Chapter 4

Second Madam’s body swayed. All this time, she had thought Yuan Qingyi was gentle and obedient. Who could have imagined that this girl would suddenly turn into a mad dog today, biting indiscriminately? Did she not understand that if this matter were exposed, where would either family’s reputation go? Upon hearing this secret, everyone present wore expressions of shock. There had long been rumors that the Yuan family’s daughter had been switched at birth, but the matter had eventually died down. No one had expected it to resurface today and cause another uproar. “Yuan Qingyi, you…” Yuan Zhongyi’s chest heaved violently with anger as he was about to roar at her. Unexpectedly, Yuan Qingyi spoke first, cutting him off. “I know that I am unworthy of remaining in the Yuan family, and even less worthy of marrying into the Huo family. Today, in front of everyone, I sever my ties with the Yuan family!” With that, she drew the dagger in her hand and fiercely slashed through a section of her wedding robe. Without the slightest trace of hesitation, she threw the torn fabric heavily onto the ground. Yuan Qingyi bent down and kowtowed heavily before kneeling there without rising. When Huo Beidong saw the woman’s resolute expression, his face tightened. No matter what happened, he could not allow Shuluan’s true identity to be exposed. Otherwise, the Huo family’s prestigious reputation could very well be ruined! Second Madam gave a cold laugh. The Master’s words had already made his stance clear. Yuan Qingyi could no longer be allowed to stay. “Stop spouting nonsense! The Yuan family has only one young lady, Miss Shuluan. You are merely distantly related, and the Master kindly took you in. Yet you dare to cause a scene at a wedding banquet! What kind of behavior is this? Hurry and drag her away!” The servants stepped forward, intending to force Yuan Qingyi down. The young woman did not move an inch. Her gaze remained as calm as still water as she stared straight at Yuan Zhongyi. That gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing directly into his heart. Yuan Zhongyi’s heart tightened. He vaguely felt that if he did not stop this, he might truly lose this daughter. He simply could not stand up for her at the moment. How could she be so decisive as to sever all ties with the Yuan family? Could it be that she no longer cared about their father-daughter relationship at all? “Take her away.” Yuan Zhongyi turned his head, his lips trembling slightly. For the sake of the Yuan family, he had no other choice! “Take her away.” Yuan Qingyi sneered and turned around resolutely. Since her father could be so heartless, then he could not blame her for disregarding the family’s reputation entirely! She silently calculated the time. It should be about time. Just as she was thinking this, a servant’s loud announcement came from not far away. “His Highness Prince Yi has arrived!” The voice was like thunder striking the ground. In an instant, everyone turned toward the source of the sound. Huo Beidong’s expression stiffened. Earlier, his father had sent word inviting Prince Yi to attend today’s wedding banquet, but Prince Yi had declined. Yet today, Prince Yi had actually come uninvited! Under normal circumstances, this would have been a great honor for the Huo family. But with such a scandal erupting now, what were they supposed to do? Yuan Qingyi straightened her back and turned to look into the distance. Those words she had spoken earlier had deliberately provoked Yuan Zhongyi. At present, she had no foundation of her own and still needed to rely on the Yuan family temporarily. But if she wanted to establish herself firmly within the Yuan family, she absolutely needed someone else’s support. And that person was Prince Yi. In her previous life, she had known that Prince Yi would attend the Huo family’s wedding banquet. However, to guard against unexpected changes, she had sent a letter in advance to the intelligence shop under Prince Yi’s name before rushing to the Hengyong Marquis’s residence to cause trouble. As expected, he had come! Hundreds of soldiers cleared the way as a luxurious carriage slowly came to a stop. A gentle breeze swept past, lifting one corner of the carriage curtain and revealing the profile of the man inside. He wore a white robe, pure as frost and snow. As he stepped down slowly, the hem of his robes fluttered lightly, resembling flowing moonlight. His handsome features were like a piece of flawless jade meticulously carved by the heavens. His brows resembled a spring mountain brushed with ink, and his entire being seemed like an otherworldly immortal who had accidentally descended from a cold mountain into the mortal realm. Ling Tianyi raised his eyes. Amid the bustling crowd, his gaze landed immediately on the young woman standing in the center. Her bright red wedding