As the people were about to guess the truth, Wang Shi, Ye Zhengqing, and Ye Wantang, who was eavesdropping in the shadows, all felt a pang of panic.

Wang hurriedly exclaimed, "Not all children deserve a mother's love."

Since I became pregnant with her, I haven't been able to eat or sleep well. In the later stages, I even developed a limp. My husband became distant from me because of this and developed feelings for another woman, even considering taking another woman into the family.

This wicked child, once it settled in my womb, began to bring misfortune upon me and the Ye family. Why can't I hate it?

No one stipulates that all mothers must love their children.

She did suffer a lot while pregnant with Wan Tang, but she was not afraid of being investigated.

As for Ye Zhengqing's extramarital affair, although it was a fabricated reason, it is perfectly normal for a man to want to take a concubine. Twenty years have passed, and as long as Ye Zhengqing cooperates, who can find out anything?

Ye Zhengqing naturally knew that these were all reasons that Wang had made up on the spot, but he still panicked for a moment.

Ye Zhen caught this subtle expression and remembered it.

"I haven't paid my dues yet. So many years have passed, why are you still bringing this up?"

Ye Zhengqing agreed with Wang Shi, saying that compared to switching the baby, his reputation for being a womanizer was nothing.

Wang continued her act, saying, "If my father-in-law hadn't intervened in time, who knows how many concubines would have been in the backyard."

Even at this point, she was unwilling to be labeled as jealous, so she shifted the blame for preventing her husband from taking a concubine onto her father-in-law.

She cried, “My father-in-law was such a good man. Ever since this wretched child was born, he has been ill and never recovered. In the end, he passed away. How can I like her?”

Ye Zhen overheard the couple's conversation on the rooftop last time and suspected that the old master Ye was harmed by the two, but so far no evidence has been found.

It wasn't that the couple was particularly clever, but rather that they were vicious enough to promptly silence witnesses and erase all traces.

Wang always used the same tactic: first, she would make excuses, and then, when confronted with solid evidence, she would blame Ye Zhen for bringing her bad luck and for hating her.

It's a well-worn topic.

Ye Zhen took out the letter severing ties from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“My mother had her reasons. She ordered me to leave and helped Liu plot my death.”

You hate me, and therefore you are unwilling to tolerate me. Ye Zhen will not make things difficult for you, and will take the initiative to write a letter severing ties with you, which is the last bit of filial piety I will do.

My mother only needs to press her fingerprint, and she will never have to worry about having a daughter like me again.

Without concrete evidence of the baby being switched, it's difficult to handle; the only option is to sever ties with the family first.

What if I don't?

Ye Zhen looked at the letter of severance of kinship, "Then the daughter can only sue her parents for murder and ask the government to sever our kinship."

Wang threatened, "Do you know that it is extremely unfilial for children to sue their parents? They will be made to roll on a bed of nails."

She didn't believe Ye Zhen would dare to go. Besides, what did it matter if only a servant from the Marquis's mansion testified?

Ye Zhen's expression was firm. "Since I was born, I have the instinct to live. Compared to the pain of being torn apart, I would rather suffer physical pain. If we sever ties, my daughter will not have any expectations of you."

She squatted down next to Wang, saying, "From the time I can remember, I've been called a cursed ghost, a jinx, and a jinx that my parents didn't want."

The head of the village and the wet nurse had white rice and meat to eat, but I only had thin porridge every day. They would only give me some leftovers when they were afraid I would starve to death.

In the damp and cold winter in the south, they were reluctant to give me a thick blanket or charcoal fire, and I almost froze to death several times.

My aunt went to the south to see me and secretly punished the head of the estate and the wet nurse. She was afraid that you would think she was meddling and that she would transfer me to another place, so she asked the people in the estate to conceal my true situation.

That's how I survived until you sent someone to pick me up.

My aunt told me that it wasn't that you didn't want me; you were just being deceived by superstition and got stuck in a rut.

She also told me that it wasn't that you ordered the servants to mistreat me, but that the wicked servants were making wild guesses about their masters' thoughts.

Before I was five years old, my aunt was the only person in my life who gave me love and light, and I believed her.

But now I understand that what my aunt said back then was nothing more than a white lie.

"If you hadn't told me, why would my aunt have sent people from the manor to the capital to deliver false information? My aunt just didn't want me to live with resentment and hoped I could grow up healthy in body and mind. How could I betray her good intentions?"

Ye Zhen was telling the truth, but the three Wangs were skeptical. Was it really Ye Jinghong who was behind this?

Did Ye Jinghong discover anything?

After Ye Zhen finished recounting his experiences, which planted seeds of doubt in people's hearts, he stood up and said, "If Father and Mother are still unwilling, then let's go to court."

Although the village head and wet nurse are dead, the rest of the villagers are still alive; they are all witnesses to the mistreatment I suffered as a child!

With witnesses from the servants of the Marquis's household and the people of the estate, the government has sufficient grounds to sever their kinship.

However, Ye Zhen did not intend to actually take the matter to court, because the killing of Xie Yunzhou and Feng Momo could not withstand close investigation, and she was certain that the Wang family would not dare to go to court.

Marquis Zhongyong said in a deep voice, "I support you. You're better off without parents like this."

"From now on, your father will keep an eye out and find you a good husband so you can marry into the Marquis's household."

He himself was unaware of the change in his attitude towards Ye Zhen.

When he first met Ye Zhen, he didn't think about letting her remarry; he only wanted to give her control of the household so that her life in the Marquis's mansion would be easier.

Now, he has no intention of leaving Ye Zhen to live as a widow for the rest of her life, and he always thinks about finding her a suitable marriage.

Cui Yihuan understood him, saw his sincerity, and knew that the Marquis of Zhongyong was a kind-hearted person, which was why she married him in the first place.

He added, "It's good to report to the authorities. I'd also like to ask the officials to investigate whether you are her biological son or not. You're even worse than my stepmother."

Women understand women better; she saw through Ye Zhen's purpose today.

The common people, unaware of the intricacies, chimed in, "There's something very wrong. On one hand, they're mistreating and plotting against us, and on the other hand, they refuse to sever ties with our relatives. What are they trying to do?"

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