Inside the general's mansion, everyone except Shen Zhiheng and Shen Yunqi was present, but they were unaware of what the two youngest members of the family had gone to do.

They were used to the two children disappearing all the time. Anyway, with Mianmian around, they could avoid danger in time, so there was no need to worry too much.

When the sound of horses neighing came from the doorway, Shen Yun slowly put on his clothes and went out to see what was going on, not in a hurry at all.

As a result, she actually saw someone she thought she would never see again.

"Aunt Ran?!?"

Her voice wasn't loud, and the people at the door didn't hear her. They were still turning around to get their bags from the car, while Shen Yunting had already rushed out, no longer showing any of her previous leisurely demeanor.

Reaching the door, she suppressed her impulse and carefully examined the four people in front of her. Her daughter had led her apprentice out, so she shouldn't be mistaken; the people in front of her were indeed Aunt Ran.

She made quite a commotion when she rushed out, and several people at the door noticed her. Liang Yueran was also a little stunned and didn't dare to go up and acknowledge her.

"Mother, please step aside so that Auntie can go in, and then we can drive the carriage in as well."

Shen Xingmian didn't know what her mother was daydreaming about, but it was strangely cold outside, so she could only urge her mother on.

A single sentence brought Shen Yunting back to her senses. She quickly took the bundle from Liang Yueran's hand and, somewhat incoherently, invited her inside.

Although Liang Yueran knew this was the Shen family home, she hadn't seen them for many years and was in this situation, so she was actually a little uneasy, afraid that she... wouldn't be welcome.

Before she came, she had already made up her mind that she would not eat and stay at the General's Mansion for free, nor would she be some "old lady". From now on, she would follow Wanrong and help with any chores.

When they left the capital, they brought their savings with them. If all else failed, they could rent a house near the General's Mansion.

She knew that everyone in the General's Mansion was a good person, but even a family can have friction, let alone two families living together.

Over time, disagreements are bound to arise, and she had to be prepared for the possibility of being kicked out. But Yun Ting's enthusiasm was so overwhelming that she couldn't handle it.

When Shen Yunting was still too young to remember things, her mother passed away. Although there were servants to take care of her at home, they were not the kind of relatives or elders she was supposed to have.

At that time, the Sheng family lived next door to them. There was a little girl of similar age to her, who was Sheng Xiange—Yanyue's mother.

So they naturally became friends and often visited each other.

It was in the Sheng family that she experienced what it felt like to have a mother who loved her.

Madam Sheng, who is now known as "Aunt Ran," not only did not look down on her for lacking a mother's education and being like a "crazy girl" like others, but also always prepared an extra set for her whenever she prepared things for her own daughter.

Sometimes he would wait for her to come over so she could take him back, and sometimes he would have someone deliver him directly to her house.

At that time, she was incredibly envious of Sheng Xiange, thinking that she was so lucky to have such a wonderful mother. Once, when the two of them were sleeping together and whispering to each other, she couldn't help but express her envy.

Sheng Xiange patted her chest and said righteously, "I think there are people outside who would recognize a godmother. How about I give you half of my mother, and you can be her daughter too? Then we can play together forever!"

Although it was just a joke between children, neither of them forgot it when they woke up the next day. Sheng Xiange even took her to find her mother after washing up, without even having breakfast, to talk about recognizing her as a godmother.

However, he was rejected.

She clearly remembered that Aunt Ran told her very solemnly that in her heart, she had long been another daughter of hers. However, the higher-ups were very wary of the two powerful officials getting close to each other, and if it were discovered, it might bring disaster to the whole family.

They lived in the capital, but they weren't really free. They were often being watched. The term "godmother" could be used as ironclad evidence of forming a clique if outsiders heard it.

Neither of their families can afford such a risk, so they should never bring it up again.

However, for many years after that, Aunt Ran did treat her like another daughter, allowing her to experience what it felt like to have a mother's love.

But later, things really did happen as Aunt Ran had said, especially after Xiange married Xiao Yangxu. The late emperor even directly warned the two families not to "be too close."

If they were just ordinary civil officials, it wouldn't be so bad, but since the Shen family were military officers, they were being watched even more closely.

In the following years, the two families gradually lost contact, and the late emperor even transferred Uncle Sheng away from the capital for three years in a way that was ostensibly a promotion but actually a demotion.

Not long after she returned, Uncle Sheng died unjustly, and Aunt Ran also disappeared without a trace. No matter how she inquired, she could not find a single clue.

It was probably to put the late emperor at ease and not implicate Xian Ge and Yan Yue that they did this.

Unexpectedly, the person she thought she would never see again was brought back so easily by her daughter, and it seems that she will continue to live at home.

This is wonderful!

She had never had the chance to repay Aunt Ran for taking care of her when she was little, but now she could finally do her part to repay her kindness, both for herself and for Xiange.

She carried two bundles in one hand and linked arms with Aunt Ran in the other, while also greeting Aunt Rong beside her, who had watched her grow up.

Shen Yunting felt like crying. She had already accepted the inevitable loss, but she never expected to have it back. How could she not be excited?

Along the way, she lost her only friend, Xian Ge, experienced the confiscation of her property and exile with nowhere to seek justice, her father nearly died from poisoning, and her elder brother and nephew both had their legs broken. Even now, thinking about each of these things still causes her immense pain.

Upon seeing her two aunts, she felt that life wasn't so bad after all.

She suppressed the urge to cry and led the person into the front hall. The kang (heated brick bed) there was still warm, so she quickly helped Aunt Ran sit down. Then she pulled over Aunt Rong, who was standing there looking a bit helpless, and made her sit down as well.

The two were initially a little reserved, but after her actions, they sat down obediently, feeling the warmth of the kang (heated brick bed), and couldn't help but reach out and touch it, finding it quite magical.

Shen Yunting quickly poured water to make tea. It wasn't slightly bitter tea leaves, which might make people too alert to sleep, but rather dried fruit made from roasted fruit, with rock sugar. It was sweet and sour, and very delicious.

She busied herself trying to conceal the turmoil in her heart, afraid that she might lose her composure.

By the time the two younger children came in from outside, she had regained her composure and was able to communicate normally.