The beautiful woman's voice was just as commanding. She waved her hand, signaling the maid reporting to leave, her tone calm and indifferent:
"Tell Mira not to bother me with these useless things. If she doesn't come back soon, I will consider her no longer my daughter. Let her stay in the 'Yixian House' then."
The maid's face turned pale, and she bowed respectfully: "Yes, mistress. I will tell young miss right away."
Mira was still in a daze. Hearing that this Mira must be the beautiful woman's daughter, she thought, that girl must be really daring. The 'Yixian House' was clearly not a decent place. Along the way, Mira had heard some middle-aged women talk lewdly about how the young masters at Yixian House were irresistible. That place was obviously for women to live a loose life.
Having such a mother who dared to run off like that was truly reckless.
The beautiful woman no longer cared about the maid, and with a slight glance at Riyo, she asked: "Are you Riyo?"
Her tone was indifferent, as if asking about someone insignificant. Riyo had a strong sense of pride. No matter what others said about Mira, he didn't care, but he worried that his father would be hurt by it.
Mira walked toward Riyo but saw him answer calmly without bowing: "Yes, I am Riyo. You are Lady Lian, right? Long time no see, about fifteen years."
A look of nostalgia appeared on his face.
Grandma Wan and Lady Lu were close friends, and after marriage, they often visited each other with their children, who all called each other cousins.
It was the first time Mira saw her father like this. Polite and refined, even his movements looked better. It made sense—he was only thirty-three but had once been a gentle young man admired by many girls, although his health was poor.
He paid no attention to the woman's coldness, his eyes full of nostalgia.
Lady Lian did not expect him to say that. Her phoenix eyes flickered as she carefully studied Riyo's eyebrows and said:
"Didn't expect you still remember me. Your eyebrows do look like cousin Riyo's. A few years ago, we even sent people to look for you, but everyone said you were killed by the matriarch. How dare an outsider be so arrogant, conspiring with a stranger's husband to kill a woman? Why haven't you dealt with her?"
The beautiful woman disapproved of Riyo, thinking he was weak. But her tone was much friendlier now.
This was unfair to Riyo. At that time, they were surrounded by wolves, all waiting to get a share. Even if they carefully dealt with her mother and her lover, it was like the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole watches behind. Many people named Wan wanted to get rid of them.
If Mira had been older then, she could have fought for herself, but she was only eight years old. Such an environment was unsafe for her to grow up in and could not stop others from poisoning Riyo.
So, after discussing with Riyo, they decided to run away.
Seeing her father unable to answer, Mira quickly said: "It's not dad's fault. It was a decision we made together. At that time, besides my mother, many uncles wanted to fight over our property. With enemies all around, we had to escape first and wait until I grew up to plan again."
Mira cleared her throat deliberately, speaking clearly and sweetly, not weak or soft. She hoped Lady Lian would have a better impression, but Lady Lian just stared straight at her.
Mira felt a chill down her back under that gaze. Lady Lian finally said:
"So this is your daughter, Mira."
"Yes, little Mira, greet cousin Lady Lian. She's a tough one, always chatting nonstop. Cousin Lady Lian, please don't mind."
Riyo gently patted Mira's head, proudly praising his daughter.
"Cousin Lady Lian, how have you been?"
Under that gaze, Mira felt like a little chick, wishing she could hide under Riyo's arm.
Lady Lian looked at her for a while and nodded: "She looks quite good. You are a good father, raising your daughter well."
Then she added: "But she looks a bit thin and darker. Take good care of her, she should get better. I heard she has been supporting you on the way and is a filial child. How is your leg?"
Mira felt helpless hearing Lady Lian say she was dark. She had heard many people say that since she left. She thought she looked normal, with a healthy wheat-colored skin tone.
But everyone who saw him thought he had suffered a lot to end up like this, their eyes full of pity.
Hearing Lady Lian ask about her father's leg, although she knew in this era there was little hope of curing it, her heart still warmed. She hoped someone could heal it.
After all, Feng City was so big, maybe there really was someone who could do bone surgery!
Riyo's lower leg had been crushed by a stone set by someone. At that time, the bone was broken and exposed. The doctor there said it could no longer be healed, only the wound could be stopped from bleeding and bandaged.
Sure enough, after three months of care, the wound healed, but as the doctor said, the leg could not be fixed.
Not only that, it couldn't bear weight. Standing caused pain, and gloomy weather made it hurt too.
At that time, they were in a hurry to escape.
Every time she thought about it, Mira felt regretful. Her father was so handsome, a graceful nobleman, but now he limped on one leg and couldn't stand long.
Riyo's smile faded as he told Lady Lian the truth.
Lady Lian was silent for a long moment before saying, "What a pity. That wicked woman and her lover should have been killed back then. But don't worry. When we went to them, that wicked woman was already fighting hard with the Wan family. We added fuel to the fire. I heard someone died later, and she got sued. Even a woman can be stripped bare by the law. You probably won't see her again."
Seeing Riyo's indifferent expression, she was satisfied and smiled.
"Alright, you've been standing so long, go rest! Don't lose hope. Feng City is big, we will find someone to take a look. There will be a solution. Go ahead and rest first."
"Shane, take Riyo's cousin and niece to the West Garden to rest."
"Yes."
A round-faced young girl lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully.
"Master Wan, Miss Wan, this way please."
Mira was surprised to hear that the Wan family's troubles involved the Lu family. No wonder the woman she had fought with for so many years never came looking for her — she was busy with other things.
Hearing Lady Lian comforting her father and saying she would find someone to treat him made Mira hopeful. She thought Lady Lian was different from the proud noblewoman she had met in a past life. Lady Lian seemed kind.
She looked gratefully at Lady Lian, thinking she would repay her someday.
But that look made Lady Lian remember something.
Though the girl's skin was dark, her eyes were lively and pleasant, her lips red and healthy. Lady Lian thought about her own willful, troublesome son and felt it would be nice to have such a daughter-in-law. But still, the girl lacked some manners.
"By the way, since Mira is already fifteen, she is almost of marriageable age. There are many rules in Feng City. I will have someone teach her now, so she can handle social situations better in the future."
Mira thought, what to do? She felt Lady Lian might not be a good person.
The girl's eyes instantly lost their spirit, like a thirsty flower.
Riyo was grateful.
His biggest regret was not letting his daughter live a good life, to be taught manners and literacy. He could only teach her to read. Now someone else was thinking about this for him, how could he not be happy? He thanked Lady Lian sincerely.
"Thank you, Cousin Lian, for your kindness."
Then he led the wilted Mira away.