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

Yunxiu's voice preceded her arrival. She rushed into the room, threw herself at Chu Wanqing, and grabbed her arm, her face streaked with tears: "Mother, Mother, how is Second Sister? Have they found her?"

Chu Wanqing looked at her with complicated emotions, her eyes churning with indescribable hatred, disgust, and suppressed forbearance.

She was silent for a moment before speaking coldly, "Are you hoping she won't be found?"

Yunxiu was stunned, tears still streaming down her face. She quickly shook her head and hurriedly explained, "Mother, I didn't! How could I think such a thing? I'd rather it was you who got hurt..."

"Where were you when Jin'er had her accident?" Chu Wanqing interrupted her, her gaze sharp as a knife.

Yunxiu stammered, her voice tinged with guilt, "Daughter...daughter was pulled into Sister Yamin's car. Daughter originally wanted to ride with my second sister, but Sister Yamin was too enthusiastic, and I couldn't refuse..."

Chu Wanqing asked coldly again, "What happened to Jin'er?"

Yunxiu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Daughter...daughter didn't know, daughter...daughter only found out from the princess's maid."

"So, you weren't there when she had that accident, right?" Chu Wanqing suddenly stood up, looking down at her with barely suppressed anger in her voice. "What did you say before? You said you would take good care of your sister, that you would protect her. But what did you do? She had that accident, and you weren't there for her, you didn't even know how it happened. Is this how you protect your sister?"

Yunxiu was so intimidated by her imposing manner that she took a step back. Not knowing how to explain, she could only apologize repeatedly: "Mother, I'm sorry... I was wrong... I shouldn't have gotten into Sister Yamin's car... I really didn't know this would happen..."

"Don't know?" Chu Wanqing sneered, her gaze fixed on her. "I'm asking you, was Jin'er's accident caused by Ya Min?"

Yunxiu quickly shook her head: "Daughter...daughter doesn't know. Daughter didn't hear the princess mention it."

Chu Wanqing stared at her, then pressed, "I'm asking you again, is this related to you?"

Yunxiu was terrified and quickly waved her hands: "No! Mother, I didn't! I swear, I have nothing to do with this!"

Chu Wanqing stared at her for a long time, as if trying to determine the truth or falsehood of her words.

Yunxiu felt uneasy under her gaze, tears streaming down her face, but she dared not utter a word.

After a long while, Chu Wanqing finally looked away, sat down again, and said in an even colder voice, "I know you've been unhappy ever since Jin'er came to the manor. You feel like she stole your things, your favor, and everything that should have been yours."

She looked up at Yunxiu and said, word by word, "But do you know why I took her in as my goddaughter? It was your maternal grandmother who begged me. Your grandmother pitied her, saying that she was a distant relative of the Lan family, orphaned and alone, and asked me to bring her back to keep you company. I agreed to your grandmother's request for your sake."

Yunxiu was stunned. She opened her mouth, wanting to say how could this be, but she didn't dare to speak.

Regardless of her thoughts, Chu Wanqing continued, "You are destined for greatness. If you marry the Fifth Prince, your maternal family can become your support. I'm telling you to get along well with her because if your maternal grandmother is happy, she will naturally dote on you more. In the future, when you marry the Fifth Prince, your maternal grandmother will be willing to help you and the Fifth Prince."

She paused, her gaze darkening. "But you're always targeting her, always making things difficult for her. What's yours can't be taken away. Don't you understand that?"

She added in her mind, "If it's not yours, there's no point in taking it."

Yunxiu knelt down with a thud, clutching Chu Wanqing's sleeve, and cried, "Mother, I was wrong... I admit I was jealous of my second sister before, feeling she stole my mother's affection. But later, I learned that you were wholeheartedly planning for me, and I was so grateful that I never dared to have any other thoughts..."

Chu Wanqing looked down at her and said calmly, "Now that she went out with you and got into trouble, what do you think your grandmother will think? Will she still be willing to do everything in her power to help you?"

Yunxiu was starting to regret it. She was destined to be a phoenix. No matter how much her mother doted on her, she would eventually be trampled underfoot by her.

She wanted to say something to make amends, but Chu Wanqing didn't give her the chance.

She withdrew her gaze and said coldly, "Go away! I don't want to hear what you have to say right now. It would be best if Jin'er was alright, otherwise..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was crystal clear.

Yunxiu wanted to say something more, but Qinghe stepped forward and said softly, "Miss, please go back first. Madam is in a bad mood, and your presence here will only make her more upset. We can talk about it when we find Second Miss."

Yunxiu opened her mouth, but looking at Chu Wanqing's expressionless face, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She stood up, wiped away her tears, bowed, and left with her head down.

Chu Wanqing watched her retreating figure, her teeth nearly grinding to powder. She hoped Jin'er was alright; otherwise, she would drag the entire Yun family down with her.

When the news reached the northern border, the plague in Daning Prefecture had been completely brought under control, and the people were gradually recovering.

Xiao Jingyan was making final arrangements for the prefect.

Jin Hu rushed in and handed him the letter: "Your Highness, in the capital... Miss Yun... fell off a cliff."

Xiao Jingyan's body stiffened, and he snatched the letter. After reading it, he stood up abruptly and said to the prefect, "I'm leaving this place to you. I have urgent business to attend to in the capital."

The prefect quickly replied, "Your Highness, rest assured."

He then said to Jin Hu, "Pack your things. You and I will set off immediately. The others can pack their things and then follow us."

As Xiao Jingyan spoke, he donned his cloak and strode out, repeatedly instructing Jin Hu as he went: "Send a message to Ling Feng, telling him to send more men to search for Yun Jin with all his might. Find her alive or dead. Also, find out who ordered this. Anyone who dares to harm my people will suffer a fate worse than death!"

Jin Hu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly agreed.

Xiao Jingyan went out, mounted his horse, and returned to the capital overnight with Jin Hu.

As for Chu Duanshan, after leaving the palace, he did not leave the city again, but went straight back to the general's mansion.

Lan Ying was anxiously awaiting news. Seeing him return, she rushed to greet him, asking urgently, "How did it go? Did you find him?"

Chu Duanshan didn't rush to answer. He first dismissed the maids in the room, then pulled Lan Ying into the inner room and said in a low voice, "We didn't find Jin'er down in the ravine, only the wreckage of the carriage."

Lan Ying was startled, her face immediately changing color: "What did you say? You didn't find it?"

Chu Duanshan nodded, then leaned closer and lowered his voice carefully, saying, "I suspect that the girl wasn't actually hurt, but rather she used a ruse to hide."