Yang Yuyao was now completely convinced.
No one could tell her Song Li wasn’t her biological daughter.
Besides, her husband had already told her that only blood relatives could hear Song Li’s inner thoughts. If Song Li wasn’t her real daughter, how could she hear them?
The two hugged for a long time.
It wasn’t until Yang Yuyao took out a jade bracelet and put it on Song Li’s wrist that Zhaodi finally broke down.
“Mother… sob…“
Hearing the voice, Yang Yuyao looked up.
She saw a young girl standing in front of her, tears streaming down her face.
The girl’s appearance looked very much like her own.
At a glance, Yang Yuyao recognized her as the girl her husband and older sister had mentioned in their letters.
“You… you are…” Yang Yuyao looked confused as she glanced at Song Li and Zhaodi.
Zhaodi slowly walked over and looked at her with tear-filled eyes.
“Mother… I am your daughter!”
Only then did Song Yannian cough lightly and step forward to explain.
“My dear, she really is our daughter. The one you were hugging just now is the maid Hailan brought home. You hugged the wrong person.”
Yang Yuyao froze for a moment.
Then she rushed over and grabbed Song Yannian by the ear.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner? You just stood there watching me embarrass myself?”
“Ouch! Ouch! Calm down, my dear! You were crying so hard that I didn’t have the heart to interrupt you. Besides, crying while hugging one girl or another is still crying. Once you finished crying, everything would be fine. Why worry about such small details?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? I hugged the wrong daughter, and you call that a small detail? I think you’re asking to be beaten!”
The husband and wife argued and chased each other all the way from the front gate to the backyard.
Zhaodi could only stand there quietly.
She had just arrived at the Song family.
She hadn’t received a single hug.
Not even one comforting word.
It made her feel deeply uneasy.
The perfect image of Yang Yuyao that she had imagined shattered into pieces.
This was ridiculous!
She had hugged the wrong girl without even asking any questions.
After finding out the truth, shouldn’t she have immediately hugged the real daughter and apologized?
Instead, she ran off chasing Song Yannian, leaving Zhaodi standing there alone.
Where were the manners of a noble family?
She had spent half a month learning proper etiquette.
Was this what she had been learning for?
At that moment, she began to question all the effort she had put in.
In the unfamiliar Song residence, the master and mistress had already disappeared.
Song Hailan and Song Li walked ahead together.
Song Haiming was busy giving instructions to the steward.
She was the newly found legitimate daughter of the Song family.
She should have been surrounded by love and attention.
Instead, she stood there all alone.
She panicked.
The only thing she felt was panic.
Unable to help herself, she hurried over and grabbed Song Haiming’s sleeve.
The man she had disliked so much had suddenly become her only lifeline.
Seeing her tearful expression, Song Haiming immediately understood.
Using a handkerchief held delicately between his fingers, he gently wiped away her tears.
“What’s wrong? Why is our little Zhaodi crying with happiness?”
Zhaodi: “…”
Speechless.
Which eye of yours thinks I’m crying because I’m happy?
If you don’t know how to speak, then don’t!
It felt like stepping into empty air.
Her heart sank once again.
As expected, she shouldn’t have hoped for anything from this strange man.
Still, she didn’t want to be alone.
If she stood by herself, everyone would think she wasn’t liked.
The servants would also judge her based on that.
Even if she held the title of the Song family’s legitimate daughter, life would become very difficult.
Suppressing her frustration, she smiled gently.
“Yes, Cousin. Mother and I look so much alike. I recognized her at first sight. My heart instantly felt full. I’ve never been happier.”
She wanted everyone to see that she was kind, generous, and most importantly…
She looked like her mother.
The steward beside them raised an eyebrow.
Cousin?
How could she call the eldest young master that?
Wasn’t she treating him like an outsider?
Even the maid recently accepted by the second young master knew how to address people properly.
Yet the second young miss did not.
He was just about to remind her.
But Song Haiming raised his hand to stop him.
“Cousin, don’t misunderstand Mother. She may have run off first, but she actually went to prepare a gift for you.”
“She already gave the gift she had prepared to Song Li, so she had nothing left for you. How could Mother bear to meet you empty-handed? That’s just how she is. She’s a bit like Hailan. She doesn’t always say what’s on her mind, but she’s always thinking about you.”
Hearing Song Haiming call Zhaodi “Cousin,” the steward finally understood.
It seemed the eldest young master also didn’t see this girl as his real younger sister.
Combined with the attitudes of the master and the second young master…
There had to be a reason that couldn’t be spoken aloud.
He wisely decided not to interfere.
Quietly, he left.
