CHAPTER 424: CHAPTER 392: THAT FIFTH YOUNG LADY IS YOUR NIECE?

Song Erlang and his wife went out to work on their business, leaving only the two sisters, Song Jiao and Song Qi, along with a maid, Yun Duo, and their nanny at home.

Song Qi was originally learning embroidery from Song Jiao. Upon hearing of Wen Wan’s visit, she quickly set aside her work and hurried out to welcome her, chatting about how she missed her third aunt while affectionately linking arms with Wen Wan.

With such enthusiasm from her niece, Wen Wan, being a senior, certainly wouldn’t rebuff a friendly face even if it was just a show, so she let Song Qi hold her arm. "Why were you thinking of me?"

Song Qi’s eyes twinkled, "Can’t I think of you for no reason?"

Wen Wan chuckled, "If you idle around thinking of me, wouldn’t my ears be burning all day and night?"

Unable to match her words, Song Qi asked, "Why did you suddenly think of visiting our house, Auntie?"

Wen Wan replied, "I had an errand nearby, so I thought I’d stop by to see what you two sisters are up to."

"We’re learning things!" Song Qi hurried to claim credit, "You see my hands? They’re almost full of holes from practicing embroidery. Am I diligent enough, Auntie?"

"Not bad, quite diligent indeed."

As they spoke, the two had already entered the house one after another.

Wen Wan casually picked up Song Qi’s half-finished embroidery work and saw a magpie on a plum-patterned belly band. Her gaze landed on a plump magpie and then at the indistinct plum beneath its feet, which didn’t quite resemble plum or bamboo, causing her to stifle a laugh.

Knowing her embroidery skills weren’t the best, Song Qi grinned and defended herself, "I’ve been working hard on improving lately."

While speaking, she glanced at Song Jiao, who was sitting on the kang bed, "Sister, isn’t that right?"

Song Jiao was helpless. It wasn’t suitable to criticize her sister in front of their aunt, so she reluctantly nodded in agreement that Song Qi had been trying hard recently.

...Trying very hard to figure out how to please their aunt to get more benefits.

Wen Wan knew well the temperaments of the sisters, both good and bad, without needing any reminders.

Glancing around the room, she didn’t see her nephew and asked, "Where is Duobao?"

Song Qi pouted, "That crybaby was staying with us sisters at home. Every time he woke up and didn’t see our mom, he’d cry his heart out until he was hoarse and wouldn’t stop. I’m no good at comforting him, so our mom had to take him to the stall."

Wen Wan didn’t comment; Song Duobao was still young and naturally needed his parents around.

"Auntie, please have a seat." Song Qi attentively helped her to a chair, then turned to make the best tea in the house for Wen Wan.

Seeing her aunt, Song Jiao put away her needlework and planned to sit down and chat.

Wen Wan glanced at her casually.

Being at home, the young girl dressed casually, but her outfit showed that she had put thought into it.

In terms of manners and posture, Song Jiao had indeed inherited the nanny’s teachings.

Compared to Song Qi’s impulsiveness, Song Jiao’s demeanor seemed steady and reassuring.

"Auntie, here, have some tea."

Song Qi handed over a tea cup.

Wen Wan accepted it and took a casual sip.

Seizing the chance, Song Qi said, "This is the best tea we have at home. Usually, my dad wouldn’t want to drink it, but the moment you arrived, I brewed it for you."

Wen Wan just smiled silently.

Song Jiao threw her sister a slightly exasperated glance; with the Song family’s wealth, they could have any tea they wanted. This wasn’t how you impressed someone.

Seeing that Wen Wan didn’t show much emotion, Song Qi continued to throw topics, "Auntie, you’re not here for another reason, are you?"

Wen Wan shook her head, saying there wasn’t another reason, she just dropped by for tea while passing through, and asked the sisters if they ever went out and saw anyone who looked like Sanyang.

The sisters both shook their heads, saying they hadn’t.

Song Jiao knew that her aunt wasn’t one to speak without purpose and asked, "Could it be that there’s news about Sanyang?"

"Not for now," Wen Wan sighed softly, "I’m just thinking, that girl’s been missing for far too long."

Song Qi straightforwardly said, "It’s not missing, clearly it’s..."

"What on earth is it?"

Song Qi has always been that way, young and without a filter, blurting out everything without considering it, "Back in Ningzhou, many people said a child like Sanyang couldn’t survive after getting lost from her parents under such circumstances, she must’ve been dead long ago."

"That’s not necessarily true." Wen Wan said, "After all, if we haven’t found the body, it means there’s still hope she’s alive."

