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

Yun Jin felt a little embarrassed by the praise and adjusted her skirt, saying, "I wouldn't dare compare myself to Sister Mengyao; Sister Mengyao is the true beauty!"

Chen Mengyao felt embarrassed by what she said and retorted, "You really know how to talk."

The two sat down on the soft couch, and Tingzhu served them tea. A brazier had been added to the room, so it wasn't cold.

Chen Mengyao casually said, "Little Bai, you don't need to be so reserved at my grandmother's house. You saved me, and I can never repay this kindness. If you need anything, just tell me. Don't be shy."

Yun Jin winked at her playfully: "Don't worry, Sister Mengyao, I won't hold back."

"That's right." Chen Mengyao smiled and stuffed another piece of hibiscus cake into her hand: "Try this, it's made by Shixiangzhai in the capital, it's especially delicious."

Seeing Yun Jin take a bite, she suddenly remembered something and said excitedly, "By the way, in a few days I'll take you to meet my friends. I'm sure you'll get along with them."

Yun Jin then asked, "Do you have many friends?"

"Not much. Those rich young ladies in the capital are all so snobbish and opportunistic. I'm just a cousin, after all. They look down on me, and I look down on them too," Chen Mengyao said, pursing her lips.

"However, I do have a few true friends. Like the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Dingbei, who is straightforward and fiery; and the second daughter of Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Personnel, who looks quiet, but when she speaks..."

She rattled off several names, all daughters of prominent families in the capital, but didn't mention the Yun family at all.

Yun Jin feigned curiosity and casually asked, "I heard on the way here that Miss Yun, the eldest daughter of Minister Yun of the Ministry of Rites, is not only well-educated and polite, but is also known as the 'Number One Beauty in the Capital.' Are you acquainted with her?"

Chen Mengyao nearly spat out the pastry she had just put in her mouth. She frowned, curled her lip, and said with disdain, "Yunxiu? Her? Humph, she doesn't deserve it!"

Yun Jin deliberately feigned a puzzled expression: "Isn't that right? I've heard people praise her to the skies, saying she's exceptionally talented and stunningly beautiful."

"She does have some talent, but not to that extent." Chen Mengyao put down the pastries, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and said, "As for looks, she is indeed pretty, but I don't think she's as beautiful as you! In my opinion, I don't know how she got that title of 'Number One Beauty'!"

Yun Jin's heart skipped a beat, and she pressed on, "From what you're saying, it seems you don't quite like this Miss Yun?"

Chen Mengyao frankly said, "In theory, her maternal grandmother and my maternal grandmother were close friends for decades, and the two families often kept in touch, but I just couldn't bring myself to like her."

She rested her chin on her hand, recalling carefully: "She always spoke so gently, and her smile was always just right, but I just felt that she... yes, a little fake! Two years ago at the flower viewing party, I was playing around with my girlfriends and accidentally stepped on her foot. She said it was nothing, but with red eyes, she said to my grandmother, 'Please don't blame Mengyao, I know she didn't mean it...' Humph, if she really didn't care, why would she say that? Wasn't she just trying to get my grandmother to scold me, to make others think I deliberately bullied her?"

Yun Jin listened silently, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the rim of her cup. This behavior was so similar to the manipulative women in the novels she read.

"But she's really in the spotlight right now," Chen Mengyao said, pursing her lips. "Many young noblemen in the capital treat her like a fairy, thinking it's an immense honor to marry her. I heard her family even hired a female tutor to teach her to dance and play the zither."

"Oh? And she's a lady?" Yun Jin asked casually.

Chen Mengyao pouted: "I heard she's from the Liu family in Jiangnan, named Liu Zhixue. The Liu family is a literary family, and I heard this Mr. Liu is proficient in music and dance. Rumor has it that if she were a man, her talent would be enough to rise to high office. The noble ladies of the capital are so envious of Yunxiu."

Yun Jin's fingers tightened suddenly around the teacup.

Liu Zhixue!

Mr. Liu!

Sure enough it was her!

The mistress hidden behind the original owner's scumbag father, Yun Xiu's birth mother, actually moved into the Yun family mansion openly as a "female teacher," and openly taught her daughter how to scheme and plot.

It seems that Yunxiu's title of "the most beautiful woman in the capital" is mostly the result of Liu's behind-the-scenes hype.

Such deep scheming.

In her previous life, Yunxiu was able to smoothly rise to the position of empress, and Liu Zhixue must have played a significant role in that.

However, that mother and daughter were heartless and cruel. As soon as they ascended to a high position, they were eager to send the mother who raised the original owner and her maternal grandparents to hell. Their ruthlessness was truly outrageous.

Now that she's here, she'll never let this happen again.

"Xiaobai? What's wrong? Why is your face so pale?" Chen Mengyao touched her arm when she didn't speak for a while and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Yun Jin snapped out of her reverie and shook her head. "It's nothing, the tea was just too hot." She put the teacup back on the table and changed the subject, saying, "Judging from what you're saying, this Miss Yun is quite resourceful."

"That's right." Chen Mengyao didn't think much of it and pouted. "But I can't be bothered with her. Let's go for a walk in the garden. I'll show you the wintersweet that my grandmother planted. Although it hasn't bloomed yet, the branches are very beautiful."

The two got up and walked into the garden. Chen Mengyao pointed out the various scenic spots to her along the way. Yun Jin listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two, but in her heart she was planning her next move.

Just as they reached a covered walkway, they saw three teenagers walking briskly towards them. The one in the lead was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a tall and straight posture and a serious look in his eyes, just like Zheng Guodong. The one in the middle was thirteen or fourteen years old, with a smile always on his lips, and he looked clever. The youngest one was only a little over ten years old, hopping around and was the most lively.

"Sister Yao!" The three of them called out from afar, and when they saw Chen Mengyao, they all showed genuine smiles.

"Cousin, cousin!" Chen Mengyao smiled and greeted them, "You're done with school?"

"I heard you were back as soon as I got back, so I came to see you right away." Cousin Zheng Wenxuan's gaze fell on Yun Jin. Remembering his mother Wang's instructions, he politely cupped his hands and said, "This must be the young lady who saved my cousin, right? Thank you for your righteous help, young lady."

Second cousin Zheng Wenyao also smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Miss Xiaobai. My mother said you are exceptionally capable. If it weren't for you, Cousin Yao might not have made it back."

My younger cousin, Zheng Wenbin, was the most direct. He looked up at Yun Jin with his little face and said in a clear voice, "Sister, you're so beautiful! Even more beautiful than the fairies in the paintings!"

Chen Mengyao was amused by her younger brother and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You're so disrespectful." She then introduced Yun Jin, "This is my cousin Wenxuan from my eldest maternal uncle's family, and my cousins ​​Wenyao and Wenbin from my second maternal uncle's family."

Yun Jin smiled and nodded: "Greetings, gentlemen."