The next day at noon.
A black Bentley worth five million pulled up in front of Jiang Youli’s mud-brick house.
Jiang Youli was grinding the herbs she had gathered the day before when she heard the commotion outside. Peering through the window, she noted the Jing City license plate—just as she’d expected, someone from the capital had arrived.
After finishing the herbs, she packed them into a jar, clapped her hands clean, and stepped out of the house. Without hesitation, she walked up to the car and knocked on the window.
Moments later, the window slid down, revealing the still-handsome face of a middle-aged man, around fifty years old, his hair impeccably groomed. Beside him sat a woman of similar age, her features delicate and well-maintained, making her appear no older than her thirties.
Jiang Youli cut straight to the point. "Are you here for me?"
The distinguished-looking man in the backseat studied her, then glanced at the photo in his hand, his deep eyes lighting up.
"Susu, it’s her! She’s the one we’ve been looking for!"
The elegant woman beside him also brightened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Yes, it’s definitely her."
Overcome with emotion, they activated the automatic doors, stepped out, and approached Jiang Youli.
The man nodded solemnly. "That’s right, child. You are the true heiress of the Jiang Family, lost to us all these years. We’ve come to take you home."
Jiang Youli studied his face—his expression was sincere, his excitement mirroring the woman’s. It didn’t seem like an act.
At least these two weren’t the ones who had sent men to assault her last night.
"How did you know we were coming for you…?" The man caught himself mid-question but quickly dismissed it, focusing instead on explaining their purpose. "Child, you are the Jiang Family’s young mistress. You were switched at birth, leading to your life outside the family. These twenty years… you’ve suffered."
As he spoke, the woman beside him choked up. "My poor, unfortunate child."
Jiang Youli remained unfazed. "So, you’re my birth parents?"
The man and woman exchanged a glance, their expressions tinged with helplessness.
"No, child. We’re your uncle and aunt—your father’s elder brother and his wife."
Uncle and aunt?
Jiang Youli let out a dry laugh. "Hah."
She pressed further. "Uncle, Aunt, if you’re not my parents, why didn’t they come for me themselves?"
Zhang Susu hesitated, guilt flashing across her face. "Your parents… had some urgent matters at home. They couldn’t get away, so they asked us to bring you back."
Jiang Youli didn’t buy it. "No need to cover for them. I’m not a child. What could possibly be more important than reclaiming their own daughter? They just couldn’t be bothered to come—plain and simple."
At this, Zhang Susu stepped forward and pulled Jiang Youli into a sudden embrace, her tears falling freely. "Oh, my dear, you’ve endured so much."
Jiang Youli stiffened, unprepared for the warmth and softness of the hug. She almost pulled away—but something stopped her.
Was this what a mother’s embrace felt like?
For the first time in twenty years, she allowed herself to linger in it.
A quiet sigh escaped her. If these two were her real parents… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
Eventually, Zhang Susu released her, clasping her hands instead. "Come, dear. Pack your things. We’ll take you back to the Jiang Family today. No more hardships for you."
Jiang Youli nodded. "Fine. Wait here. I’ll gather my belongings."
Clothes weren’t worth taking—only the medicines and poisons she had crafted over the years.
"Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, Xiao Lü—come out. We’re moving." After packing the jars of powders and tinctures from her wooden cabinet, she called out.
Three small snakes, their colors matching their names (Black, White, and Green), slithered from the corners and coiled into a burlap sack.
Jiang Youli tied the sack and slung it over her shoulder. Then, from the same old cabinet, she retrieved a brass gong.
One last glance at the dilapidated mud house, and she stepped outside, striking the gong with force.
The resonant sound echoed through the village.
Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu, still waiting by the car, startled at the noise.
Before long, villagers began gathering, drawn by the sound.
"Youli, what’s going on? Something wrong?"
Setting the gong aside, Jiang Youli cleared her throat. "Uncles, aunties—you all know I’ve been an orphan since childhood, raised by this village. But now I’ve learned the truth: I’m actually the lost heiress of the Jiang Family, a wealthy clan from Jing City."
The villagers brightened, ready to celebrate—until she continued.
"Except, my birth parents knew all along. They just never cared to claim me. And now? They only want me back to marry off in place of their precious adopted daughter—to some disabled young master."
Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu paled.
They had no idea about this!
The villagers erupted in outrage.
"What kind of monsters are they?! Knowing you were their flesh and blood all this time and only coming for you now to use you as a pawn?!"
"Disgusting! You’re worth ten of their precious adopted daughter, and they dare treat you like this?!"
"Youli, don’t go! Let those heartless snakes rot!"
"That’s right! We’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget!"
"The Jiang Family? Pah! They’re nothing special in Jing City. You don’t need them, girl!"
Jiang Youli raised a hand, quieting the crowd.
"Please, uncles and aunties, don’t worry. I’ve decided to go through with the marriage—but only to make them regret it. Before I leave, I need your help tending my herb garden."
