guo and Miss Guo were separated for eighteen years. Confirming her daughter based solely on a string of prayer beads—isn’t that too hasty? You must know there are too many cunning people in this world. They might have thought of some sinister means to trick the prayer beads away from the real Miss Guo!”

As these words were spoken, everyone’s eyes fell on Li Weiyang. Some people were already showing suspicious expressions.

But Li Weiyang smiled and said, “Then according to Prince Yan’s meaning, I learned the secret of these prayer beads and deliberately impersonated Miss Guo?”

Before Prince Yan could speak, Madam Guo was already furiously angry: “What nonsense are you spouting! Those prayer beads were previously wrapped in thin wooden layers. Outsiders absolutely couldn’t see any clue. If I hadn’t recognized these prayer beads, their true appearance would never have been known to anyone! Moreover, when we searched for our daughter before, we always searched secretly. Who could have learned everything and even planned it all? If you continue to deliberately slander like this, please leave this banquet!”

Madam Guo had long wholeheartedly accepted that Li Weiyang was Guo Jia. No matter what Prince Yan said, she wouldn’t believe it. On the contrary, she felt Prince Yan was deliberately finding fault.

Duke Qiguo’s expression nearby was extremely ugly. He almost wanted to have Yuan Yu thrown out. But at the critical moment, he held back. Yuan Yu was after all Prince Yan. If he directly ordered people to throw him out, first, it would easily create enmity. Second, he couldn’t let everyone think they feared others exposing the truth. Just think—if the Guo family didn’t have a guilty conscience, why would they treat Prince Yan, who raised objections, this way? So he only said coldly, “His Highness Prince Yan, you have no evidence. Please don’t speculate wildly. Our Guo family is not as careless as you say. Over these years, countless people have come to claim kinship. Have we acknowledged even one? Therefore, you must have drunk too much. Please be careful with your words and actions!”

Yuan Yu hadn’t expected the Guo family’s attitude to be so firm, not even having a trace of suspicion about Li Weiyang. He was immediately so angry his face turned white. Were these people crazy? He had already hinted so obviously—why weren’t they paying any attention?! He paused before saying, “You two have misunderstood my good intentions. I feel that the Guo family is illustrious and upright, so naturally countless people want to attach themselves to you. Over these years, if not a thousand then eight hundred have come claiming kinship, all trying to climb the social ladder. Precisely because of this, the Guo family should be even more cautious in acknowledging relatives, lest they fall into those villains’ schemes and waste years of effort!” As he spoke, he looked coldly at Li Weiyang, clearly implying something.

Among the Guo family members, Guo Dun was the most honest and wore his emotions on his face. Hearing this, he immediately stood up from his seat and said coldly, “His Highness Prince Yan, you’re too drunk and have started talking nonsense. Please leave quickly. Our Guo family doesn’t welcome drunkards! Much less will we tolerate anyone insulting our family!”

When Guo Dun said the word “family,” a very complex emotion surged in Li Weiyang’s usually cold heart. Family—this word was too unfamiliar to her. Li Xiaoran was her biological father, yet he always tried every means to use her, attempting to squeeze out her last bit of value. The Old Madam was her family, yet she both appreciated and guarded against her. Tan Shi and Li Minzhi were also her family, yet they were too weak, always needing her protection. One careless moment and things became irreparable. In her eyes, family was just a cold term. She rarely felt warmth from it and dared not indulge herself in that warmth.

But today, Yuan Yu said one sentence and drew the Guo family’s help. Although some among them knew she wasn’t Guo Jia, and others were completely kept in the dark, their attitude was unanimous—they absolutely would not tolerate anyone harming their family.

Li Weiyang felt shocked. When others took the initiative to stand up and protect her—even if she was powerful, she would still hope that when she was tired and felt lonely, someone could stand on her side. This hope was satisfied for the first time, surprisingly leaving her somewhat at a loss.

Immediately after, Marquis Nanming Guo Ying and Duke Yingguo’s wife Guo Zhen both showed displeased expressions, about to explode. And Han Qin, ignoring her elder sister Han Lin’s attempts to stop her, said angrily, “Prince Yan, you should leave quickly. You’re not welcome here!”

