My poor, poor mother

Chapter 3: My poor, poor mother

The matchmaker fell silent. She stood stunned for a long moment before saying, "Y-you're talking nonsense!"

Jian Ruonan said, "Careful, or the skin on that mole by your mouth will get sucked right off. You used to have ten hairs on it, but two got sucked out last time..."

The matchmaker said, "...Stop talking!"

What in the devil was going on? How did she know something so private?

Jian Ruonan said, "What are you staring at? Go pay the bill. Oh, this cold pig's ear salad is delicious. I want two portions to take away. Pay for those too."

The matchmaker said, "..."

After finishing her meal, Jian Ruonan saw that the coachman was still waiting downstairs, so she simply paid him to take her to Capital City.

The Farm Estate was about three days' carriage ride from Capital City. As the carriage traveled for three days, Jian Ruonan spent those three days lying inside, eating and drinking.

Three days later, Jian Ruonan was still thin, but she looked much healthier, and her complexion had improved considerably.

The Marquis's Estate was heavily guarded; not just anyone could enter. After dismissing the coachman, Jian Ruonan simply waited by the entrance for someone to come out.

She had no idea who was riding in any of the carriages. Fortunately, she had the Gossip System, which began reporting gossip about the occupants whenever a carriage emerged.

Before long, Jian Ruonan spotted the carriage of her birth mother, Min.

Min was about to attend the one-month celebration for the Duke Who Guards the Nation's legitimate grandson. As she sat in her carriage, a voice suddenly rang out-

That concubine really is tenacious. She's been bleeding for days, yet she's stubbornly holding out so she can miscarry in my mother's room and frame her!

Are concubines these days all this hardcore?

Who?

Who was speaking?

There were only two maids in the carriage. Both had their mouths closed, and they looked bewildered when their mistress turned toward them.

Min rubbed her temples, wondering whether the poor sleep she'd had these past few days was causing auditory hallucinations.

She had barely settled back into her seat when the voice rang out again-

What? That concubine isn't carrying my father's child? My father actually got stuck holding another man's bag!!

Doesn't my father work at the Ministry of Justice? Surely he can't be that stupid?

Min said, "..."

Holding whose bag?

Min frowned. Suddenly, the carriage stopped short, and the attendant accompanying it called out, "Madam, a young girl has stopped the carriage. She says she's a relative of yours, and she's holding a token from the Marquis's Estate. Will you see her?"

Zang Chun, the senior maid sitting by the door, lifted the curtain and leaned out. She was Min's personal maid, born to a family of servants in the Min household.

Normally, anyone who stopped their carriage like this would be sent away. But when Zang Chun lifted the curtain and saw Jian Ruonan, she froze for a long moment.

This young girl looked exactly like Min in her youth. She resembled Min even more than the young ladies in the residence did.

"Zang Chun, what's going on?" Min asked when the carriage remained stationary.

Zang Chun lowered the curtain and whispered in Min's ear. After listening, Min frowned slightly. "Let her come aboard and speak."

A maid helped Jian Ruonan into the carriage. The moment she saw Min, Jian Ruonan's heart began pounding.

Oh, my God!

Her birth mother was simply too beautiful!

Min wore a pale green embroidered gown patterned with clouds and mist. Elegant orchids covered its trailing hem, and her long, silky hair was swept into a simple bun. Her lofty coiffure lent her an air of dignified grace.

Is this my birth mother?! Mother, you're so beautiful! Forgive this illiterate daughter of yours, but even after racking my brains and scouring my guts, all I can come up with is "holy shit"!

As expected of a daughter of a great aristocratic family. That bearing, that presence-she's practically a fairy descended to earth!

Min paused. Were the auditory hallucinations back?

She looked up at the little girl before her. The girl was thin, about eight or nine years old, and she really did look like Min as a child.

The little girl kept her eyes lowered, staring timidly at the tips of her shoes.

Her fingers twisted together, and she seemed at a loss for what to do with herself, apparently shy around strangers.

The hallucinated voice in Min's head was far too uninhibited. Surely it couldn't belong to this little girl.

"What's your name?" Min asked.

Jian Ruonan answered in a small, meek voice, "My name is Jian Ruonan."

Min said, "..."

Mystery solved. The voice in her head belonged to this little girl.

