Chapter 131: The Marchioness

August 16th?

It was indeed August 16th!

Madam Leng and Lu Chang Qing exchanged glances, each seeing the astonishment reflected in the other’s eyes.

Finally, Lu Chang Qing spoke up, “What a coincidence. My birthday is also on August 16th.”

“Such a coincidence!”

Ye Xin Ran echoed the sentiment outwardly, but inwardly, she wasn’t surprised at all.

Twins, after all, share the same birthday.

Madam Leng placed her hand over her chest.

The shock of uncovering the truth left her struggling to breathe. How could this be possible? How could a child of the Leng family end up lost in the outside world?

“Miss Ye, your parents… No, wait, let’s hold off for a few more days…”

Madam Leng’s words became disjointed.

She wanted to share her suspicions with Ye Xin Ran, but what if she was wrong? Wouldn’t that hurt the child unnecessarily? She decided it would be best to first write to her sister and confirm the situation.

“Miss Ye, if it’s not too much trouble, could you come by every three days to check on Chang Qing’s health?” Madam Leng suggested.

She had noticed Lu Chang Qing’s growing fondness for Ye Xin Ran and hoped the two could spend more time together.

The suggestion was perfectly in line with Lu Chang Qing’s wishes.

He added, “We’d be very grateful, Miss Ye.”

“Alright, since you’re both concerned, I’ll come by every three days,” Ye Xin Ran agreed.

“But Lu Chang Qing condition has been neglected for too long. It won’t be something that can be cured overnight. It will require prolonged observation and treatment.”

“No problem. As long as it can be cured, however long it takes is fine,” Lu Chang Qing replied.

Madam Leng’s emotions were a swirl of conflicting feelings.

After Ye Xin Ran got up and left, Madam Leng turned to Lu Chang Qing, wanting to say something but unsure of how to begin.

In the end, it was Lu Chang Qing who broke the silence first.

“Auntie, this Miss Ye is my real sister, isn’t she?”

Madam Leng finally spoke. “You think so too? From the moment I first saw her, I felt she looked familiar, but I didn’t dare to consider the possibility. But how many coincidences like this can exist in the world…?”

“Auntie, you’re basing it on appearances, but I didn’t come to this conclusion because of how she looks,” Lu Chang Qing interrupted her.

“Then how did you figure it out?” Madam Leng asked.

“By instinct!” Lu Chang Qing’s gaze unfocused as his thoughts drifted back to the day he first met Ye Xin Ran.

“The first time I saw her, I felt she was special, someone I wanted to know and get closer to.

I’ve never had this feeling toward anyone else before.”

That “anyone else” immediately reminded Madam Leng of Lu Zhi Yi.

Lu Chang Qing and Lu Zhi Yi were twins, born to be the closest of siblings.

Yet, from the moment they were in the cradle, Lu Chang Qing had shown an unusual aversion to Lu Zhi Yi.

Not only would he lash out with fists and kicks, but he’d also cry loudly whenever his mother held Lu Zhi Yi.

Back then, everyone assumed it was just childish behavior.

Lu Chang Qing’s mother would often complain to Madam Leng, saying her twins were clearly enemies from a past life.

Later, due to Lu Chang Qing’s heart condition, to avoid agitating him, his mother decided to raise Lu Zhi Yi in a separate courtyard.

She could only visit her daughter when Lu Chang Qing was asleep or away playing.

This decision left Madam Leng feeling guilty toward her niece. When Lu Zhi Yi grew up distant from her mother, Madam Leng always blamed herself.

To compensate for this guilt, the Marquis and his wife indulged Lu Zhi Yi’s every whim.

Even Madam Leng, as her aunt, felt that they spoiled Lu Zhi Yi excessively.

“I’ll write to your mother shortly,” Madam Leng said, “to ask what really happened back then. Also, I’ll investigate Ye Xin Ran’s parents to see who they really are.”

“No matter what happened back then,” Lu Chang Qing declared with certainty, “Ye Xin Ran is my sister.”

The realization that Ye Xin Ran was his sister filled Lu Chang Qing with a mixture of happiness and relief.

So that’s why he had this unique feeling toward her. It wasn’t that he harbored improper feelings for a married woman, he simply cared for Ye Xin Ran because she was his sister.

Whether it was the medicine taking effect or the peace of mind brought by this new found understanding, Lu Chang Qing felt a sense of comfort he hadn’t experienced in years.

For the first time, it seemed as though the illness that had tormented him for over a decade had finally loosened its grip.

He made another suggestion: “Auntie, besides looking into her parents, also investigate her husband. The last time I saw him, he didn’t seem like an ordinary hunter. I want to know exactly who he is to have married my sister.”

Madam Leng, noticing his serious expression, quickly responded, “You’re not planning to do anything rash, are you? I’ve heard from Xin Ran herself that she has a good relationship with her husband. Even if he’s just a hunter, so what? As long as she loves him, that’s all that matters.”

“Auntie, what are you thinking?” Lu Chang Qing replied. “I won’t look down on him just because he’s a hunter. As long as he treats my sister well, his status doesn’t matter.

But if he doesn’t treat her right, then even if he’s a prince, it wouldn’t be acceptable.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll have someone look into it,” Madam Leng agreed.

A few days later, Madam Leng’s servant returned with the information they had gathered:

It turned out that Ye Xin Ran’s father, Ye Da Cheng, was originally an ordinary villager. Somehow, he connected with someone influential, began a business, and made a fortune. He even purchased the title of a “Yuan Wai” (a minor government official). After that, his life went smoothly, and he enjoyed over a decade of prosperity.

As for what exactly happened back then, due to the passage of time, no one could uncover the details.

The servant reported this information to Madam Leng, who let out a sigh.

“It seems we’ll still have to wait for news from the capital.”

…

While Madam Leng’s letter was still in route, Magistrate Qiao’s letter had already arrived in the capital.

Marquis Lu read the description in Magistrate Qiao’s letter and frowned deeply.

“That Ye Da Cheng truly is useless,” he muttered.

“He couldn’t even raise a simple girl properly. Over the years, so much money has been wasted. Looking back, it would’ve been better to cut ties swiftly and cleanly.”

If he weren’t concerned about his wife noticing something amiss, he would never have left such a liability behind.

Now that even Magistrate Qiao had noticed irregularities, this matter could no longer be delayed.

With that thought, Marquis Lu called out, “Zhu Que!”

A man dressed in black suddenly emerged from a hidden corner.

“What are your orders, Master?”

“Go immediately to Yun Bian Village and eliminate Ye Da Cheng and his entire family of five.

Make sure it’s done cleanly, without raising any suspicion.”

“Understood!”

With his orders received, Zhu Que vanished into the shadows once more.

…

Madam Leng, Qing Yu had just finished balancing the accounts for the month when she passed by the study and saw the marquis standing there. She decided to step inside.

“Why are you standing here, Marquis? Are you feeling tired? Shall I have the maid prepare some bird’s nest soup?”

“No need for the trouble,” replied Marquis Lu.

“I have plans with Lord Zhou tonight, we’ll be dining out.”

“Dining out again?” Madam Leng chided him lightly. “Drink less wine and come home early.”

“I know!” the marquis replied with a smile, taking her hand in his.

“If I’m late, I’ll stay in the study for the night. Don’t wait up for me, Madam.”