Wei Ruo looked at the two nannies for quite some time without any reaction.
When the nannies who came to fetch her thought she was too overwhelmed with surprise to react, Wei Ruo opened her mouth and replied calmly, "Understood."
To find out that she was not the abandoned child of a merchant family but the daughter of the Military Prefecture, her status had elevated significantly, yet her reaction was so serene?
The nannies exchanged a doubtful look.
"Miss, did you hear clearly? We're from the Military Prefecture, and the Wei Family's ancestors have been awarded for their merits. When you come back with us, you'll be an Official Family young lady." The nanny reiterated, thinking Wei Ruo might not understand what the Military Prefecture meant, and that's why she seemed so calm.
"Mm, I heard you." There was still no ripple on Wei Ruo's face.
Wei Ruo was so composed because she had known this day would come.
What else could she do if she wasn't composed?
The He Family, which had sent her to live on her own in another residence, had no feelings towards her, and they would be only too eager to establish a connection with the Military Prefecture due to this mistaken identity.
And as the Wei Family was indeed an official family, once they learned of the baby switch, they would certainly not let their biological daughter be left outside to invite gossip.
As for Wei Ruo herself, she naturally did not want to go to the Wei Family, but in this world where the hierarchy of sovereigns, subjects, fathers, and sons was clear-cut, it was not up to Wei Ruo whether she wanted to return or not.
"Then Miss, please come with us. We will take you back to the Military Prefecture to meet your birth parents. You don't need to go to the He Family anymore; our master has already made things clear with them, and they have no objections to you returning with us to the Military Prefecture." Seeing that Wei Ruo had clearly understood, the nanny urged her.
This countryside place is riddled with snakes, rats, and insects; it's dirty and poor, no place for people.
Of course, Wei Ruo knew that the He Family had no objections; they had no affection for her and would naturally pander to whatever the Military Prefecture wanted.
"I need to go back and pack up my things first."
"You probably don't need to bring your things from here over; the Military Prefecture has everything."
What good things could she possibly have here? It was probably better to throw them away and use new things at the Military Prefecture.
"I am used to my own things."
Although the nannies had their reservations, it was not appropriate to voice their dissatisfaction in front of the future lady of the house, so they went along with her wishes.
Wei Ruo finished planting the seedlings in her hand before coming up from the paddy field, cleaned herself, and then took Xiumei back to the house to pack.
Unlike the dilapidated exterior, the furnishings inside the house were much more refined.
She packed up her belongings, took all the valuables, and also those jars she kept in the storeroom. All the dried herbs had to be taken along as well.
Finally, she entrusted the recently planted paddy fields to the old couple from the Li Family at the entrance of the village and left a letter for them to hand to her wet nurse.
Seeing the luggage Wei Ruo had packed, the nannies looked displeased, especially at those several battered black jars.
Indeed raised in the countryside, her understanding was just this much, even considering those broken jars as valuable.
They thought about persuading Wei Ruo not to bring them since such things would be useless at the Military Prefecture, but then they remembered that Wei Ruo had little knowledge; even if they told her, she might not understand. It would be wasting their breath and not gaining any favor; better to say nothing and let her have her way.
So, under the nannies' arrangement, Wei Ruo's luggage was loaded onto the cart, and she and Xiumei got into the horse carriage, heading to the Military Prefecture.
The journey took three days, and three days later, Wei Ruo left the small mountain village where she had lived for ten years in Huaibei Town and arrived in Xingshan County, Taizhou Prefecture.
Wei Ruo's biological father, Wei Mingting, served as a Colonel there.
The Wei Family ancestors had produced military generals and were granted the title of Loyal and Righteous Earl, but by Wei Ruo's grandfather's generation, the family was on the decline, and if the younger generations failed to achieve anything notable, the Earldom would be revoked.
The Wei Family had three sons in Wei Ruo's father's generation.
The eldest son, Wei Minghong, only achieved the title of Scholar, and to this day has not passed the imperial examinations; he managed to secure an idle eighth-rank position in the capital.
The second son, Wei Mingyong, was a commoner and now only helps with managing the family estate, but in recent years, he has faced consecutive losses.
Wei Ruo's father, Wei Mingting, was the youngest son who went into the military early in life and is now the most accomplished among the three brothers, serving as a loyal and illustrious Colonel of the sixth rank, stationed in Xingshan County.
Wei Ruo was led through the side entrance by two nannies, passed through the decorative archway, walked along the veranda, and finally arrived in the courtyard where her mother, Madame Yun, lived.
As soon as Wei Ruo stepped over the threshold of the main room, Madame Yun hurried over and embraced her tightly.
Wei Ruo's body stiffened, her limbs felt as if they were filled with lead, unable to move.
Madame Yun, without saying anything, just cried and stroked Wei Ruo's face, her eyes red and swollen.
Feeling warm moisture on her neck, Wei Ruo was slightly taken aback.
Is she crying?
Even though she was mentally prepared, when Wei Ruo felt the genuine tears of Madame Yun, an unexpected emotion stirred deep within her.
Perhaps it was influenced by the memories of the original body, or maybe it was the recollection of her own tragically deceased mother in her previous life.
"Mother, don't be sad, my return is a good thing, isn't it? We should be happy."
The eldest son, Wei Yichen, stepped forward to comfort Madame Yun to prevent her from becoming too distressed.
Knowing that the child had been mistakenly taken for ten days now, their mother had shed countless tears.
Madame Yun rarely wept, but this one occasion brought on ceaseless tears.
With her eldest son's persuasion, Madame Yun slowly recovered.
She looked Wei Ruo over carefully again, noticing her coarse hemp clothes and slender figure, Madame Yun said with heartache, "My dear, you've suffered these years! I will compensate you well!"
At that moment, Wei Qingwan approached and knelt before Wei Ruo.
Before anyone could react, she had kowtowed.
Seeing this, Madame Yun quickly helped her up.
"Wanwan, what are you doing?"
"Mother, don't stop me, I owe this to my sister. I understand that no amount of kneeling can compensate for the fortune I've enjoyed in my sister's place over the years, but at the very least... I should do something..."
Wei Qingwan's eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke earnestly.
Seeing her like this, Madame Yun also felt deep pity.
How could these innocent children be blamed? Both of them are innocent! The fault lies in fate, or else it's with us as parents!
Wei Yichen also showed a saddened expression, hesitating before finally withdrawing his hand without helping Wei Qingwan up.
Wei Ruo watched Wei Qingwan kneeling before her and recognized her from her behavior and the conversation as the delicate female protagonist from the original story.
The book depicted her as delicately charming, shy and coquettish, tender as water, a woman men could not help but feel pity for.
Wei Ruo remembered that the original Wei Ruo's first entry into the family home also included a scene like this with Wei Qingwan kneeling, but the original Wei Ruo had not been calm, angrily accusing Wei Qingwan of taking her identity, taking her parents and family.
Then Wei Qingwan cried even harder, scolded yet enduring the grievances and saying it was what she deserved, which made Madame Yun, who was originally distressed for her newly retrieved biological daughter, feel pity for the accused and insulted Wei Qingwan instead.