Chapter Sixty-Nine: No Birth Mother in the General’s Mansion

This child, though so young, already possesses an extraordinary bearing, making her truly likable.

“Xiaowan, accompany Miss Qin to another room for a chat. Your mother and Miss Shui have matters to discuss,” Lady Xin turned and gently instructed her daughter.

Luo Xiaowan bit her lip and lifted her head, carefully glancing at Qin Wanru. The corners of her eyes were still tinged with red, betraying that she had been crying just moments before.

Seeing the much younger Qin Wanru’s large, dark eyes shining brightly as she looked at her, Xiaowan felt a touch of embarrassment. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, then walked over and said, “Miss Qin, please come with me.”

She felt rather awkward; she had just been crying, yet now had to entertain a guest—a young lady much younger than herself. The scene earlier was still fresh in her mind; she recalled how, when trouble arose, she herself could only cry, while this younger Miss Qin had handled it with composure. She admired her greatly.

Along with her admiration, Xiaowan became even more self-conscious. She twisted her handkerchief a few times, then led Qin Wanru into a side room, ordering tea and refreshments for her.

Because of Qin Wanru’s calm demeanor, Xiaowan herself felt less frightened and panicked.

“How old are you?” Once they were seated at the table, Luo Xiaowan looked her up and down, asking quietly out of curiosity.

“Miss Luo, I’m eleven,” Qin Wanru blinked and replied. For some reason, she felt a fondness for this gentle Miss Luo, whose softness was genuine, unlike the feigned gentleness of Lady Di and Qin Yuru.

“You’re eleven? You look a bit small! I thought you were at most ten,” Luo Xiaowan, now more composed, covered her lips with her handkerchief and laughed lightly.

Qin Wanru’s petite frame was indeed smaller than most her age. Fortunately, in time she would grow, and though she would never be tall, she would reach an acceptable height.

“How old are you, Miss Luo?” Qin Wanru smiled, her curiosity piqued.

“I’m thirteen!” Luo Xiaowan twisted her handkerchief again, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m already this old, yet I’m not as composed as you—I was scared into tears!”

She spoke candidly, her cheeks flushed, but her straightforward nature was evident.

“Miss Luo has Lady Xin to protect you, and Lady Xin will help you. Besides, you’ve never faced such a situation before. Honestly, if someone appeared outside my window, I’d cry out of fright too.”

Seeing Xiaowan’s embarrassment, Qin Wanru smiled.

Her words were self-deprecating. The two girls exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing. Sometimes, friendship among girls was simple—a word, a gesture, and an instant connection.

At this, Luo Xiaowan relaxed further. Thinking herself older, she shed much of her embarrassment. “I’m called Xiaowan; you can call me Sister Xiaowan. What’s your name?”

“Sister Xiaowan, my name is Wanru,” Qin Wanru answered cheerfully, feeling a genuine fondness for the sincere and gentle Xiaowan.

“Then I’ll call you Sister Wanru! Look, both our names have ‘Wan’ in them—it must be fate,” Luo Xiaowan laughed.

“It truly is,” Qin Wanru laughed as well. The two had never met in her previous life, yet in this one, they had crossed paths in Jiangzhou. It was indeed fate, and her rebirth had altered so many things.

This gave Qin Wanru greater confidence in her own destiny.

She was determined to change the ending.

“Sister Wanru, Lady General isn’t your biological mother? Who is your real mother?” Luo Xiaowan remembered what had been said earlier, and asked in surprise.

Qin Wanru lowered her head and silently shook it. This, she had not known even at the end of her previous life.

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not know? Could it be your real mother isn’t from the General’s Mansion?” Luo Xiaowan asked in astonishment. She had assumed Qin Wanru’s mother was a concubine in the mansion, and that the General had listed her under the wife’s name to elevate her status.

“There’s no trace of my mother in the General’s Mansion,” Qin Wanru shook her head again.

“Is it possible… the General once had a concubine, but now she’s… passed away?” Luo Xiaowan realized she had touched a sore spot and hurried to make amends, though her words only added to the pain.

A matron standing behind her tugged at her sleeve, indicating she had spoken inappropriately. This matron, assigned by Lady Xin to manage things, was there to ensure her well-intentioned daughter didn’t make mistakes.

“Sister Wanru, I meant no harm. I just found it strange you have no mother. Please don’t be upset!” Luo Xiaowan apologized and gently tugged at Qin Wanru’s sleeve.

“Sister Xiaowan, it’s alright. I simply can’t find my mother. There’s no record of her in the General’s Mansion, and no concubine has died,” Qin Wanru lifted her head, her lips tinged with bitterness as she shook her head.

General Qin Huaiyong had few concubines; it would be easy to investigate.

“Sister Wanru, don’t be sad. Perhaps in a few days you’ll learn who your mother is. Even if you don’t, you still have your father, your grandmother, and your Aunt Shui!” Luo Xiaowan comforted her, recalling how Shui Ruolan had protected Qin Wanru earlier.

