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

As the palace banquet ended, the lights in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were gradually extinguished.

Yun Jin wrapped her cloak tighter and followed Chu Wanqing outside.

A night breeze blew in, carrying the chill of late winter, and she couldn't help but shrink her neck.

The question in her mind grew bigger and bigger: Why would Prince Yu help her? From the family recognition banquet to the palace banquet, from giving gifts to getting out of trouble, and then to those few braziers, each and every one of these things didn't seem like something she did casually.

But she and Prince Yu were clearly complete strangers.

"What are you thinking about?" Chu Wanqing asked softly, taking her hand in hers. "Your hands are so cold. Go back and have the servants make you some ginger soup."

Yun Jin snapped out of her daze and shook her head: "It's alright, Mother, I'm not cold."

Chu Wanqing patted her hand tenderly and didn't ask any more questions.

Yunxiu walked ahead, her steps quick and hurried, her skirt brushing against the blue bricks, creating a soft, rustling sound.

She remained silent, her back view radiating anger.

The carriage was waiting at the palace gate.

The three of them got into the car, and the curtain was drawn to keep out the cold wind outside.

The carriage moved slowly, its wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs with a rumbling sound.

Yunxiu, sitting opposite, suddenly spoke, her tone sour: "Second sister, you really stole the show today. I never expected you to play the drum so well."

Yun Jin glanced at her and said calmly, "Speaking of which, I have to thank the princess. If it weren't for her recommendation, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."

Yunxiu was momentarily speechless. She had intended to say something sarcastic to Yunjin, but she hadn't expected Yunjin to deflect it so easily.

Chu Wanqing frowned and said, "Alright, Xiu'er, we're all family. No matter who His Majesty praised today, it's good for you all. Why are you getting jealous?"

Yunxiu had no choice but to shut her mouth in frustration. She turned her head to look out the car window, and the streetlights flashed by, reflecting on her face in a dim and intermittent way.

She recalled the words Prince Yu had said at the palace banquet, which pierced her heart like needles.

That's her mother, why should she be humiliated like this in public?

And then there's Yun Jin, just a country girl, why should Prince Yu speak up for her?

The carriage stopped in front of the Yun Mansion.

Yunxiu was the first to jump out of the carriage, and without even saying goodbye, she quickly walked inside.

Yun Heting got off the carriage behind and called out to Yun Jin, unusually taking the initiative to say, "You did well today."

Yun Jin politely bowed and said, "Thank you, godfather."

Yunheting nodded and walked to the front yard with his hands behind his back.

Yun Jin watched his retreating figure, feeling nothing in her heart.

He praised her not because she was his daughter, but because she had made him proud at the palace banquet that day.

Chu Wanqing walked over, took her hand and led her inside, whispering, "Don't pay attention to him, go back and rest early."

Yun Jin nodded and walked towards Jinshu Pavilion.

Chunxi followed behind, muttering softly, "Miss, the eldest young lady seems rather unhappy today."

Yun Jin said calmly, "Is that so? Perhaps it's because it's cold."

Are you unhappy?

It's okay to be unhappy!

This is just the beginning; the unpleasant days are yet to come.

Inside the Snow Studio, Yunxiu flung the curtains as soon as she entered.

Granny Qi came forward and, seeing that her face was ashen, quickly told Lixiang to leave and closed the door.

"Young Miss, what's wrong?" Granny Qi asked cautiously.

Yunxiu grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it on the ground.

Shards of porcelain flew everywhere. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice trembled: "Do you know what happened at the palace banquet today? Prince Yu... Prince Yu actually said in public that Mother was 'immoral,' that she had done shameful things!"

Granny Qi's expression changed drastically: "Did Prince Yu really say that?"

Yunxiu gritted her teeth, her features contorted as she spoke: "What right does he have? What right does he have to help that wretched girl insult my mother? What did my mother do to offend him? All that wretched girl can do is play the drum, right? Why is everyone in the palace cheering for her? Why did the Emperor reward her, and why did the Empress praise her? Why..."

She grew angrier as she spoke, and ripped off the pearl hairpin from her head, throwing it violently to the ground.

Granny Qi wondered to herself, "Who is Prince Yu? He's a prince with a distinguished military record, someone even the Emperor has to give respect to."

Why did he publicly say that Liu Zhixue was "of bad character"? If these words got out, Liu Zhixue's reputation would be completely ruined.

But she couldn't understand why Prince Yu would help Yun Jin.

That girl has just arrived in the capital, what kind of interaction could she possibly have with Prince Yu?

If she has Prince Yu behind her, she might be difficult to deal with.

"Young Miss," she said cautiously, "please don't rush. We need to tell Madam about this as soon as possible so she can make a decision."

Yunxiu nodded: "Go, go now! Let Mother think of a way. If she doesn't quickly salvage her reputation, how can she be Father's legitimate wife in the future?"

Granny Qi responded, hurriedly changed her clothes, and left the mansion through the side gate.

Yunxiu sat in the empty room, staring blankly at the broken porcelain shards scattered on the floor.

She hated Yun Jin for stealing the limelight, and she hated Prince Yu for publicly humiliating her mother.

She muttered through gritted teeth:

That wretched girl, what right does she have?

……

Liu Zhixue had already fallen asleep in the courtyard.

She hasn't been sleeping well these past few days, and her hair, which was cut unevenly, is glaringly ugly when she looks in the mirror.

She was waiting for news from Qingping County, for the Princess's arrangements, and for a chance to turn things around.

The urgent knocking startled her awake. She got up, put on her clothes, opened the door, and saw Granny Qi standing there, her face pale.

"What's wrong?" Liu Zhixue's heart sank.

Granny Qi slipped in, closed the door, and recounted the events of the palace banquet in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhixue's face turned pale and then red, and she swayed, only managing to steady herself by holding onto the edge of the table.

"Prince Yu... publicly accused me of being immoral?" Her voice was hoarse, as if it were being squeezed out of her throat.

Granny Qi nodded: "Prince Yu publicly mentioned that his house had been robbed and that your hair had been shaved. In his words, he implied that you... were of questionable character."

Liu Zhixue gripped the edge of the table tightly, her knuckles turning white.

That girl has just arrived in the capital, what kind of interaction could she possibly have with Prince Yu?

Why did Prince Yu help her?

She had a gut feeling that this Yun Jin was the child she had sent to Qingping County all those years ago.

She regretted it; she shouldn't have spared that girl's life back then because of a moment of anger!

"Also," Granny Qi hesitated for a moment, "Yun Jin stole the show by beating the drum at the palace banquet today."

Liu Zhixue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She felt that things seemed to be getting out of control.

There was still no news from Qingping County, but all signs pointed to the same answer: the girl had returned.

"Madam, what should we do now?" Granny Qi asked cautiously.

Liu Zhixue opened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and after a long while said, "Let me think about it."

She walked to the window and opened it. A cold wind rushed in, making her shiver.

After a full incense stick's time, she spoke without turning her head: "Mother Qi, you go back first. Tell Xiu'er to stay calm and not do anything. Wait for my news."

Granny Qi glanced at her worriedly, but didn't say anything. She just gave a soft reply and hurried away.

Liu Zhixue stood there for a while longer before closing the window.

She touched the uneven stubble on her head, gritted her teeth, and said, word by word, "Yun Jin, since you dare to come back, I'll make this capital city your burial ground!"