Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Shen Qinglan was willing to follow Han Zhang back to the countryside, partly out of the principle that a wife follows her husband.

But more than that, the Han family truly knew how to handle people—everyone, young and old, had a silver tongue, and each time they managed to make him forget the muddy village surroundings and simply enjoy himself.

The matter of Fifth Aunt was urgent, but it could wait for the time being.

Han Zhang patiently kept his grandparents company, chatting about his studies at the Imperial Academy, about his life with Shen Qinglan, and asking after the family's affairs in the village. After a warm family dinner together, he closed the door, gathered the elders in the main hall, and brought up the matter of Fifth Aunt.

After hearing the full story from beginning to end, Grandma Han burst into tears on the spot, pounding her chest and wailing: "My poor child... that damned Liu family woman, how could she treat my daughter like this!"

"The Liu family, that Liu family..."

Grandpa Han was likewise so furious his vision went dark, his breathing labored, barely able to form words.

He never imagined his family would face something like this!

They had even traveled and seen the world in their youth, considering themselves perceptive and astute—yet their own daughter had been swapped right under their noses without them knowing.

They had failed their fifth child. They had failed their fifth child!

Han Zhang's father, Second Uncle Han, and Third Uncle were also so angry that veins bulged on their foreheads: "No wonder Mother ate and slept well during pregnancy, and the physician always said the baby was healthy—saying she should have been born strong—yet she came out a sickly child..."

"That midwife Liu claimed it was a difficult birth that caused it, making Mother blame herself all these years for birthing a weak daughter. So she's the one who swapped the babies!"

"No wonder, despite being of the Han family and receiving the same upbringing, Fifth Sister never straightened out—she only knew how to come back to the family demanding money and making scenes..."

"So she knew all along she wasn't our real kin. She was deliberately tormenting us, treating the Han family like her own personal granary to plunder, the rat!"

You have to understand that Grandfather and Grandmother Han had five children total—three sons and two daughters.

Why did they dote on Han Zhenzhen more than anyone?

Because Han Zhenzhen was born frail, and as the youngest sister, her parents and siblings naturally spoiled her.

That the current Han Zhenzhen could bounce around with boundless energy and come back to the family making trouble was all because of the Han family's careful nurturing and the money spent raising her.

Shangpo Village and Liujia Village were not far apart.

Liu's mother could easily find out about Han Zhenzhen's good life at the Han household with a little inquiry. Yet knowing the truth, she still treated Xiang Lian so cruelly—this wasn't a matter of having no choice; this was pure malice!

Han Zhenzhen truly was Liu's mother's biological daughter—also an ungrateful wretch!

In the main hall, the Han family was so furious they could kill.

Fortunately, Shen Qinglan had thought ahead and prepared a physician, calling someone in to administer acupuncture before Grandfather and Grandmother Han could faint from rage.

After everyone's emotions had settled somewhat, Han Zhang continued: "Grandfather, Grandmother, don't ruin your health over this. We will definitely get justice for this, but it's not worth harming yourselves over people like them. What matters most now is Fifth Aunt."

"Back then, Fifth Aunt was sold by the Liu family and, through a twist of fate, entered the Dingbei Earl's household. She is now the only concubine in Earl Kang's household, and the Earl treats her very well—even naming the son she bore as the heir."

"Fifth Aunt's life is stable now. As for acknowledging the kinship... we must think this over carefully."

Although the baby-swapping was a deliberate scheme by the Liu family's wife and couldn't be blamed on the Han family, still, the Han family had failed to notice their child being swapped right under their noses—that was their own negligence. The harm Fifth Aunt suffered was real and could not be dismissed with a mere "unintentional mistake."

The Han family wanted to reconnect with her and make amends.

But does Fifth Aunt have to accept it?

She was now living a happy and fulfilling life. If the Han family showed up out of nowhere, they would seem like poor relatives seeking favors, inviting nothing but suspicion.

Han Zhang's father, Second Uncle Han, and Third Uncle could only look to Grandfather and Grandmother Han, hesitating: "Father, Mother, what do you think we should do? That... that's an Earl's household."

Their little sister truly was a member of the Han family—to rise so far despite such circumstances, and to get the Earl to name her son as heir. That was truly something.

Though the Han family was poor, they had grand ambitions and knew a thing or two about noble ranks and official positions.

But it was exactly because they understood that they hesitated and worried.

The room fell silent for a long while.

Grandpa Han took a slow drag from his pipe, white smoke blurring the deep wrinkles on his forehead, and sighed:

"We have wronged Fifth Girl. Whether to recognize us as family should be her decision. Big Brother, find a chance to visit the Dingbei Earl's household and ask your Fifth Aunt what she thinks."

"If Fifth Girl is willing to recognize us, then we'll take the Liu family matter to court. If Fifth Girl doesn't wish to recognize us, then this score... we'll settle it privately."

When he spoke the last sentence, a fierce look flashed in Grandpa Han's eyes.

In his youth, he had suffered the loss of his family, weathered war, fled famine, traveled north and south, and braved the eastern passes...

Now he farmed the land honestly because life was stable—not because he was too old to wield a blade.

The Liu family dared to treat his daughter like this and play the Han family for fools—how could he let it go!

"We'll do as Father says."

The rest of the Han family had no objections.

Han Zhang also thought this was a good approach. Though he wanted the Kang family's influence and power, both sides have to be willing.

