Lin Shuang’s arms holding the child stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Before coming here, Wu Ling had confidently assured her that Jiang Xiu was most susceptible to this approach.
Jiang Xiu had no healthy children of her own. As long as Wu Ling smiled at her and reached out her little hands, she would surely soften and take the child in, cherishing her like a precious treasure.
But why did Jiang Xiu seem unwilling to hold her?
Wu Xiong seized the opportunity to speak.
“Madam, she is a widow with a child, struggling to make ends meet outside. It is truly pitiful.”
“What does it matter if she brings her child along? Can our Wu Manor not afford to raise two more children?”
“Besides,” he glanced at Wu Zihua, his eyes filled with unconcealed satisfaction, “Zihua is highly regarded by his tutor at the academy. Everyone praises his intelligence. He brings honor to our Wu Manor.”
At this point, Wu Xiong feigned affection as he looked at Jiang Xiu, his voice growing even gentler.
“Madam, you should also uphold my dignity and reputation outside. From now on, let it be said that Shuang’er’s two children are the children of our Wu Manor.”
“My intention is to have them adopted under your name, so you can raise them personally.”
“This way, your household will be livelier, and our family’s reputation will be even more respectable.”
“What do you think, Madam?”
Jiang Xiu looked at Wu Xiong, then at Wu Ling in Lin Shuang’s arms, suppressing her hatred with great effort.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, seeing Lin Shuang’s plump, healthy children still made her think of her own two ruined children, the bowls of “tonics” she had consumed over the years, and the countless sleepless nights she had spent praying to the gods, hoping her children would recover…
Her heart felt as if it had been carved out with a knife.
The pain made her tremble.
Just as she was about to speak, Lin Shuang’s eyes reddened first.
Her delicate, palm-sized face was filled with an expression of humiliation.
“Madam,” her voice carried a deliberately suppressed sob, “I know that you, with your noble status, can undoubtedly provide far more for the children than I ever could.”
“But… these two children are still flesh of my flesh.”
“No matter how lowly I am, I cannot bear to part with them.”
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, making her appear even more pitiable.
“So, if Madam truly likes them, I can only reluctantly agree to let one of the children be adopted by you.”
These words were masterfully crafted.
They not only preserved her reputation as a “loving mother” but also subtly placed Jiang Xiu in the position of “stealing another’s flesh and blood.”
Old Mrs. Wu and Wu Xiong, seeing Lin Shuang’s aggrieved appearance, felt even more heartache for her.
Fu Fu, nestled in Jiang Xiu’s arms, nearly laughed out loud.
Tsk, her skills are quite impressive.
Pretending to be reluctant while secretly eager to push her daughter onto Mother, just to secure the position of the legitimate daughter.
Her words are even more deceptive than those soul-sucking seductress demons.
Jiang Xiu’s surging anger was unexpectedly suppressed by Fu Fu’s remarks.
She lowered her gaze to look at the little daughter in her arms.
A tiny bundle, her dark eyes darting around.
Although she couldn’t understand what her daughter meant by demons or monsters, her heart softened, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Since you are so reluctant to part with your children, I will not take what others cherish.”
“Besides, I have my own child.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Ling grew anxious and burst into tears with a loud “wah.”
She cried while reaching out to Jiang Xiu, her short little arms struggling fiercely, her eyes filled with disbelief.
How could this be?
In her previous life, Jiang Xiu had clearly been most susceptible to this act of hers.
As long as she cried or acted spoiled, Jiang Xiu would give in to everything she wanted, even willing to give her heart out.
Why was it different this time?
Old Mrs. Wu was heartbroken and quickly took Wu Ling into her arms, comforting her while glaring fiercely at Jiang Xiu.
“Jiang Xiu, as the legitimate daughter of a military family, how can you be so unreasonable!”
“Your daughter can’t even cry—clearly another mute! We were only thinking of your good when we made plans for you!”
