Jiang Shian's eyes darkened at these words, sensing that there must be something amiss between Jiang Heng and Yun Zhao.
Pretending not to notice, he tried to smooth things over: "Heng'er has always doted on his younger siblings. Once Ah Zhao returns to the manor, you'll see—everyone there will treasure you like a pearl."
The Princess Royal, however, let out a cold snort. Her gaze softening with concern, she beckoned Yun Zhao over. "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 godmother!"
Yun Zhao seized the opportunity to look at Jiang Wanxin, who had remained silent all along. "But I can see that Sister Xin'er doesn't seem too pleased to have me home."
Everyone present knew that Jiang Wanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, was refined and virtuous, her every word and deed impeccable—the very model of a noble lady.
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 knitted tightly, a barely perceptible note of warning creeping into his voice: "Ah Zhao."
The address came out somewhat stiffly as he attempted to correct her: "Xin'er is your elder sister. You should call her 'elder sister.'"
Yun Zhao blinked her bright eyes in surprise, as if she had heard something utterly bizarre: "But Father just said we are twins, did he not?"
She then turned to the Princess Royal, who had been watching her with affectionate regard: "I heard my godmother say earlier that the Empress Dowager personally bestowed a jade pendant back then, declaring it a gift for Mother's first daughter. Since this pendant is on me—"
Her fingertips brushed the smooth, warm jade, her tone gentle and soft, yet yielding not an inch: "Then naturally, I am the elder sister."
Jiang Heng moved to retort urgently, and Jiang Wanxin also snapped out of her indignation and panic, about to voice her grievances—
"Enough." The Princess Royal spoke, brooking no dissent. "Zhao'er spent sixteen years adrift outside, enduring countless hardships. Now that she has returned safely, she is by all rights the legitimate eldest 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 to reside at the Princess Manor."
The Princess Royal's words settled the matter.
The words "legitimate eldest 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 affection, her celebrated reputation in the capital, and even the perfect marriage prospect pointing toward the Eastern Palace…
All of it could be snatched away at any moment by this sudden "elder sister"!
Her blood surged and bile rose in her throat. With a soft moan, she fainted dead away.
"Xin'er!" Jiang Heng's expression changed drastically. He rushed forward and gathered her into his arms, then looked up and called urgently, "Imperial physicians! Summon the imperial physicians to examine my sister!"
The two imperial physicians nearby heard the call but did not act immediately. Instead, they instinctively glanced toward the Crown Prince to gauge his reaction.
Yun Zhao stepped forward, her fingertips just about to rest on Jiang Wanxin's pulse when Jiang Heng shoved her away with a forceful push.
Yun Zhao stumbled back a few steps, feigning the motion: "Brother?" She looked bewildered. "I am also a physician, and as a woman myself, would it not be more appropriate for me to examine our 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 Orchid Terrace Young Master's hostility toward this newly recognized sister seems rather excessive."
"Though he dotes on Miss Wanxin, he shouldn't be so blatantly partial!"
"That's right, Miss Yun is the one who was cast out and suffered so much! How is it that he shows her not a shred of pity?"
Jiang Heng's expression grew even darker, but to bow his head and admit fault to Yun Zhao before the crowd—that was utterly out of the question!
Jiang Shian's face sank as he rebuked, "Heng'er, mind your manners." He then turned to Yun Zhao, "A-Zhao, your elder brother was merely anxious in the moment. You are siblings born of the same mother—a small misunderstanding is nothing to hold against each other."
Yun Zhao complied readily: "Daughter understands."
Yet in her heart was a cold, mocking chill: Jiang Shian kept emphasizing that the three siblings shared the same mother—was he afraid she might grow suspicious?
Now, she was rather curious about Jiang Wanxin's origins.
It was likely far more complicated than simply being an adopted daughter.
Yun Zhao stepped forward again, her fingertips lightly resting on Jiang Wanxin's wrist.
The very Jiang Wanxin who had been "unconscious" just moments ago let out a soft moan, her lashes trembling as she slowly came to.
Her face pale, she asked in a voice as faint as a wisp of smoke: "I… what happened to me?"
Yun Zhao let out a sudden "pfft" of laughter.
Instantly, all eyes turned to her.
Yun Zhao suppressed her amusement, a knowing glimmer dancing in her eyes: "Sister is fine now, isn't she?"
Jiang Wanxin's face turned extremely ugly in an instant.
She had rushed to "wake up" precisely because she feared Yun Zhao might say something unfavorable about her during the pulse examination.
Who would have thought—she hadn't had time to say anything, but that single stifled laugh had already been enough to stir speculation among everyone present.
She stole a glance upward and saw that His Highness the Crown Prince was gazing thoughtfully, his expression unreadable—whether pleased or displeased, she could not tell.
But the looks from many of the ladies and elderly madams around her had already shifted to one of understanding and contempt—
The men present might not see through it, but as fellow women, they had witnessed plenty of such tricks in the inner quarters: feigning fainting, playing the victim, vying for favor!
They might have been momentarily taken in by her delicate fragility, but Yun Zhao's laugh just now had been like piercing through the last layer of 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."
Amid 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, having her stand beside her—an unspoken display of protection and closeness that everyone present could clearly see.
Even more striking was that Prince Qin, Xiao Qi, who was known for his impatience at banquets and habit of leaving early, was still seated calmly in his place.
His fingertips idly traced the rim of his wine cup, but his deep gaze crossed over the crowd, fixed firmly on Yun Zhao.
Below the steps, Jiang Wanxin—once the center of attention—now stood alone, her face deathly pale, her figure swaying as if about to collapse, every bit the picture of pitiable fragility.
Just as she seemed on the verge of crumpling, the Crown Prince stepped forward in time, reaching out to steadily support her arm.
"Be careful." The Crown Prince's voice was warm and gentle, his bearing refined.
From her 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, precisely sweeping over the jade pendant clutched in her hand.
The Crown Prince knew about the jade pendant too?
And did he know that Jiang Wanxin, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites he was so determined to marry, was in truth merely an adopted daughter of unknown origins?