Chapter 59 Sang Zhi Qiu has a fire burning in her heart (Camp...)

When the news reached the backyard, the Lady of Dongxiang, who was chatting and laughing with You Nianjiao and several noble ladies from duke families, suddenly froze for a moment.

"Yu Xiuxiu is here? She said she wanted to celebrate my birthday?"

Lady Dongxiang suddenly stood up, a faint, incredulous smile on her face, tinged with sarcasm: "This is truly a rare guest."

How many years has it been since they last saw each other?

The steward of the Marquis's residence bowed slightly: "The Marquis of Changning's residence has not received any invitations. Madam, do you think I should find an excuse to send them away?"

"No need, just invite her in."

Countless old memories flashed through her mind. Lady Dongxiang raised her head slightly, her expression haughty, with a hint of secret boasting. "I also want to see what she looks like now."

She turned around and nodded to the female guests in the flower hall, saying, "An old friend has suddenly come to visit, please excuse me for a moment."

The wives of the dukes and marquises all waved their hands, saying it was no problem.

You Nianjiao stepped forward, took the arm of the Lady of Dongxiang, and said with a hint of worry in her eyes, "Mother, I'm afraid they're up to no good."

Having grown up in the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion, she naturally knew about the grudges and affections between her mother and the Grand Madam of the Changning Marquis's mansion.

Not only that, she and Pei Yuzhen were notorious rivals in the capital when they were young, always fighting whenever they met. It wasn't until she "married to Qizhou" and Pei Yuzhen was also sent away with her husband that they completely broke off their relationship.

"What's there to be afraid of? This is the residence of the Marquis of Dongxiang."

The Lady of Dongxiang was very confident. She gently patted her daughter's hand to comfort her, "I don't believe that Yu Xiuxiu would dare to cause trouble on my turf."

She led her daughter out with great pride and arrogance, only to run into the Grand Madam and her entourage in the courtyard.

Lady Dongxiang forced a fake smile, taking the initiative.

"Oh, isn't this the 'Grand' Madam of the Marquis of Changning's residence? What a rare guest! Why have you condescended to come and celebrate my birthday in person today?"

When arch-enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury.

The Lady of Dongxiang kept referring to herself as "Grand Madam," seemingly out of respect, but every word she uttered was a veiled sarcasm that she was already an old woman.

"What, are you envious?" The Grand Madam also launched a full-scale attack, sneering, "I almost forgot, even if someone wanted to be the Grand Madam, they don't have the good fortune, oh?"

Only when her son inherits the title of marquis can she be addressed as "Grand Madam".

Lady Dongxiang's expression changed, and her eyebrows twitched.

That old hag dared to laugh at her for not having a son; she stabbed her in the heart right from the start!

If she hadn't known perfectly well that You Zhengliang was still alive and well outside... Lady Dongxiang took a deep breath and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Both the Marquis and I have the appearance of longevity, so there's naturally no need to rush, don't you think?"

The old lady trembled. How dare she bring up the deceased old marquis!

Enraged, she blurted out, "I think you've forgotten how you pretended to be pitiful, then took off your clothes and threw yourself at my husband—"

"Grandmother!" Shen Lingyue called out to her softly, shaking her head and trying to signal with her eyes.

I can't say this. What if people misunderstand my grandfather's character?

The old lady came to her senses and immediately shut up, only glaring resentfully at the Lady of Dongxiang. "Fine, I'm a kind-hearted person. You're already so old, you should save some face."

Lady Dongxiang could no longer laugh. If she hadn't failed in her attempt to seduce Marquis Changning and become the laughingstock of the entire capital, why would she have wasted so many years in her maiden home and ended up in this state today?

Yu Xiuxiu still dares to come up to her and act arrogantly? Hmph, serves her right for being widowed early and having no one to care for her!

"It is said that like mother, like daughter."

Lady Dongxiang looked at Pei Yuzhen with a wistful gaze, shaking her head as if in pity, "Does this curse of bringing misfortune to husbands really pass down from generation to generation?"

"You!" The old lady clenched her fists in anger and sneered, "He was just a son-in-law. He's dead, so be it. At least I have a son and a daughter, a promising grandson who brings joy to my family, and the whole family is reunited!"

"Yu Xiuxiu, I think you've come here today specifically to cause trouble!"

"Tao Minmin, do you think no one knows about the dirty things you've done?!"

Two elderly women, both over sixty and grandmothers, transformed into fighting cocks who refused to admit defeat. Their towering hair buns resembled rooster combs, and their elaborate costumes became colorful tail feathers, as if they were about to charge into a fight at any moment.

"You're a jinx!"

"You're a jinx!"

"You're old, ugly, and your face is covered in spots!"

"You have short legs, shaky hands, and presbyopia!"

