Shen Qingwan hadn’t expected her grandmother to be so perceptive and aware of everything.

“Grandmother, since you can already see through them and know that mother and daughter are up to no good, why do you still keep them in the mansion?”

“You think I don’t want to drive them out?” The old madam sighed. “Back then, when Ye Minghui lost you, I hated her so much I wanted to take her life. How could I allow her to stay here? But later, I fell gravely ill and didn’t have the chance to expel them. By the time I recovered, your mother had fallen ill instead.

At that time, I was worried that driving Ye Minghui and her daughter out would upset your mother. She was still sick, and I thought having someone to talk to might help.

Who knew that soon after, she lost her senses? In her confused state, she wouldn’t let anyone near her except Ye Minghui. I had no choice but to let her stay and care for your mother.

I thought that since they were blood sisters, no matter how heartless Ye Minghui was, she wouldn’t harm her own sister.

Having someone to take care of your mother seemed like a good thing, so I left them alone. Over the years, she has been trying to control the entire general’s residence, but at least she took good care of your mother.

Your father wasn’t home, so I let her be. But now that your mother has recovered, it’s best to send them away as soon as possible. Otherwise, who knows what tricks she’ll pull when your father returns?”

As someone who had spent her life in the inner court, the old madam was well aware of the schemes women could use to achieve their goals.

She could prevent her son from taking concubines, and her son’s love for his wife meant he would never betray her.

But living under the same roof, what if Ye Minghui drugged her son and forced herself on him? If that happened, Gu Tingyi would have no choice but to take responsibility for her.

Even Ye Minglan wouldn’t object. With her personality, she might even agree to let Ye Minghui enter the household as an equal wife.

And Ye Minglan wasn’t someone who could outwit Ye Minghui in a battle of wits.

She couldn’t understand how, despite being twins, the elder sister was so kind and simple-minded, while the younger one was so cruel and calculating.

Hearing this, Shen Qingwan turned to her mother. “Mother, did you hear that? Even Grandmother sees through them so clearly. Have you never doubted Ye Minghui’s intentions? Not to mention how you were poisoned back then—just this recent disappearance of yours should have made you suspicious. Who knows? Maybe I was lost all those years ago because she deliberately planned it.”

At first, Shen Qingwan was only speculating, but the old madam suddenly slapped the bed and gasped. “You might be right! I always wondered how a well-watched child could suddenly go missing. If you hadn’t disappeared back then, your mother wouldn’t have fallen ill. And if she hadn’t fallen ill, how could those two have entered our home so easily and stayed for so many years?

With Tingyi away all these years, the mansion has practically become theirs. Look at how everyone treats them—who even remembers that you are the general’s wife? Anyone who didn’t know better would think Ye Minghui was the mistress of the house.”

Ye Minglan’s heart was now filled with doubt. Between Ye Minghui and her mother-in-law and daughter, she naturally trusted the latter two more.

She had already been suspicious when her daughter brought up the past. But Ye Minghui was her own sister, and she didn’t want to believe she could be so ruthless.

However, looking at everything now, there were indeed too many suspicious details.

“Mother, I was foolish for not realizing their ambitions earlier. In a few days, once the household accounts are settled, I’ll make them leave the general’s residence,” Ye Minglan said.

She trusted her mother-in-law and daughter. If they both believed Ye Minghui was scheming, then it was best to remove them.

Shen Qingwan thought for a moment. Wouldn’t simply expelling them be letting them off too easily?

If they had truly orchestrated her disappearance and abandoned her mother in Yongzhou, then she would never forgive them.

Instead of driving them out, why not pretend to let down their guard and wait for them to reveal their true colors?

That way, her mother could see for herself what kind of people they really were.

“Mother, rather than sending them away and having to remain cautious of them afterward, why not let them stay for now and see what they’re planning?”

“Qingwan, that’s too risky! What if they try to harm you again? It would be safer to expel them first and let your father and brother investigate when they return. If they truly committed these crimes, there will be evidence,” the old madam said, holding onto Shen Qingwan’s hand anxiously.

Shen Qingwan patted her hand reassuringly. “Grandmother, I’m not some naive young lady who doesn’t know the world. If they want to harm me now, they don’t have the ability. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve. Don’t worry—I’ll protect my mother too.”

The old madam was still worried, but seeing how confident her granddaughter was, she could only agree. She decided to send a few more trusted people to keep an eye on them.

After leaving the small prayer hall, Ye Minglan was lost in thought.

She had once genuinely cared for her younger sister, even for Ye Lingsnow.

After her brother-in-law died in battle, she had felt even more sorry for them.

That’s why she never wanted to believe the worst about them. But if they had truly done such terrible things, then she would never forgive them.

While Ye Minglan and Shen Qingwan spoke with the old madam, Ye Minghui was pacing nervously in her room.

Meanwhile, Ye Lingsnow remained calm.

To her, so what if Gu Qingwan had returned? She would never be able to defeat her.

She was the heroine of this world, and the most outstanding man in the world would belong to her.

Beichen Yuan—the man who had captivated her at first glance—was her destined partner.

She had a strong premonition that Beichen Yuan would fall in love with her.

She just needed the right opportunity—the perfect first encounter to make him notice her.

For the sake of being with Beichen Yuan, Ye Lingsnow had no time to deal with Ye Minglan and her daughter right now.

Once she won over that man, dealing with Gu Qingwan would be effortless.

“Mother, the Spring Banquet is in a few days. I must stand out in front of the War King. Let’s put everything else aside for now.

Focus on preparing my outfit for that day.”

Ye Minghui knew what was most important. Nothing mattered more than her daughter’s future.

Her daughter had always been strong-willed, never needing her help in the past.

She was exceptional and deserved to be with the most powerful and noble man in the world.

“Alright, I’ll find you the perfect dress these next few days. But remember, the Crown Prince has not ascended the throne yet, and the other princes are still fighting for power. There’s no guarantee the Spring Banquet will happen as planned.”

After the late emperor passed away, he had not left an official decree, but he had named the eldest prince, Xiao Ruifeng, as the crown prince.

However, the prince was weak and sickly, making him an unfit heir. Because of this, the struggle between the princes had become more intense.

If Beichen Yuan hadn’t returned to the capital in time to stabilize the situation, the princes might have already started an all-out war.