The carriage rolled to a gentle halt before the He Residence.
Its black lacquered gates towered above the street, flanked by two stone lions whose silent gazes seemed to judge all who entered. Red lanterns swayed beneath the eaves as rows of servants stood waiting in perfect order.
The moment the carriage stopped, every servant lowered their heads.
"Welcome back, Master."
The curtain was lifted from within.
He Yan stepped down first, his travel-worn robes fluttering softly in the morning breeze. He turned and extended a hand toward the young woman inside.
"Careful."
He Xinyi accepted his help and slowly descended from the carriage. She paused at the foot of the steps, lifting her eyes to the grand residence before her.
So... this is my home?
The thought felt strangely hollow.
She searched her heart for familiarity—for a forgotten memory waiting to awaken—but there was nothing.
Only silence.
Before He Yan could say another word, hurried footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
"Master! Master!"
A middle-aged man in dark robes rushed toward them, bowing deeply.
"It is good you've returned."
He Yan frowned.
"Steward Liu? What happened?"
The steward wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"There's trouble at the eastern silk shop. A group of merchants are refusing payment and have gathered quite a crowd. Manager Chen has tried to calm them, but the matter has become impossible to handle."
He Yan's expression grew serious.
"I'll go immediately."
His eyes shifted to He Xinyi, his expression softening.
"Xinyi."
She looked up.
"I have urgent business to attend to. Go inside and rest first. Don't worry. I'll return as soon as I've settled the matter."
He turned toward the waiting servants.
"Take good care of Miss Xinyi. If she needs anything, see that it is provided."
"Yes, Master."
Without another moment to spare, He Yan mounted his horse and rode away with Steward Liu, disappearing beyond the residence gates.
The courtyard fell quiet once more.
He Xinyi watched until he was no longer in sight.
Then she drew a slow breath and turned toward the mansion.
Before she could climb the first step, someone stepped into her path.
"Welcome back, Miss Xinyi."
The voice was sweet enough to fool strangers.
Standing before her was an elderly woman dressed in expensive servant's robes. Her chin was lifted proudly, and although she smiled, there wasn't a trace of warmth in her eyes.
"I am Nanny Niu," she announced. "Personal attendant to Madam Ye. Our Madam specially instructed me to welcome you."
He Xinyi offered a polite nod.
"Thank you."
She took another step toward the entrance.
"Stop."
The single word rang through the courtyard.
He Xinyi froze and turned back.
Nanny Niu's smile had vanished.
"I'm afraid you cannot enter through the front gate."
Confusion crossed He Xinyi's face.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
"I... don't understand."
She looked toward the magnificent doorway before her.
"If I can't enter through the front gate..."
"...then how am I supposed to go inside?"
A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Nanny Niu's lips.
"The front entrance is reserved for the mistress of the household and the legitimate children born to Madam Ye."
Her gaze slowly traveled over He Xinyi.
"You..."
"...are merely the daughter of a concubine."
Every servant lowered their heads further, yet none dared speak.
Nanny Niu casually pointed toward a narrow wooden door built into the side wall beside the grand entrance.
"You may enter through the side gate."
"The side gate has always been reserved for concubines, their children... and servants."
Silence settled over the courtyard.
He Xinyi stared at the small door.
It was barely half the height of the grand entrance.
The two doors stood side by side like an invisible line dividing honor from humiliation.
A strange ache stirred within her chest.
She could not explain why.
She remembered nothing of her past.
Yet for some reason...
Being told to enter through that small door felt unbearably wrong.
A surge of anger rose inside her.
Why?
Am I not also Father's daughter?
The question reached her lips...
...only to die there.
She knew nothing about this household.
Nothing about its customs.
Nothing about the people within.
Arguing now would achieve nothing.
Silently swallowing her frustration, she lowered her gaze and walked through the narrow side entrance.
The residence beyond was elegant beyond words.
Flower gardens stretched in every direction.
Lotus ponds reflected the afternoon sun.
Servants came and went with practiced efficiency.
Yet He Xinyi noticed none of it.
Her thoughts were occupied by only one person.
Mother...
Perhaps seeing her would make this unfamiliar place finally feel like home.
Unable to hold back any longer, she turned toward Nanny Niu.
"Where is my mother?"
Nanny Niu's smile widened.
"Oh..."
"Your mother is waiting for you in the main hall."
"Please, follow me."
Joy lit He Xinyi's face.
Without hesitation, she followed behind.
The doors to the main hall were pushed open.
Inside, an elderly woman sat upon the seat of highest honor.
Though advanced in years, her bearing remained dignified.
Beside her sat another elegantly dressed woman in embroidered robes, surrounded by several personal maids.