Lady Dongxiang trembled all over, raised her hand and shouted, "Guards! Throw these unwelcome guests out of the Dongxiang Marquis's residence! You are not welcome in the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion!"

The steward, who was prepared, rushed over with a group of burly female servants.

Shen Lingyue rushed to the front, spread her arms wide, and shouted, "There are two marquis ladies here, personally appointed by His Majesty. Who dares to make a move?!"

"I am also a Marquis's wife personally appointed by His Majesty!" Lady Dongxiang sneered. "You come to my house to cause trouble, and you think you can bully me by relying on your power? Not so easy!"

"Yeah?"

Shen Lingyue tilted her head slightly, looked at the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis standing on the high steps, and revealed a strange smile.

"If His Majesty finds out that the Marquis of Dongxiang's family has confused bloodlines and falsely claimed titles, I wonder if your title as the Marquis's wife will still be valid?"

Lady Dongxiang's pupils contracted, and she said sharply, "How dare you slander me?"

"Whether it's slander or not, Lady Dongxiang, you know very well what's going on."

Seeing more and more guests rushing over after hearing the commotion, Shen Lingyue no longer hesitated and pointed at You Nianjiao beside her: "For the sake of the succession of the title, you switched your biological daughter You Nianjiao with a baby boy You Zhengliang, and then pretended to take him in as your goddaughter. You are only fooling yourself!"

"nonsense!"

Lady Dongxiang composed herself and spoke with a firm and resounding tone, "Everyone in the Marquis's mansion knows that I was pregnant for ten months when I gave birth to my son Zhengliang. When he was ten years old, I submitted a petition requesting that he be made the heir apparent. The official in charge of the Verification and Confirmation Department of the Ministry of Personnel even came to our door to verify the family genealogy and confirmed that there was nothing wrong with it! Now, without any evidence, you, a mere young girl, dare to question the court's actions here. It is simply outrageous and disrespectful to the imperial authority!"

Shen Lingyue sighed inwardly. The Lady of Dongxiang Marquis was indeed the mistress of the mansion who had controlled it for decades. She had such a sharp tongue.

Fortunately, she and Yan Yi had already made thorough preparations, which would surely convince her completely and leave her with no room for argument.

"You say I have no evidence?" Shen Lingyue chuckled. "What if I did?"

Lady Dongxiang felt a slight unease.

No, that's impossible.

This happened more than 30 years ago. The midwife, whom she had bribed with a large sum of money, was killed by her when Jiaojiao was a month old.

As for the maids and servants who served in her courtyard at that time, they were gradually drugged and sent away by her over the years, some dying and others scattering, truly making it impossible to verify the truth.

She didn't believe Shen Lingyue could produce any more evidence!

She quickly went through the evidence in her mind to make sure everything was perfect, and Lady Dongxiang confidently extended her hand, "Show me what evidence you have."

"The evidence is... on her."

Shen Lingyue pointed at You Nianjiao with her hand, a few strands of hair at her temples curving.

"You and your daughter both have curly hair, isn't that obvious?"

Lady Dongxiang was stunned for a moment, then laughed incredulously.

"That's it? There are countless people in the world with naturally curly hair. Are they all related to me?"

She took You Nianjiao's hand and said meaningfully, "It is precisely because Jiaojiao is similar to me that the master said her destiny can protect my son and help him grow up safely, so I recognized her as my goddaughter."

"Okay, then let's just consider this a coincidence."

Hearing the whispers of the guests around her, Shen Lingyue smiled nonchalantly and, taking advantage of everyone's attention being on her, secretly gave Pei Yuzhen a wink.

Pei Yuzhen looked unwilling, not wanting to be ordered around by a junior.

"What are you standing there for? We agreed on this before we came. Go on."

The old lady pinched her daughter, "Don't you want to avenge what happened back then?"

Pei Yuzhen immediately recalled how, in her youth, You Nianjiao, merely an adopted daughter, dared to compete with her in beauty and talent. Enraged, she strode forward, pulled You Nianjiao away from the Lady of Dongxiang, and snatched the hairpin from her head.

"Curly-haired dog, I've put up with you for far too long—"

You Nianjiao fell to the ground, her hair coming loose, revealing strands of curly hair.

Her palms ached from being rubbed raw by the ground, and You Nian, in a spoiled manner, cursed, "You black widow who can't bear a son, you deserve no one to break your pot and beat your flag!"

"Aaaaaah, I'll tear your mouth off!"

The two immediately engaged in a full-blown fight, scratching faces, slapping, and pulling hair, making the scene so chaotic that the sun and moon seemed to lose their light.

"Auntie, Auntie, important business is more important!"

Shen Lingyue stamped her feet in frustration, wondering why she had acted impulsively again.

When Lady Dongxiang saw that her daughter was at a disadvantage, she was anxious and wanted to rush over to help.

