The matriarch of the Huo family in this generation comes from the old Chu Huang family, a long-standing scholarly family.

Huo Danlan walked with a light but steady gait, like a chrysanthemum on a cliff, with a bottomless abyss below, yet she walked with the composure of walking on flat ground.

As Huo Huangshi watched her daughter walk towards her step by step, she felt completely unfamiliar with her. But she was even more furious. Why didn't this daughter, who was born with an ominous sign, just die?

When she married into the Huo family, she had to consume countless secret remedies and endure countless hardships to finally conceive her first child. The high monk in the temple predicted that it would be a son who would inherit the Huo family's eldest son. Full of hope, she spared no effort in caring for the fetus. However, the baby turned out to be a girl!

Overnight, two beautiful concubines appeared in her husband's bed. However, this monster still refused to let her go. She had lost her husband's heart and had no sons to raise. She walked on thin ice in the Huo family mansion for two years. Then, this monster fell ill with a strange disease.

She endured endless ridicule and scorn; everyone whispered behind her back that she was an unlucky omen, that she had given birth to a monster for the Huo family! She hated it, hated this monster for ruining everything she had.

If she had known it would turn out like this, she shouldn't have had this pregnancy; she should have killed it in her belly with a bowl of medicine.

"What does Madam want with me?" Huo Danlan picked a chair furthest from Huo Huangshi and sat down. She said indifferently, "I'm very busy. There are many things in the manor that require my decision. If there's nothing else, Madam, please don't bother me."

These words struck a nerve with Madam Huo. She slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and pointed at Huo Danlan angrily, saying, "You unfilial daughter! If I had known this day would come, I should have strangled you!"

Huo Danlan flicked her sleeves, stood up, and took the hand of Huo Guxian, who was pale with fright, saying, "Nezha cut off his flesh to repay his mother, and I, Huo Danlan, will also cut off my flesh to repay my mother. You have already killed me once, and I have repaid the debt of life. If it weren't for my father's sake, I would never have stepped into your courtyard."

As she spoke, she walked out. Granny Ruan wanted to stop her and persuade her, but she was afraid that the lady would be angry. The young lady was now in charge of the Huo family's household affairs, and she could not be offended. She heard that she was going to the capital for medical treatment the next day. If the power of the household affairs could not be returned to the lady, then everything would be over.

Clearly, Madam Huo had also thought of this. Her outburst earlier was because she was still furious with Huo Guxian, that little bastard. "If you're going to the capital, bring the account books and keys to the main courtyard."

Her harsh tone made Huo Danlan pause. She turned around and looked at the mother who gave birth to her, her mockery completely concealing the pain in her heart.

“When you pushed me into the liquid pool, we had nothing to do with each other anymore. But I’m not as vicious as you. After all, you gave birth to me. So, even without the power to manage the household affairs, you are still the only matriarch of the Huo family.”

After she finished speaking, she ignored Huo Huangshi's hysterical rant and left the main courtyard with a heavy heart.

Huo Danlan was once timid, cowardly, and insecure, like a pitiful creature hiding in the darkness hoping for light. But her biological mother, Huo Huangshi, cursed her to die every day and eventually gave her a death sentence.

Thinking back on everything, she sighed heavily. Once she went to the capital, she would never return to the Huo family.

Huo Guxian walked cautiously, trying to keep up with his aunt. His grandmother didn't like his mother or him. He must have been the one who made the argument with his aunt earlier because he insisted on following her.

Little Huo Guxian was filled with self-reproach at this moment.

"Xian'er, do you want to go to the capital with your aunt?" Huo Danlan squatted down, patted his head, and asked softly.

Huo Guxian's eyes lit up. "Yes!" He nodded quickly, his little head almost bobbing up and down.

Huo Danlan smiled. If the veil covering her face were removed, one would surely see that her smile was full of affection. This child had kept her rational just now. "Then go and have your mother pack your things. We're going to the capital with Second Uncle."

"Okay, Auntie will wait for Xian'er." Huo Guxian beamed and ran off like a monkey.

The maid, Magpie, who was following beside him, also said happily, "Young master can't live without the young lady. When he grows up, he will definitely take good care of her."

Huo Danlan remained silent. "Let's go to Fengyi Courtyard."

"Yes," Magpie quickly replied, and the two went to Fengyi Courtyard one after the other.

As soon as I arrived at Fengyi Courtyard, I heard, "Lan'er is here. Come and see quickly. These were all prepared in a hurry, and there must be some things I haven't thought of. But your second aunt has prepared some silver notes for you."

Madam Huo Zhao pointed to several boxes, "The jewelry in the left box is for the Empress Dowager, the summer dress in the middle is for the Empress, and the bracelet in the rightmost box is for the Princess of Yong's residence. Magpie, have you remembered?"

The magpie beside her nodded, "Madam, this servant will never forget."

"The capital is not like Bianzhou. Remember to be careful with your words and actions. Although our Huo family is not afraid of others, when you are away from home, there is no place like home, is there?" After saying this, he became sad and his eyes filled with tears.

Huo Danlan quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Second Mother. My Second Brother is an official in the capital. Who would dare to bully me? As for you, Second Mother, you must take good care of yourself in the manor. Once we're settled in the capital and my illness is cured, I'll invite you to stay with me for a while."

"Elder sister, are you taking Xian'er with you to the capital?" Huo Baichuan walked in from outside, followed by Huo Guxian. His little face was serious like an old antique, but his bright and beautiful eyes, like pearls, betrayed his panic at this moment.

Huo Danlan looked at Huo Guxian, her eyes conveying the message: "You little traitor, you actually betrayed me."

Huo Guxian hurriedly jumped out, waving her little hands wildly, "Auntie, don't be angry. I didn't tell Second Uncle that we were going to the capital. I just asked what books the young masters in the capital read so that I could take them with me."

"Traitor, how dare you say you didn't tell Second Uncle!" Huo Danlan lunged forward to grab Huo Guxian, but was stopped by Huo Baichuan.

She stopped and looked at Huo Baichuan, who was also looking at her. "Eldest sister, are you planning never to return to Bianzhou?" This was a statement, not a question.

Huo Danlan's smile faded, and she looked Huo Baichuan directly in the eye. "The capital is quite nice. You're also planning to build a residence there. Don't you want me, your elder sister, to live in your home in the capital?"

"Aunt, Xian'er is going to the capital to buy a big house. You can stay at Xian'er's house." Huo Guxian didn't know what the two were talking about. When he heard that his second uncle might look down on his aunt, he immediately expressed his loyalty to show that he was really not a traitor.

Huo Danlan poked his forehead. "Okay, Auntie will stay in Xian'er's big house."

"Long..." Huo Baichuan wanted to say more.

Huo Danlan spoke first, "No matter where I am, I will always be your elder sister, Bai Chuan."

At this moment, Huo Danlan reminded Huo Baichuan of that afternoon when it was pouring rain, he was starving and freezing, and almost died in the woodshed. It was this ugly-looking older sister, who was regarded as a monster, who gave him her only cornbread.

At that time, she could not yet be called the eldest daughter of the Huo family.