Old Madam Jiang carefully glanced at Jingle's expression and said, "What's good about having a girl? A girl can't continue the family line. Princess, don't you think so?" She felt a little guilty at first, but then she spoke more and more confidently, as if she had convinced herself, and emphasized, "Princess, we are doing this for your own good."

Isn't it because the Chu family doesn't have a boy that they want to ask for a gift? The Jiang family should suffer a loss and give the Chu family an extra boy. Girls are worthless anyway. They can just raise Jiang Ya casually. Didn't they raise her? ! In the end, the Chu family didn't suffer a loss and they could have an extra boy.

She agreed with what he said, and after Jingle gave birth to a daughter, she secretly replaced her with another child.

Jingle laughed in anger and said, "Should I be grateful to you?"

Her right fist was pressed tightly against her chest, and her hands were shaking unconsciously. It was not that she didn't want to whip them hard, but when people were extremely angry, they couldn't even speak.

This is not a lack of anger, but an extreme anger.

Chu Yuanchen frowned in worry. He first asked someone to call a good doctor over, and then he hurried over and said softly, "Mom, don't worry... don't worry, my sister will be here soon. Don't you want to see her?"

Jingle slowly raised her head, and her empty eyes gradually regained some focus.

Her daughter...

The daughter whom she had never seen or held once since she was born.

"Ayan is bringing her here." Chu Yuanchen said in a gentle voice, "You will scare her if you do this."

Jingle slowly closed her eyes and her breathing gradually became calm.

Seeing this, Mrs. Jiang looked away a little: "Daughter-in-law, it's a good thing for the Chu family to have another boy. From now on, Chen will have someone to help him, right?"

Help? Chu Yuanchen sneered. This cowardly, incompetent, selfish thing who can't carry anything on his shoulders or lift anything with his hands, is here to help him? !

Chu Yuanchen didn't say anything. A Yan said that the anger in her mother's chest had to be released to avoid hurting herself.

"Mrs. Jiang," said Nanny Lan with a sneer, "your son is a son-in-law!"

Nanny Lan felt sorry for her princess. She gently stroked her back with her palm and said sarcastically, "No matter how ignorant you are, you should know what a son-in-law is. This noble man is the blood of our Chu family. What is your son? You brought a dirty thing to our palace, and you still want our princess to raise him for you?"

"That's it? Is he worthy of the surname Chu?"

"The name of our Chu family is more noble than the lives of all of you combined!"

Chu Yuanyi was still kneeling there, his eyes evasive, a little at a loss.

Mrs. Jiang choked and said awkwardly, "You can't say that, daughter-in-law. You raised Yi-ge'er by yourself. It is said that the grace of raising a child is greater than the grace of a parent. In the future, Yi-ge'er will be filial to you..."

In her opinion, it doesn't matter whether he is a son-in-law or not. He is still a member of the Jiang family and will return to his ancestral home sooner or later.

Jingle opened her eyes, and anger ignited in her beautiful peach blossom eyes: "I told you not to speak without my permission, slap me!"

The old woman was right next to Old Madam Jiang and slapped her in the face with her backhand.

Bang!

This one was hard and fierce.

"The child that this princess carried for ten months and gave birth to with great difficulty was replaced by you bastards, and you still think you are right?"

"You treat her like this, you bully her, do you think I should be grateful to you?"

"You deserve to die!"

There was a sweet and fishy smell in Mrs. Jiang's mouth, which made her cough twice and spit out a tooth, with blood flowing down the corner of her mouth. Her cheeks were visibly swollen, and her wrinkled face was full of fear and shock. She covered her mouth with her hands and dared not speak anymore.

Jingle gritted his teeth and said, "I wish I could chop you into pieces!"

She breathed hard, and her sharp eyes slowly scanned the people below. After Old Mrs. Jiang was beaten, Grandma Wen became even more afraid. She shrank her neck, knelt down and moved to the side, trying to stay away from the Jiang family.