The old lady immediately brandished her cane as a weapon, shouting, "Don't come any closer! If you dare touch my daughter, I'll fight you to the death!"

Meng Wanyin stood to the side, looking completely bewildered: Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

Should she go and break up the fight? But she doesn't know how...

"Yan Yan, give me a hand."

At the critical moment, Shen Lingyue bravely rushed into the center of the battle, forcefully separating Pei Yuzhen and You Nianjiao with one hand each, and then pushed the latter towards Yan Yi, shouting, "Catch her!"

Yan Yi took a deep breath, grabbed You Nianjiao's flailing right hand, raised it high, and shouted it out at the top of her lungs.

"Miss You was born with six fingers. When she was five years old, the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis cut them off by her own hand. Everyone in the Marquis's mansion knows about this. She still has the scars on her hand!"

As her wide sleeves fell down, You Nianjiao's right hand was revealed. In the sunlight, a twisted, pinkish-white, centipede-shaped scar was visible on the edge of her palm, a shocking sight.

This was the part You Nianjiao least wanted to be seen. She screamed and broke free from Yan Yi, covering her sleeve and shouting, "What does it matter to you whether I have six fingers or not? Are you trying to say that having six fingers is also a mother-daughter trait? Ha, you're wrong, the Lady of the Marquis only has ten fingers!"

Suddenly, Lady Dongxiang realized something, her expression changed drastically, and she immediately tried to stop You Nianjiao from continuing.

However, she was too late. The old lady's voice rang out earlier: "Tao Minmin is indeed not six-fingered, but her mother and her great-grandmother both have six fingers. She told me this herself back then!"

At that time, they had not yet become enemies over a man, and had shared many secrets with each other.

Tao Minmin told Yu Xiuxiu that her mother's family had a history of having six fingers, but not every generation had it. She often felt lucky that she wasn't born with a disability.

But this fatal defect was passed on to her daughter.

When You Nianjiao was five years old, the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis made a tough decision and personally cut off her extra little finger.

Her daughter's innocent cries were heart-wrenching, but all she could do was hold her and comfort her, saying, "Don't cry, Jiaojiao. As long as you get through this, you'll be a healthy, normal person again..."

"Yu Xiuxiu, you are utterly depraved and will stop at nothing to slander me."

Lady Dongxiang gritted her teeth and refused to admit it, saying, "My great-grandmother and mother have been dead for many years. How dare you smear your elders? Aren't you afraid of going to the hell of having your tongue pulled out after you die?"

The old lady was fearless. "I swear to heaven that if I utter a single falsehood, may I die a horrible death! Tao Minmin, do you dare swear that You Nianjiao is not your biological daughter? Tell me!"

"I……"

Lady Dongxiang staggered back a few steps, her face turning pale and then flushed, her expression shifting uncertainly. She opened her mouth several times, but lacked the courage to speak.

She can't lose; there must be another way...

Clinging to a last shred of hope, she confessed as if she had nothing to lose.

"So what if Jiaojiao is my own daughter? Zhengliang has been dead for fifteen years, and there is no one to inherit the title of Marquis of Dongxiang. There is only one grandson to carry on the family line. What more do you want from me? Do you want me to atone with my death?!"

Lady Dongxiang lay on the ground, looking disheveled and crying pitifully.

Seeing this, the onlookers began to whisper among themselves.

"Although the Lady of Dongxiang was momentarily confused by the desire for the title and committed the act of switching the title with the one who had stolen it, in the end, You Zhengliang only served as the heir apparent for ten years before his unfortunate death, and the title had not yet been passed on to him. So it shouldn't be considered as fraudulently claiming the title, right?"

"The Marquis of Dongxiang's family is also a long-established noble family with a history of military achievements. Perhaps His Majesty would make an exception for them out of consideration for the older generation?"

"The Lady of Dongxiang is pitiful too. We're all women; no one knows better than us what happens if you can't bear a son..."

"Yes, yes, fortunately, the adopted grandson of the You family is promising. He passed the provincial examination at a young age and ranked first. Even if he cannot inherit the title in the future, he can still enter officialdom through the imperial examination and bring glory to the family."

Clap clap clap!

Shen Lingyue clapped loudly, interrupting everyone's sympathy and sighs for the Lady of Dongxiang.

With a sincere expression, she said, "Your acting skills and techniques are truly superb. This small courtyard of the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion is still hindering your performance. You should join an opera troupe and become a leading actor, touring the country. You will surely become a famous star!"

Lady Dongxiang instantly lost her composure, glaring at her with venomous eyes: "You little slut, who are you calling an actress?"

Shen Lingyue was too lazy to argue with her, and her gaze drifted toward the gate of the Marquis's mansion, revealing a hint of anxiety.

