Chapter 7

Steward Xu of the Duke of Jingguo’s household understood the situation. He only said that the betrothal gifts had been delivered today, and the Duchess would naturally be given an honest account of what had happened.

When the hall doors opened again, the red silk outside was still there.

The betrothal gifts were displayed in the courtyard, load after load. Gold, silver, and brocade gleamed under the sunlight.

At last, the ridiculous farce came to an end.

Ji Mingyi still stood motionless beneath the eaves, not moving for a long time.

Her face was frighteningly pale.

Mother took her hand and led her into the main hall.

“Mingyi.”

Mother’s voice was very soft.

Ji Mingyi immediately knelt.

“Grandmother.”

“I’m not of the Ji family’s blood, but I’ve lived under the Ji name for so many years. I was foolish.”

“If I had known sooner…”

Mother interrupted her.

“If you had known sooner, then what?”

Ji Mingyi froze.

Mother reached out and smoothed the loose hair at her temple.

“When you first came to our residence, you were only this tall.”

She gestured to indicate a tiny child.

“You cried until you couldn’t make a sound. Your parents had died at the border. Huaiyue carried you home, covered in blood.”

“I said then that once a child crossed the Ji family’s threshold, she was a child of the Ji family.”

Tears fell from Ji Mingyi’s eyes, one after another.

“But if people outside find out…”

Mother replied calmly, “Your parents gave their lives for the country. You were entered into the Ji family genealogy. That was perfectly proper.”

“You are not the one who should feel ashamed.”

“It is the people who exploit the kindness of the dead, plotting with your identity to harm someone else.”

I sat to one side, and the tightness in my chest finally eased.

Ji Mingyi had been afraid these past few days.

Afraid she was an impostor. Afraid she had taken someone else’s life. Afraid she would ruin my marriage. Afraid the marquis’s household would abandon her.

But she had never considered that she was the one who most deserved to be protected.

Ji Huaiyue stood in the middle of the hall. After a long silence, he suddenly bowed to Ji Mingyi.

“Mingyi, this was my fault.”

Ji Mingyi panicked and tried to help him up.

“Father, you mustn’t.”

Ji Huaiyue did not straighten.

“Back then, I was afraid people would look down on you, so I kept your identity vague.”

“I thought I was protecting you that way.”

“I never imagined it would let someone use you as bait today.”

His voice was low.

“From now on, I’ll tell everyone clearly who you are, who your parents were, and why you became part of the Ji family.”

“I won’t let you suffer through this kind of murky injustice again.”

Ji Mingyi covered her mouth and wept soundlessly.

As they spoke, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside.

A sixteen-year-old youth carrying a book chest rushed in, his forehead beaded with sweat.

“Grandmother! Father! Paternal Aunt!”

It was Ji Mingheng.

My eldest brother’s only son—the boy Shen had given birth to all those years ago.

He had been studying at the academy today. He must have heard there was trouble at the residence and left his lessons unfinished to come home.

The moment he entered, he saw Ji Mingyi’s eyes swollen from crying.

10

The youth’s expression changed at once. He hurried over.

“Elder Sister, who bullied you?”

Ji Mingyi stared blankly.

Ji Mingheng had already stepped in front of her, panting.

“Was it that impostor? Where is she? I’ll go find her and settle the score!”

Mother looked at him. At last, there was a hint of a smile in her eyes.

“Stay where you are.”

Ji Mingheng immediately pulled back his foot and stood obediently.

Mother asked, “How much of what happened today have you heard?”

Ji Mingheng pressed his lips together.

“At the academy, someone said Elder Sister isn’t Father’s own daughter.”

Ji Mingyi’s fingertips trembled.

But Ji Mingheng immediately continued, “So what?”

“She’s been my elder sister since we were children.”

“When the tutor punished me to copy passages, she ground ink for me. When I fell and broke my arm, she stayed up all night to watch over me. When I got into trouble and didn’t dare face Father, she pleaded for me.”

His eyes reddened as he looked at Mother.

“Grandmother, I don’t know whether Elder Sister is of the Ji family’s blood.”

“I only know she’s my real sister.”

Mother watched him closely for a moment.

“Remember what you said today.”

Ji Mingheng nodded solemnly.

Mother continued, “From now on, whoever mentions her birth in front of you, remember this: Ji Mingyi is the daughter your father personally acknowledged. Her place in the family genealogy is clear.”

“Her parents gave their lives to protect your father. For every day she remains in the Ji family, you must respect her and protect her.”

Ji Mingheng immediately knelt.

“Your grandson will remember.”

Ji Mingyi couldn’t hold back anymore. She crouched and flung her arms around him. The two siblings embraced and wept.

Watching them, I suddenly felt that perhaps the commotion today had not been a bad thing after all.

Some wounds, kept hidden and covered for too long, only fester.

Bring them out into the sunlight, and though it may hurt at first, they can finally heal.

Liu Cheng was arrested soon afterward.

He had wanted to use Su Wanning to ruin my marriage and then extort a sum of money from the marquis’s household.

If the marquis’s household refused to acknowledge her, he would spread rumors throughout the capital about the “real and false heiress.” If they did accept her, he would use Su Wanning to latch on to the Duke of Jingguo’s household.