Seeing Jingle's eyes on her again, she shuddered and quickly explained, "I had just delivered Cao Caixia's baby, and they asked me to take the child to the temple. Not long after, you, Princess, came, and you had a difficult delivery."

"After I delivered your baby, I followed Master Jiang's instructions and said you gave birth to a boy with a birthmark on his foot. Then, when you fainted, I gave the girl to Master Jiang. I don't know anything about what happened next."

She put her head on the ground and cried, "Princess, I was also forced... Mr. Jiang said that if I did this, he would pay off my husband's gambling debts for me."

Although he could imagine the situation back then from the few words just mentioned, Jingle still felt heartbroken when he heard it again now.

There was no warmth in her eyes: "Who is Cao Caixia to Jiang Ting?"

"Yes, yes..." Granny Wen glanced at Granny Jiang, who kept winking at her, trying to stop her from talking nonsense. Granny Wen could no longer care about it, and her life was the most important thing. She said honestly, "Cao Caixia is the Jiang family's child bride. The Jiang family bought her back a long time ago to be Jiang Ting's daughter-in-law."

The old lady and the Jiang family used to be from the same village, so she knew the Jiang family very well.

The Jiang family was of average financial status, and it was not easy to support a scholar. Jiang Ting's three older sisters were promised to whichever family offered the highest betrothal gift, and the money earned was used to pay for Jiang Ting's education. Cao Caixia had fled to their village, and her father asked for 50 kilograms of flour and sold her to the Jiang family as a child bride.

"I heard from the old lady of the Jiang family that if Jiang Ting fails to pass the exam to become a groom, she can be taken as a daughter-in-law. If she becomes successful in the future, she can be treated as a maid. It won't be a loss anyway."

At that time, Grandma Wen thought they were thoughtful. After all, Jiang Ting's studies had emptied the Jiang family's assets. How could he marry a wife in the future without money? Moreover, she had raised him since he was a child, so she knew him better.

"I never thought..." Grandma Wen said timidly, "Jiang Ting would have such a great fortune in the future. The Jiang family never married Cao Caixia off, but instead raised her as a concubine."

"Later, Cao Caixia's belly grew bigger."

Jingle listened expressionlessly.

Back then, after the emperor had granted her the marriage, she had specifically asked Jiang Ting if he had ever been engaged, and Jiang Ting answered with certainty that he had not.

It turned out that from the very beginning, she had walked into a bottomless swamp.

Not only did Jiang Ting already have a child bride, but after marrying her, he also exchanged her baby daughter for his child born out of adultery.

"mother……"

Chu Yuanyi raised his head slightly and looked at Jingle cautiously.

There was a look of uneasiness and panic on his face.

Chu Yuanyi has been kneeling since he entered Zhenghui Hall. His eyes were filled with tears, and it seemed that he mustered up all his courage to call out "mother". He swallowed and said, "What are you talking about? I, I don't understand..."

Jingle turned her head and looked at him silently.

"Mom, please don't be angry with me." Chu Yuanyi said timidly, "I will definitely listen to you in the future and never make you angry again..."

He crawled forward a few steps on his knees, his half-raised face filled with admiration.

Jingle stood up from the armchair, and Nanny Lan quickly held her up.

Jingle walked slowly towards Chu Yuanyi.

Chu Yuanyi looked innocent. He sobbed silently for a few times, as if he had suffered a great deal of injustice but was holding it in without saying anything.

"Chu Yuanyi, Chu Yuanyi." Jingle walked up to him and looked down at him, "Are you stupid?"

Chu Yuanyi half raised his head, eyes wide open, not knowing what was going on: "Mother..."

Jingle's voice was extremely cold: "Didn't you hear what they just said?"

Chu Yuanyi looked at a loss, and shook his head slightly, as if he had received a great blow: "Mom, I will definitely be a good boy in the future."

"Chu Yuanyi, you are not stupid. You have been taught by so many teachers since you were a child. How could you be stupid?" Jingle's tone was flat, "So, how could you not understand..."

"You've always been like this since you were little. Whenever you want to avoid something, you pretend not to understand."

