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

Yun Heting was startled, and the teacup slipped from his hand, spilling onto his wrist. He placed the teacup on the table and tentatively began, "You mean...?"

Liu Zhixue said meaningfully, "She was worried about her daughter and couldn't sleep day and night. She was so anxious that she suddenly fell ill and passed away along with her daughter."

Yun Heting quickly shook his head: "No! If she's gone, the General's Mansion won't let it go. They definitely won't support Xiu'er anymore."

Liu Zhixue chuckled, "Yunlang, you're overthinking it. If she's gone, her dowry will all be yours. So what if the General's Mansion doesn't support us? Are the Chu family the only military family in the court? If all else fails, we can just replace him."

Yun Heting hesitated and said, "But now, the people around her have all been replaced. It might not be so easy to make a move."

Liu Zhixue looked at him and said slowly, "Yunlang, if you want to do it, what does it matter if you change the people? If she dies, what can those servants do to you?"

Yun Heting gritted his teeth and asked cautiously, "What about Lang Ge'er...?"

Liu Zhixue raised an eyebrow: "Doesn't he go to the Zheng family to study every day? There's always the risk of an accident on the way."

Yunheting remained silent and did not speak.

Liu Zhixue sneered: "What, Yunlang, you can't bear to part with him? He's just a son. If Xiu'er becomes Empress in the future, you'll be the Emperor's father-in-law, and I'll be your principal wife. How many children do you want then?"

Yun Heting swallowed hard and said in a hoarse voice, "I...I'll go back and think about it."

Liu Zhixue didn't press him further. Instead, she took a porcelain bottle from the cabinet and handed it to him, saying, "Take it."

Yun Heting took the porcelain bottle, looked at it again and again, and then put it into his sleeve. He bid farewell to Liu Zhixue and had someone carry him back to his residence.

Back at the Yun residence, he clutched the porcelain bottle, caught in a fierce struggle.

The next day, he had someone carry him to Qingshuiyuan.

Chu Wanqing was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) in a daze when she saw Yun Heting. She looked at him coldly and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Yun Heting forced a concerned expression: "Madam, I've come to see you. You haven't been eating properly these past few days. Your health is important. If Jin'er returns and you've already collapsed..."

Chu Wanqing looked at him coldly: "Yun Heting, are you especially happy? Jin'er is in trouble, are you secretly laughing to yourself?"

Yun Heting's expression changed, and he quickly waved his hands, "Madam, what are you saying? How could I..."

Chu Wanqing stared at him and said sarcastically, "Weren't you always hoping something would happen to her? From the day she entered the manor, you never treated her like family. Now that something has happened to her, you're probably overjoyed, aren't you? You came to see me, are you genuinely concerned about me, or are you just checking if I've died from excessive grief?"

Yun Heting's expression changed, and he opened his mouth to explain, "Madam, I didn't..."

Chu Wanqing interrupted him, saying calmly, "Alright, you can go back now. Things have been made clear, there's no need to pretend anymore. Don't come to my courtyard unless it's absolutely necessary."

Yun Heting's face alternated between pale and flushed, and after a long while, he finally spoke, "Madam, do we... really have to do this?"

Chu Wanqing stopped looking at him.

Yun Heting had no choice but to have someone carry him back to his own courtyard.

On the other hand, Yunxiu has been going through a very difficult time these past few days.

She wanted to appear as a good daughter in front of Chu Wanqing.

But when Chu Wanqing saw her, she was reminded of Yun Jin, so she simply told her not to come, saying that seeing her would only make her more heartbroken.

Having no other choice, Yunxiu had to seek advice from Liu Zhixue.

"Mother, Mother doesn't want to see me at all. What should I do?"

Liu Zhixue looked at her and sighed inwardly. This child is still too impatient.

But she couldn't tell her what was on her mind.

She then took Yunxiu's hand and coaxed her, "Xiu'er, listen to your mother. Your mother is in a bad mood right now and doesn't want to see anyone. It's not your fault. Even if she scolds you and tries to drive you away, you still have to go. Go and pay your respects every day. If she doesn't see you, just stand outside the door for a while and then leave. If she scolds you, just listen and don't talk back. If she tries to drive you away, just leave and come back the next day. In time, she will know that you are truly filial to her."

Yunxiu thought it made sense, but she stood at Qingshui Garden for two days and Chu Wanqing wouldn't even let her in.

On the third day, Chu Wanqing simply had Qinghe deliver a message, saying, "Madam said that the eldest young lady doesn't need to come; she wants to be alone."

Yunxiu stood at the door, looking at the tightly closed curtain. She felt wronged and unwilling, but dared not go in, so she turned around and left.

Unable to receive any news from Yun Jin at home, Chu Wanqing became restless and anxious, and decided to return to the General's Mansion.

Lan Ying has been feigning illness at home these past few days, idly looking at picture books in her room.

Upon hearing that Chu Wanqing had arrived, he quickly burrowed under the covers and instructed the servant beside him, "Quickly, wring out a handkerchief and put it on my forehead."

Just as the handkerchief was placed on her forehead, Chu Wanqing entered. Upon seeing her mother's state, she rushed over, grasped Lan Ying's hand, and tears streamed down her face.

"Mother, please take good care of yourself. Jin'er...she'll be alright..."

Lan Ying patted her hand and said weakly, "Yes, you're right. That child is lucky; he'll be alright."

While she offered words of comfort, she was thinking something else entirely. She wondered if Yun Jin was behind Ya Min's ghostly encounter and the rashes on Consort Zheng's face.

Chu Wanqing said in a choked voice, "Mother, I'm so sorry for Jin'er. It's all my fault... for not being able to protect her."

Lan Ying looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Do you regret it?"

Chu Wanqing nodded: "I regret it. If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have treated her better, given her the best of everything, and not let her suffer any grievances."

Lan Ying nodded and followed her words, saying, "Yes, you've wronged her for fifteen years. You owe her too much. You should prepare her dowry in advance so that she can live a better life."

Chu Wanqing nodded vigorously: "If she can come back, I will give her everything, I will give her everything."

Lan Ying looked at her and sighed again: "I also owe her. If she can come back, I will definitely prepare her dowry in advance."

After saying that, she patted Chu Wanqing's hand and said softly, "Remember what you said today."

Chu Wanqing suddenly raised her head, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes: "Mother, do you know something? Is Jin'er alright?"

Lan Ying's heart skipped a beat; oh no, she almost gave herself away.

She quickly lowered her head and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief: "I just hope she's alright. I dream of her being well. You owe her, I owe her, we all owe her. If she can come back, I, as her grandmother, will give her the very best of everything."

As Chu Wanqing looked at her, her suspicions gradually dissipated.

If Mother had known Jin'er was alright, she wouldn't have acted this way.

She nodded, leaned on Lan Ying's shoulder, closed her eyes, and tears flowed silently down her face.