Chapter 187: The Reunion of Mother and Daughter

On this night, Yuhu Mountain was lit as bright as day by the fire torches, as countless people went on a searching mission within the mountain.

The entire Blood Cliff had been searched thoroughly in detail, and every inch of its surface had been combed through by myriads of people. The wild beasts residing in it were frightened off as the mountain was filled by the sound of endless frantic footsteps throughout the night.

Nangong Shu and Nangong Bi hurried over upon hearing the news, and they joined in the search overnight.

Two days later…

Within the Fallen Leaves Valley in the Yuhu Mountain range, a villa could be seen constructed near the cliff. The mountain cliff stood in front of the villa, while a bamboo forest stood behind it. Moreover, the environment was surrounded by towering trees and blossoming flowers. One could see the vibrant expanse of peach blossom flowers during spring, listen to the burbling of the stream during summer, enjoy the scenery of maple trees grown all over the mountain during spring, and watch the plum flowers littered in abundance during winter.

A pavilion was built in the loft of the villa, and red-painted windows could be found on the side of the corridor. Outside the villa, the rocky mountains and streams created a wondrous scenery. Misty clouds surrounded the cornices during sunrise, while evening rays shone through the glazed windows during sunset. The entire place looked ethereal, as one could not see it clearly from afar. Words could not simply describe the beauty of this wonderland.

A bluestone path stood outside the villa. It traveled towards the bottom of the mountain, before converging with the main mountain road, after which one could reach Shengjing City within two hours.

Several people had visited the villa, and only a few servants were left to clean the place every day. The villa sat silently in tranquility.

However, the villa’s owner had suddenly arrived the day before and disrupted the peacefulness of the place. Furthermore, his temper was unusually terrible, causing the servants to live in fear during these two days. They were extra careful even when they walked. They were even afraid of frightening the cicadas and birds, and in turn, incurring the wrath of the villa’s owner.

Within the bedroom, Doctor Gu’s expression was glum. “I have already tried my best, but the girl’s head has been critically injured. You would have been burning incense paper for her right now if it wasn’t for my highly skilled medical techniques!”

“I don’t want to hear you talking about all these!” The man sat beside the bed as he cautiously wiped the unconscious woman’s face with a hot towel while she laid on the bed. There were multiple cuts on the back of his fair hand, spanning across his entire arm. They had already dried up and turned into dark-red scabs, as they had not been treated with proper care.

His eyes were filled with the image of the woman lying on the bed. His gaze turned dark and gloomy as he asked coldly, “I will only ask you one question. Why is she still unconscious?”

“Her heart vessels have been wounded. She has suffered several serious injuries all over her body and has lost too much blood! I do not even dare to guarantee that she’ll regain consciousness in the future, much less talk about gaining consciousness right now!” Doctor Gu shrugged helplessly.

“Didn’t you guarantee to me that she won’t die?!” the man bellowed somberly.

“I’ve guaranteed that she won’t die, but I did not promise that she will regain consciousness.” Doctor Gu stroked his beard, which he had been growing for a while, and he gave a profound look.

The man’s eyes dimmed as he looked over and lambasted harshly, “I’ve already settled 11 affairs for you! I am aware that you have five sons and three daughters, and I know where they are! If Su Jiu remains unconscious, I will kill them all!”

Doctor Gu’s hands paused in mid-air as his expression changed in an instant. He hollered with anger, “Rascal, are you threatening me?”

The man’s actions remained gentle and detailed as he replied calmly, “Yes, I am threatening you!”

Doctor Gu looked at the man in a fluster and thought that he should not have been deceived by his demure and harmless appearance, which had previously led him to sell himself to the Ji Manor in exchange for money.

The man’s good-looking face was tempting him to step forward and punch him, but he did not dare to do so!

He was a highly-skilled doctor, but he would not be able to save himself if Ji Yuxian stabbed him twice!

“Fine, I will save her, but you have to give me time!” Doctor Gu said indignantly.

“How long do you need?” the man asked solemnly.

“Seven days!”

“Fine!” Ji Yuxian looked up and glanced at him. His tender gaze immediately turned frosty as he continued, “If she does not regain consciousness within seven days, you should prepare your own incense paper, Doctor Gu!”

Doctor Gu snorted at him.

Just then, there was a knock on the door as Jin Feng’s voice sounded from the outside, “Young Master!”

“Take good care of her! Nobody is to enter the room without my permission!” Ji Yuxian got up to leave.

