Wen Hao’s thoughts were in disarray as Wen Chan brought her back to the General’s Mansion.

The General’s Mansion was adjacent to Prince Jing’s Mansion. Returning here was naturally much more convenient than returning to Wen Mansion.

The old madam, having heard the report, rushed out: “Ah Hao, I heard you injured your foot?”

Wen Hao looked at the old madam whose face bore urgency, tears streaming down: “Grandmother—”

This single call stunned everyone.

After the old madam recovered from her daze, she embraced Wen Hao. Her trembling hands touched her hair, then touched her face, thinking she must be dreaming: “Ah Hao, Ah Hao—”

Wen Hao’s inability to speak had always been a stone weighing on the hearts of the elders who doted on her.

“Grandmother, I can speak now.” Wen Hao smiled through her tears, her gaze unwilling to leave the old madam for even a moment.

How wonderful it was to see Grandmother again. According to the original course of events, Grandmother would pass away before long.

Angered to death by Father.

“Chan’er, do your father and mother know that Ah Hao can speak now? Oh right, didn’t you accompany your mother to Prince Jing’s Mansion today?” The old madam was beside herself with joy, only belatedly remembering, “Wasn’t Ah Hao in our mansion? How did you two return from outside together?”

Wen Chan glanced at her younger sister, whose gaze was fixed intently on their grandmother, and said helplessly: “Second Sister climbed over the wall.”

The old madam only froze for an instant before laughing, looking at Wen Hao with eyes full of affection: “Ah Hao’s mischievous nature takes after me.”

Wen Chan’s mouth twitched slightly.

She knew Grandmother would have this reaction, which was why she spoke the truth directly.

Wen Hao extended her hand and gently tugged at the old madam’s sleeve.

“Ah Hao, what is it?” The old madam looked at her granddaughter, unable to hide the joy at the corners of her brows and eyes.

To her, whether Ah Hao could speak or not, she was still her beloved little granddaughter. But for Ah Hao, it would mean an entirely different life.

Her Ah Hao possessed such natural fragrant beauty, was sweet and lovable, yet because she could not speak, had suffered too much injustice.

“Grandmother, I seem to have caused trouble.”

“What trouble?” The old madam thought of Wen Chan’s words and smiled dismissively, “Oh, the matter of climbing the wall? What does that matter? You climbed walls when you were little.”

The General’s Mansion had originally been a Duke’s mansion. Old General Lin, who had followed the Grand Ancestor in conquering the realm, might not have been as noble in status as princes, but in terms of real power and standing in the Grand Ancestor’s heart, few princes could compare.

Later, when the Grand Ancestor passed away, the weak-natured Emperor Pingle ascended the throne. Facing the Qi people’s invasion, he retreated again and again, paying reparations and ceding territory. In just two years, he had lost ten cities.

Old General Lin had a fiery temper. Each time he cursed the emperor, his noble rank dropped one level. After cursing repeatedly, he cursed the Duke’s mansion down to a General’s mansion. Perhaps out of consideration for the late emperor’s lingering authority, the emperor didn’t make the Lin family move out of the Duke’s mansion, merely replacing the gate plaque and leaving it at that.

Later still, Emperor Pingle’s younger brother Prince An attacked the capital. In the chaos, Emperor Pingle’s whereabouts became unknown, and Prince An ascended the throne, changing the era name to Tai’an.

Emperor Tai’an wished to re-enfeoff Old General Lin as Duke, but Old General Lin was pained by Emperor Pingle’s external weakness and also disliked Emperor Tai’an’s inglorious means of succession, thus firmly refused to accept.

“I fell in front of Prince Jing’s Heir and was seen by the young princess and others.”

Hearing this, the old madam raised her eyebrows slightly and pulled Wen Hao into her embrace to comfort her: “That’s also of no consequence. Ah Hao, remember—gossip and slander are nothing more than a passing wind. As long as those who love you don’t care, it will scatter in an instant.”

“I’ll remember.” Wen Hao nestled against her grandmother, sighing inwardly.

Those who loved her truly didn’t care, but very soon those who loved her would die or go mad, leaving only those who didn’t love her to push her into a pit of fire.

At this moment, a female physician carrying a medicine chest entered.

The old madam pointed at Wen Hao: “Quickly examine Second Miss’s foot.”

