Chapter 259 Adopted Daughter

"Whoever bullies your goddaughter is bullying you both. It's only right for you to retaliate for her, and no one, not even the Emperor of Heaven, can say a word against it."

Xie Jinrong: "..."

He looked at Xie Liuzheng with a complex expression—was this son sent by heaven to torment him?

Ji Yuntang was a princess, a member of the royal family, yet he suggested making her his goddaughter.

Not to mention her biological parents were still here, even Ji Yuntang herself might not agree.

If it weren't for the fact that Xie Liuzheng's features closely resembled his own, Xie Jinrong would have suspected that Xie Liuzheng had been switched at birth!

Xie Jinrong shot Xie Liuzheng a glare and shook off Ji Nanchuan's hand.

He intentionally stepped forward, placing himself between Ji Yuntang and Ji Nanchuan, blocking Ji Nanchuan while protecting Ji Yuntang.

This small gesture warmed Ji Yuntang's heart.

Xie Jinrong cleared his throat awkwardly, "Princess Ye, Zheng'er always speaks without thinking. Don't listen to his nonsense..."

Before he could finish, Madam Cai came forward and cut him off.

"I actually think Zheng'er's suggestion is a good one. The moment I saw Princess Ye, I felt a connection with her. And that kind of bond isn't something you feel with just anyone."

"As it happens, Duke Rong and I have no daughter, only our son Zheng'er. Though Princess Ye is married, she's only around fifteen or sixteen, still at an age where parents dote on her."

"If you're willing, you can call me godmother. From now on, I'll have your back."

Madam Cai gazed at Ji Yuntang with gentle eyes, her affection nearly spilling over.

She knew this decision wasn't made on impulse; it came after careful thought.

These days, Xie Liuzheng stayed home to recover and didn't go anywhere else.

When he wasn't going out, he'd pester Xie Jinrong and his wife to tell him stories about Ji Yuntang.

He praised Ji Yuntang to high heaven, as if every good word in the world was meant for her.

Meanwhile, he ran down Ji Qingqing, saying she was detestable in every way.

Madam Cai knew her son well. She knew that though Xie Liuzheng was a rascal, he wasn't one to exaggerate.

If he praised Ji Yuntang like that, she must truly be capable.

After all, this was the first time he'd praised a woman so much.

He'd even shamelessly boasted that he'd open a barbecue shop with Princess Ye, do business, and make big money.

Only after Xie Jinrong scolded him harshly did he calm down a bit.

Seeing her today, Madam Cai realized her son wasn't lying.

Ji Yuntang was truly formidable. With just a few words, she'd rendered the Marquis Yongning family speechless and even angered Madam Ji into fainting.

But more than her calmness and fearlessness, Madam Cai's heart ached for her.

Her own parents, elder brother, and grandmother—none of them stood by her during trouble; they all ganged up to blame and pressure her into admitting fault.

How heartbroken must she have been?

Children without parental love mature earlier and are more sensible. Madam Cai wondered how Ji Yuntang had managed all these years.

Ji Yuntang looked at the dignified and gentle Madam Cai, feeling a kindness she hadn't felt in a long time.

She could tell Madam Cai's expression wasn't fake—the sympathy in her eyes was genuine.

But Ji Yuntang wasn't put off by kind-hearted sympathy.

With a faint smile and little hesitation, she accepted Madam Cai's kindness.

Her way of accepting was straightforward—she simply called out, "Mother!"

The surprise was so sudden that Madam Cai was at a loss for words.

After that, Ji Yuntang also called Xie Jinrong, "Father!" Everyone was stunned.

Ji Nanchuan's face turned purple with rage. Though he wasn't physically hurt, he clearly felt an invisible slap across his face, making him stagger with anger.

Trembling, he pointed at Ji Yuntang and ground out, "Unfilial wretch! Your mother and I are still alive—how dare you call others your parents?"

Madam Cai had only suggested taking her as a goddaughter, but Ji Yuntang dropped the "god" when she called them.

For Ji Nanchuan and Madam Meng, this was like a slap in the face.

Ji Yuntang smiled, "You two are as good as dead in my eyes."

"I didn't choose well when I was born. Now I've seen the light. Madam Cai and Duke Rong are my true parents. All of you in the Marquis Yongning mansion are worthless."

Ji Nanchuan: "!!!"

Madam Meng: "!!!"

Poor Madam Ji had barely been revived when she heard this.

"What a misfortune for the family! The Marquis's mansion has produced such a scourge..."

Her voice trembling, she finished speaking, then fainted again.

The frantic shouts of the maids rang out again—

"Quick! Madam Ji has fainted again! Someone call the doctor!"

Another flurry of activity. Some grabbed her arms, others her legs, and they carried Madam Ji out again.

The doctor hadn't even finished his cup of tea when he saw Madam Ji, who had just left, return. He was so startled he nearly fell off his seat.

Was this some kind of scam?

For the first time in his career, he felt like he was running into a wall.

At the banquet, Ji Huaiche's face reddened with rage as he cursed.

"Ji Yuntang! Without parents, you wouldn't even exist, you bitch! Instead of thanking them, you dare to acknowledge others as your parents right in front of them? How can there be someone so disgusting in this world? Why don't you just die—"

Ji Huaiche didn't even finish his sentence before he got a hard slap across the face.

Before he could react, Xie Liuzheng grabbed him by the collar and threw another punch.

"You'd be the first to die. You waste air while alive, waste land when dead, and waste money while you're not even dead yet."

"What kind of place is the Yongning Marquis's estate really? Outsiders may not know, but you damn well know it in your own heart."

"My sister has grown up relying on her own sheer will to survive. When has Yongning Marquis's estate ever done a single day's duty in raising her? And you have the nerve to say she's not grateful? Are you even worthy of her gratitude?"

"Let me ask you this: you've raised Second Miss Ji for years, has she ever shown you any gratitude?"

Ji Huaiche: "..."

Ji Huaiche: "!!!"

Two streams of blood trickled from his nose. He glared furiously, staring at Xie Liuzheng in disbelief.

"Xie Liuzheng, how dare you! Daring to hit me, the heir?!"

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