Outside the door stood a woman, dressed in rags, pale and emaciated, her face covered in filth and stench, emanating a nauseating odor.
Led by the servant, he walked in, trembling slightly.
When people saw that appearance, they couldn't help but sigh.
"Is this a beggar? Why is he here?"
"Could it be that he is a distant relative of the Marquis of Zhenbei?"
"It stinks..."
Second Uncle Ye Wennan and Lin Rui'an sat calmly in their seats, clinking glasses and drinking tea.
Every now and then, he would lower his head and whisper a few words.
Both men frowned upon seeing the woman at the door.
"My son, my son, I have finally found you."
"I thought I would never see you again in this life, my son."
As soon as the woman entered the door, she burst into tears, standing there crying and slapping her knees, "My son, my poor son."
"Fourteen years ago in Luochuan County, my one-year-old son was stolen. I searched for him for more than ten years and finally found him."
“Right here in your mansion, my son was born in the 48th year of Tianyuan. In the 49th year of Tianyuan, while I was buying vegetables on the street, my child was lost.”
"My son has a small mole on his right hand and a triangular birthmark under his armpit."
Then, the woman went on a frenzied spree, looking around the banquet hall and grabbing the hands of any boy who was about ten years old.
The Marquis of Zhenbei was greatly alarmed.
How come it's said that He Shixuan's features are so similar?
Lin Shixuan was trembling all over, even his hands were shaking uncontrollably, and the private parts under his armpits were known only to those who had seen his body.
Why did this woman know so much?
No, how could he be this woman's child?
He stepped back slightly.
Ye Lanyin's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Shixuan, fourteen years ago, you were the child that the Marquis brought back from Luochuan County. I remember you had a triangular mark under your armpit."
"Quick, ma'am, can you tell if this is her?" Ye Lanyin pointed at Lin Shixuan.
Lin Shixuan was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his face full of fear.
"Mother, no, how could I be this old woman's child?"
“I am Dad’s child, definitely not her child, she must have made a mistake.”
The woman was strong and held Lin Shixuan's struggling right hand tightly, examining it carefully.
When she saw the mole on Lin Shixuan's hand, she couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, hugging Lin Shixuan.
"Waaaaah, you are my son."
"Waaah, my son, I've been searching for you for so long! Your father borrowed money everywhere to find you, and now he's drowning in debt. If he doesn't pay it back soon, he'll be beaten to death."
"Go back with your mother quickly and go save your father."
"There are still three acres of land at home. Once your father is rescued, you will inherit these three acres..."
Lin Shixuan was taken aback by this sudden action and didn't know what to do.
The next second, he suddenly stood up and roared angrily.
"You lowly commoner, who is your son?"
"You dare touch me?"
"I am the legitimate son of the Marquis's family, and no one can change that!"
The woman was suddenly shocked, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face.
"What...what did you call me?"
"Untouchable...lowly people?"
Lin Shixuan angrily flung his sleeves and walked to the side of the Marquis of Zhenbei. "I can't be your son. You've mistaken me for someone else. Get out of here."
"Otherwise, I'll report you to the authorities!"
The woman burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Hahaha, report to the authorities? Very well, I'd like to see how the officials handle this."
"Your noble family stole my son, and now you want to arrest me? Is there no justice in this world?"
"Your father went into debt because of you, and now that he has finally found you, this is how you repay us."
"Come with me now, or I'll report you to the government office for child abduction."
"Walk!"
The woman reached out and grabbed Lin Shixuan's sleeve tightly, dragging him towards the door.
Seeing this, Lin Shixuan became anxious.
He glanced at the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Marquis Zhenbei was surprised that someone would come to his door looking for relatives, and he couldn't think of a solution for the time being.
"Release my son!"
“He is my son, and he is listed in the Lin family genealogy. If everyone were like you, would there be any justice?”
Zou Shuang'er was about to walk forward when she saw Ye Yelanyin leave, so she quietly withdrew her leg.
"My lord, even if you don't care about yourself, you should at least care about the reputation of the Marquis's mansion."
“Shixuan is an adopted son. You brought him back from Luochuan County fourteen years ago. Everyone in Bianjing knows that.”
"Even if he's listed in the Lin family genealogy, he's still someone else's son."
"Now that the birth mother wants to go back, you have to return her to her, don't you?"
"Do you intend to ruin Shixuan's path to becoming the top scholar?"
This announcement of the top scholar title undoubtedly served as a reminder to the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei became even more determined.
"Lanyin, go and get some silver to appease this old woman and buy this child!"
"I have raised this son for fourteen years, and I cannot bear to part with him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur rippled through the room.
Is this the true face of the Marquis of Zhenbei?
The Grand Tutor stepped forward, looked at the woman holding Lin Shixuan's hand, and calmly said, "Marquis of Zhenbei, as an official of the imperial court, do you have no regard for the law?"
"To seize by force is a capital offense. Do you know that you are putting the Lin family to death?"
The Grand Tutor was a favorite of the Emperor, as everyone knew.
Now that he has seen it all, His Majesty will know tomorrow.
Marquis Zhenbei was in a dilemma, but everything the woman said made sense, even the birthmark on her body was clear.
However, the Lin family cannot do without Shixuan. Shixuan is the future top scholar and also his and Shuang'er's biological child.
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