Zhao Mingyan gave a hearty laugh, linking arms with her and guiding her to the backyard.
“There’s no need for such formality, little sister. Treat this place as your own home and don’t feel constrained.”
The Zhao and Sun families, both from military backgrounds, had always been on good terms. Earlier, her mother had even instructed her to look after this Miss Yun, who had just returned to the capital, during the banquet.
“Thank you, elder sister.”
Suppressing the ache in her heart, Su Leyun smiled and thanked her.
Su Wan’er watched their interaction with disdain, thinking to herself that even the most prestigious families were nothing special. What did it matter if it was General Zhao’s Residence? They still had to curry favor with the Sun family.
She resented that this flattery was no longer directed at her. Ever since Su Leyun returned, she had taken everything from her.
Hmph, she would just wait and see who would still stand by this so-called true legitimate daughter when she made a complete fool of herself and was left in a sorry state.
As she pondered this, a delicate voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“Wan’er, I’ve been waiting for you for so long. Why did it take you so long to come over?”
A young woman in a light green outer robe walked toward her, her phoenix eyes slightly upturned, carrying a hint of pride and sharpness.
“Sister Mengyao.”
Su Wan’er bowed to her, her watery eyes looking helplessly at Su Leyun, who was speaking with Zhao Mingyan.
Li Mengyao understood, curling her lips in contempt. Without bothering to lower her voice, she said loud enough for others to hear, “Is that the sister who returned from Jingzhou City? Hmph, she must have caused you quite a bit of trouble lately.”
Su Wan’er hesitated, glancing around before pulling Li Mengyao to a corner near a pillar. Deliberately lowering her voice, she said, “Sister, please don’t say that. After all, she is my sister.”
Li Mengyao, exasperated by her soft-heartedness, shot her a reproachful glare. “It’s always you with your gentle temper. Sooner or later, you’ll be trampled all over.”
There are no walls without cracks. Ever since Su Leyun was rescued by Prince Jin on the city moat, news that Marquis Su had a daughter raised in Jingzhou City had spread among the capital’s nobility.
Yet the Su family had never addressed it directly, only saying that she had been raised in Jingzhou since childhood and had now been brought back.
Everyone was curious. Jingzhou was remote and uncivilized, a godforsaken place where even birds wouldn’t lay eggs. Why would Marquis Su’s Manor send a legitimate daughter there to be raised?
Li Mengyao had heard plenty of gossip. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Tell me the truth—is your sister an illegitimate child, or perhaps something even more unspeakable?”
In noble families, when a legitimate child is born, a master is invited to examine their fate. If it is calculated that their destiny is unfavorable or clashes with their parents or family, they are at most raised in a villa on the outskirts of the capital, to be married off or set up in a separate residence when they come of age.
Never had anyone heard of a child being sent thousands of miles away to Jingzhou!
What kind of upbringing could someone raised in such a place possibly have?
Unless her origins were unclear, and she had only now been acknowledged by Marquis Su.
Su Wan’er wore a troubled expression, lightly biting her lower lip and refusing to speak. She looked pleadingly at Li Mengyao and said softly, “Sister, please don’t make things difficult for me.”
Seeing her hesitant demeanor, Li Mengyao felt her suspicions confirmed, a cold sneer curling at the corner of her lips.
“An illegitimate child dares to dress so ostentatiously? She must have given you and your mother quite a bit of grief at home!”
Hmph, everyone said Marquis Su was deeply devoted, having once sworn before the emperor to marry only one woman in his lifetime when he sought to wed a daughter of the Sun family. Who would have thought he would have an illegitimate child around the same age as his legitimate daughter?
Men truly are unreliable!
If Marquis Su had not sworn to take only one wife, how could the then-prosperous Sun Family have married the capital’s number one beauty to a destitute family?
Truly shameless!
“Don’t be upset, watch me vent this anger for you and your mother!”
Li Mengyao comfortingly patted Su Wan’er’s arm, her expression unfriendly as she walked toward Su Leyun.
