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

He thought of Shen Qingyun from the past, and how she looked in the Prince's mansion—pale-faced, with dim eyes, and depressed all day long, as if all her strength had been drained away.

But the Shen Qingyun in front of me seemed like a completely different person.

She wore no makeup, yet she was radiant; she neither smiled nor spoke, yet she was captivating.

"Your Highness has arrived." Shen Qingyun stood up and bowed to him, her voice gentle, reminding him of Shen Shiyun in his memory.

The eldest prince snapped out of his reverie, walked in, sat down opposite her, and after his gaze swept over her face, he couldn't help but say, "You... look much better."

Shen Qingyun smiled, poured him a cup of tea, and handed it to him with both hands: "It's quiet on the estate. You can eat and sleep well, so your complexion will naturally be better."

The eldest prince looked at her, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say.

Looking at him like this, Shen Qingyun suddenly sighed, her tone tinged with self-reproach: "Your Highness, I made many mistakes in the past when I was in the manor. I shouldn't have cried so easily, and I shouldn't have complained so readily. I was suffering back then, but I shouldn't have taken it all out on Your Highness. Now I understand, Your Highness is actually not much better than me."

The eldest prince never expected Shen Qingyun to say such a thing.

The eldest prince felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "Yun'er, it's my fault. I should have come to see you sooner."

When Shen Qingyun heard him use "I", she knew that her trick had worked.

She shook her head, then suddenly choked up, saying, "Yi Bei, I thought... we could never go back to the way things were."

That name, Yi Bei, reminded Xiao Yi Bei of their past, of their wedding night, of her cooking for him, and of her sweet, coquettish way of nestling in his arms.

He couldn't help but call out, "Qingyun..."

Shen Qingyun looked at him, tears welling in her eyes, but she held them back and smiled, saying, "Yibei, we're husband and wife. I was being willful before. From now on, let's... be like before, okay?"

Her restrained demeanor made Xiao Yibei's heart clench as if something had violently torn it open.

He reached out and took her hand, saying urgently, "Yun'er, I won't leave tonight. I'll stay with you tonight, and we'll go back to the manor together tomorrow."

Shen Qingyun paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

Looking at her smile, Xiao Yibei felt that his Qingyun had returned, and he smiled happily as well.

He released her hand, his gaze falling on the chessboard on the table, and suddenly asked, "Who were you playing chess with just now?"

Shen Qingyun casually replied, "She's a girl I rescued on the road. That day, I went to Jingxin Nunnery to offer incense, and on my way back, I found her collapsed by the mountain path, covered in injuries, so I brought her back. She's been recuperating for quite some time now, and she's almost fully recovered. When she has nothing to do, she keeps me company by playing chess and chatting with me."

Xiao Yibei nodded, not paying any attention.

Unexpectedly, Shen Qingyun suddenly called out to the inner room, "Miss Xiaobai, come out."

Xiao Yibei was taken aback and subconsciously looked towards the inner room: "Is she in there?"

Shen Qingyun nodded, her tone tinged with apology: "Your Highness arrived suddenly just now, and before I could tell her to leave, she had to hide inside. Please forgive her, Your Highness."

Xiao Yibei immediately felt a little embarrassed, realizing that an outsider had overheard his conversation with Shen Qingyun.

But Shen Qingyun didn't seem to care, so he didn't say anything.

The curtain was lifted, and Yun Jin came out of the inner room. She walked up to the Crown Prince, slightly curtsied, and said, "This humble woman greets Your Highness."

The eldest prince's gaze fell on her face, and he asked somewhat uncertainly, "You are... the second young lady of the Yun family? The adopted daughter of the Yun family?"

Yun Jin nodded and replied frankly, "Your Highness, it is indeed I, your subject."

Shen Qingyun turned her head sharply, looking at Yun Jin with surprise on her face: "Xiao Bai? You... didn't you say your surname was Bai? How could you be the second young lady of the Yun family?"

Yun Jin couldn't help but give her a thumbs up in her heart; her acting skills were top-notch!

She looked at Shen Qingyun and said apologetically, "Sister Shen, I'm sorry, Yun Jin didn't mean to deceive you. It's just that I rolled down the cliff that day and barely escaped death. I didn't know if those assassins were still looking for me, so I didn't dare to reveal my identity easily."

I was afraid of implicating my sister, and even more afraid of falling into danger again. My sister saved me and took me in, but I concealed my real name; it was wrong of me. Please forgive me, sister.

As she spoke, she bowed deeply to Shen Qingyun.

Shen Qingyun quickly supported her, shaking her head and saying, "What are you saying? You were so badly injured, it's only natural that you're afraid and don't dare to reveal your true identity. I don't blame you. But... are you really the second young lady of the Yun family? The one who... the second young lady of the Yun family who recognized Madam Yun as her goddaughter?"

Yun Jin nodded.

Shen Qingyun sighed, took her hand, and said with heartache, "It's fate that we met. Your stay here has helped ease my mind. Don't worry, whether you're Yun Jin or Xiao Bai, you're my sister, Shen Qingyun."

Yun Jin nodded vigorously and said, "Okay."

The eldest prince stood aside and explained with a smile, "Yun'er, you never went out of the manor before, so naturally you don't recognize Miss Yun."

He then turned to Yun Jin, "Miss Yun, I have heard a little about what happened before. Now that you have recovered from your injuries, Qingyun and I will return to the capital tomorrow. Why don't you come with us?"

Shen Qingyun quickly chimed in, "Yes, His Highness and I will escort you back tomorrow. You've been out alone for so long, it's inevitable that people will gossip. With His Highness and I by your side, everyone will know that I rescued you and that you've been recuperating here, so it won't tarnish your reputation."

Yun Jin felt a warmth in her heart and bowed again to the Crown Prince and Shen Qingyun: "Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, Sister Shen. Yun Jin is deeply grateful."

The eldest prince waved his hand and said nothing more.

Shen Qingyun smiled and took Yun Jin's hand, saying softly, "Alright, no need for thanks. Go back and prepare well; we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

Yun Jin nodded, bowed to the eldest prince, and then withdrew.

The door closed, leaving only Xiao Yibei and Shen Qingyun inside.

Shen Qingyun looked at Xiao Yibei apologetically: "Your Highness, did I do something wrong?"

Xiao Yibei shook his head: "It's not your fault. She didn't say anything herself, and you've never met her, so how would you know her identity?"

He paused, then added, "However, this Miss Yun is quite shrewd. You'd better be careful when you associate with her."

Shen Qingyun nodded and said nothing more.

Meanwhile, Yun Jin returned to her room and whispered to Dong Xue, "Please pass on a message to the Prince for me, saying that I want to see him."