Chapter 4: Kicked Out of the Mansion

She pulled out an old, faded red slip of paper. "When you were sent to the Yan family, you had a jade pendant on you and a red slip of paper."

Yan Funing took the red paper and unfolded it; written upon it were her birth details, exactly as they were in the book.

"Uncle and Auntie haven't been able to conceive for a long time. If they want their own children, they have to adopt a baby girl with a compatible destiny," Yan Haitang sneered. "You were the one chosen because your birth details match."

Yan Funing suddenly understood. The elders of both families wanted to match Fu Minghe with Yan Haitang, but since Yan Haitang only had eyes for Fu Ciyi, they used this method of "grafting a flower onto a different branch."

The Fu family wanted to drive Fu Ciyi to the countryside, and naturally, the Yan family would not let their biological granddaughter suffer.

And she was the cannon fodder.

Fu Ciyi shifted his gaze to her. For someone as willful as her, she was unexpectedly calm and composed at this moment.

A hint of mockery curled the corners of Yan Haitang's mouth. "Otherwise, for what reason would the Yan family have raised you so delicately?"

Yan Funing met Yan Haitang's gaze indifferently. "To love one person in your heart, while having another by your side—how does that feel?"

"You!" Yan Haitang's eyes bulged with rage.

The elders of both families looked at each other in bewilderment.

They had finally managed to persuade Haitang this morning to settle down as Minghe's wife, and now, after being spoken to like this by this little girl...

Old Master Yan immediately slapped the armrest of his grand chair. "Haitang and Minghe are the ones who are a perfect match!"

The Second Old Master half-closed his eyes and spoke slowly, "Minghe has his father looking after him; his future is limitless. Haitang will become a high-ranking official's wife."

Yan Haitang's expression shifted.

She seemed to see herself becoming a high-ranking official's wife in the capital, adorned with honorary titles, basking in infinite glory.

This was something the beautiful but empty Yan Funing could never achieve!

"Then let me offer my congratulations first."

The corners of Yan Funing's lips curled upward, like a lotus blossom just beginning to bloom.

Her clear, autumn-water eyes hid a hidden brilliance; it was as if her status as an adopted daughter had not caused her any downfall, but had instead added a touch of ethereal beauty to her.

"I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the Yan family and the proper daughter-in-law of the Fu family. How can you compare to me?" Yan Haitang said with great pride. "Yan Funing—no, you don't deserve the surname Yan. From now on, you are not allowed to return to the Yan family!"

Yan Funing pulled her fur collar closer, tucking her chin into it. "Don't worry, I won't return."

The magnificent sunset glow fell upon her. The bright red cloak and white fur collar made her appearance radiant, her jade-like skin seemingly glowing.

Especially her face; it was the most eye-catching feature of all.

Yan Haitang hated that face most of all and immediately barked, "Why haven't you rolled out of the Fu house yet?"

Caiyu said to Yan Funing, "Miss, this servant will go pack your luggage."

"Wait!" Yan Haitang stopped them imperiously. "Nothing from the Yan family's dowry, nor any clothes or jewelry bought with the Yan family's money, can be taken. Caiyu's deed of sale is with the Yan family, so she cannot leave either."

Yan Funing unfastened her cloak and threw it on the ground.

As the wind blew, her slender fingers immediately turned red, and her skirt clung to her waist, outlining a delicate and soft figure.

"Miss..."

Caiyu cried. How had her young mistress ever suffered such a grievance?

Yan Funing looked deeply at Caiyu. Whether in the book or in her memories, this maid had always been loyal. Unfortunately, she had no money of her own and could not take her away.

Caiyu knelt crying before Old Madam Yan, pleading, "Old Madam, for the sake of the Second Miss calling you Grandmother all these years, please help the Second Miss!"

Old Madam Yan frowned deeply. She was pleased that Funing was beautiful.

Her intention in bringing Caiyu here today was also to let Caiyu continue following Funing.

But Haitang was her biological granddaughter; when comparing the two, her heart naturally leaned toward her own flesh and blood.

