Sun Shi held Qin Huining in her arms. Seeing her treasured daughter of fourteen years crying heartbrokenly, her own heart felt as if it were being cut by knives. Qin Huining was right – this matter had nothing to do with her. The one at fault was whoever had switched away her child!

Sun Shi couldn’t control herself and immediately broke down crying while holding Qin Huining.

Qin Yining slowly lowered her raised arms, tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the goose-yellow collar of her jacket. Yet the corners of her mouth trembled as they curved into an arc.

So this was her mother’s attitude toward her.

Seeing Sun Shi sobbing uncontrollably, Qin Huining held back her tears and took out a handkerchief to wipe Sun Shi’s tears, putting on a strong front as she said, “Mother, don’t be sad. Now that Little Xi sister can return to your side, what a wonderful thing this is. Your nurturing grace and the Old Madam’s loving care – I will never forget them for the rest of my life. Even if I leave the Prime Minister’s manor in the future, I will still be your daughter. Please don’t cry anymore, it will only make Father and the Old Madam heartbroken for nothing.”

The delicate young lady’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, yet she didn’t forget to comfort her emotionally distraught mother. This made the Old Madam feel she was sensible and understanding, immediately developing reluctance to part with her. Instead, her earlier sympathy and pity for the wild girl were diluted.

Sun Shi felt the same way, her tears falling even more fiercely as she cried out, “What sins have I committed! Why must such things fall upon our family!”

The Second Madam and Third Madam both came to comfort and console her.

While Sun Shi cried like a wronged child.

Qin Huining hurriedly coaxed her, saying, “Don’t cry. If you miss me in the future, I can come back to visit you. Little Xi sister is your biological daughter and will surely take my place in bringing you joy. Look at Little Xi sister – she looks exactly like Father. She must be Father’s flesh and blood, there’s no mistake. Now that the family can be reunited, this is also heaven’s blessing. Mother, your good days are ahead of you. Please don’t be sad anymore.”

These words were extremely filial, yet also extremely provocative.

Because no one had ever mentioned sending her away, yet she deliberately brought it up several times, clearly showing her anxiety and guilty conscience.

Third Miss Qin Jianing and Sixth Miss Qin Shuangning exchanged glances and lowered their eyes without speaking.

Seventh Miss Qin An’ning pursed her lips and scoffed.

Sun Shi lowered her eyes and pondered Qin Huining’s words carefully, but seemed to suddenly think of something.

Qin Yining’s hands hanging at her sides slowly clenched into fists as she watched the mother and daughter with an indiscernible expression, her gaze finally settling on the accomplished actress Qin Huining.

Sun Shi seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting Qin Yining’s gaze directly.

Hui Jie’er was right – this girl indeed resembled her father. Those beautiful eyebrows and eyes, that exquisite face, made her think of young Qin Huaiyuan in a trance.

But looking more carefully, she felt that Qin Yining bore no resemblance to herself whatsoever!

She had been beautiful and dignified in her youth, while this girl was striking and charming – even women found her alluring. How was she like her at all? How could they be certain she was her biological child? Looking at Qin Huining again… it was her Hui Jie’er who had some of her youthful dignified qualities.

It was said that this time, Qin Huaiyuan’s trusted aide had encountered this girl in Liang City and, seeing her startling resemblance to young Qin Huaiyuan, had become suspicious. After investigating through various twists and turns, he had brought her back.

But this was only Qin Huaiyuan’s side of the story!

Sun Shi frowned as she looked at her silent husband beside her.

Could it be that Qin Huaiyuan had kept a mistress and fathered this girl?

After all, judging by age, this girl was about the same age as Hui Jie’er. Qin Huaiyuan had always been someone who cherished his reputation. Perhaps when she was pregnant years ago, he had produced a bastard child outside and now wanted to bring her back, so he concocted this sympathetic story?

Yes, even though Qin Yining looked thin and malnourished, her overall bearing was very composed. Though she showed shyness when meeting strangers, she displayed no cowardice. How could such temperament belong to a “wild person” who grew up in the deep mountains?

Perhaps Qin Huaiyuan deliberately said this to deceive people into sympathy!

Qin Huaiyuan held high position and great power, but his lineage was thin – only one daughter. There were countless women outside who wanted to bear Qin Huaiyuan’s heir. Sun Shi, as the Prime Minister’s wife, had never felt secure in her position. Moreover, she was unwilling to accept from the bottom of her heart that the daughter she had raised for over ten years wasn’t her biological child. Now thinking of this possibility, she felt she had grasped the crux of the matter. Looking at Qin Yining again, her eyes held more suspicion.

Qin Huining had been nervously observing her mother. Sun Shi’s obvious suspicion of Qin Yining gave her some peace of mind.

But Qin Yining’s heart gradually grew cold.

When she was small, before the flames of war had reached Liang City, her adoptive mother had once taken her to have her fortune told. The fortune teller had said she had the fate of “no support from sisters, relatives like ice and fire.” Now it seemed those words about “relatives like ice and fire” had truly come to pass.

Her birth mother’s speculative and suspicious gaze was even more unbearable than being stared at by wild wolves in the mountains. A chill climbed up from the soles of her feet, making her entire body feel frozen through.

She had been too greedy and shouldn’t have hoped for such things.

Qin Yining closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her pupils shone with unyielding light.

Her defiance had been forged through years of survival training. The more adverse the situation, the more tenacious she had to be, because during her upbringing, she had repeatedly encountered danger. If she had slackened even once, she probably wouldn’t have survived to now. The resilience honed by survival had taught her never to bow her head when encountering difficulties.

