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

Chu Wanqing left the general's mansion and paused slightly at the threshold.

She glanced back in the direction of her mother's courtyard, took a deep breath, and hoped that it was all just speculation.

"Madam, are we returning to the manor?" the maid Qinghe asked as she approached.

"Mm." Chu Wanqing nodded and helped Qinghe into the carriage.

The car moved slowly, and the carriage was quiet.

Chu Wanqing leaned against the car wall with her eyes closed, seemingly taking a nap, but her mind was in turmoil.

Lady Liu was her concubine. Yunxiu was her daughter.

These two sentences were like two knives, repeatedly stabbing at her heart.

fifteen years!

She loved Yunxiu for fifteen years!

They treated her like the apple of their eye, providing her with the finest food, clothing, and daily necessities, and granting her almost every request.

But in the end, it turned out to be someone else's child?

What about their own children?

The mother said that her child might suffer in someone else's home.

What my mother said is true?

The child she carried for ten months and gave birth to!

Yun Heting wouldn't do this to him. They were a young couple, and for his sake, they didn't have a single concubine in the household for many years after their marriage. How could he do this?

Chu Wanqing clenched her handkerchief tightly, unwilling to believe that what her mother said was true.

"Madam, we've arrived."

Qinghe's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

Chu Wanqing opened her eyes, her gaze now calm.

She got off the carriage and looked at the gate of the Yun residence. Suddenly, she felt that this gate, which she had entered for sixteen years, was as unfamiliar as a cage.

"Mother is back!"

Just as I entered the second gate, a clear voice rang out.

Yunxiu lifted her skirt and trotted over, her face showing just the right amount of worry. "Is Grandmother feeling any better? I was thinking of visiting her as soon as I finished my schoolwork, but I was afraid of causing her any trouble..."

As she spoke, she took Chu Wanqing's arm, looked up at her, and her eyes were full of affection.

In the past, Chu Wanqing would have felt heartwarming and would have patted her head and said, "Xiu'er is so sensible."

But today, looking at that face, she felt only an eyesore.

Those eyebrows, those expressions—how could they resemble me at all?

I used to think she resembled Yunheting, but upon closer inspection, she actually looks more like Liu Shi!

How come she never noticed before?

"Grandma is fine; the doctor said she just needs a few days of rest." Chu Wanqing calmly withdrew her arm, her tone gentle. "Have you finished your homework? Did Mr. Liu praise you?"

Yunxiu, oblivious to her unease, smiled and said, "You flatter me! The teacher said my poetry has improved again, and that I should attend more poetry gatherings to make more friends..."

She kept talking, and Chu Wanqing smiled, but her eyes were icy cold.

She used to think that Mr. Liu treated Yunxiu with all his heart because he cherished her talent, but now she was afraid that Yunxiu really was her and Yunheting's daughter.

What have I been all these years?

Also, does Yunxiu already know that she is not her biological mother?

After thinking for a moment, she took Yunxiu's hand and said, "Xiu'er, Mother wants to find you a different tutor..."

"No!" Yunxiu interrupted urgently as soon as the words left her mouth. She immediately realized her lapse in composure and hurriedly explained, "Mother, Mr. Liu has the talent of a top scholar. Father often says that if she were a man, we would never be able to invite her. Mother, please don't change her..."

"Your mother is just worried that Mr. Liu has been teaching you for so many years and might have run out of ideas. Since you like him, we won't change him. Just study with Mr. Liu properly." Chu Wanqing really didn't want to be insincere. "I'm a little tired. I'll go back to my room to rest. You can go about your business."

Yunxiu was taken aback, feeling that her mother seemed a bit cold today, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, so she could only obediently nod: "Then Mother, please rest well. I'll keep you company at dinner."

Chu Wanqing hummed in agreement and turned to walk towards the main courtyard.

A chill ran through him. Judging from Yunxiu's anxious expression just now, she probably already knew the truth, and he was the only one kept in the dark.

How ridiculous!

Chu Wanqing returned to her room and slowly scanned the room with her gaze.

Zijuan, Bitao, Qinghe, Cuizhu... these four head maids were all dowry maids she brought from the General's Mansion. They had been with her for more than ten years, so they should be the most trustworthy.

But the mother said that she must have had an inside accomplice to make the baby swap go smoothly back then.

who is it?

She closed her eyes and let Bitao remove her hairpins and jewelry, but her mind went through all the little things that had happened over the years.

Zijuan was steady and reliable, and was in charge of managing her treasury and money; she was extremely loyal.

Bitao was meticulous and attentive to her daily needs, never making a mistake.

Qinghe is clever and often runs errands, so she is the most well-informed.

Cuizhu was taciturn and only took care of needlework, rarely leaving the courtyard.

...They could all be suspects, yet none of them seem like suspects.

"Madam, where shall we set out dinner?" Bitao asked softly.

Chu Wanqing opened her eyes: "Let's stay inside. I'm tired today and don't want to move."

"Yes," Bitao replied and withdrew.

Before long, dinner was served.

Chu Wanqing glanced at the bland dishes on the table and asked, "Has Lang'er's meal been delivered?"

Bitao hurriedly replied, "It's been delivered, Madam. Don't worry, I'm personally overseeing the young master's affairs."

Chu Wanqing nodded, and just as she picked up her chopsticks, she heard an announcement from outside: "Master has arrived."

Her fingers tightened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, put down her chopsticks, and stood up.

Yun Heting lifted the curtain and entered, a smile on his face: "I heard your mother-in-law was ill? Is she feeling any better?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir. Mother has only caught a slight cold and will be fine after a few days of rest." Chu Wanqing went up to him and took off his outer robe, her movements as usual.

Yun Heting took her hand and said, "Don't overwork yourself. If your mother needs anything, just have someone take care of it."

Chu Wanqing lowered her eyes and said softly, "I know."

He held her hand; it was warm and dry, just like it had been fifteen years ago.

But at this moment, she felt that the temperature was like a venomous snake's tongue, licking her skin inch by inch.

"What's wrong? You don't look well?" Yun Heting noticed her unusual expression and asked with concern.

Chu Wanqing looked up and met his eyes—the eyes she had looked into for fifteen years, gentle, considerate, and affectionate.

She used to think it was love. Now she sees it clearly, it was nothing but a disguise.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired." She withdrew her hand, walked to the table, and sat down. "Has the master had dinner yet? Would you like to have some with me?"

Yun Heting sat down opposite her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he smiled and said, "Okay."

During the meal, the two chatted about everyday things as usual.

When Yun Heting asked about the General's Mansion, Chu Wanqing answered him in detail; when Chu Wanqing asked about the government office, Yun Heting also told her in detail.

On the surface, it was no different from countless nights over the past fifteen years.

Only Chu Wanqing knew that every word and every smile was like dancing on a knife's edge.

She tried her best to pretend she knew nothing, as usual, but she suppressed the urge to vomit.

After the meal, Yunheting went to his study as usual.

As he was leaving, he paused at the door and glanced back at Chu Wanqing.

That glance was so fast that Chu Wanqing almost thought she had misread it.

But she clearly saw it—the fleeting scrutiny in his eyes.

Her heart sank.

He's doubting himself!