Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune

40, Plotting

If that is indeed the case, where did Xie Nuan go?

Thinking of this, Xie Hanhan stared at Xie Shuyue again, making her scalp tingle and her heartbeat quicken.

She glanced carefully at Xie Hanhan, not daring to meet her eyes.

“…”

Guilty conscience.

That’s what Xie Hanhan thought.

But she didn’t expose or puncture it; instead, she approached and sat next to Xie Shuyue. “I’m Xie Hanhan, and you are? What’s your name?”

“I, I’m called Shuyue!” Xie Shuyue whispered, fidgeting with her handkerchief, very uneasy.

“Shuyue, what a lovely name. According to our ages, you should call me sister!” Xie Hanhan whispered.

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, Xie Shuyue softly called out, “Sister!”

“It’s good you’ve come back. These years, Mother has missed you terribly, and her health has not improved despite treatment. Now that you are back, you must persuade Mother to take it easy so she can recover well!”

Xie Hanhan assumed the role of a good elder sister.

Which led Xie Shuyue to be bewildered.

Inside the room.

The Marchioness looked at Xie Qian, and after a long while, finally asked, “How are you so certain that she is our Nuannuan?”

“…”

Xie Qian was astonished.

Mother was a bit too calm.

Logically, she should have been very happy and excited.

Xie Yu and Xie Rong were also puzzled.

Xie Qian handed over the jade pendant and the little gown.

The Marchioness, trembling, took the jade pendant and little gown, holding them against her heart, tears flowing ceaselessly.

Her daughter.

Her daughter…

Was she alive or dead now?

The one outside was a fraud, not her daughter, yet she had come back to seize everything that belonged to her daughter, and she could not speak out or cause a fuss, only secretly endure.

Fearing that her cover would be blown, jeopardizing her daughter.

“Mother, my little sister is outside; call her in!” Xie Rong gently reminded.

Upon hearing this, the Marchioness looked towards Xie Rong.@@novelbin@@

Her youngest son, who hadn’t stepped out of the room for ten years, reached out to gently touch his face, “Rongrong, take care of yourself from now on, okay?”

“Mother…” Xie Rong nodded.

The Marchioness gave a gentle smile.

Then looking at Xie Yu, “Yuyu, you too, take good care of yourself. Mother will take her medicine with you!”

Xie Yu also hurriedly nodded his head.

Xie Qian had the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

The Marchioness took a deep breath, “Call them in, and let the Crown Princess and Hanhan come as well!”

Xie Shuyue entered the room, glancing up at the furnishings, and was secretly alarmed.

She approached the bed and knelt down softly, “Greetings, Mother!”

“…”

The Marchioness’s heart tightened.

She almost slapped her.

But she restrained herself forcefully.

She couldn’t lose control. With no news for ten years but now a clue, she had to follow the vine to find the melon-eventually, she would find her daughter.

“What is your name?”

“Shuyue!”

“…”

The Marchioness stared at Xie Shuyue.

She was somewhat pretty, but compared to her Nuannuan, she fell short by far too much.

Her Nuannuan, delicate and beautiful since childhood, like a doll from New Year prints, should have grown up to be a fairy.

Not this ordinary.

“Good child, you’ve suffered these past years. From now on, you will live with your sister Hanhan. With her taking care of you, I will be at ease!”

“…”

Xie Hanhan and Madam Wan were taken aback.

Why would she live with Xie Hanhan? Wasn’t a courtyard prepared especially for her?

Madam Wan was puzzled.

But Xie Hanhan, raised carefully by the Marchioness, knew all too well the Marchioness’s way of thinking, and instantly understood that this Xie Shuyue was a fake.

Otherwise, the Marchioness wouldn’t have arranged things this way.

“That’s fine. There is an empty room in my courtyard, just right for Shuyue to live in. With Shuyue here, I’ll have company, and I hope Shuyue won’t mind!”

“No, not at all!” Xie Shuyue quickly said softly.

She always felt something was off, but couldn’t figure out what it was.

In any case, as a newcomer to the Marquis mansion, she knew she had to be careful in all matters.

Chapter 42