Chapter 6: A Secret Conception

The Lu family’s wedding turned into the taking of a concubine. After the farce concluded, the sky had already darkened. Su Qingwan returned to Meilan Garden, the main courtyard where Xie Zhaolan had resided. Su Qingwan’s gaze swept over the empty courtyard, her eyes cold.

Lüzhu and Nanny Li were already waiting.

Nanny Li suppressed her sorrow. "Young Miss, this household is deep and treacherous; it devours people without leaving a trace of blood. Once you take this step, there is no turning back. You must think this through."

Since Su Qingwan intended to take Xie Zhaolan’s place, she could not hide it from the nanny who had raised her. The nanny had treated Xie Zhaolan as her own flesh and blood; upon learning of her murder, she was devastated, yet she disapproved of Su Qingwan taking her sister’s place to seek revenge.

She knew the dangers of such a household. Su Qingwan was an unmarried girl who, for the sake of revenge, was gambling everything—her reputation, her future, and her life. The nanny felt both admiration and worry.

"Nanny, my mind is made up. Once the arrow is loosed, there is no turning back. From this day forward, I am Xie Zhaolan," Su Qingwan said calmly. "Blood debts must be paid in blood."

Beyond revenge, she would also reclaim everything that belonged to her sister!

Nanny Li sighed helplessly and said, "The maids and matrons serving in Meilan Garden were all born into the Xie family and brought here by the Young Miss years ago. After the Young Miss passed away, the Lu family dismissed them. Does the Second Young Miss wish to bring them back?"

"No need. There is no need for so many people to serve in my courtyard. Besides, I am assuming my sister’s identity; the more people who knew her, the more flaws I will reveal. The Lu family may not believe I am truly her and will surely test me. There will be no shortage of servants in the courtyard."

Nanny Li couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. "It is fortunate that the two of you were separated from childhood and the Lu family did not know you were twins, otherwise, this would never have succeeded."

Su Qingwan and Xie Zhaolan were the biological daughters of the Prince of Huainan. Twelve years ago, the Prince of Huainan was framed for treason, leading to the execution of his entire household. The elder of the twins was sent by a loyal subordinate to the Xie family, becoming their eldest legitimate daughter, while the younger was taken to the Southern Frontier to escape the disaster. The world believed the Prince of Huainan’s line had perished in that massacre, unaware that these twins were still alive.

Su Qingwan’s expression turned cold. Now that her sister was gone, she was the only one left of the Prince of Huainan’s line.

Lüzhu said, "Young Miss, that Eldest Miss Li is ruthless. We should find some maids who know martial arts to prevent you from being bullied by her."

"Agreed!"

No sooner had Su Qingwan finished speaking than a flurry of chaotic footsteps sounded outside Meilan Garden.

Li Xueying charged in with a sword, slashing toward Su Qingwan. The two maids behind her had failed to stop her. Li Xueying was still wearing her tattered wedding dress, her hair disheveled, looking like a madwoman.

Su Qingwan dodged nimbly and signaled for the nanny to step aside.

"Who exactly are you?" Li Xueying demanded, furious. "Why must you ruin my wedding?"

"Concubine Li, I am Xie Zhaolan."

The title "Concubine Li" struck a nerve. Li Xueying screamed and raised her sword to strike again, only for Su Qingwan to evade her once more. She slashed wildly without any technique, yet she couldn't even touch a corner of Su Qingwan’s robe.

"Xie Zhaolan is long dead!" Li Xueying gritted her teeth. "Her body was already cold, and I scraped her face with my blade, cut by cut. How could you possibly be Xie Zhaolan?"

A flash of hatred crossed Su Qingwan’s eyes, but she then smiled. "Is Concubine Li suffering from hysteria? I am clearly still alive, yet you insist on claiming I am dead."

Li Xueying said, "I will certainly find out who you are. The crime of deceiving the Emperor is punishable by the extermination of one's nine clans!"

Li Xueying came in a rush and left in a rush.

Su Qingwan’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "My nine clans were already exterminated long ago."

After Li Xueying left, the nanny said, "Young Miss, Li Xueying is the legitimate daughter of the Earl of Anping. Her status is noble, and she surely won't be content as a concubine. Will the Earl’s mansion come to take her back tomorrow?"