Doctor Gu laughed sardonically upon the man’s departure and sat on the chair to feel Su Jiu’s pulse. His face was wrinkled as he sighed. “Girl, tell me you bothered to leave and only return in such a state! You had almost taken Ji Yuxian’s life, so you should never leave again! Did you know what Ji Yuxian looked like when he carried you back that day?”

Doctor Gu sighed heavily and reached out his arms to carefully adjust her blanket. “Don’t worry, I promise that I will save you! I am a miracle-working doctor who snatches people from King of Hades’s hands! I was only giving him a scare just now! Served him right for threatening me!”

Doctor Gu laughed smugly and walked to the desk to write up a medical prescription.

Ji Yuxian got out of the bedroom and walked along the corridor as Jin Feng quickly followed behind him.

“Young Master, I’ve already killed Yuan Lu! However, Princess Yu Long is still in Prince Rui’s Manor, and she has been well protected by Lord Yun Nan’s guards. I am still waiting for an opportunity to act!” Jin Feng reported flatly.

“How about Xiao Lie?” Ji Yuxian’s gaze turned icy.

“Prince Rui had jumped off the cliff and stayed in the mountain that night. He’s probably on his way here, now that he’s aware of Lady Su staying in this villa!”

Ji Yuxian laughed coldly, “Why is he still looking for Su Jiu? Don’t touch Yu Long anymore, and let His Highness Prince Rui deal with her instead. It’s more interesting that way as compared to killing her directly!”

Moreover, Su Jiu was still unconscious. Her enemies would have to die in front of her eyes if they were to be killed!

“Noted, I have understood your words! I have already prepared everything within the villa. Prince Rui won’t be able to enter, even if he has brought an army of highly trained soldiers!” Jin Feng paused in his words before continuing, “The people from the Dragon Conqueror Gang are already here and are outside the villa. However, I did not let them enter, as the Young Master has instructed that nobody is allowed to enter this place!”

“Yes! How dare they come to see her when they did not protect her adequately? Let them continue to wait!” Ji Yuxian’s lips curled into a ruthless smile as he flicked his red robe. He was about to leave when he suddenly thought of something, and he then instructed, “Go into the city personally to fetch the Eldest Mistress of the Su Family and the nanny over!”

“Noted!” Jin Feng replied respectfully.

The members of the Dragon Conqueror Gang had all arrived, and they had been waiting outside the entrance for two hours. Everyone looked glum and somber.

The four of them had barely slept for the past two days. There were now dark patches underneath their eyes, which made their face appear even more malicious.

Chang Huan knelt on the ground, his face ghastly pale. The wind blew harshly through the mountain, and the young man’s thin body swayed feebly along with the wind.

Hu Dapao’s face was green with anger as he swiftly grabbed hold of Chang Huan and spoke through his clenched teeth, “Even if everybody else betrays Chief, you should not have betrayed her! Weren’t you aware of how you survived in the Dragon Conqueror Gang, and how many times our Chief has saved your life?!”

Chang Huan was flung across the ground brutally, and he fell onto the ground with a loud thud. His face was frighteningly pale as he remained still.

“Get lost! Get out of my sight! Lord Yun Nan Manor is your only family. Go ahead and resume your position as the Crown Prince, you have nothing to do with the Dragon Conqueror Gang from now on!” Hu Dapao hollered.

Chang Huan sprawled on the ground as his body trembled among the fallen leaves. His lips quivered, and his body seemed to have frozen.

Ah Shu looked at him coldly and said hoarsely, “If any mishap befalls on Chief, the Dragon Conqueror Gang will create chaos in the Lord Yun Nan Manor, even if we have to travel many miles to Diannan City!”

Qiao An’s face was pale. He took a deep breath and turned around to watch the tightly-shut villa gate. He said in worry, “It has been two days, I wonder how our Chief’s condition is. Why is Ji Yuxian not allowing us to enter?”

They were aware of the feelings Ji Yuxian had for Su Jiu, and they knew that Su Jiu was safe here. Hence, they suppressed their eagerness to break into the villa. However, they still felt extremely anxious as they waited outside!

Hu Dapao suggested, “We should break in if there is no choice! Chief is considered our family, so why can’t we see her?”

“That’s right, we shall not wait anymore! I want to see Chief right now!” Ah Shu stepped forward.

Qiao An extended his arms to stop the two of them. “Don’t do that! The Eldest Young Master refused to let us see her due to certain reasons. He has saved Chief’s life, and therefore we cannot behave rudely! Jin Feng has informed us that Chief is still unconscious, so we just have to wait patiently!”