“If you don’t appreciate it, that’s one thing, but how dare you put on airs!”
Wu Ling sobbed against Old Mrs. Wu’s shoulder, but her eyes remained fixed on Fu Fu.
Only now did she realize—
The child in Jiang Xiu’s arms was actually the daughter from her third pregnancy!
But in her previous life, this pregnancy should have ended in a stillbirth!
Old Mrs. Wu had clearly fed Jiang Xiu so many slow-acting poisons—how could this child still be alive?!
A chill ran through Wu Ling’s heart, and her gaze toward Fu Fu gradually changed.
Fu Fu happened to open her eyes and look back.
That gaze was dark and heavy.
Not like that of an infant, but more like an abyss.
Wu Ling felt a sudden coldness run down her spine, her scalp tingling as if she had once again stood on the Bridge of Rebirth in the underworld, with endless yin winds and malevolent ghosts below and the sounds of wailing and screaming all around.
That tremor from the depths of her soul nearly made her forget to cry.
But the next moment, she forcibly steadied herself.
What was there to fear?
This time, she was not only a transmigrator but also possessed memories of her previous life—she was the chosen one of destiny!
Soon, she would be revered as the Auspicious Omen, just as she had been in her previous life.
As for the Jiang family—
They were nothing more than stepping stones on her path to greatness.
Thinking this, Wu Ling calmed down again, dismissing the momentary fear as nothing more than an illusion.
Fu Fu almost rolled her eyes at the sight.
[With courage like that, and she calls herself an Auspicious Omen?]
…
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiu remained resolute in her refusal to adopt Wu Zihua and Wu Ling.
Lin Shuang could only kneel and thank Jiang Xiu.
Wu Xiong was furious but could not vent his anger.
He forcibly suppressed his rage, steadied his breathing, and assumed the authoritative demeanor of the head of the household.
“Madam, since you are so unwilling to tolerate Shuang’er, you should hand over the housekeeping keys to Mother for now.”
“You’ve just given birth and should focus on taking care of the child.”
“Household matters need not trouble you.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Shuang’s eyes immediately lit up.
She had long coveted the management of the marquis’s household.
In secret, Wu Xiong had often bought her jewelry and tailored new clothes behind Jiang Xiu’s back;
Old Mrs. Wu, to win her over, had always been generous.
If Jiang Xiu no longer managed the household, wouldn’t all the household’s silver flow toward her?
However, Jiang Xiu only smiled.
Over the years, the marquis’s household had never lacked fine clothes, silk, delicacies, or seasonal garments. Rewards were given generously during festivals, and even the lowest-ranking servants lived more respectably than ordinary families.
But with Wu Xiong’s meager salary, how could he sustain such extravagance?
If not for her using her dowry to fill the gaps day by day, not only would such a life of luxury be impossible, but even the dozens of servants in the household might not have been supported.
Yet, out of consideration for Wu Xiong’s fragile pride, she had never brought it up.
Over time, it had come to seem as though she was taking advantage of the Wu family.
Old Mrs. Wu constantly accused her of embezzling Wu Xiong’s salary.
The servants in the mansion privately believed that being the housekeeper was a lucrative position, and as the marquis’s wife, she must have reaped countless benefits from it.
Ridiculous.
Truly ridiculous.
“Very well,” Jiang Xiu said calmly. “Since Mother is willing to take on the burden, as a daughter-in-law, I naturally have no reason to stand in her way.”
Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately took out the housekeeper’s keys and handed them over.
Wu Xiong was taken aback.
He had originally thought Jiang Xiu would be reluctant or envious.
But she showed nothing.
Her agreement came too quickly, stirring an inexplicable unease in Wu Xiong’s heart.
Yet that unease was soon overshadowed by his smugness.
Never mind.
What trouble could a woman possibly stir up?
That night, Wu Xiong stayed in Lin Shuang’s room and did not return until dawn.
And this, precisely, gave Jiang Xiu the perfect opportunity.