Just as the banquet was about to begin, someone noticed that the very last seat on the lower left side was still empty.
The Old Madam frowned.
“Where has Zhiyue gone now? Truly no manners at all. Making the entire family wait for her at mealtime. Madam Yuan, is this how you taught your daughter? She doesn’t understand etiquette in the slightest.”
The Marquis turned his head, clearly impatient.
“Madam, where is Zhiyue?”
The Marchioness—Madam Yuan—clutched the corner of her robe tightly, panic flickering in her eyes.
“Zhiyue… she returned to the Yun family.”
The Marquis looked puzzled.
“Which Yun family?”
Li Wanqing’s face carried unconcealed delight as she hurried to answer:
“Father, Elder Sister has returned to her biological parents’ home—the merchant Yun family.”
“Today, in front of the Empress herself, Sister even declared that from now on she would take the surname Yun and be called Yun Zhiyue.”
The Marquis’s face darkened instantly. He slammed his palm against the table with a thunderous bang.
“What happened?”
“Didn’t I say she was to stay properly within the marquis household?”
“How did she end up involving the Empress?”
“Are all of you treating my words as mere wind in your ears?”
Startled by his fury, Li Wanqing trembled slightly. Biting her lip, she looked toward the Marchioness.
The Old Madam disliked the sight immediately.
So petty and timid—what kind of behavior was that?
As expected of Madam Yuan’s biological daughter. Mother and daughter were exactly alike.
Concubine Lin exchanged a glance with the eldest illegitimate daughter beside her, faint smiles hidden in their eyes.
Exactly as expected.
All they needed to do was sit back and reap the benefits.
The young woman lowered her eyes gracefully, lifted the teapot, and poured a cup of tea with smooth elegance.
She rose calmly, holding the teacup in both hands as she walked toward the Marquis.
“Father, please don’t be angry. Have some tea to calm yourself. If you ruin your health from anger, your daughter would be heartbroken.”
Looking at his poised and graceful eldest daughter, the Marquis accepted the tea and took a sip, his heart comforted.
“Good daughter. You are thoughtful. Sit down.”
“Yes, Father.”
Hearing the completely different treatment, the Marchioness clenched her teeth hard.
That woman always knew how to act like a saint in front of others.
What a hypocrite.
The rest of the table remained silent.
The Old Madam frowned again.
“Enough. She wasn’t truly of the marquis household bloodline anyway. Let her go wherever she pleases. No one is to mention her again in the future. She’s ruined everyone’s mood.”
The Marquis raised his head.
“Mother, you clearly know she is—”
“So what?”
“The debt of gratitude for saving a life has already been repaid through you. In any case, you already possess real authority now. Could His Majesty possibly take back his imperial word?”
“She no longer has any value. Let her go wherever she wishes.”
“The marquis household raised her for more than ten years without mistreating her. That debt is already balanced.”
The Marquis gradually calmed.
“Mother is right. Your son will listen to Mother.”
Only then did the Old Madam look somewhat satisfied. Her cloudy eyes swept across everyone present.
Her second son’s family was ordinary and obedient—nothing to worry about, though unlikely to achieve greatness either.
Concubine Lin had personally been chosen by her and was properly behaved, which was satisfactory enough. The eldest illegitimate granddaughter, Li Yuyao, had now reached sixteen years of age and carried herself with elegant grace.
Not bad at all.
Finally, her gaze landed on the Marchioness and Li Wanqing.
“Madam Yuan, tomorrow find a proper governess to teach your good daughter some manners.”
“She’s been back for two months already, yet she still carries herself like someone from a petty household. What disgrace.”
The Marchioness gripped her handkerchief tightly and nodded.
“Yes, Mother.”
Li Wanqing lowered her head silently, not daring to speak.
Li Yuyao’s eyes curved faintly with amusement.
As expected.
In the end, profit always came first.
“So you really are my biological daughter? Daughter, your mother has finally waited for your return.”
At that moment, Yun Zhiyue was being tightly embraced by a beautiful woman dressed in a pale pink gown.
The woman cried delicately, both joyful and emotional.
The two shared roughly fifty percent resemblance.
Yun Zhiyue thought helplessly:
This lady looks so delicate, but her strength is terrifying. Dear heavens, she’s about to strangle me to death.
Her face wrinkled in distress.
“Mother, let go first. Otherwise you’re going to squeeze me to death.”
The man beside them, dressed in a dark teal robe, hurriedly tried to persuade his wife.