The girl before her looked meek, harmless, and timid, but the voice in her mind was... brazen and flamboyant.

"What did you come to see me for?"

The little girl raised her head weakly and said softly, "I came from the Farm Estate in Daxing. Madam Zhou got drunk once and said I was your real daughter. During a fire, she secretly switched me and Chuxue. I wanted to come and find out whether it was true."

Mother, my own dear mother, I'm your flesh-and-blood daughter!

Mother, open your eyes and take a good look!! Boohoo, your real daughter was beaten and abused by Madam Zhou at the Farm Estate, while the fake heiress enjoyed wealth and luxury here!!!

There's no DNA testing in ancient times, only blood testing, and even that isn't necessarily accurate. I wonder whether my beautiful mother will recognize me?! My life is so miserable, boohoo!

Min said, "..."

Now she was absolutely certain that the voice in her head was the inner voice of the little girl before her.

Suddenly, Min felt as though her brain couldn't keep up. She didn't know whether to be more shocked that she could hear other people's thoughts or that Madam Zhou had switched the girls.

Jian Ruonan had expected Min to be bewildered. After all, anyone who heard such news would be doubtful and shocked.

She stood quietly, chatting with the system while waiting for Min to digest it all.

Oh my, how did that concubine get into the residence? She's my father's cousin? So they were childhood sweethearts. No wonder she's so brazen. She put a green hat on my father's head and still has the nerve to frame my mother.

That concubine is carrying Second Uncle's child?!

Is the Marquis's Estate really this messy?

Min said, "..."

Could you let me think in peace for a moment?

That concubine knows she can't keep the baby, so she's waiting for my mother to return before framing her on purpose. She wants to use this to get promoted to co-wife?!

No, I have to warn my mother! If that cuckolded idiot of a father lets this drive a wedge between him and my mother, won't someone else reap all the benefits?

My own mother is as lovely as a flower, with such elegant bearing. Why did my father take so many concubines? His head must have been caught in a door!

Min said, "..."

She was a little noisy, but she did have a dutiful heart.

When Min first saw Jian Ruonan, she had thought the girl must be related to the Min family. Could she actually be her own daughter?

If Jian Ruonan was her birth daughter, what about Chuxue? Was Chuxue Madam Zhou's flesh and blood?

Thinking it over carefully, Min realized that Chuxue really did bear some resemblance to Madam Zhou.

Looking at Jian Ruonan again, aside from her bearing, her features might as well have been cast from the same mold as Min's.

Min rubbed the space between her tightly knitted brows.

She lifted the curtain and instructed the attendant accompanying the carriage, "Send word to the Duke Who Guards the Nation's residence. Tell them something urgent came up at home, and I'll visit another day to apologize in person. Also, send someone to wait at the Ministry of Justice. When they see the master, tell him to return immediately."

No matter how much they resembled each other, she had to investigate first. She couldn't simply take someone home.

The Jinyang Marquis Residence had three family branches. Jian Ruonan's father, Jian Zhang, was the eldest brother and worked at the Ministry of Justice. Aside from Min, his principal wife, he also had four concubines.

The concubine Jian Ruonan had mentioned was probably Wei.

Min said, "Send someone to Wei's courtyard and find out when she last had her monthly bleeding."

After making the arrangements, Min looked at Jian Ruonan again. Jian Ruonan sat obediently, holding a cup in both hands and sipping her tea.

She looked very withdrawn.

What? My own elder sister, Jian Xilu, has it even worse?!

Min frowned slightly. What had happened to her eldest daughter, Xilu?

How did she have it even worse?

Min pricked up her ears, but Jian Ruonan fell silent.

"..."

Go on, say it!

You were rattling away like a barrage of firecrackers just now. Why have you suddenly gone mute?

Jian Ruonan took two sips of tea. I'm hungry. I'll feast on this juicy gossip after I've filled my stomach.

I wonder what delicious food the Marquis's Estate has?

From childhood, Min had been taught to be cultured and courteous, graceful on the outside and wise within, measured in her words and actions. Now, with half a juicy tidbit dangling before her, she wanted nothing more than to feed Jian Ruonan immediately so she would spill everything in one satisfying go!

"Return to the Marquis's Estate. Have the kitchen prepare plenty of food."