Volume One, Chapter 8: Paying Respects

Page 1/3

“They’re here, they’re here—the heir and his wife have come to pay their respects to you both,” the steward said with a smile as he entered.

Upon hearing this, Lady Yue quickly straightened her posture but remarked, “These two children, why are they up so early?”

She reached out to smooth her already neat collar and adjusted her hair.

Beside her, Luo Yan couldn’t resist teasing, “Mother, don’t be nervous. You’re already very beautiful. Are you trying to outshine your elder sister-in-law?”

“Brat, get out of here,” Lady Yue scolded him.

She had been restless all night, worried about the young couple, but thankfully nothing had happened.

“I don’t know who it is, waiting up so early like this and still…” Catching the stern gaze of Marquis Cheng’en, Luo Yan immediately fell silent.

Luo Qingming gently took his wife’s hand and patted it reassuringly.

At that moment, there was a sound at the door, and Luo Chen was pushed in, the one pushing the wheelchair none other than Yan Jiumu.

She wore a long silver and vermilion dress, her hair lightly pinned up, makeup subtle, standing beside the wheelchair, her whole figure appeared delicate and fragile.

“Father, Mother, your son has brought Jiumu to pay respects,” Luo Chen said slowly, feeling Jiumu’s gentle touch.

“Good, good. Chen’er, how do you feel today?” Lady Yue asked, but her expression suddenly changed; in her moment of excitement, she had forgotten Luo Chen’s current condition.

Jiumu stepped forward at the right moment, bowed respectfully, and said, “Daughter-in-law Yan Jiumu pays respects to Father and Mother.”

Marquis Cheng’en, in his forties, had a stern appearance, exuding an aura of authority. At a glance, Luo Chen bore some resemblance to him.

Lady Yue, sitting beside him, was a graceful and classical beauty, though her complexion was somewhat wan and worn, no doubt from worry over Luo Chen.

Lady Yue hurriedly reached out to steady Jiumu. “Good child, please rise.”

“Mother, rest assured. My husband said he feels much better today. I believe he will recover fully soon.”

With a modern medicine woman like Jiumu on Luo Chen’s side, as long as he still had breath, the poison in his body could surely be cured.

Lady Yue took Jiumu’s words as comfort, pleased that she was considerate of their son and had behaved with grace since arriving.

“Here, this is for you. I also have a set of golden phoenix hairpins; I will have someone send them to you later,” Lady Yue said as she slid a translucent white jade bracelet onto Jiumu’s wrist.

Sure enough, the plan unfolded exactly as she had imagined. She would never be foolish enough to refuse.

Jiumu smiled sweetly and thanked her, “Thank you, Mother.”

Page 2/3

“You’re family now, no need to thank me,” Lady Yue said, patting her hand with a smile.

“Father, Mother, I’ll accompany my husband back now,” Jiumu said obediently.

Since the formalities were complete, there was no need for her to linger—she was not comfortable with such occasions.

Watching the two walk away, Lady Yue withdrew her gaze and turned to Luo Qingming, who had not yet spoken. “Husband, what do you think of the girl?”

“Let’s observe a little longer.” On the surface, there was nothing to criticize.

What Luo Qingming found puzzling was how their son had so calmly accepted his marriage after learning the bride had changed.

Upon hearing about the switch yesterday, they had sent people to investigate and learned about Yan Jiumu’s situation—a pitiful child indeed.

The couple had already agreed that as long as she remained loyal and devoted to Luo Chen, they would not pursue the matter further.

After all, arranging a marriage for their son under these circumstances was already somewhat forced.

Seeing their parents’ reaction, Luo Yan couldn’t help but say, “Mother, see? I told you this sister-in-law isn’t bad!”

“You’re just lucky,” she replied.

If he messed things up, even if it wasn’t his fault, he would still be scolded.

“Mother, you’re wrong. It’s not me who’s lucky—it’s my elder brother,” Luo Yan said, clearly pleased with the sister-in-law he had brought home.

Lady Yue laughed at his words. “By the way, your sister-in-law will come to visit tomorrow. You should accompany her and make sure she’s not wronged.”

“I understand, Mother.” Luo Yan’s eyes brightened—that meant he might not have to go to the academy after all.

Yan Family—

“Master, just look at me! That little wretch has tormented me so badly. You must do something!” Madam Xu pointed to her face, sobbing uncontrollably, never expecting to be abused like this.

“Enough. She’s already married into the Marquis’s household. What can I do? Besides, this was all your idea,” Yan Huaicheng said, his anger boiling as he recalled being forced to publicly present the family genealogy.

“But—” Madam Xu was about to speak when a faint pink figure hurried in.

“Father, Mother,” she called out.

Page 3/3

“Qingling, why have you returned? Weren’t you supposed to stay longer with your aunt?” Madam Xu quickly wiped her tears upon seeing her daughter.

“That’s not important. How did that wretch become the Yan family’s legitimate eldest daughter?” Yan Qingling asked anxiously.

Madam Xu was still unconscious of Yan Huaicheng’s alteration of the genealogy; she had only heard about what happened that day.

She tried to soothe her daughter, “It’s all that foolish girl’s delusion. Don’t worry; your father was just appeasing her.”

“But everyone outside is saying that the bride who married into the Marquis’s household is the Yan family’s legitimate eldest daughter. Father even publicly produced the genealogy,” Yan Qingling looked toward her father.

“Genealogy?” Madam Xu was shocked as well.

Seeing Yan Huaicheng’s silence, Yan Qingling’s face turned pale. “So you really changed the genealogy?”

Madam Xu recognized the gravity of the situation and scolded, “Master, you’re out of your mind!”

How could the genealogy be altered so easily? What would become of her daughter?

Under the mother and daughter’s gaze, Yan Huaicheng sighed, “It was a temporary measure. Qingling is now the legitimate second daughter—it’s the same.”

Given the circumstances yesterday, if he hadn’t shown the genealogy, how could they have passed the Marquis’s household’s scrutiny?

“It’s not the same! How can it be the same?” Yan Qingling burst into tears.

She, the proud legitimate eldest daughter, had overnight become the second daughter—a complete humiliation. How could she face anyone now?

Her birth had always been looked down upon, and now even the one identity she could boast about was gone. How would she ever marry?

Seeing her daughter cry, Madam Xu comforted her, “Be good, Qingling. Once that sickly wretch dies, she won’t have a chance to live. You’ll still be the legitimate eldest daughter.”

“But what if he doesn’t die?” Yan Qingling said. If he had died, the news would have spread already.

Hearing their conversation, Yan Huaicheng snapped, “Enough! You’d better hope the heir is all right. Otherwise, none of us will have an easy time.”

They had secretly changed the bride; if the heir suffered any mishap now, the Marquis’s household would certainly seize the opportunity to investigate.

“Madam, something’s wrong! The dowry in your storeroom is missing!” a servant’s panicked voice came from the doorway.