Though this family was cold, it was at least easier than living in the deep mountains. Moreover, she could slowly change these people’s opinions of her. There was no reason people should like her immediately upon meeting her, was there?

Qin Yining slowly unclenched her tight fists and regained her composure.

Qin Huining had been secretly observing Qin Yining but was dazzled by the light in her eyes at this moment. She had originally thought she was a country girl who would surely retreat after being intimidated, but now she realized with alarm that she had underestimated her.

Sun Shi walked toward Qin Yining and asked, “Your family lived in Liang City?”

Another interrogation?

“Yes, I’ve been in Liang City since I can remember. My adoptive mother, Liu Shi, was a widow. From my earliest memories, she told me about my origins and raised me until I was eight, when she died of illness.”

“From your speech, you seem literate?” Sun Shi asked suspiciously.

“My adoptive mother once served as a maid in a wealthy household. Her late husband was a scholar, so she was somewhat literate too. When I was small, she taught me some basics. But later life became difficult, and after several raids by bandits and soldiers, most of our books at home were lost. My adoptive mother was busy with making a living and rarely taught me after that.”

This explanation had no loopholes.

Sun Shi twisted her handkerchief and walked in a circle around Qin Yining, looking her up and down.

Now everyone in the room could see Sun Shi’s suspicion of Qin Yining. Some looked puzzled and confused, others showed sudden understanding and disdain – various gazes fell on both Qin Yining and Sun Shi.

If this had been an ordinary girl who had never seen the world, she would have been frightened by this scene long ago. But Qin Yining remained very calm, simply allowing herself to be scrutinized.

After a while, Sun Shi finally said, “When is your birthday?”

“I only know I was born in the year of Ji Mao. When my adoptive mother found me, it was early morning on the sixth day of the sixth month. She said it was by a small stream behind Sicui Mountain south of the capital.”

“So you lived in the capital for a while when you were small?”

“Perhaps, but I’ve been in Liang City since my earliest memories. Mother, you…”

“Don’t call me Mother!”

Sun Shi suddenly raised her voice, startling everyone.

Perhaps realizing her attitude was too harsh, Sun Shi added somewhat stiffly, “In families like ours, we don’t use that term. Those with imperial honors must be addressed as ‘Madam,’ and even those without honors should be called ‘Madam.’ Only small households use ‘Father’ and ‘Mother.'”

Qin Yining blinked her long lashes but ultimately didn’t mention that Qin Huining had just called her “Mother.” She obediently called out “Madam.”

The Old Madam coughed once, “Since it’s confirmed she’s Meng Ge’er’s daughter, then let her stay. But let me make one thing clear first – my Hui Jie’er will absolutely never leave my side!” Qin Huaiyuan’s courtesy name was “Meng,” and his childhood name was Meng Ge’er.

The Old Madam thought for a moment and continued, “This girl grew up in the countryside after all. Suddenly returning to the Prime Minister’s manor, she probably doesn’t understand proper etiquette. In a couple of days, Jia Jie’er will have her coming-of-age ceremony, and guests will fill the house. If there’s any loss of face, that would be unfortunate. Why not send her to the farm first and have a proper nanny who understands etiquette teach her well, then choose an auspicious day to bring her back.”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the Old Madam in shock, not expecting her to favor Qin Huining to such an extent.

If they really sent her to the farm, this “choosing an auspicious day to bring her back” – which day that would be was very uncertain. If the Old Madam was displeased, she could easily invite some fortune teller to cast divinations and find an excuse to delay indefinitely.

Sun Shi felt somewhat hesitant upon hearing this.

Although she didn’t care for this wild girl and suspected she was raised by a mistress, she was still Qin Huaiyuan’s bloodline and might possibly be her own child…

After pondering for a moment, Sun Shi said, “Master has few children, having only one daughter all these years. Even if both girls stay, our first branch would only have two young ladies. Old Madam, your daughter-in-law has a presumptuous request. Although we’ve found Yi Jie’er, Hui Jie’er has fate with our family after all. From now on, she should remain my legitimate eldest daughter as before, while Yi Jie’er can be considered my younger daughter, recorded in the genealogy as the legitimate second daughter. Would that be acceptable?”

Sun Shi’s plan was exactly what the Old Madam wanted to hear. “It’s best that you think this way.”

Sun Shi continued, “As for the matter of etiquette the Old Madam mentioned, we could indeed invite an old nanny from the palace who specializes in teaching proper behavior. Going to the estate would also be good, as it would give your daughter-in-law, Hui Jie’er, and all the family sisters some time to adjust.”

Sun Shi was thus agreeing with the Old Madam and planning to send the girl away.

Qin Huining quietly let out a sigh of relief, finally putting down her anxious heart.

Qin Yining bit her lip and looked to Qin Huaiyuan for help. She hadn’t done anything wrong – why should they send her away? Wasn’t she a daughter of the Qin family!

Her gaze was helpless and soft, stirring something in Qin Huaiyuan’s heart.

“Yi Jie’er will remain in the manor. We can invite tutors and etiquette nannies to the manor to teach her.” Qin Huaiyuan finally spoke up. “A legitimate daughter is a legitimate daughter, and an adopted daughter is an adopted daughter. Just because she wasn’t raised at our side, does that make Yi Jie’er any less of a legitimate daughter?”

Qin Huining’s just-relaxed nerves tensed up again.

The Old Madam asked urgently, “Meng Ge’er, what do you mean?”