Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

That day, Madam Wen was home alone when Butler Wen came in.

"Madam, your distant cousin, Madam Gao, has come with a woman to request an audience."

When Butler Wen mentioned this woman, he gave Madam Wen a strange look.

"That woman looks very much like you, Madam."

Madam Wen put down her teacup, her face full of surprise: "Resembles me? That's strange. Quickly, invite them in."

Before long, Butler Wen led the two inside. Madam Gao, dressed in a royal blue brocade dress, quickly stepped forward and curtsied.

"Cousin, it's been so long! You look even more radiant than before!"

Madam Wen quickly got up to help her up, her gaze falling directly on the woman beside Madam Gao, and her breath caught in her throat.

The woman was dressed in a persimmon-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and draped with a moon-white silk shawl. Her curved eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to seven-tenths of his own when he was young.

Especially the faint beauty mark at the corner of the eye, almost identical.

Madam Wen paused for a moment before asking softly, "Cousin, who is this young lady?"

Madam Gao smiled and said, "I just happened to run into her at the city gate today! I was shocked when I saw her. She looks so much like you when you were young, cousin! I asked her and learned that her name is Liu Qingqing. She is from Jiangnan. After her parents died, she went to live with relatives. But her relatives moved away, and she is now all alone."

As she spoke, she glanced at Madam Wen and added, "You know I'm the kindest person I can be. I invited her for a cup of tea, and after chatting, I learned that her mother gave birth to her in our hometown, also on the Lantern Festival."

Madam Wen exclaimed in surprise, her gaze lingering on Liu Qingqing's face, a strange warmth rising in her heart.

"I remember it was the Lantern Festival. I was out on the street when I suddenly got caught in a crowd, which startled me and I gave birth to Shu'er at a clinic."

Liu Qingqing also looked at Madam Wen in surprise.

"My daughter heard from my mother that when she gave birth to me, it was also during the Lantern Festival. She was trying to avoid the crowds at the local clinic when another lady was about to give birth. I heard that she was also having a daughter."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wen was even more shocked. "What a coincidence!"

Mrs. Gao, who was standing to the side, rolled her eyes, looking surprised.

"Such a coincidence is truly rare, especially since this Miss Liu looks so much like you, cousin. Could it be...?"

Madam Wen gave her a displeased look. "What do you mean by that, cousin?"

Seeing this, Madam Gao put on an act as if she was doing it for her own good.

"Cousin, look, they were both born at the same clinic that day. It wouldn't be surprising if they accidentally made a mistake."

"That's impossible!" Madam Wen's tone suddenly became more serious, and her face darkened. "When Shu'er was born..."

She paused abruptly as she spoke, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the handkerchief.

After the child was born, she only glanced at him and remembered a red mole on his shoulder before falling into a deep sleep.

Later, when she regained consciousness, she realized that the baby the wet nurse brought did not have a red birthmark on its shoulder. She assumed that she had misread it while she was in a daze and did not ask any further questions.

At this moment, when Madam Gao mentioned it, a trace of doubt surged in her heart, and her fingers clenched the brocade handkerchief until it wrinkled.

At this moment, Granny Lin spoke with suspicion and uncertainty: "Madam, this old servant just remembered that there were too many people in the clinic back then. When you gave birth, you were in the same room as a woman, and that woman also gave birth to a girl. Could it be that...?"

Seeing this, Madam Gao spoke up again, "Cousin, I didn't mean to cause trouble, but this matter is too strange! Think about it, born on the same day, from the same clinic, and Miss Liu looks so much like you. What if the wet nurse really made a mistake in the panic and mixed up the babies? Wouldn't that harm your own flesh and blood?"

"Delaying your own flesh and blood?" Liu Qingqing frowned, looking at her with a puzzled expression. "Madam, are you saying I am this lady's child?"

Seeing Madam Gao nod, she shook her head violently.

"How could this be? I grew up in Jiangnan, and my parents treated me like a precious jewel. How could I be Madam Wen's daughter? There must be some mistake."

Looking at her like this, and recalling how sensible and considerate Liu Yunshu had been since childhood, Madam Wen felt both confused and bitter, and the doubts that had surged up just now were somewhat suppressed.

She said in a deep voice, "Cousin, stop talking nonsense. It may have just been a coincidence back then, but I raised Shu'er myself, there's no way I could have made a mistake."

Madam Gao, however, refused to give up and advised, "Cousin, you can't be so sure! What if you were really switched at birth when you were unconscious? Why don't we... find a way to verify?"

"Test? How do we test?" Madam Wen frowned. "It's been so many years, there's no need to test anymore."

Liu Qingqing chimed in, "Yes, it must be a misunderstanding. Since our relatives in the capital have moved away, I will return to Jiangnan."

He curtsied to them and then prepared to turn and leave.

"Wait a moment, young lady!" Madam Gao quickly stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder.

Oh dear! Why isn't this going according to the storybook?! It's all messed up!

