Chapter 6

A similar situation happened at the beginning of this dynasty.

The Lanling Song family was a well-known and prestigious family. However, they offended powerful officials, fell into debt, and struggled to raise their youngest son. They had no choice but to give him up, and he was adopted by a couple from the Jiang family.

That child turned out to be promising. He passed the examination and became a scholar at fifteen, with a bright future. When the powerful officials who oppressed the Song family fell, the Song family gradually recovered and wanted to bring their child back.

However, the Jiang couple had no children and had passed away two years earlier, making it impossible to negotiate a family tree change. The Jiang family was somewhat snobbish and valued family matters highly, so they did not agree to let the child recognize the Song family.

The two families argued, and the dispute spread from the Jingzhao Yin Mansion to the Golden Palace. In the end, Emperor Huiwen, who was in power at the time, personally judged the matter.

Emperor Huiwen believed in respecting the dead. Since the Song family already had two children, while the Jiang family had none, he allowed the child to remain in the Jiang family tree.

That settled the matter.

However, the Song and Jiang families were evenly matched. Both had connections in Beijing, which could help the young man’s future, so it didn’t matter where he chose to stay.

As for Tao Sheng, her biological father is the Marquis of Wenyuan, while the Shen family is also a longstanding noble family. Her deceased adoptive father was just a local teacher, and his family lacked financial resources. Many believed that anyone with common sense would not choose to stay with the Luo family.

Consequently, everyone concluded that Tao Sheng was either being stubborn or trying to gain greater benefits.

Facing the differing opinions, Luo Xin frowned slightly: “The show outside has started. I’ll take Tao Sheng there first, and the rest can be discussed after the banquet.”

Tao Sheng had made her point clear and didn’t want to see Shen Yu’s face any longer. “I might have caught a cold on the way. I feel a little dizzy and have chest discomfort. These are old winter problems. I have medicine at home. I’ll take some when I get back. I’m sorry for disturbing you for so long. I won’t trouble the Marquis’ Mansion anymore.”

After saying this, she stood up to leave.

Luo Xin stood up, wanting to persuade her, but seeing her resolute expression left her momentarily dazed. After a long pause, she said, “There are many people outside, and you aren’t familiar with the way to the Marquis’ Mansion. I’ll take you out.”

Luo Xin valued this day greatly. She had sent out invitations early in the morning and invited all their familiar relatives and friends to celebrate the birthdays of the two girls.

At this time, the performance had already begun, but the guests did not see the host come out to greet them, so they chatted in groups outside.

Qian, the head lady of the second house, casually said while eating melon seeds: “The Marquis’ Mansion is really grand today. Is it really just for the birthday of the family’s daughter, not for Ruojin’s selection?”

Madam Chu from the third house replied, “Haven’t we been celebrating for several days? What else is there to celebrate? In my opinion, the old lady just dotes on this granddaughter too much. The girls from the Wei and Gu families were also selected, but they didn’t make such a big show.”

“That’s different,” Qian said. “Master Gu and Master Wei have many daughters and seem to be keeping a low profile after being selected this time, unlike our Marquis’ Mansion.”

As they talked, they saw Luo Xin escorting a girl in blue. The girl had beautiful features, looking very much like Marquis’s wife Luo when she was young.

Chu’s eyes lit up: “Whose girl is this? I haven’t seen her in the Marquis’ Mansion in these years.”

Qian examined Tao Sheng closely and commented, “Though she’s young and beautiful, her clothes are very simple, and she doesn’t have any decent jewelry. Could she be a distant relative of the Marquis’ wife seeking refuge with her family?”

Chu agreed with Qian, “It looks nice. The Marquis’s wife came to see her off personally, so she must really like this girl.”

“Yes, Marquis’s wife is beautiful, and she’s my own daughter. How could I not like her?” Qian said. “She must be lucky to be favored by the Marquis’s wife.”

At the same time, Shen Yue, sitting at the table, saw his mother taking Tao Sheng out. He gently nudged Shen Ci, who was talking to their cousin.

Shen Ci looked in the same direction and gave his brother a confused look.

Ever since they learned the elders were deciding whether to recognize Tao Sheng, the brothers had been worried about Ruojin, fearing she might fall seriously ill again, losing all her energy like before.

They had been paying close attention to the situation. Now, seeing their mother take Tao Sheng out, they didn’t know what was happening, so they went to see their grandmother at De Shou Tang to find out.

Seeing Luo Xin take Tao Sheng away, Shen Ruojin immediately burst into tears. “Before, my sister was sad because of me. Now that I’m the eldest daughter, I can only let her be the second daughter. I’m afraid Tao Sheng still has concerns. Why don’t Father and Mother discuss this and let the two of us go back to where we belong? That way, she might feel better and wouldn’t refuse to come home even though she has one…”

Nanny Yang, her nursemaid, quickly advised, “Young lady, you can’t do that! You haven’t seen your parents in years, and you don’t even know where they are or how they’re doing. If you leave the mansion, you might not have a place to stay. You need to think about yourself and your elders, not just your sister.”

Nanny Yang had been with Ruojin for years and knew her well. She thought Ruojin was speaking in a way to impress the people around her.

But Nanny Yang also knew Ruojin was very determined. Once she set her mind on something, she never looked back.

She worried Ruojin might not be able to let go of the issue, so she gave her some advice.

Ruojin shook her head with tears in her eyes, “Mammy, please don’t say that. It’s my fault today.”

She had been chosen as the companion of Princess Hui’an, so the mansion wouldn’t give up on her over something so small. Now that she was certain she would win against Tao Sheng, she didn’t mind showing her generosity in front of her parents and elders.

Madam Shen hugged Ruojin and interrupted, “She’s stubborn, and this has nothing to do with you. Your father said she would be added to the family tree after the New Year, and your mother even invited clan members and an opera troupe to celebrate her birthday. But she has no respect for her elders or the Wenyuan Marquisate. Even if she regrets it later, no one can bring her back without my permission. I don’t have a granddaughter like that.”

Shen Ci pouted and said to his elder brother, “I knew she and our family didn’t get along. It’s not surprising they’re celebrating her birthday so grandly.”

Shen Yue also felt bad for Ruojin. Tao Sheng just ignored the kindness of her elders and walked away, which seemed hard to believe. “I didn’t realize before that the second sister has such a temper.”