Chapter 54

Inside the low-profile yet luxurious carriage, the thought of acknowledging the “abomination” born of her second daughter caused Old Lady Lin’s face to darken so severely it looked as if black ink could drip from it. A flash of pure loathing flickered in her eyes.

“Old Madam, are you truly going to acknowledge Young Master Rong Mo?” Zhou He was Old Lady Lin’s trusted confidante; she knew the events of twenty years ago all too clearly.

“What ‘Young Master’? He is an abomination. If it weren’t for Minran, why would I lower myself to go to the Marquis of Changle’s estate to claim him? Once Minran regains her status, it won’t be too late to dispose of him.”

Thinking of her eldest daughter and Chu Ran being mistreated within the Prince Rong Estate, Old Lady Lin made no attempt to hide her hatred for Rong Mo. In her eyes, Rong Mo’s only value was as a tool to help her daughter make a comeback.

Zhou He felt a chill in her heart as she listened. As the years passed and she grew older, her heart had softened slightly. She understood the history of the two legitimate misses of the Lin family better than anyone.

The eldest, Lin Minran, was Old Lady Lin’s most precious darling. The second, Lin Minzhen, appeared well-loved to outsiders, but Zhou He knew that the Old Madam actually detested her and frequently tormented her in private. Though they were twins, their treatment was as different as heaven and earth.

Zhou He knew the reason well. When Old Lady Lin first became pregnant with twins, she was misdiagnosed as carrying two boys. Having just married into the Lin family, she was prideful and self-satisfied, believing she had secured her position as the matriarch. However, she gave birth to two girls instead.

The eldest daughter’s birth was incredibly smooth. But when it came time for the second, she nearly cost the Old Madam half her life. Had the situation not been so dire that the baby couldn’t be discarded, the Old Madam would never have wanted her born. Though the second miss survived, the Old Madam suffered a severe hemorrhage. While the imperial physicians managed to save her life, she was left unable to conceive again.

Old Lady Lin felt that her future security was gone without a son, and she directed all that resentment toward the second daughter. It was a knot that could never be untied. Burdened by guilt, the second miss endured the Old Madam’s abuse in silence.

As they grew, their beauty and noble status made them famous. Eventually, the late Emperor issued a decree for Prince Rong’s marriage and chose the eldest daughter. At the time, Prince Rong was sickly and the physicians suggested he might struggle to produce heirs. Naturally, the pampered eldest daughter was unwilling to marry a “sickly ghost.”

With Old Lady Lin’s help, she eloped.

Old Master Lin had to enter the palace to beg for forgiveness. Out of respect for Old Master Lin as his teacher, the late Emperor showed mercy and allowed the second daughter to marry into the Prince Rong Estate instead.

The second miss was a pitiable soul. She finally found harmony with Prince Rong and gave birth to the Little Heir, seemingly destined for a good life. But then the eldest daughter returned, having been deceived and shorn of her purity…

Tragedy struck the second miss. Had her nanny, Nanny Luo, not sensed something was wrong, the Little Heir would have likely died in an “accident” long ago. Yet the current situation was hardly better; under the Old Madam’s orchestration, the boy was about to be forced to acknowledge his mother’s murderer as his own mother.

Zhou He sighed inwardly.

As they neared the Marquisate, Old Lady Lin suppressed her loathing. The gloom vanished from her face, and she instantly transformed into a kind, benevolent old grandmother. Zhou He was long used to these face-changes; among the matriarchs of these great families, who didn’t have several different faces for public and private?

The Marquis of Changle’s Estate

When Rong Susu received news of Old Lady Lin’s arrival, her beautiful face darkened. Without a doubt, the Old Lady was coming for Rong Mo.

“Rong Mo, this Old Lady Lin likely knew of your background long ago. Her visit today is far from simple; she’s probably here to claim the kinship.”

Cheng Ruyi snorted unhappily. “If she’s here to claim kin, she definitely has bad intentions. She didn’t come earlier or later, but chose to show up right after that counterfeit Consort was demoted to a concubine. She probably wants to use A-Mo to help her daughter get back on top. In her dreams!”

Rong Mo’s eyes turned cold at the news. He shared his fiancée’s thoughts. He had no affection for the Lin family; in his view, they were at least accomplices in the massacre of the Rong family. Little did he know then that the truth was even more cruel than he imagined.

“Aunt, Ruyi, don’t worry. No matter what her goal is, I will deal with it as it comes.”

Rong Susu nodded and smiled. “Rong Mo is right. There’s no need to act like the sky is falling. If it does, your uncle will be there to block it.”

The whole capital knew the Marquis of Changle was a rogue and unconventional; he had no qualms about scolding Princes or Kings. No matter how prominent the Lin family of Imperial Tutors was, they couldn’t compare to the Imperial family, could they? When the time came, she’d just let her husband go and cause a scene.

Old Lady Lin arrived quickly. Her carriage drew a lot of attention, and rumors were already flying about her purpose. Rong Susu and her daughter met her with polite, guest-like smiles. Mo Lan respectfully served tea to the white-haired, benevolent-looking but weary old lady. Since it was a meeting with female guests, Rong Mo did not appear initially, but Cheng Ruyi insisted on joining the fun.

It was a good thing she did. The moment Cheng Ruyi saw Old Lady Lin, she sensed a powerful dissonance. Using her mental energy to probe, she found the old woman radiating intense malice.

Cheng Ruyi was furious. Another one here to find trouble. This old lady was birds of a feather with the fake Consort—proper on the outside, but rotten to the core.

“May I ask what brings the Old Madam here?” Rong Susu asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Lin trembled all over, and tears immediately welled up. Zhou He quickly handed her a clean handkerchief. The Old Lady wiped her eyes and looked at Rong Susu with a hint of chagrin.