Zhaodi stood there, wanting to say something but holding back.
She wanted to say they could simply take the bracelet back from Song Li.
Why make things so complicated?
The bracelet was a beautiful emerald green, clear and flawless.
Anyone could tell it was an extremely valuable treasure.
Were they really going to let that lowly maid keep it?
Besides, a gift could be given at any time.
In the future, wouldn’t everything in the Song family belong to her to choose from?
What was the point of making such a big show of it now?
Ridiculous.
Ancient people really were stubborn and unreasonable.
“Mother is very thoughtful.”
She answered softly, though she was only pretending.
Song Haiming smiled but changed the subject.
As they walked, he introduced each courtyard.
“That’s Father’s study.”
“That’s my courtyard.”
“The one behind it belongs to Hailan…”
They chatted while walking.
It took nearly fifteen minutes before they reached the warm pavilion in the backyard.
Zhaodi couldn’t help sighing.
The Song residence was enormous!
The warm pavilion was where Yang Yuyao usually entertained female guests.
Hot spring water flowed beneath the floor, keeping it warm all year round.
Beautiful flowers and rare plants filled every corner.
Even though it was still early spring, colorful flowers bloomed everywhere.
Such a sight was rare.
Rich people really know how to indulge themselves, Zhaodi thought.
Walking along the flower path, they entered the reception hall.
The table was already covered with delicious food.
Many dishes were so unusual that even she, someone from the modern world, had never seen them before.
“Zhaodi! Come here!”
Yang Yuyao waved to her.
Zhaodi quickly hurried over.
“Mother!”
Tears immediately filled her eyes, making her look especially pitiful.
This time, Yang Yuyao had prepared herself mentally.
She finally pulled Zhaodi into her arms.
“My good child… You’ve suffered so much. It’s all Mother’s fault. I failed to protect you and made you endure so much hardship…”
At last, Zhaodi heard the comforting words she had been waiting for.
The anxiety in her heart slowly faded.
“It wasn’t your fault that I was lost, Mother. It was simply fate. Being able to return to you and Father proves that I’m still fortunate. I have no regrets anymore.”
Yang Yuyao held her hand and sat her down.
Then she handed her a jewelry box.
“I wasn’t sure what you would like. These are all pieces I’ve collected over the years because I thought they were beautiful. I saved them for you.”
Zhaodi’s expression immediately brightened.
Just as Song Haiming had said…
Yang Yuyao really had gone to prepare a gift for her.
“Thank you, Mother!”
The two held hands and talked warmly for a while.
Soon, the three men of the Song family arrived after changing clothes.
Song Li followed behind Song Hailan, serving him.
Seeing that, Zhaodi secretly felt delighted.
So what if she’s the real daughter?
Isn’t she still serving me?
After Song Yannian picked up his chopsticks, Zhaodi looked around and asked carefully,
“Where is Elder Sister?”
On the journey here, Song Haiming had already introduced the Song family members.
She had an older sister named Song Yihuan, who was thirteen years old.
Zhaodi didn’t mind.
She had heard that Song Yihuan was already engaged and would be married next year, so she wouldn’t be in the way.
Yang Yuyao gently patted her hand.
“Something happened at the military camp. She went there to handle it. If she returns early tonight, you may still meet her.”
“The military camp?”
Zhaodi’s voice instantly became sharp with surprise.
The military camp…
Military power…
Imperial power…
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
Even her heartbeat quickened.
“Your sister is nothing like you.”
Yang Yuyao smiled.
“You’re gentle, sweet, and considerate. You’re exactly the kind of good daughter I’ve always wanted.”
“But your sister…”
She waved her hand helplessly.
“She’s always playing with swords and spears, acting like a wild child. Luckily she was engaged from birth. Otherwise, no one would ever marry her!”
Zhaodi had been about to say that she also wanted to learn martial arts.
But after hearing that, she swallowed the words.
Not today.
I’ll make plans later.
“My sister is every bit as capable as any man. If someone wants to marry her, they first need courage!”
Unlike Yang Yuyao, Song Hailan spoke with pride.
Zhaodi couldn’t even be bothered to roll her eyes anymore.
Song Hailan clearly liked bold, heroic women.
Yet he kept demanding that she behave like a proper lady.
How ridiculous.
[Speaking of Elder Sister… it’s such a pity.]
[She was every bit as outstanding as any man, but in the end she became a victim of political struggles.]
[She never got the chance to fight on the battlefield.]
[She never married the man she was engaged to.]
[Instead, she was forced into the imperial palace as a consort.]
[She and her baby both died during childbirth.]
[A brilliant life ended far too soon.]