"But actually, you already knew about this..."

Jingle's voice was neither fast nor slow, just like she was chatting casually. When she said the last sentence, she suddenly raised her tone.

Chu Yuanyi was startled and subconsciously shrank his shoulders. His heart was beating so fast that it almost jumped out of his chest.

He said anxiously, "Mom...what are you talking about?"

A bitter smile appeared on Jingle's lips.

She silently stared at Chu Yuanyi, the child she had raised since childhood. She understood him best and knew that when he felt guilty, he would pinch his little finger. Now, there were obvious nail marks on his little finger, and the fingertip was red from being pinched.

Doesn't this prove everything?

Chu Yuanyi had known for a long time that he was not his biological son, but he never said a word and continued to act like a spoiled child in front of his knees.

Even now, he still wanted to pretend that he didn't understand anything in order to soften her heart.

How could he be like this!

If it weren't for God's mercy, she would probably never know that she had lived half her life in the careful calculations of others, and treated a child born out of wedlock as a treasure.

Jingle said coldly, "Chu Yuanyi, I think I have always treated you well. Is this how you repay me?"

Chu Yuanyi became even more panicked, as if something beyond his control was about to happen.

"No, mother, you must have misunderstood. I am Yi Ge'er, I am your son."

Jingle could no longer control his anger and kicked Chu Yuanyi on the shoulder.

Chu Yuanyi was kicked to the ground by her and screamed in pain.

From childhood to adulthood, the greatest pain he had ever suffered was being hit on the palm of his hand when he failed to memorize a book. This kick made him feel both painful and scared, and his eyes were full of panic.

He felt that he might really be losing something.

Chu Yuanyi struggled to get up, rushed over to pull at her skirt, and cried, "Mom, Mom... I was wrong, please forgive me. You have always loved me the most, please forgive me, okay?"

Chu Yuanyi's face was covered with tears.

He didn't hide it on purpose. He didn't say it because he didn't want to make his mother sad.

He has no bad intentions.

Jingle kicked his hand away without any emotion.

Chu Yuanyi was brought up by her, so it was impossible for her to have no feelings for him. Even if she could no longer love Chu Yuanyi as much as before, she also thought that if Chu Yuanyi really didn't know the truth, she would give him a farm and some money, send him away, and never see him again, and would not let him stay in the house to bother her daughter.

However, Chu Yuanchen told her that Chu Yuanyi was very likely aware of it.

Chu Yuanyi knew that he was not her son, but he concealed the truth. She could not forgive him.

"Brother Yi."

Cao rushed over and hugged Chu Yuanyi with heartache, looking at Jingle with resentment and jealousy.

Obviously, she was the one who should marry Tingge. She waited for him for so many years, until he passed the imperial examination, but she never got to see him wearing a golden crown and a robe.

If Jingle had not relied on her status as a princess to compete with her for the throne, she would now be a lady with a royal title. Why would she be so shameful as to call herself a widow?

She gave her own son to Jingle, but Jingle didn't know how to cherish him. She deserved it for giving birth to a loser!

"Brother Yi." Cao hugged him and cried, "Don't be afraid, mother is here..."

Chu Yuanyi's eyes were red: "You are not my mother!"

He looked at Jingle with tears in his eyes, hoping to soften her heart.

Chu Yuanyi still remembers that it was four years ago. After his grandfather passed away, his mother cried so hard that she almost collapsed. He stayed by her side and comforted her.

But after his mother stopped crying, she did not hold him gently in her arms as usual. Instead, she told him seriously that it was time for him to grow up.

His mother told him that his grandfather died at the hands of the Northern Yan people and also died due to the emperor's suspicion.

His mother told him that their Zhenbei Palace was in great trouble and that the next few years would be very difficult.

His mother told him that his elder brother was guarding the northern border, and although he was young, he had to learn to grow up and learn to help his elder brother.

He was very scared, afraid that his mother would really send him to the northern border as well. Even his grandfather died at the hands of the Northern Yan people, so if he went there, wouldn't he also be sending himself to die?

