Сhарtеr 3: Identity Is Whаt Yоu Маkе It
The true hеirеss had onlу been bасk аt thе mаnоr for hаlf а dаy, аnd the еntire Mаrquis’s hоusehоld was аlrеаdy in сhаos.
“Yоu wrеtсhеd сrеаture, trulу wretсhеd! You’ve comрletеly disgrасеd thе facе of the Маrquis’s hоusеhold!”
Хue Нongyuаn trеmblеd with rаgе, roаring, “Speak! Whо is thе аdultеrеr? Get rid of this bastаrd сhild immеdiatеly. Wе absolutеlу саnnot allоw suсh a stain tо remain in this wоrld, tаrnishing thе rеputаtiоn of the Xue family!”
Liu Shi was еven mоrе hоrrifiеd. Shе nevеr imagined that this dаughter whо had bеen lоst outside would commit such a disgraceful act!
If this were to spread, the Marquis’s household’s century-old reputation would be ruined overnight, and it would even drag down the dignity of the daughters from her maternal family…
What a calamity!
Faced with the overwhelming fury and condemnation, the transcendent indifference on Ning Heng’s body gradually gave way to a deep, almost equal sense of annoyance.
She regarded everyone’s rage, shock, and scheming with an equal eye, as if watching a swarm of noisy insects.
Ning Heng raised her hand and gently stroked her abdomen, where a small life was growing.
Although it hadn’t been something she initially desired, it was much like her own childhood.
Lucky, tenacious.
Since she had become pregnant by some twist of fate, she would simply give birth and raise the child. After all, her family had plenty of gold, silver, and wealth.
As for the Xue family’s meager assets, they weren’t even worth a glance.
Ning Heng lifted her eyes to look at the furious crowd, her voice cool and clear, yet carrying a strange sense of control. “Get rid of it? Why should I get rid of it?”
“This is the posthumous child of my late husband, legitimate and rightful. Marquis, your son-in-law’s bones are not yet cold, and you already want to kill his only bloodline?”
When out in the world, identity is what you make it—this was the truth Ning Heng had learned from her mother.
Just make something up. Who knew whether she had actually married or not?
“My late husband also married me through the proper three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts. Unfortunately, he was killed by bandits while traveling on business, leaving only this unborn child behind. And now, Marquis, you want me to get rid of it? How unreasonable.”
Everyone was stunned once again, and the hall full of angry curses came to an abrupt halt.
Not an adulterer, but a late husband?
The child in her belly was a posthumous child?
Ning Heng stood in the hall, her gaze sweeping over each so-called family member present. “Or is it that this vast Marquis’s household cannot even accommodate a widowed daughter who has returned home and her unborn child?”
She curled the corner of her lips slightly, the curve faint but inexplicably chilling.
“You should have said so earlier. It would have saved me the trouble of coming back.”
She turned around, truly prepared to leave without a trace of reluctance.
“Wait!” Even though Ning Heng’s claim of a “late husband” had blocked his disgraceful suspicions, Xue Hongyuan’s expression remained grim.
Rather than dissatisfaction with his daughter marrying without permission, it was more like a burning anxiety and fear.
After all, the only purpose of bringing this daughter back home was to have her replace Wan Jie’er in performing the wedding to ward off misfortune for the Rui Prince. Now, she had already married and was even pregnant… This… this was nothing short of a catastrophic disaster!
He truly had no idea how to explain this to the Grand Princess!
And the Emperor…
The Emperor was usually open to advice on other matters, but when it came to this cousin who had saved his life, his favor was truly unparalleled.
Those outside the imperial surname could usually only be enfeoffed as Commandery Princes at most, but after ascending the throne, the Emperor had exceptionally enfeoffed Lu Yun Jue as a Prince and granted him the privilege of “hereditary succession without reduction in rank.”
Now, for the wedding to ward off misfortune for the Rui Prince, were they supposed to marry off this already-married daughter?
The Emperor’s spies were everywhere in Sheng Jing. The news would likely reach the palace soon. What were they to do…Xue Hongyuan felt a throbbing headache and said in a low voice, “No one is driving you away. Since you are a daughter of the Marquis’s household, you naturally cannot remain outside.”
Ning Heng: “Where will I live?”
Only then did Liu Shi suddenly realize—with her mother-in-law ill, she had been so preoccupied with comforting Wan’er these past days that she had neglected this matter.
“The Pear Blossom Courtyard is currently vacant…” Seeing Old Madam’s stern expression and apparent displeasure, Liu Shi panicked and quickly turned to her trusted confidante, Stewardess Gui. “Go quickly! Find a few capable maids and have the Pear Blossom Courtyard cleaned up immediately.”
Ning Heng inwardly sneered.
She had traveled for half a month, and ever since arriving at the Marquis’s household, it was only now that her birth mother remembered to prepare a room for her.
The concern of this house full of “family” was truly touching.
“Mother, let Sister stay in my Brocade Splendor Courtyard.”
Xue Wan, who had been meekly nestled beside Liu Shi, suddenly spoke up timidly, her voice choked with sobs. “I am willing to give up my courtyard for Sister… It is all my fault for occupying Sister’s place for so many years…”
Before Xue Wan spoke, Liu Shi still harbored a faint sense of guilt toward Ning Heng.
But as soon as she opened her mouth, that guilt was immediately drowned out by Liu Shi’s pity for her adopted daughter. She quickly embraced her and said, “Nonsense! You have lived in Brocade Splendor Courtyard for eighteen years—every plant and tree is familiar to you. How can you move so easily? Your health is weak; you cannot endure such upheaval.”