Recalling that her second son and daughter-in-law had already had their own children after adopting Funing, Old Madam Yan finally spoke: "Just take a few sets of clothes and go."

From the corridor, the Fu twins, Fu Nanyao and Fu Beimo, walked over.

Because Fu Nanyao walked slowly due to her limp, she spoke up first, "Brother, Mother is still waiting for Sister-in-law to serve the tea."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong with the scene.

Fu Ciyi said, "Tell Mother that we are packing our things. From now on, we are living in the countryside."

Yan Funing felt uncertain. She wasn't a Miss of the Yan family. Although Fu Ciyi was being driven out of the Fu family, he could still go to the countryside. If he took this opportunity to seek revenge and refused to let her follow...

Seeing her standing still, Fu Ciyi turned his head. "Not going?"

Yan Funing replied quickly, "Going, I'm going."

"Great, great! Sister-in-law is coming to the countryside with us!" Fu Beimo walked quickly to Fu Ciyi's side, then turned to Yan Funing with a grin. "Sister-in-law, let me tell you, you can dig for earthworms in the countryside."

Yan Haitang sneered, "Idiot!"

Fu Beimo glared at Yan Haitang. "I'm not an idiot."

Yan Haitang huffed. "You are an idiot!"

Yan Funing: "Who are you calling an idiot?"

The boy was fair-skinned with an innocent and pure appearance. Just because he called her "Sister-in-law," she had to back him up.

The female supporting character was arrogant and domineering; she wasn't incapable of learning how to be.

Yan Haitang: "I'm calling him an idiot. Isn't he just an idiot?"

Yan Funing: "Who is the idiot calling an idiot?"

Yan Haitang pointed at herself suspiciously, asking in disbelief, "Are you calling me an idiot?"

Yan Funing countered, "Since you admitted it, why even ask?"

On Fu Ciyi's indifferent face, his brows twitched slightly before he turned to walk away.

He had witnessed this woman's sharp tongue before and knew well that she had a knack for retorting.

It was just that her helping Beimo surprised him.

Yan Haitang, driven to a frenzy, tried to lung forward to grab Yan Funing's face.

Yan Funing ducked nimbly, picked up the cloak from the ground, and swung it toward Yan Haitang's face.

It was unknown what kind of clever strength she used, but Yan Haitang felt a stinging pain on her face and a buzzing in her ears, as if she had been slapped.

"Grandmother!" Yan Haitang stamped her feet, leaning toward Old Madam Yan in a pitiful, aggrieved manner. "Grandmother, punish her!"

Yan Funing ignored Yan Haitang, took a few quick steps, her skirt fluttering in a shimmering arc, and soon caught up to Fu Ciyi's pace.

"Bleeeh..."

Fu Beimo made a face at Yan Haitang, then jogged toward the corridor, helping Fu Nanyao walk away as well.

—

The Second Old Master sent people to watch Wan Niang and her children as they packed, fearing they would steal anything of value.

Seeing that they only took a few sets of clothes and bedding, he immediately stated that a driver could be summoned to take them to the countryside.

In the carriage, Wan Niang held Yan Funing's hand and said gently, "Child, don't be sad. You will surely find your biological parents. You are Ciyi's wife now, and I will treat you like my own daughter."

Yan Funing saw that although Wan Niang was blind, her features were lovely and her manner was gentle; she unconsciously lowered her voice softly. "I am not sad."

Wan Niang warmed Yan Funing's hands with her palms. "I should actually thank the Second Miss of the Yan family for breaking the engagement, allowing me to gain a daughter-in-law like you."

Fu Nanyao couldn't help but interject, "Sister-in-law, that woman is too wicked. She broke Brother's engagement and is now driving us all out."

Her eyes were lively and her appearance was charming; her "Sister-in-law" sounded crisp and bright.

Fu Beimo nodded. "Too wicked. She just called me an idiot."

"I actually..."

Yan Funing didn't know how to respond. They didn't know yet that the bride had been switched.

She wanted to say it was she who had broken the engagement, but looking at the bright, sparkling eyes of the siblings before her, Yan Funing didn't have the courage to bring it up right now.

(End of Chapter)