Chapter 565: The Truth About the Cheng Family (Part 1)
In fact, Xi Jiu had long guessed that Ruan Fengmian, Yang Liu and the Cheng family had some connection.
Although the Ruan family hadn't stated it explicitly, they had been targeting the Cheng family's assets since the Ruan couple returned to the capital. They were so secretive that most people hadn't traced the Ruan family to them. But Xi Jiu, with his daily visits to Ruan Qi's house, couldn't have failed to notice.
Xi Jiu had previously thought that the Cheng family and the Ruan family had a grudge against each other.
Little did they know that they not only had a grudge, but were also related by blood. Ruan Fengmian turned out to be Cheng Boyan, the second son of the Cheng family who passed away twenty years ago.
Xi Jiu was a little shocked, but this emotion was quickly replaced by intense anger.
Twenty years ago, Xi Jiu was only seven years old, and due to poor health, he had been raised outside the imperial capital. As a child, he knew little about the Cheng family's feud. But the events of that time were so turbulent that when he returned to the imperial capital as an adult, he could still hear a lot of gossip related to the events of that time.
He knew that Cheng Qi, the patriarch of the Cheng family, had two wives. His first wife, Liu Qiuyu, came from a family of scholars and had been in love with Cheng Qi. Not long after their marriage, they gave birth to their only son, Cheng Boyan.
Logically speaking, Cheng Boyan should be the eldest son of the Cheng family, but he happens to be the second.
Because - Cheng Qi has a first love outside, and the child he and his first love have, Cheng Bosong, is twenty days older than Cheng Boyan.
In other words, when Liu Qiuyu was pregnant, Cheng Qi's first love was also pregnant. When Liu Qiuyu was struggling to give birth with a belly of more than nine months, Cheng Qi's first love gave birth to his eldest son.
While Liu Qiuyu was sleeping in the hospital ward after giving birth to Cheng Boyan, Cheng Qi's first love might have been in the same hospital, spending the joint property of Cheng Qi and Liu Qiuyu and enjoying her confinement.
Cheng Qi's methods were very powerful. He hid his first love and Cheng Bosong very well. Liu Qiuyu was completely unaware of this and raised her son Cheng Boyan in oblivion.
It was not until Cheng Bainian was 20 years old that Cheng Qi officially took the position of the head of the Cheng family. With great power in his hands, he swaggered into the house with his first love, Cheng Baisong.
From then on, everything turned upside down, and the harmonious family that had been pretended for twenty years was completely broken.
Xi Jiu had previously heard all the gossip about the Cheng family, but it went in one ear and out the other. The children of wealthy families often had decadent private lives, and while Xi Jiu didn't participate, she also didn't interfere.
But now, those gossips that he had not paid attention to before suddenly became clear in his mind. He remembered what happened to the Cheng family after Cheng Qi brought his mistress and illegitimate child into the house.
Ten years after the mistress entered the house, Liu Qiuyu jumped off the building.
The cause of death at the time was determined to be suicide.
Not long after Liu Qiuyu's death, the Cheng family announced that the second son, Cheng Boyan, died of depression due to excessive grief over missing his mother.
And his wife Lin Yan also died for love.
At this point, the original wives of the Cheng family were completely consigned to history. Cheng Qi's first love was promoted to the position of wife, becoming the head of the Cheng family. The children she bore to Cheng Qi also became legitimate heirs to the Cheng family.
After Liu Qiuyu's family died, many rumors spread in the imperial capital.
Many people think that the death of Liu Qiuyu and her son was unclear, and some people even raised the question - Cheng Boyan and Lin Yan are dead, so what about their son?
The child was only eight years old. It was impossible for him to commit suicide with his mother Lin Yan, right?
The Cheng family did not respond to these inquiries. Not only that, Cheng Qi also used bloody means to suppress all rumors by killing the chicken to scare the monkey.
From then on, there was no more Liu Qiuyu in the imperial capital, and no more Cheng Boyan, the second son of the Cheng family.
However, the illegitimate son Cheng Bosong became the legitimate eldest son of the Cheng family, who was admired by everyone.
All the past events of the Cheng family kept appearing in Xi Jiu's mind like yellowed photos.
His expression became increasingly cold, and the fierce light in his eyes seemed to want to kill someone.
If Ruan Qi's father was the deceased Second Young Master Cheng Boyan, then the news of his death was reported twenty years ago. And twenty years ago, his wife Lin Yan, now Yang Liu, had just become pregnant with Ruan Qi.
It was rumored that Yang Liu committed suicide for love when she was pregnant with Ruan Qi.
Ruan Fengmian also died at this time.
The little girl, before she was even born, had her parents' misfortunes one after another. She should have been the darling of the Cheng family, but she was forced to live a life of exile with her parents and brother.
Xi Jiu remembered that Ruan Qi had said before that if it weren't for Nie Beilou, not only would Ruan Fengmian and Yang Liu have turned into dust long ago, but she would not have been born either.
He almost lost his little girl.
And the instigator of all this was actually Cheng Qi.
Xi Jiu had never hated the Cheng family so much before.
The Cheng family was a ruthless clan, known for their sinister deeds. The Xi family and the Cheng family had different ideologies and had been at odds for years. Even so, he had no intention of harming the Cheng family.
But now, he wants Cheng Qi to die.
The hostility surrounding Xi Jiu grew stronger and stronger, and the surging energy in his body surged out uncontrollably like a mad beast.
Ruan Qi didn't expect Xi Jiu's reaction to be so big.
She was startled and quickly stood up and ran over: "Jiujiu!"
The little girl's panicked call brought Xi Jiu back to his senses.
He raised his head and saw Ruan Qi's peach blossom eyes full of worry. His uncontrolled energy gradually calmed down like a lion whose fur had been stroked.
Xi Jiu grabbed the little girl's slender white wrist, pulled her hard, and held her in his arms.
Ruan Qi leaned on his chest obediently, a worried look on her face: "Jiujiu..."
"I'm fine." Xi Jiu rubbed her back lovingly, wishing he could give her all the tenderness in the world. "Baby, I just feel sorry for you."
Ruan Qi was stunned for a moment, and it seemed as if warm sunshine was invited into her heart, and spring flowers were blooming.
She pursed her lips, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but rise.
"Jiujiu, I'm fine. Although it was very hard back then, I really didn't suffer much after I was born. My parents, grandparents, and master all love me very much."
Ruan Qi didn't lie.
Twenty years ago, when Ruan Fengmian and Yang Liu were on the run, she was still in Yang Liu's belly and was unaware of the danger her parents were facing.
Later, Yang Liu was injured and nearly had a miscarriage, which was a setback for Ruan Qi. But since she was born, she has never been wronged again.
Her parents loved her, her grandparents loved her even more, her brother doted on her, her master and fellow apprentices protected her. Even the villagers of Qingyun Village treated her as their own child.
Ruan Qi felt extremely satisfied.
If she were asked to choose between the Cheng family's wealthy and luxurious life and Qingyun Village, she would choose Qingyun Village without hesitation.
That kind of warmth and happiness cannot be bought with any amount of money.
That is priceless.
Ruan Qi leaned in Xi Jiu's arms and talked in detail about how happy she had been over the years.
Xi Jiu listened quietly. While feeling comforted, he also felt more heartache and bitterness towards Ruan Qi.
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