Xue Wan lifted her tear-filled eyes to glance at Ning Heng, her expression fragile and aggrieved.
“…But Brocade Splendor Courtyard is more spacious and closer to Mother’s courtyard… I only wanted Sister to live more comfortably and be closer to Mother…”
Liu Shi frowned. “Have some meddlesome servants been gossiping in front of you?”
Xue Wan quickly shook her head. “Nothing of the sort… Mother, it is my own feeling of guilt toward Sister that makes me uneasy…”
The buzzing sound of weeping and the hypocritical conversation around her only intensified Ning Heng’s drowsiness.
She covered her mouth and let out an extremely ill-timed yawn. “Enough, stop acting.”
“No one cares for your spacious courtyard. I never use things others have used.”
Her gaze shifted to Liu Shi and Stewardess Gui, her tone leaving no room for doubt. “I am tired. The Pear Blossom Courtyard, right? Have a stewardess show me the way.”
Her attitude—completely disregarding everyone present, even showing disdain—was like a silent slap, striking Xue Wan squarely across the face.
Xue Wan’s face instantly drained of color, and her body swayed unsteadily, barely able to stand with Liu Shi’s support.
Liu Shi’s gaze toward Ning Heng cooled, filled with displeasure and reproach. “Why must you be so harsh? Wan’er meant well.”
Ning Heng turned back and sneered. “Madam, if I had been raised under your care since childhood, with parents and brothers doting on me, I would surely also speak gently and be as obedient as could be.”
“But you have not raised me for a single day, and since entering this household, you have shown no concern for me. How can you know why I am so harsh?”
“I…” Liu Shi was immediately left speechless, her face flushing with embarrassment.
“Enough, go and rest for now.”
Seeing Xue Hongyuan wave his hand impatiently, Stewardess Gui hurried forward, bowing her head submissively. “Eldest Miss, please follow this old servant.”
Ning Heng could not be bothered to look at the varied expressions on the faces in the room any longer. Without hesitation, she turned and followed Stewardess Gui out of the main hall.
…
Xue Wan returned to her own courtyard with a dark expression.
What a true daughter of the household—she had just returned and already humiliated her in front of everyone. Clearly, she was not one to be content with peace.The personal maid said, “Second Miss, please set your mind at ease. Madam is certainly on your side.”
Xue Wan twisted the silk handkerchief in her hands, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
How could she not know that her mother doted on her? It was just that her rigid and old-fashioned father valued blood ties the most. No matter how deep the father-daughter affection, it could not compare to the word “biological.”
If she could not become more useful, she feared she would become a discarded pawn in this marquis’s mansion.
As if thinking of something, Xue Wan’s expression gradually eased from gloom, slowly curling into a smile, as if victory was already in her grasp.
“Chun Xuan, take this pendant to Prince Duan’s son. Tell him I am willing to meet him.”
In the past, Xue Wan had never deigned to look directly at Prince Duan’s son, that bear-like fool.
But the late emperor did not have many sons—four sons and ten daughters. After His Majesty ascended the throne, the eldest and third princes were imprisoned, and the fourth prince was an idiot… Counting them all, only the late emperor’s fifth brother, the current emperor’s fifth uncle, Prince Duan, remained standing firm.
And Emperor Jingxing had been on the throne for five years, with his harem empty. It was said he had a hidden ailment that hindered his ability to have children.
If she could bear a child for Prince Duan’s son, it would surely be the first choice for the emperor to adopt.
Xue Wan sneered. So what if she was the real daughter?
Even if she managed to cling to that sickly Rui Prince, she would still be a lowly, ignorant body. How could she possibly understand this layer?
She had cultivated herself for eighteen years, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. How could a suddenly appearing “real daughter” easily shake her position?
…
At the same time, in the imperial palace.
He Lian, dressed in black casual attire, expressionlessly crumpled the secret report in his hand into shreds. His dark eyes were icy cold, his entire body exuding a murderous aura, like a demon from hell.
“What a fine Xue Hongyuan, truly not placing me in his eyes at all!”
The daughter raised at home was a fake, a cuckoo occupying the magpie’s nest.
The real daughter found outside was a widow three months pregnant. How excellent!
Below, seated, was a woman of dignified bearing, looking about thirty years old, dressed in deep purple casual attire, imposing without anger—the Grand Princess.
The aunt of the current emperor, the biological mother of Rui Prince Lu Yun Jue.
Just as Xue Hongyuan had anticipated, as soon as Ning Heng entered Sheng Jing, the news reached the palace.
He Lian had just been preparing to draft an edict for the marriage. Round or flat, beautiful or ugly—it didn’t matter, as long as she could bring good fortune. At worst, he could bestow a few more beautiful concubines to his cousin to balance things out.
—But this absolutely did not include her being a pregnant widow.
The emperor was exceptionally furious.
Everyone in the hall had long knelt down, not daring to make a sound.
The Grand Princess’s face was equally dark. Her only son was critically ill, and just as there was a glimmer of hope, the other party dared to treat him with such contempt!
Master Huitong, standing at the side, clasped his hands together and softly chanted a Buddhist prayer.
Emperor Jingxing suppressed his anger and looked at Master Huitong. “Master, if I choose another noble daughter for Yun Jue to marry for good fortune, would it work?”
Master Huitong slowly shook his head, his voice old but clear. “Amitabha.”
“Your Majesty, as fate dictates, a perfect match—the eight characters of the Xue family’s daughter, Ning Heng, are a heavenly match with the prince. If forced to change, I fear it would greatly harm the prince’s health.”
This won’t work, that won’t work.
Could it be that the esteemed Rui Prince must marry a widow carrying another man’s child?
This was simply the greatest joke in the world!