Volume 3, Chapter 204 – Seeds of Doubt

Chi Jingwen smiled warmly. He was like a gentleman brimming with scholarly air, refined and elegant, making it difficult for people to dislike him.

Lu Zhuxin observed the middle-aged man before her.

Chi Jingwen had very few scenes in the original text. However, as the Chi family head and president of Lingbao Commerce Association, he naturally couldn’t be an ordinary person.

At least in the business field, his abilities were beyond question.

Otherwise, Lingbao Commerce Association wouldn’t have maintained its position as the human race’s premier commerce association, consistently outranking Golden Bell Commerce Association.

Though his appearance looked only thirty-something years old, he inexplicably gave off an old-fashioned feeling.

And there was that inexplicable question Chi Jingwen asked.

Didn’t Chi Jingwen already know Yu Lizhi’s identity? Otherwise he wouldn’t appear here.

A pointless test.

Lu Zhuxin laughed softly to herself.

By normal logic, if Yu Lizhi really was a fake maliciously planted in the Chi residence, she should already recognize Chi Jingwen.

To gain Chi Jingwen’s favor and win his trust, she should act more modest and sensible before him.

“Uncle, my name is Yu Lizhi.” The young girl smiled shyly. “I don’t know which branch of the Chi family I should belong to. I only know I’ll become the Chi family’s second young lady.”

“The Chi family’s second young lady?” Chi Jingwen’s expression stiffened slightly.

He hadn’t expected this girl before him would so directly state such a conclusion.

“Little girl, the Chi family only has one eldest young lady. Her name is Chi Xiyan.” Chi Jingwen chuckled. “I’ve never heard of the Chi family having a second young lady.”

Lu Zhuxin tilted her head, saying with natural innocence, “But that’s what Sister told me. After I’m brought back to the Chi family, I’ll be the Chi family’s second young lady.”

“Sister?” Chi Jingwen furrowed his brows.

Who was this “sister” the girl mentioned?

Could it be the mastermind who brought her here?

“Young lady, who is this sister you speak of?”

“And how does she know you’ll become the Chi family’s second young lady?”

Lu Zhuxin said with a bewildered expression, “Sister? That’s Sister Xiyan, of course!”

“Uncle, didn’t you say you know Sister Xiyan? Why are you asking me?”

Chi Jingwen was momentarily speechless.

So the sister this girl mentioned was Chi Xiyan.

Come to think of it, this girl was brought back to the Chi residence at Chi Xiyan’s request.

Moreover, Chi Xiyan was the first Chi family member to encounter Yu Lizhi and recognize her identity.

Could it be… Chi Xiyan was also involved?

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Doubts surged in Chi Jingwen’s heart.

He had raised Chi Xiyan. He knew this girl inside and out.

Given Chi Xiyan’s style, she wouldn’t do such things, right?

However, there was still Qin Qingfen by Chi Xiyan’s side.

Qin Qingfen recognized the family heirloom jade hairpin. She could indeed be involved.

But Qin Qingfen didn’t possess sufficient intelligence or courage to set up such a scheme.

Could there be others behind them?

Chi Jingwen pondered for several breaths, then continued, “Young lady, are you very familiar with Miss Xiyan?”

“Of course.” Lu Zhuxin said, “She’s my sister. Naturally I’m very familiar with her!”

Chi Jingwen raised an eyebrow slightly. That wasn’t the kind of familiarity he was asking about.

However, Chi Jingwen felt that this girl’s words seemed to attribute everything to Chi Xiyan.

Imagine if she really was a fake. What would be the purpose of such words?

First, presumptuously using the title of Chi family’s second young lady to deliberately draw Chi Jingwen’s attention, then using a few simple words to push Chi Xiyan to the forefront.

Then, making Chi Jingwen suspicious of Chi Xiyan: Yu Lizhi hadn’t undergone bloodline verification yet and couldn’t confirm her identity as the Chi family’s second young lady. But Chi Xiyan had arbitrarily made that assertion. Such words and actions were excessively improper. Had she developed ulterior motives toward the Chi family?

In fact, Chi Jingwen did have such thoughts at this moment.

But soon, he noticed the abnormality within.

This girl called Yu Lizhi was acting too obviously. It was almost as if she feared Chi Jingwen wouldn’t notice Chi Xiyan’s suspicious aspects.

When people don’t know reason, disaster surely follows. When matters defy convention, demons must be present. When words lack sincerity, ghosts are involved. When things are too bizarre, fraud must exist.

This instead reduced Chi Xiyan’s suspicion in Chi Jingwen’s heart.

