Shen Yuan sat on the edge of the bed, letting Granny Liu lean on her shoulder, and quietly listened to Granny Liu recount the events of seventeen years ago.

She didn't deliberately ask what had happened seventeen years ago, nor did she ask what kind of woman her mother was.

She listened quietly as Granny Liu talked about whatever came to mind.

As the sun gradually moved from the horizon to the center of the sky, Shen Yuan finally finished listening to Granny Liu's recollections.

Granny Liu was so tired from talking that she fell asleep.

Shen Yuan was in a good mood today, so she rolled up her sleeves and cooked a meal herself.

Xiao Jinmeng bought a lot of fresh meat and vegetables at the market, and also bought several crucian carp. The crucian carp were especially delicious this time of year, large in size, and even had roe inside.

Shen Yuan stewed two crucian carp into a crucian carp, radish, and tofu soup, and stir-fried the rest. Before serving, she sprinkled a handful of large scallion leaves on top, instantly bringing out the aroma of the crucian carp and making people's mouths water.

In less than an hour, the Gastrodia elata and Ligusticum striatum pork rib soup, stir-fried loofah with tender pork, stir-fried toon leaves with eggs, stir-fried pickled cabbage with dried tofu, steamed locust flowers with sesame oil, cucumber salad with catnip, and two fish dishes made by Shen Yuan were all ready. Six dishes and two soups filled a large table.

Doctor Jiang sat down at the table, glanced at the delicious-looking dishes, and chuckled, "It's a pity the old man didn't come to the capital with me; he won't have the chance to enjoy this feast!"

Shen Yuan has been busy since last night and hasn't had a chance to ask Doctor Jiang why he came to the capital, or why Old Master Murong didn't come with him.

Upon hearing Doctor Jiang mention it, he asked, "Master, why didn't Elder Murong come to the capital with you?"

Doctor Jiang said, "I came to the capital to visit relatives. He stayed in Jizhou and was held up by a student. He will probably have to stay in Jizhou for another half a month."

"I see." Shen Yuan shrugged and smiled. "But it's alright. When Mr. Murong arrives, I can cook even more delicious food for you!"

Doctor Jiang: "Okay!"

During the meal, Shen Yuan kept adding food to Liu Mama's plate.

Granny Liu was frightened yesterday, which greatly damaged her health. She needs to replenish her qi and blood.

After finishing their meal, Granny Liu suddenly asked Shen Yuan, "Yuan Yuan, are we going back to the General's Mansion?"

After a moment of deep thought, Shen Yuan shook her head: "I'm not going back... I don't want to be the young lady of the General's Mansion anymore. I just want to be Grandma's granddaughter, an ordinary medicine seller, just like I am now."

"Can't!"

Granny Liu said sternly, "Yuanyuan, you are of the bloodline of the General's Mansion. You should have been raised by Jin Jiaoyu, just like the noble ladies of the capital! But because of that poisonous woman Jiang Qingshuang, you have been left to wander outside and suffered greatly!"

"You shouldn't have to suffer these hardships, and you shouldn't have enjoyed those blessings like Jiang Qingshuang and her children! Whether it's your status as the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion, or the power and wealth of the General's Mansion, all of these should belong to you. You are your mother's daughter! You should take them back for yourself!"

Shen Yuan was somewhat taken aback upon hearing this.

But it cannot be denied that what Granny Liu said was indeed very true.

Why should her mother suffer so much, while Jiang Qingshuang and her child enjoy seventeen years of happiness that should have belonged to her and her mother?

It's not enough for Jiang Qingshuang to be imprisoned; Shen Yunjin, Shen Changshu, and Shen Qingshu should also pay the price for the wrongdoings their mothers committed!

Thinking of this, Shen Yuan grasped Liu Mama's hand, "Grandma, I understand what you mean."

Granny Liu: "Your mother died in Shenyang City. She had just finished her postpartum confinement and had been traveling all the way without having a proper meal. She also had to breastfeed you two. Before she died, she was skin and bones. I buried her in Shenyang City myself. Her grave has not yet been marked with a tombstone."

“Yuanyuan, you must go back and have your father, in the name of the General’s Mansion, send someone to move your mother’s grave to the capital. Have a monument erected for her in the Shen family so that her wandering soul can finally rest in peace. Do you understand?”

Shen Yuan nodded: "...I understand."

Granny Liu added, "Besides, you haven't found your brother yet."

"elder brother?"

“His name is Shen Duan. Before your mother died, she entrusted you and your brother to me. When I was carrying you and your brother to escape from the pursuers, I accidentally fell off a cliff. Logically, he should have been lying in my arms like you. But I don’t know why, when I woke up, I only saw you at the bottom of the cliff, and I only picked you up and took you back.”

“He is also your mother’s child, so Yuanyuan, you must find him.”

"Okay, I will definitely find my brother!"

Shen Yuan agreed and decided to return to the General's Mansion.

Granny Liu also wanted to go back with her.

But this time, Shen Yuan decided to return to the General's Mansion alone.

Granny Liu is injured and cannot be subjected to any more trouble. Moreover, Granny Liu was already feeling guilty for being beaten and injured because of her, so how could she possibly bring Granny Liu into danger again?

Xiao Ling has already revealed his martial arts skills and appearance to Shen Wei, so Shen Wei must have guessed his identity by now.

Xiao Jinmeng was still a child, and Shen Yuan didn't want to take her into danger again.

So after Granny Liu's health gradually improved, Shen Yuan returned to the General's Mansion alone.

Upon hearing that Shen Yuan had returned, Shen Wei and Madam Shen were overjoyed. Madam Shen even came to the study to see Shen Yuan. She held Shen Yuan's hand, tears streaming down her face.

"So you really are my granddaughter! You've suffered so much all these years!"

Shen Yuan withdrew her hand without showing any emotion, and said in a calm tone, "Madam, please don't be sad. Fortunately, I shouldn't have to suffer anymore."

Because the ones who deserve to suffer are those evil people who hurt her and her mother!

Madam Shen, however, thought that Shen Yuan meant that she had returned to the General's Mansion as the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion, and naturally she would no longer have to suffer.

So, Madam Shen smiled and wiped away her tears: "Yuanyuan is right, Grandma will take good care of you from now on!"

"Do you love me like you love Yun Jin? Or do you love me even more than you love Yun Jin and your two younger brothers, Chang Shu and Qing Shu?"

"This..." Old Madam Shen hesitated for a moment, then immediately smiled and said, "You are all my grandchildren, of course I love you all the same!"

Shen Yuan smiled but remained silent.

After thinking for a moment, Madam Shen continued, "Yuanyuan, although you, Yunjin, Changshu, and Qingshu are not born of the same mother, all four of you are your father's children! Your father has already sent Jin'er's mother to Dali Temple as you wished, so this matter is considered settled. From now on, you must get along well with your younger brother and sister, do you understand?"

Shen Yuan did not answer directly upon hearing this, but instead looked at Shen Wei: "Is this also Father's intention?"

Shen Wei leaned against the bedside and lowered his head when he heard Shen Yuan ask this question, not daring to look Shen Yuan in the eye.

Shen Yuan then knew the answer.

She let out a soft snort, very soft, yet full of mockery.

Shen Yuan said, "Since this is Father and Grandmother's wish, then Yuan'er will naturally obey and get along well with her younger siblings. After all, we are all family!"