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

Although the old woman ran fast, Chu Wanqing recognized her clearly. She was the old woman brought by Liu Zhixue, surnamed Qi, and known as Granny Qi.

Her eyes darkened as she realized that almost all the servants in Liu Zhixue's courtyard were people she had brought with her.

Back then, when she wanted to arrange servants for Liu Zhixue, Yun Heting said not to let the master feel that we didn't trust her and arranged for someone to monitor her, so she didn't insist.

Only now do I realize that this is why she became blind and was kept in the dark for so long.

She suppressed her emotions and continued walking forward without making a sound.

Yun Jin stood at the door, looking up at the deep courtyard.

This is where she should have grown up, and also the home she was deprived of for fifteen years.

"Madam is back," the doorman greeted her solicitously.

Chu Wanqing nodded and led Yun Jin inside.

Just past the second gate, a young girl dressed in a pale yellow jacket came out to greet her, took Chu Wanqing's arm, and said affectionately, "Mother is finally back! Your daughter has been waiting all morning! How is Grandmother feeling?"

Chu Wanqing calmly withdrew her arm, her tone gentle: "Much better."

Yunxiu's gaze passed over Chu Wanqing and landed on Yun Jin behind her. Her smile faltered slightly as she felt that Yun Jin looked somewhat familiar.

"Mother, who is this...?"

Chu Wanqing said calmly, "This is your maternal grandmother's cousin, Bai Jin. She's the same age as you, but a little younger. You can just call her Sister Jin. Her parents are deceased, and she came to the capital to stay with relatives. Since there are no girls in your maternal grandmother's family, I brought her back to keep you company."

She then turned to Yun Jin: "This is your cousin Yunxiu."

Yunxiu looked Yunjin up and down, her smile returning. She stepped forward and warmly took Yunjin's hand, saying, "So it's Cousin Jin. I've been feeling lonely. It's wonderful that you can keep me company."

Yun Jin clearly saw the fleeting scrutiny in her eyes, and the -35% favorability rating floating above her head.

A cold laugh rippled through her, but she forced a sweet smile and said, "Hello, Cousin Yunxiu. I'm also very happy to be able to study with you in the future. My aunt told me that there's a particularly skilled female teacher in the manor; it would be wonderful to study with you, Cousin."

After speaking, she looked at Chu Wanqing, her eyes filled with just the right amount of expectation: "Auntie, can I learn from that Mr. Liu?"

Yunxiu was annoyed, but she smiled and said, "Of course it would be great, but Mr. Liu has high standards. If you can pass her test, she will definitely accept you." Although she said that, she secretly hoped that Yunjin would give up.

Chu Wanqing didn't know what Yun Jin was planning, but she cooperated and said, "Okay, Jin'er, I'll talk to Mr. Liu later. If he doesn't accept you, your aunt will find another tutor for you."

Yun Jin bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Aunt."

Yunxiu quickly changed the subject: "Mother, which courtyard will Jin-meimei stay in?"

Chu Wanqing said calmly, "Jin'er's stay is uncertain, so we won't arrange an extra courtyard for now. Let her stay with me in Qingshui Garden."

Yunxiu was delighted. Not arranging a courtyard meant she wouldn't be staying long. She smiled and said, "That's fine. Qingshui Garden is spacious, and it will be more lively for Sister Jin to live with Mother."

She affectionately took Yun Jin's arm, "Cousin Jin, I'll take you inside."

Chu Wanqing felt a pang of unease as she watched Yunxiu's retreating figure.

I used to think this child was kind, but now I realize she's full of scheming.

She asked, "Xiu'er, don't you have any homework today?"

Yunxiu turned around, pouting, and said, "Mr. Liu isn't feeling well, so he's taking the day off."

Chu Wanqing then asked, "Have you called a doctor?"

"The royal physician examined her and said she caught a chill from the wind and prescribed some medicine."

Chu Wanqing nodded, then asked, "Where is your father? Has he finished court?"

