Chapter Three: Her Biological Parents Have Come to Take Her Home

Wei Ruo gazed at the two matrons in silence for quite some time.

Just as the women who had come to fetch her began to suspect that Wei Ruo was simply too overwhelmed with joy to react, she finally spoke, her voice calm and even: "I understand."

To learn that she was not an abandoned child of a merchant family but rather the cherished daughter of the Commandant’s residence—a sudden and dramatic rise in status—yet her reaction was so composed?

The two matrons exchanged doubtful glances.

"Miss, do you really comprehend? We’re from the Commandant’s residence—your Wei family ancestors earned distinguished merits. Once you return with us, you will be a proper young lady of an official household." The woman reiterated her point, suspecting that Wei Ruo’s tranquility stemmed from ignorance of the weight the Commandant’s residence carried.

"Yes, I heard you," Wei Ruo replied, her face as serene as ever.

Her composure was not feigned; she had long known this day would come.

And what good would it do to lose her composure? The He family, who had sent her away to fend for herself in this outlying estate, had no affection for her. They would welcome—indeed, eagerly seek—any connection to the Commandant’s residence through fate’s mistake.

The Wei family, being one of standing, would never let their true-born daughter languish outside once the error was made known. Bringing her back was inevitable.

"Then, Miss, please come with us. We’ll take you to meet your real parents at the Commandant’s residence. You need not return to the He family; our master has already explained everything to them, and they have no objections to you leaving for the Commandant’s residence," the matron urged once more, seeing that Wei Ruo had grasped the situation.

This rural place, crawling with snakes, rats, and insects, filth and poverty everywhere—no place fit for anyone.

Wei Ruo knew well that the He family harbored no objections. They had never cared for her and were only too glad to climb the ladder of the Commandant’s house; whatever was said, they would acquiesce.

"I need to return and pack my things first."

"There’s no need to bring anything from here. The Commandant’s residence has all you’ll need."

What good things could she possibly have here? Better to abandon them for something new.

"I’m used to my own belongings."

Though the two matrons grumbled inwardly, they dared not voice their displeasure to the future mistress of the house and could only comply.

Wei Ruo finished planting the rice seedlings before leaving the paddy, tidied herself, then led Xiuying inside to begin packing.

Unlike the dilapidated outer walls, the interior was furnished with a certain refinement.

She gathered her things, taking with her all of value, including several jars stored in the shed and the dried medicinal herbs. Before leaving, she entrusted the newly planted paddy to Old Li and his wife at the village entrance, leaving behind a letter for Old Li to deliver to her nursemaid.

Seeing the baggage Wei Ruo had packed, the matrons’ faces turned sour, especially at the sight of those pitch-black, battered jars.

Truly a child raised in the countryside—she considered even such broken jars treasures.

They wanted to persuade her not to bring such things, useless as they would be in the Commandant’s residence, but realized there was little point; she wouldn’t understand, and it would only waste their words. Best to let her be.

Thus, under the matrons’ arrangements, all of Wei Ruo’s belongings were loaded onto the cart. Wei Ruo and Xiuying boarded the carriage, setting off for the Commandant’s residence.

The journey took three days, carrying Wei Ruo from the small mountain village in Huai Bei Town, where she had lived for ten years, all the way to Xing Shan County in Taizhou Prefecture.

Her birth father, Wei Mingtin, served as Commandant there.

The Wei family’s ancestors had produced military officers and were ennobled as Barons of Loyalty and Righteousness, but by her grandfather’s generation, the family’s fortunes were waning. If the younger generation failed to achieve something noteworthy, their barony would be reclaimed.

Wei Ruo’s father’s generation comprised three sons.

The eldest, Wei Minghong, had passed only the preliminary civil service exam and, having yet to progress further, held a minor post in the capital.

The second, Wei Mingyong, held no official rank, merely assisting in the family business, which had been suffering losses year after year.

Wei Ruo’s father, Wei Mingtin, the third son, had pursued a military career and, now the most accomplished of the brothers, held the sixth rank as Commandant of Renown, stationed in Xing Shan County.

Led by the two matrons, Wei Ruo entered through a side gate, passed beneath the ornate archway, and along the covered walkway to her mother Yun’s quarters.

No sooner had Wei Ruo crossed the threshold than Yun hurried forward, embracing her tightly.

Wei Ruo stiffened, her limbs leaden and unresponsive.

Yun said nothing, only wept as she stroked Wei Ruo’s face, her eyes red with tears.

Feeling the warmth of those tears against her neck, Wei Ruo was taken aback.

She’s crying?

Though she had braced herself for this moment, the genuine touch of Yun’s tears stirred an unexpected tremor deep within her heart.

Perhaps it was the influence of the original owner’s memories—or perhaps it was the memory of her own mother, who had died tragically in her past life.

"Mother, don’t be sad. Isn’t it a good thing that little sister has come home? We should be happy," the eldest son, Wei Yichen, stepped forward to console Yun, lest she grieve too deeply.

Since the truth of the switched children came to light ten days ago, their mother had shed countless tears.

She was not one to cry easily, except this once—again and again.

At her son’s gentle urging, Yun calmed herself.

Looking Wei Ruo up and down, she saw the coarse linen clothes and the thin frame, and her heart ached. "You’ve suffered all these years! Mother will make it up to you!"

At that moment, Wei Qingwan stepped forward and knelt before Wei Ruo.

Before anyone could react, she bowed her head to the floor.

Startled, Yun quickly moved to help her up. "Wanwan, what are you doing?"

"Mother, please don’t stop me. This is what I owe my elder sister. No matter how long I kneel, it can never make up for the years I’ve enjoyed her good fortune, but at least... I must do something..."

Tears filled Wei Qingwan’s eyes as she spoke earnestly.

Seeing her like this, Yun’s heart ached all the more.

How could children be at fault? Both were innocent; if blame was to be cast, let it be on fate—or on the parents themselves.

Wei Yichen, too, looked pained, his hand half-extended to help Wei Qingwan up, only to withdraw.

Wei Ruo looked at the kneeling Wei Qingwan, recognizing from her manner and words that this was the delicate heroine of the original novel.

The book described her as gentle, alluring, tender as water—men could not help but feel pity for her.

Wei Ruo remembered that, in the novel, when the original owner first entered the household, Wei Qingwan had knelt just as she did now. The original owner, however, had not been so calm—she had angrily accused Wei Qingwan of stealing her place, her parents, her family.

Then Wei Qingwan had wept all the harder, quietly enduring the accusations, saying it was only what she deserved. This, in turn, made Yun, who should have felt for her newly returned daughter, feel instead more sympathy for the unjustly scolded Wei Qingwan.