A heavily guarded carriage entered Anqing County, attracting the attention of many people. The people inside seemed completely oblivious to the commotion outside; the curtains on the carriage remained completely still.

Anqing County is a small place with few officials, so the group became excited about this rare piece of gossip.

"Is this carriage the insignia of the county magistrate? I wonder who's riding in it?" A short, stout man in a long gown asked, his eyes shining.

"Hey, you guys didn't know this, did you?" A middle-aged man with a beard stood to the side, shaving his beard and looking smug.

"Big Mouth Hu, I didn't expect you to still have news. Tell me quickly." The short, fat man recognized the bearded man.

The bearded man was a well-known gossip in Anqing County. He was called Hu Dazui or Hu Daqun. He gained fame because he revealed gossip about a wealthy man's family a few days in advance.

Hu Dazui was flattered and felt even more smug. His desire to confide in others grew stronger. He had many brothers and was easy to get along with. He had friends in various places, and with so many friends, he knew a lot. He thought about the Lin family's carriage and remembered the steward on duty at the Lin residence complaining that they were going to pick up the second young lady of the Taoist temple. He guessed that this must be the carriage that was picking up the second young lady of the Lin family.

He stroked his beard: "The second young lady of the Lin family is inside this carriage."

"The Lin family's second young lady? The Lin family has a second young lady? Hu Dazui, you're not lying, are you?" someone questioned.

Feeling a little guilty after being suspected, Hu Dazui realized it was just his guess, but since he'd already spoken, he wanted to protect his reputation. He glared defiantly at the man who had questioned him, "When have I, Hu Dazui, ever told a lie? If you don't believe me, don't listen!"

“Miss Lin, I do remember her. My aunt’s second son’s sister-in-law’s cousin works at the Lin family. Miss Lin was born to a concubine. I heard she is very ugly and also brings bad luck to the family, so the county magistrate sent her to a Taoist temple to be raised.”

Hu Dazui, emboldened by the conversation, joined in the refrain of how ugly Miss Lin was. Those who had been following the carriage, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauty, dispersed in disappointment. By the time they arrived at the Lin residence, only Qingyin and a group of guards remained.

The commotion reached the house, but none of the people turned their attention to the person they were guarding. Only Aunt He and the expectant little black-hearted boy stared at the door.

"Arou?" Aunt He exclaimed in surprise.

She had imagined what her eldest daughter, who was all alone away from home, would look like—timid as a mouse, ugly—but she never imagined that her daughter would have such indescribable beauty and noble temperament.

Not to mention being timid or insecure, her demeanor far surpassed that of the pampered young lady from the Lin family. She seemed to be a noblewoman from a wealthy family, someone to be admired from afar but not to be trifled with. Aunt He couldn't describe it; that kind of majesty had never even appeared in the master.

"This is her daughter?" Aunt He couldn't believe her eyes, but upon seeing her, a feeling of blood ties reminded her that this was her eldest daughter. Thinking of her neglect over the years, a wave of guilt washed over her, and she dared not look into her eldest daughter's eyes. But Lin Chenke in her arms was restless, his bright eyes fixed on Qingyin in front of him, and he started to flutter about. Aunt He couldn't resist him and had to put him down.

He ran to Qingyin in a few strides and hugged her legs, his eyes filled with admiration: "Fairy Sister!"

Qingyin blinked, looking at the unfamiliar child who resembled Aunt He somewhat. She understood that this was Aunt He's youngest son. Remembering how cold the boy had been to the original owner in her previous life, she didn't hug him. Instead, she gave Zeng Li a look, and Zeng Li, who already had a tacit understanding with Qingyin, grabbed the chubby little boy and held him firmly in his hand.

Ignoring the shocked looks from the others who had come to investigate, Qingyin walked up to Lin's father and aunt, bowed, and said, "Daughter greets Father, and greets Madam and Aunt."

Her movements were neither humble nor arrogant; her bowing was as standard as if she had been trained, yet it possessed a unique charm that was stunningly beautiful.

Mr. Lin was shocked. He knew that girls change a lot as they grow up, but his second daughter had changed too much!

This face... He said he had never seen such a stunning beauty when he was taking the imperial examinations in the capital. Compared to his other daughters, she was worlds apart. One was like the lone moon in the sky, and the other was like a grain of sand on the ground. There was no comparison. Thinking of the benefits that this beautiful face would bring, the passion in the man's eyes deepened.

"Well, now that you're back, prepare well. The talent show is just around the corner. I'll find you a nanny to teach you properly. If you have any requests, just tell me."

Lin's father's enthusiasm was remarkable, but Lin Mengya and Lin Heyu, who had been fiercely competing, could no longer control him. The two stared blankly at their stunning second sister/elder sister, their eyes filled with disbelief.

How can someone look like this? With such a beauty, what need is there for them?

"Thank you, Father." Qingyin lowered her thick eyelashes and obediently replied. Her obedient appearance made Lin's father's smile deepen, and he also felt a rare sense of guilt towards his second daughter, with whom he had spent so little time.

"Alright, let's talk about it when we get back to the manor," said Lin's father considerately. Only then did everyone present remember that the second young lady had just returned from her journey.

When someone suggested it, Qingyin naturally wouldn't refuse. On her way back to the inner courtyard, she left the servants of the Lin family in a daze. The servants who had already witnessed the Second Miss's beauty felt a strange sense of pride, since they were the ones who had seen the Second Miss first. Hehe.

"Let's go, what are you still looking at!" An older nanny slapped the maids and eunuchs who were completely captivated by her beauty and told them to continue their work. However, her extreme beauty had already clouded their judgment. Although their bodies were still there, their souls had already gone with Qingyin.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!