Chapter 51 is about a small knife.

That's... Xie Jianing?

A group of servants in black escorted a girl in red as she rushed in from outside the long hall. The girl in red stood in front of the commotion and looked at the stunned Meng Min, calling out again in a trembling voice, "Mother!"

Meng Min trembled as if waking from a dream, staring in disbelief at the person who had suddenly appeared, murmuring repeatedly, "Jia Ning? Jia Ning! It's my Jia Ning..."

"Mother!" Xie Jianing rushed over and nestled into Meng Min's arms like a swallow returning to its nest.

Meng Min hugged her tightly and cupped her face to examine her closely, murmuring as if in a dream, "Is it really my Jia Ning? I'm not dreaming, my Jia Ning has come back?"

Xie Jianing was already in tears, and she rubbed her palm against her mother's hand, saying, "It's my mother, I'm back."

Meng Min finally hugged her and burst into tears.

Even Xie Zhian couldn't believe it and rushed over to hug Xie Jianing, bursting into tears. His tears at this moment were genuine, after all, Jianing was the daughter he had raised with all his heart.

Such a scene of something lost and then regained would touch even the most hard-hearted person.

The Meng family members were all in tears, and the guests in the long hall almost stood up to look at Xie Jianing, unable to believe that Xie Jianing, who had been missing for several years, had actually returned alive.

Qiao Bao'er, who was beside Xie Yushu, also cried quietly. She held her hand and was happy for Meng Min, saying softly, "That's great, Miss Jianing is back safe and sound, that's great."

Yes, Xie Jianing is back safe and sound, a few days earlier than in the original drama. In the original drama, she returned on Xie Yushu's birthday, but now she's back during such a lively time.

Not only is Meng Min going to announce her pregnancy, but the villain Song Jie is also there, and it will be even more lively if Xiao Zhen comes.

Xie Yushu glanced at Song Jie, only to see Song Jie standing in surprise in the men's section, his gaze fixed on Xie Jianing who had suddenly returned, but quickly shifting to her, staring intently at her.

His white moonlight has returned. He must really want to come over, but he doesn't, as if he's deliberately trying to prove something.

There's no need to prove it to her.

Xie Yushu withdrew his gaze and noticed that the five or six black-clad attendants who had returned with Xie Jianing were all wearing bamboo hats, making it impossible to tell their gender or identities.

She remembered that in the original drama, Xie Jianing was rescued by the king of a foreign country during her disappearance. The king adopted her as his goddaughter. She originally wanted to come back, but just then, a war broke out in this small foreign country. This war was the one in which Pei Heng won a great victory in the foreign rebellion.

In the original drama, the female lead Xie Jianing returned one after the other with the victorious Pei Heng. It is presumably because Pei Heng quelled the war and saved this small foreign country, and also rescued Xie Jianing who was trapped in the war-torn country. However, since Xie Jianing and Pei Heng did not have a romantic storyline, this part was glossed over.

Xie Jianing returned ahead of schedule. Will Xiao Dao, who accompanied the army, be back soon too? I wonder if Xiao Dao has had any contact with Xie Jianing?

Xie Yushu felt inexplicably uneasy, fearing that with Xie Jianing's return, all the plot points would slip out of her control... After all, this world revolves around the female lead, Xie Jianing.

Meng Min and Xie Jianing cried for a long time, forgetting everything about her pregnancy and the guests.

Xie Zhi'an wiped away his tears and comforted the mother and daughter who were crying bitterly. He then happily invited the guests to sit down and continue the banquet, and excitedly announced that he would host a banquet in a couple of days to welcome back his daughter who had been lost and found. He invited everyone to come again.

Everyone sincerely congratulated the Xie family.

Xie Zhian hesitated again. He had originally planned to negotiate with Meng Min today, and with the Xie family still around, bring Ye Xizhu into the mansion to rest and prepare for childbirth. But who would have thought that Meng Min would suddenly say that she was pregnant, and that Jia Ning would suddenly return...

If Ye Xizhu's matter is brought up again now, not only will Meng Min turn against him, but his daughter Jia Ning probably won't stand by his side either. In his daughter's heart, he has always been a good husband and father. How could he give her such a blow when she finally came back safely?

It's really not a good time.

Xie Zhian was determined not to mention the matter today, but he did not expect that Ye Xizhu was already waiting outside the mansion gate to welcome him in.

"Don't cry, Ningning's safe return is a great joy." Meng Jing also wiped away her tears and hugged Jia Ning and Meng Min, saying with great joy, "Double happiness on your birthday, you should be happy!"

Upon hearing the double good news, Xie Zhi'an immediately asked Meng Min, "I was so happy that I forgot to ask. Just now, the nanny told me that you are pregnant?"