“Then… how long should we wait?” Ah Shu stomped his foot in anxiety.

All of a sudden, frantic horse galloping sounds could be heard. Xiao Lie rushed over, and he leaped down from his horse even before he had reached the entrance of the villa.

The man’s appearance had changed tremendously over two days. He appeared as if he had aged by ten years due to his terrified expression. He was nowhere like the previous elegant and noble prince as he swiftly walked forward and asked, “Is Ah Jiu here?”

Ah Shu glared at Xiao Lie as he clenched his fists tightly, ready to dash forward at any second.

Hu Dapao firmly gripped his arm while staying quiet.

Qiao An was expressionless as he nodded. “Yes!”

Xiao Lie stepped forward and attempted to push open the gates, his face as white as a sheet.

Just then, the gates opened, and Jin Feng stepped out. He scanned across everyone’s faces and said calmly, “Lady Su has suffered serious injuries and is still unconscious, so she won’t be able to meet any of you right now! Doctor Gu is trying to save her life, and any of your actions or behavior would interrupt him. As such, please go back! I will inform you once Lady Su is awake!”

“I want to see Ah Jiu right now!” Xiao Lie replied coldly and raised his arm to shove Jin Feng as he attempted to break into the villa.

“Your Highness Prince Rui!” Jin Feng stepped out and stopped him in his tracks as he said coldly, “Please forgive me, but you cannot enter right now! Eldest Young Master will not let you see Lady Su!”

“What if I insist?” Xiao Lie glared at him maliciously.

“Then, you’ll have to step over my dead body, but do you genuinely want to fight when Lady Su is still unconscious in the villa? What can you do even if you see Lady Su right now? Please wait for her to regain consciousness before you attempt to explain to her!”

Xiao Lie stopped his actions, and he shut his eyes to conceal the panic within them. He then asked hoarsely, “How is Ah Jiu?”

“She has been seriously wounded, and Doctor Gu will need time and energy to save her life! As such, I plead for everyone not to interrupt him!” Jin Feng said flatly.

“Then I will wait here!” Xiao Lie said.

“Your Highness, please help yourself!”

At the same time, a horse carriage could be heard traveling towards the villa.

Lord Yun Nan and his princess consort got off the carriage, and they saw Chang Huan kneeling on the ground. Lady Yun Nan rushed over, heartbroken. “Huan’er, what are you doing?”

Chang Huan lowered his head and shoved her away. “Don’t call me Huan’er! I am Chang Huan, and I have no relationship with all of you!”

“Huan’er, how can you say that? What has Mother done wrongly? Why are you abandoning Mother?” Lady Yun Nan joined him to kneel on the ground as she covered her lips and wept.

Hu Dapao glanced over and laughed coldly, “Chang Huan was a name given to you by Chief! How dare you use that name? Go back and be Xia Huan instead!”

Lord Yun Nan’s brows knitted tightly together as he said in a low voice, “Let’s talk back at home!”

“I won’t go back again!” Chang Huan’s face appeared solemn. “I will kneel here and wait for Boss!”

“Huan’er, don’t be like this! It wasn’t your fault!” Tears streamed down Lady Yun Nan’s face as she pleaded, “Please go back with me, I have already lost you for 12 years, and I’ve finally reunited with you! How could you bear for me to lose you again? You’re trying to kill me!”

Chang Huan shook his head slowly. “I would not be in pain right now if I wasn’t Xia Huan, and I wouldn’t have caused Boss to be harmed! If you sincerely care about me, don’t ask me to be your son anymore!”

“Huan’er, this was only an accident! Please go back home so we can talk!” Lady Yun Nan clenched her chest while sobbing pitifully.

Lord Yun Nan saw that his wife was looking uncomfortable as if her heart disease was about to recur. His frown deepened as he reached out and struck Chang Huan’s neck, grabbed hold of his unconscious body, and immediately strode towards the horse carriage.

Lady Yun Nan hurriedly got up and followed behind them!

Another horse carriage had arrived after Lord Yun Nan Manor’s horse carriage left. Judging from the carriage driver’s appearance, it looked like it had come from the palace.

As the horse carriage approached, a eunuch got off from the shaft of the carriage and knelt onto the ground. “Greetings to Your Highness Prince Rui! The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have called for you to enter the palace, please go back with me!”

Xiao Lie remained standing there without a movement as if he did not hear him.

Jin Feng said, “Regardless if it was from the palace or Prince Rui’s Manor, there must be many matters waiting for Your Highness to be settled. Your Highness, please take care of them before you come and meet Lady Su!”

