Chapter 2: Mother

The side hall was silent, as if the air had frozen in response to the displeasure of the old lady. The servants were silent, and Qin Mama and a few senior maidservants retreated to the outer room, not daring to make a sound.

Qin Yining, kneeling on the embroidered carpet, looked up at the old lady and said slowly, "My foster mother told me to hide when she was dying. She said that if I were to be sold for a lifetime, it would be better to be eaten by a wild beast and at least have a clean end."

In that sentence, there was so much helplessness and hardship.

Originally born into a noble family, she was abducted and abandoned in the wilderness at birth. After finally encountering a kind-hearted foster mother, she passed away early. At the age of eight, she became an orphan and had to survive on her own in the midst of war and chaos. She experienced the ups and downs of life and managed to survive until now, at the age of fourteen, when her birth father found her.

How could one not feel pity for such a girl?

If it were them, could they survive alone in the wilderness at the age of eight?

None of the people present had such confidence.

Even six days would be unbearable for them.

Not to mention the problems of food and shelter, the loneliness of being alone, without anyone to care for when sick, and the lack of companionship, were not something that ordinary people could endure.

After all, human hearts are made of flesh, and many of the people present looked at Qin Yining with pity and tenderness.

"You... have been through a lot," the old lady sighed inwardly, her sharpness from earlier softening slightly.

Qin Yining's fists clenched involuntarily on the carpet, her fingernails leaving four pale crescent marks, almost drawing blood. But the compassion on her delicate face was even more evident, and tears overflowed from her already swollen almond-shaped eyes.

Taking three or four steps forward, Qin Yining helped Qin Yining up, and with tender concern, she gently rubbed Qin Yining's rough, calloused hands, saying, "Little sister, you've suffered."

The use of "little sister" was equivalent to agreeing with the old lady's refusal to acknowledge Qin Yining's true identity.

Everyone present was astute, and there were some who avoided looking at her, while others whispered to each other.

The cold, damp feeling of Qin Yining's hand made her think of the icy snake skin, and she blinked, retracting her hand.

Since she entered the room, the hostility of the people in front of her was most evident, indicating that she was the foster daughter of unknown origin who had taken her place.

Qin Yining, who had survived in the wilderness, had an almost innate ability to sense hostility, otherwise she would have been devoured by wild beasts long ago. Although she hid in the deep mountains, she was not completely cut off from the outside world. She would gather herbs, hunt, and trade with merchants or hunters for essential supplies. Having lived with her foster mother in the market for a living, her understanding of human nature was probably more profound than that of these noble people.

Because in times of war, in order to survive, she had seen the most sordid and darkest things.

Qin Yining's feigned tenderness and genuine aversion made Qin Yining purse her lips.

Second Master Qin Han frowned in disapproval and stepped forward to bow, saying, "Grandmother, if it's okay to call Yining by her nickname Little Creek, it's a way for us not to forget the eight years of nurturing from her foster mother. But the daughters of our Qin family are all named with the character 'ning.' Jia Ning, Hui Ning, Shuang Ning, An Ning, Bao Ning, which one isn't like this? Moreover, the patriarch has already given Yining the name Yining, so why does Grandmother..."

"Am I so old that the younger generation has to manage everything now? Can't I manage this family anymore? Or do you want to take charge and make the decisions for the Qin family?" Although Second Master Qin Han was the eldest son of the third wife, he was born out of wedlock, and the old lady naturally did not favor him. She usually took into account his dignity, but at the moment, she was so angry that she didn't care.

Second Madam Meng hurriedly pulled on Second Master Qin Han's sleeve, reminding him not to provoke the old lady.

But Second Master Qin Han had a chivalrous heart and was also provoked by the old lady's unreasonable words. "Although Yining grew up in the countryside, she is after all the patriarch's own daughter. As long as one is not blind or stupid, one can tell at a glance. Since no one is questioning her identity, why does Grandmother speak like this?"

The old lady sneered and angrily said, "There are many people in the world who look alike! Are all those who resemble your patriarch's family ours?"

"Grandmother, you know in your heart that Yining is the child that the patriarch's political enemy swapped away back then. Since no one is questioning her return, what's the matter with Hui Jie? Why are you so nervous? You can cherish and raise a girl of unknown origin, why can't you cherish your own granddaughter?"

The mention of unknown origin made Qin Yining blush, and tears fell down her fair and beautiful face. She choked and threw herself into the old lady's arms, sobbing, "Grandmother, it's my fault, it's my fault..."

The old lady was moved to tears by Qin Yining's crying, and she patted Qin Yining's back, saying, "Hui Jie, don't cry, with grandmother here, they dare not do anything to you!"

