Chapter 402 Heartache

Chapter 402: Stabbed in the Heart

For sixteen years, Meng and her daughter had no contact with the Wu family at all.

It wasn't until half a year ago, when Ji Qingqing needed Ji Yuntang to take her place in the marriage, that Ji Nanchuan went back to the small mountain village to bring Ji Yuntang back.

Although Madam Meng hadn't gone with him, she knew that Ji Nanchuan had paid the Wu family silver both times—once when he sent Ji Yuntang away and again when he brought her back.

They had also verbally agreed not to bother or intrude upon the lives of Meng and Ji Qingqing.

Unexpectedly, after more than a decade of keeping to themselves, the Wu family had now come knocking on their door.

Madam Meng had observed carefully earlier—they hadn't come looking for Ji Yuntang at first, but rather tried to claim Ji Qingqing as their own daughter right in front of her.

The name "Yueyue" that the village woman had called out was undoubtedly the pet name she had given Ji Qingqing at birth!

In the presence of her biological parents, Madam Meng felt as though she was missing something—not love, but the bond of blood.

And that bond was something she and Ji Qingqing simply didn't have.

She'd be lying if she said it didn't bother her.

Madam Meng couldn't accept that the daughter she had worked so hard to raise would go and claim other people as her parents.

Even if they were blood-related, it was unacceptable!

With that thought, Madam Meng grabbed Ji Qingqing's hand firmly and pulled her aside, lowering her voice to question her.

"Qingqing, do you know who they are? How could you agree to let them into the marquis's residence?"

"If this gets out, do you still want to be the Crown Princess?"

As Madam Meng said these words, her heart was pounding with uncertainty.

Because she didn't know Ji Qingqing's true intentions.

Although she felt she understood her daughter well enough, she still couldn't be certain whether Ji Qingqing would side with her biological parents.

After all, family bonds were something that couldn't be severed no matter how messy.

Not everyone could be like the Yongning Marquis's residence, which without hesitation sent away their biological daughter and cut ties with Ji Yuntang.

To outsiders, they might seem heartless.

But who knew that Ji Yuntang was a curse to their entire family?

If they hadn't sent her away, the Yongning Marquis's residence would probably have been destroyed at Ji Yuntang's hands.

Ji Qingqing knew Madam Meng's worries, and she gave her a smile that only the two of them could understand.

"Don't worry, Mother, your daughter knows what she's doing."

"I'm not foolish enough to give up being the legitimate daughter of the marquis's residence and the Crown Princess to claim two country bumpkins as parents and ruin my own future."

She paused here, then suddenly leaned close to Madam Meng's ear and whispered one more thing.

"Mother, if I don't trick them into the residence, how can I kill them to keep them quiet?"

Madam Meng's whole body jolted, her eyes widening as she stared at Ji Qingqing.

It seemed she hadn't expected such words to come from the mouth of her obedient and well-behaved daughter.

They were her biological parents, and Ji Qingqing actually wanted to kill them and be done with it.

But—serves them right!

They had ignored her for sixteen years, and now they wanted to take their daughter back? What was their game?

These people staying here were a threat not just to Ji Qingqing, but to the entire Yongning Marquis's residence.

Madam Meng didn't dare imagine—if the Crown Prince were to learn that the woman he was going to marry was not the legitimate daughter of the marquis's residence, but an adopted daughter with no blood relation to them at all—how would he react?

It would be the end of the marquis's residence!

Madam Meng patted Ji Qingqing's hand, a sinister look in her eyes. "Qingqing, since you've made up your mind, then go ahead and do what you think is best!"

"Don't worry, your mother will handle the aftermath and make sure everything is dealt with thoroughly without raising any suspicion."

Ji Qingqing smirked. "Thank you, Mother. I know what to do."

Madam Meng didn't think Ji Qingqing was wrong. As a future Crown Princess, without a few dirty tricks up her sleeve, how could she hold her own in the Eastern Palace?

Ji Qingqing didn't think she was wrong either. They had been minding their own business, but who told these country bumpkins to come knocking on their own door?

They brought this on themselves.

After exchanging knowing smiles, the two walked over calmly to Wu Jinxi's family.

Ji Qingqing's eyes curved slightly with a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

She said softly, "It's getting late. Why don't you all come into the residence with us first? I'll have someone arrange two guest rooms for you, so you can rest and have a meal. We can discuss everything tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Wu Chaoyang stopped crying. He ran over with heavy footsteps and hugged Ji Qingqing around the waist again.

"Great! Second sister accepted me! I'm going to become a young master of an official soon!"

A flicker of disgust flashed in Ji Qingqing's eyes, but she didn't push him away, instead letting him rub against her.

This annoying brat was going to die soon anyway—letting him hug her for a while was no big deal. Worst case scenario, she'd just throw away this dress!

Seeing that Ji Qingqing had agreed to let them into the residence, Wu Jinxi's family lit up with smiles.

Chen Huaxiu immediately went to the tarp-covered carriage to start hauling out their luggage.

The tarp-covered carriage was one they had specially rented. She had brought a lot of things—not just their everyday clothes and a kang table, but even pots, pans, bowls, and dishes. It was as if they were moving their entire household.

In no time, Wu Jinxi, Chen Huaxiu, and Wu Shijie had their arms full of luggage, with even more stacked on the ground.

Chen Huaxiu felt a bit embarrassed. She had thought the family wouldn't be accepted by Ji Qingqing so easily, so she had brought their entire home, preparing for a long battle.

But unexpectedly, Ji Qingqing had accepted them so easily and even let them stay inside the marquis's residence.

Now, she couldn't stand to throw any of it away.

Chen Huaxiu put on a fawning smile as she looked at Ji Qingqing.

"Yueyue, there's too much stuff here—we can't carry it all in by ourselves. Could you send a few servants to help?"

"What kind of help? Yours truly just happens to be free, so I can lend a hand."

Hua Feixue, clad in a fiery red robe, stepped out from the door. Her brows arched slightly, and a flirtatious smile that could charm anyone hung on her face, as beautiful as a peach blossom.

After taking a clear look at the people outside, she furrowed her brow in puzzlement and asked, "Huh, who are they? What are you all doing here?"

Madam Meng was on the verge of snapping at Hua Feixue and telling her to get back inside when Ji Qingqing hastily explained, "They are the parents and brother of the eldest sister, here at the Marquis's residence to find her."

Hua Feixue suddenly had a lightbulb moment, and with a half-smile, she said, "Oh~ so they are the rural parents of Princess Ye. Well, well, my bad, my bad."

With that, she walked over to Chen Huaxiu's side, her bright red lips curling up slightly.

"But I heard from the Second Young Master that Princess Ye is the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis's household, left outside. So, this auntie must be the birth mother who once had a one-night stand with the Marquis and secretly gave birth to Princess Ye!"

After saying this, she immediately placed her hand over her mouth, feigning a cover-up while actually asking in a loud voice.

"Auntie, could you tell me how you managed to sneak into the Marquis's bed back then?"

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