“The Emperor has called for Your Highness urgently! I plead for Your Highness to go down the mountain with me!” The eunuch quickly stepped forward in an attempt to persuade him.

Xiao Lie’s face turned pale as he gazed at the villa solemnly, before turning around to leave.

However, he did not get into the horse carriage. Instead, he got onto his horse and traveled down the mountain.

Xiao Lie did not enter the palace even when he arrived in Shengjing City. He headed directly back to Prince Rui Manor instead.

This was the first time he had returned to the manor, ever since he had left the palace on the day of his wedding.

Everyone within the manor was shocked to see Xiao Lie in such a desperate state, and they quickly knelt onto the ground as they offered their greetings.

Xiao Lie strode towards the main courtyard, enshrouded with anger and violence.

Meanwhile, Yu Long was already waiting for him there.

The sky was dark and gloomy as the storm approached. The tree branches and flowers swayed messily among the strong gusts of wind. The woman’s posture remained upright without any sense of panic as she calmly waited for Xiao Lie’s appearance.

A storm was brewing as a repressed, murderous atmosphere filled the air. The man’s darkened gaze was filled with unpredictable anger as he slowly walked over.

Yu Long knelt onto the ground as she said serenely, “Your Highness, before you kill me, please let me say a few words and explain the entire matter clearly. Once I am finished, I will have nothing else to say even if you’re bent on killing me!”

Xiao Lie glared at her cold-heartedly.

The wind blew across the woman’s pale face as she looked up at the man and explained, “I did not ask Yuan Lu to kill Lady Su. I’ve only asked him to stop her when I had heard that she was suddenly on her way back to the city. I know about Your Highness’s feelings for Lady Su, and I’ve agreed to be divorced with you once everything is settled. As such, I did not want Lady Su to see us getting married after she reached the city, and misunderstand you as a result, Your Highness!”

Yu Long paused in her words before continuing, “Either Yuan Lu had most probably misunderstood my words, or something else had happened back on the mountain, which resulted in such an outcome. Yuan Lu came to report to me that night, and Huan’er was here the moment he finished reporting. He thought that I had intended to kill Lady Su after hearing Yuan Lu’s words. As such, he felt a deep hatred towards me!”

“Since Yuan Lu is already dead, there is no one else who can prove my innocence. I am aware that my explanation will not be able to clear the air anymore!”

“Lady Su has saved Huan’er, and she is a savior to everyone in Lord Yun Nan Manor! How could I have killed her?”

The woman’s voice gradually turned hoarse.

The sky grew darker as humidity filled the air, and the wind continued to blow as a storm was imminent.

Xiao Lie stood among the wind as he looked at her with a piercing gaze. He was not affected by her words at all as he extracted his sword and stepped forward.

Yu Long looked up abruptly. “Your Highness, I know that you won’t believe me! No matter what, I am unable to escape the blame this time. Lady Su has become seriously injured because of me. Therefore, I will return my life to her and plead for your forgiveness!”

Yu Long’s face was filled with determination as a flash of reflected light appeared in her hand. She had taken out a dagger from her sleeve, and she stabbed towards her chest without any hesitation.

Yu Long stared at Xiao Lie, panting as blood spurted out from her chest. “Yu Long’s unintentional mistake has nothing to do with the Lord Yun Nan Manor. I plead for…”

Blood trickled down from the corners of her lips as her voice gradually became softer. “I plead for Your Highness to leave the Lord Yun Nan Manor out of this!”

Yu Long shut her eyes as she finished speaking, and her body fell to the side.

“Princess!”

A yell rang out behind her in panic as Yu Long’s nanny and maidservant, Qing Lan, rushed over and held Yu Long in her arms. They were both flabbergasted when they saw the dagger stuck in her chest.

“Qing Lan, quickly call for the imperial physician!” the nanny yelled in a fluster.

“Noted!” Qing Lan did not bother to ask Xiao Lie for permission before she hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.

Xiao Lie frowned as he watched Yu Long lying in a pool of blood. At that moment, he ran through his thoughts.

Why did Yu Long want to kill Su Jiu?

If she had wanted to be Lady Rui, why did she agree to a divorce after the wedding?

Was this woman superficial or truly innocent?

Xiao Lie laughed coldly before he turned around to leave, without taking another look at Yu Long’s body on the ground.

It began to pour heavily when night fell. The servants within Prince Rui Manor had been busy the entire night, and it was heard that two doctors had taken turns to treat Princess Yu Long before her life was saved.

