Chapter 10: An Unexpected Encounter with Nangong Yan

After finding another inn to settle in, Qingli realized she hadn’t eaten yet and decided to go out in search of food.

On the bustling street, the delicious aroma led her to a wonton stall. The enticing smell awakened her appetite, making her feel even hungrier.

“Boss, I’d like a large bowl of wontons, please.”

“Coming right up, just a moment, customer!”

The stall owners were a couple; the woman was busy wrapping wontons while the man swiftly cooked them, scooping them out and placing them in bowls with seasonings.

Qingli glanced over before returning her attention elsewhere.

What she didn’t notice was that sitting at a table to the right of the stall were Nangong Yan and his two subordinates, Hei Jin and Hei Mu.

Nangong Yan felt he heard a somewhat familiar voice and quickly lifted his gaze. However, the stall obstructed his view.

Frowning slightly, he got up after Hei Jin and Hei Mu finished their wontons and moved toward the stall.

Hei Jin wiped his mouth and said, “Boss, we’d like to settle the bill.”

Qingli had already received her wontons and was eagerly digging in. They were hot, and as she brought a spoonful to her mouth, it slipped out and fell back into the bowl.

Seeing this, Nangong Yan frowned slightly, a hint of distaste flashing in his eyes.

But when he caught sight of Qingli’s face, he inexplicably felt a pang of disappointment.

“Boss, we’re done paying.”

Hei Jin’s voice broke through Qingli’s thoughts, and she instinctively looked up, locking eyes with Nangong Yan.

Her pupils dilated in surprise, her grip tightening on the spoon as she felt a wave of tension wash over her.

Fortunately, when she glanced over, Nangong Yan had already averted his gaze, missing the brief moment of her unease.

When he looked back, Qingli had already returned her focus to her food, making it seem as if everything that had just happened was merely a figment of imagination.

Nangong Yan eyed the unfamiliar woman curiously for a moment, but then dismissed it, assuming he had mistaken her for someone else.

Hei Jin noted that his lord was staring at a woman and felt a bit surprised!

Nangong Yan had never been one to look twice at women, except for the one he admired in his youth.

Now, he seemed intrigued by women, having searched for someone the day before and then fixating on another today.

Not finding anything of note, Nangong Yan turned to leave.

Qingli glanced out of the corner of her eye and sighed in relief when she saw him walk away.

It seemed she couldn’t stay in this place for long. After resolving matters with the Chu family and the incident with that man, she needed to find a different location to lay low!

Once back at the inn, Nangong Yan received a message from his subordinates. A carrier pigeon was delivered to Hei Jin, who handed it over to Nangong Yan.

Moments later, Nangong Yan spoke, “Prepare to head back to Southern Yang City tomorrow morning.”

…

That evening, Qingli arrived at the Chu residence. Since Madam Chu had instructed her that there was no need for an announcement, the servants let her in.

The vast Chu residence was unusually quiet today, with hardly any servants in sight.

In Madam Chu’s courtyard, the servants only accompanied Qingli to the entrance but dared not enter further.

Today, the atmosphere in the lady’s courtyard felt strange; the servants whispered among themselves, clearly reluctant to proceed.

As Qingli approached, the door suddenly opened, and two young boys were shoved out, followed by Madam Chu’s sharp and furious voice, “Get out! You are not my children, and I am not your mother! Do not call me that again!”

Madam Chu seemed to have lost her mind as she pushed the two boys outside. Her eyes were red and swollen; just the thought of raising her enemy’s child like a treasure while her own sons had been cast into a well to drown and then trapped as wandering ghosts filled her with immeasurable anger.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to harm the sons of her enemy. The pain was excruciating; the unexpressed hatred tormented her, making her feel as if life was unbearable.

Inside, there were voices of a man and a young girl, seemingly speaking to Big Bai and Little Bai.

Just then, a man stepped out. He appeared to be around forty, dressed in a dark blue robe, with a refined yet cold expression on his face.

“Stop your quarrel and return to your own courtyard,” he instructed the two boys with an authoritative tone.

Madam Chu was furious and questioned him, “Chu Xu, what do you mean? You want them to go back to their courtyard? Is there still a place for them in this house?”

Madam Chu looked at her husband in disbelief, wondering if he really intended to keep those boys.

Chu Xu, now in his forties, had three children—a son and a daughter—all born of his legitimate wife. He focused solely on his career and had never been interested in matters of the heart. Since he had enough heirs, he had no intention of taking a concubine, which is why he had only ever had his wife in the household.

However, now he was faced with the heart-wrenching revelation that the sons he had painstakingly raised for over a decade were not his. This painful truth forced him to confront the reality of the situation.

His eldest son, Chu Zhiyan, was his pride and joy, showing great promise in his studies and already on the path to becoming a scholar. With a few more years of hard work, he would be ready to take the imperial examination and likely secure a position in the government.

The Chu family had struggled for years without anyone in the officialdom. If his son succeeded, it would not only bring honor to the family but could also open doors for advantageous marriages and connections, alleviating his isolation in the political landscape.

But now, all of that was shattered.

He felt torn and conflicted but ultimately could not abandon his own blood.

Faced with his wife’s accusations, Chu Xu felt helpless. “Madam, this matter is too complicated, and it’s not easy to make a decision right now. Let’s deal with this poisonous woman first, send the two children to reincarnate, and discuss the rest later, alright?”

Madam Chu furiously swatted away Chu Xu’s outstretched hand, exclaiming, “I want her and her two children to pay for my sons’ lives! Chu Xu, you are now the governor; you tell me, what should be done about this poisonous woman?”

Without hesitation, Chu Xu replied, “She should be imprisoned and await execution; she has taken two lives!”

Chu Xu felt the same hatred.

Madam Chu was somewhat satisfied with his response but then pointed at the two children she had raised, coldly stating, “What about them? How should they be treated?”

Chu Zhiyan and his younger brother, Chu Zhiwei, hurriedly pleaded, “Mother, we didn’t know! We only found out today about our true identities. Can you really bear to abandon us?”

Thirteen-year-old Chu Zhiwei cried out, his face filled with fear.

Chu Zhiyan had seldom been close to his mother; he had been under Chu Xu’s care since he began his studies. On the other hand, Chu Zhiwei had spent more time with Madam Chu until this year when Chu Xu was promoted, and they moved to Jinyang City to study.

Madam Chu felt a deeper connection to her younger son, and similarly, Chu Zhiwei had always held his mother in high regard.

Seeing Chu Zhiwei’s desperate plea, Madam Chu struggled to forgive him. Compared to her younger son, she loved her two children, who had been brutally killed right after birth, even more.

Her children had been murdered by the mother of these two boys, in such a cruel manner that they had died without the chance for reincarnation. She couldn’t help but feel anger towards them.

With a cold expression, Madam Chu said, “Don’t call me that! I am not your mother. Look, your true mother is right there. She was willing to go to great lengths to ensure you lived a life of luxury, even if it meant swapping my children and brutally killing them. She is truly a good mother, doing everything for her two sons.”

Chu Zhiyan remained silent, his expression dark and pained.

Chu Zhiwei kept apologizing, “Mother, I’m sorry! I didn’t know! In my heart, you are my mother. I don’t want her; I don’t want such a vile person to be my mother. Please, Mother, don’t abandon me! I promise to be obedient and won’t cause trouble again.”

Chu Zhiwei sobbed uncontrollably, his face streaked with tears.

Meanwhile, Zhao, the midwife, who lay on the ground, injured and unable to move, heard these words and felt her eyes well up with tears.