One of Wen Hao’s ankles was bruised and swollen, but fortunately the bone hadn’t been injured. The female physician wrapped ice blocks in a soft cloth and applied a cold compress for her.

While feeling distressed, Wen Chan couldn’t help but scold: “Not only did you twist your foot, how did you also bite your hand? What if it leaves a scar?”

Wen Hao looked at her elder sister who was carefully applying ointment for her and smiled: “When I discovered I could speak, I thought I was dreaming.”

Wen Chan’s hand paused as she lowered her eyes to hide the glimmer of tears.

Her younger sister had finally emerged from hardship to happiness.

After the female physician finished treating her and withdrew, a beautiful woman with her hair styled in a high bun hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered.

“I guessed Chan’er would bring Ah Hao to Mother’s place.” Lady Lin arrived beside the old madam like a gust of wind, looking at Wen Hao with a face full of anxiety. “Ah Hao, are you alright?”

She had been chatting and laughing with a group of noble ladies accompanying Princess Jing when a maidservant from the prince’s mansion quietly told her about her younger daughter’s situation.

However, the maidservant hadn’t elaborated, scaring her half to death.

Wen Hao looked at Lady Lin, not making a sound for the moment.

Lady Lin looked at her elder daughter whose lips curved in a smile, then at her mother whose face bore joy, her expression full of bewilderment: “What’s wrong?”

“Mother—” Wen Hao called out crisply.

Lady Lin froze, staring directly at Wen Hao: “Ah Hao?”

Before Wen Hao could speak, she raised her hand and fiercely pinched her own cheek.

The old madam couldn’t stop her in time and chided: “You truly are mother and daughter.”

Lady Lin was so excited her lips trembled. Even though her cheek hurt, she still didn’t dare believe: “Ah Hao, call me Mother once more.”

“Mother.” Wen Hao choked with emotion.

Lady Lin embraced Wen Hao, unable to control her tears.

The old madam wiped away tears and said with a smile: “Quickly go tell your son-in-law this wonderful news.”

Hearing these words, Wen Hao’s gaze turned cold.

Yes, at this time, Father was still the good son-in-law in Grandmother’s eyes, the good husband in Mother’s eyes.

Wen Hao struggled free from Lady Lin’s embrace: “Mother, let’s return to the mansion first.”

“Ah Hao, you’ve injured your foot. Just stay here and recuperate. You can go back after it heals.” The old madam spoke up to stop her.

“It’s not far. We’ll arrive in just a few steps by carriage. After my foot heals, I’ll come keep you company again.”

Lady Lin also said: “Mother, let me take the sisters back. This will spare you from being disturbed.”

After Old General Lin passed away, as a married daughter, Lady Lin only needed to observe mourning for one year, while the old madam needed to mourn her husband for three years. Thus she had not yet completed her mourning period.

Thinking of this point, the old madam didn’t try to stop them again.

Wen Mansion was indeed very close to the General’s Mansion. The mother and two daughters boarded the carriage and arrived without even using a quarter-hour.

Wen Hao lifted the carriage door curtain and stared fixedly at the gate plaque bearing the two characters “Wen Mansion,” silently sneering.

This residence had been carefully selected and purchased by Grandfather after her parents’ betrothal. Mother was an only child. Grandfather and Grandmother hoped she would live nearby so returning to her maiden home would be convenient.

Of course, the most practical issue was that at the time, Father was merely a newly-appointed Hanlin compiler from a humble background who had just passed the imperial examination. He was unwilling to live in his father-in-law’s home and wound his pride, yet had no money to purchase a residence.

“Ah Hao, what are you looking at?” Lady Lin was in an excellent mood, smiling as she asked her younger daughter who was poking her head out to look.

Wen Hao lowered the carriage curtain and smiled: “I keep feeling like I’m dreaming. Even home looks somewhat unfamiliar. Mother, why don’t we not send Father a message? When he returns, we can give him a surprise—wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Lady Lin had received endless affection and indulgence since childhood. Though she had been married for many years, she still retained a young girl’s temperament and immediately felt this suggestion was excellent.

It wasn’t until the sun neared dusk that a maidservant had just managed to report “Master has returned” when Wen Rugui strode in with large steps.

“Master—” Seeing Wen Rugui’s iron-blue complexion clearly, the smile at Lady Lin’s lips vanished as she couldn’t help but freeze.