As Yu Long was suddenly wounded right after the wedding, the Emperor had no choice but to postpone the decision to crown Xiao Lie as the heir to the throne. Together with Imperial Concubine Rong, he arrived in Prince Rui Manor amidst the heavy downpour to visit Yu Long, who was unconscious.

Imperial Concubine Rong was heartbroken when she saw Xiao Lie’s pale and haggard appearance. She persuaded, “Nobody could have expected such a thing to happen! I know that you like Lady Su, but wasn’t Yu Long innocent as well?”

Xiao Lie stood in the corridor, watching the endless rain. His back view appeared aloof and desolate.

“Mother, I want to divorce Yu Long!”

“Even if you want to divorce Yu Long, the time is not right! Prince Zhao has just been captured amid treason, so how would Lord Yun Nan agree to it if you ask for divorce just two days after your marriage? Do you want to be accused of burning the bridge just after crossing it? Moreover, Yu Long is seriously injured right now, and we are not sure if she’ll survive this ordeal! Your Father will not agree to it!”

“Lie’er, listen to Mother! Let Yu Long recuperate and recover before finding an opportunity to broach this subject again!”

Xiao Lie closed his eyes and allowed the freezing raindrops to fall on his face. “Mother, how do you expect me to face Ah Jiu?”

“Lady Su is a righteous person. She will understand!”

The rain continued for three whole days, resulting in a flood within Shengjing City.

The first thing that Yu Long did after regaining consciousness was to explain to Lady Yun Nan that her self-inflicted injury was due to her asking for Xiao Lie’s forgiveness and that it had nothing to do with him.

Imperial Concubine Rong was also present and was extremely touched when she heard her words. She held Yu Long’s hands and said gently, “Good child! Mother knows that you were innocent! It’s Lie’er’s fault for letting you be mistreated!”

“No, it’s Yu Long’s mistake!” Yu Long shook her head tearfully.

“Don’t think too much, you have just regained consciousness and are still very weak. It’s more important to recuperate and recover fully!”

Yu Long, however, insisted persistently, “Mother, please tell Father not to be upset with His Highness! My injury has nothing to do with him!”

Xiao Lie knew that Imperial Concubine Rong was here, and he had just arrived outside the door when he heard Yu Long’s words. His hand remained on the door as his brows knitted slightly.

“Sure, I will tell your father!” Lady Yun Nan said sympathetically, “Don’t speak anymore and rest well. You have lost too much blood, and the imperial physician has informed us that you will only recover after a long period of rest.”

Yu Long already felt exhausted after speaking for a while. She then held Imperial Concubine Rong’s hands as she said, “Mother, it’s Yu Long’s fault for upsetting His Highness. Please don’t blame him!”

“I won’t! I believe Lie’er will come to understand you in the future!”

Yu Long pursed her lips into a consoling smile. She eventually closed her eyes and fell asleep again at ease.

During the morning meeting in the imperial court the next day, Emperor Zhao Ping declared that Prince Rui, Xiao Lie, had accomplished a great feat by saving him. Since he possessed both benevolence and integrity, he would assume the role of the Crown Prince.

Xiao Jing, on the other hand, had attempted an act of treason and had tried to kill his father and brother. He had also committed the crimes of collusion, and would thus be demoted to the status of a commoner. He would be confined within Prince Zhao Manor, and would not be able to enter the palace or leave Shengjing City without permission. All of his family members within the manor would be dispersed and sold as servants.

All implicated personnel, including Minister of Revenue Yu Xian, Vice Minister Xie Shiyun, and the commander of the forbidden army Jin Sheng, were charged with the crime of collusion with Prince Zhao. They were thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s jail to be executed after fall.

Businessman Zhu Hecheng was charged with the crime of bribery, artificially driving up prices, and embezzling food supply meant for disaster relief. His crimes were unforgiving, and his entire family property would be confiscated. He would be executed after fall, together with Yu Xian and the rest.

…

The downpour continued for several days before the sky became clear once again. Jin Feng visited the Su Family on this day and requested to meet the Eldest Mistress.

Imperial Concubine Rong had sent the Eldest Mistress out during the coup. She was only made aware of the incident upon hearing the servants talking about it on this day.

Jin Feng arrived right after they had their breakfast, and he extended the Eldest Young Master’s invitation to the Eldest Mistress.

The Eldest Mistress was naturally curious about the reason for Ji Yuxian wanting to meet her since the marriage between both families had fallen through.

The horse carriage was ready when she stepped out, and she realized that the nanny was also present when she got onto the horse carriage.

