"Sure enough, Auntie loves me the most," Yun Qianying beamed with joy, hugging Zhang Huan's arm and acting coquettishly. "Once I successfully marry into the Shen family, I'll immediately cooperate with Auntie to deal with the Yun family. I'll present all the best things to Auntie..."
Forcing a fake smile, Zhang Huan complimented Yun Qianying a few times to play along.
These two people with their own ulterior motives had no idea what awaited them in the future...
The next day—
Yun Xi felt much better. All those uncomfortable symptoms had disappeared completely, as if yesterday had just been a dream.
Liu Jingyue, her son, and Yi Yuan checked countless times to confirm that Yun Xi was fine. Then, the group set off in grand style towards Leifeng Villa.
At that time, the people who had been trapped in the villa for a day, suspecting each other but achieving nothing, were extremely impatient and full of grievances. When they saw Yi Yuan supporting Yun Xi strutting in, the first to third branches of the Liu family, the head of the Ren family who had been implicated the day before, and several junior members with official positions all stepped forward to greet them.
With long faces, they took turns to explain that they had really had nothing to do with what had happened the day before. They had investigated all night but couldn't find the culprit at all. Some of them with official positions needed to go to court but hadn't asked for leave from Emperor Zhaohuan. Missing court without permission was indeed disrespectful.
Only Liu Cong from the first branch greeted Liu Jingyue and carefully inquired about Yun Xi's condition, showing concern for her health.
Yi Yuan's cold eyes softened slightly. It seemed that only siblings of the same mother truly cared about each other.
After what had happened the day before, almost everyone knew that Yun Xi was a young lady of the Yun family.
Although people still didn't understand why this was the case, both Liu Jingyue and Yun Qi had acknowledged this identity.
It was okay for the Ren family, but the other two were elders. They didn't even have the basic courtesy, which was really disheartening.
Yi Yuan only nodded to Liu Cong from the first branch and ignored the others.
He calmly ordered Mian Xiao to clear out the irrelevant people, leaving only the heads of the first to third branches of the Liu family. Then, as naturally as if he were at home, he took Yun Xi's hand and walked towards the backyard with Liu Jingyue.
A maid had already gone to the backyard to inform the female relatives of the situation in the front.
Liu Mengxian had been worried about Yun Xi. When she heard that Yun Xi was okay and was coming over, she was very happy. She also had many questions to ask, so she waited by the courtyard gate early, waiting for Yun Xi to arrive.
Only Yun Qianying and Zhang Huan both had a bad feeling.
"Xiao Xi," as soon as Yun Xi showed up, Liu Mengxian stepped forward, asking with concern, "How's your health? Do you still feel unwell? Your complexion yesterday was so bad that all the doctors said there was nothing they could do. It really scared me to death."
As she was speaking, the ladies in the room also came out after hearing the voices. They all put on fake smiles and stepped forward to express their concern, trying their best to prove that they cared about Yun Xi and had no suspicion of harming her.
Yun Qianying also came over, patting her chest with an air of relief. Looking innocent and cute, she said, "That's great, Sister Xi. I'm relieved to see that you're okay."
"You don't know. I was so worried last night that I couldn't sleep well."
Yun Xi didn't even spare a glance at Yun Qianying. She simply ignored her words and only answered Liu Mengxian with a sincere smile. Then she told Ling Yan to start clearing out the people.
After all, this matter involved her own secrets. Before she understood the truth of that year, the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
But Yun Qianying seemed to have suffered a great injustice. Her eyes welled up with tears as she pulled Liu Jingyue and started to act: "Mother, why doesn't Sister ignore me?"
"Hasn't she forgiven me for my previous immaturity? I... I can apologize to Sister again. As long as Sister doesn't blame me."
But Liu Jingyue was already suspicious and no longer believed everything Yun Qianying said as before.
Facing Yun Qianying's little trick of retreating in order to advance, thinking that after all, she was the child she had raised, Liu Jingyue only smiled and defended Yun Xi a few times without taking her side.
Yun Qianying's dissatisfaction grew, but she didn't dare to show it on her face. She had to endure it secretly and wait and see.
Ling Yan quickly cleared out the irrelevant people. The group walked into the room. Liu Mengxian couldn't hold back any longer. As soon as she sat down, she asked, "Xiao Xi, you came here so urgently today. Have you found out who the mastermind is?"
Smiling at Liu Mengxian, Yun Xi didn't answer in a hurry. Instead, she slowly raised her hand, picked up the teacup beside her, and took a sip. Then she said, "Let's not talk about this for now. I came here today to talk about another thing."
"After what happened yesterday, I think everyone is very confused about why I'm Brother Yun Qi's younger sister. Originally, we planned to hold a banquet to make it public after Father came back. But since it has already been said, there's no need to hide it anymore."
"Actually, this matter dates back to fourteen years ago..."
Yun Xi briefly told a half - true and half - false version of what the eminent monk Qingyi had said and how the Yun family had secretly sent her away. She picked up the teacup again, poured a cup of tea, and walked step by step towards Zhang Huan, whose eyes were already a bit evasive. With a smile that didn't reach her eyes, she said, "... So, I didn't recognize my mother until now."
"And back then, the person who abducted me was Nanny Xi, who worked under Third Auntie. Third Auntie..."
Yun Xi pushed the warm tea in front of Zhang Huan, smiling even more coldly. "Why did you harm me?"
"Who is that mysterious person? Did you or he put that thing on me?"
The room fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared at Zhang Huan in great shock, their eyes wide open.
Zhang Huan never expected that Yun Xi would already know so many past events. Her mouth slightly opened, and she felt as if the heavy air was making it hard for her to breathe.
"Chuckle—" Zhang Huan suddenly laughed. With a clear look in her eyes, she took the tea that Yun Xi had offered generously and said, "What are you talking nonsense about, child? Nanny Xi was driven out by me a few years ago for making a mistake. Everyone in the Liu family knows this. How come I, the one who found out her bad character and drove her away, am the one taking the blame just because she did something wrong and foolish?"
"Yes," Mrs. Liu from the second branch, who couldn't believe it at all, helped to speak up. "At that time, Third Sister - in - law still had deep feelings for her because of their master - servant relationship. I helped to send her away. Moreover, Third Sister - in - law is on the best of terms with Jingyue. For no reason, why would she harm you?"
"That's right," Yun Xi, who had already approached Zhang Huan, quietly withdrew her hand. She turned to look at Mrs. Liu from the second branch and then turned back to stare closely at Zhang Huan. Her eyes were as bright as stars. "Third Auntie, what kind of deep hatred do you have against my mother or the Yun family? To the extent that you would even harm a young child like me."
Zhang Huan's heart tightened. She lowered her eyelids to hide the flash of hatred in her eyes, but still insisted, "I've already said it wasn't me who gave the order. Why don't you believe me, child?"
Then she turned to Liu Jingyue and said sincerely, "A Yue, don't you know what kind of person I am? If necessary, you can find Nanny Xi. I'm willing to confront her in court just to prove my innocence."
But Yun Xi clearly heard the bone - chilling hatred in her heart—
[What hatred? It's because of you, this little curse, that my son died! How dare you even ask me what hatred!]