"The Marquis Mansion has fallen on hard times," someone said. "If Eldest Miss Yuanniang doesn’t find an opportunity, how could she marry into a good family?" "You, as a mother, have you ever planned even a bit for Yuanniang’s lifelong happiness?" "What’s worse, Yuanniang had finally gained the appreciation of a Noble through her own abilities, yet not only did you not rejoice for Yuanniang, but you even wanted her to give up the opportunity to a relative! " "...Madam, you are truly too much! Even a stepmother is not as cruel as you!" After He Tiantian shouted these words, she felt almost drained. Everyone saw it clearly, that Lady Feng’s legs and arms were all trembling. "Alas, it must be that she couldn’t bear it any longer, and that’s why she finally erupted!" "Lady Feng is good in every way, except she is too gentle. She earns money to support a big group of people, yet her mother-in-law and that Mrs. Zhang even try to add more women to her husband." "Tut-tut, it’s only because Lady Feng is kind-hearted and easy to bully. If it were someone more fierce, regardless of any obligations or loyalty, she’d directly have those people thrown out!" "That’s right. But this Marchioness is strange too. She doesn’t care for her own daughter, yet treasures a concubine daughter or niece like jewels!" "It’s confusing to determine superiority and familiarity. If you didn’t know, you would really think she was a stepmother." Neighbors and onlookers discussed among themselves. None of them were the kind of noblewomen who understand subtlety or are accustomed to euphemisms; they were ordinary people who spoke frankly and directly. Though what they said might not sound pleasant, it was indeed reasonable and justified. Mrs. Zhang hadn’t realized that she was starting to "act like a shrew," but hearing these different opinions, she felt a blush of shame. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net Of even greater importance was He Tiantian’s question of whether the Eldest Miss was indeed her biological daughter! This question, like a heavy hammer, struck hard at Mrs. Zhang’s heart. How could I have forgotten about this matter? Yanting is about to take his examination, and if successful, he could become a Scholar. A twelve-year-old Scholar, that would be considered "rare" throughout the entire Dazhou Dynasty. If his birth secret is exposed now, causing the Saint to be enraged and the public to be shocked, let’s not even speak of the civil service examination, Yanting might not be able to save even his own life. "...I am just worried about Yuanniang, she is so young and has to serve a Noble. The Noble is naturally kind and loving, but Qingyun Temple is definitely not as comfortable as being at home, I, I—" Mrs. Zhang was so anxious that she broke into a sweat, and her speech was somewhat stammering. Nanny Zhao promptly arrived to take control of the situation, scolding He Tiantian without kindness, "Such a lack of decorum, how dare you talk back to the Madam?" "Besides, if the Madam is not the Eldest Miss’s biological mother, who is then? Is it you?" "As the real mother, the Madam cares about the Eldest Miss more than anyone else. If you don’t understand, then don’t make irresponsible remarks!" Nanny Zhao berated with a stern face but did not stop her feet, supporting Mrs. Zhang’s arm and quickly leading her back next door. He Tiantian did not continue to pursue aggressively, but her words had already planted seeds in the hearts of the people. Later on, even if Nanny Zhao reveals it and pushes the blame of "switching babies" onto Gu Xiuniang, it won’t completely clear Mrs. Zhang’s name. Saying Mrs. Zhang didn’t know about the "baby switching," and it was all Gu Xiuniang’s fault? Then, if Mrs. Zhang didn’t know Yuanniang wasn’t her biological daughter, why was she still so harsh toward her?! Or say Mrs. Zhang didn’t know at first but later realized the truth? Here comes the question again. Since she knew the truth, why didn’t she expose it? Isn’t it because she wanted to protect her own biological son, using the innocent Yuanniang as a shield?! Thinking from the point of view of a "shield," it’s certain that some would suspect that there might be more to the story of "baby switching." Mrs. Zhang would find herself dirtier the more she tried to clear her name, and she might even become the prime suspect behind everything. He Tiantian had worked hard for so long and laid so much groundwork, all in anticipation of the day when the "truth would come out." And that day did not take too long to arrive, as soon there was news from the Southwest— "Marquis Pingnan is not dead! He was gravely injured during battle and even suffered amnesia." "He’s been recuperating in the home of a mountain villager in the Southwest for years, trying to recover his memory." "By chance, seeing the Southwest Army battling the barbarian raiders triggered his memory of his identity." "Using the skills he learned in the mountains over the past few years, as well as the intelligence he gathered, he infiltrated several barbarian tribes alone, captured the leader, and returned to Border City..." Mrs. Zhang, hearing the rumors in the marketplace, was overjoyed, and she almost wished she could rush to Feng Yanting to tell him: Son, you’re my flesh and blood, and your real father has returned alive! It was Nanny Zhao who stopped her, for no other reason than Nanny Zhao had not yet come up with a reasonable excuse for the "baby switching"...