It was as if everyone else wanted to drive Qin Yining away.

Everyone knew that the old lady had always been like this, and they were all very helpless.

First Madam Yao stepped forward to persuade, "Younger brother, at least consider the old lady's feelings and say a few less words."

Second Madam quickly pulled on Second Master Qin Han's sleeve, indicating that he should not say more, so as not to incur more people's displeasure.

Qin Han, however, paid no attention and continued speaking loudly, "It's unfair to not let Yijing call Yining. Sister Hui, you live in the mansion without worries, enjoying the blessings that should belong to Yijing! It's time to speak up for her. How can you still be so harsh?"

Qin Hui Ning, who was mentioned, looked pale and raised her eyes to Qin Han.

Qin Han continued, "Now, with the flames of war raging, the country is in chaos, and most of the houses in Liang City are empty. It's unbearable to witness! If you could see it with your own eyes and experience it firsthand, you would understand Yijing's hardships! I went out this time and even I was chilled to the bone. I truly admire Yijing's resilience. If any of you had lived her life, the grass on your graves would be three feet high by now! We found our own flesh and blood, and we should be happy about it. But who knows, the country might fall in a few days, and our family might die together."

Qin Hui Ning choked with a red face, "It's my fault for taking away Xiaoxi's life. I've been unfair to her."

Qin Han sneered and rolled his eyes.

"Enough, Second Brother, you talk too much," said Grandfather Qin Yu in a nonchalant tone after Qin Han finished speaking.

Grandmother held Qin Hui Ning, and with her finger adorned with an emerald ring, she pointed at Qin Han, "You troublemaker! I say one thing, and you say a whole bunch to upset me!"

"I know you get upset when you see me, but I can't just hide away!"

"You better get out of here!"

Qin Han snorted and left with his wife.

Grandmother angrily pounded the low table next to her and shouted outside, "Nonsense! Get out and don't come back to see me!"

"Grandmother, please calm down," Qin Hui Ning hurriedly tried to console, choking back tears, "Second Cousin speaks his mind and hasn't said anything wrong. It's my fault."

Unable to hold back, Grandmother also burst into tears, causing the other girls to cry as well, creating chaos in the room.

Qin Yining watched coldly, and the light in her eyes dimmed little by little.

These people, adorned in new red and light green, with gold and jade, seemed to live in a different world from her. They were right in front of her, yet she felt they were so distant.

If it were still a peaceful and prosperous world outside, she would really want to leave, even if it meant living a hard life, at least she would have freedom.

But she was unwilling! This was her home, and she finally had relatives. Did she really have to give up everything that belonged to her?

According to Second Cousin, her birth mother was still alive.

A mother must love her child, just like a foster mother. Even those who were not her biological mother would love and care for her with all their might. If a foster mother could do that, her birth mother must love her even more.

Qin Yining became anxious and looked back at Qin Huaiyuan, her father, and asked nervously, "Father, where is my mother? Why haven't I seen her?"

Qin Hui Ning suddenly turned to look at Qin Yining.

Qin Huaiyuan nodded faintly and waved for Jixiang to bring the main wife.

Qin Yining no longer paid attention to the reactions of Grandmother and the others, and just stared eagerly in the direction of the door. Since childhood, she knew she was an adopted child and had always dreamed of what her mother would be like. Now, she was about to meet her, and even a person who had been tempered by years of hardship couldn't help but feel nervous and sweaty palms.

Before long, a mix of footsteps could be heard outside, followed by a maid's report, "Grandmother, the main wife, the second wife, and the third madam have arrived."

The warm curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged beauty in a light purple waist-tight plain brocade jacket, with a phoenix hairpin on her head, walked in first.

She stood by the antique bookshelf, her eyes swollen with tears, and suddenly fell on Qin Yining.

Qin Yining clenched her hands and instinctively took two steps forward, also looking at the woman.

Their eyes met, and although no one told her, she knew this was her mother.

"You..." Mrs. Sun slowly walked towards Qin Yining, as if her body weighed over a thousand pounds, and tremblingly reached out to touch Qin Yining's face.

Tears finally filled Qin Yining's eyes, and she murmured, "Mother." She raised her arms and took two more steps forward unconsciously.

Mrs. Sun burst into tears, covering her mouth and shaking her head, "It's impossible, it's impossible. After all these years, the child I raised is not my own. How could this be!"

Seeing this, Qin Hui Ning, with red eyes, rushed into Mrs. Sun's arms and cried, "Mother, it's my fault. I don't deserve your love. I took Xiaoxi's place, but I didn't mean to. I really didn't mean to!"