He came out of his mother's place in a daze and went to find his father. He told him everything and wanted his father to plead with his mother to let him stay in the capital.

Dad told him not to be afraid, saying that he didn't have to go to Northern Xinjiang, and that his surname was not Chu but Jiang.

He was born to that little aunt who was very kind to him...

Chu Yuanyi looked at Cao who was holding him in her arms with a dazed look.

She does not have her mother's grace and elegance, nor her mother's brightness and generosity, nor her mother's unrivaled dignity.

His mother is a princess! Not this tacky, uneducated, illiterate woman.

Absolutely not!

"Mother, mother!"

Chu Yuanyi pushed Cao away and knelt towards Jingle again. Jingle was disgusted and shook him off. She turned around and was about to sit back on the armchair. At this time, someone came to report: "Princess, Miss Shengda is here."

Chu Yuanchen smiled naturally. Jingle was stunned. After coming to her senses, she hurriedly said, "Quick, please invite them in."

She wanted to go out to greet them, but her feet felt like they were weighed down by heavy lead and she couldn't move a step. She just stood there, staring outside.

After a while, Sheng Xiyan came.

She was holding a little girl in her arms. The girl was thin and small, not very pretty, but Jingle's eyes could not be moved away after they fell on her.

Her lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't utter a word.

Sheng Xiyan walked in holding Jiaoyang's little hand. There was tenderness, reluctance, and deep heartache in her quiet and joyful eyes. The myriad of complicated emotions almost overwhelmed her.

"Princess." Sheng Xiyan bowed to her.

Jiuyang also obediently imitated Sheng Xiyan's movements, bowed, and then stood closely next to her.

Everyone looked at them, and Mrs. Jiang and Mrs. Cao stared at Jiuyang in disbelief.

The girl's complexion had become paler. She was wrapped in a cloak inlaid with fiery fox fur and had two coral beads in her hair. If she were not a little thin, she would have looked like a spoiled girl from a wealthy family.

"Aya?"

Cao murmured to himself in disbelief.

She had been searching for so many days, running almost every street and alley in the capital, but still couldn't find anyone. She didn't expect that Jiang Ya would be here!

No wonder the secret they had kept hidden for so many years was discovered.

She caused her son to fail to become the King of Zhenbei. This little bitch was really a bad luck star. I should have strangled her to death back then!

After thinking about it, Cao now realized that only Jiaoyang could save them, and Old Lady Jiang kept winking at her.

“Aya…” Cao swallowed.

Jiaoyang turned his head and looked at the two men, feeling a little nervous.

The experience of being beaten and scolded since childhood made her instinctively afraid when she saw someone from the Jiang family. Her stiff little hands tightly grasped Sheng Xiyan, as if this was the only way she felt safe.

Cao forced out her most loving smile: "Aya, it's mother, you..."

"Slap!"

Jingle shouted loudly, the hatred in his eyes almost bursting out.

"Hit me!"

An old woman rushed over, raised her hand and slapped him, and then slapped him again.

Cao's cheeks were beaten red and her mouth was filled with a fishy-sweet taste.

"Mother?" Jingle said angrily, "How dare you say you are her mother?"

The hatred in her heart was like surging waves, and she couldn't suppress it.

I am her mother, I am!

Jingle couldn't stop crying at all. She looked at Jiuyang, squatted down to look at her at eye level, her eyes filled with reluctance, and slowly reached out her hand to her.

Jiuyang stepped back and dodged.

She didn't feel any malice towards Jingle, but she didn't know how to get close to people. She didn't understand and didn't know how to do it.

"I am the mother...my child."

Jingle's tears kept flowing down, her bright and beautiful face was soaked with tears, her pale lips were trembling slightly, and her dark peach blossom eyes had already been soaked with tears.

The child she had never held since birth had grown so big now.

Still so thin.

Jingle's inner defenses completely collapsed at this moment and she burst into tears.

Jiuyang was frightened by her crying.