Damn it, why haven't Pei Jinghuai and Lu Xilou returned yet?

If she doesn't show up soon, her show will have to go on...

Suddenly, someone shouted in alarm.

"Oh no! Why are the Imperial Guards here?!"

Like a drop of hot water falling into a pan of oil, the crowd quickly erupted into a frenzy, everyone's face filled with panic.

Lady Dongxiang also turned pale. Had the Embroidered Uniform Guard gotten wind of this so quickly? Were they going to arrest her and Jiaojiao and imprison them?

Excuse me, excuse me, please make way!

Hearing Pei Jinghuai's loud voice coming from afar, Shen Lingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as she looked at Yan Yi.

Fortunately, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early.

"ah!"

"ah?"

"Oh my god!"

"how so?!"

As the Imperial Guards marched deeper into the Marquis's residence, the guests invariably gasped in disbelief wherever they went.

Lady Dongxiang suddenly had a strong sense of unease.

—Zhengliang said he went to Fengxiang County to buy her a precious jade as a birthday gift, but Fengxiang County is only half a day's journey from the capital. Logically, he should have secretly returned last night. Why is there still no news?

As the crowd parted like a tide, Lu Xilou, dressed in a red flying fish robe, strode in and stopped in front of Lady Dongxiang in his thick-soled black boots.

"I heard that the Lady of Dongxiang is celebrating her birthday today, so I have come to present her with a generous gift."

He gave a half-smile, revealing a glimpse of his canine teeth that gleamed in the sunlight, and patted his hand lightly twice.

"Come on, congratulations on the reunion of Lady Dongxiang and her son!"

The guests rubbed their eyes and covered their mouths, watching in disbelief as the Imperial Guards brought up You Zhengliang, the heir of the Marquis of Dongxiang, who had supposedly "fallen off a cliff and died without a trace" fifteen years ago, bound hand and foot.

A man in his thirties, dressed in the robes of a fifth-rank official, couldn't contain himself and stepped forward. He looked him over from left to right and exclaimed with delight, "Zhengliang, it really is you! That's wonderful! So you weren't dead. Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you come back?"

This man, who had grown up with You Zhenliang, was saddened for a long time when he learned of his friend's accidental death. Now, seeing him come back to life, his face was filled with undisguised, genuine joy.

However, You Zhenliang couldn't bring himself to laugh.

He was caught red-handed by the Imperial Guards, which meant that his faked death and departure from the mansion had been exposed.

He subconsciously looked at Lady Dongxiang with pleading eyes, hoping his mother would intervene on his behalf.

However, Lady Dongxiang's eyes were filled with disappointment. She stared at him intently, silently questioning him—why did you come back! Why were you captured!

This secret has been kept for fifteen years, why can't it stay hidden forever!

Yu Zhenliang was confused: Why was his mother so angry? What had just happened?

His gaze shifted, and he was startled by You Nianjiao's disheveled hair and bloodied face. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Jiaojiao, what happened? Who dared to hit you?"

"You unfilial son, shut up!"

Lady Dongxiang interrupted his concerned inquiry, and her heart sank to the bottom.

The events that have occurred today have far exceeded her control.

How many cards does Yu Xiuxiu still hold? How does she know so many secrets?

She just hoped things would end as soon as possible; if it ended there, perhaps there was still a chance to salvage the situation…

"This is Prince You."

Shen Lingyue strolled up to him. "By the way, you don't know what just happened, do you?"

Lady Dongxiang's expression changed, and she was about to speak to stop her.

A chilling gaze shot over her. She met Lu Xilou's fox-like eyes, which seemed to see through everything. A cold sweat ran down her spine, and her mind went blank.

Shen Lingyue continued to explain to him with a kind expression:

"We have just confirmed in front of everyone that you are not of the You family bloodline. The real daughter of the Marquis is You Nianjiao, your sworn sister, or you could say—your son You Fengnian's biological mother?"

boom!

The crowd erupted in chaos!

The guests in the courtyard all looked like they'd been struck by lightning; those with slower reactions couldn't even process what they were seeing.

Pei Jinghuai stood aside, calmly appreciating the grand spectacle that Shen Lingyue had created.

The answer is that he's already been struck by lightning once, and he's gotten used to it after a while.

But this feeling of being the only one who stays awake while everyone else is getting attacked is so satisfying! ^_^

Not far away, Meng Wanyin supported the old lady's arm and asked softly, "Mother, are you tired? Would you like to sit down and rest for a while?"

"No need, no need, I can see it better standing here."

The old lady waved her hand, stretched her neck out, and looked bright and alert, showing no sign of her usual tendency to doze off.

She looked radiant and full of energy.

"Tao Minmin, Tao Minmin, you've finally met your match. You were always so cunning, look at you, this is your just desserts!"

Shen is right. Such a spectacular event can only be truly enjoyed by witnessing it in person!

