Chapter 541 Everywhere Looks Like My Granddaughter!

Chapter 541: She’s Just Like My Granddaughter in Every Way!

Since the Dowager Duchess of Xinguo had already regained consciousness, Xingxing no longer needed to stay by her side at all times.

She only needed to remain nearby and visit the Dowager Duchess daily.

Thus, Matron Qingluan hastily arranged for another guest room next door to be prepared, earnestly requesting Xingxing to stay a few more days.

Xingxing naturally agreed.

Overjoyed, Matron Qingluan muttered grateful prayers.

Xingxing slept peacefully through the night, but some people tossed and turned, unable to sleep at all.

For example, Yu Mingzhu knelt in the ancestral hall, unable to rest.

Since the order had been given by the elderly Duke of Xinguo himself, neither Jiao Shi nor Yu Shanglian dared to defy it, no matter how reluctant they were. Jiao Shi could only send over a cushion, a thick cloak, a charcoal brazier, and some warm food to make Yu Mingzhu’s kneeling more bearable at night.

But Yu Mingzhu had been pampered since childhood, the spoiled darling of the Duke’s household—how could she handle this?

After just half an hour of kneeling, she fainted once.

When Yu Mingzhu’s maid tried to leave and inform Jiao Shi, she was stopped by the guards the Duke had stationed at the ancestral hall: "The Duke has ordered that Miss Yu must remain in the ancestral hall for three full days."

In the end, Yu Mingzhu came to and resumed kneeling.

Among those who couldn’t sleep were also Yu Mingzhu’s parents.

Too much had happened that day, leaving Jiao Shi and Yu Shanglian utterly drained. On one hand, the beloved daughter they had doted on for over a decade might not be their biological child; on the other, there were years of shared love. Jiao Shi's heart felt torn in two, and she writhed in anguish, unable to sleep.

Yu Shanglian, her father, felt the same.

Aside from Yu Mingzhu and her parents, her two elder brothers also lay awake.

The third brother was currently away from the estate, traveling with his teacher, unaware of the situation—so that was understandable. But Yu Chongjie, the eldest, had watched Yu Mingzhu grow up. Back then, all his younger siblings were bothersome brothers, making Yu Mingzhu his only sister—beautiful, affectionate, and considerate. Yu Chongjie had always adored her dearly.

Yu Chongjie tossed and turned in bed, while his wife, Mao Fuqu, lay awake, staring at the canopy above.

When Yu Chongjie suddenly realized Mao Fuqu was also awake, he froze. "Fuqu, why aren’t you asleep either?"

Mao Fuqu gazed at the canopy and replied slowly, "I was thinking about how, after I lost the baby, you weren’t this troubled—so much so that you couldn’t sleep all night."

Yu Chongjie flushed red, turning to embrace Mao Fuqu. "It’s different, Fuqu..."

Mao Fuqu pushed him away and sat up at the edge of the bed, smiling bitterly. "Of course it’s different. That was the child I had longed for for three years. How could it compare to your beloved younger sister, whom you’ve adored her whole life, kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment for offending a benefactor?"

Her words struck Yu Chongjie like a dagger to the heart. His heart ached as he reached for Mao Fuqu again. "No, Fuqu, listen to me—we can have another child in the future..."

Mao Fuqu gave another sorrowful smile. "Yes, your mother will soon assign you another concubine, won’t she? In the future, you’ll have many children. You might even pass them off as mine. Of course, we’ll have more children."

As Yu Chongjie held Mao Fuqu, he suddenly realized how much thinner his wife had become recently...

His heart ached, and thoughts of Yu Mingzhu kneeling in the ancestral hall faded away. He held Mao Fuqu tightly, whispering comforts.

Yu Mingzhu’s second brother, Yu Chongen, also lay awake.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Wei Shuangyan.

Back when their engagement was still unspoken but understood, though his attitude toward Wei Shuangyan hadn’t been affectionate, he had truly seen her as his bride-to-be.

But now, out of nowhere, everything had changed—he would never be able to marry Wei Shuangyan, and the cause of this outcome was merely the jealousy of some maid he could barely recall. How was Yu Chongen supposed to accept this?

Moreover, his sister had been spoiled rotten since she was little. He wondered if her knees hurt from kneeling on the cold, hard floor of the ancestral hall, if she was frightened, or freezing.

Part of Yu Chongen was heartbroken for himself and Wei Shuangyan, while the other part worried for Yu Mingzhu. It was nearly dawn by the time he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Xingxing was blissfully unaware of all this drama.

She had slept soundly in a cocoon of fancy bedding. Shortly after waking in the morning, maids from the Duke of Xinguo’s household came streaming in, carrying warm water, soft towels, rinsing basins, and other items to help Xingxing wash and dress.

Xingxing wasn’t big on being waited on hand and foot, but seeing the maids serving her with bright, cheerful smiles, she bit back her protests and decided to go with the flow.

The head maid had a cheerful, round face and smiled warmly as she combed Xingxing’s hair. "Township Lady, our Dowager Duchess has already risen. Breakfast is being served next door, and she invites you to join her."

Xingxing said, "Oh," then added, "Alright, I’ll go over once my hair is done."

The round-faced maid couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a giggle.

Xingxing glanced at her through the bronze mirror. "What’s so funny?"

The maid replied, "Nanny Qingluan told us that the Township Lady was the sweetest thing and not to be afraid, just to serve you wholeheartedly. We’re so grateful to you, Township Lady. You saved the Dowager Duchess, so you’re our great benefactor too. That’s why we can’t help but smile when we see you."

The other maids attending nearby chimed in with agreement.

Xingxing rubbed her cheek, feeling a little embarrassed.

From last night until now, she’d been thanked up one side and down the other—far too many times, really.

But she truly felt she hadn’t done anything special!

After washing up, Xingxing headed to the neighboring room.

To her surprise, the old Duke was there too.

Xingxing greeted the elderly couple.

The old Duke’s expression was complicated—the more perfect she seemed, the more she reminded him of his own granddaughter!

It actually worried him. What if, in the end, it turned out Xingxing wasn’t actually their family’s child? What would they do then?

After a night’s rest, the Dowager Duchess, though still unsteady, was able to get up and was being helped to the table by Nanny Qingluan.

When the Dowager Duchess saw Xingxing, her heart warmed immediately, and she beckoned her over.

Xingxing obediently agreed and took a seat right beside the Dowager Duchess.

The old Duke sat on the other side of the round table, sneaking peeks at Xingxing during the meal.

When Xingxing picked up a shaomai, the old Duke lit up—*I love shaomai too! This child takes after me!*

When Xingxing barely touched the sweet tofu pudding, the old Duke was excited—*Just like her grandmother, she doesn’t like sweet tofu pudding either!*

When Xingxing ate her dumplings in small, delicate bites, the old Duke was overjoyed—*This also resembles her grandmother, eating so elegantly!*

In short, everything about her just screamed that she was one of their Yu family!

—At this thought, the old Duke almost slapped his knee in delight. Xingxing’s surname was *Yu*, and so was theirs. Wasn’t this a sign from the heavens that she was truly their own granddaughter?