Chapter 368
Her words were shocking as soon as they came out.
All people yearning for the truth were stunned.
Jiang Sheng...was not of Jiang’s bloodline? Then who was she? Was she even faker than the fake heiress Jiang Chenghua?
Old Lady Jiang stood still in place, Jiang Jizu frowned, and people from the second branch looked on with pursed lips.
Only the person involved looked ahead blankly, “Then who am I? Do I no longer have a father or grandmother?”
Can days with familial bonds only be short-lived?
Old Lady Jiang came to her senses and fiercely hugged the smooth and delicate little girl. “You are a dear one, the granddaughter I raised myself. Even if you aren’t related by blood, I still want you.”
Jiang Sheng shrank back tremblingly and clung tightly to the old lady’s clothes.
“Mrs. Liao, you can eat carelessly but you can’t speak carelessly,” Jiang Jizu said coldly. “Do not try to evade punishment in this way.”
“Evade punishment?” Mrs. Liao laughed. She seemed reckless. “What crime have I committed? I merely threw away an imposter child and brought back my nephew.”
“Yes, my sister and I were not close, but Jiang Chenghua does have Liao blood in him after all. But this child—” She pointed at Jiang Sheng. “—has no connection to me whatsoever.”
Her words were so confident that everyone was stunned into silence.
Only Jiang Jizu felt extreme heartache as he shielded Jiang Sheng.
“Chenghua’s days in the Jiang house have been difficult. I don’t want to say it out and make the child sad.” Mrs. Liao seemed deranged. “You forced me to expose this truth. This is all your doing!”
The adults were still absorbing the shock. Only Jiang Chengyu bared his uneven teeth. “What evidence do you have that my sister doesn’t share Jiang blood?”
That’s right. Where was the evidence?
Just because Mrs. Liao said so didn’t mean it was true.
By that logic, the second madam could also bring back a “real” son to replace Jiang Chengyu.
Evidence was needed in all matters, for both the Jiangs and Liaos. “Evidence?” Mrs. Liao laughed again. “Shouldn’t Mother be clear on the evidence? Isn’t it plain where this child came from and why you dote on her so deeply?”
“What do you mean?” Old Lady Jiang stood tall. “Just what nonsense are you spewing?”
“Am I spewing nonsense?” Mrs. Liao cackled loudly between sobs. The laughter and cries of a powerless mother.
“My child...”
Despite their dislike, Second Madam Jiang couldn’t help but dab her eyes.
It was a mother’s love resonating.
Undoubtedly so.
“Why are you crying so sorrowfully?” Old Lady Jiang finally reacted. “Are you saying Jiang Sheng is the younger sister of Yao Siqing, the Yao daughter who died young? What a preposterous idea!”
It was unbelievable and outrageous.
“What would I gain from switching Yao’s child for my own?” Old Lady Jiang was furious enough to die. “The Yaos weren’t destitute like the Lus. Was it to have a granddaughter by my side? I had no shortage of those!”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Yao Siqing’s mother had been bedridden for years and didn’t have long to live. You wanted to find the girl a mother, someone who would love and dote on her.” Mrs. Liao retorted harshly but soon dissolved into sobs again. “But why me...Second Madam was also with child. We had similar due dates. Was it only because the general was the main wife?”
She seemed deranged but her words sent chills through everyone.
Second Madam Jiang thought back on how they were both pregnant at the same time. Jiang Chengyu was even born over a month prematurely. Only after Mrs. Liao’s premature labor did Chengyu become Jiang Si.
Could what Mrs. Liao said be true? Were the innocent Liaos victims to the Yaos’ thorough scheming instead?
Recalling Yao Siqing’s mother on her sickbed for years and passing soon after giving birth, Second Madam Jiang shuddered from head to toe, her legs going limp.
Only Jiang Jizong’s firm hold kept her from collapsing.
“So you’ve concluded that the Yaos intentionally caused your premature labor, then shoved Jiang Sheng to you for raising. To get back at them and Mother, you cruelly abandoned the girl and brought Chenghua back instead.” The only one still calm was the general who had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
“Yes, that’s right.” Mrs. Liao struggled to meet his gaze.
With everything laid bare, with all her tears shed, Mrs. Liao only wanted vengeance on the Yaos now, even forgetting about the girl she’d raised for over a decade.
What mother doesn’t love her children?
How could she, Jiang Liao, not love the child she carried for seven months?
Love her she did, so much her bones ached from it.
But her child had died twelve years ago, buried who knows where. Yao’s daughter had stolen her child’s place and she had to love and dote on an imposter. On what grounds?
Why should she?
Mrs. Liao collapsed to the ground, laughing loudly and crying sorrowfully in turns. It was a powerless mother’s wail.
“My child...”
The two women had never gotten along, yet Second Madam Jiang couldn’t help but dab her eyes.
It was a mother’s love resonating.
Undoubtedly so.
“Why are you crying so sadly?” Old Lady Jiang finally reacted. “Are you saying Jiang Sheng is the younger sister of Yao Siqing, the Yao daughter who died young? What a preposterous idea!”
It was unbelievable and outrageous.
“What would I gain from switching Yao’s child for my own?” Old Lady Jiang was furious enough to die. “The Yaos weren’t destitute like the Lus. Was it to have a granddaughter by my side? I had no shortage of those!”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Yao Siqing’s mother had been bedridden for years and didn’t have long to live. You wanted to find the girl a mother, someone who would love and dote on her.” Mrs. Liao retorted harshly but soon dissolved into sobs again. “But why me...Second Madam was also with child. We had similar due dates. Was it only because the general was the main wife?”
She seemed deranged but her words sent chills through everyone.
Especially Second Madam Jiang, remembering how they were both pregnant and Chengyu was even born over a month early. Only after Mrs. Liao’s premature labor did Chengyu become Jiang Si.
Could what Mrs. Liao said be true? Were the innocent Liaos victims to the Yaos’ thorough scheming instead?
And remembering Yao Siqing’s mother on her sickbed for years, passing soon after birth, Second Madam Jiang shuddered from head to toe, her legs going limp.
Only Jiang Jizong’s firm hold kept her from collapsing.
“So you’ve concluded that the Yaos intentionally caused your premature labor, then shoved Jiang Sheng to you for raising. To get back at them and Mother, you cruelly abandoned the girl and brought Chenghua back instead.” The only one still calm was the general who had seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
“Yes, that’s right.” Mrs. Liao struggled to meet his gaze.
With everything laid bare, with all her tears shed, Mrs. Liao only wanted vengeance on the Yaos now, even forgetting about the girl she’d raised for over a decade.
“I hate the Yaos. I hate Old Lady Jiang too. They killed my child so I wanted to kill theirs.” She looked up, tears dried up. “I threw her away. I hated her. I wished she would die. I’d rather raise my sister’s child than that girl.”
No fake heiress compared to a real one after all.
And Jiang Chenghua wasn’t brought back for doting reasons either.
She was the compromise out of Mrs. Liao’s resentment, to get back at the Yaos by sabotaging their family line.
Unnoticed by all, the frail, pale fake heiress once again curled up in the corner, trembling and shuddering.
And Jiang Sheng was thrown into confusion by layer upon layer of “truth” as well.