The cannon fodder heiress trembled with fear after being recognized as a member of her family.

Han Cuiyin walked along the stream, reminiscing.

The events at the First Prince's residence are from a very long time ago.

It's especially hard to keep things in mind when they don't concern you personally.

After thinking for a long time, she recalled the day she went boating on the lake and later lay down on the small boat because she was tired.

With the lotus leaves providing cover, the idle maids gathered together and chatted about various things.

"The Crown Princess is destined to live like a widow! What a waste of her good looks."

"That's right. If this were in the First Prince's residence, she would be incredibly favored."

"Having a good father isn't enough; you also need a good mother! The Crown Princess is incredibly lucky to have married into our household."

"Yes! With our Crown Princess's temperament, she's been harmed countless times since she went to the First Prince's residence. Our First Prince's wife comes from a family with both civil and military officials, and her maternal grandparents are even princes of a different surname. If she's fallen to such a state, what about others..."

Long-forgotten memories slowly surfaced in my mind.

Han Cuiyin finally remembered who the concubine was.

That person was not Qi Yuejiao.

It was Lin Jiabao, the daughter of Princess Jialuo.

This Miss Lin comes from a much better family than Qi Yuejiao.

Why did things go wrong in this lifetime?

Meanwhile, Qi Yushi's wife was also comforting her daughter.

"So what if the Crown Prince has someone he loves! So what if he has someone he likes? Can our Qi family defy the imperial decree?"

"As long as he doesn't disobey the imperial decree, you will marry into the First Prince's residence in August and become a proper imperial concubine."

"Those concubines and mistresses will pay their respects to you, and the only princess will call you mother and be raised by you."

"As long as you are alive, you will be subject to their kneeling and worship. Besides, if the Crown Prince were truly that good to his beloved, why would he accept the imperial decree to marry you?"

Qi Yuejiao was sullen for several days in a row. After much questioning, Madam Qi finally learned the reason.

The eldest prince met with Qi Yuejiao privately a couple of days ago and bluntly told her that he already had someone he liked, and that marrying her into the mansion would be pointless and she shouldn't have any unrealistic fantasies.

Qi Yuejiao didn't know how she got back to the manor. After returning, she was absent-minded and had no appetite.

The Qi Imperial Censor and his wife only had this one daughter, and her unusual behavior naturally worried the couple greatly.

Madam Qi questioned her repeatedly, even threatening to sell two of Qi Yuejiao's head maids, before she finally spoke.

After hearing this, Qi Yuejiao seemed to understand something and was less dejected than before.

"Furthermore, as long as the eldest prince doesn't covet that position, your maternal family will certainly not let you live a difficult life."

When Madam Qi spoke of her family, she was very confident.

"Yuejiao, tell me, how are things between your father and me?" Madam Qi bluntly used herself as an example, "Wouldn't you say we're a loving couple?"

"Of course they are a loving couple! My close female friends have many half-brothers and sisters, and they have worries all day long."

"I'm the only child in the Qi family, so I can do whatever I want! If you two aren't in love, I'm afraid I'll be no different from any other girl!"

When Qi Yuejiao talks about her parents, she is naturally most moved.

"To tell you the truth, your father and I got married because we each got what we needed."

Madam Qi recalled, while Qi Yuejiao was somewhat surprised, "Ah?"

"Back then, your maternal grandfather only had two daughters, your aunt and me. With such a large family fortune, there was no one to inherit it. Those collateral branches of the family were all waiting to eat the blood of the extinct family!"

"Later, your maternal grandmother bought a young woman and, after she gave birth to a son, married her off to the far north with a dowry."

"My marriage to your aunt was also planned by your maternal grandmother."

Madam Qi's maiden name was Qin, and her given name was Yao.

The Qin family's direct descendants all had only one son per line. In her generation, her mother gave birth to two daughters, and there was no son to inherit the family business.

They initially thought it was because Old Master Qin frequently visited brothels while doing business that he had damaged his health, but they later met a traveling doctor who told them that it was Old Madam Qin who had harmed her body and was no longer able to conceive.

Later, Old Madam Qin brought in a concubine almost every month, accumulating twenty concubines in the harem, yet she still reaped no benefits.

This continued for nearly ten years, with the concubines in the backyard being replaced one after another.

The Qin family still only has two daughters.

Elders from the clan came to Qin's house, pressuring him to be adopted.

However, Madam Qi's parents were not foolish enough to give away their hard-earned fortune to someone else.

Madam Qin had a close friend who possessed a secret fertility elixir, but it would damage her very foundation and should not be used lightly.

Afterwards, Old Madam Qin hardened her heart and redeemed a virgin so that he could carry on the Qin family line.

"So, your uncle isn't your maternal grandmother's biological son?"

Qi Yuejiao never expected that the Qin family had such a secret.

Her mother is really tight-lipped; she hasn't revealed a single word about it all these years.

"Your mother used herself and your maternal grandmother as examples. Have you learned anything from them?"

"Should wives be magnanimous?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Qi's face fell, and she gently tapped her daughter's forehead with her right hand. "You only understood this much? I'm worried about whether you'll be able to make it after marrying into the First Prince's household!"

Qi Yuejiao was bewildered, "What...what else is there?"

The Qi family has no concubines; Lord Qi only has Madam Qi, and he doesn't even have a maidservant.

The family relationships are simple, and there's no backstabbing or infighting.

Qi Yuejiao's big head didn't have those complicated thoughts.

"Oh, my silly daughter, I just hope that you'll be blessed with good fortune and that the Crown Prince will discover your goodness!"

Madam Qi had no choice but to use the next month to instill some more methods of managing the inner quarters.

Qi Yuejiao nestled into her mother's arms. "Mother, don't worry. The First Prince is an upright man and won't make things difficult for me."

As for his sweetheart, Qi Yuejiao subconsciously ignored her.

Madam Qi gently stroked her daughter's hair. "Alright, your aunt wrote that your cousin has gone to sea again. In another half month, he'll be able to bring back some nice things for you, which will be added to your dowry."

"Didn't my cousin just return from a sea trip? Why is he going out again?"

"Your aunt said the Ma family has gotten in touch with a big shot, and this time they're doing him a favor. You didn't really like the things they sent last time, so I'll get you some more. Money is the last thing we need!"

Qi Yuejiao still noticed the barely perceptible arrogance in Madam Qi's tone.

"Mom, we still need to remind Auntie to be careful, because there's no such thing as a free lunch for them!"

Qi Yuejiao always felt that things were not simple, perhaps because someone was eyeing the Ma family's business.

The important person the mother and daughter were talking about was taking a walk along the stream at the foot of Qingshuang Mountain.

Just then, Yan Ruyi came running up, panting, "Cuiyin, my father and the others are back. They want to take us to that village. The clan chief wants to see you. It's inconvenient for them to come out from there, so you have to come with us."

"You want to see me?" Han Cuiyin did indeed have something she wanted to discuss with the Yan family, so she did not refuse.

Back at the farm, Yan Dali and Yan Erwen carried Yan Ruyi and the others' belongings upstairs, and then instructed Han Cuiyin, "Leave a message explaining where you are going, so that Prince Luo won't worry."

Han Cuiyin wrote a simple note and then left with them.

After traveling about five miles, the surrounding environment began to feel strange.

The Yan family is truly a family that keeps its true strength hidden.