Chapter 49: The News of Zheng Family’s Swapped Child Was Conveyed by This Prince

Chapter 49: The News of Zheng Family's Swapped Child Was Conveyed by This Prince

Zheng Jinxiu stood frozen, unsure whether she should be delighted or not.

The two families were to become in-laws, but still, it was a bit odd for him to say this to her.

"Brother Yu, I..."

Xie Peiyu raised his hand again, silencing her before she could continue.

"Miss Zheng, refrain from addressing me in that manner from now on," the prince said sternly.

Zheng Jinxiu was taken aback.

"Back then, we were all young, and I was on good terms with your elder brother. It was acceptable for you to call me 'brother' as you followed your brother's lead. But things are different now. If the marriage alliance between the Xie and Zheng families remains unchanged, you would become my sister-in-law. Addressing me as 'brother' would be inappropriate and might invite ridicule from others."

Zheng Jinxiu stumbled, her face turning pale.

They truly had their sights set on Zheng Jinyu—why? Even if they intended to call off the engagement, why did it have to be replaced with Zheng Jinyu?

"Why... why is that?" She stammered out the question.

Xie Peiyu replied with a hint of confusion, "Hasn't my mother made it abundantly clear? Why doesn't Miss Zheng understand?"

"I... No, it's just that... Imperial Princess said so, could it be... could it be that Brother Yu...?"

"Miss Zheng," Xie Peiyu interrupted her sternly.

Zheng Jinxiu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly corrected herself, "Prince Chen."

Xie Peiyu's expression softened slightly.

Zheng Jinxiu took a deep breath and mustered the courage to inquire, "Prince Chen, we were betrothed since childhood. Throughout our lives, you've cared for me just as you did for my brothers. Could it be that because of our bloodlines, there's no possibility between us anymore?"

Xie Peiyu pressed his lips together, not responding, but his cold, stern expression clearly conveyed his rejection.

Zheng Jinxiu let out a bitter laugh. "But my grandmother, parents, and brothers don't mind my bloodline. Why do you have to make an issue of it?"

Xie Peiyu replied tepidly, "They don't mind because they're afraid of disgrace."

Zheng Jinxiu: "..."

"Moreover, I've raised you for fourteen years. People develop affection even for pets, let alone a human being. One more year, until you reach the age of maturity and can be married off. What difference does it make if you're biologically mine or not? We won't be living under the same roof for the next few decades anyway."

Upon hearing his words, Zheng Jinxiu's face grew increasingly pale.

Xie Peiyu continued, "This prince is different. Knowing the truth, I naturally have to cut my losses."

"Cutting your losses?" Zheng Jinxiu felt a mix of sadness and shock. "All our years of affection mean nothing now. In your eyes, that's what cutting your losses means."

"Miss Zheng, one may indulge in any food, but words must be chosen with care," Xie Peiyu spoke without any tact, his expression clearly indicating his anger. "There is no emotional bond between us, and at best, I regard you as Zheng Hongyan's foster sister."

Zheng Jinxiu, still in her teenage years, was deeply saddened by these words and broke into tears.

"You've only ever seen me as the sister of your friend. So all these years, it was I who misconstrued the situation. I refuse to believe that the Imperial Princess forced you into this."

Driven by emotion, she abruptly stood up from her chair and lunged towards Xie Peiyu.

Xie Peiyu swiftly rose to avoid her touch.

"Zheng Jinxiu, for the sake of your family, this prince doesn't wish to embarrass you too much. Don't push your luck," Prince Chen said sternly.

Zheng Jinxiu was devastated. "Why? Apart from my humble birth, I excel in every aspect befitting a lady of noble upbringing. Why do you reject me? Are the nobles and officials truly born with an innate superiority? Is bloodline that crucial?"

"Foolhardy," Xie Peiyu's face darkened as he glared at Zheng Jinxiu. "Zheng Jinxiu, you dare question the significance of noble bloodline before this prince? Do you intend to rebel?"

Zheng Jinxiu froze in fear, realizing her mistake. Those words might inspire commoners, but to royalty and aristocrats, they were seditious.