Though confused, the villagers respected her choice.
"If those Jiang bastards dare mistreat you, just say the word. We’ll tear their house down!"
"Remember, we’ll always have your back!"
Jiang Youli smiled. "Thank you, everyone. That’s all. You can go now."
Turning back to Jiang Yehan and Zhang Susu, she flashed them a playful grin. "Uncle, Aunt—ready to go?"
The couple stood frozen, still processing the scene, before snapping back to attention.
"Oh—yes, of course."
The chauffeur hurried forward. "Miss, let me carry that for you."
"Careful. It’s heavy," Jiang Youli warned.
The man doubted a young girl’s sack could be that burdensome—until he took it and nearly dropped it on his feet.
Jiang Youli arched a brow. "You good? Don’t break what’s inside."
He swallowed. "No problem, Miss."
The driver uncle gave an awkward smile, gritted his teeth, and hauled the burlap sack into the trunk. By the time he returned to the driver’s seat, he was already drenched in sweat.
He thought to himself: This young lady looks so slender—how is she so strong?
After getting into the car, Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan exchanged glances several times, while Jiang Youli also seemed to hesitate before speaking multiple times.
Finally, Zhang Susu steeled herself and asked,
"Youli, what was all that about back there with the villagers? Something about a substitute marriage for a disabled young master?"
"Did Uncle and Aunt not know?" Jiang Youli countered, her gaze skeptical.
Zhang Susu shook her head. "Your uncle and I had no idea. We only heard from your parents half a month ago that Yonghe wasn’t their biological daughter. They sent someone to investigate, and yesterday we finally learned that their real daughter had been living in that village. We came today to bring you home."
Jiang Yehan nodded in agreement with his wife’s words.
Jiang Youli scoffed. "Then why do you think they didn’t come to fetch me themselves?"
The question made Zhang Susu falter.
Indeed, what kind of parents wouldn’t come in person to reclaim their own daughter, leaving it to an uncle and aunt instead?
But the truth might only hurt the girl, so Zhang Susu chose to stay silent.
"You don’t have to say it—I already guessed as much. Like I said, they don’t actually want me. They’re only bringing me back now because they need someone to replace their beloved adopted daughter in marrying that disabled heir." Jiang Youli spoke lightly, her eyes far too knowing for her age.
Jiang Yehan asked, "Youli, how did you even find out about the arranged marriage?"
Jiang Youli smiled. "That’s a secret."
During the ride, Zhang Susu told her a great deal about the Jiang Family, most of which matched what Ye Ying’s investigation had uncovered.
The Jiang Family was still under the control of the old patriarch, who had two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Jiang Yehan, was the uncle who had come to fetch her, along with his wife, Zhang Susu.
The couple had no children of their own.
The second son, Jiang Yangxu, was her biological father, married to Qin Yulian. They had two sons and a daughter.
The eldest son, Jiang Xing, managed the family’s entertainment company, Starlight Entertainment. The second son, Jiang Zhao, was a famous singer signed under the same company.
And then there was the youngest daughter, Jiang Yonghe—exceptionally accomplished, having skipped grades and completed university by the age of twenty. She was set to study abroad after her engagement to the eldest son of the Qi Family.
This Jiang Yonghe was the girl who had been swapped with her at birth.
As for the third aunt, Jiang Li, she had married into another wealthy family and rarely stayed at the Jiang residence except during holidays.
After six bumpy hours on the road from the village to Jing City—
Night had already fallen.
"Sir, Madam, Miss—we’ve arrived," the driver announced as he parked.
Jiang Youli looked out the window. Before her stretched an expansive estate, dotted with several villas so grand they might as well have been a presidential palace.
Hah. As expected of an elite family from Jing City.
The Jiang mansion alone was nearly the size of her entire village, Jian Shan.
Jiang Youli stepped out of the car and followed her uncle and aunt into the Jiang Family’s palatial home.
The head butler, waiting at the entrance, immediately approached with deference.
"Sir, Madam, welcome back."
Then, his eyes shifted to Jiang Youli, and he gave her a respectful nod. "And this must be the young miss?"
"Yes," Zhang Susu confirmed, turning to Jiang Youli with a gentle expression. "Youli, let’s go inside to meet your parents and brothers."
Jiang Youli remained silent, quietly trailing behind them as they entered the main doors. She passed through the vast front courtyard before finally stepping into the mansion’s grand foyer.
Standing at the threshold, her gaze swept across the four people seated in the living room.
First, a middle-aged couple dressed in luxurious attire, exuding an air of aristocratic elegance.
Next, a strikingly handsome young man with an unruly demeanor.
And finally, a fair-skinned, delicate-looking girl around her own age, her eyes red-rimmed, wearing an expression of pitiable sorrow.
All four wore troubled expressions, weighed down by unspoken concerns.
When their eyes landed on her, Jiang Youli didn’t miss the flicker of disdain that crossed their faces.
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
Hah. Her family was certainly… interesting.
