The journey back to the capital was long and arduous, taking nearly two months. 

However, Xie Lingyun grew increasingly aloof along the way. Apart from his guards, who were cheerful and talkative, he remained mostly silent. 

Even a single “cousin” from her would make the chill emanating from him colder than the freezing weather. 

Jiang Qingyue refrained from provoking this icy grim reaper. 

Until they returned to the capital, the two remained at peace. 

At the entrance of the Jiang mansion, after getting off the carriage and looking at the flamboyant characters of the Jiang mansion on the plaque, Jiang Qingyue felt a moment of daze. 

The guards at the gate scrutinized her, not recognizing her, and said they would go in to report, asking her to wait outside. 

While waiting, some former servants recognized her and whispered among themselves. 

“Who is she?” 

“That’s the second young lady who was switched at birth. She managed to come back after being a slave for more than ten years. She’s really lucky.” 

“So that’s her. Raised by someone like the Second Madam, how good can her character be?” 

“Living that kind of life in the Northern Territory, how can she compare to the talented Miss Guiyu? So what if she’s the biological daughter?” 

Their whispers were not concealed from Jiang Qingyue. 

Que’er’s eyes turned red with anger. 

“You…” 

Jiang Qingyue stopped Que’er, raised her eyes, and swept over the servants, “…Without the hardships I endured for more than ten years, would your Miss Guiyu have been able to live such a good life for more than ten years?” 

The crowd looked at each other, speechless for a moment. 

Just then, an old woman hurried out. 

Seeing Jiang Qingyue, Mama Wang’s expression was complicated. 

Mama Wang carefully sized up the girl in front of her. She was tall and slender, wearing a simple blue cloth outfit. Although thin, her beautiful face was undeniable, bearing a seven or eight resemblance to the famous eldest young lady of the past. 

It’s just… with such a beautiful face, how could she have survived in a place like the mines, where all sorts of people mingled, without any care? 

Mama Wang bowed slightly, “Miss Qingyue, you’re back. The Madam has been thinking about you all the way. Come in quickly, it’s freezing.” 

Jiang Qingyue nodded slightly and followed Mama Wang towards the inner courtyard. 

Before she even entered the main hall, she heard a few soft coughs from inside. 

“Brother Lu, this marriage…” 

As she stopped, everyone in the room looked towards Jiang Qingyue. 

Jiang Qingyue first looked at Madam Jiang, her biological mother. 

Then at Jiang Guiyu, sitting next to Madam Jiang, and then… 

At the man sitting in the guest seat. 

The one who should have been her childhood sweetheart and fiancé. 

After a moment, Jiang Qingyue lowered her eyes and went straight forward to greet Madam Jiang: “Madam…” 

The moment Madam Jiang saw her clearly, she stood up excitedly, her eyes immediately turning red. 

This thin face was so similar to her eldest daughter, Wan Yin, that anyone could tell they were related. 

“Qingyue, you… you’ve suffered!” 

Madam Jiang saw her hands, covered in frostbite and calluses, and her heart broke. 

She got up, wanting to help Jiang Qingyue. 

Jiang Qingyue subtly took a step aside, supporting her back into her seat, “Madam, I haven’t suffered much.” 

Madam Jiang seemed to be hurt by her actions, her eyebrows gradually tinged with a burning warmth, “Silly child, why are you calling me Madam, call me…” 

“Mother, my sister has traveled a long distance, let her go inside first.” 

A pair of snow-white, soft hands supported Madam Jiang, a faint fragrance wafting over, accompanied by a gentle and delicate voice. 

Jiang Qingyue looked up, meeting the girl’s gentle and concerned eyes. 

Jiang Guiyu, the one she was switched with. 

The girl was wearing snow-white brocade clothes, revealing a delicate, porcelain-white face of fifteen or sixteen years old, very bright and charming. 

It seemed that her biological parents had raised Jiang Guiyu very well. 

After speaking, Jiang Guiyu coughed twice. 

Her health had always been poor, with a cough since birth. 

Madam Jiang immediately became concerned: “Guiyu, has the cough syrup run out these past few days?” 

Immediately, everyone looked at Jiang Guiyu. 

A smile finally appeared on Jiang Guiyu’s serene face, “Mother, I’ve been taking it as you told me. Perhaps I’ve caught a cold these past two days.” 

Madam Jiang’s brow furrowed with worry: “You must be careful, your body can’t suffer any more.” 

After saying that, when she looked at Jiang Qingyue again, the words she originally wanted to say suddenly became unspeakable. 

Although Guiyu had been weak since childhood and suffered from illness, Qingyue had spent more than ten years in the harsh and cold days of the Northern Territory. 

Madam Jiang looked at her with pity, “Qingyue, you are a good child, we owe you too much…” 

Before she could finish speaking, Mama Wang leaned in and whispered, “Madam, there are guests present. The intimate words with Miss Qingyue can wait until later.”