Early the next morning.
Just after Lin Yanxi finished breakfast in Xiyan Pavilion, a servant sent by Concubine Liu came to report that her father was about to enter the city and instructed her to prepare herself properly.
Lin Yanxi turned and went back into her room.
Only after about an hour did she finally emerge again.
The moment she saw the long rows of servants standing outside her door, she jumped in shock.
“Huh? Why are so many of you gathered outside my room? Did thieves break into the residence?”
In broad daylight, this somehow suddenly felt very unsafe.
Cuizhi hurried over anxiously and whispered in her ear:
“Miss, Concubine Liu said Master is almost here. She told you to hurry over!”
“So many people? Were you afraid I’d run away?” Lin Yanxi waved her hand and laughed. “A wealthy family like this is impossible to encounter even in several lifetimes. Why would I run?”
“Ah?” Cuizhi looked utterly confused, secretly thinking that lately her miss had been muttering strange things she couldn’t understand at all.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Lifting her skirt, Lin Yanxi took the lead and walked out.
After passing through the residence’s long corridors, pavilions, and courtyards, they leisurely walked for nearly the time it took to burn one stick of incense before finally reaching the front entrance.
This family was so rich that even leaving the house required effort.
Maybe being wealthy wasn’t necessarily that great after all…
The moment Lin Yanxi arrived at the entrance, her gaze met Concubine Liu’s. Upon seeing her attire, the corners of Concubine Liu’s lips curved upward slightly.
After Lin Yanxi walked closer, Concubine Liu mockingly said:
“I thought you said you weren’t going to dress up?”
Lin Yanxi proudly lifted her chin and casually adjusted the loose strands of hair by her temples.
“It’s my first time meeting my parents. Of course I should leave a good impression!”
More importantly, she absolutely could not lose face in front of that adopted daughter.
Concubine Liu looked her up and down before nodding in satisfaction.
Lin Yanxi wore a flowing dress made from soft cloud gauze silk. Her dark hair had been styled into an elegant trailing-cloud bun adorned with two vermilion hairpins.
Her makeup was light and refined. Beneath her willow-shaped brows, her bright clear eyes resembled sparkling stars. At first glance, she truly looked like a proper noble young lady.
“Concubine Liu, once my mother returns, will you have to hand over control of the household?”
That question nearly choked Concubine Liu.
She suddenly wanted to take back her earlier praise.
As long as this girl stayed quiet, everything was fine.
The moment she opened her mouth, the entire illusion shattered.
If only she could be mute.
Concubine Liu glared at her.
“Do you think managing the Lin family’s authority is so easy?”
Lin Yanxi shook her head. She only asked to judge the relationship between Concubine Liu and her parents.
But judging from that response, Concubine Liu clearly didn’t get along well with her biological mother.
Though it made sense.
Even as merely a concubine, Concubine Liu’s status in the Lin family practically resembled that of the legal wife.
Now suddenly the real mistress was returning. Naturally, her position in the household would be affected, so resentment was inevitable.
At once, Lin Yanxi’s mind filled with all the aristocratic household drama novels she had read in her previous life.
Wouldn’t it be rather entertaining if the Lin family became just as dramatic?
Concubine Liu and her mother fighting each other to the death while she sat nearby watching the show—
That actually sounded pretty enjoyable.
Just as she was happily imagining it all, someone suddenly bumped her arm. Caught off guard, she nearly stumbled over.
“Who?! Who bumped me?!”
The moment she loudly shouted, what she saw was Concubine Liu’s raised arm.
“Master has returned. Behave yourself properly!”
Hearing this, Lin Yanxi immediately looked forward with curiosity in her eyes.
Three carriages slowly appeared on the street, heading toward the Lin Residence.
They finally stopped at the entrance.
The servants immediately hurried over to receive the passengers.
Concubine Liu wore a smile as she waited for those inside to descend.
The first person to step down was Lin Hongyuan, Father Lin himself. Though nearing fifty, he still appeared graceful and spirited. With a cheerful smile, he waved away the servant trying to support him and jumped directly from the carriage himself.
After getting down, he didn’t immediately walk over. Instead, he turned and extended his hand toward the carriage, speaking gently:
“Madam, we’re home.”
Soon, a pale slender hand reached out from inside.
Supported by Lin Hongyuan, Mother Lin, Shi Rong, stepped down from the carriage.
Compared to Father Lin’s robust appearance, Mother Lin looked rather frail and delicate.
Lin Yanxi only needed one glance to tell that Shi Rong had been poisoned—and not recently either.
After stepping down, Shi Rong immediately turned toward another carriage.
From it emerged a beautiful young woman along with a child around seven or eight years old.
Shi Rong’s first reaction wasn’t to look at the biological daughter she had abandoned for over ten years.
Instead, she immediately fussed over the young woman who had just descended.
“Wanxin, how are you feeling? Is your body uncomfortable?”
The young woman shook her head with a smile.
“Mother, I’m fine.”
“Mother, don’t worry! I took very good care of Big Sister in the carriage. She didn’t even cough once!” the child proudly declared with his chin raised.
Shi Rong held the young woman’s delicate hand, her eyes full of nothing but affection for her.
“That’s good. Mother was worried the long journey would be too much for your body.”
The young woman lowered her head modestly and smiled gently.
“Mother, my health is already much better. Please don’t worry.”
“Ahem, ahem!”
Lin Hongyuan interrupted the mother and daughter’s affectionate conversation.
“Alright, we’ve already arrived home. Let’s go inside first.”
Concubine Liu stepped forward smiling.
“Master, Madam.”
“Ruqiu, you’ve worked hard all these years,” Lin Hongyuan sighed earnestly.
Concubine Liu smiled modestly.
“Master has worked tirelessly outside all these years for the Lin family. All I could do within my abilities was properly take care of everything at home—including taking care of the eldest miss.”
As she spoke, she conveniently pulled Lin Yanxi out from behind her.
Lin Yanxi winced slightly from the force of the tug.
“Master, this is the eldest miss. Over these years, every time she mentioned you and Madam, she would cry from longing.”
Lin Yanxi pressed her lips together.
Under Concubine Liu’s warning glare, she cooperatively lowered her head and sniffed lightly, pretending to look sorrowful and heartbroken.
A broad powerful hand gently patted Lin Yanxi’s shoulder.
Lin Hongyuan sighed once more and comforted her warmly:
“Child, you’ve suffered all these years. Father promises you—from now on, our family will never be separated again.”
The moment he finished speaking, Shi Rong interrupted him:
“Master, don’t speak nonsense. What daughter never leaves her family after growing up?”
“Our Lin family possesses immense wealth and influence. If my precious daughter is unhappy, could I possibly allow her to suffer?”
Lin Hongyuan repeatedly calling her “my daughter” made Lin Yanxi glance at him a few more times.
Judging from his facial features, his middle court was full, rounded, and upright—a sign of wealth, longevity, and blessings. Combined with his powerful energetic voice, she could tell he was an open and upright man with a frank personality.
Not bad.
She actually quite liked him.
But this mother of hers…
Lin Yanxi had been observing all of them carefully. Ever since her mother stepped down from the carriage, her attention had remained entirely fixed on the young woman beside her.
Even when Concubine Liu deliberately introduced Lin Yanxi, her mother never spared her even a single glance.
With that kind of attitude, anyone unaware of the truth would probably think the girl beside her was the biological daughter—
And Lin Yanxi the adopted one instead.