Chapter 175: Ji Lingzhao

Su Wan picked up the slip of paper, and her eyes slightly narrowed as she slowly unfolded it.

There were only three characters inside.

Ji Lingzhao…

Su Wan’s heart trembled, and an absurd thought arose in her mind.

In the box she had previously found, there had been three wooden figurines. One represented Ji Xuan, one Qi Min, and there was also a smaller one.

Earlier, she had speculated that the three figurines resembled a family of three. Now, upon seeing the name “Ji Lingzhao,” it seemed like it was the name of the small wooden figurine.

Ji Lingzhao… who was this?

No—

Who was this small wooden figurine?

Su Wan’s mind was flooded with thoughts, like waves crashing down upon her, leaving her utterly bewildered.

Her fingers curled up, unconsciously picking at the birthdate and eight characters engraved on the back.

There was no doubt—this wooden figurine was her.

If not for the birthdate and eight characters, she might have been able to think differently.

Perhaps when Qi Min had not yet married, she was deeply in love with Ji Xuan and envisioned a future where the three of them would be a family, which led her to carve this small figurine.

Su Wan stared at the slip of paper and the wooden figurine for quite a while, her emotions a tangled mess.

She tucked the paper into her pouch, reattached the wooden figurine’s head, and placed it in the pouch as well.

With a bitter smile, Su Wan felt as though fate had poured an enormous amount of drama right onto her.

Su Jihong wasn’t her real father; the Regent was.

Just half an hour ago, she had advised the Regent to look forward, to let go of Qi Min from his heart, saying there was no need to dwell on the past.

And now, if she went back and said, “Hey! Guess what? I’m the daughter Qi Min had with you,” the Regent would probably knock her out with a stick.

Su Wan had a headache.

Qi Min hadn’t revealed the truth to the Regent because she feared he would lose his mind, rebel at all costs, and try to take her and the child back.

She felt torn, unsure whether she should reveal the truth that had been hidden for over ten years to the Regent.

If the Regent found out, the trip to Xiliang would become inevitable.

And that wouldn’t be the end of it.

With his strong-willed nature, how could he allow her to continue bearing the surname Su?

He would waste no time in having her reclaim her true identity, which would surely cause an uproar.

Su Wan was deeply conflicted, unable to make a decision. She decided not to dwell on it for now. She would wait for Gu Huaizhi to return and discuss it with him.

While lying on the couch, Su Wan stared absentmindedly at the pouch in her hand.

She had never imagined that her origins would turn out to be such a significant matter.

A deep sense of guilt welled up in Su Wan toward the Old Lady Su, who had treated her so well, giving her everything and thinking of her in every way. Yet, Su Wan wasn’t even her biological granddaughter.

The things the Old Lady had given her, Su Wan thought, should be returned when she sent her to the nunnery another day.

While she lost in thought, Su Wan didn’t even notice when Gu Huaizhi arrived.

It wasn’t until the pouch was taken from her hand that she suddenly sat up and reached out to snatch it back.

“You’re back?” Su Wan’s heart was pounding; that moment had truly startled her.

Gu Huaizhi looked at her, still unsettled. “Did I scare you?”

His clear gaze fell on the pouch in her hand, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. “Is what’s inside the pouch very important?”

“Yes.” Su Wan, kneeling on the soft couch, handed the pouch over. “Take a look.”

Gu Huaizhi accepted the pouch, opened it, and took out the wooden figurine and the piece of paper. His brow furrowed slightly.

He recognized the wooden figurine—it was something Su Wan had brought from the Qi family.

“What do you think would happen if I gave this to the Regent?” Su Wan’s dark, bright eyes gleamed as her long black hair softly cascaded down her back. Her brows were tightly furrowed, showing her worry. “I feel uneasy and can’t make a decision.”

Gu Huaizhi rubbed the birthdate and eight characters engraved on the back of the wooden figurine with his thumb, then glanced again at the name on the paper. He, too, felt overwhelmed by the situation.

