Chapter Seven: Mother! Sisters!

Who could possibly offend anyone?!

Lady Xie Thirteen?!

After all, the ones speaking most fiercely now are the Xie family. It’s clear that the Xie and Xue families haven’t split up yet—they must be together—so it’s impossible to tell who first uttered those words.

Xue Fanzhi shook her head, saying, “I haven’t offended anyone, so I cannot fathom why she would wish me harm.”

“He? She?” Minglan seized upon the crucial detail. “Then you know who it is?!”

Xue Fanzhi thought of her dream, her hand unconsciously resting upon her lower abdomen.

Her elder sister, Xue Jiaoyue, was her twin, born of the same mother. Their mother, Lady Jin, had four children in all; the eldest brother and second brother were twins as well, though they resembled each other closely, while she and Jiaoyue did not. Take the incident where the refugees scattered their group: whether in her previous life or this one, Jiaoyue never left the convoy—for the sake of pleasing Lady Xie Thirteen, Jiaoyue gave up her carriage for Xie Thirteen’s maid, and she herself rode in the ox cart with Hongxiao and the others.

Meanwhile, Jiaoyue shared a carriage with Lady Xie Thirteen. The Wang-Xie clan was wealthy and powerful, with numerous guards, all protecting Xie Thirteen and, by extension, Jiaoyue. In her past life, Fanzhi never suspected anything, nor did her thoughts drift in that direction. But now, reflecting upon it, aside from Jiaoyue, who could have forewarned their mother about her encounter with refugees? Who could have convinced her mother she’d been defiled?

Her mother believed so firmly, so decisively, even to the point of wishing her dead.

Xue Fanzhi said, “Could you ask your people to find out whether my mother is resting ahead, and whether my sister Jiaoyue has been with Lady Xie Seventeen all along? Have they reunited with my mother?”

Minglan looked at Xue Fanzhi. “Your own sister?”

Xue Fanzhi’s gaze turned icy. “I hope I’m mistaken.”

But Xue Fanzhi was disappointed. When she and Minglan caught up to her mother’s party, her mother and Jiaoyue were preparing to set out, intending to return to Jiankang ahead of her, heedless of her fate.

Without protection, without money, if truly abandoned, the three women would be left to sell themselves or die.

Xue Fanzhi recalled that in her previous life, her mother and Jiaoyue had also departed early. She survived only because Xiao Yi found her and brought her to reunite with her elder brother. When she returned to her grand uncle’s house in Jiankang and asked her mother why she hadn’t waited, her mother replied, “Didn’t you make it back? Why fuss over such things?!”

And then she truly let it go, forgot all about it...

No wonder Xiao Yi always called her foolish!

Recalling the past, Xue Fanzhi realized she truly had been foolish. In this life, she resolved to ask clearly—who was spreading rumors, what her mother truly thought, how she could abandon her so easily.

Within the finely crafted military tent, a woman sat upright, dressed in a pink curved-collar robe and adorned with jewels. Her features were striking, well maintained, though dark circles marred her eyes and bloodshot veins betrayed exhaustion.

Behind her stood a young girl, her hair adorned with a ruby peach blossom ornament. The girl bore little resemblance to the woman, but their closeness was evident; they were Lady Jin and Xue Jiaoyue.

Seeing Xue Fanzhi appear hale and whole, accompanied by a noblewoman whose name she could not recall, Jiaoyue stood behind Lady Jin, her cold, resentful gaze flashing before she spoke, “Sister, how did those refugees let you go? Mother and I were worried sick!”

Her words implied that Xue Fanzhi had indeed been among the refugees.

Lady Jin promptly asked, “How could those refugees possibly let you off? What did you promise them to return? Don’t you dare disgrace the Xue family—your elder brothers are still awaiting marriage proposals!”

It had always been so; whatever Jiaoyue said, mother would fret and scold, never questioning its truth.

Even in so grave a matter, they wouldn’t seek confirmation from her, the person involved. Xue Fanzhi felt an indescribable bitterness, nearly brought to tears.

Minglan, seeing her so useless, rolled her eyes. “What are you crying for?”

Then, facing Jiaoyue and Lady Jin, she said, “Who says Fanzhi was with refugees? Am I a refugee? Seeing the Xie family’s carriage, I hurried over. Fanzhi didn’t even need to run—she was rescued by me. Where were the refugees? It seems you’re insulting me!”

Noting their stunned expressions, Minglan raised her brows. “Forgot to introduce myself—I am Minglan by childhood name, titled Princess Zhaoyang. Since you hail from Huaichu, you should know my name. Consider whether I am capable of rescuing someone.”

“Princess Zhaoyang!”

The famed princess, orphaned yet much favored, skilled in martial arts?!

Lady Jin, merchant-born, possessed a natural awe of nobility and an eager desire to curry favor. She quickly pulled Jiaoyue to kneel.

Seeing Xue Fanzhi still standing, Lady Jin scolded, “Why aren’t you curtsying to the princess? What are you standing there for?!”

Xue Fanzhi was speechless.

Minglan laughed. “I’ve already recognized Fanzhi as my sworn sister. Courtesies are a private matter between us; you needn’t concern yourself.”

“Sworn sister?!” Lady Jin’s eyes lit up. “Is the princess serious? Has the clan patriarch agreed?”

Jiaoyue’s face showed skepticism, yet she listened intently.

Minglan nodded. “Once we reach Jiankang, I’ll speak to my royal uncle!”

The relationship was not yet formalized.

In these times, the aristocratic clans held sway, controlling all social resources. Even sworn kinship between clans required clan approval to prevent commoners from using such ties to climb the social ladder.

Jiaoyue secretly sighed in relief.

Lady Jin remained delighted. “Regardless, it is Fanzhi’s blessing to win the princess’s favor!”

She then urged Xue Fanzhi, “Hurry and thank the princess! Without her, you would have disgraced the clan!”

Now, with the princess, no one dared say she’d been defiled; she had been with the princess. To accuse her of such was to accuse Princess Minglan herself—who would dare?

Xue Fanzhi now understood why Xiao Yi had entrusted her to Minglan rather than escorting her himself.

In her past life, she hadn’t run back, hadn’t rescued Wenxian, so she met her elder brother and Cheng Ye directly, without Xiao Yi’s intervention.

Though she disliked seeing Xiao Yi, she had to admit that in this life, he had done her a great favor. A life unmarred by slander was a most auspicious beginning.

With her reputation secured, Xue Fanzhi invited Minglan to sit, then, obeying Lady Jin’s instructions, thanked her sincerely.

Minglan lifted her hand. “There’s no need between us!”

Then, turning to Lady Jin, she said, “Madam, I am curious. Fanzhi hadn’t caught up yet; your daughter was still behind, possibly killed by refugees, her fate unknown. In such circumstances, how could you leave early? Did you no longer wish for this daughter?”