Yun Ziyao covered her mouth and coughed softly.
“Cough… cough…”
Yun Zijun paused mid-step, then immediately put on a concerned expression.
“Sister, how did you suddenly fall ill?”
“Just now, when you kicked Big Brother into the lake, you seemed perfectly energetic.”
“What?”
Yun Ziyao looked at her in confusion.
“Kicked Big Brother?”
Yun Zijun’s expression changed slightly.
“Sister doesn’t remember?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
Yun Ziyao looked frightened and bewildered.
“Wasn’t it Big Brother who pushed you into the water and then jumped in to rescue you?”
“When did I ever…?”
Yun Zijun stared at her in disbelief.
So she was refusing to admit it and even trying to turn the accusation around?
When had Big Brother pushed her into the water?
“Does Little Sister not want Big Brother to be punished, so you’re putting the blame on me instead?”
Yun Ziyao nervously clutched the blanket.
“But I’m too weak to even restrain a chicken. How could I possibly kick Big Brother?”
“But it was clearly you—”
“Jun’er.”
Madam Yun interrupted.
“Rao’er is too weak. Don’t agitate her anymore.”
Yun Zijun pressed her lips together tightly.
Staring coldly at Yun Ziyao, she finally realized what was happening.
Yun Ziyao was deliberately acting weak and pitiful in front of their mother to win sympathy.
She was copying her methods.
How ridiculous.
Yun Zijun was furious, yet for the moment she couldn’t think of a way to reverse the situation.
The memory of being held underwater and nearly drowned filled her with hatred.
She wanted nothing more than to subject Yun Ziyao to torture immediately.
But if she directly told Madam Yun that Yun Ziyao had tried to drown her, would her mother believe her?
Suddenly, Yun Zijun regretted not bringing two maids with her earlier.
Since Yun Ziyao had already gained Madam Yun’s trust by pretending to be weak and miserable, if she became hysterical and tried to expose her now, there was no guarantee Madam Yun would believe her.
If it backfired, she would only be playing right into Yun Ziyao’s hands.
She couldn’t afford to be impatient.
Yes, Yun Ziyao had gained sympathy through her injuries.
But those injuries had resulted from the Crown Prince’s punishment.
Surely she couldn’t blame the Crown Prince for that.
Besides, Madam Yun couldn’t protect her forever.
Sooner or later, Yun Ziyao’s true nature would be exposed.
After countless thoughts flashed through her mind, Yun Zijun quickly put on a guilty expression.
“Sister isn’t well.”
“I shouldn’t have said things that upset her.”
“Sister should get some rest.”
Yun Ziyao lowered her eyes and spoke self-blamingly.
“I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to compete with Little Sister for Mother’s affection.”
“If Little Sister doesn’t like it, I… I can move back to my own courtyard immediately.”
“No… that’s not right.”
“If Little Sister doesn’t want me to stay in the Yun family…”
“I… I can return to my biological parents.”
As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to remember something.
Turning to Madam Yun, she asked blankly,
“Mother, during the three years I was away from the Yun family, did my biological parents ever come looking for me?”
“Are they doing well?”
“Perhaps… perhaps I could go visit them…”
A shadow passed through Madam Yun’s eyes.
In the past three years, the couple who had raised Yun Zijun had never once come looking for Ziyao.
In fact, even Yun Zijun rarely mentioned them.
Only during the first few days after Yun Zijun returned had Madam Yun asked a few questions.
But every time her foster parents were mentioned, Yun Zijun would burst into tears and act terrified.
The Chancellor had explained that the couple were violent by nature.
They had never shown Yun Zijun any affection.
They beat and scolded her constantly.
Often they denied her food and warm clothing.
Madam Yun had pitied her suffering.
Fearing that she might reopen painful memories, she eventually stopped asking.
Yet today, the physician had examined Yun Zijun and declared her body healthy and robust.
There were none of the lingering effects usually seen in children who had suffered abuse since childhood.
Even if that couple had never cared for Yun Zijun…
Once they learned that Yun Ziyao was actually their biological daughter, why had they never come looking for her?
Judging by human nature, they might have tried to take Ziyao back.
Or they might have used her identity to demand money from the Chancellor’s Manor.
But they had done neither.
The couple seemed not to exist at all.
A seed of suspicion quietly sprouted in Madam Yun’s heart.
Even if they had appeared, the Yun family would never have allowed Ziyao to leave.
But the fact that her biological parents had never once sought her out was a completely different matter.
“Jun’er.”
Madam Yun turned toward Yun Zijun.
Her expression grew serious.
“When you first returned three years ago, mentioning your foster parents would frighten you terribly, so I didn’t dare ask further.”
“But three years have passed.”
“Can you tell us now?”
“Who exactly were your foster parents—the people who are actually Rao’er’s biological parents?”
“Where do they live?”
“And why have they never come to take Rao’er home?”
It had been the Chancellor who brought Yun Zijun back and declared that she was their biological daughter.
At the time, Madam Yun had been shocked.
She hadn’t believed it initially.
Not until she saw the red mole on Yun Zijun’s foot—
The exact same red mole the Chancellor possessed.
Only then had she accepted the claim.
The two girls were the same age.
According to the Chancellor’s explanation, the midwife who delivered the child had become greedy.
She wanted her own daughter to grow up as a wealthy young lady of the Yun family.
So she secretly swapped the babies and took Yun Zijun away.
But for the past three years, Madam Yun had never been entirely convinced.
Back then, the Chancellor had not yet risen to the rank of Chancellor.
Still, he had already been Minister of Personnel.
The Minister’s residence was heavily guarded.
How could a mere midwife have quietly stolen the Yun family’s daughter without anyone noticing?
Moreover, midwives were experienced women who welcomed new life into the world.
Their work was respected.
It required skill, patience, and compassion.
Even if she had taken Yun Zijun away knowing she wasn’t her biological child, why would she abuse her?
Wasn’t she afraid that the truth might one day be discovered and that the entire family would face punishment?
Delivering babies was considered a virtuous act that accumulated blessings.
A respected midwife should not have behaved in such a way.
Everything about the story seemed inconsistent.
Madam Yun had wanted to question Yun Zijun before.
But every time the topic arose, Yun Zijun would cry endlessly.
There had never been an opportunity to continue.
As for the Chancellor’s explanations—
They always felt forced and unconvincing.
Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, she wanted to finally learn the truth.
However, the moment she heard the question, panic flashed across Yun Zijun’s face.
As if she had suddenly recalled something terrifying, her complexion turned pale.
Lowering her eyes, she asked quietly:
“Mother… why are you asking about this again?”