Chapter 81: Could it be that you are not General Qin's biological daughter?

Qin Huaiyong is actually getting married again? This was big news among the officials in Jiangzhou.

Lately, the General's Mansion had been the source of too many strange rumors. So when word first spread that Qin Huaiyong was to marry, many chose to observe quietly, waiting to see what would happen.

Lady Di was a noblewoman from the capital's Yongkang Marquis's household—not someone who could be easily bullied. At first, no one could fathom why Qin Huaiyong would do something certain to enrage the Yongkang Marquis's family.

But after the rumors from Jingxin Nunnery began to circulate—so widely spread that all of Jiangzhou knew—the public suddenly understood Qin Huaiyong.

His wife was not virtuous, yet because of the Yongkang Marquis's household in the capital, it was not convenient for him to divorce her. Thus, marrying another woman to care for his elderly mother and young daughter seemed perfectly reasonable.

Moreover, this woman was herself a victim of Lady Di's machinations, forced to enter the General's Mansion.

General Ningyuan was a good man; who would have thought he'd end up with such a wife? Many officials in Jiangzhou couldn't help but feel sorry for him when they considered his plight.

Who would have expected that Lady Di, who seemed so gentle and refined on the surface, could be so malicious? Simply because she disliked the second young miss—who wasn't her own—she had even sent people to abduct her. How venomous must one be to commit such a crime?

Even if the girl wasn't her flesh and blood, she had always regarded Lady Di as her own mother.

For a time, many felt pity and sympathy for Qin Wanru; especially those madams who had met her before. They saw her as innocent, adorable, and beautiful—a child at heart, despite being eleven years old. She was still very childlike.

But even so, she was a delightful child. Everyone agreed Lady Di had been excessively cruel.

Particularly, Magistrate Qi's wife, Madam Li, spoke of this matter everywhere she went—lamenting Qin Wanru's misfortune in having such a mother, and condemning Lady Di's malice: if her own daughter couldn't have happiness, she didn't want anyone else's daughter to have it either.

It was the same for Qin Wanru as for her own daughter—both had suffered under Lady Di's wicked designs.

When these rumors reached Qin Wanru's ears, she remained calm. She had already instructed Granny Duan to send people out to spread the word, weaving together what those at Jingxin Nunnery had witnessed, ensuring the tale reached as many ears as possible.

The result was that everyone welcomed Qin Huaiyong's marriage to Shui Ruolan. No one felt there was any reason to reproach him for it.

Even Magistrate Jiang's wife, Madam Li, repeatedly stated in public that Shui Ruolan was gentle by nature, had been slandered, and, for the sake of the old lady and Qin Wanru, had no choice but to marry into the General's Mansion. If not for Lady Di, she would still be living a quiet, virtuous widow's life.

With Madam Li's testimony, everyone thought even more highly of Shui Ruolan's character.

Early in the morning, Qin Huaiyong went to fetch his bride with a bridal sedan. The inner courtyard was filled with guests. The old lady was in good spirits, overseeing the wedding from the rear courtyard, with Qin Wanru assisting her by receiving the young ladies of similar age.

The old lady had thought things through carefully; fearing the presence of the madams would make the young ladies uncomfortable, she arranged for Qin Wanru to entertain them in a separate floral hall.

Everyone felt that Qin Huaiyong's marriage was a joyous occasion, so many attended. Among the young ladies, Qin Wanru had the highest social standing, second only to Qi Rongzhi, who was absent. Many girls who were on good terms with her came.

However, most of the girls close to Qin Yuru did not attend, which made those present feel more at ease.

"Second Miss, are you really not your mother's biological daughter?" asked a young girl sitting beside Qin Wanru, her eyes blinking curiously as she leaned closer.

Qin Wanru recognized her as Yue Yuqing, the youngest daughter of Deputy General Yue Xing under her father. She was even younger than Qin Wanru by a few months—just ten years old—but taller, making Qin Wanru seem like the younger of the two.

There were many rumors about Qin Wanru's origins, and most of the girls present were curious, though too embarrassed to ask. It was the youngest, Yue Yuqing, who finally dared to speak up.

Now, seven or eight girls of similar age watched Qin Wanru with wide eyes, full of curiosity.

"It’s true," Qin Wanru nodded, her delicate, fair little face creasing in distress, her rosy lips pressed together, looking quite pitiful.

"Then… who is your real mother?" The young and naive Yue Yuqing asked the question on everyone's mind.

"I… I don’t know either." Qin Wanru shook her head, her twin buns swaying, her head bowed low.

"How could you not know? Haven’t you asked your father? Surely the General must know?" Yue Yuqing grew more curious, her eyes blinking, unable to stop herself from prodding the wound.

