After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Xie Xing went to the old lady's courtyard accompanied by her maid Caiyue.

Even from a great distance, Xie Xing could hear the cheerful laughter inside.

"Grandmother, you're so mean!" a sweet voice called out from inside.

Xie Xing tilted his head; the voice didn't seem to belong to Xie Mingzhu.

The Xie family clearly distinguishes between legitimate and illegitimate children, with the matriarch placing greater emphasis on the legitimate bloodline and showing little favoritism towards illegitimate children.

Who could be staying in the old lady's courtyard?

Xie Xing walked in properly. The room was filled with the aroma of sandalwood. The old lady was dressed in a dignified and luxurious manner, with a gray gemstone headband on her head. Her face looked kind, but her aura exuded a sense of majesty.

As soon as Xie Xing entered, the laughter stopped, and two pairs of eyes immediately began to scrutinize him.

Xie Xing was wearing a light pink dress today, with her hair styled in two buns. Her eyes were like stars, and her oval face looked delicate and charming. Her eyes were clear, and compared to her previous timid and hesitant appearance, she was much more lively and spirited.

She obediently knelt down and bowed, saying, "Xie Xing greets Grandmother."

Xie Xing touched the back of his hand with his head, which was a standard and grand gesture.

There was no sound from above, so Xie Xing maintained this posture for a while, listening to a slightly satisfied voice from above: "It seems that you haven't fallen behind in your studies these past two months."

"Get up."

Xie Xing got up as instructed.

"This must be my fifth sister?" She had just stood still when she saw a frail woman beside the old lady walking towards Xie Xing with a charming smile.

She affectionately took Xie Xing's little hand, looked Xie Xing up and down curiously, then turned to the old lady sitting above and said with a smile, "Grandmother, I think Fifth Sister is quite lovely. She is really beautiful."

No wonder she won Prince Jin's favor.

Xie Jiaojiao didn't say it aloud, but that's what she really thought.

Xie Xing turned to Xie Jiaojiao, a bright smile spreading across her face: "May I ask who this beautiful lady is?"

Xie Jiaojiao's eyes flickered, and she said, "Fifth Sister doesn't know me. My father and the General are brothers. I call the General Second Uncle."

"Cousin," Xie Xing readily changed her address.

Xie Jiaojiao's smile deepened.

Madam Xie sat at the head of the table and took a sip of tea: "Did your mother tell you that you would be staying with me to learn manners during this time?"

Xie Xing obediently replied, "I did."

Madam Xie beckoned to Xie Xing: "Child, come here."

Xie Xing walked a little closer to Old Madam Xie.

Madam Xie instructed the maidservant beside her to bring Xie Xing a chair and let her sit to her left.

Xie Xing looked up at Old Madam Xie.

She originally thought that Madam Xie would give her a hard time on the first day, after all, Madam Xie looked at her with such disgust, as if she were looking at something dirty.

Now she looks like a kind grandmother.

"Grandmother," Xie Xing called out.

Madam Xie smiled and said, "I've heard that you and your mother haven't been getting along lately?"

Xie Xing blinked, her voice soft and pleasant: "No, Grandmother, Mother doesn't like me around. She prefers my sister to me."

"Hmm." Old Madam Xie nodded: "No one in the Xie family dislikes your sister. Do you know why?"

Xie Xing looked up at the old lady.

The old lady was quite old, with many wrinkles on her face and her eyes looking somewhat cloudy, but beneath those cloudy eyes lay a calm and undisturbed depth, like a deep pool.

"Xie Xing is unaware; please enlighten me, Grandmother."

Madam Xie said, "Although your sister is not a biological daughter of the Xie family, she has been raised with the full care and attention of the Xie family since childhood. She has been taught the best teachers in poetry, literature and etiquette, and her food, clothing and daily necessities are of the highest quality."

“She was raised to be the Crown Princess from a young age.”

As she spoke, Madam Xie watched Xie Xing's expression, trying to see if she would show any resentment, jealousy, or bitterness.

Xie Xing's eyes remained as clear as ever.

Madam Xie then said, "I know you may harbor some resentment, but you must understand that for a clan, a carefully nurtured noblewoman is more important than blood ties."

Xie Xing suddenly realized something.

The old lady's words made her suddenly understand something.

Why did Madam Xie treat her biological daughter like dirt, but her adopted daughter like a treasure, and why did everyone in the Xie family treat her the same way?

It's not like what the system said—that they blindly pamper their children because of the plot.

Because of interests.

They wanted to gain something from Xie Mingzhu.

This realization finally made the hazy fog that had been shrouding Xie Xing's mind gradually clear.

This may seem like a mindless romantic comedy, but upon closer examination, it sends chills down your spine.

Xie Xing seemed to be deep in thought.

She began to recall the Xie family's recent attention to her.

First, there were her three older brothers who hadn't paid much attention to her before; second, there was Xie Ansheng, who had previously treated her like she was invisible; and then there were Madam Xie and Old Madam Xie...

It seemed that, without her realizing it, the Xie family had become inexplicably lenient towards her.

She used to be an eyesore to them, but now, although she is not as well treated as Xie Mingzhu in the Xie family, it seems that their dislike for her has disappeared overnight, and they have begun to pay more attention to her.

Because of what?

As Xie Xing pondered, a name surfaced in her mind.

It's because of Jun Lanjin.

Otherwise, there is no other reason.

After figuring it out, Xie Xing's smile became even brighter. She said, "Grandmother, I understand."

Madam Xie scrutinized her granddaughter.

I used to think she was crude and stupid, but now it seems she's not stupid after all; at least I can understand what she's saying.

He is someone who can be cultivated.

Madam Xie nodded and said, "It's good that you understand. I heard from your brother that you offended the Seventh Prince some time ago?"

Xie Xing pointed with both hands and said aggrievedly, "Grandmother, I don't like the Seventh Prince. After I fell off the cliff, that Seventh Prince bullied me."

Madam Xie frowned: "No matter how much you dislike him, he is still a prince."

Xie Xing said, "The prince doesn't like him either. Prince Jin told me that I saved his life, and if I suffer any injustice, I can talk to him and he will stand up for me."

Jun Lanjin never said such a thing.

However, that didn't stop Xie Xing from bringing up Jun Lanjin to silence the old lady.

If she wasn't mistaken, the reason for Madam Xie's change in attitude towards her was because she had become close to Jun Lanjin.

As expected, after Xie Xing said those words, the old lady choked on her own words.

She was somewhat astonished. Did Prince Jin really like this girl to this extent?

Xie Xing felt a little uneasy.

She clasped her hands slightly behind her back.

I don't know when it started, but she was able to lie without batting an eye.

However, that alone is far from enough.

She needs to truly gain the strength to contend with Luo Hanfeng and that masked man, otherwise she will truly only have the fate of being manipulated by poison.

Everyone has to face death eventually.

The old lady paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "What is your relationship with Prince Jin?"