This trip was totally worth it!

...

"You just said that Feng Nian is their... child?"

Madam Sang stumbled in, her voice trembling as she looked at You Zhenliang, whom she hadn't seen for fifteen years and had almost forgotten his face: "Husband, so you're not dead... Then why don't you come home? Did I do something wrong that made you willing to give up your status as the heir apparent to stay outside?"

She was not originally allowed to attend today, because the Lady of Dongxiang said that it was not appropriate for a widow to show her face and entertain guests, so she should stay in her own courtyard and a table of food would be sent to her later.

For fifteen years since she married into the family, this had been the case every year, and Madam Sang thought she had long since gotten used to it.

She was used to being a widow, used to being gossiped about behind her back as a jinx, and used to responding to everything in silence.

Even though she manages the household affairs all year round and devotes herself to raising her adopted son, she is still not allowed to appear at the banquet.

If You Zhenliang were still alive, what would those fifteen years mean to her?

What does it matter that the Lady of Dongxiang keeps accusing her of being a jinx to her husband?

And then there's You Fengnian... Wasn't he an orphan that the Lady of Dongxiang Marquis adopted from the You family? It's said that his parents died and he only had an old grandmother who was unable to support him, so he was adopted into her family.

Seeing You Zhengliang lower his head and avoid eye contact, Madam Sang's eyes glazed over for a moment. She turned and grabbed Shen Lingyue's wrist. "I've seen you before... You're Yuan Jia's sister, aren't you? Tell me, are all the things you just said true?"

Madam Sang unconsciously used her strength, and Shen Lingyue felt a little pain in her forearm.

But she remained silent, because she knew that this pain was nothing compared to what Mrs. Sang had suffered over the past fifteen years.

She simply placed her hand lightly on Madam Sang's hand, looked intently into her eyes, and nodded.

"Yes, I swear on my honor that everything I have said is true."

"And me, I'm a witness!"

Having watched the commotion to his heart's content, Pei Jinghuai darted over and earnestly began reciting for Shen Lingyue.

“I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears: You Fengnian called his aunt ‘mother’ and asked why his father hadn’t come back!”

Mrs. Sang seemed to hear the sound of her heart breaking.

She and You Zhenliang were only husband and wife for half a month, and they didn't have much affection for each other. She didn't care whether he had other women outside.

But You Fengnian... he was the child she raised from infancy, teaching him to write, holding him in her arms to read to him, and raising with great care for him for fifteen years.

In fact, Madam Sang had long noticed that You Fengnian's attitude towards her was getting worse and worse. She thought it was a stage that all teenagers go through and that he would be fine when he grew up and became more sensible.

But if he already knew about her origins, then what was she in his eyes? A naive, foolish, and easily deceived foster mother, a tool to be used and discarded?

Suddenly told so many cruel truths, Mrs. Sang did not make a scene. She seemed to calmly accept everything, simply closing her eyes and letting two lines of tears flow freely.

"Your Dongxiang Marquis's mansion is going too far!"

A clear female voice came from the crowd. Ignoring her mother's obstruction, Sang Wenyuan shook off her hand and rushed to Madam Sang, hugging her tightly.

"Don't cry, little aunt. It's the You family who has wronged you. This is a marriage fraud! We'll take this to the Shuntian Prefecture and sever all ties with the You family!"

Sang Wenyuan's eyes were also red, and she tried her best to hold back her tears. Her little face was tense, and she spread her arms like a fledgling eagle, protecting Madam Sang under her still tender wings.

Sang's mother was a step too slow, so she had to quickly come over with a stern face to support her daughter and sister-in-law.

"That's right, this is a marriage fraud. What does the You family take the Sang family for? To be suckers who raise your son for nothing!"

While shouting, Sang's mother searched for her husband and father-in-law in the crowd, her brows furrowed.

Today, the sordid affairs of the Dongxiang Marquis's mansion have been exposed in public. If the Sang family remains unmoved and fails to stand up for Madam Sang, how will other families view them in the future? The Sang family's century-old integrity will be trampled underfoot by the You family!

Finally, her eyes lit up as she watched her husband help his father out of the crowd and stand behind Madam Sang.

Even if they don't say a word, it's still a silent protest from the Sang family on behalf of their daughter/sister.

With his white hair and hunched back, the revered and highly respected Master Sang, a renowned scholar among the civil officials, gently patted his daughter's back.

"Zhiqiu, come home with your father. From now on, the Sang and You families will be completely severed from kinship and will have no further ties with each other."

His aged and authoritative words were firm and resounding, not loud, but they echoed throughout the entire venue, and no one dared to stop him.

"Father!"

Madam Sang clutched his sleeve and cried even harder, "Your daughter is unfilial, causing you all this trouble for nothing..."