“Madam, Madam, don’t get too excited. Let go of our daughter first.”
If one looked carefully, it was obvious the man’s eyes were slightly red.
After a simple family reunion and dinner, Yun Zhiyue returned to her room to rest.
She was genuinely exhausted today.
The room had been prepared in advance by Madam Yun, and everything inside was completely new.
“Miss, the hot water is ready. This servant will help you bathe and change.”
Lüliu approached, ready to assist.
Yun Zhiyue’s internal alarm bells rang immediately. Clutching her collar tightly, she dodged to the side.
“No need. I’m no longer the marquis household’s young miss, so there’s no need for so many formalities. You don’t need to help me bathe.”
“Good Lüliu, I know you’re tired today too. Go rest first.”
“All right then, Miss. If you need anything, just call this servant.”
“Mhm.”
Lüliu didn’t think much of it. Assuming her mistress genuinely preferred privacy, she withdrew.
Only after the room was empty did Yun Zhiyue finally sink into the bath.
Ah… comfortable.
To think that she—a dignified female CEO of a catering corporation—had actually transmigrated.
Thinking about the enormous fortune she possessed in her previous life made her heart ache.
She had only been twenty-eight years old when she died.
Thankfully, she was alive again.
This body was only fifteen years old—young and healthy.
As for money?
She could simply return to her old profession.
She would build a gourmet business empire.
But first, she needed to figure out how to survive properly.
Oh—and complete the system missions too.
The Yun family structure was extremely simple.
Master Yun and Madam Yun had only one daughter: Yun Zhiyue.
Two maidservants, two old women servants, two young male attendants, and a steward couple.
Wasn’t this basically the ideal only-child setup?
No complicated scheming between legitimate and illegitimate siblings over family inheritance.
How refreshing.
Master Yun operated a two-story teahouse, while the family owned forty mu of farmland outside the city.
Madam Yun’s dowry included two cosmetic shops and a countryside estate.
They could be considered modestly wealthy.
The huanghuali wooden dressing table was exquisitely carved with intricate patterns, while jewelry boxes were neatly arranged upon it.
Through the golden bronze mirror, Yun Zhiyue stared blankly at her reflection.
Willow-shaped brows, thick curled lashes, naturally rosy lips.
This face looked exactly the same as her appearance in the modern world.
Could this also have been arranged by the system?
“Hey, System. Did you deliberately find me a body that looks identical to mine?”
〔Host, I didn’t deliberately search for one. It was matched through big data.〕
〔Also, I have a name. My name is Rice Bucket. Please call me by my name in the future.〕
Yun Zhiyue: “…I don’t really understand, but I respect it.”
“Oh. Then how did the original owner die?”
〔Host, I don’t know that.〕
“All right then. What’s today’s mission?”
〔Mission One: Ingredient Supply — Unlimited Lemons〕
〔Requirement: Reach 10,000 points within one month〕
〔When the mission ends, the ingredient supply—lemons—will stop〕
“What happens if I fail?”
〔Failure will reduce the Host’s lifespan. Please complete the mission seriously.〕
“Only lemons? No other ingredients?”
Yun Zhiyue thought one ingredient alone sounded far too limiting.
〔Yes, Host. Mission One only provides lemons.〕
〔Friendly reminder: each person only counts once toward points. Repeated consumption by the same person will not give additional points.〕
“Oh, got it. Then what’s the reward for completing the mission?”
〔A random gourmet food reward.〕
Yun Zhiyue: “……”
She already knew how to cook herself. What did she need a food reward for?
She wasn’t even greedy for a single bite.
Wasn’t this basically unpaid labor?
Just as she was thinking that, Lüliu entered the room.
“Miss, will you still wear this protective charm today?”
“Where did that protective charm come from?”
Lüliu respectfully handed it over with both hands.
“Miss, have you forgotten? The eldest young miss of the Pingyang Marquis Household gave it to you.”
Yun Zhiyue accepted the charm.
Golden embroidery lined its edges in the shape of peach blossoms, while pink tassels hung neatly below. It was quite delicate and refined.
The eldest young miss of the Pingyang Marquis Household—Li Yuyao.
Thinking about it, half the rumors regarding the original owner’s arrogance and tyranny were probably due to her.
Yun Zhiyue absolutely did not believe Li Yuyao was acting out of kindness.
She casually lifted the charm to her nose and sniffed it.
A faint fragrance drifted toward her.
She had no idea what it was.
“Take this to a physician and have it cut open and examined. See what’s hidden inside.”
“Yes, Miss.”