RRP: (2)

The Shang family was able to ascend from their previous decline to their current standing and prosperity, not solely due to Shang Yun Tian's meager salary. Liu Jiang Qing's business acumen played an indispensable role. Having managed several shops for many years, the once sheltered woman had honed her gift of the gab. Just now, without warning, becoming sharp-tongued, how could Shang Yun Tian, who had just put on his pants, withstand it?

Although they had been married for ten years, he still loved Liu Jiang Qing in his heart. Not counting that she was adept at managing interpersonal connections and had greatly benefited his career, even in terms of countenance, Cui Ping'er was not as elegant as Liu Jiang Qing's innate beauty, making it hard for anyone to look away.

When he first heard about the matter of Liu Jiang Qing's identity, he was actually ecstatic and could not contain himself, secretly grateful that if it were not for such hidden circumstances, with Liu Jiang Qing's looks, even if she had fallen into the streets, wealthy families would have been vying to wed her. How could someone like him have a chance?

Cui Ping'er persistently expressed her feelings, and he had rejected her. Anyhow, Liu Jiang Qing's always valued the so-called etiquette of a virtuous woman and could not even tolerate dirty talks in bed. After a long time, the couple's life inevitably lacked flavor.

Once, when Liu Jiang Qing returned to her hometown, he lost his composure after drinking and could not resist Cui Ping'er's advances. Half-heartedly, they ended up together, until he became hooked on the pleasure, finding it increasingly hard to refrain from it.

Cui Ping'er, after all, was a woman from the debauched Prince Lang's manor, and the indulgence in bed truly made him experience the euphoria of passionate love. After a few secret encounters, the profound guilt in his heart gradually waned.

Why do men pursue officialdom? Is it not just to exchange for a bit of amusement in life? Compared to his peers with their three wives and four concubines, half of Shang Yun Tian's life had been wasted!

But in his heart, he was convinced that Liu Jiang Qing was the only one who was qualified to be his wife. He did not even want her to know about the fleeting romance with Cui Ping'er.

Yet, today, for some reason, the servant who usually kept watch for him was missing, and when Liu Jiang Qing abruptly returned home, she stumbled on them in a disheveled state.

Thinking of this, he could not help but peek at the still-crying Cui Ping'er, and he had a gut feeling that she might have done something.

Nevertheless... it might be better to be discovered like this. As Cui Ping'er said, she is indeed the real Lady of the Liu family, and she cannot be wronged. Moreover, since Cui Ping'er cannot bear children and has always adored Liu Jiang Qing's two young children, when she enters the Shang manor in the future, she will not give birth to offspring that would jeopardize Liu Jiang Qing's position. Additionally, he would not favor a concubine over his wife and would surely treat them impartially. Is not that a win-win situation?

This kind of illicit love affair is clearly diabolical, but he believed that given Liu Jiang Qing's long-standing debt to Cui Ping'er, the matter of raising a concubine would come, needless to say. He just did not know if his in-laws would consent or if they would reason that the status of a concubine was unjust to the real Lady of the Liu family.

However, his usually noble and aloof wife suddenly behaved like a common street woman, hitting people while speaking ruthlessly and sardonic, something he never predicted.

Staring at the chilling gleam in Liu Jiang Qing's alluring almond-shaped eyes, he was soon dumbstruck and slowly let go of his hold on Cui Ping'er.

After harshly mocking her husband, she turned to the lachrymose Cui Ping'er: "As for you, do not put on a false font to be the loser before me! I did not know, too. But just a while ago, I overheard a private discussion between Father and Mother, and only then did I thoroughly understand the wrongful case long ago. Return and ask Father and Mother why they took the wrong child! To begin with, they wanted to escape a calamity by covertly taking a son from another family to trick their enemies who had abducted their child, to protect their own bloodline. However, who would have guess that after escaping the calamity, in the hurry to exchange back, the two nannies from the Liu residence made a mistake and exchanged us! Even though they brought back two boys, they ended up exchanging you and me! The nanny who was accountable for that matter later discovered the fault, feared the Master's wrath, and kept it untold until her last breath. The reason behind this resentment, how could they be orchestrated by me and the Cui family?"

She spoke these words without distortion. So, in all senses, the Cui family is the real victim in the end.

Although Cui Ping'er had hardships, it was never because the Cui family coveted power and wealth, prompting them to sell their daughter to become a concubine.

According to the information that Liu Jiang Qing sent people to investigate, it was crystal clear that Cui Ping'er, being green and gullible at the time, abhored the well-off families Cui's couple had arranged for her, finding them not prestigious or wealthy enough. Relying on her youth and charm, she eloped with someone behind her family's back and attached herself to Prince Lang, becoming his concubine. However, when she truly entered Prince Lang's manor, she tasted the brutal character of Prince Lang Chu Xie and regretted it incessantly.

