Sheng Yuzhen's face paled instantly. Seeing Mrs. Xiao's uncompromising attitude, she knew that no matter what she said, she wouldn't be able to stay today.
So she composed herself, her eyes tear - filled as she looked at Mrs. Xiao. "Mother, can I come to the Xiao Mansion often to visit you all? I really miss you."
Hearing this, Mrs. Xiao looked back at Mr. Qi hesitantly. Mr. Qi lowered his head imperceptibly, silently indicating that it was not allowed.
Getting the answer, no matter how reluctant she was, Mrs. Xiao could only grit her teeth and refuse Sheng Yuzhen.
"Zhen'er, your foster parents have raised you for many years, and you have developed feelings for each other. Before your coming - of - age ceremony, stay with your foster parents and fulfill your filial piety one last time. If I'm free, I will surely come to see you."
After saying that, Mrs. Xiao wanted to hold Sheng Yuzhen's hand and lead her out. After a moment of hesitation, as if showing a bit of disgust, Mrs. Xiao pinched the sleeve of Sheng Yuzhen's dress and pulled it twice, signaling that it was time for her to go.
Seeing this action, Sheng Yuzhen frowned but said nothing and obediently walked out.
Before leaving, Sheng Yuzhen looked back at Mr. Qi. The naked malice in her eyes made Mr. Qi shiver, as if he was being stared at by a cold - blooded snake.
Xiao Bao'er watched Mr. Qi's reaction with amusement. She thought to herself that Mr. Qi was actually a timid man.
Soon, only Mr. Qi and Xiao Bao'er were left in the main hall.
Seeing Xiao Bao'er looking at the back of Sheng Yuzhen leaving, Mr. Qi pondered for a moment and stepped forward. "Miss, please rest assured. Even if you're not the biological daughter of the Xiao family, I believe that Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao still have feelings for you. Stay in the Xiao Mansion at ease and don't think too much."
Xiao Bao'er didn't want Mr. Qi to notice anything amiss, so she pretended to be hurt. "I hope for the best as you've said, Mr. Qi. I hope Father and Mother won't drive me out of the mansion. I've been with them for many years, and my feelings for the Xiao Mansion are very deep. I would be very reluctant to leave."
Seeing this, Mr. Qi nodded reassuringly. "Miss, don't worry. Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao are not such people."
Xiao Bao'er didn't want to talk to Mr. Qi any more, so she kept agreeing and then pretended to be sad and dejected as she returned to her courtyard.
Although Sheng Yuzhen wasn't allowed to stay in the Xiao Mansion today, at least the world now knew that she wasn't the biological daughter of the Xiao family. Given Sheng Yuzhen's personality, Xiao Bao'er didn't believe that she could really stay in the Sheng family peacefully until her coming - of - age ceremony.
Xiao Bao'er was quite happy to see Sheng Yuzhen causing some trouble for the Xiao family from time to time.
Thinking of this, Xiao Bao'er returned to her room in a rather good mood.
However, there were many people in a bad mood. After Prime Minister Xiao returned from work and learned about this, he frowned repeatedly and quickly summoned Mr. Qi.
Prime Minister Xiao got straight to the point. "Zhen'er's sudden visit. Will it have any impact on the matter of swapping the fates?"
Mr. Qi shook his head. "It's okay. As long as the two girls stay in their respective homes before the coming - of - age ceremony, the plan can still proceed smoothly. But I'm afraid Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao will have to endure the pain of missing their daughter and try not to see her before the coming - of - age ceremony. You should also comfort Xiao Bao'er more."
Hearing this, Prime Minister Xiao asked anxiously. "Xiao Bao'er learned today that she's not the biological daughter of the Xiao family. Has she developed any dissatisfaction with the Xiao family? If so..."
Mr. Qi knew what Prime Minister Xiao was worried about. If the person with the koi fate was unhappy in the foster family and harbored resentment towards the family members, part of the backlash would be transferred to this family.
But judging from the result of the conversation with Xiao Bao'er today, she didn't show any abnormalities.
So Mr. Qi said with full certainty, "Prime Minister, you can rest assured on this point. I talked to Xiao Bao'er today, and I didn't find anything wrong with her. But just to be on the safe side, it's better for you and Mrs. Xiao to comfort her as much as possible."
Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao nodded repeatedly. Then, Prime Minister Xiao took out a thick stack of silver notes from the box and handed them to Mr. Qi.
Mr. Qi pretended to decline a few times and then accepted the silver notes.
After Mr. Qi left, Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao discussed for a while and decided to visit Xiao Bao'er's courtyard to prevent her from harboring resentment towards the Xiao Mansion.
So, Xiao Bao'er, who was originally in a good mood and was telling Xie Yi about Xie Yumo wetting his pants when he was a child, immediately looked glum when she learned that Prime Minister Xiao and Mrs. Xiao were coming to visit her.
She quickly ran to the bed and pretended to be heart - broken. Her quick change of expression left Ling Chu stunned.
Mrs. Xiao forced a smile and inquired about Xiao Bao'er's well - being. "Bao'er, today's matter must have made you sad, but don't worry. Even if Zhen'er comes back in the future, your father and I will treat you as we always have."
A flattering smile also appeared on Prime Minister Xiao's serious face. "Yes, Bao'er will always be our darling."
Hearing their insincere words, Xiao Bao'er could hardly hold back her nausea.
But Xiao Bao'er still showed a grateful expression in a timely manner. "Really? Can I really continue to stay in the Xiao family?"
"Of course, our Bao'er." Mrs. Xiao lovingly stroked Xiao Bao'er's hair.
This kind of affectionate action didn't mean much to Xiao Bao'er before, but now she could clearly feel Mrs. Xiao's stiffness.
Prime Minister Xiao carefully observed Xiao Bao'er's reaction. After confirming that there was nothing abnormal, he pulled Mrs. Xiao and said a few perfunctory polite words, then couldn't wait to pull Mrs. Xiao away and didn't want to stay there for a moment longer.
Watching them come and go in a hurry, Xiao Bao'er's eyes were filled with frost as she watched their departing backs without any warmth.
That night, Xiao Bao'er fell into a nightmare again...
She saw the parents of the Sheng family. After Sheng Yuzhen was recognized back into the Xiao Mansion, they thought she was deceived and earnestly advised her to return to the Sheng family. But Sheng Yuzhen, who had already returned to her ancestral family, mercilessly drove the two of them out of the Xiao Mansion.
The parents of the Sheng family learned the truth from others and realized that the daughter they had raised with great effort for so many years was not their biological child, while their biological daughter was still in the Xiao family.
They knelt in front of the Xiao Mansion every day, just hoping to see their biological daughter, but were constantly humiliated by Sheng Yuzhen and her servants and finally beaten to death.
The remaining five sons of the Sheng family wanted to seek justice for their parents and younger sister, but one by one they were killed. In the end, only the fourth brother with a broken leg was left to help the Sheng family collect the corpses.
In the dream, Xiao Bao'er also clearly saw that every time something bad happened to the Sheng family, the Xiao family was always behind it, pushing the situation further.
All because of Mr. Qi's words, "Yin and Yang, one declines as the other rises."