Both of them were astonished upon seeing each other.

The Eldest Mistress had heard about the nanny being alive when Su Yuejiu was robbed halfway through her journey into the city. She was aware that the nanny had ganged up with the mountain bandits to deceive the Su Family and the Ji Manor, and that the nanny had left together with them after the truth was uncovered.

She did not expect to see her here on this day.

The nanny had heard about Su Jiu’s mishap, and she had been panicking for several days. She felt an upsurge of emotions the moment she saw the Eldest Mistress. At a loss of words, she knelt onto the ground and wept, “Greetings to Mistress!”

“So you’ve been in Shengjing City all this while!”

“Yes, I’ve always been here!”

The Eldest Mistress abruptly thought of something and asked, “I’ve received a letter back in Fuyang City that requested for me to enter the city! Were you the one who wrote it?”

She had been perturbed about who had written that letter to her when she had just entered the city. That person did not turn up after she had arrived, and as such, she had subsequently forgotten about the matter as well. She suddenly recalled the letter when she saw the nanny, and she immediately guessed that the letter was written by her.

“Yes, it was written by me!”

The horse carriage set off, traveling towards the gate of the city via the long street.

“Why did you request for me to come to the city?” the Eldest Mistress asked.

The nanny remained kneeling on the floor in the carriage as she lowered her head and answered, “I had wanted to let Mistress meet Miss!”

“Which Miss?”

“Su Jiu, the one who had previously gotten married into the Ji Manor as the Young Mistress!”

The Eldest Mistress’s eyes flickered as she chuckled coldly, “I’ve heard that she’s a mountain bandit! Did you ask me to enter the city to help her continue to deceive the Ji Manor?”

The nanny frantically shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t dare to do so!”

“Then why did you not come to look for me in the end?” the Eldest Mistress continued asking.

The nanny felt a pang in her heart when she heard her words. Su Jiu had been together with Prince Rui after she had gotten back from Youzhou. Since she was afraid that the Ji Manor would bother Su Jiu again, she did not dare to ask for the Eldest Mistress to meet Su Jiu.

Looking back, it was an utter mistake!

If Su Jiu had not been together with Xiao Lie, she would have most likely avoided the mishap.

“Tell me, why didn’t you come to look for me? Why did you want me to meet this person called Su Jiu?” the Eldest Mistress frowned and asked.

Regret filled her heart as the nanny replied softly, “Guard Jin Feng is bringing Mistress and myself to meet Su Jiu right now. Mistress, you will most likely understand when you meet her!”

The Eldest Mistress knitted her brows, feeling baffled. “What are you exactly hiding from me?”

The horse carriage traveled up Yuhu Mountain, before stopping right outside the villa. It was already afternoon by the time they arrived.

Jin Feng was leading the Eldest Mistress and the nanny into the villa. Just then, a servant came to report urgently that they found the old lady with the surname Chen that the Eldest Young Master had been looking for.

The timing was just right!

Jin Feng told the servant to bring Old Lady Chen over.

The Eldest Mistress grew increasingly puzzled.

They walked along the corridor, before stopping outside a wooden door with carving patterns. Jin Feng reported sternly, “Eldest Young Master, I have brought the Eldest Mistress from the Su Manor and the nanny. The old lady that we have been looking for has arrived as well!”

“Come in!”

“Noted!”

Jin Feng acknowledged and opened the door. “Eldest Mistress, Nanny, please go in!”

The bedroom was elegantly decorated, and incense with healing properties was being burnt within the room. Through the translucent bead curtains, a man in a red robe could be seen sitting by the side of the bed, while a woman laid on it.

The nanny choked back on her tears as she ran over and yelled, “Miss!”

Su Jiu remained unconscious. Her dark hair was sprawled across the mattress, and her delicate face appeared pale due to the loss of blood. Ji Yuxian had just fed her medicine and was currently using a handkerchief to carefully wipe off the excess medicine that had dribbled out of her mouth.

“How is Miss doing?” the nanny knelt beside the bed and asked urgently.

“She’s fine. She’s out of danger, but she still hasn’t woken up yet!” Ji Yuxian answered flatly.

The Eldest Mistress remained standing outside as her heart abruptly pounded at the sight of the nanny’s frantic and heartbroken expression. An idea suddenly arose in her mind, causing her body to freeze. However, she realized the ridiculousness of her musings in the next instant.

Ji Yuxian stood up and placed the bowl of medicine by the side, before parting the bead curtains. “Eldest Mistress, please come in!”