Liu Qingqing frowned in displeasure. "Madam, I was grateful for your kind heart and the kind words you spoke to me. But how can such a family reunion be done so hastily?"

Liu Qingqing pulled her hand away, inwardly grumbling: I already said no, no! Why are you still so persistent! You're just worrying for no reason!

Madam Gao, however, refused to budge, and looked at Madam Wen again: "Cousin, look how honest this child is! That's precisely why we must verify it! Otherwise, how can you feel at ease thinking about this later? In my opinion, it would be better to let Granny Lin check Miss Liu's shoulder. You said that Shu'er had a red birthmark on her shoulder when she was born. If Miss Liu has one..."

"No need!" Madam Wen interrupted her abruptly, her face already grim. "I've already said, Shu'er is my daughter, and this matter should not be mentioned again."

Although she had her doubts, Liu Yunshu's companionship over the past ten years was etched into her very bones, how could she allow others to question her so easily?

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door, and Liu Yunshu ran in, swinging her wrist, her bells jingling.

"Mother, I'm back! Oh, Aunt Gao is here too? And this young lady is...?"

This real heiress really does look a lot like her mother!

Upon seeing Liu Yunshu, Liu Qingqing's eyes lit up immediately, and she politely curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Miss."

He secretly admired her: What a beautiful girl!

When Madam Gao saw Liu Yunshu return, her eyes lit up and she quickly pulled her over.

"Shu'er, you're back just in time! Your auntie is asking if you have a red mole on your shoulder?"

Liu Yunshu was taken aback and subconsciously shook her head: "No, I've never had a red mole on my shoulder."

Mrs. Gao's eyes lit up. Oh my, this is just like a storybook coming to life!

She pulled Liu Qingqing over and led her to Madam Wen: "Miss Liu, quickly let Granny Lin take a look at your shoulder! If there's a red birthmark, then you're your cousin's own flesh and blood!"

Liu Qingqing instinctively backed away, her brows furrowed: "Madam, I've already said it's impossible..."

"Why can't it be?" Madam Gao persisted, impatiently taking action. She was determined to satisfy her curiosity today!

Before Liu Qingqing could react, she had already reached out and lifted the collar of Liu Qingqing's ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

All eyes turned to her, and there stood a small red mole on Liu Qingqing's shoulder, which was particularly noticeable against her fair skin.

Startled, Liu Qingqing pulled her collar back and angrily shouted at Madam Gao, "You've gone too far! How can you be so rude!"

Madam Gao, having satisfied her gossip, paid no heed to Liu Qingqing's anger.

His eyes widened, and he grabbed Madam Wen's arm, shouting, "Cousin! Look! A red mole! There really is a red mole! What did I tell you? It must have been a mix-up back then!"

Madam Wen's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she stumbled, but fortunately, Granny Lin caught her in time.

"Mom, Auntie, what red birthmark? What do you mean by 'switched babies'?"

Madam Wen looked up at Liu Yunshu and saw her daughter, who had been pampered since childhood, standing there helplessly, her eyes filled with a cautious question.

Madam Wen felt a pang of pain in her heart. Her Yun Shu had always been poised, elegant, and dignified. When had she ever shown such a bewildered and helpless expression?

Madam Wen quickly walked to Liu Yunshu's side, pulled her tightly into her arms, and said in a trembling voice, "Shu'er, don't be afraid, Mother is here. All that talk about being switched at birth is nonsense!"

"Cousin, there's a red birthmark there, how can you be lying?"

Looking at the shocked Liu Qingqing, Madam Gao continued, "If Qingqing is truly your daughter, haven't your words hurt her deeply?"

Madam Wen subconsciously looked at Liu Qingqing, only to see her standing there, her face pale, her eyes full of confusion and helplessness.

Clutching her collar tightly, her earlier anger had vanished, leaving only a chaotic sense of panic from having everything disrupted.

"I...I'm not..." Liu Qingqing's lips trembled as she tried to say something, but she didn't know where to begin.

What exactly happened?!

Liu Yunshu looked up at Madam Wen, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Mother, is it really...like that?"

Madam Wen hugged her even tighter, but she just couldn't bring herself to say "no."

Just then, steady footsteps came from outside the door.

When Lord Wen and Wen Zhimiao returned from their shifts, they were met with a somber atmosphere as soon as they entered the hall.

When Madam Wen saw her husband return, her tense emotions finally relaxed a little, but her voice still trembled: "Master..."

Before she could finish speaking, her eyes welled up with tears.

Seeing his beloved wife's reddened eyes and unsteady gait, Lord Wen quickly stepped forward to support her arm and asked in a deep voice, "Madam, what's wrong? What happened?"

When Madam Gao saw Lord Wen return, she quickly recounted everything that had just happened.

Lord Wen's gaze swept over Liu Qingqing, then fell on Liu Yunshu, who looked bewildered in his arms. His brows furrowed tightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Don't talk nonsense! How can such an important matter be judged based on appearance and a red mole?"