Though all the other young ladies were listening intently, they sighed inwardly—such innocence and lack of tact came only with youth.

"There are no traces of my mother in the household. I’ve searched and asked many people, but everyone says they never saw her. It’s as if I suddenly appeared in the family one day," Qin Wanru replied, listlessly, her head bowed, her whole demeanor lacking spirit.

"How could that be?" a few girls exclaimed in shock. They had assumed Qin Wanru’s mother was a concubine of Qin Huaiyong.

Qin Huaiyong had not originally been stationed in Jiangzhou. When he arrived, he brought his two daughters, so no one really knew the details of Qin Wanru's parentage.

"It’s true. I don’t know who my mother was, her status, or why she left me behind." Qin Wanru’s voice grew softer and softer, but that didn’t stop the girls—listening with rapt attention—from hearing every word.

Hearing this, the girls exchanged glances.

"Could it be that you’re not the General’s biological daughter either?" one girl suddenly speculated aloud.

"That can’t be," said another, immediately defending her. "The General loves Second Miss so dearly. How could she not be his own?"

Having just learned she wasn’t Lady Di’s flesh and blood, if she also wasn’t the General’s, wouldn’t that be too tragic?

"I was just guessing, just talking nonsense—don’t take it seriously. It’s just that not having a mother makes one wonder. Second Miss, could your mother have been someone unusual?" The first girl, realizing her suggestion was too far-fetched, laughed awkwardly and tried to comfort Qin Wanru.

"I… I don’t know," Qin Wanru replied, shaking her head.

"This really is strange… how could someone suddenly be left without even a mother?" Yue Yuqing muttered, then her eyes brightened. "Second Miss, could you be a child someone else abandoned, and General Qin took you in to raise?"

"I…" Qin Wanru looked up, her beautiful eyes growing red.

"I’m just talking nonsense, honestly, just making things up," Yue Yuqing hurriedly waved her hands, seeing how aggrieved Qin Wanru looked.

"Alright, let’s not speculate any further. Today is a joyous day for the General’s Mansion, and Second Miss is gaining another mother. I heard Miss Shui is warm and gentle; she’ll surely care for you well in the future. Let’s not trouble ourselves about this anymore," an older, steadier girl intervened, smoothing things over. After all, it wouldn’t do to upset the Second Miss on such a happy day—they’d get an earful from their parents if they did.

Many promptly joined in comforting Qin Wanru, and before long she was cheerfully leading them out to stroll in the garden.

Idle speculation sometimes edges close to the truth. The girls couldn’t say much now, but nothing would stop them from sharing today’s happenings with their fathers later. As for her own curiosity about her origins, Qin Wanru didn’t know where to begin searching, so she cast out a golden hook, not knowing if she’d catch any fish—but at least the word was out.

Just then, news came from outside that the bridal sedan had arrived at the door.

All the girls wanted to see the excitement, so Qin Wanru led them from the back courtyard, sneaking toward the front. With so many people about, no one noticed a few young girls slipping away.

Even if they had been seen, it wouldn’t have mattered. On such a festive day, the rules were relaxed.

Qin Wanru stood behind a pillar, watching as Qin Huaiyong, holding a red silk ribbon, led Shui Ruolan inside. She squeezed her handkerchief, a deep, excited light flickering in her eyes.

In her previous life, Shui Ruolan had suffered a tragic fate because of her. This time, she would see to it that Shui Ruolan was happy, that she bore her own children in safety.

Qin Huaiyong, usually so stern, wore a gentle smile—a sign of his satisfaction with Shui Ruolan. They entered the main hall, and, guided by the wedding mistress’s calls, performed their bows.

The old lady, seated on the high seat, had tears in her eyes as they paid their respects, but soon she was smiling, clearly delighted. The newlyweds were then escorted inside.

The old lady beckoned to Qin Wanru, who was hiding nearby. Qin Wanru ran to her with a beaming smile.

"What were you doing hiding over there, little Zhuozhuo?" the old lady asked kindly, her mood evidently good and her coughs less frequent.

"Watching Father and Aunt Shui," Qin Wanru replied, leaning against her, her face full of adoration.

"Still calling her Aunt? Call her Mother now," the old lady said, patting her head.

"And the previous one… what should I call her now?" Qin Wanru bit her lip, hesitating.

"Your father and I have discussed it—you’ll call her Madam," the old lady replied, her smile fading a little at the mention of Lady Di.

"Alright, Grandmother. Zhuozhuo will do as you say." Qin Wanru’s face bloomed with a radiant smile, the kind that made one feel she was truly joyful from the heart.

"What a clever girl!" someone in the crowd snorted, clearly displeased. She patted the person beside her and ordered coldly, "Go, bring that girl over!"