Later, when the border faced a shortage of supplies, she could no longer endure such hardship, so she returned early.

Now that Ye Minglan had come back and regained her normal self, she actually didn’t want Gu Tingyi to return so soon.

After chatting with Ye Minghui for a while, Shen Qingwan reminded Ye Minglan that she should first go and pay respects to the old madam.

After all, she had just returned, and her mother had now recovered.

Both sentimentally and logically, it was the right thing to do.

Moreover, she also wanted to observe the old madam’s attitude.

Her mother had been in a dazed state for so many years—why had the old madam allowed an outsider like Ye Minghui to control the General’s Mansion for so long?

Could it be that the old madam supported Ye Minghui in replacing her mother?

Or was it possible that the old madam was unaware of Ye Minghui and her daughter’s schemes?

All of these questions could only be answered after meeting the old madam.

Since she hadn’t returned before, it was one thing.

But now that she was back, she had to deal with those who had harmed her mother.

The General’s Mansion had to be purged, and at the very least, this mother and daughter duo needed to be driven out so they wouldn’t remain under her nose, disgusting her.

Hearing her daughter’s words, Ye Minglan agreed.

She informed Ye Minghui before taking her daughter to the small Buddhist hall to meet the old madam.

Ye Minglan had always been fond of her mother-in-law.

The old madam came from a family of military generals.

In her youth, she had loved wielding swords and practicing martial arts, once a valiant and heroic woman.

She had a straightforward personality and had even explicitly stated that Gu Tingyi was not allowed to take concubines, saying that the Gu family had no such custom.

She had never mistreated her nor imposed strict household rules on her.

The old madam especially adored her granddaughter.

Unfortunately, she only had one son, Gu Tingyi.

So when Shen Qingwan was born, she cherished her deeply, spoiling her to the core.

After Shen Qingwan went missing, the old madam fell seriously ill and even showed signs of a stroke.

She spent the following years carefully recuperating, yet her heart remained heavy with longing.

She resented Ye Minghui for losing her granddaughter, but at the time, Ye Minglan was emotionally unstable and needed Ye Minghui’s support, so she had no choice but to let the mother and daughter stay in the mansion.

When Ye Minglan fell into a dazed state, the old madam decided to move permanently into the small Buddhist hall, where she had stayed for over ten years, chanting scriptures daily, praying for her daughter-in-law’s recovery and her granddaughter’s safe return.

She had waited from the time when her hair was jet black to when her temples turned gray, and now, with a full head of white hair, she was still waiting for the people she longed for.

As Shen Qingwan stepped into the small Buddhist hall, she felt as if she had entered a pure land.

The courtyard was covered in golden ginkgo leaves, creating a picturesque scene.

Hanging under the eaves were strings of small bells that chimed pleasantly as the breeze blew through, sounding like the laughter of children and the calming tones of a sacred chant.

“Madam Cui!”

Seeing the woman approaching, Shen Qingwan immediately called out.

Madam Cui was shocked—was it really the madam herself? And she actually recognized her?

“Madam? You… you’ve recovered?”

Madam Cui covered her mouth in disbelief, her gaze shifting to Ye Minglan.

Ye Minglan nodded slightly, “Yes, I’ve recovered. This is Wanwan, she’s also back. I’ve brought her to see Mother.”

“Heavens, is this the young miss? It’s truly the young miss!”

Madam Cui, noticing Shen Qingwan’s striking resemblance to Ye Minglan, could immediately tell that they were mother and daughter.

Excited, she stepped forward to take a closer look before hurriedly leading them inside.

“Hurry, let’s go see the old madam. She will be overjoyed. The young miss has returned—Miss Wanwan has returned!”

Tears welled in Madam Cui’s eyes.

The old madam had waited and prayed for so long, and now her prayers had finally been answered.

Inside the Buddhist hall, a white-haired elderly woman sat cross-legged before a Buddha statue, holding prayer beads in her hands.

She was chanting scriptures, slowly rolling the beads between her fingers.

Despite the commotion outside, she remained undisturbed, continuing her prayers.

It wasn’t until the door to the Buddhist hall was pushed open and Madam Cui rushed in excitedly that the old madam paused.

“Old madam! The young miss has returned—it’s Miss Wanwan! She’s back, and the madam has also recovered!”

Madam Cui’s voice was loud, as if afraid that the old madam wouldn’t hear her.

The old madam thought she had misheard, but when Madam Cui grasped her hand, eyes red with emotion, and repeated herself, the old madam’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She turned toward the doorway.

Seeing this, Madam Cui quickly helped the old madam up.

As Ye Minglan and Shen Qingwan walked in, they were met with the sight of the old madam’s completely white hair.

Ye Minglan could no longer hold back her emotions.

Tears filled her eyes as she fell to her knees.

“Mother, I have been unfilial. You have suffered all these years.”

The old madam had secluded herself in the Buddhist hall for over a decade, never ceasing her prayers. Perhaps their reunion and Ye Minglan’s recovery were rewards for her devotion.

Shen Qingwan also stepped forward and called out, “Grandmother, your granddaughter has returned.”

The old madam ignored Ye Minglan.

The moment she saw Shen Qingwan, she knew—this was her long-lost granddaughter.

Her familiar facial features still carried traces of the little girl she remembered.

“My Wanwan! Grandmother has finally waited for you to come home!”

The old madam embraced Shen Qingwan, sobbing uncontrollably. “Where have you been all these years? I kept dreaming of you—dreaming that you were cold, hungry, and being beaten. But I couldn’t protect you… Wanwan…”

Madam Cui wiped her tears at the side, and Ye Minglan also choked up, watching the long-separated grandmother and granddaughter reunite.

“Grandmother, dreams are the opposite of reality. See? I’m back safe and sound,” Shen Qingwan gently comforted her, rubbing her back.

Overcome with emotion, the old madam suddenly fainted.

Madam Cui panicked and rushed to call for a doctor, while Shen Qingwan quickly carried her to the bed.

The old madam was only in her sixties, and her face was not heavily wrinkled, but her hair was completely white, a sign of deep sorrow and worry.

Even in unconsciousness, the old madam tightly gripped Shen Qingwan’s wrist, as if afraid she would disappear if she let go.

Shen Qingwan did not try to pry her hand away but instead sat quietly beside her.

When the doctor arrived and examined her, he concluded, “It was an excessive emotional shock that caused her to faint. She’ll be fine once she wakes up.”