With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Yun Nian froze.

Her fleeting romantic thoughts vanished instantly, replaced by a chill that rose from the soles of her feet, making her hair stand on end.

She quickly adjusted her expression, her face revealing hurt and vulnerability from being misunderstood, her eyes slightly red, and she timidly explained, "Your Highness, why do you always think of me this way? Nian'er... only feels gratitude and respect for you, and would never dare to have the slightest improper thought. You have really misunderstood Nian'er..."

Qin Jiuchen's sharp gaze did not waver; instead, it deepened, and he let out a sneer.

"You don't have it?"

He leaned down, his imposing presence making it hard for her to breathe. "What about Prime Minister Yun? Doesn't he have any either?"

Yun Nian's heart trembled violently.

She raised her head and met his scrutinizing gaze without fear. Her eyes, which had been misty with tears, now shone with clarity and determination.

"He is him, and I am me."

"Your Highness, I am not like him."

Qin Jiuchen raised an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? How is it different?"

Yun Nian looked at him fearlessly, the light in her eyes like a flame suddenly igniting beneath the ice.

"You can't choose your bloodline, but you can choose the path you walk. I only do what I believe is right."

A faint hint of surprise flashed in Qin Jiuchen's eyes.

Then, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

He looked at her as if re-examining an interesting prey.

"Is that so?"

He chuckled softly, "In that case, I am indeed somewhat looking forward to it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he stopped looking at her, released his hold on her, turned away indifferently, and stepped out of the shadow behind the Buddha statue first.

Yun Nian remained alone, gently clenching her fingers inside her sleeve.

The feeling of his clothes still lingered in her palm, along with a fine layer of cold sweat.

Are you playing with fire?

She looked at the deep night outside the palace, a complex yet resolute light flashing in her eyes.

Since she chose to start the fire, she would never allow herself to be the one burned.

-

The following day, the Ningxiang Prince's Mansion set off to return to the capital, and Yun Nian also returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion with them.

The moment you step through the vermilion gate, a sense of oppression hits you.

Inside the hall, the father, Yun Chengming, sat in the main seat, slowly sipping his tea.

Madam Xie sat upright to the side. When Yun Nian entered, her shrewd eyes sized her up and down with her usual critical and harsh gaze.

"You're back?"

As was her habit, Madam Xie lectured, "Since you are preparing to marry into the Ningxiang Prince's mansion as the heir apparent's wife, it would be better to be more reserved before the wedding. Next time, for matters like the sacrificial rites at your fiancé's residence, as an unmarried young lady, you should stay away. Otherwise, people will laugh at our Yunxiang Mansion for having no manners and rushing to curry favor."

These words sound like instruction, but in reality, every word is belittling her for being shameless and clinging to the powerful.

Yun Nian sneered inwardly, glancing at her father, Yun Chengming, who was leisurely sipping tea as if it were none of her business.

This is her "good father," who always chooses to remain silent when she needs protection, and only offers a few false concerns when he needs to use her.

She lowered her eyelashes, concealing the sarcasm in her eyes, and replied in a low voice, maintaining her usual timid demeanor, "Yes, Mother, your daughter will remember."

Seeing how "weak and easy to manipulate" she was, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Madam Xie's eyes. She picked up her teacup and took a sip with an elegant posture.

Just then, a graceful figure entered from outside the door.

It was Yun Wei, the true daughter of the Prime Minister's family, who had just been recognized and returned to the mansion not long ago.

She wore a trendy brocade dress, adorned with pearls and jade, which contrasted sharply with Yun Nian's plain, slightly worn dress.

Yun Wei walked up to Yun Nian affectionately, took her arm, and spoke with exaggerated envy.

"Sister is finally back. I really envy you. To be granted a marriage by His Majesty and marry a man of such noble status as the Prince of Ningxiang is a blessing that countless young ladies in the capital would rather die than have."

Looking at the beautiful yet scheming face before her, Yun Nian thought of her own past.

After the Yun family lost their biological daughter, they believed the words of a wandering sorcerer and adopted her as a tool for the Yun family to "ward off disasters and bring good fortune".

Despite being called the daughter of the Prime Minister, she actually holds an awkward position and faces a difficult situation within the household.

She recalled that last winter, when there was a shortage of charcoal, Xie used the excuse of "thrift" to cut back on the silver wire charcoal in her yard.

