Chapter 152: I Want to Acknowledge Her

A flash of killing intent crossed Marquis Lu’s eyes before quickly vanishing.

He couldn’t help feeling regret.

Back then, he had assumed that this child was an insignificant pawn who could never rise to prominence.

With Ye Da Cheng distracting Leng Qing Yu, Marquis Lu had occasionally used the opportunity to make remarks about her excessive concern for someone else’s child, instilling guilt in her and subtly achieving his goals.

Had he known things would escalate to this point, he would have ensured the entire Ye family was silenced much earlier.

But now, it was too late to dwell on those decisions.

Lu Ting En could only hope that Leng Qing Yu wouldn’t stubbornly insist on acknowledging that child.

If she did, she couldn’t blame him for being ruthless.

Leaving the county office, Marquis Lu immediately ordered his subordinate:

“Xuan Wu, search the town for any signs or markings left by Zhu Que.”

“Yes, sir!”

The guard, Xuan Wu, promptly departed to carry out the order.

Meanwhile, Lu Ting En entered a pastry shop and carefully selected a box of walnut crisps and another of jujube-flavored osmanthus cakes, carrying them back to the Wei residence.

The steward of the Wei household was a young book keeper, a detail that made Lu Ting En look down on Wei Jing Zhi.

Although Wei Jing Zhi’s family was wealthy beyond measure, he insisted on maintaining a façade of modesty and detachment from material possessions. Lu Ting En couldn’t understand who he was trying to impress.

However, since Leng Qing Yu had insisted on staying at her sister’s home, he had reluctantly agreed.

Upon returning to their room, he saw Leng Qing Yu sitting absent mindedly at her dressing table. He walked over quietly, waving the two boxes of pastries in front of her.

“What’s on your mind, my dear? Are you craving the jujube osmanthus cake from here? I went out of my way to buy it. Try some.”

Leng Qing Yu forced a faint smile.

“Thank you for the trouble, Marquis, but I don’t feel like eating right now.”

“What’s the matter? Did you have a quarrel with your sister?”

“No.”

“Then who upset my wife?”

Marquis Lu opened the pastry box, took out a piece of osmanthus cake, and held it to her lips.

“Have something sweet, it’ll help lift your mood.”

Helpless, Leng Qing Yu took a small bite of the cake.

“Is it good?” Lu Ting En asked expectantly.

“It’s delicious,” she replied.

Leng Qing Yu nodded but hesitated to speak.

“If you have something to say, just say it. Between husband and wife, there’s nothing we can’t discuss.” Lu Ting En reached out and wiped the crumbs from the corner of Leng Qing Yu’s mouth.

“Chang Qing met the Ye family child here. That child… she looks very much like me…”

Leng Qing Yu started, then glanced at the Marquis’s expression.

Seeing his displeased face, she quickly added, “Chang Qing said he felt an instant connection with the child, like a bond of shared blood.”

The Marquis frowned deeply.

“And you believe what he says?”

Leng Qing Yu quickly explained, “You know Chang Qing. He’s never been close to anyone since he was young, not even Zhi Yi…”

The Marquis sighed and, with a tone of feigned helplessness, said, “That’s my fault.”

“What do you mean?” Leng Qing Yu asked, puzzled.

Lu Ting En continued, “It’s because I was too strict with Chang Qing while being overly indulgent with Zhi Yi. That’s why he’s jealous of his sister and refuses to be close to her.”

“That’s not true! Chang Qing isn’t that kind of child,” the Marchioness tried to defend her son.

The Marquis interrupted her, saying, “But I didn’t expect Chang Qing to use this kind of tactic to deceive you. What is he trying to do? Does he want us to acknowledge that Ye family child?

Think about it, my dear. If the Ye family child is truly ours, “then what about Zhi Yi? What will happen to her?”

Seeing his wife remain silent, he pressed on:

A month ago, Lady Rong sounded me out about arranging a marriage between Zhi Yi and the Third Prince. If Zhi Yi can marry into the Third Prince’s household, imagine what that would mean for our Marquis family.

At this critical moment, “we can’t afford any mistakes!”

Leng Qing Yu looked disheartened.

“But I truly believe that Ye family child is my daughter.”

At this moment, the Marquis only cared about the future of the family and not about the hardships their child might have endured outside.

That was their biological child!

The Marquis softened his stance and said, “I know you’ve always had a soft spot for that child. I’ve also learned today that apart from her, the rest of the Ye family has met with tragedy. If you can’t let her go, we can take her in as an adopted daughter. She can stay by your side and bring you comfort. How about that?”

“An adopted daughter?”

Leng Qing Yu hadn’t expected the Marquis to propose this.

“But if she’s truly our biological daughter, how could I bear to let her remain just an adopted child? Marquis, she’s still our child!”

“That’s just your speculation!” Lu Ting En replied firmly.

Lu Ting En unconsciously raised his voice. “I’ll have someone investigate. A simple blood test will confirm if she’s our child.”

“No need!”

The Marchioness’s demeanor shifted suddenly, becoming firm.

“She is definitely my daughter. I don’t need a blood test.”

“My lady!” The Marquis tried to reason with her. “You’re being fooled by that boy, Chang Qing!”

“No, I’m not!” Leng Qing Yu was unusually calm.

“A mother knows her own child. I can tell. Over the years, my lack of care for Zhi Yi wasn’t because I didn’t want to love her but because I never truly felt that maternal bond with her.

Marquis, I understand you’re worried about how this might affect the future of the family. But I just want to reclaim my daughter. I can’t bear the thought of her not even knowing who her real parents are.”

“You…”

The Marquis wanted to argue but held his tongue.

“Fine, let’s assume she is indeed our daughter. Do you know what kind of person she has become after all these years?”

She doesn’t know the rules of the household or have the grace and composure of a noble young lady. “If you bring her back, will she even fit in?”

“If someone from a wealthy family were suddenly sent to live in a poor mountain village, there might be difficulties adjusting. But for someone coming from having nothing to a life of luxury, what’s there to not adapt to?”

Leng Qing Yu’s sharp reasoning surfaced. Though she had deferred to the Marquis in many matters over the years, she remained clear-headed when it came to something she truly wanted.

“As long as I treat her well and teach her patiently, she’ll adapt in time.”

Lu Ting En hadn’t expected Leng Qing Yu to be so resolute. She seemed like an entirely different person from the one he thought he knew.

The Marquis calmed himself. “Fine. If you’re so determined, then tomorrow I’ll go with you to meet this child.”

“I think I’d rather go alone,” Leng Qing Yu replied, unexpectedly declining his offer.

“This has come out of nowhere, and I don’t want to frighten her. Let me meet her first, comfort her, and then we can go together. Does that sound reasonable?”

The Marquis was about to refuse when a figure walked in from outside.

“Father, Mother, what are you two arguing about?”

Father, you know Mother’s health isn’t good. “Why are you quarreling with her?”

Lu Zhi Yi approached them, gently wrapping her arms around Leng Qing Yu’s arm.