The Guo family collectively issued an order to leave. Anyone else would be unable to sit still. But what kind of person was Yuan Yu?! His thick face and black heart absolutely couldn’t be compared to ordinary people. So although even Princess Yongning felt the awkwardness and unease, Yuan Yu’s ears were merely a bit hot. He still said, “Why must everyone be so indignant? I merely spoke a few fair words from an outsider’s perspective!”

“Humph!” Guo Dun’s handsome face flushed red as he said, “You insulted our little sister with your words. Isn’t that excessive enough?!”

“Young Master Guo has misunderstood.” Yuan Yu sighed and said, “Although I can understand your family’s eagerness to find your daughter, you still can’t believe others without distinguishing right from wrong. The Guo family’s search for their daughter—Father Emperor also knows about it and cares very much. Precisely because of this, you cannot act rashly and let things reach an irreparable state. If you don’t believe me, look carefully at this woman!” He suddenly extended his hand, pointing directly at Li Weiyang and said, “She isn’t any Guo Jia. She’s Dali’s Princess Anping!”

Hearing this statement, everyone was immediately in an uproar. Even Pei Bao’er’s face showed an extremely shocked expression. She had echoed Yuan Yu merely to cause Guo Jia some trouble. She hadn’t expected to actually drag out Guo Jia’s background. Haha, this was wonderful! Guo Jia had been so proud just now. If Prince Yan proved she was a fraud, wouldn’t she immediately be swept out by the Guo family?!

All the Guo family members’ expressions changed. Madam Guo’s face immediately turned white—purely from anger: “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Li Weiyang only quietly looked at Yuan Yu, her face showing a half-smiling expression, as if she didn’t care that he was exposing everything.

Yuan Yu sneered and said, “Madam Guo, since you didn’t hear clearly, I’ll say it again. This Guo Jia before your eyes—her true identity is precisely the daughter of Dali’s Prime Minister Li Xiaoran, and moreover, the adopted daughter of Dali’s Empress Dowager! If you don’t believe it, you can ask my wife, Princess Yongning. Everyone knows she lived in Dali’s palace for many years. She couldn’t possibly not recognize Princess Anping! She can testify to everything!”

Saying this, he looked toward Princess Yongning, his gaze encouraging, clearly hoping she would speak the truth.

Everyone looked at each other, whispering: “What’s going on?” “Right, didn’t they say this Miss Guo was raised in an ordinary merchant household?” “How does this involve Dali? And she’s the Prime Minister’s daughter?!” “Yes, what on earth is happening?!”

Amid people’s whispers, Madam Guo’s face began to flush. She instinctively was about to speak in her daughter’s defense. Duke Qiguo nearby gently shook his head at her, signaling her not to be too anxious and to remain calm.

So everyone looked toward Princess Yongning, intending to find answers from her response. Princess Yongning glanced at Li Weiyang, a barely perceptible smile hidden in her eyes. But her face showed astonishment: “His Highness Prince Yan, what are you saying? Princess Anping was originally the Li family’s adopted daughter. Now that she’s found her biological parents, we should be happy for her!”

Yuan Yu’s expression immediately changed. He said angrily, “Yongning, do you know what you’re saying?!”

Princess Yongning’s face showed a wronged expression: “Your Highness, everyone in Dali knows that Prime Minister Li’s daughter was born in the second month. According to Dali folk customs, daughters born in the second month bring misfortune to their parents. So as soon as this child was born, Prime Minister Li ordered her disposed of… This matter isn’t really a secret—everyone knows about it. Prime Minister Li, probably fearing the Li family’s Old Madam would be saddened, falsely claimed the child was sent to the countryside to be raised. Later, to make the Old Madam happy, he specially found a girl from outside to raise… which is the current Princess Anping. When she was enfeoffed as a princess for offering counsel, Li Xiaoran said he couldn’t deceive His Majesty and revealed her background completely. Fortunately, my Father Emperor was merciful and didn’t blame him for this crime of deceiving the sovereign. Her background is quite extraordinary when discussed, yet also very fortunate. If it had been any other family, they absolutely wouldn’t have raised her to be so learned and proper…”

Yuan Yu immediately stood up. Wine cups on the table rolled to the floor and shattered. His face could no longer maintain its previous composure because he suddenly understood—Princess Yongning had never intended to help him testify against Li Weiyang. On the contrary, she was helping that woman prove her identity! He said angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting?! She’s clearly Li Xiaoran’s biological daughter!”

