The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Upon hearing this, Yun Heting sighed inwardly and waved his hand, "No need to trouble my mother-in-law. I'll think of a way. After the family reunion banquet tomorrow, I'll take the two sisters there in the evening."

Chu Wanqing nodded in satisfaction.

Yunxiu lowered her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

She was just waiting to see how Yun Jin would embarrass herself at the palace banquet the next day.

Yun Jin saw through her expression, but remained outwardly calm. She knew perfectly well what Yun Xiu was up to. Unfortunately, she wouldn't let her have her way.

Yun Lang sat to the side and tugged at Chu Wanqing's sleeve: "Mother, what about me? I want to go too."

Chu Wanqing looked at him gently and said, "Lang'er, there are many rules in the palace, and it's not suitable for you to be healthy. Once you're better, I'll take you wherever you want to go."

The food at the palace banquets was always cold, and the rooms were always chilly; she herself wouldn't want to go unless absolutely necessary.

Although Yun Lang was somewhat disappointed, he still obediently nodded.

Chu Wanqing patted his head and said nothing more.

The maids filed in and began setting out the meal.

Taking advantage of the moment, Chu Wanqing glanced outside the door.

Qinghe understood and waved to the outside. Zhilan came in carrying a tray.

Yun Heting's gaze fell on her face, and he couldn't help but be taken aback.

The girl's eyebrows and eyes actually resembled those of Liu Zhixue when she was young, not in appearance, but in demeanor and temperament.

"What is this?" he asked, his tone inquisitive.

Chu Wanqing picked up the soup bowl, took a sip slowly, and said calmly, "I met her on the street that day. She sold herself to bury her father. I felt sorry for her, so I brought her back. Her name is Zhilan."

As she spoke, she glanced at Qinghuan and said, "This is an adult."

Zhilan slightly bent her knees and said softly, "Zhilan greets Your Excellency."

Yun Heting hummed in agreement, looked away, and picked up his bowl and chopsticks.

But his eyes kept drifting towards Zhilan.

Zhilan stood behind Chu Wanqing, quietly serving dishes and soup. Her movements were unhurried and graceful. Her waist was slender, and her profile was bathed in a soft glow from the candlelight.

Zhilan seemed to sense his gaze. Occasionally, she would look up and meet his eyes. She didn't flinch, but simply smiled and nodded slightly before lowering her head again to continue her work.

The smile was neither humble nor arrogant, carrying a hint of shyness, yet also exuding confidence.

Yun Heting's heart fluttered slightly.

Chu Wanqing observed all of this without showing any emotion, and simply said, "Master, the food is getting cold."

Yun Heting snapped out of his daze and hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, but his eyes kept glancing at Zhilan from time to time.

Yunxiu ate with her head down, but out of the corner of her eye she noticed her father's unusual behavior.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she vaguely felt that something was wrong.

Why would my mother suddenly bring a girl home? I couldn't understand it, and I didn't dare to ask, so I could only eat in silence.

Yun Jin sat quietly to the side, eating as if she hadn't seen anything.

The meal was finished in a subtly awkward atmosphere.

Yunheting put down his bowl and chopsticks, sat for a while, chatted for a bit, and then got up to leave.

Chu Wanqing spoke up at the right moment: "Zhilan, it's getting cold, and the blankets in the master's room are too thin. I asked Qinghe to find a thicker blanket, could you please take it over to the master?"

Zhilan responded and followed Yunheting, clutching the quilt.

Yun Heting suppressed the upward curve of his lips and said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."

After saying that, he turned and walked out, with Zhilan following behind him at a leisurely pace.

When he arrived at the study, he pushed open the door and went in. Zhilan followed behind, carrying a quilt into the inner room.

She placed the quilt on the bed, bent down and spread it out gently, her waist slightly bent, revealing a section of her snow-white nape.

Yun Heting stood to the side, looking at her profile, feeling as if a fire was burning in his heart.

Zhilan finished making the bed, straightened up, turned around, and whispered, "Master, the quilt is made. This servant will take her leave."

She curtsied and turned to leave.

Whether she was walking too fast or tripped over something on the ground, she swayed, let out a soft cry, and fell to the side.

"Watch out!" Yun Heting reacted quickly, stepping forward and pulling her into his arms.

With the warm, soft flesh filling his arms, Yun Heting felt a buzzing sound in his head, as if something had snapped.

He looked down at Zhilan in his arms. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyelashes were lowered, and her lips were slightly parted, like a frightened fawn, both shy and timid.

"Thank you, sir..." she said softly, trying to straighten up.

Yun Heting could no longer restrain himself, and he picked her up and laid her down on the bed...

From time to time, Zhilan's voice could be heard from inside the room saying, "No, no..."

……

Chu Wanqing did not let Yun Jin, Yun Xiu, and Yun Lang leave, as she did not want Yun Xiu to ruin Yun Heting's plans.

Yunxiu felt uneasy and wanted to go with them to check on Yunheting. Since her mother wasn't there, she felt it was her responsibility to keep an eye on her father for her mother.

But Chu Wanqing kept rambling on about the palace banquet tomorrow, and she could only listen with a forced smile.

About half an hour later, Qinghe walked in, came to Chu Wanqing's side, and said in a low voice, "Madam, it's done."

Chu Wanqing put down her teacup, stood up, straightened her clothes, and said to Yun Jin and the others, "Let's go, you guys come with me to take a look too."

Aside from Yun Jin, Yun Xiu and Yun Lang were both somewhat bewildered, with Yun Xiu's face showing more unease.

Chu Wanqing offered no explanation, and led the three of them leisurely toward Yunhe Pavilion's study.

When Chang'an, who was guarding the gate, saw that the lady had arrived with a group of people, his expression changed. He wanted to go in and announce her arrival, but Qinghe stopped him.

"Madam is here, why aren't you moving aside?" Qinghe said coldly.

The servant dared not stop him and could only step aside.

Chu Wanqing pushed open the door and went straight into the inner room.

Hearing the commotion, Yun Heting hurriedly threw on his clothes and came out to greet her: "Madam, what brings you here?"

Chu Wanqing didn't even glance at him, and said to Yun Jin and the other two, "You wait outside." She then went into the inner room.

Zhilan huddled in the corner of the bed, wrapped in a blanket, her hair disheveled, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Chu Wanqing turned her head to look at Yun Heting, her eyes filled with disappointment and heartache: "Master, Zhilan is an innocent and virtuous young lady, how could you... how could you do such a thing?"

Yun Heting's face turned pale and then flushed, and he hurriedly waved his hands: "Madam, it's not what you think! It was her, she seduced me..."

"My lord!" Zhilan suddenly raised her head, tears streaming down her face. "How could you say that to me? I had just made my bed and was about to go outside when I accidentally tripped and fell. It was you who caught me, and then... and then you..."

She couldn't continue, and covered her face, crying even harder.

Chu Wanqing looked coldly at Yun Heting: "Master, do you have anything else to say?"

"Madam, please let me explain..." Yun Heting stepped forward, trying to take Chu Wanqing's hand, and said decisively, "It really was she who seduced me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhilan jumped off the bed and slammed her head against the corner of the table, screaming, "Madam, I am willing to die to prove my innocence!"