Nanny Niu bowed.
"Old Madam."
"Madam."
She then turned toward He Xinyi.
"The elder lady is Old Madam He—your grandmother."
"And beside her..."
"...is your mother."
Before He Xinyi could react, Nanny Niu motioned to a nearby maid.
The servant stepped forward carrying a lacquered tray upon which rested two porcelain teacups.
Nanny Niu smiled politely.
"Miss Xinyi, please greet your elders and offer them tea."
He Xinyi approached the elderly woman first.
Kneeling gracefully, she presented the teacup with both hands.
"Greetings, Grandmother."
"I pray for your health and many years of happiness."
Old Madam He accepted the tea with a gentle nod.
"You've had a long journey. Rise."
Her voice was courteous, though distant.
He Xinyi then turned toward the elegant woman seated beside her.
For the first time since arriving, genuine warmth appeared on her face.
Holding out the second cup, she smiled softly.
"Mother..."
"I've finally come home."
The hall became deathly silent.
Then—
A muffled laugh escaped someone.
He Xinyi looked around in confusion.
Nanny Niu lowered her head, barely hiding the amusement tugging at her lips.
Even the elegant lady's expression twitched.
Old Madam He gave an awkward cough into her sleeve.
Nanny Niu cleared her throat.
"Miss Xinyi..."
"You have addressed Madam incorrectly."
He Xinyi frowned.
"...Incorrectly?"
"Naturally."
Nanny Niu smiled sweetly.
"This is Madam He."
"The legal wife of Master He."
"Your legal mother."
She paused before speaking the next words slowly.
"Your birth mother..."
"...is Concubine Ning"
The words struck He Xinyi like cold water.
Her birth mother...
Wasn't here?
She slowly looked from Madam Ye to Nanny Niu, confusion clouding her eyes.
"But..."
"When I asked where my mother was..."
"I thought..."
Nanny Niu interrupted before she could finish.
"You thought wrong."
Her smile remained perfectly polite, yet every word carried a hidden barb.
"In the He family, Madam Ye is the legal wife."
She stepped closer, speaking as though kindly correcting a child.
"According to the family rules, every young master and young miss must address Madam Ye as 'Mother.'"
She deliberately stressed the final word.
"Mother."
The surrounding maids lowered their heads, hiding the amusement in their eyes.
He Xinyi's fingers tightened around the empty teacup.
Something inside her rebelled.
She could not explain why.
She had no memories.
No past.
Yet every instinct told her...
This wasn't right.
She drew a slow breath, forcing herself to remain calm.
With obvious reluctance, she bowed once more.
"Greetings... Mother."
Madam Ye accepted the greeting with a graceful smile, lifting the teacup as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Good."
"Remember your place from now on, and this household will not mistreat you."
The words sounded generous.
Yet they carried no warmth.
Only authority.
He Xinyi swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat.
After a moment's hesitation, she asked softly,
"Then..."
"...where is my birth mother?"
The hall fell silent.
Nanny Niu clicked her tongue in open disapproval.
"Miss Xinyi."
"Be mindful of your words."
She glanced toward Madam Ye before continuing.
"Madam Ye is your mother."
"That is the rule of this household."
She paused only briefly before adding,
"If you are asking about Concubine Ning..."
"...she resides in the rear courtyard."
The words "rear courtyard" were spoken almost dismissively.
"She has been in poor health these past few months."
"So she is resting."
He Xinyi's eyes brightened.
"My... birth mother is ill?"
For the first time since entering the mansion, genuine concern appeared on her face.
"I'd like to see her."
Nanny Niu's smile stiffened.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Concubine Ning is weak."
"The physician instructed that she receive complete rest."
"Besides..."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"After so many years apart, meeting immediately may agitate her condition."
"It would be better if Miss Xinyi first settled into the residence and learned the household rules."
Madam Ye finally spoke, her voice calm and elegant.
"Nanny Niu is right."
"Your mother—"
She corrected herself deliberately.
"Concubine Ning has waited many years."
"One more day will not matter."
"Rest first."
"When the physician permits visitors, you may go."
Her tone was gentle.
Reasonable.
Impossible to argue against.
Yet to He Xinyi...
It felt as though an invisible wall had been placed between her and the woman she had longed to meet.
She lowered her head.
"...Yes, Madam."
No one noticed that beneath her sleeves, her hands had clenched into trembling fists.
She had only wanted to see her mother.
Yet from the moment she entered this mansion...
Every step she took seemed to remind her—
that this was not a home.
It was a place where every word, every greeting, every doorway, and even the right to call someone "Mother" belonged to rules she did not yet understand.