The Eldest Mistress’s eyes flickered before she slowly walked over towards the bed.

Her facial expression instantly changed the moment she glanced at the woman lying on the bed. Her body shook involuntarily, and she only found her voice after a long while. “…Nanny, who is she?”

Tears rolled down the nanny’s face as she sobbed, “Mistress, her name is Su Jiu, and she’s an orphan. She grew up in Yuhu Mountain.”

The Eldest Mistress sat on the side of the bed as she gaped at the young woman. She lightly caressed her cheeks, before muttering with a trembling voice, “Su Jiu…”

As Su Jiu’s sleeping face overlapped with that of the five-year-old girl in her memory, tears sprang out of the Eldest Mistress’s eyes as she gawked at her in a daze. Her body was numb due to anxiety, and her heart, which had been lonely for several years, suddenly pounded strongly as if it had been revived.

Could she be her Jiu’er?

It had been 12 years!

Was her Jiu’er coming back?

“Young Master, Old Lady Chen is here!” Jin Feng knocked on the door and said.

“Bring her in!”

“Noted!”

As the door opened, a plainly-dressed woman appearing to be in her fifties was brought into the bedroom. The woman’s hair had already turned white, and her face was full of wrinkles. She scanned around the room nervously.

Ji Yuxian said softly, “Eldest Mistress, Su Jiu was five years old when she arrived at Yuhu Mountain. She had been found by Old Lady Chen before that, but she was then passed to her relative. However, Su Jiu escaped from that relative due to abuse and was led to Yuhu Mountain by an old beggar. She then joined the mountain bandit gang after the old beggar’s death.”

Ji Yuxian paused for a moment before he continued, “This was all that Su Jiu could recall. She could not remember how she had ended up in Old Lady Chen’s house, and she has no memories of her parents as well!”

The Eldest Mistress gaped at Ji Yuxian in utter shock.

The man turned around and looked at Old Lady Chen, “You had found a child 12 years ago, and she was a girl. Do you still remember where you had found her?”

The old lady helplessly looked at Ji Yuxian as she nodded in panic. “Yes, I had found a child more than ten years ago, at the side of the river in our village. I saw her lying by the river bank when I was there to wash my clothes; she was probably washed ashore. I was too poor at that time, so I had no choice but to send her away!”

Ji Yuxian nodded calmly. “There was a boat which had capsized on the Zhuo River at that time, and most of the people on board had died. I’ve found someone who had survived the incident, and he said that there was indeed a girl on the boat that day. She was carried onto the boat by a woman, and she was crying for her mother when she awoke. The boat capsized thereafter, and everyone on board was separated when they fell into the water. The boat departed from Fuyang City, and Su Jiu was the girl on the boat.”

The nanny was bawling uncontrollably at this point as she held onto Su Jiu’s hands tightly. “Yes, yes! She’s our Young Lady! She’s our Young Lady Jiu’er! It was me who lost her!”

The Eldest Mistress froze in place, remaining in a daze.

“Su Jiu could not remember about her falling into the river, but she has been having nightmares about being drowned. Moreover, she once yelled for a woman by the name of Mrs. Qin in her dreams!”

The nanny grabbed hold of the Eldest Mistress hand. “Yes, it was her, it was Mrs. Qin! It was her who had gone out with me on that day!”

“Does the Eldest Mistress still remember what your daughter was wearing, on the day she got lost?” Ji Yuxian asked.

The Eldest Mistress looked up in shock and answered without much hesitation, “Jiu’er was wearing a light-yellow satin dress embroidered with blossom flowers on that day. Since the weather had turned cold, I had put on an embroidered waistcoat outlined with fox fur for her as well.”

Ji Yuxian immediately turned around to look at Old Lady Chen and asked, “What was the girl wearing when you found her?”

The woman pondered about it for a while, before answering, “She was wearing a light-yellow dress, and her hair was tied into two knots using green silk ribbons. I still remember several details since she looked like she belonged to a wealthy family!”

The truth was near.

Su Jiu was the girl who had been brought onto the boat. Old Lady Chen had saved her after she got washed ashore, and had arrived in Yuhu Mountain after a series of events.

The girl on the boat was the Eldest Miss in the Su Family, Su Yuejiu.

The Eldest Mistress’s face was full of tears as she wept uncontrollably. She leaned beside Su Jiu’s body and burst into tears.

It had been 12 years!

She was a mother who had missed her daughter terribly for 12 years. Her accumulated sadness and misery had finally exploded after thousands of excruciating days and nights.

