Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Substituting the Legitimate with the Illegitimate

Soon, everyone arrived at a secluded little courtyard, truly hidden and truly small.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not hide her displeasure, her delicate brows knitted in a clear frown.

Madam Liu gave an awkward laugh, quickly explaining, “Princess, our Second Miss just returned from the country estate. This courtyard is temporary.”

[A whole year, and she calls it temporary?]

Sheng Zhi Wan raised a brow but didn’t say anything, quietly following inside.

As soon as they entered, a faint coughing echoed. An elderly nanny emerged from the room, startled briefly by the unexpected guests. She hurriedly bowed in greeting.

“Enough, you may leave,” Madam Liu snapped sharply before guiding Sheng Zhi Wan into the room herself.

The chamber was stark and cold, with little warmth or decoration. At the sound of footsteps, the girl resting on the bed turned to look.

In her previous life, Sheng Zhi Wan had seen both Liu Yan and Liu Xu, but not in this one. Noble young ladies rarely went out, and Sheng Zhi Wan herself disliked attending or hosting parties, preferring to stay quietly by her grandmother in the Imperial Palace or the Detached Palace. Occasionally, she’d only venture out to meet Qi Shu Xian.

Thus, when Sheng Zhi Wan showed surprise, Madam Liu immediately checked Liu Xu, worried something about her might be amiss.

She glanced left and right but found nothing wrong.

Ignoring Madam Liu’s confusion, Sheng Zhi Wan stepped closer, studying Liu Xu carefully.

“Princess…is something wrong with my daughter?” Madam Liu asked hesitantly.

Sheng Zhi Wan remained silent, her expression suddenly turning cold.

“Madam Liu, is this truly your Second Young Lady Liu?” Sheng Zhi Wan questioned.

“Yes…yes, of course,” Madam Liu answered uncertainly.

Sheng Zhi Wan continued sharply, “Are you sure, Madam Liu, that this Second Miss Liu was indeed the one Second Young Master Shang rescued yesterday?”

“Naturally!” Madam Liu insisted nervously.

Shang Xiu Yuan stood anxiously outside, unable to enter the lady’s room, overhearing only bits and pieces.

Sheng Zhi Wan scoffed. “Does Madam Liu think you can fool the General’s residence, fool Second Young Master Shang, by simply picking any girl? Unfortunately, I saw clearly yesterday. That young lady boarded a carriage drawn by white horses. Even her maidservant—I recognized clearly. She is certainly not the one before me!”

Hearing this, Madam Liu’s face turned pale.

[How could this be?]

[Why didn’t Yan’er tell me?]

Had she known Sheng Zhi Wan saw Liu Yan, she’d never have brought her to see Liu Xu today. If Liu Xu entered the General’s household, who would question her later?

But now it wasn’t yet settled, and the Princess had uncovered it openly!

“Princess…perhaps you are mistaken? It truly was our Second Miss who fell into the water yesterday!” Madam Liu protested weakly.

“You dare doubt me?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked coldly.

“No…of course not.” Madam Liu forced a smile. “Perhaps the cold made her look different from her usual appearance.”

“Nonsense!” Sheng Zhi Wan shook her head firmly. “Yesterday, the lady I saw was tall and graceful, with a small mole beneath her right jaw and lovely almond-shaped eyes. The woman before me—does not match any of these!”

Madam Liu’s heart sank further.

[Tall and graceful, almond eyes, a mole under the jaw…]

One detail might have been coincidence, but together, these traits unmistakably pointed to Liu Yan.

“Princess…” Madam Liu broke out in cold sweat.

Before Madam Liu could find another excuse, Sheng Zhi Wan laughed coldly. “Oh, I understand now! This lady indeed is your Second Miss Liu, but the one who fell into the water yesterday was someone else entirely, wasn’t she?”

“I wonder, which young miss of Liu Residence could be so important, that Second Miss must bear blame?” Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at Liu Xu, who was now tearful and biting her lips tightly.

Madam Liu glared at Liu Xu but quickly turned to Sheng Zhi Wan with a flattering smile, desperate to please. Sheng Zhi Wan ignored her entirely, exiting swiftly.

Outside, Shang Xiu Yuan was clearly anxious. Upon seeing Sheng Zhi Wan emerge, he hurried over. “Princess, Madam Liu, how is Second Young Lady Liu? It is entirely my younger brother’s fault that Second Miss sought death. If anything happens, the General’s residence will be deeply ashamed.”

He bowed respectfully towards the direction of Second Young Lady Liu’s chamber.

Madam Liu’s face was an awkward mix of shame and discomfort.

Sheng Zhi Wan scoffed softly, “Eldest Young Master Shang need not rush to claim fault for your brother. First, ask Liu Residence who exactly the lady your brother rescued yesterday really was!”

“What?” Shang Xiu Yuan was stunned.

Madam Liu opened her mouth, about to explain, but Sheng Zhi Wan interrupted again.

“If I remember correctly, Liu Residence has a very famous young miss. May I see her?”

Madam Liu stammered, trying to find a refusal. “This…this…”

“Mother, I heard Princess Ning is here?” A delicate, cheerful voice rang out from outside.

Madam Liu froze in horror.

A graceful young woman in an elegant gown trimmed with fox fur stepped inside, followed by her maidservants.

“What nonsense—why are you here? Return at once!” Madam Liu rushed forward, forgetting Sheng Zhi Wan’s presence entirely, frantically pushing Liu Yan back out.

Liu Yan, confused, turned around unwillingly. She had come specifically to impress Princess Ning. [Why is Mother behaving this way?]

“Wait!” Sheng Zhi Wan smiled faintly.

[Liu Yan truly never changes; she always rushes eagerly to any excitement.]

Today, however, she was in exactly the right place.

“Princess, my daughter is foolish and rude. Please let me send her away,” Madam Liu pleaded anxiously.

“I said wait,” Sheng Zhi Wan repeated softly, stepping toward Liu Yan.

Madam Liu now deeply regretted everything. Only Liu Yan remained oblivious to the unfolding disaster.

Sheng Zhi Wan approached closely, studying her carefully.

Liu Yan hastily offered her most elegant curtsy. “I am Liu Yan, greeting Princess Ning.”

“Indeed,” Sheng Zhi Wan replied lightly. “So, you are Liu Yan? Liu Residence’s Eldest Young Miss?”

“Yes,” Liu Yan confirmed proudly.

Madam Liu turned ghostly pale, feeling faint.

Sheng Zhi Wan laughed softly. “Ah, I see.”

Madam Liu shut her eyes tightly.

Shang Xiu Yuan stood in stunned disbelief, finally grasping the full truth.

[So the lady Shang Hang Yu rescued wasn’t Second Young Lady Liu at all—but Liu Yan, the legitimate eldest miss!]

“To substitute the legitimate daughter with an illegitimate one…” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice was gentle yet coldly scornful. “If Liu Residence is unwilling to marry their Eldest Young Miss to Second Young Master Shang, simply refuse. Why push out your illegitimate daughter instead?”

Liu Yan’s pretty, smiling face froze instantly in shock.

She stared disbelievingly at Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan returned her gaze with a gentle smile, speaking clearly, “Tell me, Eldest Young Lady Liu, did you know about this?”