Volume 1, Chapter 4: The True Heiress is a Mastermind 4

The moment the young man stepped over the threshold, his brows knitted tightly as his gaze fixed sharply on An Qianqian, a protective fire flickering in his tone: “Causing trouble the moment you return home? If Ruowei is your sister, how can you behave like this...”

Before he could finish, he abruptly stopped.

The girl before him was stunning beyond words, especially her eyes. When she blinked, they were an exact mirror of their mother, Cheng Mingyue, in her youth.

She looked so harmless, utterly incapable of bullying anyone.

No matter what she said, it had to be justified by her appearance!

The harsh words that had been on the tip of the boy’s tongue suddenly caught in his throat. He swallowed them back, stiffened his neck, and felt an inexplicable flush rise in his cheeks.

Cheng Mingyue, seeing her son’s awkward demeanor, couldn’t help but scold him, stepping forward and giving his back a sharp pat.

“You brat! You just walked in here acting all high and mighty. Did you even see clearly before shouting nonsense? Your sister just came back, and instead of protecting her as her brother, you’re the first to accuse her?”

The boy stumbled back from the pat, scratched his head, and looked at An Qianqian’s face, unable to say anything harsher.

“Sister, I’m sorry. Fifth brother was reckless. Just now, I heard noises at the door and thought you might be unsettled from returning, so I got anxious and spoke nonsense.”

An Qianqian didn’t even lift her eyelids; she held her tea cup, softly blowing the froth away, and gave a faint “Hmm,” signaling acknowledgment.

An Huantuo’s heart skipped a beat. Her reaction was far too indifferent!

She didn’t take his apology seriously at all!

This was bad. The first impression was ruined.

Would this newly recognized sister now put him on her “annoying” list and avoid him from then on?

He sneaked a glance at An Qianqian lowering her eyelids to sip tea, his palms sweating with anxiety. What was he going to do now...?

Cheng Mingyue watched her youngest son fidgeting uneasily and chuckled inwardly. She quickly smoothed things over:

“Qianqian just came back, there are many family members here, she probably hasn’t recognized everyone yet. Come, let mother introduce them to you.”

She first pointed to two women seated at the head of the room. “These are your eldest and second aunt. Your eldest and second uncles often serve away from home, so it’s thanks to them that the household is well looked after.”

An Qianqian lifted her eyes and bowed to the two women, who returned warm smiles.

They each presented her with gifts, no less valuable than the headpiece Cheng Mingyue had earlier given her.

“These are your eldest brother and sister-in-law, second brother and sister-in-law, and third brother and sister-in-law,” Cheng Mingyue continued, gesturing to three couples on the other side.

“Your eldest brother, Huancheng, is steady and now the heir apparent, often handling matters for His Majesty; your second brother, Huanqi, works at the Hanlin Academy and is very meticulous; your third brother, Huanyang, is younger, training within the capital’s garrison, and has a lively temperament.”

The three brothers nodded in turn, each handing a gift to An Qianqian.

The sisters-in-law did not fall behind, producing sets of sparkling jewelry one more dazzling than the last.

An Qianqian accepted them all expressionlessly, unmoved inwardly.

***

The rules of the Rongguo Duke’s residence were evidently strict—even among sisters-in-law, decorum was maintained, unlike the casualness of rural life.

Cheng Mingyue patted her fifth son’s arm again. “This is your fifth brother, Huantuo. Don’t take his words to heart—he’s like a firecracker, quick to explode but just as quick to burn out. Deep down, he’s fiercely protective.”

An Huantuo’s cheeks flushed even deeper at his mother’s words. He scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, “Sister, don’t mind me. Fifth brother is just clumsy with words.”

“You already apologized earlier; I don’t mind,” An Qianqian said calmly.

Her words instantly lightened the mood in the room.

Eldest brother An Huancheng nodded first. “Sister is magnanimous. Huantuo, you should be more composed in your actions going forward.”

An Huantuo quickly agreed, flashing a grin at An Qianqian, the tension in his eyes easing considerably.

Second aunt smiled wisely, “Young people bicker sometimes. Tomorrow, I’ll punish him by making him accompany you to the Jade and Pearl Shop. Since you just arrived, you’ll need to buy some clothes and jewelry. In three days, there will be your recognition banquet—more clothes will make dressing easier.”

“Go! Mother, I will accompany sister tomorrow.”

An Huantuo was thrilled at the chance to spend time alone with his sister.

An Ruowei’s eyes lit up, and she hurried over to Cheng Mingyue, tugging at her sleeve gently. “Mother, the Jade and Pearl Shop recently received a new batch of southern pearls. I’ve wanted to see them for days. Since Fifth Brother is going with sister, can I follow too? I can help sister choose. Sister just came back, so she probably isn’t familiar with what’s fashionable in the capital.”