Xie Jianing, who was being held in Meng Min's arms, was stunned for a moment. She looked up at her mother with her tear-streaked face and was surprised to see that her mother had actually nodded.

For some reason, Meng Min felt guilty as her daughter looked at her like that. She felt guilty about being pregnant, afraid that her daughter would think that she was pregnant because she had given up looking for her. So, she didn't bother to thank An, but touched Jia Ning's noticeably thinner face and said, "Mother has been looking for you. Mother knew that you would be lucky and would come back safely." She wanted to tell her daughter as much as possible that she had never given up looking for her, missed her, and worried about her.

Xie Zhi'an, however, was oblivious to Duo Jianing's subtle expression. He continued to ask in surprise, "When did this happen? Have you seen a doctor? How many months pregnant are you?"

It was as if they were afraid Meng Min had misdiagnosed their pulse.

Meng Min was annoyed by what she heard, so Meng Jing answered for her: "We have consulted the old physician Meng from the Imperial Hospital. She is now more than two months pregnant. It seems that she had been having headaches and poor appetite before returning to the Meng residence, which means she was pregnant."

Meng Jing had made arrangements in advance. Physician Meng Jia was a family friend of her father's, and he had also hosted a banquet today. At this moment, her nanny was inviting Physician Meng Jia over.

Meng Jia smiled and congratulated Xie Zhi'an, saying that the Lady Hou was worried about the unstable pregnancy and wanted to wait until it was more stable before proceeding.

Then everyone began another round of congratulations.

Xie Zhian was stunned. He really hadn't expected Meng Min to be pregnant again. Hadn't she been in poor health since giving birth to Jia Ning? Even with all the treatments she received when she was young, she couldn't recover and get pregnant again. Now, at almost forty, she was pregnant?

"Is the Marquis so happy he's lost his mind?" Fang Hui reminded him with a smile, "Look how happy he is, we're all waiting to eat the Marquis and his wife's celebratory banquet for the birth of their son!"

Xie Zhian quickly put on a joyful expression, patted his forehead with a smile, and said that he was so happy that he was dizzy. Not only was his daughter back safely, but he was also going to be a father at this age.

He was indeed happy. In any case, if Meng Min could give birth to a son, he would be his legitimate son, which would always be better than the son born to Ye Xizhu. Naturally, he wanted to have a legitimate son with Meng Min.

"Madam should have told me sooner." Xie Zhi'an helped Meng Min up and wiped away her tears, saying, "Sit down quickly, sit down first, and don't cry anymore, be careful not to harm the fetus."

Meng Min brushed his hand away and held Jia Ning tightly, saying, "Jia Ning, are you tired from your journey? Are you hungry? I'll have someone make your favorite crab roe buns right away. After you've eaten, tell me in detail where you've been all these years." As she spoke, she was about to cry again.

"Yes, yes, quickly tell the kitchen." Xie Zhi'an followed Meng Min's words and instructed the nanny to prepare Jia Ning's favorite food.

But before Xie Jianing could even sit down after giving the order, a chaotic noise came from outside again.

The steward rushed in from outside the main hall, his forehead covered in sweat. He tried to whisper in Xie Zhi'an's ear to report, but the Lady Hou asked directly, "What happened outside?"

The butler glanced hesitantly at Xie Zhi'an.

"Answer my questions, why are you looking at him?" Meng Min's tone turned cold: "Does this Marquis's mansion only have him as its master?"

The steward, reprimanded, lowered his head and could only answer tremblingly, "Reporting to Madam, it is... a woman fainted outside the gate..."

Before he could finish speaking, Meng Jing's capable nanny, who had been left outside the mansion, quickly entered and whispered something in Meng Jing's ear.

Meng Jing's face turned cold as he asked, "Whose wife is she? And why did she faint? Why is she making such a fuss outside the Marquis's mansion instead of being taken to a clinic?"

The butler became even more stammering when questioned.

"What use is there in keeping such a servant who can't even speak properly?" Meng Jing said directly, his eyes like knives as he looked at Xie Zhi'an. "My men came to report that the woman who fainted outside is named Ye Xizhu, and that she has suffered a miscarriage..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Zhian's expression changed. Why would Ye Xizhu come? How dare she come!

"Madam Ye's nanny is outside shouting that she wants to see you, brother-in-law." Meng Jing stared at Xie Zhi'an and asked, "Why does she want to see you?"

Xie Zhi'an dared not answer, nor did he dare look at the Meng sisters. He angrily said, "What do you want me for? Useless servant! Take him to the clinic!"

Meng Min immediately understood, and was furious. It turned out that Xie Zhi'an had planned this all along. Today, at her birthday banquet, he was going to bring him into the family. Good, very good.

