As soon as Chenyu returned to her quarters, she did not even have time to tidy herself up. She hurriedly changed into a clean outer robe and rushed to Jing’an Courtyard to see Yun Ziyao.
Her heart was pounding with excitement, and she moved quickly.
Over the past few years, constant hard labor had left her face and hands rough and weathered, but it had also made her stronger and quicker on her feet.
Led by Nanny Zhou, Chenyu arrived at Jing’an Courtyard. The moment she stepped over the threshold, a sudden nervousness overcame her, like a traveler returning home after many years. She could not help turning to look at Nanny Zhou.
Nanny Zhou smiled gently.
“Go on in.”
Chenyu hesitated uneasily.
“Will my appearance frighten Miss?”
“No. Miss will be very happy to see you.”
Taking a deep breath, Chenyu stepped inside. She carefully looked around the elegant and imposing room, but Yun Ziyao was nowhere in sight.
She walked toward the inner chamber.
The moment she saw Yun Ziyao lying on the bed, she froze. Her eyes instantly reddened.
“Miss…”
Yun Ziyao turned her head and saw a maid with tear-filled eyes and a face already drenched in tears.
Standing behind her, Nanny Zhou bowed.
“Miss, Madam has allowed Chenyu to return and continue serving you.”
“Miss!”
With a thud, Chenyu dropped to her knees and burst into loud sobs.
“You’ve finally come back! I was so worried about you! Wuuu… Miss—!”
Yun Ziyao said nothing and simply let her cry. She signaled for Nanny Zhou to leave.
Nanny Zhou nodded and withdrew, taking the other maids with her.
Chenyu cried for a long time.
She cried for Yun Ziyao’s suffering.
She cried for the fear and anxiety she had endured over the past three years.
She cried for the bullying she had suffered.
She cried at the unfairness of fate.
Only after venting all the grievances and bitterness in her heart did she wipe away her tears and look up at Yun Ziyao.
“Miss, I’ve spent three years doing hard labor in the woodshed. My hands have become so rough. Am I no longer qualified to serve you?”
As she spoke, she held out her freshly washed hands.
By now, Yun Ziyao had already sorted through all the memories concerning Chenyu.
Chenyu and another maid named Luoyan had once been the original Yun Ziyao’s most loyal senior maids.
They had been treated generously, trusted deeply by their mistress, and held high status among the servants of the Prime Minister’s residence.
Everything changed when Yun Zijun returned.
Yun Ziyao’s position plummeted overnight.
The two maids suffered along with her.
Later, when Yun Ziyao was punished and sent to the Laundry Bureau, both Chenyu and Luoyan had wanted to accompany her.
But Mo Jinglin had said that she was being punished, not enjoying the privileges of a noble young lady. There was no reason for her to bring personal maids with her.
Afterward, Chenyu was sent to work in the woodshed.
As for Luoyan…
Yun Ziyao frowned.
Because of her beauty, Luoyan had apparently been forcibly claimed by that scumbag Yun Zexuan and made his bedchamber concubine.
According to the novel’s plot, Yun Zexuan would marry later that autumn.
His bride would be the second daughter of the Minister of Revenue.
The woman was extremely jealous by nature. After marrying into the family, she became dissatisfied with Luoyan and constantly picked on her.
Within two months, she falsely accused Luoyan of stealing jewelry from her mistress and had her beaten to death.
Coming back to her senses, Yun Ziyao reached out and held Chenyu’s hands.
“What do you mean by qualified or not qualified? Is my situation really any better than yours?”
“Chenyu, it was I who dragged you and Luoyan down. I’ve wronged you both.”
The moment Chenyu noticed the injuries on Yun Ziyao’s hands, tears streamed down her face again.
“Miss… your hands! How did they become like this?”
“They used to be so fair and flawless. How could they end up like this? Miss, how much suffering have you endured? Wuuu…”
Those hands, once carefully pampered and protected, had been ruined after only three years in the Laundry Bureau.
Those beasts.
Why had they tortured her young mistress so cruelly?
Chenyu’s sobs broke apart as her heart ached beyond words.
Outside in the courtyard, Nanny Zhou quietly dabbed at the tears in the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
Just then, Madam Yun entered the courtyard.
Seeing the look of heartache on Nanny Zhou’s face, she slowed her steps and gave her a curious glance.
Embarrassed, Nanny Zhou quickly wiped away her tears and bowed respectfully.
Madam Yun said nothing and headed straight toward the room.
Just as she was about to cross the threshold, Chenyu’s choked voice drifted out.
“Miss, was someone deliberately framing you? Ever since she came to the Yun family, you’ve suffered endless grievances. You were even sent to a place like the Laundry Bureau. She clearly had evil intentions…”
Madam Yun paused and withdrew the foot she had already lifted over the threshold.
