Chapter 696 To let you live a good life

Chapter 696: For Your Better Future

Zou Wan Shi's eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke with trembling excitement, "My child, I'm your real mother!"

Even though Yu Mingzhu had vaguely anticipated this, the words hit her like a thunderbolt. Instinctively, she snapped, "Lies!"

Zou Wan Shi hurriedly defended herself, "I'm not lying! You're my own flesh and blood! Back then, I wanted you to have a better life, to escape the shame of being a merchant's daughter. I spent a fortune and, with a heavy heart, arranged for you to be swapped with a nobleman's daughter... Child, I really am your birth mother!"

Deep down, Yu Mingzhu had sensed this might be true. She had followed the woman to this private room precisely because she feared Zou Wan Shi might recklessly declare their kinship in public, stripping away her last shred of dignity.

Yet, knowing it and accepting it were two different things. Yu Mingzhu couldn't bear the thought that her real mother was this aged, calculating, crass, money-obsessed woman!

Her face paled as she vehemently denied it, "Who do you think you are?! I am the daughter of the Duke of Xinguo's household! Don’t think you can make up such outrageous lies just to climb the social ladder!"

Zou Wan Shi wasn’t surprised by Yu Mingzhu’s resistance. Wiping her tears, she said, "My dear child, I just wanted to see you. It’s fine if you don’t believe me... Earlier, with so many people around, I couldn’t speak plainly. I only mentioned the birthmark by your arm, but in truth, you were born with one on your inner thigh. Such a private mark—how would anyone else know of it if not for me? If you still doubt me..."

She pulled a dagger from her sleeve and gazed earnestly at Yu Mingzhu, "If need be, we can test our blood to confirm."

Yu Mingzhu reeled back two steps, her shock at least half-real!

But what truly stunned her was that Zou Wan Shi indeed knew about the intimate birthmark. Coupled with the blood test, she had no choice but to acknowledge the truth!

Her expression shifted, disbelief flashed across her face as she trembled slightly, as if struck by a devastating blow. "You mean... no, are you saying... you really are my..."

She couldn’t finish, but Zou Wan Shi nodded eagerly, beaming with joy. "Yes, my dear child, I am your real mother!... Don’t worry, I won’t upend your life now. Your father and I have missed you for over a decade. We finally came to the capital just to see how you’re doing..."

Yu Mingzhu felt a flicker of relief.

At least, in this misfortune, her birth mother wasn’t foolish enough to demand she return to her "real" family.

Still, she seized on a key point in Zou Wan Shi’s words. "What do you mean by 'finally came to the capital'?"

Not wanting Yu Mingzhu to know how destitute they had been—scraping by on relatives' pity—Zou Wan Shi’s eyes shifted as she spoke gently. "...We were living in our ancestral home, but your father and I couldn’t stop thinking of you. So, we decided to move the whole family back to the capital. Rest assured, we’re not here to mooch off you. Our Zou family has opened a shop in the capital—we have property now. Your father and I just wanted to be closer to you... My dear, you must understand, we gave you up back then for your future. What prospects could a merchant’s daughter have compared to being the Duke of Xinguo’s precious daughter? Isn’t that right?"

Yu Mingzhu felt a cold laugh rise in her throat.

If not for them, she wouldn’t have spent over a decade in luxury only to discover she was an imposter!

And now they spoke of "prospects"!

No matter how much she loathed and resented them inwardly, her face remained shell-shocked. "...I need time to take this in."

Zou Wan Shi was all understanding. "Of course, my dear. I know this is hard to accept. But don’t worry, your father and I know better. We won’t ruin your life now—we just wanted to see you, nothing more. Knowing you’re well is enough for us."

Yu Mingzhu stayed silent.

After a long pause, she spoke with visible difficulty, "Then... what happened to the child who was swapped in my place?"

Her eyes remained fixed on Zou Wan Shi’s expression as she asked.

A twinge of guilt crossed Zou Wan Shi’s face.

She coughed. "...That child... is no longer with us."

"Gone? How?" Yu Mingzhu’s heart stirred as she pressed, "You must tell me everything, so I know the truth... Otherwise, how can I face my mother?"

Her eyes lowered, feigning sorrow.

