The damp breeze of early spring drifted through Baining Town, carrying a lingering chill in the air.
The usually quiet streets were unusually lively today, packed shoulder to shoulder with people.
Following the flow of the crowd, it was easy to see that everyone was heading toward the same place—the largest residence in Baining Town, Bai Manor, an estate bestowed upon the Bai family by the late emperor.
Today was the wedding day of Bai Jiran, the daughter of Bai Manor.
The head of the Bai family, Bai Zhongchuan, was not only an imperial merchant but also a well-known philanthropist.
For years, he had helped the poor and needy, and countless families had benefited from his generosity.
In Baining Town and the neighboring counties, beggars were rarely seen, and many common folk lived better lives thanks to his kindness.
With Bai Zhongchuan’s reputation, his daughter’s wedding was naturally a grand affair.
Guests bearing gifts streamed endlessly through the gates, while even more townspeople gathered outside, hoping to share in the celebration.
Among the guests was Shen Yuxing, accompanied by his son and daughter, Shen Mo’an and Shen Qinglan.
The Shen and Bai families had been close for generations and frequently did business together.
With the Bai family’s daughter getting married, the Shen family naturally could not miss such an important occasion.
To show his sincerity, Shen Yuxing had brought both of his children along and personally came to offer his congratulations.
Unfortunately, the wedding was far grander than expected.
The entire street was packed with people, leaving no room for their carriage to pass.
With no other choice, Shen Yuxing got out and continued on foot with his children.
As they made their way through the crowd, he kept a firm hold on his daughter’s hand, afraid that Qinglan might get separated from them.
Every now and then, he glanced at her and asked softly, “Lan’er, are you all right?
Are you feeling uncomfortable?” Shen Qinglan simply shook her head and quietly followed beside him.
She had always been a girl of few words, and Shen Yuxing had long since grown used to it.
He merely assumed that his daughter was shy and reserved by nature.
But the truth was something no one knew.
Shen Qinglan was no ordinary girl.
She had been born into this world with memories of her previous life.
Her childhood had been anything but peaceful.
She had been stolen away shortly after birth and sold to a family in a village.
Later, she was abducted several more times, drifting from place to place until the age of seven, when Shen Yuxing found her on the streets of Hangzhou and personally rescued her.
From that day onward, she was given the name Shen Qinglan and raised as the treasured daughter of the Shen family.
Over the years, she had carefully learned the manners and etiquette expected of a young lady, never allowing herself to embarrass the family that had taken her in.
To outsiders, she was a quiet, well-mannered young lady from a respectable household.
But the walls around her heart had never truly come down.
Now fourteen years old, Shen Qinglan had already made a decision.
One day, she would find her birth parents and uncover the truth about her identity.
The memories she had were vague, but there were still a few clues she had never forgotten.
Her mother’s name seemed to be Ye Zhilan.
And somewhere in those distant memories, she vaguely recalled hearing something related to the word “consort.” She needed to know the truth.
Yet every time the thought crossed her mind, guilt followed close behind.
Shen Yuxing had always treated her as his own daughter, loving and protecting her without reservation.
Shen Mo’an, too, had spoiled her like a precious treasure.
And yet, despite everything they had given her, she still could not stop thinking about the family connected to her by blood.
The conflict weighed heavily on her heart, leaving her even quieter than usual.
Lost in thought, Shen Qinglan failed to notice when her father’s hand slipped from hers.
The crowd surged around her.
By the time she came back to her senses, she had already been separated from both her father and brother and pushed toward the entrance of a narrow alley.
Shen Qinglan froze.
She looked around, only to find herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
Shen Yuxing and Shen Mo’an were nowhere to be seen.
She slowly raised her hand and stared at the palm her father had been holding just moments ago.
“…” She had actually managed to get lost while someone was holding her hand?
Just how ridiculous was her luck?
Shen Qinglan sighed helplessly.
She was unfamiliar with the area.
Should she keep squeezing through the crowd and hope to find her father and brother, or should she take another route?
After following the crowd for a few steps, she was shoved around several more times.
That settled it.
Too troublesome.
Shen Qinglan turned around without hesitation and headed into a quiet alley instead.
However, she had barely stepped inside when two figures—one fat and one thin—silently followed her in.
I hope you’ll stay with Shen Qinglan and see where fate takes her.