“I beg Your Highness to grant permission for this commoner to report this to the authorities.”
As Li Jinu’s words fell, she solemnly kowtowed, her forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, yet her heart burned with fervor.
She must report this to the authorities. Only by making this matter public would the Marquis Residence not conceal her true identity as it had in her previous life.
Only in this way could she return to the residence in glory. From the moment she entered, she wanted to completely suppress Ye Jintang in terms of status.
In her past life, she had been saved by Ye Langting and naturally became a Shadow Guard under his command.
She understood Ye Langting. This man had been raised in a Buddhist temple since childhood, unloved by his father, so he possessed more compassion than other imperial descendants.
A clear, cold voice came from above her,
“The thieves will be pursued and killed by this prince. You need not intervene.”
“Please allow me to explain, Your Highness. What I speak of is the matter of house servants murdering their master!”
Her heart burned like raging flames, but the matron beside her felt chilled to the bone.
Liu Momo’s world had collapsed.
She felt that all the virtue accumulated over her several lifetimes had been exhausted today.
So wicked! The young mistress was truly too wicked!
How could she, how could she bring up reporting to the authorities? If this accidentally reached the Grand Imperial Grandson’s ears about the wicked deeds of the Marquis Residence’s servants…
If political enemies brought this matter to the Emperor’s attention, the Marquis would surely be reprimanded by His Majesty for failing to maintain household discipline!
By then, wouldn’t she, the matron who brought back the young mistress, be skinned alive by the Marquis!!!
In her dazed state, she looked at the willow trees by the official road and suddenly thought that being buried beneath a tree wearing her favorite willow leaf hairpin would be better than living in constant fear like this.
Unlike Liu Momo, Ye Langting showed a hint of curiosity in his eyes, “Explain in detail.”
Li Jinu didn’t exaggerate, but she didn’t reveal the whole story either, only recounting the matter of vicious servants bullying their master.
The more Ye Langting listened, the more pronounced the mockery in his eyes became, until finally he snorted with laughter,
“The Marquis of Zhennan, how excellent!”
He flicked his sleeve and spoke to the guards:
“Take Miss Ye to the county magistrate’s office.”
Mounted on his horse, he looked at the carriage compartment, recalling how Li Jinu had thrown the long knife, and couldn’t help but curl his lips,
“What an interesting girl. The Marquis of Zhennan Residence is about to become lively.”
His appearance wasn’t particularly striking, but with this faint smile, his peach blossom eyes slightly upturned, he resembled a fox about to play a prank.
…
Marquis of Zhennan Residence, Bright Moon Courtyard.
Before Ye Jintang lay a dagger. Beneath her proud expression hid a trace of worry that others would find hard to detect.
Originally, the Marquis’ wife Su Yun was going personally to fetch that country bumpkin, which had frightened her terribly.
If Su Yun went, how would Mother Rong carry out her plans?
So, she fell ill.
It was quite simple – just wet her clothes and expose herself to the cold wind. In just one night, she developed a high fever that wouldn’t subside, talking nonsense and constantly calling for her mother.
When Su Yun, who had already boarded the carriage, received the news, she couldn’t care about anything else and hurried to Bright Moon Courtyard to personally care for her.
Just as Ye Jintang was feeling quite pleased with herself, she saw her confidante Cuizhi enter and whisper a few words in her ear.
“So long has passed, and still no news?”
Ye Jintang’s originally pale complexion grew even whiter.
Cuizhi comforted softly:
“Don’t worry, young mistress. We have people at the city gates. As soon as that country bumpkin enters the city, you’ll definitely receive word!”
Ye Jintang looked toward a hidden compartment, as if something there could calm her heart.
Suppressing her anxiety, she picked up the dagger from the table.
Cuizhi quickly reached out: “Young mistress, let me do it.”
Ye Jintang found herself unusually irritable today for some reason, unable to maintain her usual gentleness.
As if compelled by some unseen force, she slapped Cuizhi.
“You fool! How could I deceive others without injuries on my body?”
As her words fell, she decisively cut her thumb and let blood drip into the inkstone. Picking up the brush, she began writing:
“Jintang was originally an innocent person, yet due to her birth mother’s wickedness, she unjustly enjoyed years of wealthy living…”
Halfway through the Death Note, the blood ran out.
Ye Jintang still held the brush, giving Cuizhi a calm glance.
Cuizhi froze momentarily before understanding. Without hesitation, she cut her wrist, allowing fresh blood to flow steadily into the inkstone.
