Chapter 411 No Nurture, No Loyalty

Chapter 411: No Nurture, No Gratitude

Chen Huaxiu recalled that scene from years ago. At that time, Ji Yuntang had just turned ten. All she could do was cry and beg her mother not to sell her, saying she was willing to do any work and endure any hardship.

She had also said that once she earned money in the future, she would repay the Wu family.

Who would've thought this was how that worthless girl repaid her?

At this thought, a wave of inexplicable anger surged in Chen Huaxiu's chest. She felt like Ji Yuntang had gotten back at her!

"Ji Yuntang, I am your mother. Everything a mother says is for your own good, not to hurt you. I just said it in passing—I never actually asked you for the money to extend my life. Are you going to hold this against me forever?

"Even animals on the ground know to repay the kindness of those who raised them. You're a prince's wife now—surely you understand this principle as well?"

Ji Yuntang let out a sudden cold laugh. "Repaying kindness? Without nurture, where's the gratitude?"

She turned away coldly. "I never understood why you only loved Wu Shijie and Wu Chaoyang, but not me. I thought it was because your family preferred sons over daughters, so I got the short end of the stick."

"Later, I found out I was never your real daughter at all. Your real daughter took my place as the marquis manor's legitimate eldest daughter for sixteen years, stealing my life and my family."

"Now she's gotten what she wanted—she's the Crown Princess. If I'm not wrong, you didn't come to the capital to see me this time, did you?"

Chen Huaxiu was so shocked she stepped back. Staring at Ji Yuntang, she stammered, "D-don't talk nonsense! Second Miss Ji is not our daughter—she's the marquis manor's legitimate daughter."

"You're the daughter I carried for ten months and birthed. The reason we didn't like you is that you were too ugly as a kid—that face of yours was scary."

A flicker of disgust flashed through Ji Yuntang's eyes, but then she turned and smiled.

"But from what I hear, last night at the marquis manor's gates, in front of Madam Meng and Ji Qingqing, you said you were my foster mother?"

"How about we call them over to confirm whether you actually said that?"

"If that's not enough, I can have Ji Qingqing do a public blood test with you to see who your real daughter is."

"No, no blood test..." Chen Huaxiu was so scared she couldn't even speak clearly. She remembered the question Ji Qingqing had asked her when they met last night.

"Are you trying to ruin me?"

She had said: "I worked so hard to get everything I have now—to become the Crown Princess. If you acknowledge me as your daughter now, everything I've gained will be gone."

"The Crown Prince married me because I'm the marquis manor's legitimate daughter. If he found out I'm actually that lowly village girl, do you think he'd still marry me?"

"As my family, even if you won't think about what's best for me, you shouldn't ruin my life either, right?"

Chen Huaxiu thought it over for a long time and decided they shouldn't rush things!

Ji Qingqing's position as Crown Princess wasn't stable yet, and revealing their relationship too early would only hurt her.

At the very least, she had to wait until Ji Qingqing married the Crown Prince before making her next move.

And for now, all she needed to do was stay in the capital and wait for Ji Qingqing's grand wedding.

With that in mind, Chen Huaxiu's tone softened a lot. She said to Ji Yuntang, "Yun Tang, it's all Mother's fault. I shouldn't have blamed you or scolded you. Don't be mad at me."

"We're family—even broken bones stay connected by tendons. Mother knows marrying a man like this wasn't your choice either. You haven't had it easy all these years. Deep down, Mother really does feel for you."

Ji Yuntang laughed coldly inside but didn't let it show. She pretended to be touched and said, "I'm glad my foster mother understands me."

"So, are you willing to help me take care of my husband now?"

A fake smile spread across Chen Huaxiu's face. "Willing, of course I'm willing. I can't wait for your husband to get better so you two can have kids together."

She felt Ji Yuntang had changed—and changed a lot.

Before, she could easily fool the girl with a few words. Now, she'd clearly gotten smarter and wasn't so easy to trick!

After wasting so much breath on her, she hadn't gotten anything out of it.

Chen Huaxiu couldn't understand how someone could change so much in such a short time.

Just then, Ji Yuntang shoved a copper basin into her hands.

"Foster mother, my husband's about to cough up blood again. Take this basin and go catch it inside!"

Before Chen Huaxiu could react, Ji Yuntang had already pushed her into the room.

Luo Junhe lay in bed, looking like he was on the verge of death. Half his face was completely rotted, his arms were covered in knife and sword scars, and even his neck had a large burn mark.

The whole room was filled with a pungent, nasty smell.

Chen Huaxiu couldn't understand why a man like this didn't just drop dead already.

Why did he have to keep living and hurting people?

Even though she'd already seen Luo Junhe once, she still wanted to run the second time she saw him.

Just as she thought this, she actually turned to leave—but Ji Yuntang blocked her at the door.

"Foster mother, hurry up and catch it! Where are you going?"

Before Chen Huaxiu could say anything, Luo Junhe spat out a mouthful of blood.

Then, she witnessed the most shocking scene of her life.

Blood poured endlessly from the man's mouth, splattering all over the bed and the floor.

Under Ji Yuntang's stare, Chen Huaxiu had no choice but to reluctantly hold the basin up to catch it.

But she stretched her arms out as far as she could, terrified Luo Junhe might vomit blood on her new clothes.

Despite her efforts, she still ended up covered in his blood.

Ji Yuntang stood nearby, looking sorrowful. "My foster mother doesn't know this, but my husband went to war at just twelve—fighting the Xiongnu in the south and the Liao troops in the north, earning great merit for the Dongchen Kingdom. Yet villains harmed him into this state, leaving him with a body full of disabilities."

"His father the Emperor and his mother the Consort don't care if he lives or dies, his sister wishes he were dead, and the other princes mock him. Now, I'm all he has left!"

"I've taken care of him for six whole months—carrying his bedpan, cooking his meals, washing his clothes, and feeding him medicine. I've done every dirty, tiring job there is."

Ji Yuntang said, then added cheerfully: "Now that my foster mother is here, I can finally get some rest!"

Chen Huaxiu's hand trembled. This wretched girl actually wanted her to carry the bedpan for this prince?

As if!

"Doesn't the Prince Ye manor have servants? Why not have them attend to him?"

Ji Yuntang let out a cold snort. "Hmph, servants can't be as careful as you, Mother. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it to them."

Chen Huaxiu's mouth twitched, and a troubled look came over her face. She turned and pulled Ji Yuntang aside, whispering:

"Yun Tang, Mother's going to say something harsh—your husband is already in this state. You'd better give up on him while you still can!"

------------