Volume One, Chapter Eight: The Genuine Heiress Arrives

As soon as Jiang Rui reached the main courtyard, she heard Shen’s heart-wrenching sobs echoing from inside.

“My poor daughter! You are truly my daughter! Waaa—”

How unbearable! Jiang Rui curled her lips in disdain, quickening her pace and stepping into the main hall.

Two elderly maids guarding the door scowled and tried to block her, but Cui Liu and Xing’er stopped them separately.

Avoiding them, Jiang Rui pushed open the door and burst into the room. She saw Shen clutching a woman dressed in blue tightly, crying so hard she seemed unable to breathe, as if she had found a precious treasure she refused to let go of.

The Marquis of Anle sat beside them, his expression dark and inscrutable.

Nanny Liu knelt tied up not far away, watched over by the Anle Marquis’s guards.

She looked weak and haggard, but still alive, fortunately intact.

Upon Jiang Rui’s sudden entrance, Shen’s crying faltered as she looked over, sobbing.

The woman in blue, held by Shen, turned her head, revealing a face Jiang Rui would never forget.

Jiang Yao!

She had returned!

Delicate features, bright eyes, pearly teeth.

Jiang Yao was undoubtedly a beauty, resembling Shen closely in her youth.

That was why Shen immediately believed Jiang Yao was her own daughter who had been switched away.

Unlike the frail Shen, Jiang Yao was ambitious, a trait inherited from her incompetent yet arrogant biological father, the Marquis of Anle.

For example, now, the look Jiang Yao gave Jiang Rui was sharp, bright, and brimming with undisguised hatred and calculation.

Jiang Rui simply pretended not to understand, politely greeting the Marquis and Shen.

“Daughter pays respects to father and mother.”

The two elderly maids at the door rushed in, kneeling and begging for forgiveness. “Please spare us, Marquis. The eldest miss forced her way in; we failed to stop her.”

“Father, I heard mother’s sobs outside and was worried something had happened. In my haste, I rushed in without thinking. Please forgive me,” Jiang Rui lowered her tone and apologized to the Marquis, her gaze sweeping over Shen and Jiang Yao with curiosity.

“This young lady in blue—is she the famed courtesan Yan Hong of the Red Fragrance Pavilion? Indeed, she is strikingly graceful; no wonder father is smitten.”

Shen sobbed and corrected, “What nonsense are you saying? She is not—”

“Mother, isn’t father just taking a concubine? Why are you crying so bitterly then?”

Jiang Rui interrupted Shen, speaking on her own.

“For the sake of the Anle Marquisate’s dignity, you must not spread tales of jealousy.”

“Silence!” Shen snapped, unable to bear it any longer. “She is not Yan Hong—she is my biological daughter, Jiang Yao!”

Shen grabbed Jiang Yao, facing Jiang Rui together.

“Open your eyes wide and look! This child’s appearance is carved from the same mold as mine. How can there be any doubt?”

Jiang Rui feigned shock. “Good heavens! Mother, keep your voice down! Is it anything to be proud of if a bastard daughter comes knocking?”

The Marquis’s gaze toward Shen darkened, but his mind was elsewhere.

“This matter can be discussed later. I have business to attend to now.”

He stood up and was about to leave.

“Marquis, where are you going?” Shen hurried after him.

Impatient, the Marquis said, “I arranged with the Red Fragrance Pavilion to bring Yan Hong into the residence today. If we delay any longer, it will be too late.”

“What?!” Shen screamed, clutching his sleeve.

“Is our true daughter’s identity less important than you taking in a courtesan?”

The Marquis hesitated, feeling that rushing to redeem a beauty would make him appear lustful and damage his reputation.

After some inner struggle, he summoned Steward Zhao, handing him a silver note to fetch Yan Hong from the Red Fragrance Pavilion, instructing that she be housed in the finest chamber of the residence, the Fragrant Pavilion.

Jiang Rui silently condemned the Marquis’s selfish hypocrisy, her thoughts drifting to the past life.

Because she had taken the blame for Shen’s debts, the Marquis couldn’t raise the silver to redeem Yan Hong.

Later, Yan Hong was bought by the depraved Duke of Chengguo, cruelly abused and killed, leaving the Marquis to mourn bitterly.

Not long after, the Marquis decided to have Jiang Rui, a mere servant girl, pose as a courtesan of the household...

Now, Jiang Rui suspected the Marquis might have been taking revenge on her for ruining his beloved woman.

Having arranged the plan to redeem Yan Hong, the Marquis, pulled back into his seat by Shen, resumed his place at the head of the table.

Jiang Rui quickly spoke before Shen could.

“Father, please calm down. Mother is your lawful wife; don’t rush to take a concubine out of spite and hurt her feelings. She must have her reasons for what she did that upset you...”

“Rubbish!” Shen shouted angrily and lunged at Jiang Rui to strike her.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Jiang Rui, unwilling to be hit, quickly ran toward the Marquis.

At the last moment, she dodged Shen’s furious slap.

Smack!

The blow landed squarely on the Marquis’s face, who had just sat down.

“Marquis...” Shen’s reason returned as she nervously withdrew her hand.

The Marquis flew into a rage, shoving Shen aside. “You shrew! Get away!”

“I didn’t mean to! Marquis, did I hurt you?” Shen stumbled, anxious to explain.

“I was going to teach that little wretch a lesson!” Shen said resentfully, pointing at Jiang Rui.

“Jiang Rui, no, you are not Jiang at all! You are not our daughter! You’ve taken my daughter’s place for sixteen years, deceived me so, I will kill you!”

Jiang Rui frowned but remained calm. “Mother, have you lost your mind? If I’m not your daughter, then who is?”

At that moment, Jiang Yao stepped forward, steadying the nearly fainting Shen and speaking with authority.

“I am! I, Jiang Yao, am the true daughter of the Anle Marquisate. And you, Jiang Rui, are the impostor who stole my identity for sixteen years—a mere slave girl!”

Jiang Yao gently patted Shen’s back, her eyes filled with hatred as they locked on Jiang Rui.

“Sixteen years ago, Nanny Liu took advantageI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.