“Yunxi, what is going on?” Jiang Jing’an asked. Why would she suddenly want to investigate something that happened ten years ago?
Knowing he was a man of strong principles, Jiang Yunxi told him everything about encountering Xie Sirou’s soul and spirit that night, as well as the injustice she had suffered. There was no reason to hide any of it.
Jiang Jing’an was shocked and found it hard to believe. If it were true, Marquis Wenxin would be utterly heartless and ungrateful!
“Yunxi, is this true?” Grandmother asked with a grave expression. This was a serious matter. The Marquis Wenxin Estate was a century-old noble family, and the previous Marquis Wenxin had a daughter serving as a consort in the palace.
“Grandmother, precisely because it is true, I went to the Jingzhao Yin Office to beat the Drum of Injustice. If I hadn’t known about it, that would be one thing, but now that I’m aware of such a grave injustice, I cannot simply ignore it,” Jiang Yunxi declared, making it clear she was determined to see it through.
Seeing the resolve and determination in the young woman’s eyes, Grandmother couldn’t help but think of her grandfather—they shared the same temperament. “Grandmother supports your investigation.”
If the old man were still here, he would certainly not stand by and do nothing.
“Such a grave injustice indeed deserves to be investigated!” Jiang Jing’an exclaimed indignantly. He never imagined that the seemingly refined and cultured Marquis Wenxin could be so ruthless—watching his own wife drown and then exterminating the entire Xie family.
He recalled that the Xie family was a merchant household that had amassed considerable wealth.
“I support the investigation,” Jiang Jinghuai chimed in.
“I also support it,” Jiang Jingyan said angrily. He had heard of many dirty deeds, but he never expected a prestigious family like the Marquis Wenxin Estate to commit such heinous acts.
Listening to their words, Madam Mu felt a throbbing headache coming on. “How can you all take her word for it? A ghost recounting an injustice—can such a thing be believed? The Marquis Wenxin Estate also has a consort in the palace.”
“Mother, Sister Yunxi will surely be able to uncover the truth. We should support her investigation,” Jiang Chenyu said softly. Of course, she had to support Jiang Yunxi’s investigation.
Just as her mother said, the Marquis Wenxin Estate had a consort in the palace.
If Jiang Yunxi investigated, she would offend a powerful figure and face consequences later.
She truly didn’t know her place, daring to seek justice for a ghost and provoke the Marquis Wenxin Estate.
Madam Mu: “…”
Why was she also supporting Jiang Yunxi!
Qu Xinwen was taken aback. He never expected the entire Yingguo Gongfu to stand on Jiang Yunxi’s side. Were they planning to confront the Marquis Wenxin Estate?
“Qu Daren, I am not falsely accusing Marquis Wenxin. If the Jingzhao Yin Office lacks the time to investigate, then I will take it upon myself. I only hope that when the time comes, the Jingzhao Yin Office will not show favoritism,” Jiang Yunxi said with a serious expression.
“What kind of talk is that, Miss Jiang? The Jingzhao Yin Office has always been fair and impartial,” Qu Xinwen replied solemnly.
“That’s good to hear,” Jiang Yunxi said with a smile.
Having nothing more to say, Qu Xinwen bid farewell and left.
After he was gone, Grandmother looked at Jiang Jing’an and said, “Now that you’re back, pick an auspicious day to add Yunxi’s name to the family register.”
“I think today is a good day. Let’s summon the second and third branches to the ancestral hall. I will personally add her name—no need for overly complicated ceremonies,” Jiang Jing’an said straightforwardly. From now on, Yunxi would be the rightful eldest daughter of Yingguo Gongfu.
Ancestral Hall.
Members of the first, second, and third branches had all gathered.
Jiang Jing’an personally added Jiang Yunxi’s name to the family register.
“Sister Yunxi’s name has been added, but what about Sister Chenyu’s name? She is not of Yingguo Gongfu bloodline,” a girl of about fifteen in the crowd said with wide-eyed innocence.
