As night fell, Hongdou returned with the maid who had been disguised as Yun Shi.
"Madam, Miss, I'm back," Hongdou said, her eyes unable to hide her joy upon seeing Yun Shi.
Yun Shi was so excited that she could barely speak, "Was the journey smooth? Did anything happen after you returned? How is the Old Madam? Are your injuries serious?"
Hongdou answered each question, but she felt that Yun Shi's expression was a little off. Just as she was about to ask Yun Shi what was wrong, the maid she had brought back knelt down with a thud. "Madam Yun, you must do justice for your servant. Hongdou, while you were away, drugged me and forced me to impersonate you. I don't know what her intentions were!"
As soon as the maid spoke, Qi Zhenzhen, Yun Shi, and Hongdou were all stunned.
Hongdou had her reasons for doing what she did, and she felt guilty. She had been planning to intercede with Yun Shi on the maid's behalf, perhaps asking for a reward or a promotion to a top maid. However, before she could say anything, the maid had already lodged a complaint.
"I understand this matter. You may go down first," Yun Shi said, her expression unreadable.
Qi Zhenzhen instructed Chunfeng to escort the maid away and then sent Bai Su off. Hongdou thought Yun Shi wanted to rest and prepared to leave.
Yun Shi grabbed Hongdou's hand, much to Hongdou's surprise. "Madam, what is this?"
Qi Zhenzhen closed the door, and Yun Shi said excitedly, "How long do you plan to call me Madam? Or do you intend to remain a mere maid forever, refusing to acknowledge me?"
Qi Zhenzhen carefully observed Hongdou's expression. Indeed, after Yun Shi spoke, Hongdou showed no confusion, only apprehension.
"Madam, this servant..." Hongdou said, a little nervously.
"There's no one else here. Zhenzhen discovered your identity first," Yun Shi said directly, fearing Hongdou might not admit it with Qi Zhenzhen present.
Hongdou looked at Qi Zhenzhen in surprise. "Miss, you..."
"I'm a little older than you, so you can call me Sister from now on," Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile. "This matter is too extraordinary, so we can't inform everyone and switch back our identities. You saved Mother this time, and Mother and I thought, using this as an excuse, she could acknowledge you as her adopted daughter."
On the surface, it was an adopted daughter; in reality, it was a biological mother and daughter.
Hongdou was too emotional to speak. She had long prepared herself to stay by Yun Shi's side as a young maid, watching Qi Yi grow into adulthood.
"Do you agree?" Yun Shi asked nervously.
Hongdou nodded heavily, her voice choked with emotion. "Mother, I missed you so much."
After she left her original body and became Hongdou, Hongdou was at her most miserable. What sustained her through it all were Yun Shi and Qi Yi.
Yun Shi pulled her into a hug. "My poor Zhenzhen, it's all Mother's fault. If Mother had been stronger back then, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this. Mother's heart was cut like a knife when she knew you were gone."
Qi Zhenzhen quietly opened the door and slipped out. At this moment, the mother and daughter had much to say, and her presence would have been inconvenient.
"Mother, those things are in the past. We are all doing well now, and that's enough," Hongdou said, wiping away Yun Shi's tears after crying for a while.
"Yes, the bad times are over. Mother is doing well now, and your brother is also doing well. In the years you were not here, thanks to her, if it weren't for her, your brother and I might not have survived to return to the mansion, let alone be reunited with you now!" Yun Shi said with emotion. "Since she arrived in the village, your brother and I have suffered no more. After returning to the mansion, she handled everything. Over these years, Mother has slowly come to treat her as a daughter. It hasn't been easy for her to come here alone."