It happened that Zhao Mingyan had gone to greet others, leaving Su Leyun standing alone by a plum tree admiring the blossoms. Several noble young ladies nearby chatted idly, glancing sideways at this never-before-seen daughter of the Marquis Manor, exchanging meaningful looks.
Li Mengyao stopped in front of Su Leyun, the vermeil gold hairpin at her temple reflecting sunlight that dazzled the eyes.
“Su Leyun?”
Her tone was hostile, instantly drawing everyone’s attention to the two of them, their eyes alight with excitement at the prospect of drama.
“Indeed.”
Su Leyun adjusted her sleeves, answering with a smile. The Li Mengyao standing before her was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, born of the principal wife, of noble status, betrothed since childhood to the eldest son of the Chancellor’s family, with the wedding set for early spring after the New Year.
She had always been close with Su Wan’er. In her previous life, she had looked down upon Su Leyun, this country bumpkin from Jingzhou, constantly helping Su Wan’er set obstacles in her path.
This life would likely be no different.
“I heard you were raised in Jingzhou since childhood. How peculiar—a legitimate daughter of the Marquis Manor…”
Li Mengyao paused deliberately, emphasizing the words “legitimate daughter” with a touch of sarcasm: “…how could she end up in such a backwater? How could those barren mountains and harsh waters cultivate a noble lady of proper conduct?”
Li Mengyao spoke bluntly, directly voicing the suspicion in everyone’s hearts. They stopped their conversations, watching Su Leyun curiously.
To protect Su Wan’er’s position as legitimate daughter and for the Su Family’s reputation, Old Madam Su had always concealed the truth about the switched children years ago. Only a few families close to Sun Jiarou knew the real story.
And unfortunately, Zhao Mingyan was absent, unable to mediate for her.
Su Wan’er watched Su Leyun with shadowed eyes. Making such a mess at her first banquet—she wanted to see how this legitimate daughter would explain herself upon returning home.
“Our family elders have their own explanations for this matter; I dare not speak recklessly. As for upbringing, if one’s heart is upright and one’s conduct proper, then one’s character is honorable. As for the rest, I will gradually learn. Who is born knowing everything?”
Su Leyun’s words were courteous and measured, neither submissive nor arrogant, leaving no room for fault. Her speech and demeanor showed none of the awkwardness or coarseness expected from someone raised in a remote area.
“We are all peers here. Why invoke elders to pressure others? What, is there something shameful about your background that you cannot speak of?”
Li Mengyao pressed forward relentlessly, her proud eyes filled with triumph. She intended to expose this outsider’s child for what she was, making her dare not act so arrogantly again!
“If I do not speak, there is reason for it. Why must Miss Li be so aggressive? Is this the etiquette of noble ladies in the capital?”
Su Leyun set aside her smile, her words carrying a tone of aloof coldness.
Seeing her so defiant, Li Mengyao grew even more irritated, retorting sharply: “Etiquette of noble ladies in the capital? I don’t understand it—does a country girl raised in Jingzhou like you understand it then!”
As these words fell, silence descended upon the room. Just then, Zhao Mingyan entered, leading in a woman dressed in luxurious attire, wearing a vermeil gold phoenix hairpin, her steps graceful.
Everyone fell silent, curtsying in unison.
“Long live Princess Anle.”
Princess Anle wore a crimson outer robe, her watery eyes holding a trace of royal dignity as she slightly raised her hand.
“No need for formalities, please rise. I have come today solely to celebrate the birthday.”
Everyone stood up, and Princess Anle’s gaze fell upon Su Leyun. Raising an eyebrow with curiosity, she asked, “Are you from Jingzhou?”
Su Leyun nodded in affirmation, thinking to herself, this must be Prince Jin’s full-blooded younger sister, the legitimate princess left behind by the late empress.
In her past life, this Princess Anle had gone to the desert for a political marriage after Prince Jin’s departure. She wondered how she had fared later on.
“Jingzhou? You are a daughter of the Su Family. How did you end up in such a distant place?”