She reprimanded the steward who was about to leave, and without arguing with Xie Zhi'an, she directly instructed Zhenniang, "Since the person fainted at the entrance of the Marquis's residence and called out the Marquis's name, he must be someone the Marquis knows. Bring him in for treatment first, lest someone die."

Xie Zhian couldn't stop her at all. Seeing Zhenniang leading a large group of maids out to carry people away, he anxiously grabbed Meng Min's hand and whispered to her, "Come with me to the inner room, I have something to tell you..."

Meng Min, however, pushed him away, interrupting him, "What can't be said here? Could it be that the woman who fainted is your lover?"

She no longer wanted to tolerate it, nor did she want to give Xie Zhi'an any face.

Xie Zhian's face was pale and ashen, and he glanced at his daughter, who looked terrified. He was furious and said, "What nonsense are you spouting in front of our daughter!" He then suppressed his anger and said to Meng Min in a low voice, "Our daughter has finally come back. I don't want to have any unpleasantness in front of her. Let's go inside and talk about our business."

The more he acted this way, the more Meng Min broke down, as if she were the villain, as if only Xie Zhi'an loved their daughter and she was the culprit who didn't understand the bigger picture!

But it was Xie Zhi'an who betrayed them, and it was Xie Zhi'an who brought other women back! Xie Zhi'an even considered giving up on finding Jia Ning several times, how could he have the nerve to say such things!

"Stop with that attitude!" Meng Min's voice became shrill with frustration: "Don't you want to have a fight in front of your daughter? You could go to a brothel just two days after Jia Ning disappeared! Get your lover pregnant..."

"Meng Min!" Xie Zhi'an immediately scolded her.

The room was deathly silent; everyone was watching the spectacle with amusement.

Xie Jianing was indeed frightened. She slowly pulled away from Meng Min's embrace and looked at her mother in astonishment. She had never seen her mother act like such a vulgar shrew, nor had she ever heard her mother say such crude words... What mistress? What getting pregnant? How could her father do such a thing? Is this true?

At that moment, she suddenly felt a strong sense of alienation, as if her father was no longer the gentle and loving father who doted on her and her mother, and her mother was no longer the dignified and noble mother who put her first... This was clearly her home, but suddenly everything had changed. Her father seemed to have another woman, and her mother had a new child...

"Mother." A voice softly sounded.

Xie Jianing saw a girl who looked similar to her step forward, take Meng Min's trembling arm, and whisper to Meng Min, "Mother, don't be angry. We can talk things out slowly today."

Xie Yushu... Isn't this Xie Yushu, the concubine's younger sister who looks a lot like her?

Although Xie Jianing had heard from Pei Heng and Xiao Dao that Xie Yushu had been taking care of her grandmother and mother all these years, she found it hard to accept that Xie Yushu was so intimate and natural in holding her mother's arm and calling her mother "mother".

She thought Meng Min would scold Xie Yushu for calling her that, but instead she saw her mother stop her agitated speech, look at Xie Yushu, and take Xie Yushu's hand that was supporting her...

Suddenly, Xie Jianing seemed like an outsider, and Xie Yushu was her daughter.

Xie Jianing's suppressed emotions suddenly erupted. She stared at Xie Yushu and said, "How dare you, a mere concubine's daughter, call someone 'mother'? You have no manners!" Enraged, she raised her hand to slap Xie Yushu.

The moment she raised her hand to slap someone, an arm suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

At the same time, someone called out from behind Xie Jianing: "Miss Jianing".

She recognized the voice all too well; it was Song Jie.

Song Jie walked briskly through the crowd.

Xie Jianing looked up and saw the person holding her wrist. He was standing behind Xie Yushu, dressed in a black servant's uniform, his face covered under a bamboo hat, revealing only a pair of dark, alluring eyes that stared at her like knives.

It was Xiao Dao. He had somehow appeared behind Xie Yushu, staring at her with a warning look.

The crowd stirred, and Song Jie's long-unseen face reappeared before Xie Jianing. However, Song Jie did not stand beside her, but instead walked to Xie Yushu's side.

He frowned at her and said in a light but unfamiliar tone, "Miss Jia Ning, why bother?"

Xie Jianing looked at Song Jie in disbelief. Why was even Song Jie on Xie Yushu's side?

"Jia Ning, don't be like this." Meng Min reached out to pull her and said softly, "Yu Shu wanted to help me."

Xie Jianing stared at her mother, her eyes reddening. It was too absurd. Her home, her parents, even Song Jie, who had once treated her so well, had all become Xie Yushu's captives.

She had only been missing for a little over two years when Xie Yushu had already usurped her place and taken everything from her.

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Author's note: Here it comes, don't rush.