What Liu Jiang Qing said was what Cui Ping'er had known about long ago. But so what? If it were not for the mix-up back then, would Liu Jiang Qing, this low-bred woman, have basked in the boundless wealth of the Liu manor and attained the honor of Imperial Capital's most noblewoman? She will never be able to compensate what she owes to Cui Ping'er!

This farce of catching an adulterer at last reached the ears of Liu Meng Tang, the head of the Liu residence.

Such scandalous matters within the residence were not something the esteemed Hanlin Academician could personally address. Moreover, with his son-in-law, Shang Yun Tian, now in charge of the Ministry of Personnel and being the Emperor's right-hand man, he had to give this son-in-law some face.

Thus, after closing the door and discussing the matter with his wife, Madam Yao, it was decided that she, as the Mother, would negotiate with Liu Jiang Qing.

Since learning that her daughter had been swapped, Madam Yao had not shown Liu Jiang Qing a motherly smile. This time, however, she was awfully affectionate, grinning as she took Liu Jiang Qing's hand and led her to the intricately carved west window in the inner room. Passing her a steaming cup of tea, she uttered, "Ping'er grew up in the street market and is lacking in manners. How could she make such a major decision without consulting me and your Father? If she had spoken up earlier, how could you, as her elder sister, not have been considerate of her?"

These opening words made Liu Jiang Qing's heart drop.

Sure enough, Madam Yao continued, "It is just that... asking your sister Ping'er to be a concubine, your Father and I really cannot accept it. At first, we had already found a few talented Young Masters for her, and she would have been the main wife upon entering the family. But your sister has always refused. Now that they have... done this. Do not hold any resentment against her in your heart. That child Yun Tian, is now a high-ranking official. How could the manor remain vacant forever? If she enters your manor, your Father and I will feel more at ease. In any case, you will take care of her faults, and she will take care of yours. Having the two of you sisters serve one husband is regarded as a good story... Even if she becomes as equal wife after entering your manor, and cannot bear children, it will not be too unjust to you. Right?"

Madam Yao said some more things, but Liu Jiang Qing could not hear them at all. She initially thought that Madam Yao would certainly not consent to her beloved Cui Ping'er becoming a concubine in the manor, yet surprisingly, her Mother in fact, had the plan of elevating Cui Ping'er to the status of equal wife and bringing her into the Shang residence.

She felt an intense dejection inside, but looking at Madam Yao, whom she had always thought highly of and regarded as her own Mother, she could not bring herself to express them. She only responded, "Mother, how could you do this... I do not accept!"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Madam Yao's face completely vanished, and her face went rigid, exclaiming, "Ping'er has suffered so much, you know that! If it were not for the Cui family owing her a debt and lacking care, would she have been taken in by the Prince Lang? But have we ever criticize about your biological parents? We know you were pampered since childhood and could never return you to a merchant's or commoner's family, so we never asked you to leave the residence. We treated you as our own. What kind of dowry maids did we not bestow for you back then? What more do you want?"

Liu Jiang Qing heard this and abruptly fixed her gaze piercingly at Madam Yao and stated, "Mother, I heard about the last words of that nanny Yin... In the first place, the Cui family did not want the benefit of the Liu family's blessings..."

Madam Yao was caught off guard by the sudden revelation and was lost for words for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and said with steely face, "Now, I have no choice but to take advantage of you... Your biological elder brother Cui Chuan Bao is incompetent. He severely harmed your Uncle and caused his death. Now he is in prison. Your family, without any regard for their standing, secretly sought help from Ping'er. Ping'er, being kind-hearted, managed to get your Father to step in and mediate. Considering everything, she has been good to your family, the Cui's. How can you not accept her? Your Father has already discussed it with Yun Tian and your Mother-in-law. Your Mother-in-law has always been fond of Ping'er, and Yun Tian said that if you are willing, he would make Ping'er to the status of an equal wife."

Liu Jiang Qing was stunned. What?... The Liu and Shang families had secretly discussed this? How ridiculous that she was the last to know... The Cui family had such a sudden disaster? Why would the Cui couple rather seek out Cui Ping'er than come to her?

Thinking of this, her heart shortly turned bitter.

When Liu Jiang Qing suddenly learned about the matter of her identity back then, she was still young. In her heart, the Liu couple were her closest kin. The thought of leaving her familiar parents and elder brother to return to a lowly merchant family, dwelling with strangers and suffering the unknown life of commoners, made her cry her eyes out all night, soaking her pillow with tears.