Princess Yongning appeared very surprised and said to him, “My lord, I’m the one who doesn’t know what you’re saying! You were only in Dali for a short month. I’ve lived there for so many years and am completely clear about everyone’s situation. Moreover, I’m your wife, not anything to her. Why would I help her lie? If you don’t believe me, I’ll send a letter and have my Father Emperor testify for you! Or find Prime Minister Li and have him explain everything!”

Li Weiyang lowered her eyes and smiled. Princess Yongning had only met her by chance. She and Yuan Yu were intimate husband and wife. In others’ eyes, there was absolutely no need for her to lie on her behalf. Whether finding the Emperor or finding Li Xiaoran—it was all empty talk. No one would actually do this because no one would question Princess Yongning’s words!

Li Weiyang’s tone was very light, as if sighing: “I grew up in the Li family and received the Empress Dowager’s favor, being enfeoffed as Princess Anping. This matter was already known to all—there was no need to deliberately conceal it. Moreover, I already had the identity of a princess. If I weren’t truly the Guo family’s biological daughter, what reason would I have to travel thousands of miles to Yuexi to claim kinship?”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help thinking—if what Princess Yongning said was true, this girl was both the Empress Dowager’s adopted daughter and the Prime Minister’s treasured daughter. Why would she run to Yuexi to find relatives? She had absolutely no need to climb the social ladder because her birth and status were already very high. Abandoning the Li family to fraudulently claim the Guo family—the risk was truly too great, and there was also no need!

Yuan Yu said sharply, “Li Weiyang, stop with your silver tongue! You’re just afraid I’ll expose your identity, so you deliberately instructed my wife to help you lie!”

Li Weiyang smiled gently and said, “His Highness Prince Yan, your imagination is truly too rich. Next you’ll probably say I’m a spy sent by the Dali court? Or you’ll say it’s not just me—even Princess Yongning is a spy. Haha, then His Majesty the Emperor of Dali is truly too generous, sending two female spies at once and even giving you the opportunity to actively expose them!”

These words were absolutely correct. If Princess Yongning actively helped Li Weiyang conceal her identity, that could only prove the two had long colluded, which would easily make people think of spies. But if the Emperor of Dali truly wanted to send spies, he could easily find women not easily recognized to impersonate. Having Li Weiyang, such a nobly-born Prime Minister’s daughter, impersonate the Guo family’s daughter—and someone others had seen before—wouldn’t that be brain-damaged? So this matter made no sense whatsoever. Then there was only one possibility: Li Weiyang had discovered her true identity, so she specially came to Yuexi to find her biological parents and accidentally encountered Madam Guo…

“No wonder I felt cousin’s words and manner were so noble. It turns out she was adopted by an illustrious family!” Han Lin said quietly.

Han Qin nodded and said, “Yes, she gave up her princess identity and came this far to find her biological parents. It’s truly not easy! If it were me, I wouldn’t have such courage!” Her tone already carried extreme admiration.

Yuan Yu naturally wouldn’t give up. He said loudly, “If that’s the case, you could easily explain your identity to everyone. Why falsely claim you were adopted by merchants?!”

“She didn’t lie! Her previous life experiences—she already told me everything in detail!” At this moment, a voice suddenly spoke unhurriedly. It was Duke Qiguo Guo Su. He glanced at Li Weiyang and smiled slightly, then said solemnly, “It’s just that I didn’t want others discussing my daughter, so I hoped to give her a simple past. That’s why I made such arrangements. I didn’t expect to cause His Highness Prince Yan’s misunderstanding. I truly apologize!”