Yunxiu shook her head: "I don't think so, I didn't see him."

Chu Wanqing paused, instinctively wanting to head towards the west courtyard. But as soon as she moved, Yun Jin gently tugged at her sleeve.

She took a deep breath and continued walking towards Qingshui Garden, instructing as she went, "Qinghe, have all the stewards come to my courtyard; I need to settle the accounts. Bitao, prepare the east wing room in my courtyard for Miss Biao to stay in."

Yun Jin followed Chu Wanqing back to the main courtyard.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was kept clean and elegant.

There are three main rooms, two east and two west wing rooms, and flowers and plants planted in the courtyard.

Bitao was quick and efficient; she had already led people to move things to the east wing.

Yun Jin didn't bring Chunxi with her this time. Although that girl is clever, she's a bit naive, so it's best not to let her get involved in the mess in the Yun family for now.

As for the Tingzhu that Chen Mengyao wanted to give her, she politely declined. Bringing a maid from the Grand Tutor's Mansion into the Yun Mansion would be difficult to explain her origins, and she was also afraid that people would misunderstand that the Grand Tutor's Mansion had planted spies in the Yun Mansion, which would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.

Chu Wanqing sat on a chair in the main room of the house. Yunxiu pulled Yunjin to sit down beside her and said, feigning jealousy, "Cousin Jin, I'm jealous of how good Mother is to you."

Chu Wanqing found her increasingly hypocritical: "Xiu'er, stop fooling around. How long has your cousin Jin been staying? Why are you still holding a grudge?"

She changed the subject, "Isn't Mr. Liu ill? Go and check on my mother. If she's seriously ill, let me know and I'll have someone go and fetch a doctor for her."

Yunxiu twisted her body and reluctantly got up: "Alright, I'll go see for Mother."

She was also planning to go to the west courtyard to talk to Liu Zhixue about this suddenly appearing "Bai Jin," as her mother seemed to care about her a lot.

She glanced in Yun Jin's direction before heading to the west courtyard with her maid.

Chu Wanqing watched her departing figure, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Before long, the stewardesses from various places arrived one after another with their account books.

Chu Wanqing sat at the head of the table, flipping through the accounts page by page, occasionally asking a few questions.

Yun Jin sat quietly to the side, her gaze slowly sweeping over the group of stewardesses.

An old woman wearing a dark brown vest had -15% floating above her head. Yun Jin glanced at her a few more times, memorizing her appearance: round face, upturned eyebrows, and a mole at the corner of her mouth.

Another tall, thin woman, -20%.

There's another one with downcast eyes, -10%.

After scanning around, I found four or five people who were hostile towards me.

Yun Jin memorized each of them, but remained expressionless, simply sitting quietly.

After Chu Wanqing finished flipping through the last account book, she closed it and said to everyone, "This is my cousin from my maternal family. Her surname is Bai and her given name is Jin. She's coming to stay at our residence for a while. Please be polite to her when you see her in the future and don't neglect her."

All the stewardesses responded in unison, their eyes turning to Yun Jin.

Yun Jin nodded slightly, her expression calm, letting them scrutinize her.

After everyone had left, Chu Wanqing rubbed her temples, feeling extremely tired.

Yun Jin thought for a moment, then asked softly, "Mother, will the household's entertainment still depend on your dowry money?"

Chu Wanqing said with a headache, "After all, I am the mistress of the house. The servants' monthly stipends, the household expenses—what don't I have to worry about? What else can we do without extra money?"

"You don't have to pay," Yun Jin said. "Doesn't he get a salary?"

Chu Wanqing seemed thoughtful. After a long while, she sighed and said, "You're right. I can't put any more on." After a pause, she asked again, "By the way, among those people just now, there were a few who seemed off. Mother, keep an eye on them, especially the one wearing the dark brown vest with the mole on the corner of her mouth."

Chu Wanqing's expression hardened, and she asked in surprise, "How did you figure that out?"