Chapter 118

Chapter 118: An Unexpected Joy

Madam Ji seemed to drift back many years as she murmured: “In the third year of Cheng’an, the third ranked scholar…”

Ji Ru Zhen frowned and counted the dates, saying: “The third year of Cheng’an? It is already the twenty-seventh year of Cheng’an now, and Father was that year’s top scholar. Mother, you…”

Madam Ji kept thinking of that man and, the more she thought, the more Chun Zhi looked like him in her mind.

Back in the third year of Cheng’an, Madam Ji had not yet married. Her father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and had already planned to choose a son-in-law from the new Imperial Examinations cohort.

Young at the time, Madam Ji fell for the third ranked scholar at first sight. Her father also felt the third ranked scholar had real talent, fine looks, and a steady nature, so he wanted to bring him into the family.

Everything at home was prepared. They only waited for the third ranked scholar to nod, and the wedding would be set.

But no one knew the third ranked scholar already had a fiancée. He only wanted to earn his rank and marry the girl he loved.

He refused to marry his mentor’s daughter. No matter the pressure or the promises, he did not bend and insisted on marrying his fiancée.

Angry, Madam Ji married the top scholar instead. In a blink, more than twenty years passed. The man she married rose step by step and became the current chancellor, while the third ranked scholar who had refused the match angered the emperor ten years ago, had his home confiscated, and was exiled to a bitter, freezing place.

Life had treated Madam Ji well these years, and she had not thought of that man for a long time. But today, when she saw Chun Zhi, she remembered him again. Some people, once remembered, make your teeth itch with hate.

Seeing her mother lost in memory, Ji Ru Zhen could not help asking: “I heard from Lu Jing Yun that Chun Zhi drifted to Linshui Town ten years ago. She had a serious illness and forgot everything…”

“Ten years?” Madam Ji came back to herself and said: “What a coincidence. That man was exiled ten years ago, and he did have a daughter about Song Chun Zhi’s age.”

“Truly?” Ji Ru Zhen sat up straighter at once. Chun Zhi’s background was unclear. If she was the daughter of a convicted official, her match with Prince Chang’an would be ruined. Not only that, they could also chase the crime of her escape that year. She would never have good days again. Ji Ru Zhen pictured herself facing Wang Yi Yue day after day with mutual hate and thought: [Why should Chun Zhi get to live a good life? I will make her taste every bitter hardship.]

Madam Ji looked at Ji Ru Zhen and knew at once what she was thinking, saying: “Chun Zhi may not be that man’s daughter. If we get this wrong, it will be a mess. And even if you want revenge, do not do it yourself. Just leak this to Wang Sixth Miss.”

Right now, no one hated Chun Zhi more than Wang Yi Yue.

Ji Ru Zhen lowered her head and said: “Mother is right. Your daughter understands.”

If they told Wang Yi Yue that Chun Zhi might be the escaped daughter of a convicted official from ten years ago, Wang Yi Yue, who hated Chun Zhi so much, would never let her go.

It would be best if Chun Zhi truly was the daughter of a criminal.

If she was not, then it had nothing to do with the Ji Clan.

All the better.

…

At this time in Song Manor, Chun Zhi and Song Wan’er, after seeing the Ji Clan mother and daughter out, returned to the small courtyard.

Little Xing Hui was already awake, lying on the bed and stretching his arms and kicking his legs. When he saw his mother come back, his black eyes watched her, bright and round.

The moment Chun Zhi saw Little Xing Hui, her heart turned soft.

Song Wan’er stood beside the bed teasing Little Xing Hui and making him laugh.

She also wanted to hold him. The small baby was soft and warm, with a sweet milk scent that she loved.

The sisters coaxed the child together.

Qing Ye stood to the side, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Chun Zhi handed Little Xing Hui to Song Wan’er to hold, then looked back at Qing Ye and asked: “Qing Ye, what do you want to say?”

Qing Ye answered: “This maid thinks the way Madam Ji looked at Miss was strange. It felt like she knew Miss.”

Chun Zhi said: “I also thought Madam Ji’s reaction was odd.”

It had been too obvious.

A person like Madam Chancellor, who had lived to that age, had seen all kinds of people and matters. Yet when she saw Chun Zhi, she showed a look like that.

At suppertime, Song An Lan and Huo Zheng returned to Song Manor.

Chun Zhi told them that Madam Chancellor had visited today and how Madam Ji reacted when she saw her.

Huo Zheng said: “Then I will send people to watch the Chancellor’s Manor and see if Madam Ji makes any moves in the next few days.”

Chun Zhi nodded and said: “That is good.”

Huo Zheng at once ordered men to keep an eye on Madam Ji at the Chancellor’s Manor.

Song An Lan said: “If we can find out who Chun Zhi’s birth parents are through Madam Ji, that would be an unexpected joy.”

It truly would be an unexpected joy.

Since Chun Zhi drifted into Linshui Town at age nine, she had fallen badly ill and, after a high fever, forgot all her memories from before she was nine.

These years, she often envied people who had father and mother and a warm family.

Sometimes, late at night, she would also think: [If only I could find my family.]

Sadly, no matter what she tried, she could not recall those early years.

Now she could only rely on outside help to search for her family.

From Chun Zhi’s eyes, Huo Zheng could tell she longed very much to find her kin.

He served her a bowl of fish soup and said in a low voice: “Do not worry. If Madam Ji has any clue, I will help you find your family.”

Chun Zhi hummed in agreement and reached out to take the soup bowl.

Seeing this, Song Wan’er could not help whispering: “We are also Sister’s family.”

Chun Zhi picked up a piece of her favorite sweet-and-sour fish and placed it in Song Wan’er’s bowl, saying: “Wan’er is my sister, of course my family, and so is our elder brother.”

Song An Lan said warmly: “Wan’er and I are by your side. That goes without saying. If we can find your parents and let them send you off in marriage themselves, it would be even better.”

He and Wan’er had lost both parents, and during holidays they still often missed the days when their parents were alive.

Chun Zhi had wandered far from home for many years and had lived in the Lu Clan all that time. Of course she wanted to find her family.

After the meal, Huo Zheng walked with Chun Zhi through the garden.

Song Wan’er was over there on the swing, and Song An Lan helped push. Brother and sister talked together.

In the garden, a hundred flowers bloomed and the view was beautiful.

The cute young miss flew up and down on the swing, while the gentle young master smiled by her side.

The two of them were a scene of their own.

Chun Zhi only glanced once toward Song Wan’er, and Huo Zheng asked her: “Do you want to swing?”

“Not at all,” she said quickly, then added even faster: “Truly not.” She was afraid he would carry her over without a word.

Huo Zheng smiled and asked: “Then why were you looking at Song Wan’er?”

“I was just thinking,” Chun Zhi said, stopping to look up at the peach blossoms in full bloom, “I wonder if I have an elder brother, or a sister, or both.”

She added softly: “I have been away from home for so many years. Are my father and mother always worried about me, or have they already forgotten me?”

Huo Zheng drew Chun Zhi into his arms and gently patted her back to comfort her.

Leaning against him, Chun Zhi said in a low voice: “It is fine if they have forgotten me. I only hope they are living well.”

Holding her, Huo Zheng said quietly: “They would not forget you. I am sure they have been searching for you.”

Chun Zhi whispered: “I hope they are all well.”