dress was stained with blood. Although blood smeared her delicate face, it could not conceal the determination and defiance in her eyes, which shone like brilliant stars. If he had guessed correctly, she was the person who had sent him the letter. This woman was certainly no ordinary person! The moment their eyes met, Yuan Qingyi understood. He must have received her letter. “Greetings, Your Highness Prince Yi!” Huo Beidong exchanged a glance with Yuan Zhongyi before quickly stepping forward, blocking Yuan Qingyi from view. Yuan Zhongyi’s face darkened as he waved his hand, signaling the servants to take Yuan Qingyi away. “We did not know Your Highness would honor us with your presence. Please forgive us for failing to welcome you properly! This way, please!” Huo Beidong hurried forward with a forced smile. Prince Yi’s mother was the Huo family’s legitimate daughter and was now the Imperial Dowager Consort Yu. Her status was exceedingly noble. With this relationship between them, Huo Beidong was certain that Prince Yi would not interfere in this matter. After all, this concerned the Huo family’s reputation. Ling Tianyi nodded but did not move. Instead, he calmly asked, “It seemed rather lively here just now. This prince is curious. What exactly happened?” Huo Beidong hurriedly replied, “It was nothing more than a little farce. It is hardly worth troubling Your Highness over.” Just then, a scream came from behind them. The servant who had been restraining Yuan Qingyi had somehow had his wrist dislocated. Yuan Qingyi lightly dusted off her hands before turning around and walking toward Ling Tianyi. “Qingyi! Once we return, your father will certainly seek justice for you—” Yuan Zhongyi reacted quickly and grabbed her wrist, lowering his voice. Unexpectedly, Yuan Qingyi did not even spare him a glance. She coldly brushed his hand away. If he refused to stand up for her, then she would seek justice for herself! She walked forward step by step, yet with every step, Yuan Zhongyi felt that she was growing farther and farther away from him. Yuan Qingyi walked straight up to Ling Tianyi and respectfully bowed. “This commoner, Yuan Qingyi, greets His Highness Prince Yi. I humbly ask Your Highness to seek justice for me!” Ling Tianyi lowered his eyes and looked at her. From the first moment he had seen her, he had already determined that she was the person who had sent him the letter. His intelligence network was extremely secretive. No one except his trusted confidants knew of its existence. How had she learned of it? And what exactly had been written in that letter? He suppressed the storm raging within his eyes and asked in a deep voice, “So you are Yuan Qingyi. If you have suffered some injustice, speak freely.” Yuan Qingyi took out an identity token from her robes and presented it with both hands. In her previous life, she had carried this token with her on her wedding day. Back then, she had merely wanted to keep something to remember her family by. She had never imagined that it would eventually become the weapon that took her life. When Yuan Zhongyi saw this, his pupils contracted sharply. He had once promised Qingyi that on the day of her wedding, he would publicly acknowledge her identity as the Yuan family’s legitimate daughter and give her the token representing that status. He had never expected her to bring it out today! “You are the Yuan family’s legitimate daughter? But I recall that the person marrying Huo Beidong today is also the Yuan family’s legitimate daughter. Why are you here?” Yuan Qingyi knelt without rising, her voice firm and resonant. “Your Highness, I was switched at birth and did not grow up in the Yuan residence. Therefore, my identity was never made public. Today, on my wedding day, I nearly lost my life. My husband was even taken from me by another woman. I humbly ask Your Highness to seek justice for me!” “Is this true, Minister Yuan?” Ling Tianyi turned his gaze toward Yuan Zhongyi. He had originally come to preserve the Huo family’s reputation and, incidentally, solve the mystery surrounding the letter. He had never expected to hear such shocking news instead. How could a dignified Minister’s residence treat its legitimate daughter this way? Second Madam’s expression changed anxiously, and the words slipped from her mouth. “She isn’t. She is…” Before she could finish, Yuan Zhongyi viciously slapped her across the face. Second Madam cried out in pain as the force of the blow sent her stumbling to the ground. She stared at Yuan Zhongyi in disbelief. Yuan Zhongyi looked toward Yuan Qingyi. The young woman before him was completely different from the timid girl she had once been. Her unfamiliarity sent a chill through his heart. This was not simply an attempt to sever ties. She was clearly using this opportunity to force him to publicly acknowledge her identity!