“I simply thought of some sad matters and couldn’t control myself for a moment. Please don’t mind me, Madame Cheng.”

Rong Susu watched silently, offering a smile of feigned understanding. “Children are the heart’s blood of their parents. You don’t need to explain, Old Madam. I understand.”

Old Lady Lin was displeased that Rong Susu brought up her daughter’s situation, but she maintained a facade of forced cheer. she looked at the beautiful young girl sitting beside Rong Susu, her face full of grandmotherly affection.

“This must be little Cheng Ruyi. Such a beautiful girl. I heard you are to be married soon. I came in a hurry and didn’t bring a proper gift, but I happen to have this gold bracelet. Let this be a meeting gift for you.” With that, she took a gold bangle from her wrist and reached for Cheng Ruyi’s hand to put it on.

Cheng Ruyi glanced at Rong Susu and giggled. “Thank you, Old Madam!” This feels disgusting, she thought. She clearly hates me, yet she’s acting so loving. This old lady is annoying, but I might as well take the gold.

“We’re all family; it’s only right!” Old Lady Lin said with a smile.

Rong Susu feigned shock. “Family? Old Madam, what do you mean by that?”

Old Lady Lin gave a bitter smile. “At this point, I won’t hide it any longer. Rong Mo is my biological grandson. He is the legitimate eldest son of my poor daughter, stolen twenty years ago by a treacherous servant.”

“Impossible. Old Madam, you must have made a mistake,” Rong Susu frowned.

Cheng Ruyi pouted. The old lady really was here for A-Mo.

Old Lady Lin sighed, tears shimmering again. “Madame Cheng, I wouldn’t have come today if I hadn’t investigated thoroughly. My daughter should have been the one to come, but as you know, her current situation is difficult and she cannot leave the estate. I’ve come on her behalf. There is no doubt Rong Mo is my grandson. We’ve searched for him for nearly twenty years.”

“It was all that damnable servant. If she hadn’t stolen my grandson, mother and son wouldn’t have been separated for twenty years!” She began to sob. Zhou He hurriedly comforted her. “Old Madam, don’t cry. Hasn’t Young Master Rong Mo been found now?”

The “well-behaved” Cheng Ruyi was astounded. This old lady is a great actress. She cries on cue.

“Old Madam, what evidence do you have that Rong Mo is the Prince’s heir?” Rong Susu asked calmly, her expression unmoved.

Old Lady Lin inwardly cursed Rong Susu for being stone-hearted, but she knew now wasn’t the time to bicker. “After accidentally hearing that the new Tanhua Luo Fei was a Rong and that Rong Mo was an impostor who resembles Prince Rong, I couldn’t help but investigate. To my shock, I found my lost grandson.”

“My grandson has three moles on the sole of his left foot. My son-in-law, Prince Rong, knows this as well. And as I understand it, Rong Mo also has those three moles.”

Rong Susu’s mouth twitched. To lie so brazenly when she’s known the truth all along… truly impressive. Seeing Old Lady Lin’s committed performance, Rong Susu knew the woman wouldn’t stop until she reached her goal.

“Madame Cheng, I wish to see my poor grandson,” Old Madam Lin pleaded, her voice trembling.

Rong Susu nodded and had Mo Lan call Rong Mo. While waiting, Old Lady Lin looked at Cheng Ruyi with “affection” and praised, “Ruyi is a fine girl. Rong Mo is lucky to have her!”

“You flatter her,” Rong Susu smiled.

Cheng Ruyi accepted the praise graciously, grinning. “Old Madam, you certainly have a good eye!”

Old Lady Lin choked. She looked down on the girl even more—this whole Changle Marquis household was truly uncouth.

Rong Mo arrived quickly. He had been listening outside and heard every word. When Old Lady Lin saw the handsome, cold young man in white, a flash of loathing crossed her eyes, but she suppressed it, reminding herself he was her daughter’s salvation.

“Rong Mo… I am your grandmother. You’ve suffered so much all these years!” Old Lady Lin looked at him with joy, trembling as she walked toward him, tears falling like rain.

Rong Mo looked at her coolly. “Old Madam, you have the wrong person.”

Old Lady Lin froze, her body swaying as if she were heartbroken. “I haven’t. Rong Mo, you are my grandson. I know about the moles. Your mother is the Consort of Prince Rong, but her current situation is… difficult.”

“She has searched for you for twenty years. And Prince Rong—he is your father. They would be so happy to see you. Come with me to the estate to see your mother. She has missed you so much.”

Cheng Ruyi was dumbfounded. The shamelessness of this woman was a new low. Missed him? More like she wants to kill him.

Rong Susu was also stunned, nearly laughing from anger. The Old Lady was insisting that the vicious Madame Lin was his mother… forcing him to recognize his mother’s murderer as his mother? Was the woman insane?

“Old Madam,” Rong Mo sneered, his face full of sarcasm. “Are you saying my mother is that Madame Lin—the one who was stripped of her title and demoted to a concubine for being heartless and cruel?”

“How could my mother be such a vicious thing?”

He felt chilled to the bone. His real mother was long gone, yet this woman wanted him to claim her killer. The Lins were truly a wretched lot.

Hearing him disparage her daughter so, Old Lady Lin’s face transformed with rage. She shook with fury, nearly fainting, and pointed a trembling finger at him. “You… you…”

“Old Madam!” Zhou He rushed to support her.

Cheng Ruyi pouted. “A-Mo, take it easy. Don’t let the old lady die of anger here; it’s bad luck.”

“Don’t worry,” Rong Mo sneered. “She won’t die yet.”

Old Lady Lin looked at the two of them who treated her with such disregard. Unable to catch her breath, she fainted.

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