Qi Zhen’s feelings were complicated.
In his heart, he had always thought of Qi Yuan as a delicate little flower, pitiful and in need of protection.
He had always believed that Qi Yunting and Qi Jin were bullying Qi Yuan, who had just returned home, and that Qi Yuan could only passively be schemed against.
But the truth was far from that.
Qi Yunting and Qi Jin were indeed ruthless and vicious in their actions.
But Qi Yuan wasn’t the least bit polite either.
That cursed doll of Zhang Mama’s? It was Qi Yuan who destroyed it.
It was also Qi Yuan who sent someone to provoke Xuesong, making him believe that Qi Jin was being sent away for good—so Qi Yunting chased her to the country estate.
Qi Zhen even suspected that the reason Xiang Rong and Xiang Jie went to the estate at all was because Qi Yuan had secretly sent them word.
What daring! What terrifying cunning and strategy!
Then he thought back to last night—when he had told Qi Yuan that Qi Jin would never return again.
Qi Yuan had asked him, “Would Mother really be willing to let her go?”
The more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. He had sent Liu Zhong out to tie up loose ends.
Now, thinking back, Qi Yuan must have already predicted that Madam Wang would spare Qi Jin, which was why she deliberately brought it up again in front of him—to make sure he wouldn’t overlook that detail.
Qi Yuan herself wasn’t particularly stirred. She just felt a bit regretful.
She still didn’t have enough people by her side—too few capable hands, which made many things difficult to manage.
Otherwise, she could’ve executed her plans flawlessly. Even if the old Marquis and the old Madam became suspicious, they would never be able to find evidence.
Still, she wasn’t too worried. So far, everything remained within her control.
The Qi family wouldn’t cast her aside over something like this.
After all, there weren’t many daughters left in the Qi family.
The room quieted down. The old Marquis stared at Qi Yuan for a long while, a trace of admiration rising in his heart.
He had seen all kinds of people in his life, but girls like Qi Yuan were truly rare.
Even after being caught plotting against Qi Yunting and Qi Jin—and considering she had only just returned home with no solid backing—she was still able to maintain such composure.
Truly…
Even he had to admit: this girl was remarkable, far stronger than Qi Jin, who only looked good on the surface.
He glanced at the old Madam, signaling her to give Qi Yuan an easy way out.
If intimidation wouldn’t work, they’d have to try a softer approach.
The old Madam sighed lightly, her voice gentle as she said, “Let’s never speak of this again.”
She patted Qi Yuan’s hand. “Good girl. This incident alone tells me what kind of character you have. One who repays hatred is also one who will repay kindness. Let’s get along from now on, shall we?”
Qi Zhen still felt uneasy, but hearing the old Madam speak, he quickly barked at Qi Yuan, “Your grandmother is speaking to you—did you hear her?”
Before Qi Yuan returned, both Qi Yunting and Qi Jin had been deeply favored by the old Marquis and old Madam.
And now, after Qi Yuan schemed against both—one badly injured, the other vanished from the world—the old couple brushed it off like it was nothing.
Qi Yuan really was lucky.
Qi Yuan herself had mixed feelings. She hadn’t feared exposure, but she did think that, no matter what, a bit of punishment was inevitable.
She had even been thinking about how to send a message to Xiao Yunting, so he could bring up the Eldest Princess early.
But unexpectedly, the old Marquis and old Madam had just let the matter go.
If in her previous life she had made it before them, would the outcome have been the same?
She closed her eyes for a moment to stop those thoughts, then bowed to them and knocked her head to the floor three times. “Thank you, Grandfather. Thank you, Grandmother.”
The old Marquis waved his hand to dismiss her, but then called her back: “At the acknowledgment banquet, don’t disgrace the Qi family name. Can you do that?”
Qi Yuan responded without hesitation: “I will do my utmost.”
The old Marquis nodded with satisfaction and waved her off.
Once she was gone, Qi Zhen couldn’t hold it in anymore and said to the old Marquis and old Madam, “Father, Mother, I truly didn’t expect her mind to be so deep…”
“If it weren’t, she wouldn’t have made it back to the Marquis household,” the old Madam snorted. “That wife of yours is just muddle-headed! I said from the beginning—once you knew they were switched, they should have each returned to their rightful place. But she couldn’t bear to. Fine, if she couldn’t let go, then at least be fair! The one outside has suffered so many years—it’s only right to compensate her!”
The old Madam was furious, scolding them both sharply.
Then she took a deep breath and said sternly, “No more of this. Now that she’s back, the children should all be told of their real identities. But what happened? She lifted one up and trampled the other. What does that look like? Disaster born from within!”
Qi Zhen looked ashamed.
Now he truly regretted it.
If he’d known, he never would’ve let Qi Jin stay in the marquis household. If he’d sent her away earlier, none of this would’ve happened.
He admitted, “It was my fault—I shouldn’t have indulged her.”
“What use is saying that now?” the old Marquis looked at him meaningfully. “Get your head on straight. That girl is not one to be trifled with. What she did with Qi Yunting and Qi Jin was nothing short of brilliant! If it weren’t for your mother and me, none of you would even know she was behind it!”
Just for that level of cunning and skill, the old Marquis was willing to invest more time and patience in Qi Yuan.
Qi Zhen pressed his lips together, then hurried to add, “By the way, she was raised by Jiang Momo, who served the Eldest Princess. Her cunning must have been passed down from them…”
He hadn’t yet mentioned this part to the old Marquis and old Madam.
The old Madam immediately raised her brows in disbelief. “The Eldest Princess has been in reclusion on the mountain and barely returns to the capital. Even during major holidays, the palace sends her repeated invitations and she doesn’t respond. How could she have raised the daughter of a butcher?”
The old Marquis also frowned. It sounded utterly absurd.
The Eldest Princess—what kind of status was that? Even if she were bored out of her mind, she wouldn’t spare a glance at some crude country girl.
He gave a cold laugh. “If that’s the case, then we’ll have to take a closer look at this girl’s character. If she’s full of lies, then taking her into our family might just bring endless trouble.”
The old Madam wasn’t pleased either. “That’s not even the worst of it. If the Eldest Princess finds out she’s using her name to bolster herself, who knows how furious she’ll be!”
Qi Zhen opened his mouth, hesitating, then said, “Father, Mother, she’s already had me send an invitation to Baiyun Mountain—said she’s inviting the Eldest Princess to attend the acknowledgment banquet…”
The old Marquis and old Madam exchanged a look— “How is that even possible?!”