“Yes, I still have Grandmother, Aunt Shui, and Father!” Qin Wanru nodded, her thick, curled lashes fluttering to hide the depth in her gaze. In this life, she would not be so confused. Her mother’s identity might be linked to the seal she possessed; she suspected she was not Qin Huaiyong’s biological daughter.

It was an answer she had deduced from countless clues in her previous life.

“Wanru, let’s go home!” Shui Ruolan’s voice sounded from the doorway.

Qin Wanru stood up.

“Sister Wanru, I’ll be returning to the capital in a few days. If you come to the capital, do visit me,” Luo Xiaowan stood reluctantly.

“Certainly, I’ll seek you out when I arrive in the capital!” Qin Wanru smiled and nodded earnestly.

Seeing her so serious, Luo Xiaowan was delighted. She reached out and, like an adult, patted Qin Wanru’s head. “Don’t forget!”

“I won’t forget!” Qin Wanru’s eyes crinkled with her smile.

Watching the two girls, Lady Xin couldn’t help but smile. Her daughter had always been gentle and timid—after such an incident, she would usually take days to recover. Yet now her eyes sparkled, the sadness gone, which was a wonderful thing.

Previously, Lady Xin had investigated Shui Ruolan’s affairs, indignant that Lady Di’s people had almost harmed her daughter. She had intended to intervene, but now she genuinely wished to stand up for Qin Wanru.

Conveniently, she herself was a victim—perfectly justified.

Leaving Lady Xin’s courtyard, Qin Wanru followed Shui Ruolan to the old lady’s rooms. The old lady’s health was poor; she hadn’t risen for days. Even now, she dared not exert herself, only venturing out to the veranda at midday to take in the sun.

The two spent a while amusing the old lady indoors, then Qin Wanru urged Shui Ruolan to rest, knowing she hadn’t slept well the previous night.

Shui Ruolan was reluctant to leave, but both the old lady and Qin Wanru insisted she return to rest. Seeing there was nothing urgent, she agreed to sleep for a while, intending to watch over the old lady again that night.

“Zhuozhuo, has something happened?” Once Shui Ruolan had gone, the smile faded from the old lady’s face. “Don’t tell me nothing’s wrong. When your Aunt Shui left in such haste, it was clear something had occurred,” she said sternly.

Qin Wanru immediately realized Shui Ruolan had let something slip. She reached out to hold the old lady’s hand, acting coquettishly. “Grandmother, one of our coachmen had some sinister items—dark incense, ropes—and sneaked beneath the window of the young lady opposite my courtyard. He tried to harm her, but was discovered.”

She had intended to wait until things were settled before telling her grandmother, so she wouldn’t worry.

“That vile woman Di!” The old lady understood at once, trembling with rage. The so-called plot against the girl opposite was actually meant for Qin Wanru; the coachman had simply mistaken the room.

Thinking how Qin Wanru had nearly been abducted by Lady Di’s plot, the old lady felt guilty and sorrowful, pulling Qin Wanru into her arms, her tears threatening to fall.

“Grandmother, Father may come soon. The lady living opposite is a prominent figure from the capital. This matter has grown serious!” Qin Wanru patted her grandmother’s back soothingly, looking at her small granddaughter trying to comfort her like an adult, and the old lady felt a pang of emotion.

This child had always been sensible, yet Lady Di held such prejudice, now even resorting to such venomous schemes—she clearly meant to ruin Zhuozhuo.

The old lady would not allow it; even if it cost her life, she would protect this child.

“Grandmother, don’t worry. Father will certainly marry Aunt Shui this time, and both Aunt Shui’s reputation and Father’s honor will remain intact. Earlier, I begged Aunt Shui to protect me in front of that lady, claiming Mother had plotted against her and Father,” Qin Wanru snuggled into her grandmother’s arms, acting spoiled.

It made the old lady’s heart melt completely.

This child was simply too endearing.

“It’s all Grandmother’s fault… If I hadn’t been ill, I would have stood up for Zhuozhuo and Ruolan long ago… cough… cough…”

The old lady was overwhelmed with sorrow, and began coughing violently.

Qin Wanru quickly slipped from her grandmother’s embrace and gently patted her back, helping her recover.

“Grandmother, don’t be sad. This time, you must stand up for Aunt Shui. Then Aunt Shui can stand up for Zhuozhuo and protect me!” Qin Wanru said as she soothed her, knowing how to strengthen her grandmother’s resolve. In the past, trouble in the General’s Mansion had made her hesitate for fear of affecting Qin Huaiyong’s career, so she had delayed.

But now, with a legitimate reason and the recent incident, Aunt Shui’s entry into the General’s Mansion was inevitable.

“Zhuozhuo, rest assured—Grandmother will stand up for your Aunt Shui this time,” the old lady finally calmed herself, grasping Qin Wanru’s hand with determination showing on her face. Even a child could see through things—how could she not?

So, she would wait for what was to come!