"Ningning, don't worry. There's no need to be nervous. I raised you with my own hands, and you'll always be my own dear daughter."
Jiang Yourning couldn't help inwardly clicking her tongue.
Well... this really was mindless doting! Had they thrown their brains away?
Beside them, Jiang Huai'an spoke up as well.
Compared to the emotional Lin Xiangyin, he was a little more rational:
"Ningning, it was our carelessness back then. Only now that the child has come to us with proof of her identity have we learned that you two were switched.
"Your father loves you best, but having a child of the Jiang bloodline wandering out in the world wouldn't sound good if word got out.
"If you don't like her, we can acknowledge her, then settle her somewhere else if you and your mother don't want to see her."
He had some sense, but not much.
Jiang Yourning sighed helplessly.
Sure enough, it was still up to her.
She sat obediently beside Lin Xiangyin and spoke slowly in the soft, sweet voice of the young girl whose body she inhabited:
"Father, Mother, your daughter has Jiang blood flowing through her veins. I've lived here for over ten years, taking the life that should have been hers. You ought to acknowledge her and make it up to her properly."
For the first time, their daughter had said something that struck straight at their hearts.
Jiang Huai'an's eyes filled with pride, while Lin Xiangyin's brimmed with tears.
"Boohoo... my Ningning is so considerate. It's all my fault for putting you through this."
"Our Ningning has grown up. Then it's settled. When your fourth brother comes back, I'll have him take you to the Jade Pavilion to buy a few lovely sets of jewelry."
Watching mother and daughter nestle together, Jiang Huai'an spoke slowly, his eyes full of pride as well.
Oh...
Jiang Yourning sighed inwardly again.
Why had I gone and read such a brainless angst novel?
She was a useless little nobody with absolutely nothing to her name now. If she wanted to keep muddling along, she could only stay here and bask in this heavy burden of love.
"Father, Mother, could we give the title of Fifth Miss back to your birth daughter?"
"Yes, yes, whatever you want."
Lin Xiangyin's heart had melted into a puddle.
"Then... where is Fifth Sister? Shall we go meet her together?"
Jiang Yourning tugged on Lin Xiangyin's sleeve, desperately squeezing every ounce of sweetness she possessed in this lifetime onto her face.
"Yes, of course! That child is in the reception room in the front courtyard. Your father and I will do as you say. Let's go meet her together."
With tears in her eyes, Lin Xiangyin took Jiang Yourning's hand again and patted it over and over.
Along the way, Jiang Yourning began dripping words into the older couple's ears, doing her best to stir up the guilt deep in their hearts.
When they reached the front courtyard, Jiang Yourning held her head high and puffed out her chest.
She!
Jiang Yourning!
With this second chance, she would absolutely change her fate of being sliced to pieces and having her ashes scattered!
When the three of them walked in, they saw a woman in a pale mauve dress sitting there calmly sipping tea, her hair pinned up with a translucent jade hairpin.
She bore a good sixty or seventy percent resemblance to Lin Xiangyin and looked gentle and serene.
While Jiang Huai'an and Lin Xiangyin stood dazed, Jiang Yourning walked up first and spoke with sincerity shining in her eyes.
"You... must be Father and Mother's birth daughter, right? I'm Jiang Yourning. I'm sorry for taking your place all these years."
Now that I look at them, mother and daughter really do look like they were cast from the same mold.
Jiang Wanrong looked at Jiang Yourning and was just about to speak when she heard that inexplicable extra remark. She froze for a moment.
Where had that voice come from?
Beside them, Lin Xiangyin and Jiang Huai'an finally came to their senses and called out to her.
"Rong'er, I'm your father."
"Rong'er, your mother has wronged you."
As they spoke, the two stepped forward and quickly wrapped Jiang Wanrong up like a cabbage, pouring out their sorrow through tears.
The atmosphere instantly turned mournful.
I can never stand these sappy scenes. They really do make anyone who hears them ache with sorrow and shed tears...
Some fitting background music right now would make it even better.
The three held one another and sobbed for a long time before the cabbage slowly unfurled.
They sat down together and began listening to Jiang Wanrong talk about her past.
"Over the years, I've traveled to many places and seen people from all walks of life. It was only later that I happened to discover a longevity lock connected to my identity..."
Jiang Yourning listened with keen interest.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. As expected of the female lead. She gives a broad summary of her past without explaining it completely, leaving everyone's imagination running wild.
But aside from wanting to meet her family, wasn't she initially coming home because of something involving her master? I think it had something to do with some kind of incense?
Now that her family is willing to treat her well, her life should be a little happier from here on, right?
Jiang Wanrong stumbled over her words, momentarily bewildered.
She could already tell from the voice that these words came from the young girl who had lived in her place for over ten years.
How did she know so much about me?
Once everyone's emotions had mostly settled and they had gradually accepted what had happened, Lin Xiangyin thought of the calluses on Jiang Wanrong's hands. Her heart ached, and she couldn't help speaking again.
"Rong'er came home in a hurry. The courtyard next to Ningning's is fitted out to the same standard as hers, so thank you for taking your sister over to have a look, Ningning. I'll arrange for people to add a few things later."
"I'll have someone call your third and fourth brothers home, and tell the main kitchen to buy more ingredients while I'm at it. We'll all celebrate Rong'er's homecoming together."
"All right." Jiang Yourning nodded obediently. "Sister, shall I take you over for a look first?"
Before you continue