Volume 9, Chapter 632 – Clues About the Jiang Clan Descendants (Part 4)

Mu Ruoyi could faintly make out the characters written on that slip of paper. She focused all of her vision, and at last managed to decipher every word.

“Master Chen, Madam Chen, forgive this sudden intrusion. It is truly out of desperation, and I beg for your understanding! In truth, this is a baby girl, not a boy. The reason I could not make this clear before was due to an unspeakable difficulty.

The Chen family descends from loyal officials of the former dynasty. You must have heard some tales of those years: when the Great Qi Kingdom’s imperial palace was breached, the rebel army carried out a massacre so inhumane that even Heaven and Earth wept. Later, it was rumored that the Jiang clan was exterminated in its entirety. But that was not the case. At the time, Princess Yingyue barely escaped the palace with her life, then married and bore children outside, thus preserving the royal bloodline.

Alas, good fortune did not last. The Lin clan soon discovered this matter, and began hunting down the Jiang descendants. Though the offspring of loyal officials tried with all their might to protect them, now there remains but one fragile sprout, the infant girl you have adopted.

I have long heard that the Chen family’s ancestors were loyal officials, of low rank yet possessing noble integrity. I hope Master Chen will raise this little princess with care. If restoration of the kingdom is impossible, then under no circumstances must her identity be revealed. It would be best to conceal even her gender for the time being, for the current court already knows she is a princess. If her secret is not guarded with absolute care, it will surely bring calamity and death!

By the way, the princess’s parents already gave her a name—Jiang Fu, with ‘Fu’ sounding the same as ‘restoration’ ¹ 复 (Fù) = Restore, recover . You need only remember it. For safety’s sake, you may also give her another name for daily use.

I thank you once more, Master Chen and Madam Chen. If one day the Great Qi Kingdom is restored, then you shall be remembered as heroes of unmatched merit!

Of course, if you fear being implicated, I will not force the matter. You may take her outside and abandon her. Then let it be said that the fate of the Great Qi Kingdom has run its course.”

This was the entire message written on the slip.

Mu Ruoyi was overjoyed. At last, she had found a clue to the surviving descendants of the Jiang clan. If she followed this trail, she would surely be able to witness the ultimate fate of this “Jiang Fu”.

“So she truly was a princess of the former dynasty. No wonder that beggar was so evasive.”

Master Chen’s breathing grew heavy.

“H-Husband… what do we do now? All these years the court has been purging remnants of the former dynasty. If it’s discovered we adopted her, our entire clan will be executed!”

Madam Chen fell into panic, as though she had plunged from heaven into hell.

Master Chen began pacing the room, his heart torn by fierce struggle. He knew well that this choice would decide the lives of his entire family, perhaps even his clan.

“Husband, what if we quietly send her away to be raised by someone else? As long as we keep silent, no one will know her identity. She might still grow up safely.”

Madam Chen quickly yielded to fear.

“No. If we do that, even if she survives, the Great Qi Kingdom will have no hope of restoration. You must understand, that beggar entrusted to us not merely a princess, but the very hope of a nation’s revival.”

Master Chen shook his head firmly.

“But… but I am so afraid.”

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Madam Chen’s voice trembled.

“I know.”

Master Chen sighed, then spoke gently: “Wife, perhaps you should return to your mother’s home.”

“What did you say?”

Madam Chen could hardly believe her ears.

“I don’t want you to be implicated in this. If we draw a line of separation, then even if disaster strikes, it won’t affect you.”

Master Chen explained.

“So you have already made your choice?”

Madam Chen drew a deep breath.

“Our Chen ancestors were loyal officials of the former dynasty. Though of humble post, they never forgot the emperor’s grace. On the very day the Great Qi fell, he hanged himself in loyalty. If I now abandon this little princess, how could I ever face him in the afterlife?”

Master Chen spoke each word with weight.

“Say no more. They say when a woman marries a man, she follows him through fowl or dog. Since you have made your decision, I will support you with all my strength.”

Madam Chen spoke without hesitation.

“Thank you, wife!”

Master Chen was deeply moved, gripping her hand.

After a tender moment, he began carefully arranging matters: “Wife, for utmost secrecy, you must never reveal this to anyone, not even our son. If asked, say we adopted a boy from another town.”

