Shen Yuning knew it was pointless to reason with such people and didn't want to waste any more words. She stepped out and said softly, "Second Lady Xue, I was your daughter for fifteen years. You know my character best. You also know why the Xiao family refused the marriage. Why do you shift all the blame onto me?"
Xue Yujiao rushed forward, clawing and scratching at Shen Yuning. But with Old Man Zhang and Shen Fugui by Shen Yuning's side, she couldn't even get close.
She howled, "Shen Yuning, you're so shameless! You're a flirt! You've seduced all those men one after another. The Cheng, Chen, and Xiao families—what noble families they are! How could a merchant's daughter like you be worthy of them? I can't believe you've become so cheap after leaving the Xue family. You've used your seductive ways to make those men..."
Before she could finish, Shen Yuning stepped forward and slapped her across the face, catching Xue Yujiao off guard.
"You hit me? How dare you?"
Shen Yuning grabbed her hair and sneered, "Xue Yujiao, what did you eat today? Your mouth stinks so much! Not only will I hit you, but if you dare to slander me one more word, I'll pull out all your hair."
When Xue Yujiao first returned to the Marquis's Mansion, she was extremely envious of Shen Yuning's long, black, and silky hair. Over the years, she had taken great care of her own hair and finally managed to make it look good. How could she bear to have it pulled out by Shen Yuning? In pain and desperation, tears welled up in her eyes.
In fact, Shen Yuning really didn't understand. Since she returned to the capital, she had kept a clear line with the second branch of the Xue family. But Xue Yujiao would come and cause trouble every now and then. The strange thing was that she had caused trouble several times, and each time, she was the one who suffered. Why did she keep coming back?
Was she really that forgetful?
However, thinking of what Xue Yuxin had said about the second branch of the family causing chaos at home every few months, Shen Yuning thought that Xue Yujiao did look rather stupid.
Well, let Xue Yujiao lose face one more time.
Seeing her poor daughter being bullied, Lady Xiao flew into a rage and shouted, "Yuning! You've wronged her for fifteen years, and now you even dare to hurt her? You're a vicious woman! A vicious woman!"
Shen Yuning didn't loosen her grip on Xue Yujiao's hair, but her tone was calm. "I'm a titled rural noblewoman personally conferred by the emperor. Xue Yujiao's disrespectful words are a serious offense. Not only can I teach her a lesson like this, but I can also send her to the authorities for punishment."
Seeing that Lady Xiao was speechless, Shen Yuning pushed Xue Yujiao towards her and said impatiently, "Second Lady Xue, Xue Yujiao, let me say it one more time. Back then, I was just a toddler. It wasn't my intention to be raised as the daughter of the Marquis's Mansion for fifteen years. I've never held you accountable for what you've done to me. It's not only because I remember your kindness in raising me but also because I thought Xue Yujiao was the victim. But my patience has its limits. If you keep bullying and slandering me, do you think I'm a soft - tempered person?"
Xue Yujiao held her scattered hair. Several handfuls of hair had been pulled out. She cried loudly and pointed at Shen Yuning, shouting, "You... You're just being unreasonable. You're so shameless. You..."
Shen Yuning glanced at her and continued, "Second Lady Xue, think about why Xue Yujiao has become like this. After she came back, you didn't teach her the rules of a noble family or the manners of a noble lady. Instead, you indulged her. Is this how you're making up for the fifteen years she lost? Don't you understand the principle that excessive love can harm her?"
Lady Xiao's face turned red with anger. Her eyes were wide open as she shouted, "Shen Yuning, it's none of your business how I raise my children. Do you think you're superior just because you were raised by your grandparents? Let me tell you, you're just a low - class woman, born to a low - class mother. You'll never be able to rise above your station. And you're a merchant's daughter, which is a low - class occupation. Even if the emperor conferred the title of rural noblewoman on you, you'll always be low - class."
She was so angry that she was babbling incoherence. She hugged Xue Yujiao. In fact, she wasn't angry that Shen Yuning had hit Xue Yujiao but angry at herself. Shen Yuning's words, "excessive love can harm her", had made her feel panicked.
It's impossible. It's impossible. She did all this because Yujiao was her own daughter, the daughter she had lost for fifteen years. How could she not spoil and love her? She was her only flesh and blood.
"Shen Yuning, don't try to scare me. Yujiao will always be a daughter of the Xue family. Do you think that by making those families reject Yujiao, you can marry into them? You're daydreaming. What's your status? You're just a..."
"What's her status?"
A loud voice filled with anger and authority came. Shen Yuning looked up and saw her uncle getting out of the luxurious carriage. He carefully carried Huzi out and then walked over.
Marquis Qiyang walked up to Lady Xiao, looked at her coldly, and chuckled. "Tell me, what's Yuning's status?"
Lady Xiao was at a loss for words. She didn't understand what her elder brother - in - law meant. She quickly explained, "She seduced the Xiao family into rejecting Yujiao and then asking to marry her. I'm really angry. What's her status? How could she be worthy of the Xiao family?"
Marquis Qiyang was so angry that he laughed. He asked, "What's so great about the Xiao family? Only your Yujiao is willing to marry into it. Even if they take a fancy to Yuning, I'm not willing to marry her into that family!"
Lady Xiao was even more stunned. What did it matter to her elder brother - in - law where Shen Yuning married?
Marquis Qiyang continued, "Moreover, your natal family rejected Yujiao. What does it have to do with Yuning? You should go and cause trouble in your natal family. It's their family that doesn't want to marry your daughter. It has nothing to do with others."