Fortunately, Liu Meng Tang spoke up. The Cui's were just a merchant family, selling steamed buns in the street market and living a harsh life. How could the Liu family, who had coddled their daughter for sixteen years, let her go back to sell goods on the streets? Besides, family scandals should not be made in public. Who in the Imperial Capital did not know that Liu Jiang Qing, the Young Lady of Liu Residence, was gifted and stunning? Abruptly sending her back would surely invite criticism and ruin the Liu residence's honor. They could afford to raise more daughters, so they rejected the Cui family's plea to take back their biological daughter.

Later, the Cui family refused to yield and insisted on going to the court to petition for their daughter. The Liu residence could only reluctantly agree to let the couple meet Liu Jiang Qing to hear her opinion.

It was absurd; at that time, she still felt grateful. Misunderstanding that the Cui family was selling their daughter for wealth and trying to climb the social ladder, she was instantly repulsed by their obstinacy. She assumed that if she fell into the hands of such destitute and shameless people, it would be like falling into a pit of fire with no chance of rising again. So when she saw the couple, looking at their out of place shabby clothes and their awkward expressions, she could not help but show a look of displeasure and rudely mock them, saying that she would rather die than go back with them.

Since then, they have not troubled the Liu residence again, nor have they appeared before Liu Jiang Qing.

Even after Liu Jiang Qing wed, when she found out that the Cui family had fallen into such dire straits that they had to move to the west to make a living, the hundred taels of silver she sent through someone were returned to the Shang residence without a single tael missing. They attached a note expressing that she should wed with peace of mind and be a child of the Liu family. They would not ever show up to her again, lest people learn of her identity.

Now that she reflects about it, how devastated must her biological parents have been by her actions and words back then?

At this time, the Yao family has captured the eldest son of the Cui family as a pawn to coerce her to bow her head. Liu Jiang Qing had countless questions lingering in her throat, but she could not bring herself to talk.

The old couple of the Cui family had already lost their daughter; if they too lost their son, would not that mean the demise for them?

Seeing that she was not speaking, Madam Yao finally beamed and softened her expression, saying, "Do not overthink it. After all, it is a family matter. You do not need to fret about the Cui family. Your Father will ask his peers to manage it properly..."

Departing from the Liu residence in a daze, Liu Jiang Qing got onto the carriage and headed back to the Shang residence.

She took a deep breath, intending to go see her nine-year-old son and daughter working on their calligraphy in the study. However, as she passed by the small garden, she heard her son laughing enthusiastically, "Aunt Cui, is what you said true? Will you be staying with us from now on?"

"If your Mother agrees, then it is true... I am just worried your mother will not agree..." Cui Ping'er responded tenderly.

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Jiang Qing's daughter said in a pure, girlish voice, "Why would not Mother agree?"

"Perhaps she is scared that if I spend too much time with you two and your Father, she will have to spend less time with you!" Cui Ping'er hesitated deliberately.

Listening to this, her son, surprisingly upset, said, "Mother is always occupied. She only likes to drink tea and compose poetry with the noblewomen, distribute porridge, and eat vegetarian food. People praise her as a model of a virtuous woman, and she gets so pleased that she forgets about me and my sister, and even neglects Father... Last time when Father was ill, was not she not by his side? Busy accompanying that so-called Prime Minister's Madam to the temple to raise funds for disaster relief? If it were not for Aunt Cui taking care of Father meticulously, he would probably have fallen seriously ill!"

Next, Cui Ping'er whispered something again, but Liu Jiang Qing could not hear.

If her husband's betrayal had torn apart the facade of her enviable life, her son's seemingly innocent words crushed all her efforts at self-deception. Tears instantly rolled down her face.

What virtuous lady? What honor in the Imperial Capital? It is all a load of shit!

From the age of sixteen, she began to be concerned more about how others regard her. She only hoped that one day, when the truth of her identity was revealed, people would exclaim, "No way! How could a Lady of the Liu family, with such unparalleled talent, beauty, and disposition, be the daughter of a lowly merchant?"

But what did all this effort attained?

Her adoptive parents, in order to maintain air, gave her the empty title of the real Lady of the Liu family but withheld sincere parental love. Meanwhile, she played the role of a virtuous and noble woman in the eyes of the world, yet lost the love of her husband and children.

Even her own biological parents were wounded by her sardonic and cruel words, leading them to disappear and seek refuge elsewhere...

Liu Jiang Qing felt as if she was being choked and gasped for air. In the vastness of the world, it seemed she had lost her place.

If... she had been inclined to return with the Cui couple back then and recognized her position early on, would she have ended up in such a preposterous state this very day?

Liu Jiang Qing could no longer think rationally. As she trudged despondently to the well in the back garden, she suddenly felt a strong force from behind, propelling her into the bottomless well.

As she consumed a few mouthfuls of water and was being engulfed rapidly, she vaguely heard Shang Yun Tian's maidservant crying out loudly, "Oh no! The Madam is distraught and has jumped into the well!"

T/N: I hope the links are working.

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