“…Now that the truth is revealed, Jintang acknowledges her guilt and feels ashamed to face her Hou Mansion family. Today she atones with death, wishing only that her parents and elder brother may enjoy smooth lives and eternal health.”
After completing the lengthy Death Note, she felt somewhat headache and was helped to bed by Cuizhi.
“Go to the kitchen to fetch some chicken soup and deliver it to Mother’s courtyard. Check on their situation.”
In the main hall of the principal courtyard, Su Yun was reviewing account books, occasionally gently massaging her temples.
Her life had originally been peaceful – her in-laws lived in their hometown outside the capital, her children were filial, and although she and her husband weren’t deeply in love, they maintained mutual respect.
At this age, she should only need to arrange good marriages for her children before retiring to enjoy her remaining years.
Never did she imagine that the daughter she treasured like jewelry wasn’t her biological child.
This pregnancy had been difficult for her – severe morning sickness with several near miscarriages. After finally giving birth, she had protected the child as carefully as her own eyeballs.
But who could have thought…
She felt deeply troubled.
She was someone who cherished old affections. Even the dogs in the courtyard, once named, received her extra care, let alone a daughter raised for over a decade.
Whenever the thought of sending Ye Jintang away slightly surfaced, a barely noticeable Black Aura would appear between her brows, causing intense headaches.
Snapping the account book shut, she heard footsteps approaching.
Su Yun looked up and saw her son, her expression softening considerably.
“Yu’er is back. Come have some pastries.”
Ye Zeyu hurriedly bowed in greeting, speaking before even straightening up:
“Mother, you absolutely must not send Jintang away!”
His anxiety was understandable – he had been hunting with classmates outside the city and wasn’t scheduled to return for several more days.
Unexpectedly, a major incident had occurred at home, and he only received the news today.
Ye Jintang, that young girl he had regarded as a pearl since childhood, wasn’t actually his biological sister?
The imperial capital never lacked noble families. There had been cases of swapped children before, with the final solution always being to send the impostor away.
But having raised her for so many years, one couldn’t bear to see the child live in poverty, so additional silver would be provided to sever the ties.
Thinking of this, he grew more worried. Jintang had been born and raised in wealth – sending her back to rural life would be tantamount to killing her.
Yet beneath his boundless concern, a thread of secret delight spread like tenacious vines.
If, if Jintang wasn’t his sister, could his hidden feelings finally see the light of day?
With these complicated emotions, he stared intently at his mother.
Su Yun found her son’s stare peculiar. Stuffing a golden osmanthus cake into his mouth, she chided:
“Who said anything about sending Jintang away?”
“Then how do you plan to deal with that… that person?”
Ye Zeyu grew more agitated as he spoke, not even noticing the pastry falling to the ground.
“If that uncultured country bumpkin were to return, wouldn’t it bring shame upon the Marquis’ household! Can she play the qin or recite poetry? That illiterate fool—if you were to take her out, wouldn’t you be laughed to death by the other noble ladies!”
The words were harsh, but they struck right at Su Yun’s sore spot.
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
She usually cared most about face, and her son was right—if they acknowledged that girl, how would she introduce her when going out?
If the ladies she usually clashed with found out about this, how could she ever hold her head up again!
Her son was right—this child could not be the young lady of the Marquis’ household!
She made up her mind: after the child returned, they would tell outsiders she was a distant relative.
Thinking this, the Black Aura between her brows slowly dissipated. For the first time in days, her heart felt so light.
She looked at her son and spoke with some delight:
“Then to outsiders, we’ll say she’s a country cousin.”
The smiles on the mother and son’s faces finally became more genuine.
Suddenly, a horse’s neigh was heard, followed by the sound of urgent hoofbeats.
The two were puzzled when a servant came to report that the Marquis had ridden off in haste to Suixian County.
Su Yun had never paid much attention to her husband’s affairs and thought even less of it now. “It must be official business, nothing to worry about.”
Beside them, Mama Zhao’s expression turned somewhat strange. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke up:
“Madam, Suixian is where the young lady grew up.”
The “young lady” the servants referred to was naturally the true daughter of the Marquis’ household.
Su Yun was taken aback. She exchanged a glance with Ye Zeyu, and both felt a sense of foreboding.
As Mama Sun had correctly said, Zhennan Hou Ye Siyuan was currently galloping at full speed toward the Suixian County government office.