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

Yun Jin gently tugged at Chu Wanqing's sleeve.

Now is not the time to break up.

It's more interesting to push someone up a tall building and then let them fall from it.

Chu Wanqing understood, suppressed her irritation, and resumed her calm demeanor. She said to Bitao, "Ask her if she's here to plead for Liu Zhixue. Let her go back."

Bitao responded and left.

A moment later, she returned, her expression somewhat subtle: "Madam, the eldest young lady says she has come to apologize."

Chu Wanqing was silent for a moment before saying, "Let her in."

Bitao went out, and soon the curtain was lifted, and Yunxiu followed her in with her head down.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw Chu Wanqing and Yun Jin eating.

She secretly glared at Yun Jin, then bit her lip in grievance, walked to the table, and whispered, "Mother, I haven't eaten either..."

Chu Wanqing didn't even look up. She picked up a piece of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar and ate it slowly, as if she hadn't heard her speak.

Yun Jin glanced at Bi Tao.

Bitao understood, turned and went out. A short while later she came back with a set of bowls and chopsticks, and ladled out a bowl of dumpling soup, which she placed in front of Yunxiu.

Yunxiu glanced at the bowl, frowned, pushed it forward, and looked at Chu Wanqing: "Mother..."

Chu Wanqing ignored her and instead smiled at Yun Jin, saying, "Jin'er, these side dishes are really good, and this white jade soup is delicious too."

Yun Jin smiled slightly: "If Auntie likes it, I'll make it again next time."

Chu Wanqing shook her head and said seriously, "Don't do it yourself next time. Just tell them what you want to eat, and give them your instructions."

Yun Jin nodded obediently: "Okay, Jin'er will listen to Auntie."

The two chatted back and forth, leaving Yunxiu standing aside as if she were invisible.

Yunxiu's smile vanished. She bit her lip and raised her voice, "Mother!"

Chu Wanqing then raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over them indifferently, her tone calm and unperturbed: "If you have something to say, then say it; if not, go back to your courtyard."

Yunxiu's tears welled up instantly, and she choked out, "Mother, are you really ignoring me? You...you don't love me anymore?"

"Snapped!"

Chu Wanqing slammed her chopsticks heavily on the table. The sound wasn't loud, but it startled Yunxiu so much that she trembled all over.

"How can I possibly pamper you?" Chu Wanqing stared at her, her gaze as cold as ice. "How can I pamper a daughter who advised me to let my husband take a concubine?"

Yunxiu opened her mouth, wanting to explain something, but was shut down by Chu Wanqing's next words.

"Yunxiu, I can honestly say I've never wronged you in my life. In terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities, have I ever shortchanged you?" Chu Wanqing's voice grew louder, each word like a knife. "I don't expect you to put me first in everything, but Zijuan, a mere servant, dared to covet your father and steal my million-dollar dowry, and you still advise me to be magnanimous and forgiving?"

She abruptly stood up, looking down at the cowering figure before her: "Tell me, how can I feel pain when you're like this?!"

Yunxiu turned pale with fright and knelt down with a thud. She crawled forward and grabbed Chu Wanqing's collar, looking up at her pitifully: "Mother, I'm sorry, I was wrong... I misunderstood just now. I didn't know Zijuan had made such a big mistake. If I had known, I would never have said those things even if you beat me to death..."

This was a reason she had thought about for a long time in her own yard. In the past, whenever she cried like this, her mother would always soften and would always hold her in her arms and comfort her.

She believes it will happen today too.

Chu Wanqing looked down at her, remained silent for a long time, and finally spoke, her voice indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Do you really know you were wrong?"

Yunxiu nodded frantically: "I really know I was wrong."

Chu Wanqing pulled her clothes back, sat down in the chair again, picked up her bowl, and said calmly as if nothing had happened: "Let's eat."

Yunxiu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter through her tears and nodded repeatedly.

She picked up the bowl of dumpling soup, carefully took a sip, and her eyes lit up immediately. This thing looked unremarkable, but she didn't expect it to be so delicious.

After finishing her meal, Yunxiu put down her bowl, looked cautiously at Chu Wanqing, and said with a forced smile, "Mother, may I sleep with you tonight?"

"How old are you? Go back to your own yard!" Chu Wanqing leaned back in her chair with her eyes closed, her face full of exhaustion.

Yunxiu wanted to say something more, but when she met Chu Wanqing's cold gaze, she ultimately didn't dare to speak again.

She stood up, and Yun Jin escorted her to the courtyard gate.

"Cousin," Yunxiu suddenly grabbed her hand and whispered, "Could you please persuade my mother not to send Mr. Liu away? Her knowledge is truly remarkable. If you were to become her student, the prominent families in the capital would definitely look up to you in the future."

She believed that Bai Jin had come to the capital to marry well, and she was sure she would listen to that.

Yun Jin nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll give it a try when Auntie is in a better mood."

Persuasion was futile. Liu Zhixue had to leave. She had already realized that it would be truly shameful if people found out she was learning from a mistress.

Moreover, she guessed that Liu Zhixue would never give up. In any case, she would cut off Liu Zhixue's path to becoming a teacher at Yunfu tomorrow.

She watched Yunxiu and her maid disappear into the night before turning back into her room.

As soon as she entered, Chu Wanqing asked, "What did she say to you?"

Yun Jin didn't hide anything and said truthfully, "Let me persuade you to keep Mr. Liu."

Chu Wanqing sneered, her eyes full of sarcasm: "See? This is the daughter I raised as my own. Her heart is still with someone else."

Yun Jin walked over, gently took her hand, and said nothing.

Chu Wanqing took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, and said to the door, "Qinghe, Bitao, Cuizhu, come in."

Three head maids entered in response and stood before him with their heads bowed.

Chu Wanqing looked at them, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "You should all have noticed that my feelings for Miss Biao are different. You are all the closest people to me, and there are some things that you should know."

She paused, then said, word by word, "Jin'er is my biological daughter."

Bitao already knew about it, but her expression remained unchanged.

Qinghe and Cuizhu suddenly raised their heads, their faces full of shock.

Chu Wanqing ignored their surprise and continued, "Liu Zhixue is Yun Heting's mistress. Yunxiu is their daughter. Fifteen years ago, Jin'er was switched at birth."

Qinghe and Cuizhu looked at Yunjin in shock. They had thought that this cousin only looked like the old lady, but they never expected that she was the real eldest daughter.

"You should understand now why I sent Liu Zhixue away today." Chu Wanqing's gaze swept across the three faces as she solemnly said, "From now on, Jin'er's words are my words. Whatever she says, you must do as she says."

The three of them said in unison, "Don't worry, Madam, we've got it."

Chu Wanqing nodded, then added, "Don't tell anyone about this for now. Only the few of you should know."

"Yes."

Chu Wanqing gave the group a few more instructions on what to do next before waving her hand and saying, "Alright, go ahead and follow the plan."