Zou Wan Shi hesitated before mumbling, "...At first, the other family took the child, but back then, the authorities were cracking down hard on kidnappers. They couldn’t keep her, so they returned her to us... About ten years ago, when we left the capital for our hometown, we brought her along. But... we encountered river bandits during the journey. The child fell into the water and... vanished without a trace..."

Yu Mingzhu nearly laughed out loud!

Ten years ago, if that child was about her age, they would have been only three or four years old.

A three or four-year-old child falling into the raging river, vanished without a trace—how splendid! How perfect!

From then on, she would never have to worry about someone suddenly appearing to tear away her identity as the Duke of Xinguo's treasured daughter!

Yu Mingzhu was so overjoyed she briefly forgot to hide it.

Zou Wan Shi gaped at her, speechless.

Yu Mingzhu quickly schooled her features, lowering her eyes. "...My mother would surely be heartbroken if she found out."

Zou Wan Shi didn’t suspect Yu Mingzhu but instead doubted whether she had misread her expression. Hearing Yu Mingzhu’s words, she immediately said, "The Duchess Consort has raised you all these years. Out of love and duty, you should continue to be filial to her. It’s best not to tell her about this."

Yu Mingzhu scorned silently. As if she needed to be told that!

On the surface, she put on a mournful face and sighed as well, as if genuinely grieving.

In the silence that followed, Zou Wan Shi studied Yu Mingzhu hungrily.

There was no denying it—the Duke of Xinguo’s household had raised her daughter to be exquisitely cultivated. Look at that porcelain-perfect skin, surely tended daily with the rarest pearl creams.

And the hair ornaments, the clothes she wore—though tastefully simple, Zou Wan Shi could tell at a glance that these were all extremely rare and precious items from the market!

Zou Wan Shi devoured the sight covetously.

She knew she couldn’t rashly make any demands now, or her daughter would only grow more distant.

What she needed to do now was forge a bond with her biological daughter. In a couple of years, when her daughter married into the Fourth Prince’s household and became the Fourth Prince Consort, they would then be the in-laws of the Fourth Prince. Wouldn't wealth and glory follow naturally then?

The more Zou Wan Shi looked at Yu Mingzhu, the more satisfied she became.

Yu Mingzhu, meeting Zou Wan Shi’s gaze, was only more repulsed. She seethed silently but maintained a calm expression as she spoke: "You... tell me about our family?"

Though this woman kept insisting she wouldn’t disrupt her life, Yu Mingzhu wasn’t foolish. If the woman truly had no hidden agenda, why would she boldly come claiming blood ties?

What she needed now was to first understand the other party’s circumstances before making plans.

If necessary...

A glint of cold calculation crossed Yu Mingzhu’s eyes.

Zou Wan Shi didn’t notice, mistaking Yu Mingzhu’s inquiry for concern for her family. She replied cheerfully, "Our family is quite simple. Your grandmother’s health is failing, but her spirits are good. Your father is preparing to return to his former merchant trade. You have three older sisters—the eldest and second sisters married back in our hometown and didn’t come to the capital. There’s also your Third Sister, two years older than you, already awaiting marriage. Besides that, there are two younger brothers..."

Pausing, Zou Wan Shi emphasized, "When you were born, it wasn’t a single birth—you had a twin brother named Ming Lei."

With a hint of pride, she added, "I heard the Duke of Xinguo named you Mingzhu, so I deliberately made sure your brother's name complemented yours. Do you like it?"

Yu Mingzhu was utterly revolted.

Like it?!

She had never even met that so-called brother—what was there to like?!

The sudden revelation of a twin brother only filled her with disgust!

Zou Wan Shi didn't notice Yu Mingzhu's disgust and continued to prattle on, "Ming Lei is extremely clever. Later, we'll find a good academy in the capital for him to study at. Who knows, you might even have a top-ranking scholar for a brother in the future!"

Yu Mingzhu thought with disdain, As if I care!

The brothers in the Duke of Xinguo’s estate were all far better than that so-called Ming Lei!

"You also have a younger brother, just six years old this year, but his health isn't good. He needs medicine all year round." Zou Wan Shi sighed, thinking of her youngest son.