"My child, what wrong have you done?" Old Master Sang raised his hand to wipe away her tears, but the more he wiped, the more tears flowed, as if they were endless.

He sighed deeply, "It's all my fault. If I had brought you back to the Sang family back then, how could you have been deceived by this heartless family and wasted fifteen years of your precious youth?"

His daughter's husband was having a good time outside, while she and the Sang family were raising his son with another woman.

Lord Sang coldly looked at the pleading Lady Dongxiang and said, "How you treated Zhi Qiu in the past, the Sang family will settle accounts one by one and never let it go."

After saying this, the family surrounded the tearful Mrs. Sang and prepared to leave.

"Mother! Mother, don't you want your son anymore?"

Yu Fengnian rushed in with a bruised and swollen face, knelt down in front of Madam Sang with a thud, and grabbed her skirt tightly, trying to rekindle their past affection.

“Mother, your son grew up by your side. No matter who my biological parents are, how could I possibly betray your kindness in raising me? Wouldn’t I be worse than a pig or a dog, a beast who disregards human ethics?”

You Fengnian was extremely flustered. He was resting in his own courtyard, taking the opportunity to grope the maidservant, when the servant suddenly rushed in, stumbling and crawling.

"Young Master, something terrible has happened! A whole house full of women from the Pei family of the Marquis of Changning's residence have come to our door and have revealed the secrets of the You family's lineage!"

When You Fengnian hurriedly dressed and rushed over, he was completely dizzy.

What happened? His father suddenly isn't his father anymore?

No, no... His father is still his father, but his grandfather isn't his grandfather anymore! He's his maternal grandfather?

Such a big secret, his grandmother... no, his maternal grandmother, kept it a secret for more than thirty years?

You Fengnian realized that his identity was about to ruin things, and the only thing he could hold onto now was the Sang family.

As long as the Sang family is still willing to acknowledge him, at least he will have someone to rely on in his future career in officialdom...

You Fengnian put all his acting skills to use, crying with genuine emotion, but he forgot that he still had a swollen face, which made him look even more ridiculous.

Madam Sang's brother, Sang Wenyuan's father, looked furious and kicked him away.

"You bastard, you disgusting thing! Who do you call your mother? My sister doesn't have a son like you!"

You Fengnian was kicked and rolled several times on the ground, clutching his chest and crying out in pain.

"Brother Nian!"

You Nianjiao rushed up and hugged him tightly, glaring hatefully at Madam Sang, "You keep saying you treat him like your own son, are you just going to watch him get beaten and scolded? I knew it, you don't treat him like your own child at all!"

Madam Sang stopped and looked coldly at the "young lady" who only came back once a year and always found fault with her.

She initially thought it was just a natural incompatibility between the sisters-in-law, but she never expected... that the two were actually rivals in love.

Madam Sang spoke in a hoarse voice: "Since he is your own flesh and blood, why do you still call me mother? I'm returning him and his father to you. From now on, the three of you can live your lives as a family."

Yu Nianjiao gritted her teeth and shouted unwillingly, "What about the fifteen years we were separated? How will you compensate me?"

Sang Wenyuan couldn't hold back any longer, "Then who will compensate my aunt for the fifteen years she worked like a slave for the You family?!"

She took Mrs. Sang's arm and said, "Aunt, let's go home. I can't stand this awful place any longer. It's disgusting!"

Sang's mother chimed in, "That's right. You come home with us first, and I'll bring people over later to inventory your dowry. We'll take everything back, nothing will be left behind."

Madam Sang gave the two of them a pale smile: "Sister-in-law, Wen Yuan, I'll be troubling you from now on."

Just as I was about to leave, a voice came from behind me.

"Madam Sang, please wait a moment."

Madam Sang turned around in confusion. "You are... the eldest young mistress of the Pei family?"

Her eyes were gentle as she curtsied to Yan Yi, saying, "Thank you for speaking up for me earlier; otherwise, I would still be in the dark."

Yan Yi stepped forward, took her hand, and her cool and elegant face flushed slightly with her rapid breathing.

Mrs. Sang was somewhat puzzled: "You have something to say to me?"

Yan Yi nodded.

She leaned slightly forward and whispered in Madam Sang's ear: "If there is a fire in your heart, don't let it burn you. The flames of revenge should be directed at those who have hurt you."

Madam Sang was slightly startled and looked at Yan Yi thoughtfully.

Yan Yi had already released her hand, smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

...

With the Sang family gone, the Dongxiang Marquis's residence was thrown into complete chaos.

Lu Xilou handcuffed You Zhenliang, shaking the iron chains in his hand, and walked towards the deathly-faced Lady of Dongxiang. "Madam Tao, you are suspected of confusing the bloodline of the Marquis's mansion, passing off a son as a daughter, and allowing someone with no blood relation to you to occupy the position of heir. Come with us."

