Volume 1, Chapter 4: Is This Auntie About to Unleash Her Ultimate Move?

Snapping back to her senses, the imperious Lady Shu, feeling she had lost face, gave a cold smile and forced herself to save face. “What a joke! Do you really brag without even planning ahead? Is this how your masters teach you?”

Not convinced? What else could they say?

The two exchanged glances and chose silence together.

Lady Shu was also skeptical, but she couldn’t embarrass them in front of the matriarch, so she quickly waved her hand. “You may go ahead and have your breakfast.”

Immediately, a maid led them away.

The matriarch sneered coldly, “Hmph, I don’t even know what kind of woman she is to be so vain. You must keep a close watch on Ziyun.”

Lady Shu lowered her head, a cold smile playing on her lips. She hadn’t been so eager when she just learned they had over a hundred guards. Now that she was humiliated, was she feeling sore?

“Auntie, I heard Brother Ziyun brought a child home? Is it true?” A sweet, delicate voice drifted in from outside the curtain, causing the two inside to look up simultaneously.

The matriarch’s expression softened, even curling her lips into a smile. “It’s Yanran. Come in quickly!”

Lady Shu frowned slightly but said nothing.

A woman with an oval face, large eyes, and a graceful figure lifted the sheer curtain, swaying her waist gently as she approached with elegant poise.

“Yanran pays respects to Auntie and to Eldest Aunt,” Liu Yanran said obediently, bowing to the matriarch and Lady Shu, as if the alluring woman from moments ago was a stranger to her.

“Get up at once! You’re far too polite, child,” the matriarch scolded affectionately, taking Liu Yanran’s hand.

“Brother Ziyun, didn’t you bring that child to see the matriarch?” Liu Yanran’s gaze swept the room, but not finding Shu Ziyun, a cloud of disappointment quickly shadowed her face. The pitiful look was just enough to tug at the elders’ hearts without seeming excessive.

The matriarch snorted coldly and cast a sharp glance at Lady Shu before speaking bluntly, “That unworthy thing never once respected this old bone.”

“Mother, please don’t be angry. Your son’s brought the person back,” Second Lord Shu pulled Shu Ziyun by the arm, dragging him inside.

Little Kexin trotted along behind them with her short legs.

Before they reached the main gate, she was stopped! Delayed from riding the big horse, she pouted with displeasure.

The matriarch’s face darkened at once, staring coldly at Little Kexin and scolding, “Who do you think you’re sulking at? Such bad manners!”

Shu Ziyun wriggled free from Second Lord Shu’s grasp, quickly scooping Little Kexin into his arms and shoving her into Lady Shu’s embrace. He diverted the tension, “Mother, Kexin is tired from running. You hold her for a while.”

Scolded as soon as she entered, Little Kexin shrank into Lady Shu’s arms, rubbing her eyes hard until her bright watery eyes grew slightly red. She said nothing, just looked at Lady Shu with a pitiful expression.

Lady Shu’s heart ached. She gently patted Kexin’s back to comfort her, meanwhile reminding the matriarch, “She’s still little. Smiling when happy, pouting when upset—it’s all instinct.”

“But her Second Uncle is no greenhorn. How can he be so careless in front of a child? He frightened her! Do you expect such a young child to fake a smile?”

The matriarch, seeing Lady Shu defend this lost cause so stubbornly in front of her youngest son, slammed the table angrily but ultimately dared not continue scolding Little Kexin.

She truly feared that her eldest daughter-in-law, skilled only in superficial appearances, would even embarrass her.

Little Kexin looked up at Lady Shu with starry eyes—what a formidable grandmother! Who would have thought a single sentence could silence that fierce old woman?

Liu Yanran quickly stepped forward obediently, bowing to Second Lord Shu and Shu Ziyun, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Little Kexin’s gaze was drawn to her, tilting her head to study her.

This auntie gave off an unpleasant vibe. Little Kexin didn’t like her.

Liu Yanran approached Lady Shu, scrutinizing Little Kexin up and down before turning to Shu Ziyun and asking, “Hey, Brother Ziyun, is this really your daughter? She looks vaguely familiar.”

The matriarch’s attention was immediately caught, and she asked sharply, “Have you met her before?”

Lady Shu frowned instinctively, her intuition warning her that Liu Yanran’s words might conceal a trap.

Only Little Kexin’s eyes sparkled with expectation. Here it comes—the auntie’s big move?

Sure enough, Liu Yanran feigned hesitation and cautiously said, “Actually, I don’t remember clearly. It was about three months ago, on my way to the General’s Mansion, I passed by Qingfeng Mountain outside the city and saw a child wearing coarse linen clothes, riding on a man’s shoulders, heading toward a farming household.”

Having spent three months observing closely, Liu Yanran knew exactly what kind of temper her great-aunt had. She would never get involved in anything unprofitable!

If the child was from a farming family, regardless of whether she was Brother Ziyun’s biological daughter, the only outcome would be to drive her out.

“Are you sure?” the matriarch asked anxiously.

Liu Yanran’s face was sincere. “Auntie, such a beautiful child is rare. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to remember her just from a chance glimpse.”

The matriarch immediately looked at Little Kexin. “Do you live in a mountain village?”

Mountain village? Was that her ploy? Little Kexin instinctively glanced again at Liu Yanran, eyes full of confusion.

But the matriarch had asked, so she had no choice but to answer.

However, her mother had told her not to waste energy on those who disliked her—there was no need to be kind to them.

So she blinked her innocent big eyes and answered dismissively, “I don’t remember.”

The matriarch’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Even a child this young would usually remember where she lived unless someone had instructed her otherwise.

And her guards—30,000 silver taels monthly! Ha! Only someone utterly ignorant of the capital’s guard market would spout such ridiculous nonsense.

Could it be that this was a little liar? That her guards were actually a band of frauds?

To dare cheat the General’s Mansion right under their noses—what nerve!

The matriarch shot Little Kexin a cold glare, then turned to Shu Ziyun and asked sternly, “Who exactly is her mother? How can you be sure she’s your daughter?”

Shu Ziyun immediately put on a cheeky grin. “Grandmother, though I don’t remember who her mother is, I’m absolutely, positively certain she’s my daughter! Look around the whole capital—who else could have such a beautiful daughter besides me?”

Shu Ziyun was strikingly handsome, and Little Kexin’s delicate features were flawless, each detail exquisite.

But claiming parentage on that alone was far too careless!

Lady Shu now found it hard to accept and shot Shu Ziyun a fierce glare, asking, “So, you’re not certain either?”

Second Lord Shu sneered, pointing at Shu Ziyun with pride and accusation. “Mother, sister-in-law, don’t let him fool you. This child isn’t his by birth; he caught her like a bouquet toss! Can you believe it? Isn’t this ridiculous and laughable? Our General’s Mansion has become the laughingstock of the entire capital!”

“What?”

Caught like a bouquet toss!

The roomful of women were dumbfounded.