Of course, what Chi Jingwen found most incomprehensible now was still this girl before him.

Was she or wasn’t she a fake deliberately sent by someone?

Were those words she just said intentional, or simply because she was naive and innocent?

Chi Jingwen felt that if this girl really was a fake, then as a chess piece, she was far too foolish.

Anyone in the Chi family with half a brain would become suspicious of her based on her performance just now, right?

Because she was too pure, it didn’t seem like acting.

If she wasn’t a fake, and her words just now were merely because she was close to Chi Xiyan, so she naturally mentioned Chi Xiyan everywhere…

Then how could the Chi family have such a foolish young lady?

Chi Jingwen unconsciously raised his hand, helplessly rubbing his forehead.

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He couldn’t see through her, but his heart still leaned toward Song Shiyuan being his daughter.

Never mind anything else, just the fact that Song Shiyuan was Immortal Venerable Qingzhi’s disciple at Lingxiao Sword Sect was already incomparable to this farm girl Yu Lizhi.

As soon as this thought emerged, a bitter smile appeared on Chi Jingwen’s face.

Really, his old habit was acting up again.

Blood kinship, how could it be measured by status and interests?

“Little girl, listen to uncle’s advice.” Chi Jingwen said earnestly, “When conducting yourself in prominent families, you must be cautious in word and deed, careful and prudent.”

“Often, one or two sentences you say unconsciously can bring yourself trouble.”

“Young lady, since you’re friendly with Xiyan, have you considered what kind of trouble those words you just said might bring to Xiyan?”

Lu Zhuxin still looked bewildered. “What trouble?”

“Prominent families place extreme importance on bloodlines.” Chi Jingwen paused. “Before confirming through bloodline verification that you’re Chi family blood, even the Chi family head cannot directly determine whether you’re the Chi family’s young lady.”

Chi Jingwen couldn’t figure out whether this girl was truly foolish or truly innocent.

But regardless of her identity or purpose, once she underwent the Chi family’s recognition ceremony and underwent bloodline magic examination, all falsities would be exposed.

“Mm, I understand.” Lu Zhuxin nodded. “Before verification, I can’t casually tell outsiders my identity. I’ll be careful from now on.”

“However, Uncle needn’t worry.”

“An upright person fears no crooked shadow. As long as I truly am Chi family blood, there’s no need to worry about bloodline verification.”

“But…” Lu Zhuxin suddenly furrowed her brows. “My hairpin was taken by Sister Xiyan to give to Fath… no, I can’t call him that yet. I should call him Chi Family’s Head.”

“He took my hairpin and still hasn’t returned it.”

“I don’t know if Family Head Chi will return my hairpin to me.”

Hearing this, the muscles at the corners of Chi Jingwen’s eyes twitched slightly.

What did this girl mean? Emphasizing the authenticity of that jade hairpin to prove her identity’s authenticity?

That jade hairpin was indeed genuine.

But that didn’t mean the person possessing the hairpin was definitely genuine.

Was this girl so confident she could pass bloodline verification?

Forget it… Regardless of whether this girl was genuine, everything would be revealed at the recognition ceremony with bloodline verification.

“Little girl, the Chi family head is not an unreasonable person.” Chi Jingwen said, “He temporarily kept your jade hairpin naturally because he has his considerations.”

“Once you pass bloodline verification, he’ll naturally return the hairpin to you.”

“It’s getting late now. Although there’s no danger within the Chi residence, as a young lady, it’s best not to wander around at this hour.”

“Go rest early, little girl.”

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Having said this, Chi Jingwen prepared to leave.

He came here tonight only to see with his own eyes what this girl suspected was his daughter, then to make a judgment.

Now that his purpose was achieved, though he had a belly full of more questions, there was no reason to continue lingering.

“Uncle! Wait!” Lu Zhuxin called out to Chi Jingwen. “Can you tell me which way to Sister Xiyan’s residence? I got lost.”

Chi Jingwen expressionlessly raised his hand, pointing ahead. “Walk straight in that direction. At the first intersection, turn left, advance a hundred steps, then turn right.”

“Thank you, Uncle!” Lu Zhuxin said gratefully.

Chi Jingwen formed a hand seal and disappeared from the spot.

Although teleportation techniques were forbidden within the commandery city, this was the Chi family’s grand mansion. On the Chi family’s own territory, naturally there was no such restriction.

Lu Zhuxin’s spiritual consciousness captured Chi Jingwen’s departing traces.

With no outsiders left in the courtyard, the innocent smile on her face gradually faded.

