Chapter Nine: She, the Second Young Lady?

Yinxin, feeling indignant, spoke up in explanation, "Second Young Master, the young lady hasn't fully recovered from her illness. She nearly fainted on the way here just now."

Upon hearing this, Madam Luo's face showed a flicker of concern, her tone softening slightly, "Why didn't you say you were feeling unwell sooner? Since your body is frail, you should be resting properly; don't push yourself. Today is just a simple family meal; how could it possibly be more important than your health?"

"It is of no consequence," Luo Yunqiao replied coolly, her tone distinctly detached.

If they were truly concerned about her, how could they not know that she had only been back in the manor for a few days? How could her health have recovered so quickly? And if they knew, would they still have insisted on her coming today?

Luo Zefeng had not expected Luo Yunqiao to be so weak. He had initially thought Yinxin was exaggerating, but seeing Luo Yunqiao’s face as pale as paper with a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead, he felt a sudden pang of guilt. However, he immediately felt annoyed that she did not take better care of herself, and said discontentedly, "If you are so sick, why don't you find someone to look at you? If you couldn't come, you should have told Nurse Tian. Are you a mute?"

Before Luo Yunqiao could respond, Luo Yunzhen immediately put on a tearful expression, "It is my fault. Had I known sister was so frail, I wouldn't have, I shouldn't have..."

"What does this have to do with you?" Luo Zefeng interrupted, complaining, "She is a grown woman, yet she doesn't even know how to speak properly. I think she is doing this on purpose, trying to use such methods to make us feel guilty."

"That is an interesting way to put it, little brother." Luo Yunqiao gave a cold laugh, a flash of mockery in her eyes. "If I truly wanted to make you feel guilty, I would have to put in much more effort. After all, for one to feel guilt, one must first possess a heart."

Luo Zefeng’s face darkened, his fury ignited. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying I have no heart? You..."

"Enough, enough," Madam Luo intervened helplessly. "Feng-ge, your sister is still ill; why not yield to her a little?"

"Hmph." Luo Zefeng turned his head away, and though unconvinced, he said nothing more.

Madam Luo turned to look at Luo Yunqiao with a gentle expression, "Yunqiao, the reason I called you here today is to discuss adding you to the family genealogy."

So, they intended to officially acknowledge her?

"From now on, you will be the Second Young Lady of the Luo family."

Second Young Lady? A glimmer of mockery flashed in Luo Yunqiao’s eyes.

To let an outsider stand above her—they truly cherished Luo Yunzhen so much that they wouldn't even let her suffer the slightest grievance.

"Mother and Father should decide such matters as they see fit. Why bother asking someone like me who has no say in the matter? Or is it that even if I were unwilling, Mother would still do as she pleases?"

Hearing this, Madam Luo stared blankly at Luo Yunqiao as two lines of clear tears fell, as if she had suffered a devastating blow.

"Mother, Mother, please don't be sad. Sister simply isn't used to these things yet. With your diligent guidance in the future, she will learn!" Luo Yunzhen quickly reached for her handkerchief to wipe Madam Luo’s tears.

"Luo Yunqiao! How can you speak like that? Apologize to Mother at once!" Luo Zefeng’s face was twisted with rage, lacking any of the composure expected of a young nobleman. His wild, gesticulating appearance seemed utterly ridiculous in Luo Yunqiao’s eyes.

She watched the scene coldly—a mother’s kindness and a daughter’s filial piety, a brother’s protection—how wonderful it all was. Yet, the person they were targeting was the only one who shared their true bloodline.

"Feng'er, I am fine!" Madam Luo called out to her youngest son, who was brimming with anger, then looked at Luo Yunqiao, who stood to the side watching the performance.

"Yunqiao, Mother knows you just don't like having Zhen'er in the house, but she is a daughter I raised from infancy. You are not a mother yourself, so you don't understand. Mother doesn't blame you; you will understand in the future!"

Madam Luo spoke to herself, and though both her children were comforting her, she maintained a look of sorrow, casting a reproachful gaze at Luo Yunqiao, silently blaming her: she was already so heartbroken, why couldn't Luo Yunqiao just be obedient?

Ignoring the gazes of those before her, Luo Yunqiao picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of meat, and began to eat heartily. She hadn't eaten lunch yet, and if she didn't eat now, she would surely be hungry later.

Seeing her eating as if no one else were there, a flash of disappointment crossed Madam Luo's eyes.

"Mother, please don't be troubled on my account. If sister is unwilling to be the Second Young Lady, then I can take the title instead!" Luo Yunzhen said softly.

"No!" Before Madam Luo could speak, Luo Zefeng refused. "You have been the Eldest Young Lady of the Marquis's manor for over a decade; why should you become the second one just because she arrived? How will you face people in the future? I do not agree!"

As the three of them continued to bicker, Luo Yunqiao had already set down her chopsticks, wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "If there is nothing else, I shall return now."

Without waiting for their reply, she rose and led Yinxin back to her own courtyard.

"Young Lady, I think the Madam and the others are blind and heartless. Clearly, you are the only true Eldest Young Lady of the Luo family." Yinxin felt a sense of injustice and heartbreak for Luo Yunqiao.

Hearing this, Luo Yunqiao turned and reached out to pinch the little girl’s cheek.

"You silly girl, worrying on my behalf now!" Luo Yunqiao found it quite amusing.

"Young Lady!" Yinxin looked at her with some dissatisfaction.

"I agree with Yinxin," Jinxin added indignantly. "It is one thing for the Madam to favor the Young Master, but how can she favor an outsider? Our Young Lady is the true Eldest Young Lady of the Luo family, yet she lives worse than an outsider in this house. We feel terrible for you, Young Lady!"

"Silence!"

A voice rang out, and Luo Yunqiao turned to see Luo Zeting approaching with rapid strides.

Luo Yunqiao looked at him coldly, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

"How could you let them speak of Mother like that? Even if you are dissatisfied with her, she is still your mother. How could you allow your maids to slander her?" Luo Zeting’s first words were an accusation.

As he finished, Luo Yunqiao’s eyes narrowed, her cold gaze fixed upon the furious Luo Zeting.

"It was us who spoke out of turn because we saw the Madam favoring others and felt pain for our Young Lady. If the Eldest Young Master wishes to hold someone accountable, we will take the blame ourselves!" Yinxin, seeing him trying to pin the matter on Luo Yunqiao, spoke up immediately.

"Exactly. We were not slandering the Madam; she is simply biased. It is one thing for her not to care for our Young Lady, but why must she force our Young Lady to make way for an outsider?" Jinxin added, her eyes red.

"There is no need for the Eldest Young Master to punish us; we will go to the steward to accept our punishment shortly. Eldest Young Master, you used to be kind to our Young Lady; why have you become so biased toward Young Lady Yunzhen now?" Yinxin asked, her eyes full of resentment.

At this, a flicker of panic appeared on Luo Zeting’s face, his gaze involuntarily falling upon Luo Yunqiao. "No, I didn't. I am not biased. Yunqiao, I still care for you!"

"I just feel that after being away for so many years, you have picked up some bad habits. I hope you can be obedient and not..."

Luo Yunqiao didn't even glance at him. "I am tired. I am going back to rest."