Wei Ling sighed slightly. Lu Jiaxue's will could not be changed. Moreover, the eldest prince was indeed young and strong, and posed a great threat to those they controlled.
Lu Jiaxue simply gave Wei Ling a few instructions, drank some tea, and was about to leave. Seeing him about to leave, Wei Ling hurriedly stopped him and said, "Why don't you stay for dinner? I'll ask the girl to recognize you as her godfather."
"When Mingzhu was brought home, your old lady asked me to adopt her as my adopted daughter." Lu Jiaxue raised a smile. "Why, do you want to adopt another one now?"
Having him as her adoptive father would only enhance her status and make her worth more. Old Madam Wei doted on Zhao Mingzhu and wanted to give her the best of everything.
"She's still young, and she hasn't been raised by my side since she was little. I feel sorry for her." Wei Ling said, "Are you really not going to go see her?"
He had no interest in Wei Ling's daughter. Lu Jiaxue said calmly, "Don't forget about the Shenji Camp. I still have to go to the palace, so I'll leave first."
Someone was already waiting outside the door with a secret sedan chair. Wei Ling watched Governor Lu get on the sedan chair before returning to the study.
The steward came over and reminded: "Duke, it's time to open the ancestral hall."
Wei Ling nodded and went to Jing'an Hall.
To be included in the family tree, one must kneel down and kowtow to the ancestors, a way of recognizing one's roots. When Yi Ning's name was added to the family tree, Wei Ling personally led her in kowtow.
When she was brought out, the elders of the Wei family's maternal family were standing outside. Wei Ling led her to meet them one by one. Wei Ling stood beside her and said with a smile, "...I just found her. She was originally fostered in someone else's home. She has never been a lady of the Duke of Ying's mansion, and I was afraid she would feel restrained."
Yi Ning was led along the way by him, and she knew what Wei Ling was doing. Wei Ling was telling others that this was the daughter of his Duke of Ying's mansion, a person of status and position. He wanted others not to look down on her.
Yining was not stage-frightened, but she couldn't remember the number of people. However, there was a distant cousin who gave birth to three sons and was particularly affectionate to her.
Wei Ling changed his tone and said calmly, "This is your fourth cousin. Mingzhu is her daughter."
It turns out that this is Zhao Mingzhu’s biological mother!
I heard that Zhao Mingzhu's family was not rich, and all the money they had was squandered by Zhao Mingzhu's father. They have been relying on the relief from Old Lady Wei for these years.
Yi Ning was somewhat intrigued. The woman wore a plain silk jacket, likely newly made. Her smile was quite serene, and Zhao Mingzhu looked nothing like her. Her three sons, however, were a bit unsettling. One of them stared at Yi Ning, and Wei Ling wasn't pleased. He frowned and let them go.
Before she left, the woman said to Wei Ling, "Did our Mingzhu cause you any trouble? I really wanted to see her, but unfortunately I didn't."
Yi Ning thought that Zhao Mingzhu would be surprised to see her mother, as she was so used to being surrounded by people at the Duke of Ying's mansion. She was just trying to avoid him.
Yining finally served tea to Old Lady Wei, and that was when she finally truly recognized her roots. Her name was written into the family tree as Wei Yining, so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Old Mrs. Wei drank her tea and looked up but didn't see Zhao Mingzhu.
After returning to Jing'an Residence, Mrs. Wei asked someone to find Mingzhu.
When Zhao Mingzhu came in, she saw Old Madam Wei sitting on the Luohan bed drinking tea. She came over and took the beauty hammer from the little girl's hand to massage her legs. "Grandma, you've been busy all day. You must be very tired, right?"
Old Mrs. Wei looked at her familiar features, her heart softening. "I just saw you go to the ancestral hall. Why didn't you go see your mother when she came?"
Zhao Mingzhu curled her lips and said, "You know what I mean. Every time she sees me, she talks about trivial matters, and I'm too lazy to listen. Besides, my uncle is bringing sister Yining to meet guests, so I won't go to join in the fun." She smiled coquettishly at Mrs. Wei, "I'm still most comfortable with my grandmother! I don't treat other people this way."
Old Madam Wei reached out and helped her up, then sat her down beside her. "But you must not be mean to your cousin Yining. Remember my words and get closer to her."
"You told me to get close to her, but how can I possibly get close to her—" Zhao Mingzhu felt uncomfortable after hearing this. "As soon as Sister Yining came back, my uncle acted as if I didn't exist. I gave Sister Yining a pair of cloisonné vases. They weren't expensive, but they were exquisite. But my uncle returned them, saying that Sister Yining didn't want them."
Mrs. Wei frowned upon hearing this, her tone darkening, "Did they really return it to you?" Then Wei Ling had gone too far. Even if he had found his biological daughter, he shouldn't have immediately abandoned his adopted daughter. Isn't that too heartless and ungrateful?
Zhao Mingzhu continued stubbornly, "Grandma! You've loved me the most since I was little, and I'm the only one in the house! When I was little, I was sick, and you stayed with me day and night. I feel bad too. Why does my uncle dislike me when she comes back? I'm afraid one day you won't like me either! I also want to like Sister Yining, but how can I do that so quickly?"
The old lady was touched by what she said. Mingzhu was the one she had spoiled. She hugged Mingzhu and comforted her, "Silly child, of course I love you the most. After all, I raised you with my own hands! Don't worry, with me here, who would dislike you? Who would dare to look down on you? Not even Yi Ning or Wei Ling would dare."
The affection for someone who was raised by one's own hands is still heavy. Although Mrs. Wei likes Yining, Mingzhu is the pearl in her hand, so she can't help but be a little partial to her.
No matter how bad Zhao Mingzhu is, she was the one who raised her.
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