She looked at Sheng Xiyan, her little face showing some shyness and a bit of helplessness.

On the way here, Sheng Xiyan told her everything that had happened. Only then did she realize that she was not really a child of the Jiang family.

Since she was very young, she hoped that she was not a child of the Jiang family, and hoped that one day a beautiful woman would come to her and tell her that she was actually her child. She waited and waited for a long, long time, but never waited for this day.

She never waited any longer.

One day at a time.

Sheng Xiyan touched the top of her head and motioned for her to go over.

Encouraged by Sheng Xiyan, Jiaoyang took a small step forward and said softly: "...Don't cry, okay?" Her voice was soft and very pleasant to hear.

Jingle: "...Don't cry, Mom, don't cry!"

Jingle squatted in front of her, staring at her little face greedily. She didn't even wipe the tears from her face, and slowly reached out her hand to her.

Jiuyang dodged again.

However, Jiaoyang thought about it carefully, as if he was worried that Jingle would cry again, so he took another half step forward, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her face.

Jingle froze. She squatted there motionless, completely unwilling to take her eyes off Jiuyang.

When she was pregnant with this child, the experienced maids around her all said that she was pregnant with a girl.

She was looking forward to the birth of the girl and prepared all the best things for her. She made the little clothes and sewed the little quilts by herself, and she did not use anyone else's hands for every stitch and every thread.

She was waiting wholeheartedly, looking forward to it.

However, the child she loved so much had been tortured and abused for the past twelve years, out of her sight.

Jingle's heart ached. Her child... should have been in the palm of her hand, a pampered and spoiled young lady.

"Here's the handkerchief for you." After Jiuyang wiped her tears, he gave the handkerchief to Jingle.

Jiuyang returned to Sheng Xiyan's side, and then went to see her secretly. For some reason, when she cried, Jiuyang felt sad and uncomfortable.

Is she really her mother? Such a pretty and gentle mother...

"Jiaoyang." Jingle called her name softly, "It sounds so nice."

The corners of Jiuyang's mouth curled up high, and his peach blossom eyes, similar to Jingle's, were full of joy.

She just likes it when people compliment her name!

Jingle's heart and eyes are now filled with the thought of her daughter who was lost and found again. She doesn't want to say anything more to these malicious people.

"Drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane first." Jingle said without even looking up. "Be careful, don't beat him to death."

If she was beaten to death in one breath, how would she vent the resentment she had accumulated for twelve years? !

Jingle continued, "Ji Mingyang, please take your people on another trip and bring all the Jiang family members to the capital. Don't leave behind anyone who has bullied Jiaoyang."

Ji Mingyang answered without hesitation: "Yes!"

He had already asked the local authorities to detain the people and just went over to bring them over.

Old Mrs. Jiang was really scared now.

She suddenly realized that the lives of her entire family were just a word to the King of Zhenbei.

Jingle wanted them to give birth, and they gave birth.

If Jingle wants them to die, they will die!

Her face was filled with fear, and she desperately grasped at the last straw, crying, "Aya, please save grandma..."

Jingle snorted coldly and was about to raise her hand to have them dragged away when she saw Sheng Xiyan slightly shaking her head at her.

Jingle didn't understand why, so she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

Sheng Xiyan tilted her head to look at Jiuyang, and said with a smile: "Just do whatever you want to do."

Her eyes were gentle and encouraging.

After being silent for a few breaths, Jiuyang nodded lightly, and then walked towards Old Lady Jiang under her gaze.

"Aya! Aya!"

Old Mrs. Jiang cried with tears streaming down her face, looking very pitiful: "It was your grandma who brought you up since you were a child, right? Your grandma loved you the most..."

Jiuyang's clenched fists slowly loosened, and his palms were sticky with sweat.

Her sister told her that she didn't need to be afraid.

She wasn't the one who did something wrong!

It's them!

The tension and fear in Jiaoyang's eyes gradually faded away. She pulled out the whip tied around her waist and swung it down without hesitation.