She stood silently, her expression unreadable.
“Chenyu, don’t say that.”
Yun Ziyao’s voice was filled with sorrow and bitterness.
“The Prime Minister’s residence is ruled by Father. Father says I’m not his biological daughter, and that Zijun is.”
“If I truly occupied her place for fourteen years, then perhaps it’s only right that I pay a price.”
“No! That’s not true, Miss! It can’t be true!”
Chenyu shook her head desperately, unable to accept such an absurd truth.
“Your uncle and aunt said it more than once before. They always said you looked exactly like Madam. How can you not be her daughter?”
“And the Second Miss doesn’t look like Madam at all!”
“Just because the Prime Minister said so, everyone accepts that you’re not the real eldest miss? That’s far too unfair!”
“Chenyu.”
Yun Ziyao’s voice tightened as she hurriedly interrupted.
“Walls have ears. Be careful. If someone hears you, you’ll pay dearly for it.”
Chenyu burst into tears again.
“I’m just upset for you, Miss! A perfectly good eldest miss suddenly becomes a fake? Isn’t that just fooling everyone?”
Yun Ziyao lowered her eyes for a long moment.
“I also think there’s something suspicious about it. But what can a weak woman like me do?”
“Father says I’m not his daughter, so then I can only accept that I’m not.”
“Whether it’s true or false, I have no choice but to accept it.”
“But Miss—”
“Chenyu.”
Yun Ziyao took her hand.
“Get up first.”
Chenyu staggered to her feet.
Yun Ziyao sighed.
“My health isn’t very good. I may not have much time left to live.”
“Miss?”
Chenyu stared at her in shock, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Don’t say such things. I still want to serve you for the rest of my life.”
Yun Ziyao smiled weakly.
“Silly girl. It’s not up to me how long I live.”
“Something is wrong with my body.”
“But don’t worry. Once I marry and leave this household, I’ll take you with me and arrange a good future for you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with you, Miss.”
Kneeling beside the bed, Chenyu cried uncontrollably.
“You’re such a kind person. Why is Heaven so unfair? I…”
“Enough. Stop crying all the time.”
Yun Ziyao sounded helpless.
“People cannot fight against Heaven.”
“Besides, some people can only rest easy if I die.”
“They won’t allow me to live.”
“Who?”
Chenyu stared at her blankly.
“Is it the Second Miss?”
Yun Ziyao fell silent for a moment.
“Probably not just her.”
“Chenyu, I have a feeling that it isn’t merely Yun Zijun trying to replace me.”
“I feel as though there’s an invisible hand manipulating everything from behind the scenes.”
“I don’t know what their goal is.”
“I don’t know why they’re going to such lengths to deal with me.”
“But… I can’t stay in the Yun family any longer.”
“I want to uncover the truth.”
Hearing this, Chenyu immediately said excitedly,
“Madam still cares about you. Why not tell her everything honestly—”
“No.”
Yun Ziyao shook her head without hesitation.
“Mother is only a woman.”
“If there truly is a conspiracy behind all this, how can she possibly fight against those people?”
“I can’t drag Mother into it.”
“Then what should we do?”
Feeling utterly helpless, Chenyu broke into tears again.
“You were the noble eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, and now suddenly you’re a fake.”
“There’s not even anyone who can stand up for you. Does that mean you’ll just—”
“Chenyu.”
Yun Ziyao quickly cut her off and lowered her voice.
“Stop crying.”
Outside the room, Madam Yun stood motionless, her face pale.
So Ziyao had long suspected Yun Zijun’s identity.
Yet she had never dared speak of it openly.
Had she planned to gather evidence herself?
But she was only a weak young woman.
Where could she possibly find such evidence?
A shadow passed through Madam Yun’s eyes.
Without saying a word, she turned and left, taking Nanny Zhou with her.
They eventually arrived at a secluded garden.
Madam Yun walked up the stone steps along a covered corridor and entered a pavilion situated on higher ground.
From there, the entire estate lay spread out before her.
“Nanny Zhou,” Madam Yun said quietly.
“Tomorrow, send someone trustworthy to deliver a message to my sister-in-law.”
“Tell her I haven’t seen her in a long time. I’ve recently been thinking about Xueshan’s marriage and would like to invite her to the Yun residence for a chat.”
“Yes, Madam,” Nanny Zhou replied.
“And one more thing.”
Madam Yun’s voice turned cold.
“Keep a close eye on Zijun for the next few days. Don’t let her find an opportunity to go to the front courtyard.”
“Watch all the people around her as well.”
“No one is allowed to secretly report anything to the Prime Minister.”
Nanny Zhou nodded.
“Rest assured, Madam. This old servant will make the necessary arrangements.”