She could only keep warm by using cheap charcoal, and the smoke filling the room kept her awake at night, and she also developed frostbite on her hands.

On another occasion, she merely caught a cold, and the family dragged their feet in seeking medical help and medicine.

If her personal maid, Qiluo, hadn't secretly pawned her jewelry to buy medicine, she probably wouldn't have survived that minor illness.

Now that the real heiress Yunwei has returned, this "fake heiress" has become an eyesore.

If it weren't for her remaining value to the Yun family through marriage, she would probably have been kicked out long ago.

Yun Nian's heart was filled with turmoil, but a hint of fear appeared on her face as she timidly looked at Yun Wei: "Since you are so envious, elder sister, why don't you give me the position of Crown Princess? I am but a humble person and cannot bear such a blessing..."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disdain flashed across Yun Wei's eyes.

Prince Ningxiang's heir?

It sounds prestigious, but who doesn't know that the true power behind the Ningxiang Prince's Mansion is the ruthless and decisive Ningxiang Prince Qin Jiuchen?

Prince Qin Senyao is nothing but a figurehead with an empty title and an uncertain future.

Yunwei's goal is the supreme position of Empress in the harem, to become the emperor's woman and the mother of the nation.

Only someone as ignorant as Yun Nian would consider such a seemingly glamorous but actually powerless princess consort a treasure.

Yun Wei's smile remained unchanged as she affectionately patted Yun Nian's hand: "What are you saying, little sister? How could I possibly take away what you cherish?"

"Who doesn't know that the Crown Prince is the man you've been longing for for many years? Your deep affection for him is known to everyone in the capital. Of course, I hope that you can have your wish fulfilled and that you and your husband can live happily ever after."

Yun Nian's inward sneer intensified, but she promptly revealed a "grateful" smile on her face and said obediently, "Thank you for your kindness, sister."

Yun Chengming, who had been silent all along, finally put down his teacup and looked at Yun Nian. "Nian'er, I am happy for you that you have achieved your wish. Since that is the case, you must be careful with your words and actions after you marry into the royal family. Always remember that you are born into the Yun family, and every word and action of yours is related to the reputation of the Yun family."

"In all matters, the interests of the family should be the priority. As your father, and with your sister Wei'er, we will need your help in the court and the palace in the future."

As Xie listened from the side, a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

It was her idea to force Yun Nian into the Ningxiang Prince's mansion.

This not only gets rid of the troublesome adopted daughter, but also provides a legitimate reason to plant a spy in the powerful Ningxiang Prince's mansion, making it convenient for the master to monitor and control Qin Jiuchen. It can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

Yun Chengming was naturally more than happy to accept this.

Listening to this utterly hypocritical "earnest teaching," Yun Nian lowered her head, her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, quietly tightening.

Yun Chengming, wasn't he also one of the accomplices who pushed her into the abyss in her previous life?

Driven by his ambition for power, he forced her to search for "evidence" in the Ningxiang Prince's mansion to frame Qin Jiuchen.

Unwilling to become a pawn in political struggles, Yun Chengming regarded her as a discarded pawn and ordered someone to poison her.

The combined effects of Qin Jiaxue's poison hastened her death.

In this life, she sees it all clearly.

The Yun family is a murky pool of corruption; these bloodsucking leeches can no longer rely on sucking her flesh and blood to nourish their wealth and glory.

Yun Nian slowly raised her head, her face still gentle and weak.

"I will always remember my father's teachings."

Yun Chengming nodded in satisfaction, thinking that although his adopted daughter came from a humble background, she was obedient enough to be a useful pawn.

"Okay, go back and prepare well."

Yun Chengming waved his hand, "The day after tomorrow, Princess Duanli will be hosting the 'Fragrant Fragrance Banquet' at her residence, inviting all the noble ladies of the capital. You and your Wei'er will go together, so as not to disgrace the Prime Minister's residence."

"Yes, daughter obeys." Yun Nian curtsied respectfully and then quietly withdrew from the hall.

Back in her secluded little courtyard, Qiluo finally couldn't help but complain.

"Young lady, the Prime Minister is far too biased. He's raised you for so many years, how can he be so cold-hearted? It's as if you're not his daughter, but just an object."

Yun Nian took the water glass, a smile playing on her lips.

"Perhaps it's not even as good as an object."

Her voice was calm, carrying a detached indifference that suggested she had seen through the ways of the world, as she continued.