The emotions of the surrounding commoners grew more and more intense, but Lady Xiao's face became increasingly troubled.
It wasn't that she didn't want to recognize her own daughter. She knew exactly what kind of hard life her daughter had endured in the past dozen years. Moreover, due to the theory of the inauspicious fate, the people of the Xiao Mansion had even secretly made the Sheng family's life even more difficult.
However, to avoid the inauspicious fate of Sheng Yuzhen, none of the Xiao family members had ever thought of giving her any support. They had just watched helplessly as Sheng Yuzhen "suffered" in the Sheng family.
Now, Sheng Yuzhen somehow found out about her identity and came to the Xiao Mansion in advance to claim her rightful place. Lady Xiao's first reaction was whether she would bring more bad luck and harm to them.
"Good child, the matter of acknowledging kinship is of great significance. I have to inform the master. I can't just recognize you on the spot. We still need to conduct a blood - relation test..."
As soon as Lady Xiao finished speaking, Sheng Yuzhen pushed aside her hair, revealing the back of her neck.
There was a butterfly - shaped birthmark on the back of her neck, exactly the same as the one on Lady Xiao's neck.
Seeing this, some of the commoners below whispered to those beside them. "I heard that Lady Xiao also has a butterfly birthmark on the back of her neck. It was told by the aunt of the nephew of the husband of my second aunt next door. She works in the Xiao Mansion."
The person next to him immediately continued, "Yes, the father - in - law of the wife of my friend's wife's father is the one who empties the night - soil in the Xiao Mansion. He also heard from the maids and servants in the Xiao Mansion."
The news spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred. All the onlookers on the street knew about the butterfly birthmark on Lady Xiao's neck.
At this point, the commoners firmly believed that Sheng Yuzhen was the real young lady of the Xiao Mansion, while I was just an impostor who had occupied the rightful place.
Seeing that Sheng Yuzhen's action had caused a stir among the commoners, Lady Xiao's face turned pale, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. But she quickly adjusted Sheng Yuzhen's collar and, with a dark face, dragged her into the Xiao Mansion.
When the commoners saw that the main characters had left, they murmured a few words and then slowly dispersed.
Before long, gossips about the real and fake young ladies in the Prime Minister Xiao's Mansion spread like wildfire in the capital city. Of course, this was also partly due to the efforts of Xie Yumo and me. We wanted to spread this matter as widely as possible to force the Xiao family to recognize Sheng Yuzhen.
Sheng Yuzhen was taken into the main hall for receiving guests. Along the way, Xiao Bao'er followed behind her and clearly saw the greed and calculation on her face. Remembering the evaluation in the information about Sheng Yuzhen, Xiao Bao'er was extremely looking forward to the days to come.
When Sheng Yuzhen looked at Xiao Bao'er, there was a proud look in her eyes and brows, as if she were a proud peacock looking down on a loser with pity.
After arriving at the main hall, Lady Xiao ordered someone to prepare water for the blood - relation test. When giving instructions to the servants, Lady Xiao gave Xiao Bao'er a warning look, as if admonishing her not to play any tricks.
Xiao Bao'er shrugged. Of course, she wouldn't play any tricks to prevent their recognition. If she really wanted to, she would add a large amount of alum to make their blood blend completely.
However, the blood - relation test was just for show. After seeing the jade pendant of the Xiao Mansion and Sheng Yuzhen's butterfly - shaped birthmark, Lady Xiao was already extremely certain that Sheng Yuzhen was her daughter. Moreover, they looked so similar.
When seeing the two drops of blood blend in the water, Lady Xiao couldn't hold back her emotions any longer. She hugged Sheng Yuzhen and began to cry, "Daughter, my daughter! You've suffered outside all these years!"
Sheng Yuzhen was a little confused by her mother's reaction. She originally thought she would have to go through a lot of trouble to prove that she was the real young lady of the Xiao Mansion. But now, she had been recognized by Lady Xiao just like that?
I watched this seemingly warm scene coldly, feeling extremely uncomfortable and nauseous. My biological parents had lived in poverty because of their selfishness and had been separated from me. Why should they enjoy the family happiness?
I was too lazy to watch this scene of motherly kindness and filial piety any longer, so I deliberately spoke up.
"Mother, now that younger sister has finally returned, our Xiao Mansion should compensate her well in the future."
"Our Xiao Mansion?! Who do you think you are in the Xiao family?" As expected, Sheng Yuzhen couldn't help but explode when she heard my words. Her voice was shrill and high - pitched.
Mother was startled by Sheng Yuzhen's voice and turned her head uncomfortably.
Although she was trying to comfort Sheng Yuzhen, there was also a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone. "Bao'er has been raised in our family for so many years. We have feelings for her. Why isn't she a member of the Xiao family?"
Sheng Yuzhen widened her eyes and, regardless of etiquette, pointed at me with her finger. "This little slut has enjoyed the wealth and honor for so many years in my place. She should go back to the slums to suffer. Why should she still stay in the Xiao Mansion?!"
Mother was a little uncomfortable with Sheng Yuzhen's vulgar actions and shrill voice, but she still patiently explained.
"You know that your foster parents' family is in difficult conditions. Bao'er has been spoiled since childhood. She can't adapt to that kind of life. It's okay for her to stay. It's just one more mouth to feed. Our Xiao Mansion can afford it."
"Also, your foster parents have raised you for so long. You still have to go back... to show your filial piety... We'll pick you up again after some time..."
Lady Xiao didn't want to tell Sheng Yuzhen about the exchange of fates directly, so she just stated her decision. In Sheng Yuzhen's eyes, this was clearly favoritism.
She lay on the ground regardless of her image, throwing a tantrum and rolling around. Tears and snot streamed down her face.
"Waaaaa, you're being partial. Couldn't she have survived in that place just as I did all these years? You just don't want to recognize me. You think I'm from the slums and not worthy of your Prime Minister's Mansion, right?!"
I watched Sheng Yuzhen's unreasonable behavior and dug my nails into my thigh to hold back my laughter.
Go on, make a scene. The more you make a scene, the happier I'll be, Xiao Bao'er thought to herself, looking forward to Sheng Yuzhen turning the Xiao Mansion upside down.
Mother frowned impatiently and couldn't help but slap the table hard. "That's enough! Is this how your foster parents raised you? You have no manners at all. You're just like a shrew from the streets!"
Seeing that Lady Xiao was really angry, Sheng Yuzhen remembered that she had just been recognized by Lady Xiao. She didn't want to go too far. She thought that it was okay for this impostor not to leave the mansion. After all, now that the real young lady of the Xiao Mansion had returned, would the people of the Xiao Mansion still care about this impostor?
So, Sheng Yuzhen calmed down her emotions and apologized to Lady Xiao. "Mother, I'm sorry. I was reckless."
Seeing that Sheng Yuzhen had a good attitude of admitting her mistake, Lady Xiao didn't say anything more. But she was still worried about the matter of fate, so she quickly wrote a letter and sent someone to invite Mr. Qi back to the mansion.
But before the servant who was sent to deliver the letter could even leave the main hall, a young pageboy ran in from outside.
"Madam, Madam! Mr. Qi is back at the mansion!"