"Houses collapsed and fell, who knows if she might be buried underground." Song Qi kept muttering, "I told her to stick with me carefully, it was her own clumsiness that got her lost, who could be blamed?"

"How could you still talk so coldly at a time like this!" Song Jiao rebuked, "Third Aunt said they haven’t found the body, which proves Sanyang might still be alive, can’t you wish for something good for your sister?"

Wish for Sanyang’s well-being?

Song Qi pressed her lips tightly together.

Back in those years before Duobao came, her parents would constantly say in her ear, "You’re the elder sister, eating a bit less is nothing, you must yield to your sister."

Just because Sanyang was younger, no matter what, whatever Song Er Ya had, they had to be given away.

Duobao was a son, so she could yield, but with Sanyang, why should she? They were both girls, both considered "money-losing goods," why did no one ever yield to her?

Sanyang went missing due to the earthquake, whether dead or alive, it was already a stretch for her not to gloat over the misfortune, and now they’re expecting her to hope for that dead girl to come back and snatch her things away?

Dream on!

Wen Wan was entirely unaware of Song Qi’s thoughts, seeing the two girls about to argue, she offered a few words to mediate before standing up and leaving the alley courtyard.

---

Wen Wan did not go straight home but headed to the Governor Mansion.

It was her first time proactively visiting Lin Xiaoyue.

Lin Xiaoyue was delighted when she heard of her arrival and personally went out to the gate to escort her inside, while walking inside she complained, "We’ve known each other all this time, and it’s always me coming to find you, finally you came to find me one time."

Wen Wan laughed and asked, "So here you are, staying at home all day waiting for me to come?"

"Isn’t it? I’ve almost turned gray waiting."

Lin Xiaoyue led her directly to her room and poured her some tea.

Once Wen Wan had taken the tea, Lin Xiaoyue sat down beside her, "Others might not know, but I understand you. You usually don’t come to the temple unless you need something. So, say it, why did you come to me today?"

Wen Wan stopped beating around the bush, "Has there been any banquets at Kangding Bo Mansion recently?"

Lin Xiaoyue asked, puzzled, "Do you want to go?"

"Mm."

"Aren’t you usually not fond of lively gatherings? Moreover, you don’t know Lady Kang Ding, or have you met her alone without me knowing?"

"Not at all." Wen Wan said, "I just want to meet someone."

"Who?"

Having reached this point, Wen Wan no longer kept it secret, "Let me tell you this, last year in the region of Ningzhou there was an earthquake, my second uncle’s family lost a daughter while escaping, we arranged people to search for her for half a year without any news until...a few days ago when we went to Fahua Temple, and on the way back I saw that person at the foot of Mile Mountain."

Lin Xiaoyue recalled the scenes of exchanging pleasantries with Lady Kang Ding that day, Wen Wan seemed to be beside her, talking all the time with the sickly fifth girl Li Huairu.

Suddenly remembering something, Lin Xiaoyue’s eyes widened, "No way, are you saying that sick, weak fifth miss is your second uncle’s child?"

"It’s not yet certain. That’s why I’m asking you to find a way for me to meet her again, I’ll bring someone this time, Li Huairu will be recognized as my niece at a glance."

Lin Xiaoyue found this hard to grasp, "How could your second uncle’s child possibly appear at Kangding Bo Mansion? This is the Capital, but the earthquake happened in Ningzhou, are you sure there was no mistake?"

"At first, I also found it unbelievable." Wen Wan sighed lightly, "Later, the Hidden Guard checked, and it turns out the Kangding Bo couple had gone back to their hometown before the earthquake last year, took their son there to pay respects to ancestors, and when they returned, their family had a fifth miss. I think this might not just be a coincidence."

Lin Xiaoyue sat up straight, "So according to you, that fifth miss is your niece. If she is your biological niece, why didn’t she react when she saw you?"

"I was quite puzzled too, but then I thought, when I initially went to Beijing, the little girl was only three, not remembering my face is quite normal."

"Well, this really is intriguing now." Lin Xiaoyue clicked her tongue twice, "I didn’t take Lady Kang Ding to be someone who would mistreat people, the little girl is raised with delicate skin and tender flesh, it’s clear she hasn’t suffered over there, they probably truly treat her like the legitimate miss, if my guess is correct, she’s living quite well now. When the time comes, what will you do? Insist on taking her back?"

Wen Wan pondered, "If the little girl really is my niece, we can’t just let her not recognize her own biological parents because someone else treats her well, right?"