You can't force these things. If Fifth Aunt didn't want to reconnect, he wouldn't force it and make an enemy.

...

And so they did.

After returning, Han Zhang used the previous wager as an excuse to visit the Dingbei Earl's household, and while treating Kang Zhanxun's condition, he gave him a rough idea of the situation.

After hearing the full truth, Kang Zhanxun was flooded with mixed emotions.

There was anger, shock, but most of all joy: "Something like this actually happened? Xiang Lian is truly your Fifth Aunt?"

"Absolutely true. I'm ashamed to say it, but I had always suspected that the 'Fifth Aunt' in our family didn't act like one of us. Last time I ran into Lady Xiang Lian and your son, I discovered how much we looked alike."

"I had my suspicions and had my husband investigate the old circumstances of Fifth Aunt's birth. Only then did we piece together the truth..."

Han Zhang sighed: "When my grandparents learned of this, they were heartbroken and furious. But what's done is done, and what was meant to happen has happened. The Han family owes Fifth Aunt a debt."

"My grandparents don't dare to ask for her forgiveness—they only wish to do everything they can to make it right. If Fifth Aunt is willing, then we will take the Liu family matter directly to the authorities and seek justice openly."

"If Fifth Aunt does not wish to invite further trouble... then the Han family will simply handle this matter privately, and will not disturb Madam's peace in the future."

"Brother Kang, please convey this to Madam Xiang Lian. The entire Han family awaits her reply."

With that, Han Zhang rose, clasped his hands in salute, and bowed deeply with utmost sincerity.

Kang Zhanxun quickly helped him up, beaming with barely contained joy: "Brother Han, you didn't have to go to all this trouble. I will surely relay the full details to Xiang Lian, and within three days, you shall have my answer."

He then saw Han Zhang off.

Kang Zhanxun rushed with quick steps into the inner courtyard and found Xiang Lian to tell her the truth.

"The Han family? That Han family from Shangpo Village?"

After hearing the full story, Xiang Lian's emotions churned violently as well.

There was anger, hatred, disbelief, but most of all, there was also surprise.

Her hatred and fury were naturally directed at Mother Liu—that vicious woman, unwilling to see her own daughter suffer, had simply gone and destroyed half her life like that!

Watching her suffer without a shred of guilt would be bad enough, but in fact, the one who treated her the worst in the entire Liu family was Mother Liu herself!

Xiang Lian no longer cared to keep up her usual gentle, demure facade. Her body trembling, she went limp and collapsed into a chair and, leaning against Kang Zhanxun, wailed loudly.

"No wonder... no wonder when the three elder sisters were bullied, she would fight tooth and nail to protect them; yet when I was tormented, she not only looked on coldly but struck me harder than anyone else..."

"So I was merely swapped in to take the brunt of misfortune in her daughter's place... How could she treat me like this? Her daughter is her precious treasure, but others' daughters are nothing but weeds?"

"Husband, I know of the Han family... I've heard since childhood that among the families in all the surrounding villages who cherish their daughters most, they are counted among the best..."

"Han Zhenzhen was raised like a precious pearl, like a treasured gem in the Han family, so what right did her mother have to trample all over me?"

She was not someone "born to a lowly fate" as Mother Liu had claimed.

She clearly had a bright future ahead of her, with parents and siblings who doted on her—it was Mother Liu who had ruined it all!

Kang Zhanxun held his wife, not knowing how to comfort her, and could only silently pat her back, letting her cry and vent, his own heart burning with hatred.

That Mother Liu was truly detestable—not content with swapping someone else's child to bear the misfortune, she could even abuse her with a clear conscience. How could such a venomous person exist in this world?

Only after Xiang Lian had cried her fill and vented to her heart's content did Kang Zhanxun speak again, asking with concern: "My dear, what are your thoughts on the Han family matter? As they said, although Mother Liu was the mastermind, the Han family does bear some responsibility for their negligence. How could the suffering you endured in the past be so easily glossed over?"

"If you have any lingering resentment, then not acknowledging the kinship is also acceptable... However, having the Han family as support would indeed be better for your and Yi'er's future—an extra pillar of strength, after all."

"I can see that Han Zhang is no ordinary fish in a small pond; it's only a matter of time before the Han family elevates its standing. As for me, though I've received treatment from a skilled physician, the poison has been in my system for years and my foundation is already damaged. I fear... I may not be able to grow old with you."

In truth, Xiang Lian had worried about this a great deal as well.

Her husband was the only one she and her son could rely on. If he were to pass away early, it would be all too common in this world for widows and orphans to be bullied—especially since the marquis's household possessed vast wealth, and who wouldn't covet such a mountain of gold?

She was never one to be overly sentimental. After a moment's deliberation, she had already made up her mind.

"Husband, it would be a lie to say I hold no resentment. But I know that everything you think and do is for my and the child's sake, for our well-being... I will follow your lead."

Xiang Lian wiped away her tears, composed herself, and resumed her look of wholehearted dependence.

Though she was about to gain a promising natal family to back her, her husband still needed to be properly appeased.

After all, the rules were what they were—her status as a concubine could never be elevated to legal wife. If she didn't carefully maintain their marital bond, what would she do if her husband later took another principal wife?

No matter how capable her natal family was, it couldn't change this ironclad rule of ethics—unless her family ruled the entire realm.

And that was clearly impossible.

That Xiang Lian had come this far was half luck and half because she had a rational, sharp mind. She wouldn't indulge in daydreams.