The nanny was bawling her eyes out as well.

Her chest had been feeling stifled ever since the day she had lost the Young Lady. At this very moment, she could finally feel relieved.

Ji Yuxian’s face was slightly pale as his throat tightened. He got up and left the room.

He told Jin Feng to send Old Lady Chen back, before standing along the corridor and listening to the heartbreaking cries coming from within the room. His heart surged with emotions, and he could not calm down.

Su Jiu was Su Yuejiu!

This was such an incredible and monumental incident!

If he had not personally investigated Su Jiu’s birth background in detail, he would not have believed in it as well.

The Eldest Miss of the Su Family, Su Yuejiu, was engaged to him. She was abducted at five years old and had arrived at Yuhu Mountain after a chain of events. She had become a mountain bandit for ten years and had ended up impersonating Su Yuejiu, who was entering the city to get married. In the end, she still ended up being married to him!

What kind of fate is it that had resulted in such a coincidence?

As such, Su Jiu was fated to be his wife!

He had hated the Su Family for letting Su Yueqiu impersonate the Eldest Miss to be married into the city, but Su Jiu would not have taken over her place and gotten married into the Ji Manor if they had not done so.

At this point, he strongly believed that everything was fated.

However, his Su Jiu had suffered for more than ten years. Who could compensate her?

She had been abducted and was nearly drowned. She had been abused, and she had begged from Fuyang City to Yuhu Mountain, which was miles away. She had joined the Dragon Conqueror Gang due to starvation, and she had survived under an environment where the strong preyed on the weak…

How could she have overcome all these obstacles if she had not been strong and determined?

The nanny walked out in tears as the doors creaked open. She then bent her knees and knelt beside Ji Yuxian’s feet as she wept, “I am so sorry, Eldest Young Master!”

Ji Yuxian looked at the woman coldly. “Did you already know that Su Jiu was the Eldest Miss of the Su Family?”

That was why she had been loyal and protective towards a mountain bandit who had abducted her.

The nanny looked down and choked back on her tears. “I had suspected so, but I wasn’t sure. As a result, I had not dared to bring it up!”

“But if you have told me about your suspicions, Su Jiu wouldn’t have suffered so much!”

The nanny raised her arm and slapped herself across her face. “I had lost Young Lady back then, and I have nearly caused her death again this time. I have made a serious mistake, and I deserve to die!”

Ji Yuxian glanced at her and said, “Su Jiu has yelled for Mrs. Qin in her nightmares before. I realized that she wasn’t referring to Mrs. Qin in the Ji Manor, but rather she should be someone from the Su Family. Su Jiu would not have been abducted simply without reason, so it must have had something to do with Mrs. Qin. Who is she working for?”

The nanny gawked at Ji Yuxian in shock as a handprint was imprinted on her tearful face.

“Mrs. Qin works in the Second Mistress’s courtyard!”

But how could the Second Mistress have sold the Eldest Miss?

If Su Wenqian found out about it, it would be considered a light punishment to divorce and evict her out of the Su Family. She would not dare to make such an attempt, no matter how daring she was!

Unless… Su Wenqian was aware of it!

Both of them had schemed the plan to abduct the Young Lady.

The nanny was traumatized as she said slowly, “I… I think I understand the reason!”

“What was the reason?” Ji Yuxian asked.

The nanny said, “It had something to do with the Ji Manor!”

Ji Yuxian squinted his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“When the Ji Manor faced trouble 12 years ago, the Eldest Mistress had insisted on bringing Miss Yuejiu into the city to provide aid to the Ji Manor, against the objections of the Old Master. Since the Old Master and the Second Mistress must have been afraid of implicating the Su Family, as they had likely planned to send Miss Yuejiu away. The engagement would only be impossible if Miss Yuejiu was not around!” the nanny explained slowly.

She believed that Su Wenqian must have been deceived by Madame Su as well, as he could not have possibly sold his daughter no matter what kind of man he was.

It was Madame Su who had acted ruthlessly and deceived everyone. She had let the Eldest Miss of the Su Family be abducted, and she did not expect that retribution would befall on her one day.

Her daughter had been raped by mountain bandits and was married to a woodcutter. Yet, she had personally let the real Eldest Miss of the Su Family be married into the Ji Manor. Would this not be retribution?

It was hateful and lamentable at the same time!

Ji Yuxian’s gaze grew increasingly dark as he listened to the nanny’s words. So it turned out that there was such a secret behind the Su Family’s cancellation of their engagement back then, and that Su Jiu’s sufferings were related to him.