With so many people watching outside, appearances had to be maintained. Having just acknowledged this person’s identity, turning around and driving her away was definitely not an option.
Even if they wanted to expel her, they would have to wait until the Old Imperial Uncle’s illness could be treated.
“Go invite this… young lady into the residence,” Xie Jiling instructed the steward.
As soon as these words were spoken, Madam Meng’s face, which had been filled with anxiety and sorrow just moments before, hurriedly forced out a smile uglier than crying. She nodded vaguely and awkwardly toward the onlookers outside, then quickly beckoned her own servants forward.
Everyone began putting on an act.
Surrounded by a crowd of people, Songyin stepped into the Xie family estate.
Although none of it was sincere, Songyin knew that these were the blood relatives she had been fixated on for two lifetimes, so she accepted it as a matter of course.
Songyin wore a smile on her face, and her composed demeanor was completely different from the rest of the Xie family.
However, as soon as she entered the Xie residence and reached the main hall, Madam Meng dismissed all the servants, leaving only close relatives present.
“Speak, what exactly are your intentions? On one hand, poisoning my daughter, and on the other, impersonating my Xie family’s daughter to help Second Brother out of trouble—what is it about our Xie family that makes you go to such lengths!?” As the head of the household, Xie Heng was the first to ask.
He truly found the situation difficult to comprehend.
Was it all because of a quarrel between two girls that things had escalated to this point?
In the past, he had thought the nobility in the capital were lofty and unattainable, but now he realized that ordinary people like him, who had climbed up from humble beginnings, were not to be trifled with either.
“I came to the capital alone, with no backing. Yesterday, I offended Jiang Tan’er, who has the Seventh Prince behind her. If I still want to stay in the capital, I need to find a temporary shelter. The Xie family won’t lose out by having a daughter like me. Moreover… Marquis Xie, only by meeting and spending time with you frequently will you have the chance to judge whether your biological daughter is standing before you or died long ago,” Songyin said with a smile, appearing carefree.
She did not continue explaining, as without evidence, further explanations were useless.
Most importantly, the more she tried to prove her identity, the more suspicious she would seem.
“You… you… how could you possibly be my daughter!?” Xie Heng firmly refused to believe it.
Xie Jiling’s gaze remained fixed on her.
“If you want a backer, the Old Imperial Uncle is the best choice,” Xie Jiling said calmly.
Investigating her origins was meaningless because the Xie family had already made their stance clear to the public. Whether the person before them was genuine or not, she would have to stay with the Xie family for a while. Now, the key was to determine whether this person harbored ill intentions toward the Xie family and to prevent her from secretly harming the family…
“That’s true, but the Old Imperial Uncle favors Jiang Tan’er. As for me, the actual doctor treating his illness, he doesn’t hold me in high regard. If I want the Old Imperial Uncle to shift his attention to me, I first need to provide myself with an identity he cannot ignore,” Songyin stated honestly.
Jiang Tan’er was special.
Even the strict Old Imperial Uncle, who was severe with younger generations, held a particular fondness for this lively junior. He liked her so much that he didn’t mind her background or her unconventional behavior, trusting the doctors she recommended far more than usual.
Therefore, no matter what she did, the Old Imperial Uncle would default to attributing the credit to Jiang Tan’er.
She had to clearly and openly tie herself to the Xie family before she could truly draw a line between herself and Jiang Tan’er.
“What is your name?” Xie Jiling asked again.
“Songyin. You can call me Xie Songyin now.” Her expression was gentle, without a trace of hypocrisy or affectation.
There were some superficial reasons why she could play the role of a decent supporting character—she had a somewhat kind appearance.
As a healer, her appearance held no aggression. Her persona had always been broad-minded and generous, not overly glamorous or sharp-edged. She was gentle and smooth, without any rough edges, nor did she possess an uncomfortable level of enthusiasm, making it easy for others to trust her.
Xie Jiling felt somewhat suspicious and agitated inside. For some reason, this unfamiliar face made it difficult for him to feel any dislike.
His birth mother had passed away long ago, and he had long forgotten her appearance in his memory. He had only heard from his father that his mother was an ordinary and common woman, pretty in appearance, hardworking, and unfortunate in life.
Such a description was too vague, making the image even more blurred in his mind.
Not just him—even his father probably didn’t remember anymore.
In times of poverty, his parents had been hastily married through a matchmaker—a couple fated for hardship. His mother had lost her life just three or four years after the marriage. Now, sixteen or seventeen years had passed, and no matter how hard his father tried to look back, he could no longer see his mother’s face clearly.
“Despicable! Just to get close to us, she even changed her surname! Big brother, let’s lock her up. Since she wants to be part of our family, we’ll use the family rules on her. I don’t believe she won’t tell the truth!” Xie Jiyan gritted his teeth and quickly stepped forward with an idea.
Songyin was somewhat surprised.
Was this the foolishly malicious young man Jiang Tan’er had mentioned? His mind seemed quite sharp, didn’t it?
“That’s not a bad idea,” Songyin nodded. “He just doesn’t learn from his mistakes.”
Xie Jiling shot his younger brother a glare. Songyin was going to see the Old Imperial Uncle—how long could they lock her up? And besides…
Although it was unlikely, what if—what if she was genuine?
His second brother was not from the same mother, so naturally, he wouldn’t understand that a sister from the same mother held a different significance for him. He didn’t want to gamble; he needed to investigate further.
“Will you stay in the courtyard next to mine?” Xie Jiling arranged.
“Fine,” Songyin nodded. “I spent last night in an inn and I’m tired. Have someone take me there. Also… have the sturdy male servants in the household stand by. I need to go out this afternoon, and I want them to follow me. I have a use for them.”
“…” Xie Jiling fell silent for a moment.
This person truly wasn’t afraid of strangers at all—her face was quite thick-skinned.
Songyin knew that the whole family would surely gather to discuss countermeasures, so she didn’t linger to join the commotion. She gave them the opportunity to gather and brainstorm. After saying this, she left decisively. Once outside, she had the steward lead her to her own quarters.
Her composed demeanor left Xie Heng scratching his head in confusion.
“Father, does she look like Mother?” Xie Jiling still held a sliver of hope.
“…” Xie Heng’s face paled as he shook his head. “I can’t remember clearly… When I lived with your mother, our family was poor. Her face was often tanned from the sun. Later, our hometown suffered a drought, and we didn’t even have water to wash our faces. Every day, we were filthy, and everyone smelled… we barely looked human…”
The painful memories were too vivid, making it impossible to recall anything else.
Xie Jiling sighed helplessly. It was just as he expected.
Seeing Xie Jiling’s attitude, Xie Yingyue knew he had also begun to believe Songyin to some extent. She glanced outside the door to confirm Songyin was indeed not there before speaking, “Brother, I have something to tell you all.”