Upon hearing this, Jiang Shian’s gaze darkened, knowing full well that something was amiss between Jiang Heng and Yun Zhao.
He pretended not to notice and tried to smooth things over: “Heng’er has always doted on his younger siblings. Once A-Zhao returns to the manor, you’ll see—everyone in the household will treasure you like a pearl.”
But the Princess Royal let out a cold snort, and with a pained expression, beckoned Yun Zhao over, signaling her to come closer: “Zhao’er, don’t be afraid. If anyone in the Jiang family dares to treat you poorly, remember you can always come and tell your adoptive mother!”
Yun Zhao took the opportunity to glance at Jiang Wanxin, who had remained silent all along: “But I see that Xin’er doesn’t seem too welcoming of my return home!”
Everyone present knew well that Jiang Wanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, was refined and thoughtful in her words and deeds—a model of noble young ladies.
Yet since the recognition of kinship, she had been uncharacteristically silent. In an instant, all eyes fell upon Jiang Wanxin’s pale face.
Jiang Shian’s brows furrowed deeply, a hint of barely perceptible warning in his tone: “A-Zhao.”
He addressed her somewhat stiffly, attempting to correct her: “Xin’er is your elder sister. You should address her as ‘elder sister.'”
Yun Zhao widened her bright eyes in surprise, as if she had heard something utterly strange: “But Father just said we are twins, did you not?”
She then turned to look at the Princess Royal, who had been watching her with affectionate eyes: “I heard from my adoptive mother just now that the Empress Dowager personally bestowed a jade pendant back then, explicitly stating it was a gift for Mother’s first daughter. Since this pendant is on me—”
She gently traced her fingers over the smooth, warm jade, her tone soft and gentle, yet yielding not an inch: “Then naturally, I am the elder sister.”
Jiang Heng was eager to retort, and Jiang Wanxin also snapped back from her resentment and panic, about to voice her grievances—
“Enough.” The Princess Royal had already spoken, leaving no room for argument. “Zhao’er has been lost outside for sixteen years and has suffered greatly. Now that she has returned safely, she is naturally the rightful eldest legitimate daughter of the Jiang family.”
Her long eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Jiang Shian: “Lord Jiang, do not wrong the child. If I learn that you have treated Zhao’er with even the slightest neglect, I will personally bring her back to reside permanently at the Princess’s estate.”
The Princess Royal’s words settled the matter.
The words “eldest legitimate daughter” struck like a thunderclap, shattering the last shred of hope in Jiang Wanxin’s heart.
Everything she had painstakingly built over the years—
Her family’s exclusive favor, her reputation in the capital, and even the excellent marriage prospect pointing toward the Eastern Palace…
All of this could be completely taken away at any moment by this suddenly appearing “elder sister”!
Her blood surged, a sweet taste rising in her throat, and she fainted softly.
“Xin’er!” Jiang Heng’s expression changed drastically. He rushed forward, gathering her into his arms, and looked up urgently: “Imperial physicians! Quickly, summon the imperial physicians to examine my sister!”
The two imperial physicians nearby heard this but did not act immediately. Instead, they instinctively glanced at the Crown Prince’s expression first.
Yun Zhao stepped forward, her fingertips just about to touch Jiang Wanxin’s pulse when Jiang Heng shoved her away with a sudden, forceful push.
Yun Zhao staggered back a few steps with the momentum: “Elder brother?” She looked bewildered. “I am also a physician, and being a woman as well, would it not be more appropriate for me to examine my sister?”
When Jiang Heng caught the fleeting glint of mockery in Yun Zhao’s eyes, he suddenly realized—
His concern had clouded his judgment, and he had fallen into her trap once again!
Murmurs buzzed around them:
“The Gentleman of Lantai’s hostility toward this newly recognized sister is a bit too much.”
“Though he’s worried about Miss Wanxin, he shouldn’t be so partial!”
“Exactly. Miss Yun is the one who was lost outside and suffered so much! Why does he show her not a shred of pity?”
Jiang Heng’s expression grew even darker, but to bow his head and admit fault to Yun Zhao in public was absolutely out of the question!
Jiang Shian’s face darkened as he scolded: “Heng’er, do not be rude.” He then turned to Yun Zhao, “A-Zhao, your elder brother was merely anxious in the moment. You are all siblings born of the same mother—a small misunderstanding is nothing to hold against one another.”
Yun Zhao complied readily: “Daughter understands.”
But in her heart, there was nothing but cold, biting mockery: Jiang Shian kept emphasizing that the three siblings were born of the same mother—was he afraid she would grow suspicious?
Now, she was rather curious about Jiang Wanxin’s origins.
She suspected it was far more complicated than simply being an adopted daughter.
Yun Zhao stepped forward again, her fingertips lightly resting on Jiang Wanxin’s wrist.
The supposedly “unconscious” Jiang Wanxin let out a soft moan, her lashes fluttering as she slowly regained consciousness.
Her small face was pale, and she asked in a faint, breathless voice: “I… what happened to me?”
Yun Zhao let out a sudden “pfft” laugh.
Instantly, all eyes turned to her.
Yun Zhao barely suppressed her smile, her eyes shimmering with knowing amusement: “Isn’t my sister perfectly fine now?”
Jiang Wanxin’s expression turned extremely ugly in an instant.
She had hurried to “wake up” precisely because she feared Yun Zhao might say something unfavorable about her while taking her pulse.
Who would have thought—she hadn’t had the chance to say anything, but that single stifled laugh was already enough to set everyone present’s minds racing with speculation.
She quietly glanced up and saw the Crown Prince’s gaze slightly focused, unreadable as to whether he was pleased or displeased.
But the looks from many of the madams and old ladies around her had already turned knowing and contemptuous—
The men present might not see through it, but as fellow women, they had witnessed such tricks of feigning fainting, playing the victim, and vying for favor in the inner chambers far too many times!
A moment ago, they might still have been swayed by her delicate frailty, but that smile from Yun Zhao just now was like piercing through the last layer of window paper.
Jiang Wanxin felt as though all the dignity she had accumulated over sixteen years had been trampled under Yun Zhao’s feet, ground into the dust.
“Enough,” the Princess Royal spoke. “Zhao’er, come here.”
Under the varied gazes of the crowd, Yun Zhao walked with steady steps to the Princess Royal’s side.
The Princess Royal naturally took her hand and had her stand beside her—an unspoken display of protection and closeness that was unmistakable to everyone present.
What drew even more attention was that Prince Qin, Xiao Qi, who was known for his impatience with banquets and often left early, was still seated at his place.
His fingertips traced the wine cup idly, yet his deep, unfathomable gaze crossed over the crowd and locked firmly onto Yun Zhao.
Below the steps, Jiang Wanxin, who had once commanded all the spotlight, now stood alone with a pallid face, her figure swaying as if about to collapse, every bit the picture of pitiable fragility.
Just as she was on the verge of crumpling, the Crown Prince stepped forward in time and steadily caught her arm.
“Be careful,” the Crown Prince said, his voice warm and his bearing refined.
Standing at the elevated position, Yun Zhao took in the entire scene.
She saw it clearly—when the Crown Prince steadied Jiang Wanxin, his gaze subtly slipped past her shoulder and precisely swept over the jade pendant clutched in her hand.
The Crown Prince knew about this jade pendant too?
And did he know that Jiang Wanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion he was so determined to marry, was in fact merely an adopted daughter of unknown origins?