Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Ah Jiu, Regarding Your Origins
Marquis Murong sat in the carriage, the more he thought, the angrier he became.
At that moment, the coachman suddenly called out in a panicked voice, “My Lord, there’s a big crowd outside Marquis Mansion, the carriage can’t get through! I don’t know what happened!”
Marquis Murong immediately had an ominous premonition, recalling the meaningful look in Jun Yuyan’s eyes when he left Prince Ling’s Mansion.
He hurried out of the carriage and squeezed through the crowd.
Someone saw him and shouted, “Congratulations to the Marquis, congratulations! Scholar Wu has come to Marquis Mansion to propose marriage, your mansion is about to celebrate another happy event.”
“Scholar Wu?”
...
Marquis Murong felt the speaker’s tone was a bit sarcastic, but he did not bother to scold him, eager to find out what had happened.
“Your seventh daughter is pregnant before marriage, secretly pledged to Scholar Wu, and you, the Marquis, had no idea?”
“Tsk tsk, speaking of which, this Scholar Wu is also a distant relative of the Old Madam, right? Seems he’s been staying at Marquis Mansion to study for the imperial examinations. Sadly, several years have gone by and he’s still just a scholar, not even a graduate. But he’s lucky, to be favored by the young lady of Marquis Mansion. Isn’t this a case of failing at the exams but succeeding in love?”
Only then did Marquis Murong realize who Scholar Wu was they were talking about. He was the only son of his mother’s nephew’s family, poor as a church mouse, who had been staying at Marquis Mansion for a few years without contributing a single copper coin.
What made his face turn ugly was the fact that Murong Qian’s premarital pregnancy had become public knowledge. Where would he put his face now? What would become of Marquis Mansion’s reputation?
He said coldly, “What utter nonsense! The ladies of our mansion are well-behaved. There’s no such thing as secret engagements! If you continue to gossip maliciously, I will have you taken to see the authorities!”
But the crowd didn’t take kindly to his threats. “Now, now, Marquis. Just now, Scholar Wu was kneeling outside to propose for a long while without the door being opened. In the end, out of desperation, he showed the seventh daughter’s undergarment. How could this be false?”
“Exactly! Besides, Scholar Wu is a relative of the Old Madam, why would he intentionally disgrace your Marquis Mansion?”
The people were now displeased with being threatened.
Had Marquis Mansion been in its glory days, they wouldn’t have dared to make a peep. But now, Marquis Mansion was nothing but an empty shell. Moreover, be it the masters or the servants of the mansion, except for the renowned talented Murong Man, all had an air of looking down on others. The people had long harbored deep resentment.
Now, there were plenty who wanted to see the excitement at Marquis Mansion.
Marquis Murong, unable to contain his anger, ignored everyone and rushed into the mansion.
At this moment, in the main hall, Scholar Wu and Murong Qian were kneeling before the Old Madam. Standing beside them were the Second Master and Second Lady of the second branch, who were Murong Qian’s parents.
Lady Wang, Murong Man, and others were also present.
The Old Madam looked grim, Scholar Wu was trembling with pain, having been beaten severely with ten lashes on the Old Madam’s orders. But in order to marry Murong Qian, he endured the pain.
Murong Qian knelt on the floor, silent, with a vacant look in her eyes, no one knew what she was thinking.
As Marquis Murong entered, his first act was to kick Scholar Wu several times, and then he grabbed Murong Qian by the collar and slapped her face a few times.
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Even then, his rage had not subsided:
“You have utterly disgraced our Marquis Mansion! You claimed to carry Prince Ling’s child, but when I went to Prince Ling’s Mansion, I was turned away. Now, everyone knows you’re a whore who got pregnant before marriage, and you’ve completely tarnished our Marquis Mansion’s reputation!”
“Don’t hit Qianqian, Marquis, direct all your anger at me! Qianqian is innocent!”
Scholar Wu quickly shielded Murong Qian.
Murong Qian lifted her head, her eyes flashing with intense hatred.
Prince Ling truly was unwilling to marry her, not giving face even when her uncle went to speak with him.
Why could Murong Jiu, and not herself?
Wasn’t she a hundred times more beautiful than Murong Jiu?
Was it only by dying that Prince Ling would take notice of her?
Murong Jiu! She deserved to die!
In order to restore the family’s honor, Marquis Murong had no choice but to announce that Murong Qian and Scholar Wu had a long-standing engagement, and just three days later, he hastily married off Murong Qian.
Although this matter has been criticized, it was also the best way to handle it. If it continued to ferment, it would only affect the marriage prospects of the other young ladies and gentlemen in the Marquis Mansion.
Upon hearing this, Murong Jiu even had the servants of Prince Mansion send Murong Qian a generous congratulatory gift.
What happened in her past life, she did not know, nor did she want to suspect Murong Qian with malice.
In this life, she hoped that Murong Qian could live well and have a good life with Scholar Wu, who adored her.
Why become mad for someone who did not like her?
…
Returning to Prince Mansion, Murong Jiu discovered that her morning sickness had lessened considerably.
Perhaps it was because… Jun Yuyan sleeping by her side gave her a sense of security.
Indeed, the two of them did not sleep in separate rooms anymore. Jun Yuyan believed they would face more assassination attempts in the future. In order to concentrate the force of the Hidden Guards, Jun Yuyan moved to Qiyun Courtyard, and all the Hidden Guards were also transferred there.
With her symptoms subsiding, Murong Jiu enjoyed meals more.
After she stopped being picky about food, her weight began to increase, and it felt as if her belly was growing bigger by the day.
Chun Tao said it was an illusion, that the young lady’s belly was not big at all, and her waist was still as slender.
Worried about losing her figure, Murong Jiu exercised more each day and often took walks after meals. Ten days or so passed, and one day, while looking in the mirror, she suddenly noticed that the birthmark on her face seemed to have faded somewhat.
“Hmm, it has faded a bit, it’s time to combine it with medicinal treatment.”
After examining her, the master prepared a new face-applied medicine for her, but she needed to keep it wrapped in gauze, changing the dressing every three days.
When Jun Yuyan returned and saw her face wrapped in white cloth, he immediately strode over and asked in a deep voice, “Ah Jiu, are you injured? Is it serious? Why did no one inform me?”
“It’s not an injury!”
Murong Jiu, not expecting him to think she was injured, hurriedly explained.
Hearing this, Jun Yuyan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Prince, do I look ridiculous like this?”
“Not ridiculous. This way, it brings out the liveliness of Ah Jiu’s eyes even more, as if they could speak.”
Murong Jiu was a bit embarrassed to be praised.
“Ah Jiu, there is something I want to tell you.”
Jun Yuyan suddenly looked quite serious.
“What is it?”
Murong Jiu felt a sinking in her heart; she rarely saw such a serious and solemn expression on Jun Yuyan’s face in front of her.
Could it be… his beloved had returned?
Was she finally ready to relinquish the title of Princess Consort Ling, which was never rightfully hers?
She subconsciously clutched her handkerchief tighter.
This position was never hers to begin with; she had occupied it for so long, it was like stealing someone else’s life. It was time to give it back, wasn’t it?
Yet, the complex emotions in her heart made her gradually unable to raise her head, afraid to let Jun Yuyan see the deep reluctance in her eyes.
“Ah Jiu, the matter I want to discuss is about your heritage; you need to be prepared.”
“What? My heritage?”
Murong Jiu incredulously looked up.