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

Yunxiu lowered her head, finally feeling a pang of remorse: "Mother, I'm sorry... Xiu'er knows she was wrong... Xiu'er didn't know..."

Chu Wanqing looked at her with a hint of heartache in her eyes, reached out and touched her cheek, and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"

Yunxiu raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked at Chu Wanqing. She shook her head and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore. Mother, I didn't know your good intentions. I'm sorry... I will definitely protect my second sister from now on..."

Everything will be decided once I'm in that position. I will avenge today's humiliation one day.

Chu Wanqing didn't care what she thought in her heart; she herself was not sincere either.

She sighed, wiped away Yunxiu's tears, and said gently, "Go back now. I'll have the kitchen prepare some of your favorite dishes and send them to you later. In a couple of days, I'll take you and Jin'er to pay our respects to your maternal grandmother. Do your best and don't disappoint her."

Yunxiu nodded repeatedly, wiped away her tears, curtsied, and turned to leave.

As she reached the door, she stopped, turned back to look at Chu Wanqing, and said softly, "Mother, don't worry, I know what to do."

Chu Wanqing nodded and watched her leave.

The curtain fell, and the room fell silent. Chu Wanqing leaned back in her chair, let out a long breath, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.

Qinghe pushed open the door and came in, saying softly, "Madam, the eldest young lady has left."

Chu Wanqing opened her eyes and nodded: "Go prepare dinner, and call the Second Miss over for dinner later."

Qinghe responded and left.

Chu Wanqing picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and gazed at the twilight outside the window with a deep look in her eyes.

In the Jinshu Pavilion, Yun Jin leaned against the kang (a heated brick bed), thinking about the day's events.

The only sounds inside were the warmth emanating from the heated wall and the occasional crackling of charcoal; it was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

She went through the events of the day from beginning to end.

She couldn't be sure whether this scheme was set up by Ya Min or the Princess.

If it were the eldest princess, her initial favorability rating towards herself shouldn't have been -28%. Perhaps it's because she never considered herself a true rival.

Today's events were mostly Yamin's idea.

Even if Yunxiu wasn't involved, she must have been aware of it.

She has broken this deadlock today, and Ya Min will definitely not let it go.

As she was leaving, she glanced back at the princess and noticed that her favorability rating had dropped to -43%.

Making her take it seriously is not a good thing.

But she still couldn't understand why the Eldest Princess would support Liu Zhixue. What kind of connection existed between them? Why would she support her in bringing Chen Wencai to the capital?

Also, why didn't they bring Yun Dahai's family along?

Is it because they haven't had time yet, or are they saving it as a backup plan?

This matter needs to be investigated by Dongxue, or rather, by Xiao Jingyan's people.

"Winter Snow," she called out.

Chunxi pushed open the door and came in: "Miss, Dongxue hasn't returned yet."

"I understand." Yun Jin nodded, guessing that Dong Xue was probably still cleaning up the mess. Someone had to keep an eye on those who had been drugged.

Just then, Qiuyi knocked on the door and came in: "Miss, Madam sent Qinghe to convey a message, inviting you to have dinner."

Yun Jin nodded, guessing that Chu Wanqing probably had something to say to her.

She stood up, put on the cotton coat that just reached her ankles, the hood trimmed with white rabbit fur, and wrapped herself up completely.

She had Qiuyi make this dress; it was both warm and lightweight.

She asked Qiuyi to take good care of Granny Jin, and then left Jinshu Pavilion with Chunxi.

Upon arriving at Qingshuiyuan, I lifted the curtain and went inside, and a wave of warmth washed over me.

Yun Lang was already there. When he saw Yun Jin come in, he quickly stood up and called out, "Sister."

Chu Wanqing was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). When he saw Yun Jin coming over, he beckoned her to sit next to him.

Yun Jin took off her cotton-padded coat and handed it to Chun happy, then sat down next to Chu Wanqing, leaning on her shoulder, and said softly, "Mother."

Chu Wanqing reached out and tidied her temples, her eyes full of heartache: "Jin'er, I'm so sorry you had to suffer today."

Yun Jin shook her head, looked up at her, and smiled: "Mother, Jin'er is not wronged. Today, with Mother standing up for Jin'er, Jin'er is very happy."

Chu Wanqing patted her hand and asked, "If we didn't investigate who was behind this today, will you blame your mother?"

Yun Jin shook her head and said seriously, "Mother, even if we investigate, it will only result in a scapegoat. We can guess the real mastermind without being told. There's no need to dig too deep; it's enough to know in our hearts."

Chu Wanqing looked at her, her gaze filled with complex emotions. This child was even more insightful than she had imagined.

Yun Lang, sitting nearby, was completely confused and couldn't help but interject, "Mother, sister, what are you talking about? What happened today?"

Chu Wanqing hesitated for a moment and looked at Yun Jin.

Yun Jin said, "Mother, my younger brother is already thirteen. He may encounter a similar situation someday, so he should know about it."

Chu Wanqing thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That makes sense. Then you should talk to him about it."

Yun Jin then recounted what had happened at the Princess's residence that day.

She didn't embellish the story; she simply stated the facts calmly: how Ya Min had the maid take her to the warm pavilion, how she locked the door from the outside, how she arranged for Chen Wencai to come in, how Chu Wanqing led everyone to "catch the adulterer," and how she cleverly escaped.

Upon hearing this, Yun Lang's face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists: "How could they do this? My sister has done nothing to provoke them!"

Yun Jin patted his hand, took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, and handed it to him: "Lang Ge'er, there are similar conspiracies targeting you men. Take this bottle of antidote pills; it can cure most poisons. When you're out and about, be careful in everything you do, don't easily trust strangers, and especially don't go to remote places."

Yunlang took the porcelain bottle, carefully put it into his bosom, and nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, sister, I understand."

Chu Wanqing added a few more words, telling him about several possible traps targeting men, such as being drugged in a restaurant and waking up to find himself carrying something he shouldn't be in; or being led to a room where a woman is waiting, and then someone bursts in and ruins his reputation.

Yun Lang listened intently, his expression growing increasingly serious.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Seeing that she had said enough, Chu Wanqing called out to have the maid bring the meal.

The food was served, steaming hot. Chu Wanqing had just picked up her chopsticks when she suddenly remembered something and asked Qinghe, "Have you sent the food to the young lady yet?"

Qinghe nodded: "It's been delivered, Madam, don't worry."

Chu Wanqing then picked up her chopsticks and invited Yun Jin and Yun Lang to eat.

The three of them had just taken a few bites when the curtain was suddenly thrown open, and Yun Heting strode in.

He glanced around and saw the three of them sitting together eating. With an angry look, he said, "You still have the appetite to eat?"