“Big brother, this is the Yingguo Gongfu’s family register, which can only record the names of those with Jiang family blood,” said Jiang Shao’an of the second branch.
“That’s right. Since Chenyu doesn’t have Jiang family blood, her name should be removed. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be breaking the Ancestor’s rules?” Jiang He’an of the third branch also spoke up. They had little affection for Jiang Chenyu, caring only about the Jiang family’s bloodline.
“Chenyu has lived in Yingguo Gongfu for twenty-two years after all. Aren’t you being too heartless?” Madam Mu couldn’t help but speak out, her chest heaving with anger.
“Sister-in-law, Yingguo Gongfu raised her for twenty-two years without mistreating her and owes her nothing. Logically, now that she knows she isn’t a member of Yingguo Gongfu, she should return to her own family,” Madam Yang of the second branch said with a faint smile.
For so many years, Jiang Chenyu, as the legitimate eldest daughter of Yingguo Gongfu, had enjoyed all the limelight. Madam Mu treated her like a precious pearl, always overshadowing the girls of the second and third branches. Madam Yang had long been displeased.
Now that she wasn’t a member of Yingguo Gongfu, she shouldn’t cling shamelessly to the Jiang family.
“Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law is right. We aren’t heartless people either. Logically, since the children were switched, they should be exchanged back, each returning to their own homes,” Madam Tong of the third branch also spoke up.
For so many years, as the legitimate eldest daughter, Jiang Chenyu had enjoyed the best food, clothing, and resources, costing Yingguo Gongfu who knows how much money.
Jiang Chenyu bit her red lips, tears welling up in her eyes. “Father, remove my name from the family register. Thank you, Yingguo Gongfu, for raising me all these years. I will move out tomorrow.”
“I disagree. Where will you go alone?” Madam Mu hugged her tightly. She had watched her grow up bit by bit—twenty-two years! Even raising a cat would foster affection, let alone raising her as a daughter.
“Chenyu will stay in Yingguo Gongfu for now,” Jiang Jing’an declared authoritatively. Even if the children were to be exchanged back, they must first help her find her family. He couldn’t bring himself to simply drive her away.
“Let Chenyu stay with the Jiang family until she finds her family,” Grandmother said solemnly.
The second and third branches immediately fell silent.
Jiang Yunxi did not object. Twenty-two years of affection—human hearts are made of flesh and blood. She could understand her family’s actions.
But within three months, Jiang Chenyu must be married off.
“Finding her family will likely be difficult. Back then, someone deliberately switched me with her and then abandoned me,” Jiang Yunxi said calmly. This body had memories only from the time she was with her adoptive parents.
“Could it have been her parents?” Madam Yang questioned.
“Uncertain. But I must tell everyone something: twenty-two years ago, someone tampered with Yingguo Gongfu, causing the men in the family to remain unmarried and the married daughters to be unable to conceive.”
“The other party wanted Yingguo Gongfu to be left without descendants and disappear completely.”
Jiang Yunxi spoke earnestly. In the ancestral hall, with everyone present, this was the most appropriate time to say it.
Except for Grandmother, everyone else looked shocked, their expressions shifting constantly. Upon careful thought, the current situation in the family was exactly as Jiang Yunxi had described.
Heavens!
Someone had tampered with Yingguo Gongfu over twenty years ago, and they had known nothing about it.
And they had even attempted to make Yingguo Gongfu disappear forever. How malicious!
“Yunxi, your two cousins have been married for several years and still haven’t been able to conceive. Could you help them?” Madam Yang immediately walked up to Jiang Yunxi, looking at her with hopeful eyes.
Her daughter was not doing well, and as a mother, she felt both heartache and helplessness.
Medicine had never stopped, all kinds of doctors had been consulted, yet they still couldn’t conceive. In the end, concubines got pregnant—wasn’t this clearly the girls’ problem? Knowing her daughter was suffering grievances in her marital home, she felt she had no grounds to speak up when she went over.