"I... Prince Chen, I didn't mean it that way. I spoke out of turn, I deserve punishment."

She was also quite ruthless with herself, slapping her face hard enough to make it instantly swell.

Raising her head, her tear-streaked, half-swollen face was on full display.

Xie Peiyu continued to look at her with an indifferent expression.

"Prince Chen, you don't want me not just because of my background, right? It's also because of Jinyu, isn't it? I know you sent her clothes. It's improper for you to do so, but you still did. You have your sights on her, don't you?"

"It has nothing to do with her. Even without her, this prince would never have considered marrying you."

He wouldn't disclose to her that the anonymous letter revealing the switched children in the Zheng household was sent by him.

It was precisely because he held no regard for Jinxiu from the Zheng family and sought an excuse to annul the engagement that he had dispatched someone to investigate Jinyu's background.

As for how he had suspected that Jinxiu might not be a true daughter of the Zhengs, it was due to some remarks made by Zheng Hongyan.

Two years ago, the martial arts master who had taught them received a son, and they both went to offer their congratulations. The child was covered in wrinkles, resembling a hairless monkey. He secretly ridiculed the child's appearance with Zheng Hongyan.

To his surprise, Zheng Hongyan commented that newborns were usually unattractive, but they would become lovely in a couple of days.

He shared that when his sister, Zheng Jinxiu, was born, she was even less appealing than this infant. However, by the third day, she had transformed into a beautiful child, as if she were an entirely different person, with fair and delicate skin.

At the time, he found the claim exaggerated. He believed in the saying that women undergo significant changes as they grow up, and he could accept the idea of someone becoming more attractive over months or a year. But for such a transformation to occur in just three days seemed implausible.

Yet, Zheng Hongyan was insistent that it was true, recounting how he had witnessed it himself. He also told the story of how, during their family's exile years ago, his mother, Lady Zheng, had given birth to a daughter while staying at a peasant family's home with the surname Fang.

Back then, the peasant family's wife had also given birth to a girl.

Xie Peiyu had a sudden thought then: Could they have been switched at birth?

Because Zheng Jinxiu, as well as the Zheng brothers and their parents, didn't resemble each other in the slightest.

With this notion in mind, he inquired about the events of that year with Zheng Hongyan, who treated the topic as a lighthearted anecdote to share.

It turned out that on the very day Zheng Jinxiu was born, the imperial amnesty decree was delivered to her father. The entire family was overjoyed at the prospect of returning to the capital, thus paying little attention to the newborn.

After making arrangements for his wife and children, Zheng's father set off for the capital city.

Madam Zheng's labor was so harrowing that she had flirted with death, leaving her oblivious to the appearance of her child.

Zheng Hongqi and Zheng Hongxu were far too young to comprehend the intricacies of their sister being switched; they merely perceived their sister's sudden transformation into a beauty.

Zheng Hongyan, on the other hand, did notice his sister's remarkable change in appearance. However, he was only a few years old himself and did not delve into the matter any further.

Thus, the legitimate daughter of the Zheng household was silently supplanted by another without anyone in the family realizing it.

Upon hearing this, a spark of resentment flickered within Zheng Jinxiu's heart.

She would rather endure the humiliation of a broken engagement than see Zheng Jinyu become her betrothed.

Zheng Jinxiu asked uncertainly, "Are you serious?"

Xie Peiyu, however, ignored her and simply said, "Send her away."

With that, he strode out the door.

Zheng Jinxiu's heart jolted, and she rushed forward like a madwoman.

"Hold on."

She positioned herself resolutely at the entrance, blocking Xie Peiyu's path.

Xie Peiyu looked at her with a cold gaze.

Zheng Jinxiu hurriedly spoke, "Brother Yu, let me call you that one last time. Considering our years of acquaintance and for the sake of our elder brother, please promise me that you won't marry Zheng Jinyu, would you?"

Xie Peiyu found her request utterly absurd, so much so that it provoked a mocking smile, "Doesn't this seem to have nothing to do with you?"