Chapter 13

“Why aren’t you helping Second Young Miss sit down already?” Old Madam Qin instructed the old momo at her side. “Go summon the Marquis and his wife as well.” This was, after all, a serious matter. The whole family needed to discuss carefully together.

Qin Zening watched coldly from the side.

The old momo had served the old madam for many years and naturally understood how much she valued Qin Xin. She quickly helped her over and seated her on a chair below.

Qin Xin timidly glanced at Qin Zening, only to meet a stern, unfeeling face.

Her heart went completely cold.

In her previous life, she had lived strenuously.

Now that she had been fortunate enough to have a second chance, she truly cherished it. Whether it was Qin Zening or Old Madam Qin, she had sincerely treated them as family.

But now, the elder brother she had called “big brother” for ten years was repeatedly calling her an imposter. Was his heart made of stone? After all these years, had it never warmed at all?!

The more Qin Xin thought about it, the more ashamed and furious she felt. Her long lashes trembled, and crystal tears slid down her jade-like cheeks from the corners of her eyes.

No matter how pitifully she cried, Qin Zening did not spare her another glance.

Old Madam Qin felt even more distressed. If not for Qin Zening’s earlier words, she would have already waved Qin Xin over to comfort her.

Before long, the Marquis of Zhongyi and his wife hurried over and greeted Old Madam Qin: “Mother.”

The people sent by the old madam only told them to come quickly, so they still didn’t know what had happened. Qin Zhun looked confusedly at Qin Xin who was crying pitifully.

Qin Xin wiped her tears with a handkerchief, then stood and gave them a respectful greeting: “Second Uncle, Second Aunt.”

Her voice was slightly choked, and her eyes that were washed by tears were reddened.

“What’s wrong?” The Zhongyi Marquis Qin Zhun frowned, “Xin’er, tell your second uncle. If anyone bullied you, second uncle will set things right.”

Qin Xin cautiously glanced at Qin Zening and stammered, “I… I…”

Qin Zening let out a cold laugh and cut her off, “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, let me explain.”

He cupped his hands towards the couple and bluntly recounted the whole sequence of events.

As she listened to Qin Zening repeatedly call her a “fake,” his tone full of disgust and disdain, Qin Xin’s face grew even paler. It felt as though he were slapping her across the face again and again.

Her body trembled like a delicate flower in the wind and rain, overwhelmed with shame and indignation.

Qin Zhun and his wife, née Su, were both stunned. The couple exchanged looks. They clearly understood every word Qin Zening had said, but why did it not make sense when it was all put together?

“Wait!” Qin Zhun’s expression turned extremely grim, deep furrows appearing between his brows, “Are you saying Xin’er is not a daughter of our Qin family?”

“Yes.”

“And the Emperor already knows?”

“Yes.”

“Impossible! How could this be?!” Qin Zhun said in disbelief, his expression so shocked it was as if the heavens had collapsed and the earth had split apart.

The Emperor had only just arranged a marriage between Qin Xin and the Second Prince. If Qin Xin were of humble birth, would the Emperor still acknowledge this match?

Without this marriage as a guarantee, and relying only on a bit of “meritorious service”, how could he hope to stand at the top in the days to come?

And how could the Qin family rise to prominence under his leadership?

At this moment, Qin Zhun began to resent Qin Zening and couldn’t help but reproach him: “Ning’er, you do things far too recklessly!

“For such an important matter, you should have come back and discussed it with the family first. How could you rashly bring it straight to the Emperor? What will the Emperor think of our Qin family? He’ll only rebuke us for poor household management!”

Old Madam Qin nodded in agreement from the side.

Indeed. If Qin Zening had come back to inform them first, they could at least have thought of a countermeasure, instead of being forced to decide at the last moment.

“Second Uncle thinks your nephew should deceive the Emperor?” Qin Zening gave a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs rebelliously. Of course he knew exactly what his second uncle Qin Zhun was thinking.

In the end, wasn’t it simply about benefits?!

Back when their grandfather passed away, there had been a dispute over whether the hereditary title should go to him, the eldest legitimate grandson, or to his second uncle. Before his death, their grandfather had favored him, but later, under the old madam’s decision, a memorial had been submitted to the Emperor requesting the title for Second Uncle.

Over the years, as most members of the Qin family held minor posts at court, they had gradually drifted away from the center of power. For the sake of his future, his second uncle would undoubtedly cling tightly to the Second Prince.

If things had really gone as his uncle suggested—if he had reported the truth to him first—then it was obvious his uncle would have done anything to suppress the matter.

But that was his own biological younger sister!

Qin Zhun’s brows knitted even tighter, the tips of his ears turning red with anger. He rebuked, “Who told you to deceive the Emperor? I’m just telling you to not act so impulsively!”

Qin Zening shot back, “If it’s not deception, then what difference is there between saying it sooner or later?”

“You—!” Qin Zhun was so furious that his chest heaved violently. “Your surname is Qin. You are also a member of the Qin family! Acting so willfully all the time, where does that leave the family? Look at the trouble you’ve caused…”

“Second Uncle,” Qin Zening interrupted, raising an eyebrow as he casually shook his crossed leg, “if you think I’ve acted recklessly without regard for the family’s interests, then let’s split the household.”

