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

After exchanging pleasantries, the group found a room in the side room next door and went inside to sit down.

The maidservant quickly served tea and snacks, added a brazier, and the group sat around chatting.

The youngest, Zheng Wenbin, was the most anxious, tugging at Chen Mengyao's sleeve and shaking it incessantly: "Cousin, cousin, tell us about what happened on the road! Mom said you encountered many dangerous situations!"

Chen Mengyao couldn't refuse him, so she recounted some of her experiences on the road in detail.

From their humiliating escape from Guangping Prefecture to the perilous situation of being targeted by Liu Sanlaizi, and then to Yun Jin's swift intervention, the three Zheng brothers listened with a sigh.

"Uncle is so foolish! How can he treat his own daughter like that?" Zheng Wenyao frowned in anger. "And that stepmother, she's absolutely heartless!"

Zheng Wenxuan also said in a deep voice, "My cousin Yao'er must never go back to such a place again."

Yun Jin sat quietly to the side, and couldn't help but sigh that Chen Mengyao and the original owner of the body were truly in the same boat.

One is stuck with a biased, scumbag father and a vicious stepmother; the other encounters a father who favors his concubine over his wife and a scheming mistress—both are destined for misfortune.

I wonder what Chen Mengyao's fate would have been if she hadn't met me in her past life?

Just then, a maidservant from Madam Wang's side hurried over and replied with a smile, "The old lady has asked Miss Cousin, Miss Xiaobai, and a few other young masters to come for dinner."

Chen Mengyao immediately pulled Yun Jin to her feet: "Come on, I'll take you to meet your maternal grandfather and uncles. They are all very kind people and will definitely like you."

The three young masters also got up to accompany them, and the group walked towards the dining hall.

On the way, Chen Mengyao secretly asked Yun Jin, "What do you think of my cousin Wenxuan?"

Yun Jin was taken aback upon hearing this, and replied, "That's fine!"

Chen Mengyao turned to look at Zheng Wenxuan, then whispered in Yun Jin's ear, "Cousin Wenxuan is still unmarried. If you become my cousin's wife, even if your family doesn't acknowledge you, you'll have someone to protect you in the future."

Yun Jin spat at her angrily: "Nonsense! How could I be worthy of your cousin Wenxuan? I'm barely literate and vulgar. Don't say such things again."

Chen Mengyao covered her mouth and laughed, "You're shy!"

Yun Jin: ...Why are you so shy? Wenxuan is only a middle school student in modern times. I'm really not interested.

As they were talking, they arrived at Sandalwood Residence. When Old Madam Zheng and Madam Li saw Yun Jin, their eyes lit up.

"Oh my, Miss Bai looks even more beautiful in women's clothing!" Madam Li quickly stepped forward, took Yun Jin's hand and examined her closely, her eyes full of affection. "These eyebrows, these temperaments, they make you feel comfortable from the bottom of your heart."

Grandma Zheng nodded in agreement, her gaze lingering on Yun Jin's face for a long time. The more she looked, the more she felt that Yun Jin resembled Lan Ying when she was young, and her suspicions deepened. However, she warmly greeted them, "Please sit down, please sit down. We've been waiting for you."

As they were talking, Zheng Hong strode in. His gaze paused slightly when it fell on Yun Jin. Just as his wife had said, the girl's features and demeanor were almost identical to those of Chu Duanshan's wife, Lan Ying, when she was young.

He calmly sat down in the main seat and instructed Wang Shi, "Eldest daughter-in-law, go and tell the eldest and second sons to have dinner with Scholar Huang in the front yard and not to come over."

"Understood." Madam Wang responded and withdrew to make the arrangements.

Yun Jin glanced at the three Zheng brothers present, and Chen Mengyao leaned close to her ear and whispered, "My maternal grandparents' family never distinguishes between each other when eating; it's only lively when the whole family is together."

Yun Jin nodded, knowing in her heart that the Zheng family truly didn't treat her like an outsider.

