Chapter 14: Mistakenly Recognizing the Mother

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Just as she opened her mouth, heavy footsteps echoed outside the corridor with a “thump, thump, thump.” Suddenly, the warm curtain was abruptly lifted, and a little girl of about five or six years old, dressed in red, burst in. She was out of breath, her cheeks flushed a rosy red.

“Oh my, young lady!”

Someone called out from the main hall door—it was an elder nanny about a year older.

They were playing a chase game, but the elderly nanny, despite her age, couldn’t catch the little girl.

Zuo Li waved at the girl, noticing the sweat on her forehead, so he took a handkerchief to gently wipe her face. Then he called out, “Alright, young lady, stay here with me. You all wait outside.”

Children dislike being restrained, and the little girl brushed away Zuo Li’s hand, attempting to climb onto the heated kang bed using a footstool. But the stool was too low, and she almost fell.

Shen Quanyi quickly reached out to steady her. The child’s hands were soft and plump. She couldn’t help but pinch them gently.

The little girl looked back and finally noticed Shen Quanyi sitting nearby. Her eyes froze in place, staring intently at her.

After a moment,

“Mother!”

The sudden, clear voice startled everyone in the room.

Shen Quanyi thought the child was calling Zuo Li and paid it no mind at first.

Unexpectedly, the girl looked at her, grinning broadly, then suddenly threw herself into Shen Quanyi’s arms.

Though small, the child had surprising strength, like a little firecracker. Shen Quanyi was knocked slightly off balance, but she caught the girl immediately, afraid she might hurt herself.

Shen Quanyi was slightly taken aback, but seeing the child enter so freely without reprimand from Zuo Li made her suspect this was Li Qian’s child. Everyone had just called her “young lady,” which in this household referred to Su Liangdi and Su Jin’s eldest daughter, Li Changjiu.

Smiling softly, Shen Quanyi thought perhaps the child was too young and had mistaken her. Her eyes flicked over the girl’s fair, jade-like skin and large, round almond eyes, which seemed familiar.

Li Changjiu pouted, looking a bit wronged but with a more determined expression, speaking earnestly, “No, you are A’nian’s mother. You are—you look just like the mother in Father’s painting!”

Li Changjiu’s childhood name was A’nian.

Shen Quanyi was momentarily stunned and didn’t respond. She also didn’t notice the hurried footsteps approaching beneath the window.

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Su Jin arrived just in time to hear Li Changjiu call out “Mother.” Her whole body tensed as if every hair stood on end. Forgetting everything else, she rushed in and, without hesitation, hugged Li Changjiu tightly.

Her voice was agitated and possessive, “Silence! Heartless child, what nonsense are you spouting? I am your mother! Your true mother!”

Li Changjiu was stunned by Su Jin’s fierce expression, standing still without a word.

“Madam Su, you’ve lost control,” Zuo Li sharply reprimanded.

Startled by his stern tone, Su Jin gritted her teeth and tried to calm herself. She placed her hands firmly on Li Changjiu’s shoulders, turning her around to face her. Li Changjiu snapped back to reality but remained angry.

Though young, she was not foolish. Hearing Su Jin’s words, she grew even more upset. She believed she had not spoken wrongly. This beautiful woman was clearly the same as the mother in her father’s painting.

Su Jin could only suppress her emotions and spoke gently and softly, “Look closely. This is Mistress Shen. Her surname is Shen. She’s only been here for a few months. She doesn’t recognize you.”

Li Changjiu glanced at Zuo Li, who nodded in affirmation. Her face fell, disappointment clear. She lifted her delicate face and stepped forward, her small hand reaching out to grasp Shen Quanyi’s finger that hung by her side.

This intimate gesture made Su Jin nervous again. She didn’t know why she felt so uneasy. Shen Quanyi was not Li Changjiu’s mother, yet her heart raced. She instinctively looked at Zuo Li, who shook his head, so she held back.

“Are you really not my mother?” the child asked in a clear, bright voice, tinged with a child’s innocence.

Sensing Su Jin’s burning gaze upon her, Shen Quanyi said, “Young lady, you are mistaken. Sister Su Liangdi is truly your mother.”

Upon hearing this, Su Jin inexplicably relaxed and couldn’t help but look again at Shen Quanyi’s familiar yet strange face.

Zuo Li, sitting nearby, raised his eyebrows with keen interest.

Li Changjiu was utterly disappointed. Her eyes welled with tears, her nose reddened, and she whimpered softly, her small sobs barely audible.

Shen Quanyi felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to comfort the girl. She glanced at Li Changjiu’s wrist, noticing a red, swollen ring with some broken skin and faint specks of blood.

Rising, Shen Quanyi carefully took Li Changjiu’s hand and gently wrapped the injured wrist with a handkerchief.

“There, there. You’ve sweated so much. Your previous cold hasn’t healed properly yet,” Su Jin could no longer hold back. She lifted Li Changjiu and handed her to the nanny beside her, instructing, “Take her back quickly and change her clothes.”

The nanny held Li Changjiu tightly, fearing she might run off again.

“That child runs around outside and caught a chill. Children see adults all the same; she just called the wrong person earlier,” Su Jin explained softly.

Her stiff expression told Shen Quanyi the matter was more complicated. Since Su Jin intended to keep it quiet, pressing further would be impolite.

“Enough, enough. You’re just worrying too much,” Zuo Li interjected.

Su Jin awkwardly agreed, pressing her lips together. Her complex expression flickered as she glanced at Shen Quanyi, noticing a rose crystal hairpin shaped like twin begonia wings with a jade phoenix dangling from her hair. Her pupils constricted—she had seen that pin before.

It had once adorned another woman’s hair.

She found herself momentarily lost in thought, as if trying to see through Shen Quanyi’s mind.

Noticing Su Jin’s unusual behavior, Zuo Li silently cursed her lack of restraint and cleared his throat gently. Su Jin snapped back to attention.

“You look like you didn’t sleep well last night. You must be tired,” he said.

Su Jin laughed nervously, trembling her lips. “Please don’t mind, sister. This child has always been this way. The Crown Princess is kind, so she often comes here, clumsy as ever.”

“Not at all. Young lady is sincere and generous, so lovely to see. It shows Sister Liangdi’s devoted care,” Shen Quanyi politely complimented. Then she turned to see Su Jin sitting nearby, her face shadowed with sorrow.

Zuo Li frowned, casting a thoughtful glance at Shen Quanyi.

Understanding, Shen Quanyi rose and bowed, “I have troubled you enough today, madam. Your teachings have been most enlightening. I would not wish to tire you further. It grows late; I shall take my leave. May you be well, madam.”

“This girl truly has a caring heart,” Zuo Li smiled lightly and asked Yulan to escort Shen Quanyi out.

On the way, Shen Quanyi was distracted. Zuo Li’s concealment left her puzzled. Yet without even a guess, her wild thoughts only added to her worries.

Back at Qingting Courtyard, Qiu Yue came to greet her. Inside, hot water was already prepared.

Since she was not allowed into the inner chambers, she had waited long outside Huai’an Courtyard. The cold had made Xingye shiver uncontrollably, yet she still wanted to serve Shen Quanyi.

“Enough, enough. Qiu Yue is here. You need not hurry. Go rest and change your clothes. You’re wet—don’t let yourself fall ill again,” Shen Quanyi softly instructed.

Only then did Xingye reluctantly withdraw.

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