“A bit strange.” Lu Zhuxin murmured softly.

She lightly tapped her chin with her finger.

She was recalling and contemplating Chi Jingwen’s performance just now.

Logically speaking, Chi Jingwen naturally cared about his biological daughter who had been separated for over ten years.

After his daughter was brought back to the Chi family, finding an opportunity to see her would be consistent with human emotions and reason.

Out of caution, his suspicion of Yu Lizhi’s identity also fit perfectly with Chi Jingwen’s old fox character.

However, Chi Jingwen’s performance just now made Lu Zhuxin sense dissonance.

When Chi Jingwen saw her, he hadn’t shown even the slightest joy of finding his daughter.

His pleasantries with Lu Zhuxin even let Lu Zhuxin detect a hint of interrogation.

Especially when Lu Zhuxin deliberately mentioned Chi Xiyan, Chi Jingwen’s reaction became rather intriguing.

Lu Zhuxin had a feeling that Chi Jingwen’s suspicion of her had exceeded the degree of simple caution.

Moreover, when Lu Zhuxin specifically pointed out the jade hairpin as evidence, Chi Jingwen’s attitude toward her hadn’t changed much.

That man even specifically said “after passing bloodline verification.”

In other words, even with Little Shiyuan’s jade hairpin corroborating Yu Lizhi’s identity, Chi Jingwen still didn’t believe Yu Lizhi was his daughter.

This was rather intriguing.

Clearly, Chi Jingwen’s suspicion of Lu Zhuxin, besides his own caution, definitely had other reasons.

This made Lu Zhuxin recall some unpleasant experiences. She had a very ominous premonition.

There were many possibilities that could cause this situation. But several of them were ones Lu Zhuxin didn’t want to see.

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First, Chi Jingwen already knew in advance that Yu Lizhi was a fake. Perhaps the disguised identity had flaws.

Or perhaps someone told him in advance. This was what Lu Zhuxin least wanted to see.

Lu Zhuxin hated cheaters most.

Second, Chi Jingwen had already found his real biological daughter.

However, Song Shiyuan had long been taken away by Lingxu Sword Sect. Chi Jingwen couldn’t possibly contact Song Shiyuan now.

Moreover, if Chi Jingwen had truly confirmed Song Shiyuan was his biological daughter, there was no need to come see Lu Zhuxin, this fake, late at night.

Clearly, Chi Jingwen had doubts as well. He couldn’t be one hundred percent certain Lu Zhuxin was a fake. So he had to wait until the recognition ceremony to conduct bloodline verification before completely confirming.

“Ha… I originally thought this time I could smoothly infiltrate the Chi family and establish a firm foothold. Now it seems it’s not that simple.”

After Chi Jingwen’s performance today, Lu Zhuxin felt that even if she could pass bloodline verification, Chi Jingwen wouldn’t fully trust her.

Once seeds of doubt were planted and sprouted, the wall called “trust” that was torn apart would be very difficult to repair.

Lu Zhuxin only wanted to pursue Chi Xiyan, help her gain Chi Jingwen’s trust, and bring the Chi family under her control.

Now, it seemed that Lu Zhuxin’s presence by Chi Xiyan’s side would only increase the difficulty of Chi Xiyan controlling the Chi family, given Chi Jingwen’s suspicion.

“Really troublesome…”

If this were the case, Lu Zhuxin’s previous plans would need to be revised again.

…

In an unpleasant mood, Lu Zhuxin returned to Chi Xiyan’s courtyard.

Actually, the courtyard wasn’t far at all, just a few steps away. Lu Zhuxin had deliberately acted lost to perform for Chi Jingwen.

After returning to the courtyard, Lu Zhuxin discovered Chi Xiyan had already extinguished her lamp and laid down.

Normally, Lu Zhuxin would use dream-entering to tease Chi Xiyan again, but now she wasn’t in the mood.

Lu Zhuxin returned to her own room and closed the door.

After a simple inspection to ensure the room was safe, Lu Zhuxin lay on the bed.

Eighth Realm cultivation was simply crushing at this level. Any cultivator with lower cultivation than Lu Zhuxin couldn’t possibly evade her perception or pose a threat to her.

Lu Zhuxin closed her eyes, letting her consciousness gradually sink into dreams.

When Lu Zhuxin opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in a fiery red grassland.

Completely different from the snowy mountain scenery she saw last time.

“Whose dream is this?” Lu Zhuxin murmured.

At that moment, she heard a familiar voice beside her.

“Your Majesty, this is my dream.”