Chapter 3: Stay or Leave

Mrs. Sun held Qin Huining in her arms, her beloved daughter of fourteen years crying her heart out, and she felt as if her heart was being torn apart. Qin Huining was right, this had nothing to do with her. The one at fault was the person who took her child away!

Mrs. Sun couldn't control herself and immediately burst into tears with Qin Huining.

Qin Yining slowly lowered her raised arms, tears sliding down her cheeks and dropping onto the pale yellow collar. Her lips trembled as they curved into a smile.

So, this was her mother's attitude towards her.

Seeing Mrs. Sun sobbing uncontrollably, Qin Huining held back her own tears and took a handkerchief to wipe her mother's tears, pretending to be strong as she said, "Mother, please don't be sad. Now that Little Creek can come back to you, it's such a wonderful thing. I will never forget your nurturing and the affection of the old madam. Even if I leave the mansion in the future, I will still be your daughter. Please don't cry, it will only make Father and the old madam worry for no reason."

The fragile young girl cried with swollen eyes, yet she still comforted her emotionally distressed mother. This made the old madam feel that she was sensible and understanding, and she couldn't help but feel reluctant. Even the sympathy and pity she had for the wild girl earlier seemed to fade away.

Mrs. Sun also felt the same way, and her tears fell even more heavily as she cried out, "What have I done to deserve this! Why must such a thing happen to our family!"

The second and third ladies came to comfort and persuade her.

And Mrs. Sun cried like a distressed child.

Qin Huining quickly reassured her, "Please don't cry. If you miss me in the future, I can come back to see you. Little Creek is your biological daughter and will surely take my place by your side. Look at Little Creek, she looks exactly like Father, she must be his flesh and blood, there's no mistake. Now that we can reunite as a family, it's also a blessing from heaven. Mother, your good days are ahead, please don't be sad."

Her words were extremely filial, but also very provocative.

Because no one had ever mentioned sending her away, yet she deliberately brought it up several times, showing her worries and guilt.

Qin Jianning and Qin Shuangning exchanged a glance, lowering their eyes in silence.

Qin Anning sneered.

Mrs. Sun pondered over Qin Huining's words, and suddenly seemed to realize something.

Qin Yining slowly clenched her hands at her side, her expression difficult to discern as she looked at the mother and daughter, her gaze finally falling on Qin Huining, who was singing and acting so well.

Mrs. Sun seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting Qin Yining's gaze.

What Sister Hui said was right, this girl really resembled her father. Those beautiful features and delicate face made her think of the young Qin Huaiyuan. But upon closer inspection, Qin Yining seemed to have no resemblance to her at all!

When she was young, she was elegant and dignified, while this girl was stunning and captivating, enough to entice any woman. How could she resemble her? How could it be certain that she was her biological daughter? Looking at Qin Huining... it was her elder sister who had some of her dignified character when she was young.

It was said that Qin Huaiyuan's confidant met this girl in Liangcheng and was suspicious of her remarkable resemblance to Qin Huaiyuan when he was young. After some investigation, they finally brought her back.

But this was only Qin Huaiyuan's side of the story!

Mrs. Sun furrowed her brows and looked at her silent husband.

Could it be that Qin Huaiyuan had a concubine and had this girl?

After all, considering their ages, this girl was about the same age as Huijie. Qin Huaiyuan had always been a person who cherished his reputation. Could it be that when she was pregnant, he had an affair outside and now wanted to bring her back, fabricating such a pitiful story to gain sympathy?

Yes, Qin Yining may look thin and malnourished, but her demeanor was very stable. Although she was shy when meeting strangers, she showed no signs of timidity. How could a "wild girl" from the mountains have such a temperament?

Perhaps Qin Huaiyuan deliberately said this to gain sympathy!

Qin Huaiyuan held a high position, but he only had one daughter, and there were countless women outside who wanted to give birth to a son for him. Mrs. Sun, as the wife of the prime minister, had never felt secure. From the bottom of her heart, she was unwilling to accept the fact that the daughter she had raised for over a decade was not her own. Now, thinking about this, she suddenly felt that she had found the crux of the matter. Looking at Qin Yining, she began to have some doubts.

Qin Huining had been nervously observing her mother all along, and her mother's obvious suspicion towards Qin Yining made her feel a little relieved.

But Qin Yining's heart gradually grew cold.

When she was young, before the war reached Liangcheng, her foster mother took her to have her fortune told, and the fortune teller said that she had a "sister without support, and family ties like ice and charcoal." Now it seemed that this "family ties like ice and charcoal" had come true.

The suspicious and doubtful look in her birth mother's eyes was even more uncomfortable than when she was targeted by a wild wolf in the mountains. A chill crept up from the soles of her feet, making her feel cold all over.

It was her greed, something she shouldn't have hoped for.

Qin Yining closed her eyes and when she opened them, there was a determined light in her eyes.

