Xu Yinyin immediately frowned and rebuked, “Nonsense! Even if I’ve never stayed at home, I know that the eldest young master of the Marquis’s household is my blood brother.”
Qi Yunting looked down on her from above, about to humiliate her with his words.
But Xu Yinyin spoke unhurriedly, “The eldest young master of the Marquis’s household is to be granted the title of heir apparent. He is the family’s future hope, the pillar of the clan.”
Qi Yunting was momentarily stunned.
This village girl… she actually said something like that?
Not only he, but Qi Zhen and Madam Wang were both a little surprised too.
None of them expected Xu Yinyin to speak so reasonably and eloquently.
Then Xu Yinyin looked Qi Yunting up and down, her eyes full of undisguised contempt and disdain: “He’s arrogant and harsh, lacking the grace of nobility, let alone the kindness of an elder brother—how could he be my brother?”
D*mn it! Qi Yunting cursed inwardly and pointed a trembling finger at Xu Yinyin. “What kind of thing are you, daring to point fingers at me?”
Madam Wang was dumbfounded.
She had imagined countless reunion scenarios with her daughter.
Perhaps she’d be humble and timid, unworldly.
Or maybe crude and impolite from growing up in the countryside.
Or resentful and improper in behavior.
But she never expected her daughter to be capable of giving a full retort—leaving Qi Yunting speechless!
She instinctively scolded, “Mind your manners!”
Xu Yinyin took a step back, retreating beside Qi Zhen. She looked up at him, puzzled. “Father, all of this is what Jiang Momo taught me—was she wrong?”
If Qi Zhen had still harbored doubts that this Jiang Momo might not be the Jiang Momo who once served the Eldest Princess, they were gone now.
Living in the mountain temple, teaching Xu Yinyin to read and write, and even giving her insight into noble family dynamics…
There couldn’t be so many coincidences.
Now more than ever, he believed Xu Yinyin to be deeply blessed and destined for great things.
Otherwise, how could she have caught Jiang Momo’s eye and been taught so much?
How else could she have run into Jing Wang at Daxing County’s yamen—and even caught his attention?
Seeing Qi Zhen still silent, Xu Yinyin bit her lip and added, “Jiang Momo told me, when something goes wrong, you shouldn’t cover it up. If the trunk of a tree is rotten, then the roots are likely all decayed as well… That maidservant Hua Momo tried to kill me. I fear it wasn’t just me she bore ill will toward—perhaps she harbored resentment toward the entire Marquis household…”
She gave Qi Yunting a quick, mocking smile and added, “Older Brother, if you’re to be the future shizi, how could you fail to see such a thing?”
Qi Zhen was visibly shaken. He was just about to speak when Qi Yunting suddenly raised his hand. “You insolent wretch!”
Xu Yinyin widened her eyes and dodged behind Qi Zhen.
Qi Zhen immediately blocked Qi Yunting’s hand, his voice carrying natural authority. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
Qi Yunting was furious. “Father, didn’t you hear what this little b*tch said? She dared question my right to be named shizi and had the audacity to criticize me! A lowborn brat raised in the countryside—what does she count for?”
Madam Wang sensed the danger and rushed to stop him. “Yunting, don’t speak nonsense!”
But it was too late.
Qi Zhen slapped Qi Yunting hard across the face.
In full view of Madam Wang, Xu Yinyin, and all the gathered servants, the blow sent Qi Yunting stumbling.
He clutched his cheek in disbelief, staring at Qi Zhen. “Father?! You hit me?!”
Madam Wang also rushed over to restrain him. “My lord Marquis, please, let’s talk things through—don’t resort to violence!”
Qi Zhen pointed a trembling finger at Qi Yunting, his voice sharp and deliberate. “She is your mother’s and my flesh and blood—your full-blooded sister! If she’s a ‘lowborn brat,’ then what does that make me and your mother?!”
Xu Yinyin sneered silently in her heart.
Qi Zhen was truly enraged.
It wasn’t that he cared more about her or disapproved of his son having a temper.
What mattered to him was that what she said was right.
If someone wants to be the shizi of the Marquis household—the one to inherit the title—how can he be so petty? So brainless?
To publicly insult his own sister like that—what kind of successor could he be?
Madam Wang was both anxious and upset. She never imagined that her daughter’s first day back would end with her own brother getting slapped.
She winced. “My lord Marquis, it truly was Yunting’s fault… please, calm down…”
Qi Zhen snapped, “Of course it’s his fault! Listen carefully, all of you! The young lady of this household is precisely that—the legitimate young lady! In a few days, I’ll have the clan elders choose a date. We’ll open the ancestral hall and add her name to the family register—she will be officially recognized!”
He shot a fierce glare at Qi Yunting. “And if I ever hear another word of insult from you, I’ll have you taste the family punishment!”
The Qi family had risen through military achievements—their family punishments weren’t a joke. They used military rods.
Qi Yunting was stunned.
He never dreamed that Qi Zhen would slap him for Xu Yinyin.
More importantly, Qi Zhen wanted to hold an ancestral ceremony and officially have Xu Yinyin return to the family?!
How could that be?!
Qi Zhen, however, had no time to bother with what Qi Yunting thought. He looked from the livid Qi Yunting to the calm, composed, and impeccably mannered Xu Yinyin.
His anger eased slightly.
He turned and ordered Madam Wang, “Now that Yinyin is back, prepare a courtyard for her, and select some proper servants to attend her. Tonight, we’ll hold a family banquet to welcome her.”
Though she didn’t understand why Qi Zhen placed such importance on Xu Yinyin, Madam Wang had always been a dutiful wife who followed her husband’s lead.
At his command, she immediately said, “Don’t worry, my lord. I’ve already made the preparations.”
She paused and looked at Xu Yinyin. “After all, she is my own flesh and blood—how could I not love her?”
Qi Zhen nodded in satisfaction. He then turned to Xu Yinyin and said, “Now that you’re home, settle in well. If anything’s missing, ask your mother.”
Xu Yinyin answered softly and respectfully.
Oh, she would.
Whatever was missing, she would ask for—from Madam Wang, from Qi Yunting, and even from Qi Jin, who’d been hiding in the background.
Meanwhile, Zhang Mama was absolutely dumbfounded!
This young lady… she really was bold and capable!
On her first day back, she made the marquis slap the heir apparent!
Qi Yunting was practically livid beyond reason. He never imagined he’d be humiliated by Xu Yinyin—the girl he’d always scorned!
Xu Yinyin, that lowborn brat!
He would find a chance to beat her down and show her who was boss!
As for Xu Yinyin, she only looked back at him with a silent, mocking smile.