When they sat down, Old Mrs. Zheng pulled Chen Mengyao to sit next to her, and then asked Yun Jin to sit next to Chen Mengyao. Next to them were her two aunts, Wang and Li, and below them were the three brothers, Zheng Wenxuan, Zheng Wenyao, and Zheng Wenbin. Zheng Hong sat in the main seat. The whole family sat around the table, and there was indeed a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Since Yun Jin came from modern times, she wasn't as restrained by the strict rules between men and women, so she sat down confidently and gracefully.

Zheng Hong observed this and nodded in approval. This girl acted with composure and had no pettiness whatsoever; she possessed the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family.

He exchanged a glance with his wife, and Mrs. Zheng nodded slightly, already having made up her mind.

The candlelight flickered in the dining room, illuminating the steaming dishes on the table.

Grandma Zheng kept putting food on Chen Mengyao's plate, and then called to Yun Jin, "Little Bai, try this braised fish slices. It's the chef's specialty."

Yun Jin thanked him and accepted the food. Just as she took a bite, Zheng Hong, seated at the head of the table, spoke, his gaze fixed on her with a hint of inquiry: "Miss Bai, I heard from Yao'er that you are skilled in archery and also know some martial arts? I wonder who you learned these skills from?"

The question didn't come out of nowhere, and Yun Jin was prepared. She put down her chopsticks and calmly replied, "When I was at my adoptive parents' house, I had the chance to become a disciple of a master and learned some rudimentary skills from him. They're nothing to mention. It was just a fluke that I was able to help Sister Mengyao this time."

Zheng Hong nodded and glanced at his wife.

Grandma Zheng then casually asked, "Little Bai, how are your adoptive parents treating you?"

Yun Jin paused slightly in her chopsticks, lowered her eyes, and remained silent for a long while. After a moment, she slowly spoke, her voice as soft as a sigh: "I am already very grateful that they raised me."

Grandma Zheng, being so perceptive, immediately understood that there must be some unspeakable reason behind this. She didn't press for details, but simply sighed, "You're a good child who knows how to be grateful."

Yun Jin: ...

Gratitude? Not at all. What her adoptive parents did for the original owner of this body was not something she deserved to be grateful for.

Chen Mengyao didn't understand the implication and was only focused on putting a piece of osmanthus cake on Yun Jin's plate: "Don't think about those things, try this, it's sweet but not cloying."

Yun Jin smiled at her, took the pastries, but knew in her heart that some things didn't need to be told to everyone.

She didn't intend to use her adoptive parents' harsh treatment of the original owner to gain sympathy from others; some things were best kept to herself.

After the meal, the maids cleared away the bowls and chopsticks and served plum juice to aid digestion.

Old Madam Zheng looked at Madam Wang and instructed, "Eldest daughter-in-law, tomorrow you take Yao'er and Miss Xiaobai to the streets for a stroll, buy them some clothes and jewelry, and some other useful items. Miss Xiaobai is new to the capital, so she must be lacking something."

Yun Jin quickly stood up and declined, "Madam, there's no need to trouble yourself. I have enough things with me, and I really wouldn't dare to trouble you any further."

"Oh, you child," Old Mrs. Zheng said, giving her a reproachful look. "You saved Yao'er's life, what are a few clothes? Do you think our Zheng family is such a stingy family?"

Madam Wang chimed in with a smile, "Miss Bai, please don't refuse. You should accept the old lady's kind offer."

Li also said, "That's right. As women, how can we lack dignity when we go out? Listen to me, have a good stroll tomorrow."

Having said all that, it would be too formal for Yun Jin to refuse any further.

She curtsied and said, "Then this junior thanks the old lady and my two aunts."

"That's more like it." Grandma Zheng smiled with satisfaction, then said to the three Zheng brothers, "You've all had a long day, go back and rest with your mother."

Wang and Li then each took their two sons and left, leaving only Old Madam Zheng, Zheng Hong, Chen Mengyao, and Yun Jin in the house.

Old Mrs. Zheng waved her hand, signaling the maids and servants guarding the room to leave.

The door was gently closed, shutting out the outside noise, and the atmosphere inside the room suddenly became somewhat heavy.

Chen Mengyao also sensed something was wrong and looked at her grandmother with a puzzled expression.

Grandma Zheng took a deep breath, her gaze falling on Yun Jin, her tone much more serious than before: "Young Miss Bai, this old woman has something I'd like to ask you, is that alright?"