Xue Ling sighed, "It's all about the adoption matter. As you know, my mother has no sons of her own. Among the concorts in the household, Concubine Mei's son, Zhi Ge'er, is also mentally impaired. So, my grandmother has been insisting that my father adopt a son to inherit the family title."
Chu Ruoyan nodded.
She was aware of this. Her aunt had suffered a difficult childbirth when delivering her cousin, leaving her unable to conceive again.
Her mother-in-law was a harsh and unreasonable woman—while her aunt was still bedridden, she arranged for three or four concubines for her son.
Perhaps heaven had its justice—only Concubine Mei bore a son, but he turned out to be simple-minded. Thus, the Cheng'en Marquisate still lacked an heir.
"So, did your mother agree?"
"How could she refuse? You haven’t seen my grandmother’s tactics—she rallied the entire family to pressure my mother..." Xue Ling waved her hand, as if still shaken by the memory. "But my mother also admitted fault for not bearing a son for my father, so she took charge of the preparations—arranging the ancestral rites, inviting the elders, preparing the offerings—everything is ready except for choosing the adoptee."
She paused, taking a sip of tea from Chu Ruoyan before continuing, "My mother wants to adopt from my second uncle’s branch. Do you remember Xue Baiqing? The boy I fetched from Guangwen Academy last time for my cousin-in-law."
Chu Ruoyan had a vague recollection.
Back then, Wen Jing and Gu Hongzi had gotten into a fight, and she had intervened, inadvertently offending County Princess Kanghe. Fortunately, her cousin had arrived to pick up the child and helped her. She had seen the boy briefly in the carriage.
"He seemed bright. Is your mother favoring him?"
"Yes, diligent and studious—everyone in the Cheng'en Marquisate adores him. But guess what my dear grandmother did? She wailed and refused outright, insisting she had a 'bond' with a distant relative’s child and wanted to adopt him instead!"
Chu Ruoyan stiffened, her gaze sharpening. "Have you investigated him?"
Xue Ling frowned. "Why bother? My mother would never agree, and neither would my father. Who would abandon a blood nephew for some unknown child?"
That might not be the case.
Chu Ruoyan recalled her dream—after her aunt lost her mind and her cousin married off, the Cheng'en Marquis quickly remarried...
She tapped the table. "In that case, has your father tried persuading your grandmother?"
Xue Ling froze.
"No. He just said she’s too stubborn and didn’t want to face her temper." Only then did she sense something amiss. Her father usually dominated the household—even if her grandmother disagreed, he’d argue back. Why was he yielding now?
Chu Ruoyan grasped her hand. "Cousin, listen to me—send someone discreetly to investigate that child’s background. But keep it quiet."
Realizing the gravity, Xue Ling agreed and left with her maid, Xiao Chan.
As expected, three days later, she burst in and dragged Chu Ruoyan out.
Their carriage wound through two streets before stopping at an unremarkable house in Pingkang Lane.
"This is the place!" Xue Ling hissed.
"The boy is named Xue Guanglin, raised by a widowed mother. They claim to be distant relatives of the Xue family, coming to the capital after her husband’s death. But this house was arranged by my father—his attendant, Xue Yan, has even been spotted here multiple times!"
At this, Yu Lu covered her mouth in shock.
Widows were easy targets for gossip. Xue Yan wouldn’t come alone—he must have been acting on his master’s orders!
Did that mean the Cheng'en Marquis and Widow Li were...?
"My father has truly lost his mind! How could he take up with Widow Li? And my grandmother—she must have known all along! That’s why she’s pushing for Xue Guanglin’s adoption!"
Xue Ling moved to storm inside, but Chu Ruoyan stopped her. "Cousin, think. If she’s truly a widow, your grandmother would never allow her into the household..."
The words calmed her slightly—until the implication struck. "Wait. If Grandmother won’t accept her but insists on adopting her child... then that child must be—"
Her voice cut off, her face draining of color.
Chu Ruoyan gave her a sorrowful nod.
This was the only explanation: Xue Guanglin was Widow Li and the Cheng'en Marquis’s illegitimate son. That’s why the old madame was so desperate to bring him in. The widow might not even be a real widow...
"But... if so, then my father has kept a mistress for years?"
Xue Guanglin was five—meaning this affair had lasted at least that long.
Xue Ling trembled with rage.
Chu Ruoyan squeezed her hand. "Stay strong. Your mother doesn’t know yet—if this is true, she’ll suffer the most."
Taking a deep breath, Xue Ling steadied herself. "Right. We can’t let Mother find out until we’re certain."
As the marquisate’s legitimate daughter, she quickly regained composure. "Father visits cautiously—Xue Yan guards the door, and he comes and goes late at night. Catching him red-handed will be hard. Should I just seize the mother and son?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. "Even if you do, with the adoption pending, would she confess?"
Defeated, Xue Ling groaned. "Then what? The ancestral rites are soon. Mother will likely yield to Grandmother. Are we to let that—that bastard enter our house?"
Too refined to curse, she bit back the words.
After a pause, Chu Ruoyan said, "Then we’ll flush them out."
She whispered into Xue Ling’s ear, whose eyes lit up before she dispatched servants.
That very day, rumors spread through Pingkang Lane—a lustful bandit was targeting widows!
Xue Ling’s spies reported that night: Widow Li slipped out, delivered a note to an antique shop, and soon Xue Yan arrived—only to leave shortly after.
The next morning at court...
As officials dispersed, Cheng'en Marquis Xue Gui cornered Cao Yang of the Ministry of Justice. "Minister Cao, how does your ministry operate? A lecherous fiend roams the capital unchecked!"
Cao Yang: "?"
Baffled, he endured Xue Gui’s tirade before the marquis stormed off, citing the "bandit" in Pingkang Lane.
Beside him, Cao Yi scratched his head. "Impossible. The vice-minister just cleaned up that area—no bandits, not even a neighborhood spat. Is Lord Xue mistaken?"
Cao Yang flicked his sleeve. "Ignore him. The man’s unhinged."
Busybodying outside his own duties—no wonder he’d stagnated as a second-rank official!
With the Ministry of Justice ignoring the matter, the rumors swelled.
By the third day, Xue Gui could no longer sit still. Claiming a ministry banquet, he left the estate at dusk.
Xue Ling immediately relayed the news to Chu Ruoyan upon receiving it. Chu Ruoyan said, "It's time to let Aunt know. Xiao Chan, inform Cousin and have her tell Aunt this: 'Recently, I’ve noticed something suspicious about Xue Yan, who serves by Father’s side—he’s been frequently visiting Widow Li’s residence. For the sake of the Marquis Household’s reputation, I implore Mother to take action at once and have him apprehended. To prevent any leaks, it’s best not to alert Grandmother for now.'"
