The Duchess(Duke’s Wife) was struck like thunder.

More than twenty years ago, she became pregnant at an older age.

She had arranged for a wet nurse in advance, but on the second day after giving birth, the nurse disappeared.

Fortunately, the household had four other wet nurses prepared, so it didn’t cause any major problems.

However, as her son grew older, he looked less and less like anyone from the Yu family.

She never took the rumors seriously—until now.

The moment it was brought up again, a chilling fear crept over her.

She racked her brain, trying desperately to recall the appearance of that missing wet nurse.

Finally, a face emerged: oval-shaped, with phoenix eyes and thin lips.

Her son Yu’er did indeed resemble her—by about eighty percent…

“Nonsense!”

“You wretch! Courting death!”

Yu Yu was furious to the extreme.

He pulled a long sword from a guard’s waist and slashed at Li Zhiyue.

But Ji Laizhi intercepted the attack with a single move and flung the blade to the ground with a clang.

Yu Yu rushed to pick it up—

—but a hand moved faster.

It was the Duchess.

She stood dazed. “Yu’er, give me your hand.”

Yu Yu stared in disbelief. “Mother, are you doubting I’m your real son based on the words of an outsider? This is absurd!”

“Guards! Restrain the heir!”

The Duchess(Duke’s Wife) commanded coldly.

Several house guards rushed in and pinned Yu Yu down without explanation.

A maid brought over a basin of clear water.

Two drops of blood were dripped in—one from Yu Yu, the other from the Duchess.

They floated to opposite corners of the basin, refusing to blend.

The Duchess’s legs gave out, and she collapsed into a chair.

“Impossible! Impossible!” Yu Yu cried out. “It must be this wretch’s trick! She’s trying to confuse the Yu family bloodline just because I took one of her maids! Mother, you must not believe her!”

“Take him away,” the Duchess ordered with a wave.

She could choose not to believe Li Zhiyue’s words—but she could not deny the result in the basin.

The son she had doted on for over twenty years… wasn’t her own flesh and blood.

How ironic and laughable!

All these years, she had exhausted herself cleaning up his messes, offending countless people in the process.

She constantly prayed and performed good deeds to ease the guilt in her heart…

Yet the one she protected so fiercely wasn’t even her real son!

Then… where was her real child?

“Miss Li!” The Duchess clutched Li Zhiyue’s hand, panicking. “When did you find out? How much do you know? Tell me everything!”

Li Zhiyue sighed.

In the original book, it wasn’t until years later that the true heir of the Duke’s family appeared, bringing the truth to light.

She hadn’t intended to interfere in someone else’s fate, but Yu Yu had gone too far.

She helped the Duchess sit and said, “Last year, I was in Xishui Village on a spring outing and saw a mother and son farming together. The son was around twenty and being scolded harshly. I looked a little closer—and realized he looked exactly like Duke Yi.

I grew suspicious and investigated. It turns out the mother had once been a wet nurse in the Duke’s household. That’s all I could find—no solid evidence.

So I didn’t say anything… Until today, when the heir kidnapped someone from the Xiangyang Marquis’s household. That’s when I decided to take the risk. Please forgive me.”

“You—you’re a savior to our household…” The Duchess’s tears fell. “Someone, escort Miss Li to retrieve the girl from the Marquis’s house!”

Once Li Zhiyue left, the Duchess gave urgent instructions.

“Summon the Duke back home. You—go to Xishui Village at once. And…”

She issued orders, one after another, with clear direction.

Li Zhiyue followed a stewardess to Yu Yu’s quarters.

There, they found Xiao Ling’er in a thin inner garment, tied up and tossed on the bed, several maids watching her closely.

The stewardess stormed in and slapped them. “You dare touch someone from the Xiangyang Marquis’s household? Untie her now!”

“But… but the heir told us…” the maids stammered.

The stewardess grew colder.

What heir?

Just a swapped imposter!

She personally untied Xiao Ling’er.

Terrified, the girl leapt into Li Zhiyue’s arms.

Mo Yu quickly draped a cloak over her.

“You’re safe now,” Li Zhiyue said gently. “Don’t worry. This won’t happen again.”

Overwhelmed, Xiao Ling’er fainted.

Li Zhiyue carried her to the carriage and ordered coldly, “Ji Laizhi, spread the word: the heir of Duke Yi kidnapped a girl from the Marquis’s family. Let everyone know.”

Ji Laizhi was puzzled. “Why?”

“This so-called heir has committed countless misdeeds. The capital has suffered long enough,” Li Zhiyue replied calmly. “Once word spreads, the Censorate will naturally impeach him. In the past, Duke Yi would protect him unconditionally—but now that he’s not his real son?

He’ll eliminate him to protect his reputation. It’ll even make him look noble for sacrificing family for justice. And with this incident, the so-called heir loses his title—all of the capital will see that Xiao Ling’er is not to be messed with.”

Ji Laizhi sighed inwardly.

Without lifting a finger, she had turned public opinion to protect the Marquis’s household and her theater.

A brilliant move.

That very afternoon, the news swept through the capital.

“Why is the Li Theater closed for three days? I already bought tickets!”

“You don’t know? Their star performer Xiao Ling’er was kidnapped by Duke Yi’s household. No one knows if she’s even alive. No actress—no show.”

“My God, how bold! Xiao Ling’er is from the Xiangyang Marquis’s household!”

“So what? You think Duke Yi cares about the Xiangyang or Xuanping Marquis? That heir is infamous for harming innocent women!”

“That’s it. The theater’s done for. I never even got to see a play!”

“Poor Xiao Ling’er, falling into that man’s hands!”

…

Since its opening, the Li Theater’s Xiao Ling’er had become the most beloved actress in the capital. Her misfortune sparked public outrage.

The Duke Yi household became the target of public scorn.

The Censorate filed complaints overnight.

Such incidents had occurred before—but Duke Yi always covered them up.

This time, everyone assumed it would be the same.

But to their shock, Duke Yi knelt before the emperor, weeping bitterly.

“Your Majesty, I have served the country loyally all my life, yet bore such a disgraceful son. Time and again he caused trouble, ruined countless families. I can no longer shield him… Last night, in my fury, I killed him with my own hands! Your Majesty, I have committed murder. Please punish me!”

“What?”

“Duke Yi killed his own son?”

“Heavens, how could this be…”

The entire court was shaken.

Even the emperor stared in disbelief—Duke Yi only had one son, and he killed him just like that?