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

[I realized I made a silly mistake. My previous name, "Qinghuan," was the same as "Wanqing," so I changed it to "Zhilan."]

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Chu Wanqing cried out in fright, "Stop her!"

Qinghe reacted quickly, stepping forward to embrace Zhilan and urgently saying, "Miss Zhilan, don't be impulsive! Madam will stand up for you!"

Hearing the commotion inside, Yunxiu ignored Chu Wanqing's previous instructions and went in first.

Seeing this, Yun Jin pulled Yun Lang inside as well.

When Yun Heting saw the children enter, his face turned ashen. While straightening his clothes, he shouted, "What are you doing here? Get out!"

Chu Wanqing sat down on a chair nearby and said coldly, "There's no need to go out. They might encounter such a sordid affair when they get married in the future. Let them witness it and learn their lesson."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Yun Heting awkwardly dared not speak.

Yunxiu glanced at Zhilan, whose clothes were disheveled on the ground, and then at Yunheting, who was standing there. There was nothing she didn't understand.

She looked at Yun Heting with heartache, her voice trembling with tears: "Father, you promised Mother you would never take a concubine, how could you do this?"

She said this with such conviction, but Yun Jin only found it amusing.

She wanted to ask Yunxiu: Who are you asking this on behalf of? Is it on behalf of Chu Wanqing or Liu Zhixue?

But she just watched without expressing any opinion. She hasn't established herself yet and has no say. The more she says, the more mistakes she'll make.

Yun Heting, humiliated by his daughter's public questioning, snapped, "Shut up! How dare you speak to your father like that?"

Yunxiu shrank back in fright and dared not utter another sound.

Chu Wanqing scoffed, "Master, you feel ashamed now? Why didn't you think about the consequences when you did it?"

She stared at Yun Heting and said, word by word, "Now, what does Master intend to do about this matter?"

Yun Heting opened his mouth, about to speak, but Chu Wanqing didn't give him a chance, continuing, "Master, there's no need to say that Zhilan seduced you. You're a man; if you can control your own desires, what can a weak woman like her do to you?"

Yunheting was speechless, his head bowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Chu Wanqing stared at him for a long time before turning to Zhilan and sighing, "Miss Zhilan, now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say. My husband has done such a thing, and as his mistress, I cannot stand idly by. If you are willing, I will make the decision for you and take you as my concubine."

"Mother! No…" Yunxiu's eyes widened in shock. Just as she was about to say something, Granny Qi behind her quickly tugged at her and shook her head slightly. Yunxiu bit her lip and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Chu Wanqing didn't even look at her, and continued, "If you don't want to, I'll have someone send you out and give you some money. You can go far away. No one will know what happened today."

Zhilan looked up at her with teary eyes, then glanced at Yunheting, bit her lip, lowered her head, and sobbed, "I have no family, I'm all alone... Where can I go?"

Yun Heting, unsure whether Chu Wanqing was serious about taking a concubine, dared not agree easily. He feigned refusal, saying, "Madam, you mustn't! I promised you I would never take a concubine in my life, and I cannot break my promise!"

Chu Wanqing sneered inwardly.

Not taking concubines? Then what about Liu Zhixue? And how did Yunxiu come to be here?

She glanced at Yun Heting and said indifferently, "Times have changed. You were in the wrong today, tarnishing Miss Zhilan's reputation. If this isn't handled properly, people will say I'm jealous and intolerant. I can't bear that kind of reputation."

Yun Heting quickly put on a smiling face: "It's not that bad, it's not that bad..."

Chu Wanqing snorted and ignored him, then looked at Zhilan and softened her tone: "In that case, Miss Zhilan, you may stay in the manor. Since I have allowed you to stay, I will not mistreat you."

Zhilan lowered her head and remained silent for a while before wiping away her tears, looking at Chu Wanqing, and saying softly, "It's all up to Madam to decide."

Chu Wanqing nodded, her expression indifferent: "Then it's settled. From now on, you will be Consort Lan in the manor. You will stay and serve the master tonight."

Just as Yun Heting was about to refuse, Zhilan shook her head and said, "Madam, my mind is in turmoil, and I want to be alone. Could I please be by myself tonight?"

Chu Wanqing glanced at her and didn't press the matter: "Alright then." She turned to Qinghe and instructed, "Isn't there an empty courtyard next door? Clean it up and let Miss Zhilan move in."

Qinghe responded and stepped forward to help Zhilan up, then walked outside.

Zhilan didn't look at Yunheting once the whole time. She kept her head down and walked with a stagger, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Yun Heting stood to the side, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty as he watched Zhilan's retreating figure.

Now that things have come to this, he has realized that something is wrong. Tonight's events were intentional on Zhilan's part, and it's even possible that Chu Wanqing and Zhilan conspired to set a trap for him.

But what could he say now that things had come to this?

He slept with the person; the evidence is conclusive, and he has no way to deny it.

Throughout the entire process, Yun Jin didn't say a word, only observing coldly from the sidelines.

Yun Lang was utterly disappointed in his father. His father used to be like a god to him, but after learning what his father had done to his mother, to him, and to Yun Jin, all that remained in his heart was disgust. After tonight, that disgust had only intensified.

After leaving the courtyard, Chu Wanqing said to Yun Jin, Yun Xiu, and Yun Lang, "You should all go back and rest. Having another concubine in the manor just means having another mouth to feed. You can continue doing what you were doing and don't need to think about it too much."

Yunxiu first curtsied and then hurriedly took her leave with Granny Qi.

Yun Jin and Yun Lang also bowed and took their leave.

On the way, Yun Lang whispered to Yun Jin, "Sister, what about Father...?"

Yun Jin said softly, "Don't think about anything, go back and rest well. Mother will take care of these things."

Yun Lang nodded and followed the nanny back to Kangning Pavilion.

Chu Wanqing returned to Qingshui Garden, washed up, changed into casual clothes, and rested on the couch.

Qinghe entered and whispered, "Madam, Miss Zhilan has arrived."

Chu Wanqing opened her eyes and said calmly, "Let her in."

Zhilan knelt down as soon as she entered the room and kowtowed properly: "Thank you for your protection, Madam."

Chu Wanqing waved her hand: "Get up and talk."

Zhilan stood up and stood to the side with her hands at her sides.

Chu Wanqing looked at her and asked, "Do you know what to do in the next few days?"

Zhilan respectfully said, "Please enlighten me, Madam."

Chu Wanqing said slowly, "These past few days, you should avoid the master. The closer he gets, the further away you should be. Make him think that you are only staying in the manor because you have no other choice, and that you are not intentionally trying to curry favor with him. Do you understand?"

Zhilan immediately replied, "This servant understands. Thank you for your guidance, Madam."

Seeing her obedient demeanor, Chu Wanqing nodded in satisfaction: "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements for your brother. He's studying at the Lan family's private school, and his food, clothing, and daily necessities are all taken care of. Your brother is very diligent and will have a bright future."