“I understand. But we must also conceal her gender. Over time, our son will surely notice.”

Madam Chen worried aloud.

“Do not worry. I’ll find an excuse. In these times, many ordinary families conceal their daughters for safety’s sake. What we do is not unusual.”

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Master Chen reassured her.

“And Ah Hua?”

Madam Chen asked again.

“I will dismiss him immediately.”

Master Chen decided without hesitation.

“But even so, she will eventually grow up. Then how can we keep hiding her gender?”

Madam Chen raised another difficult point.

“Do not worry. In the courtyard we still have that great walnut tree. Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll take you to live in a neighboring country. When the time is right, we will return with her.”

Master Chen revealed his plan. In these days, food was scarce, and walnuts fetched a high price. This could just barely support such a scheme.

“That is indeed a good idea. Once in another land, we’ll be safe for the time being.”

Madam Chen breathed easier, hope rekindled.

In the days that followed, Master Chen carried out his plan carefully, without raising any suspicion.

His son, Chen Kai, was ecstatic to learn that his parents had adopted a sister. He knew this would bring him many benefits as well. So he obediently went along with their instructions, and told outsiders they had adopted a little brother.

At first, everything went smoothly. But man proposes, Heaven disposes.

One evening, a neighbor girl came to the Chen household and called Chen Kai outside.

Chen Kai was excited, for she was the one he cherished. Childhood companions, they had grown up together, and talk of marriage had already begun. He thought it a sure thing, never imagining that even the bird at hand could still take flight.

“Xiao Li, since you’re here, why not come inside and join us for dinner?”

Chen Kai greeted warmly.

“No, Brother Kai. I came to bid you farewell.”

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The girl called Xiao Li spoke with a blank expression.

“Farewell? Where are you going?”

Chen Kai asked in confusion.

“To settle in an immortal sect. My parents have gathered enough silver.”

Xiao Li’s face remained cold.

“What?”

Chen Kai was struck as if by lightning, his lips trembling. Clinging to a shred of hope, he asked, “Then… will you come back?”

“Since I am settling there, naturally I won’t return.”

Xiao Li replied casually, then gave a perfunctory farewell: “That’s all, I must go. Take care of yourself.”

Chen Kai watched her departing figure with unwilling eyes. Words caught in his throat. At last, he blurted out a desperate reason to stop her: “But if you go, what about your younger brother?”

“My younger brother?”

Xiao Li slowed her steps.

“Yes. If you leave to settle in a sect, you’ll spend everything, perhaps even fall into debt. Then how will your brother ever marry and have children?”

Chen Kai pressed.

Xiao Li fell silent. She too had a heart of flesh.

“Xiao Li, marry me. I promise I’ll treat you well.”

Chen Kai mustered his courage to confess.

“Forgive me, Brother Kai. I only feel sibling affection for you, not the love between a man and woman.”

Xiao Li declined. It was an excuse so thin that even a fool could see through it.

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“…”

Chen Kai’s pupils quivered, tears welling in his eyes. Never had he imagined his confession would be answered so.

After a long breath, his face grew cold. “It doesn’t matter. Feelings can be cultivated.”

“Then let me be frank. Even if I stayed, I might not choose you. Among my suitors, there are plenty with better prospects.”

Xiao Li spoke bluntly.

“But they cannot give your brother a wife.”

Chen Kai shot back with shocking words.

“What did you say?”

Xiao Li could hardly believe her ears.

“Do you know? My parents didn’t adopt a boy, but a girl. If you marry me, I will have her marry your brother when she comes of age. Our families can exchange brides.”

Chen Kai revealed his hidden card.

“Exchange brides?”

Xiao Li’s eyes flickered.

“Yes. My sister is still young. By the time she’s grown, my parents will likely no longer be around. As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father. Then, who she marries will be decided by me.”

Chen Kai’s lips curved with pride.

Xiao Li fell into silence. If marrying Chen Kai meant gaining a wife for her brother, perhaps it was worth considering. After all, she did not truly wish to leave her parents.

“This is not for me to decide. I must ask my parents.”

After a pause, Xiao Li gave her answer.

Mu Ruoyi sighed helplessly at this point. She finally understood why the little princess of the Jiang clan would one day meet a tragic end.