She glanced at An Qianqian with an innocent smile. “Sister won’t find me a bother, right? I promise to behave and not speak recklessly.”

Cheng Mingyue found this reasonable and smiled, “Alright, the two of you sisters can take this opportunity to get to know each other better.”

An Huantuo’s heart skipped again. Now there was an extra person?

He wouldn’t get to go shopping alone with his beautiful sister?

But since Mother had spoken, he couldn’t object and reluctantly nodded, “Fine, the more the merrier.”

An Qianqian didn’t even lift her eyelids, replying indifferently, “Whatever.”

To her, going to the Jade and Pearl Shop was just another place to squander money—whether more people or fewer made no difference.

[System detected host’s desire to go shopping. As a spendthrift system, how could it not let the host display grandeur? New mission: Complete a lavish spending task by midnight tomorrow. Reward: ten thousand taels of gold!]

Cheng Mingyue sighed in relief upon seeing An Qianqian’s lack of objection.

This child clearly had a calm temperament; she’d feared something might cause estrangement between them.

“Qianqian, tomorrow go to the account office and draw one thousand taels of silver. If it’s not enough, just make a note of it.”

“All as Mother says,” An Qianqian replied evenly.

An Ruowei’s eyes widened like copper bells, nearly twisting the handkerchief in her grasp to shreds.

No way!

She only earned twenty taels a month and was stingy enough to weigh the cost of a silver hairpin. How could Mother allow this rustic girl to spend a thousand taels at once?!

***

Was it because she was a biological daughter that she was more favored?

This favoritism was so blatant it belonged at her grandmother’s house!

They had insisted from the start that this adopted daughter was no different from a biological one.

Over the years, her five brothers had doted on their only sister dearly, yet this country bumpkin came and stole the spotlight immediately.

How infuriating!

And a thousand taels!

Had this village girl ever seen so much money?

She probably couldn’t even recognize what silver looked like and would just throw it away.

Most likely, the Jade and Pearl Shop clerks would cheat her blind, leaving her with nothing but her underwear!

An Ruowei felt a bubbling bitterness but forced a sweet smile, “Sister is so lucky; Mother treats you so well.”

An Qianqian slowly set her tea cup down, raising her eyes without a flutter of her lashes, her tone as flat as commenting on the weather: “After all, I am Mother’s true daughter. If she doesn’t treat me well, then who else? She can’t possibly devote all her attention to strangers—that would be unreasonable.”

She paused, glancing at An Ruowei’s clenched handkerchief, adding, “Besides, blood is blood. No matter how others try, they can never truly replace it.”

She was too indifferent to argue but found An Ruowei’s constant buzzing like a fly at her ear truly tiresome.

An Ruowei’s tears spilled like a broken string of pearls as she whimpered, shrinking into Cheng Mingyue’s embrace: “Mother... I didn’t mean that... I’m just... just happy for sister...”

While crying, she furtively watched An Mingxia’s expression, her voice choked with sobs, “I know I’m adopted and never dared compete with sister... but if sister says that... does it mean I’m superfluous in the household? If sister doesn’t like me, then... then I’ll move out right away...”

Though seemingly self-pitying, every word was a dirty insinuation against An Qianqian.

Openly, she claimed to be unnecessary, but covertly, she implied that An Qianqian couldn’t tolerate an adopted daughter and was scheming.

An Huantuo, already annoyed by An Ruowei’s sobbing, frowned deeply at her increasingly unreasonable words and snapped: “Crying, crying, crying, all you do is cry! Such a fine day spoiled by your tears, the family’s fortune is about to run away!”

He stepped forward two paces, towering over An Ruowei curled in Cheng Mingyue’s arms, his tone tinged with impatience: “The Rongguo Duke’s household has raised you for so many years, never lacking in food, clothing, or daily expenses. Your monthly allowance comes on time, new clothes are made every season, always treating you like a proper lady. And yet, just because Qianqian speaks a truthful word, you cry and threaten to move out? Are you unhappy with how the family treats you?”

An Ruowei’s face flushed red and pale by turns, her sobs weakening. She could only bury herself in Cheng Mingyue’s arms, feigning sorrow.

An Huantuo ignored her and turned to An Qianqian, his tone softening with forced warmth: “Sister, don’t mind her. Let’s go see your new courtyard—it’s just been tidied up. I’m sure you’ll like it! Let’s go quickly; don’t linger here to catch bad luck.”

Without waiting for An Qianqian’s consent, he grabbed her wrist and strode out swiftly, as if something were chasing him from behind.

As soon as they left, Cheng Mingyue promptly pushed An Ruowei aside.