Her determination had been honed over many years of survival. The more adversity she faced, the more resilient she became. Because she had encountered danger many times during her upbringing, if she had ever slackened, she probably wouldn't have survived to this day. The resilience she had developed through survival made her never bow her head in the face of difficulties.

Although this family was cold, it was still easier than living in the mountains, and she was not incapable of gradually changing their opinions. There was no reason for people to like her as soon as they saw her, right?

Qin Yining slowly unclenched her fists and regained her composure.

Qin Huining had been stealing glances at Qin Yining, but at this moment, she was dazzled by the light in her eyes. She had thought that Qin Yining was just a country girl and that a scare would surely make her back off. But now, she realized that she had underestimated her.

Madame Sun walked towards Qin Yining and asked, "Do you live in Liangcheng?"

Asking again?

"Yes, I have been in Liangcheng since I can remember. My foster mother, Madam Liu, was a widow. She told me about my origins from a young age and raised me until she passed away when I was eight due to illness."

"From the way you speak, it seems like you are literate," Madame Sun said suspiciously.

"My foster mother used to work as a maid for a wealthy family. Her late husband was a scholar, and she was also somewhat educated. She taught me some things when I was young. However, due to difficult circumstances and several bandit raids, we lost most of our books, and my foster mother was too busy with household matters to teach me much."

This explanation seemed flawless.

Madame Sun circled around Qin Yining, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Now, everyone in the room could see Madame Sun's suspicion towards Qin Yining. Some were puzzled, while others looked down on her. Various expressions were directed at Qin Yining and Madame Sun.

If it were an ordinary girl who had not seen much of the world, she would have been frightened by this display. But Qin Yining remained calm, allowing everyone to scrutinize her.

After a moment, Madame Sun asked, "When is your birthday?"

"I only know that I was born in the year of Ji Mao. My foster mother found me on a clear morning on the sixth day of the sixth month by a stream behind the Cuishan Mountain in the southern part of the capital city."

"So, you lived in the capital city for a while during your childhood?"

"Perhaps, but as far as I can remember, I have always been in Liangcheng. Madam, you..."

"Don't call me 'Madam'!"

Madame Sun suddenly raised her voice, startling everyone in the room.

Perhaps realizing that her tone was too harsh, Madame Sun stiffly said, "In families like ours, we don't use 'Madam.' Those with official titles should be addressed as 'Madame,' and those without should be called 'Mrs.' Only people from humble families are called 'mother and father.'"

Qin Yining blinked her long eyelashes and, in the end, did not mention the fact that Qin Huining had called her "mother" earlier. She obediently called out, "Madame."

The old dowager coughed, "Since it's confirmed that she is Mong'er's daughter, then let her stay. But let's make it clear, my dear Huining will never leave my side!" Qin Huaiyuan's courtesy name was "Mong," and his childhood name was Mong'er.

After some thought, the old dowager added, "This girl grew up in the countryside. If she returns to the mansion without understanding the rules, it might not be good when Jiajie reaches marriageable age in a few days, with many guests present. It's better to send her to the estate, where a knowledgeable nanny can teach her the proper etiquette, and then bring her back on a chosen day."

Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished at the extent of the old dowager's favoritism towards Qin Huining.

If they really sent her to the estate, it would be difficult to say when she would be brought back. If the old dowager was displeased, she could easily find an excuse to delay her return.

Madame Sun hesitated upon hearing this.

Although she didn't care much for this wild girl and suspected that she was a child from an extramarital affair, she was still Qin Huaiyuan's blood, and it was possible that she was her own daughter...

After pondering for a moment, Madame Sun said, "With only one daughter under the master's knee for so many years, even if both girls stay, our main branch will only have two daughters. Old Dowager, I have a request. Although we have found Yijing, she is still my eldest daughter, and Yining will be considered my younger daughter. Can we record her as the legitimate second daughter?"

Madame Sun's plan played right into the old dowager's hands. "Your willingness to think this way is the best outcome."

Madame Sun continued, "As for the matter of etiquette, we can hire a nanny from the palace to teach her at the estate. This way, it will give my daughter and Yijing, as well as all the sisters in the family, some time to adjust."

Madame Sun was complying with the old dowager's wishes and was planning to send her daughter away.

Qin Huining let out a quiet sigh of relief, finally releasing the tension she had been holding.

Qin Yining bit her lip and looked to Qin Huaiyuan for help. She hadn't done anything wrong, so why was she being sent away? Wasn't she a daughter of the Qin family?

Her helpless and soft gaze stirred something in Qin Huaiyuan's heart.

"Yijing will stay in the mansion, and we can hire tutors and a nanny to teach her etiquette," Qin Huaiyuan finally spoke up. "A legitimate daughter is a legitimate daughter, and a foster daughter is a foster daughter. Just because she wasn't raised by our side, does that mean Yijing is not a legitimate daughter?"

Qin Huining's nerves, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.

The old dowager urgently asked, "Mong'er, what do you mean?"