Nanny Lin suddenly snapped back to reality, her expression hesitant.
Madam Jiang grew genuinely curious.
Nanny Lin had been by her side since childhood, growing up together.
Though nominally master and servant, their bond was akin to sisters.
Now, she was actually keeping something from her?
"Can't you say?"
Madam Jiang tossed the handkerchief into the basin and walked toward the side hall, ready for breakfast.
Nanny Lin followed behind, her heart tangled in knots.
She didn't know if her suspicions were correct—what if she was wrong?
But what if… they were true?
"Madam…"
Nanny Lin raised her hand, dismissing everyone in the room.
At this hour, the eldest young lady was having her meal in her own courtyard and wouldn’t come over for half an hour.
"I wonder if Madam has noticed… the eldest young lady resembles Concubine Qiu…"
Madam Jiang felt as if she had been struck on the head, momentarily unable to react.
Nanny Lin continued, "On the other hand, the second young lady’s eyes and brows resemble Madam’s."
The latter part seemed to go unheard by Madam Jiang.
Her mind was now filled with the faces of Xue Mingfei and Concubine Qiu—similar yet not, dissimilar yet…
Suspicion gnawed relentlessly at her heart.
Thinking of Concubine Qiu’s attitude toward Xue Mingfei over all these years…
And her harsh treatment and disdain toward Xue Wanyi…
If the two children had been switched, everything would make sense.
As the mistress of the Xue family, she would never mistreat a concubine’s daughter.
Thus, Concubine Qiu’s words and actions now seemed utterly unreasonable.
The atmosphere in the dining hall grew tense, and Nanny Lin’s heart leaped into her throat.
Madam seemed…
Just then, Qingtan lifted the curtain and entered.
"Madam, the second young lady is here."
After a brief silence, Madam Jiang spoke, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Let her in."
**
Outside the courtyard.
Xue Wanyi stood quietly, her expression serene, like a maiden painted into the scene against the rain outside the corridor.
Beside her, Feicui kept her head slightly lowered, not daring to look around or move.
"Young lady, please."
Qingtan lifted the curtain for her, smiling as she invited her inside.
Xue Wanyi nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Sister Qingtan."
She stepped into the hall and, as was customary, made her way to the side hall.
Lifting her head, she met Madam Jiang’s gaze across the dining table.
She offered a gentle smile, then curtsied in greeting.
"Greetings, Mother!"
Just one glance, only that one glance.
Madam Jiang truly felt as if she were seeing her younger self.
The young girl’s eyes and brows were exactly like hers in her youth.
She didn’t understand why she had never noticed before.
Countless questions swirled in her heart, but none showed on her face.
"It’s raining outside—you didn’t have to come."
Madam Jiang looked at her with a complicated expression. "Have you had breakfast?"
Xue Wanyi nodded obediently. "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I’ve already eaten."
She then fell silent, stepping aside to wait quietly.
As Madam Jiang ate, her eyes occasionally drifted toward her.
Her heart was in turmoil, yet strangely clear.
In the past, Xue Wanyi had always hunched her shoulders and bowed her back in her presence—a lively young girl, yet lifeless and dull.
Perhaps that was why she had never noticed.
Since the imperial marriage was decided, she seemed to have changed…
Whether she had resigned herself to fate or felt emboldened by the backing of the Duke's Manor.
Now, her expression was gentle, no longer timid or shrinking, and she was much more pleasing to the eye.
This breakfast was not a pleasant one.
"Mother~"
Breakfast had just been cleared away when Xue Mingfei walked in with cheerful laughter.
Catching sight of Xue Wanyi, her smile faltered for a moment.
Then she smiled again, saying, "Second Sister, you’re here so early?"
Her expression carried a natural air of superiority.
Xue Wanyi returned the greeting with a faint smile, "Good morning, Elder Sister."
Her manners remained impeccable, without a single fault to be found, yet somehow Xue Mingfei found it irritating.
In her memory, her second sister had always been quiet and timid, even avoiding eye contact when they met.
Now, things were different.
Thinking about the reason for this change, Xue Mingfei suddenly felt displeased.
Did she think that by attaching herself to the Zhenguo Gong Mansion, she could stand on equal footing with her?
What a dream.
"Is Sister’s wedding dress all prepared?" she asked, raising the corner of her eye slightly. "Your wedding with the Duke of Zhenguo is approaching. If you don’t hurry with the preparations, you might delay the marriage. If His Majesty blames us then, our entire Xue family will suffer because of you."
Xue Wanyi took the opportunity to show weakness, her gaze dimming for a moment.
She curtsied gracefully to Madam Jiang, "Mother, I still have some matters to attend to in my room. I’ll take my leave now. Please forgive me."
Madam Jiang had her own concerns. She had never blamed Xue Wanyi before, and naturally, she wouldn’t say anything now.
Waving her hand gently, she said in a warm tone, "Go ahead. Your wedding dress will be prepared by the Imperial Clothing Bureau, but you should also make some preparations yourself."
"Yes!" Xue Wanyi replied, then looked up at Nanny Lin. "Nanny, may I ask for your advice on something?"
Nanny Lin glanced down at Madam Jiang before stepping forward with a smile.
"Second Miss, let’s talk as we walk."
Xue Wanyi curtsied to Madam Jiang once more and left Tinglan Courtyard with Nanny Lin.
Once outside the courtyard, she stopped.
Meeting Nanny Lin’s puzzled gaze, she said, "Nanny, I wonder if you could help me find an experienced midwife?"
Nanny Lin asked, "What does Miss need a midwife for?"
Xue Wanyi smiled, "Nanny should know that I’m on good terms with the Third Miss of the Qian family. She married two years ago and is now due to give birth. The Third Miss’s in-laws are unreliable, and her own family…"
Nanny Lin understood.
Minister Qian was her master’s superior, and the two families had a decent relationship.
The women of both families also interacted frequently.
That Third Miss Qian was also a concubine-born daughter, three years older than their own Second Miss.
In a flash of insight, a thought crossed Nanny Lin’s mind.
She replied calmly, "Second Miss, please return and wait for now. Once I find a reliable midwife, I’ll inform you."
Xue Wanyi smiled faintly and curtsied, not minding whether Nanny Lin was avoiding the topic.
"Thank you, Nanny. I’ll take my leave now."
Nanny Lin nodded with a smile, "Take care, Miss."
Watching the master and servant disappear into the misty rain under an oil-paper umbrella, her expression gradually turned serious. She then composed herself and returned to Tinglan Courtyard.
A midwife.
Nanny Lin thought of the midwife who had delivered Madam’s children.
Though over a decade had passed, she could still remember most of it.
The two young misses had been born one after the other, on the same day.
Naturally, the midwife had been the same.
Given this, finding an opportunity to manipulate things wouldn’t be difficult.
Seeing Xue Mingfei chatting and laughing, Nanny Lin quietly gave Madam Jiang a meaningful look.
Madam Jiang cleared her throat and smiled, "Alright, your wedding is approaching. Go back and prepare as well. Rest well and avoid going out too much."
Xue Mingfei pouted playfully at Madam Jiang before leaving with her personal maid.
Nanny Lin stepped forward, leaned close to Madam Jiang’s ear, and whispered a few words in a low voice.
Upon hearing the word "midwife," Madam Jiang's expression turned grave.
"Is the midwife who delivered me still alive? Or is she still in Jingdu?"
Nanny Lin shook her head. "I don't know yet. We'll need to have someone investigate."
It had been over ten years; she wasn't sure if they could still find any leads.
Madam Jiang gritted her teeth. "Go and investigate for me."