Chapter 20: She Must Be Angry

"My goodness, you truly are of our Sheng family bloodline." Old Madam Sheng’s eyes were wide with shock.

"Yunqing, are you really..." Sheng Yukun stared at her, his voice trembling. "You are my brother's daughter? Then..." As he spoke, he pointed toward Sheng Jintang.

Sheng Jintang gulped, looking at Sheng Yukun with a pitiful expression. "Uncle, it’s me, Jintang. I have always been Jintang..."

Yunqing looked at Sheng Jintang and let out a cold snort. "Words are not proof. If you claim to be Sheng Jintang, then let us test it again."

Sheng Jintang looked at Zhixing. Zhixing, also watching her, swallowed hard and raised her hand, attempting to cast a spell on the bowl of water once more. However, she realized that her internal energy was stifled, leaving her completely unable to perform the magic. Realizing she was outmatched, she lowered her head and closed her eyes with a sigh.

Seeing that Zhixing could no longer help her, Sheng Jintang’s eyes reddened, and she stood frozen in fear, too nervous to step forward. Seeing her reaction, it was clear she was hiding something. Before Sheng Yukun could even speak, Yunqing grabbed her wrist and pricked both their fingers. This time, the two drops of blood did not merge in the water.

"Slap!" A sharp blow landed across her face. "What else do you have to say for yourself?"

Sheng Jintang’s face turned deathly pale; she kept her head lowered, eyes wide and silent.

Old Madam Sheng looked at Yunqing. "Child, what is going on here? Where have you been all this time?"

"Nine years ago, I found a young beggar who looked like me outside the Marquis's estate. Out of kindness, I took her in, named her Jinxin, and made her my personal maid. A year later, we were separated while out in the city. I encountered Daoist Yunsheng, who brought me up the mountain to protect me from the disasters plaguing the Marquis's estate. I never imagined this base wretch would impersonate me and usurp my name for all these years! And now that I have returned, she even wanted to kill me to silence me!"

As she finished, Yunqing grit her teeth and slapped her again. Sheng Jintang cried out in pain. The estate was in an uproar; the servants whispered to one another, unable to believe that the young lady they had served for so many years was not the Marquis's own niece.

"What?! You little wretch, you really aren't one of us? My sister and I have been calling you 'sister' for all these years for nothing!" Sheng Yueying shouted in a breakdown. "Where did you crawl out from, you bad-luck charm?!"

"You! You scoundrel! You've eaten our Sheng family's food for eight years for nothing!" The Old Madam hammered her heavy cane against the floor.

Sheng Jintang looked pleadingly at Sheng Yukun, who had always been her greatest protector. "Uncle, I..."

Sheng Yukun glared at her, his eyes bloodshot. He raised his hand and struck her hard. "Do not call me Uncle!"

Sheng Yueying, who had always disliked her, rushed forward and slapped her as well. Recalling how her father had struck her on behalf of this imposter, she had been unable to sleep for days. Now, she was determined to make her pay.

Sheng Jintang, unable to fight back, fell to the ground, weeping. She looked toward the nervous and troubled Lady Bai. "Auntie... Auntie, save me!"

Lady Bai rose, sweating, but Sheng Yukun slammed his palm onto the table and roared, "Whoever dares to help her will be expelled from the estate!"

Hearing this, Lady Bai slumped back into her seat, helpless. Sheng Jintang, beaten until she saw stars, collapsed onto the floor. She had always been so careful, and everyone in the household had treated her with respect; now, there was not a single person to speak for her.

Seeing that Sheng Yueying had tired herself out and was panting with her hands on her hips, Sheng Jintang’s face was covered in overlapping handprints. Yunqing smiled coldly and said, "Now that she is no longer a lady of the Sheng family, is the Marquis not going to fulfill his promise?"

Sheng Yukun glared at Sheng Jintang with such ferocity that a chill ran through her. The man who had always obeyed her every word had never looked at her with such malice. It was not the heat of anger, but the cold, indifferent gaze one reserves for someone they truly loathe.

Sheng Yukun’s eyes burned with uncontrollable fury. He roared, "Guards! Drag this wretch up!"

Sheng Jintang shook her head, weeping and trying to retreat, but two servants grabbed her and hauled her up. "Uncle! Even if I am not your biological niece, can you really discard all these years of affection?!"

Sheng Yukun took a long wooden staff from a servant and struck the back of Sheng Jintang’s knees. She let out a shrill scream.

Sheng Yukun grit his teeth. "Affection? If you had been kind and honest, I might have left a place for you out of our past ties. But you plotted to harm my own niece! You are so venomous—how could I ever tolerate you?"

He struck her again. Blood began to seep from her legs, staining her skirt in a gruesome pattern.

Sheng Jintang wailed in agony. The whispers of the servants faded until the only sound in the vast hall was her piercing cries. With a sharp crack, the wooden staff snapped in two. The servants held her, but her legs dangled uselessly, having lost all sensation. When they released their grip, she fell limply to the floor, her cries fading until she lost consciousness.

Sheng Yukun tossed the broken staff onto her face and announced, "Someone, prepare a room for the young lady and welcome her into the house!"

The maids hurriedly nodded and rushed off. Sheng Yueying watched her father, arms crossed, looking annoyed. She had finally gotten rid of that nuisance, but she had expected to become the second lady, not for someone else to take her place...

Yunqing raised an eyebrow. "Did I say I wanted to move in?"

Sheng Yueying blinked. She had caused such a scene in the estate today, yet she didn't want to live here?

Sheng Yukun was stunned. "Tang'er, you..."

Yunqing waved her hand and turned to leave. "The Sansheng Hall is busy, and Su Lan cannot manage it alone. Marquis, Old Madam, I am returning."

"Jintang! Tang'er!" Sheng Yukun reached out to stop her, but she kept walking without a backward glance.

Old Madam Sheng looked at her retreating figure in confusion. "What is wrong with that child?"

"Oh, dear..." Sheng Yukun paced anxiously, slapping his forehead. "Tang'er must be angry. After wandering outside for so many years without enjoying a single day of the comfort this house provides, she must have suffered so many grievances!"

Hearing this, a look of sympathy crossed the Old Madam’s face. Remembering how she had healed Sheng Yi’s legs, her heart ached. "Then what should we do?"

"We beg! Even if I have to throw away all my pride, I will go to the door of Sansheng Hall and beg her to come back!"