Lady Xiao's already muddled mind became even more confused after being stimulated by him. She jumped up and shouted, "It's her! It's all her fault. Without her, my Yujiao wouldn't be so miserable. Why did the Xiao family reject the marriage? She's low - class by birth, and the things she does are also low - class!"
Even Marquis Qiyang, who was usually good - tempered, was so angry that his face turned red. He interrupted her, "That's enough! Stop talking. You set your sights too high first. You looked down on the Xiao family before, and now that no one is interested in your daughter, you remember that there's a young man in the Xiao family who is still unmarried? You blame everyone and everything but yourself. It's true that Yuning is a merchant's daughter. But have you ever thought about why your natal family, your own elder brother and sister - in - law, would rather marry Yuning, whom you look down on, than Yujiao?"
He looked up at Xue Yujiao. He had felt sorry for her before, but that bit of sympathy had been completely wiped out when his Yuxin had an accident. Now, all he felt was disgust.
"Xue Yujiao is overbearing, selfish, jealous, and bullies her elder sister and can't tolerate her younger sister. What family would dare to marry such a vicious girl?"
Lady Xiao covered her heart and looked at him in disbelief. He was a marquis! How could he describe his own niece in such a way in public? How could he? How dare he? He...
A sense of pleasure welled up in Marquis Qiyang's heart. Yuxin, Dad has finally avenged you for what happened back then.
He looked at Shen Yuning and then at Lady Xiao and her daughter. He continued, "Also, today I'll go to the palace to see the emperor and ask him to make a decision. I want to adopt Shen Yuning as my daughter. From now on, Yuning is the daughter of the Xue family of Marquis Qiyang. Just like Yuxin, I'll never allow anyone to bully my daughter."
Lady Xiao's mouth was wide open and she couldn't close it. She stepped forward to grab her elder brother - in - law's sleeve, but he shook her off. She was unwilling. "You... How could you do this? Yujiao is your own niece. She..."
Marquis Qiyang's face remained cold. Only when he looked at Shen Yuning did a trace of kindness appear on his face. "Yuning is the child raised by your grandfather. She has been smart and lovely since childhood. I've always regarded her as my own daughter. Later, I also said that I hoped to keep Yuning in the mansion as an adopted daughter... Yuning, for the things I missed in the past, Dad will make it up to you in the future, okay?"
He slowly stretched out his hand and looked at Shen Yuning with a smile.
...
These days, the hottest topic in the capital was that Marquis Xue of the Marquis Qiyang's Mansion had adopted the former Rural Noblewoman Shen, who had been driven out of the mansion, as his adopted daughter.
Some people said that Marquis Qiyang was a scheming man. When Rural Noblewoman Shen was powerless before, he had heartlessly driven her out. Now that she had been rewarded by the emperor, he was eager to recognize her.
Others said that Marquis Qiyang was kind - hearted. Regardless of Rural Noblewoman Shen's low birth, he had found an opportunity to recognize her because she had been raised by the old marquis, which was really special.
Some people also talked about the division of the first and second branches of the Xue family. Generally speaking, the second master Xue had lost both his wife and his troops. He had abandoned such a good daughter as Rural Noblewoman Shen, and his own daughter had a really bad reputation.
The words Marquis Qiyang had said about his niece in public that day had spread all over the capital. Some small - family gentry who had originally wanted to marry the second daughter of the Xue family to gain some influence from the Marquis's Mansion all gave up after hearing this news.
Now, Xue Yujiao was completely ignored.
That day, when Weirui was taking Huzi home, she saw the situation at home and was afraid that her aunt would be at a disadvantage. So she ran to the Marquis's Mansion. Originally, she wanted to ask the young marquis for help, but the young marquis was out on business. Instead, Marquis Xue heard the news and immediately got in the carriage with her and rushed to the Rural Noblewoman's Mansion.
Weirui was a little nervous. In fact, that day, her aunt had refused and didn't agree to be Marquis Qiyang's daughter. But Marquis Qiyang had driven Lady Xiao and her daughter away and really went to the palace to see the emperor and ask him to make a decision.
Now, her aunt had become the adopted daughter of the Marquis's Mansion.
She stammered and advised, "Aunt... Actually, the Marquis's Mansion is quite nice."
Shen Yuning smiled. "I know. I grew up there, so I naturally know. I'm fine."
Old Man Zhang was very happy. He told Zhang Rong to pack Shen Yuning's things. Then he went to the study to see Shen Yuning. Seeing that the aunt and niece were sitting properly, he walked over. "Yuning, you're not only a rural noblewoman now but also the daughter of the Marquis's Mansion. You're really something. In the future, your parents will take care of your marriage. It won't be bad. I can finally put my heart at ease."
Shen Yuning was not a fussy person. Since things had come to this, she would accept it. She had always regarded Uncle and Aunt Xue as her relatives, so she naturally wouldn't be reluctant.
"I'll have to trouble Uncle with the family affairs."
Old Man Zhang patted his chest. "You can rest assured. I'll take care of the family. Your uncle is very capable. I'll raise both Weirui and Huzi fat and healthy."
Weirui's smiling face fell when she heard this. Not long after she went to the small village, Old Man Zhang noticed that she had a big appetite. Whenever he had some extra money, he would buy food for her. Maybe he had gotten addicted to it, and he hadn't changed in all these years.
But now she was a young lady. How could she still eat and drink like before? If she got too fat, she would be laughed at.