He spoke so magnanimously that others discussed it one after another. In their conversations, they all blamed Yuan Yu for meddling! Yuan Yu’s expression was very ugly. Even uglier than his was Pei Bao’er’s. She hadn’t expected that exposing Li Weiyang’s past would instead make people admire her. Just think—a girl going from Prime Minister’s daughter to being enfeoffed as princess—how much effort would that require? Everyone couldn’t help thinking Li Weiyang was a well-mannered, noble, and strong girl.

Madam Guo immediately smiled and said, “See? His Highness Prince Yan, Jia’er is my daughter. Don’t be so paranoid and suspicious anymore!”

Yuan Yu sneered and said, “Madam Guo, based solely on Yongning’s one-sided words, you believe this person before you? You’re too easily deceived! If I were you, I’d carefully think about what characteristics the Guo Jia of that year had on her body. You should know—prayer beads can be faked, but these characteristics are impossible!”

Madam Guo frowned and immediately retorted, “Fine, since you insist on not believing, then watch carefully!” With that, she raised Li Weiyang’s wrist and gently lifted her left sleeve, saying, “Jia’er, from the moment you were born, you had a small petal-shaped red mark on your left wrist. Mother remembers—it’s right here!” Her action was so sudden that even Duke Qiguo’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected his wife would do this and was momentarily stunned, not even having time to stop her—

In fact, Madam Guo was too anxious. She even forgot how improper it was to do this in public, because she deeply believed the young woman before her was her biological daughter. So she had never personally verified it before. But she truly couldn’t tolerate anyone doubting Guo Jia, so she acted without thinking!

Everyone’s gaze immediately fell on Li Weiyang’s left wrist. The smile on Yuan Yu’s face quickly disappeared. He clearly saw that on that wrist, exactly as Madam Guo said, there was a small petal-shaped red mark… Although very small, it was still clearly visible at a glance. A confident expression appeared on Madam Guo’s face. She turned her head and stared at Yuan Yu with a smile: “See? Jia’er is my daughter! If anyone dares to insult her or question her identity in the future, they are making an enemy of the entire Guo family!”

Seeing this red mark, both Duke Qiguo and Guo Cheng were stunned. They looked at Li Weiyang in disbelief, almost doubting their own eyes.

Li Weiyang only smiled and covered her wrist. Great ladies shouldn’t show their feet while walking, shouldn’t take steps longer than an inch, shouldn’t show their teeth when smiling, and shouldn’t raise their hands above their chests—these were all rules. But desperate situations called for desperate measures. Today she had proven her identity to everyone. From now on, no matter who recognized her as Li Weiyang, there was no need to fear anymore. She would be the legitimate Miss Guo! Of course, she knew Little Barbarian had this mark on her body—she had to thank Wen Xiaolou for that.

Yuan Yu stared at Li Weiyang full of resentment. This time, he had completely lost face in front of everyone. And all of this was precisely courtesy of Li Weiyang! He hadn’t expected to be played like a monkey, helping Li Weiyang prove her identity in a roundabout way!

Heavens, he felt he was simply stupid beyond belief! He suddenly turned around and glared furiously at Princess Yongning. That look was extremely vicious, as if he wanted to devour her. However, Yongning merely turned her head away indifferently, pretending not to see.

Yuan Yu thought again—Li Weiyang had admitted she was Princess Anping. The advantage was that no one could use this identity to threaten her anymore… But this way, she was also telling everyone in the world, especially telling Empress Pei who she was! Thinking of this, Yuan Yu was filled with doubt. Why would Li Weiyang do this? Wasn’t she afraid of Empress Pei’s retaliation?! This woman’s thoughts—he was increasingly unable to fathom them! But one thing he could be certain of: today in this round, he had lost miserably! Moreover, what angered him most was that Princess Yongning, this woman he had always held in the palm of his hand, had completely betrayed him!

Li Weiyang looked at Yuan Yu, only calmly spreading a smile. He thought he had merely lost one round, not knowing that tonight, he would give her his life as well!