Never could he have imagined that Su Wan’s biological father was his godfather.

The Regent already saw Su Jihong as a thorn in his side, a constant reminder that he had married the woman he loved. If he learned Su Wan’s true identity, he would stop at nothing to have her change her surname.

“Let me think about it,” Gu Huaizhi said cautiously. He couldn’t afford to be reckless.

If Su Wan’s identity as the Regent’s daughter were to be revealed, who knew if it would put her in danger?

“I’ll first test the waters with Godfather, see if we can discuss the matter and have the two of you reunite in private. Once things have settled, we can then announce to the world that you are his daughter.”

This was a crucial moment, and Gu Huaizhi didn’t want to take any risks that could put Su Wan in danger. “For your safety, he will certainly agree.”

Su Wan nodded. “That’s the only way.”

Gu Huaizhi placed the wooden figurine and the slip of paper back into the pouch, his voice deep as he said, “Godfather intends to personally go to Xiliang.”

Su Wan was startled. “He can’t go! Does he have a death wish?”

She suddenly jumped off the couch and slipped into her shoes. “I’m going to the Regent’s residence right now.”

The wooden figurine in her pouch felt like a talisman of protection.

The Regent despised Su Jihong, yet even when she was still considered Su Jihong’s daughter, the Regent had protected her. Now that she was his biological daughter, she couldn’t believe that the Regent would ever harm her.

Su Wan now felt she could act as willfully as she wanted in front of him!

As Su Wan stepped outside the residence, she happened to run into the matchmaker.

Upon seeing Su Wan, the matchmaker quickly said, “Lady, my surname is Cao, and everyone calls me Granny Cao. A maid from your residence came to me, saying you were looking for a few clever and hardworking servants. I’ve selected some people for you to take a look at.”

Su Wan glanced at the group of about twenty people behind her, and steadying herself. “Come in.”

“Alright!”

The group followed her into the front hall.

“Lady, these people have been carefully chosen by me; each one of them is quite good,” Granny Cao said as she looked around at the grand mansion. “With such a large place, you might find this number of people a bit too few, don’t you think?”

“I know what I’m doing,” Su Wan said, glancing at the people behind Granny Cao.

Granny Cao had them line up in two rows.

Su Wan looked from one end to the other. “Who here is good at cooking? Step forward.”

The group exchanged glances, and six or seven people took a step forward.

The kitchen would need at least two people, so Su Wan picked a few who seemed honest and simple, the type who wouldn’t be too sly or tricky.

She then instructed, “You three, go to the kitchen and make a simple dish. I’ll taste it.”

The group looked toward Granny Cao.

Granny Cao glared at them. “What are you looking at? Hurry up and get moving!”

“Follow me,” Xiao Tao said, then leading the group to the kitchen.

Su Wan, thinking about the large residence, realized she needed several people for cleaning. She picked two men and two women specifically to handle chores and sweeping.

As for Mother Gu, Jingyun, and Baozhu, they would need attendants to serve them, so Su Wan knew she had to carefully choose people for those roles.

Su Wan walked toward the group. Those still waiting to be chosen looked at her expectantly, and a few bold ones raised their heads, offering hesitant, somewhat ingratiating smiles.

Su Wan frowned slightly, her attention caught by a young girl with her hair styled in a flower bun, about twelve or thirteen years old. Her face was innocent, and her eyes were as clear as spring water. She stood quietly in the corner.

In a gentle tone, Su Wan asked, “What is your name?”

The young girl looked at Su Wan in surprise but quickly responded in a crisp voice, “Lady, my name is Xiao Yue.”

She seized the opportunity, and quickly highlighted her strengths: “I can clean, sew, and serve people.”

She blinked once and held up a finger, adding, “I also don’t eat much. Two meals a day, and half a steamed bun per meal is enough for me.”