"etc!"

Shen Lingyue watched as an unfamiliar old man rushed in in a panic, bumping into Pei Jinghuai with her shoulder. "Who is this guy?"

Pei Jinghuai curled his lip: "The Marquis of Dongxiang, then."

Shen Lingyue was shocked: "So he's not dead."

So after all that banging, drumming, singing, acting, and performing, did the Marquis of Dongxiang, the proper master of the Marquis's mansion, disappear?

As he spoke, Marquis Dongxiang bowed repeatedly to Lu Xilou, saying, "Lord Lu, please understand that I knew nothing about these matters. It was all done behind my back by that wicked woman, Tao. I am also an innocent victim."

He forced a fawning smile. “Lord Lu, do you think it’s too late for me to divorce my wife now? Look at me, I’m still in good health, really, I can still have children! I can divorce my wife and remarry, and have another legitimate son who can inherit the title… Please don’t tell His Majesty that the You family’s title has been taken away, otherwise how will I face the ancestors of the You family?”

"Pah, you old dog, trying to pin all the blame on me? You're dreaming!"

Lady Dongxiang suddenly went berserk, spitting fiercely in his face and bursting into wild laughter, "Don't you know how you got your title?"

Snap!

Marquis Dongxiang raised his hand and slapped her hard, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets, his expression frighteningly sinister. "Shut up! If you want to die, go die by yourself. Do you want to drag your whole family down with you? Don't you want your daughter anymore?"

"Hahaha, Jiaojiao is a married-out woman. Her husband is a tea merchant from Qizhou. It's clearly written in the Shuntian Prefecture household register. Even if the entire You family is executed, it won't be her turn!"

Lady Dongxiang's face was swollen from being slapped, her hair was disheveled, and she looked like she had gone mad.

She said to Lu Xilou, "I'm going to accuse the current Marquis of Dongxiang of murdering my elder brother and plotting to seize his title. The evidence is hidden in the box under my bed..."

"You crazy woman!"

Marquis Dongxiang rushed forward and grabbed her by the neck. Lu Xilou quickly separated them and gave Marquis Dongxiang a cold look. "Now you don't need to rush to divorce your wife and remarry. Take her away!"

Lady Dongxiang laughed wildly. As she was being escorted past You Fengnian, she suddenly shouted at him, "Brother Nian, Brother Nian, you must study hard, you must become the top scholar and a high-ranking official, and take good care of your mother in the future, do you hear me!"

You Nianjiao cried miserably, "Mother, Mother, please don't leave me! What will I do without you..."

At this moment, You Fengnian suddenly jumped up and rushed out shouting "Ahhh!"

Shen Lingyue and Pei Jinghuai exchanged a glance and quickly caught up.

You Fengnian ran all the way to the garden, completely unaware that he was being followed. He just stood under a huge, towering old banyan tree and kept circling around.

"System, system, come out quickly! Why was my true identity exposed prematurely? Now the Marquis of Dongxiang's mansion is finished! Please help me think of a solution—"

You Fengnian pounded on the tree trunk repeatedly, "You said I was a chosen one, destined to pass the imperial examinations with top honors and rise to the highest ranks of officialdom, System, say something!"

Pei Jinghuai was completely bewildered. "Has he lost his mind? Why would he call a tree 'Xitong'? Does the tree have a way of talking?"

Shen Lingyue's pupils trembled.

Good heavens, my fellow villager was right next to me!

Could this guy be the legendary male protagonist of a male-oriented imperial examination novel? And he even comes with a system?

No wonder the entire Sang family was acting like they were possessed, doing everything they could to support a grandson with whom they had no blood relation; it turns out the plot was working its magic.

...Wait, could it be that the real You Fengnian died of the plague eight years ago, and this new soul is an outsider, just like her and Yan Yan?

No wonder he's so slick and greasy at such a young age, and even has designs on Sang Wenyuan... He's probably just a greasy old nerd in his fifties or sixties, ugh!

But he's in this state now, his reputation is ruined, so what if he's a young genius?

The most important thing for an official is reputation (crossed out).

...Anyway, the Sang family will never give this ingrate a chance to turn things around, otherwise, wouldn't all of Old Master Sang's decades of hard work have been for nothing?

Shen Lingyue showed little interest and waved to Pei Jinghuai, "Let's go, there's nothing more to see."

When the two returned to the courtyard, most of the guests had already left, leaving only a mess on the ground.

The Marquis of Dongxiang and his wife had already been handcuffed by Lu Xilou, but the two were still hurling insults at each other, forcing Lu Xilou to pull out two handkerchiefs to gag them.

It's noisy.

Shen Lingyue approached the Grand Madam with a grin, "Grandmother, were you satisfied with today's spectacle?"