Su Qingwan looked thoughtful and said faintly, "If she wants to leave, it won't be that easy."

At midnight, Lüzhu quietly pushed the door open, carrying a packet of medicinal dregs. She whispered, "Young Miss, this is what the maid in Li Xueying’s courtyard secretly buried under a tree. It is indeed a pregnancy-stabilizing decoction."

Lüzhu was skilled in pharmacology; one look at the dregs was enough to know their purpose.

"Li Xueying is arrogant, yet she allowed herself to be manipulated by Lady Lin in the wedding hall. I was wondering what her weakness was—it turns out she is pregnant." Su Qingwan sneered. "To conceive while in mourning for a wife is truly shameless. I will definitely drink this cup of tea from Li Xueying."

The next day, Su Qingwan washed and dressed early, taking Lüzhu to the main hall. Lu Shaoqing, Lady Lin, and Lady Zhang, the wife of the Lu family’s second branch, had already arrived.

Lady Zhang was the mistress of the second branch. Ten years ago, the Second Master of the Lu family perished while managing a flood in Jiangnan, leaving Lady Zhang to live with the first branch as a widow with her children.

Su Qingwan paid her respects to Lu Shaoqing, his wife, and Lady Zhang. Lady Lin’s expression was sour, but Su Qingwan ignored her and sat beside Lady Zhang. Lady Zhang was beautiful and had a sharp tongue. Because her husband died young, she often heard gossip while living with the first branch, and the friction between the sisters-in-law was deep.

Lady Zhang smiled and said, "Zhaolan, you are truly capable. You earned the first imperial decree for our Lu family, and with the iron certificate of merit, all the descendants of the Lu family are protected. You are a great contributor to our family."

With someone in the family serving in the imperial court, who wouldn't want a medal of immunity? Lady Zhang was intentionally rubbing salt into Lady Lin’s wounds.

"Second Aunt, you flatter me. I am a wife of the Lu family; we prosper together and suffer together."

Lu Shaoqing and Lady Lin’s smiles were strained. Lady Zhang, however, was enthusiastic, pulling Su Qingwan into a pleasant conversation. The maids in the hall stood at attention after serving tea.

Before long, Lu Feng and Li Xueying arrived.

Their wedding night had been a chaotic mess. Li Xueying had sent people to guard the courtyard gate and beat Lu Feng away, not letting him get within a step of her. Su Qingwan had heard they were fighting in the middle of the night.

Lu Feng still had fresh scratch marks on his neck.

"Oh, the new bride is here. Sister-in-law, you finally get to drink that daughter-in-law tea you’ve been longing for." Lady Zhang turned to Su Qingwan and added, "And you as well."

A concubine had to serve tea to the mistress to complete the rites.

Su Qingwan smiled gently, actually looking forward to the sight of Li Xueying kneeling to serve her tea.

Li Xueying looked around arrogantly. "I am the legitimate daughter of the noble Earl of Anping. There is no way I will be a concubine to Lu Feng. Today, I am returning to the Li family. From now on, I have nothing to do with your Lu family!"

She liked Lu Feng and admired his talent, but for a legitimate daughter of an Earl to be a concubine meant being pointed at for the rest of her life. Li Xueying had her pride; she would never agree to this. If she were to marry, it would be with dignity.

She glared at Su Qingwan with malice. Once she finished off this imposter and killed Xie Zhaolan a second time, the Lu family would still have to come crawling to welcome her as a bride.

Lu Shaoqing frowned and said, "Lady Li, your marriage to Feng-ge has already been reported to the official matchmaker, and the marriage contract is signed. You are a wife of the Lu family; how can you return to the Li family?"

"So what? I will speak to the official matchmaker myself and simply cancel the contract."

Lady Lin also chimed in, "Xueying, don't worry. In name, you are a concubine, but in our hearts, you are just like Zhaolan—you are Feng’er’s wife. We treat you both equally, and no one in the household will dare to gossip."

Su Qingwan gave a light, mocking laugh. A wife is a wife, and a concubine is a concubine—how could they ever be the same!