At the words “split the household”, Qin Zhun bristled instantly, his voice rising. “Qin Zening, do you think your wings are hardened now?!”

(TN: Wings are hardened means that you’re strong enough to fly away. Other people can’t hold you back anymore.)

Back when he inherited the title, it had already stirred much gossip. If he allowed Qin Zening to split off now, people would surely say he couldn’t tolerate his elder brother’s descendants. Wasn’t that ruining his reputation?

The atmosphere in the room instantly grew more tense, like drawn swords and bent bows.

“Ning’er,” Old Madam Qin was also displeased, saying with a stern face, “splitting the household is no small matter. You’re already eighteen—you should know what can and cannot be said! As long as I live one more day, this family is not allowed to be divided!”

Qin Zening merely curled his lips into a faint smile. He didn’t agree, and even more so didn’t apologize.

Left with no choice, Old Madam Qin tried to smooth things over again. “Since both the Emperor and Empress already know about this matter, we must bring ‘that child’ back no matter what.”

Qin Xin’s pupils shrank slightly. She glanced at Old Madam Qin, then lowered her eyes, her gaze dark and unreadable.

At this point, Qin Zhun naturally knew the child had to be brought back, but…

Under what identity should they bring her back? That was the real problem.

“Let’s do this.” Qin Zhun said after thinking it over again and again, finally making a decision, “We’ll tell the outside world that Eldest Sister-in-Law gave birth to twin daughters back then. Xin’er is the elder sister, and that child is the younger one. The younger sister has been frail since birth and was thus raised inside the estate all these years…”

Qin Xin quietly let out a breath of relief, her expression easing. It was a good plan.

She would still be the legitimate daughter of the marquis’s household, the future consort of the Second Prince.

“No!”

Qin Zening’s firm voice shattered Qin Xin’s hopes without mercy.

Qin Xin’s eyes widened, her cherry lips pressed tightly together as she stared at Qin Zening in shock.

She had already taken a step back again and again—why wouldn’t he let her go?!

Qin Zening didn’t even glance at her. He spoke directly to Qin Zhun: “Second Uncle, I only have one younger sister. Forcing this impostor under my parents’ name, my parents’ spirits in heaven would never rest in peace!”

“Ridiculous!” Qin Zhun grew even more displeased with him, “Ning’er, don’t be so willful.”

This nephew of his was far too headstrong. He didn’t even consider the Qin family’s current awkward position in the capital—ranking neither high nor low.

In the capital, powerful families were as numerous as clouds. Once the new emperor ascended the throne, the Qin family would have even less of a voice in court.

The Emperor did have legitimate sons, but his health had been declining over the past two years. Just last winter, he had even suffered a serious illness.

It wasn’t custom to enthrone a child ruler. The Second Prince had already begun participating in state affairs, while the Sixth Prince was only four years old. As time went on, the gap between the brothers would only widen. The Qin family could only secure a foothold by aligning themselves with the Second Prince.

Qin Xin must marry the Second Prince!

That was the Qin family’s greatest safeguard!

Qin Zhun’s face hardened as he said sternly, “Ning’er, this isn’t a matter of what you want or don’t want. This household is not yours to decide!”

“Then we’ll split the family,” Qin Zening said yet again.

Seeing him repeatedly use “splitting the family” as leverage, Qin Zhun’s face turned ashen, his gaze dark and ominous.

Qin Zening met his furious stare without the slightest avoidance and said firmly and forcefully, “In any case, I will not allow this impostor to remain under my parents’ name.”

“Big Brother, what did I do wrong?” Qin Xin finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She said hoarsely, “Are you really going to be this cruel to me?” Her face was as pale as paper.

“Exactly, Ning’er.” Marchioness Lady Su played the role of a mediator and gently persuaded, “Xin’er has called you ‘big brother’ for ten years. Don’t you have even the slightest sibling affection for her? Sigh, Xin’er is so obedient and sensible. Even I, an aunt from another branch, can’t bear to drive her away…”

Old Madam Qin nodded repeatedly. She truly couldn’t bear to part with Qin Xin. Though she had many granddaughters, Qin Xin was the only one she had raised with her own hands.

“Second Aunt, since you and Second Uncle like this impostor so much, why not simply adopt her as your daughter?” Qin Zening shrugged and said with a careless air, “That way, it would fulfill your parental affection as well.”

“Ning’er, how can you say such a thing…” Lady Su frowned in displeasure, but Qin Zhun revealed a thoughtful expression, thinking to himself: this idea was actually pretty good.

Qin Xin originally belonged to the main branch. If she were to become the Second Prince’s consort—or even empress in the future—she would still belong to the main branch, always leaving a layer of separation from their second branch. But if she were registered under their branch, then Qin Xin would rightfully become the legitimate daughter of the second branch. And in the future… he might even become the Emperor’s father-in-law!

Thump, thump, thump!

Thump, thump, thump!

At that thought, Qin Zhun’s heart could no longer remain calm, pounding like a drum!