The old lady feigned composure, pursing her lips, and said, "It's alright."

Shen Lingyue didn't speak, but just stared at her, blinking her big, round almond-shaped eyes.

The old lady was defeated and could no longer help but laugh out loud, "Beautiful, so beautiful."

She pointed to each person with her finger, "You all cooperated very well. When we return to the Marquis's residence, everyone will be rewarded!"

Pei Yuzhen, clutching her neck where You Nianjiao had scratched her, protested indignantly, "Then I want the biggest share! Why should the eldest and second eldest sons' wives just talk about it, while I have to go and do it myself?"

The old lady snorted, "If you weren't my biological child, I would want to switch you out. You can't even win a fight, you're useless."

...

That night, a carriage silently stopped opposite the Dongxiang Marquis's residence.

Sang Zhi Qiu got out of the car, carrying a long wooden box about half a person's height in his arms. He pushed open the half-closed door and went straight inside.

When the Marquis of Dongxiang and his wife were arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the once grand mansion collapsed instantly, with many servants fleeing overnight to find their own way to survive.

The once bustling and prosperous Dongxiang Marquis's mansion, which was lively and bustling during the day, fell into disrepair in an instant.

Sang Zhi Qiu moved forward, no longer wearing that long, cumbersome veil, revealing her full, smooth forehead and her eyes that still shone brightly in the darkness.

Occasionally, she would encounter a few servants rummaging through valuables, but upon seeing her indifferent face, they would all avoid her in fear.

She stopped in front of a courtyard deep within the Marquis's mansion.

The door was wide open, and the room was brightly lit by flickering candlelight, but no servants dared to come in and search for valuables.

This is the ancestral hall of the You family of the Dongxiang Marquisate.

She unlocked the wooden box, inside which lay a rather old and rustic longbow.

She picked it up, held it in her hand, and tried to pull the bowstring.

The first pull failed; the bowstring felt stiff, as if there was immense resistance.

But she was not discouraged. She kept pulling the bowstring taut, and finally released it with a soft hum, the lingering sound echoing through the bow.

A smug smile appeared on Sang Zhi Qiu's lips, and for a moment she felt as if she had returned to the carefree days of her youth in her boudoir.

For fifteen long years, she had almost forgotten that she was once as lively and cheerful as Wen Yuan, skilled in archery and pitch-pot, rather than a heartless, rotten, and emotionless widow.

This bow was part of her dowry, and she had drawn it to its full potential countless times.

Before the marriage, she had heard people say that the heir of the Marquis of Dongxiang was a playful and hunting man.

So she took this bow with her, perhaps even fantasizing about going out of the city to hunt with her husband after marriage, a harmonious and loving relationship.

However, just half a month into their marriage, news came that he had fallen off a cliff while chasing prey.

Worried that her mother-in-law might be reminded of the past, she put the bow away and hid it at the bottom of the box, never taking it out again.

Her arms were a little sore, so she paused her practice and began to maintain the bowstring. She took out the white-feathered arrows from the bag and inspected them one by one.

My strength has returned.

Sang Zhi Qiu stood up, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, aimed at the rows of densely packed memorial tablets on the shelves inside the wide-open ancestral hall, and suddenly let go.

call out.

Splash—

The wooden memorial tablets, crammed together, fell one after another in an endless stream.

call out.

The arrow was aimed at the candlestick on the left.

call out.

The arrow knocked over the incense burner on the table.

call out.

The arrow struck the plaque hanging high above.

The ancestral hall had been recently repainted with tung oil. The overturned candlesticks rolled to the ground, first setting fire to the memorial tablets on the ground, then to the prayer cushions in front of the shrine, and the layers of gauze curtains.

The fire grew larger and larger until it illuminated half of the Dongxiang Marquis's residence.

It also illuminated Sang Zhi Qiu's eyes.

She smiled and gently pressed her hand to her chest.

Great, the fire has been lit.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Another 10,000 words! [cheering emoji] [cheering emoji] You guys really do bring out my potential! Hahahaha! [doge emoji]

(Raises microphone) (Clears throat) Ladies and gentlemen, now approaching us is the Changning Marquis's Mansion Women's Martial Arts Team!

Background music starts—I'll roam freely, commanding respect from all! [Go!][Go!] I'll conquer the world, looking back with unwavering resolve! [Go!][Go!] I'll overturn the heavens and earth, writing my own law! [Go!][Go!]

(Actually, this chapter originally had a subtitle called "Burning Heart Flame, Illuminating Night as if It Were Day," but after thinking about it, I felt it didn't quite fit the tone of the story. After all, I wrote this chapter really wildly and enthusiastically, haha. But I'll still share it with everyone [sprinkling flowers][sprinkling flowers]. Even elementary school students' writing can sometimes exceed expectations [crying][crying])