This child had been a miracle child. After returning to their hometown from the capital, none of the concubines in the Zou family—nor she, the principal wife—had conceived. Later, she prayed to the gods and endured countless bitter medicines before finally conceiving this one. The pregnancy itself was beset with complications, and the child born was sickly, further burdening the already struggling and financially strained Zou family.

As she spoke, a flicker of hatred crossed Zou Wan Shi's eyes. "To be honest, your father and I both think it's because of that cursed star—"

"Cursed star?"

Yu Mingzhu instinctively asked.

Lately, she had heard many rumors, some even insinuating that her presence as an imposter daughter had brought misfortune, with every calamity in the Duke of Xinguo's household somehow linked to her.

Unaware of Yu Mingzhu's thoughts, Zou Wan Shi hissed venomously, "Exactly! After we sent you away, that accursed girl came to our family, and ever since then, our luck turned sour. You wouldn’t know, but back then, our family was among the wealthiest in the capital... It was all because of that cursed girl that we fell into ruin. When you think about it, Duke of Xinguo's household should be thanking us. We took their cursed star away and gave them our little lucky star instead!"

This sentiment pleased Yu Mingzhu, and she allowed herself a sly smile.

"Alright, she's gone now. No need to speak like that," Yu Mingzhu pretended to chide.

Zou Wan Shi, unsuspecting, praised, "Our Ming Zhu is truly merciful as Guanyin."

Having learned what she wanted, Yu Mingzhu finally asked for the Zou family's current address before reluctantly saying, "...I’ve been out for a while now. I should return. Don’t seek me out in the future—I don’t want my mother to find out and be upset. If I have the chance, I’ll visit you at the Zou residence."

Hearing Yu Mingzhu repeatedly refer to "my mother," Zou Wan Shi felt a stab of jealousy, but she understood. After all, no one could immediately accept that the mother they’d called their own for over a decade wasn’t their birth mother.

Zou Wan Shi fawned, "Of course, Ming Zhu. Just knowing you’re aware of this is enough for us. Your father and I only want the best for you and won’t disturb you. But if you ever have time to visit, that would be even better."

Yu Mingzhu veiled her revulsion with a faint "Mm."

Finally, Yu Mingzhu and Zou Wan Shi left the private room one after the other.

Yu Mingzhu rode off in her carriage, while Zou Pingping, who had been hiding around the street corner, strained her neck stiff from peering, staring enviously at the carriage for a long while before noticing her mother Zou Wan Shi sneaking out of the restaurant with a face lit with triumph.

"Mother!"

Zou Pingping rushed over, scrutinizing her. "What did you talk about with that noble lady just now?"

Startled, Zou Wan Shi relaxed upon seeing it was her third daughter, Zou Pingping, and raised a hand as if to swat her. "You brat, you scared me half to death!"

Zou Pingping persisted, "Mother, what did you talk about? Why does that noble lady bear a resemblance to Eldest Brother? Is she also a relative of ours?"

The moment she finished, Zou Wan Shi hastily covered her mouth. "Keep your voice down!"

Zou Wan Shi had no intention of sharing this with her third daughter. In her eyes, Zou Pingping would soon marry out and become an outsider. Such a secret couldn’t be entrusted to an outsider!

"I just thought that young lady looked familiar and stopped her for a chat when I had a spell of dizziness," Zou Wan Shi lied, clearly unwilling to elaborate. She changed the subject, "Enough of that. Didn’t you say you wanted soy-braised duck earlier? Come on, I’ll buy you one, so you can’t complain that I only dote on your brothers and not you."

Zou Pingping narrowed her eyes. Seeing her mother clamming up and unwilling to reveal anything, she snorted, deciding to investigate on her own.

She had a strong feeling—this seemed like an earth-shattering secret.

If she knew this secret, her life would be completely different!

Upon returning to the Zou residence, Zou Pingping's eyes lit up, and she went to find Zou Minglei.

Zou Minglei was in his room reading a "forbidden book" with a disguised cover. When Zou Pingping barged in, he hastily stuffed the book under his bedding and complained irritably, "Third Sister, don’t you know how to knock?"

Zou Pingping curled her lip but quickly forced a smile. "Big bro, today I saw a very beautiful and extravagantly dressed Miss Cen outside. Strangely enough, she looked kinda like you."

After a pause, she added, "More than I do. Heck, people might even think she was your real sister!"