Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 279 - 261 Exposing and Slapping the Face

Chapter 279: Chapter 261 Exposing and Slapping the Face

Old Madam Xie led Meng Qianqian out of the courtyard, where they ran into her third daughter-in-law.

Meng Qianqian hadn’t expected her to wait until now.

"Mother, who is she? I just asked eldest sister-in-law, but she refused to say a word."

Third Madam Xie pointed at Meng Qianqian and asked bluntly.

From her tone, it was clear she didn’t hold Yu Family in high regard.

Although Yu Family hailed from a scholarly lineage, they only had some renown in You State, and couldn’t even rank a name in Capital City.

Consequently, Old Madam Xie probably wasn’t particularly protective of Yu Family as her daughter-in-law either.

First, Yu Family contributed nothing to Marquis An Yuan’s career. Second, when Yu Family married into Capital City, her family had opposed and didn’t provide much of a dowry.

Yet, for Marquis Mansion, no one seemed more fitting as the mistress than Yu Family.

After all, what kind of woman would forsake bearing her own children to whole-heartedly raise the two left behind by the first wife?

Yu Family, as a wife, stepmother, and daughter-in-law, remained flawless in every aspect. Only then had she secured her footing within the mansion.

Old Madam Xie said to her third daughter-in-law, "Qianqian is Ling’er’s lost twin sister. From now on, she’ll be the eldest miss of the mansion."

Third Madam Xie exclaimed in disbelief, "Ling’er has a twin? And one of them went missing? Why have I never heard about this before?"

Nanny Lu smiled and replied, "Third Madam, you hadn’t married into the family yet back then. Since it was such a sorrowful matter, the Marquis avoided dwelling on it, and it was no longer mentioned within the mansion."

"But..."

Third Madam Xie felt everything was happening too suddenly, something seemed amiss.

Old Madam Xie said sternly, "There are guests today. Whatever the issue is, we’ll address it after the banquet."

Sending away Third Madam, Old Madam Xie continued leading Meng Qianqian to the banquet hall.

Today, the Xie Family was hosting many esteemed guests, the atmosphere lively and grand.

Marquis An Yuan and Yu Family were entertaining the guests.

Second Master Xie with his wife, along with Third Master Xie, were also present.

It was evident the Xie Family had gone out of their way to emphasize the prestige and wealth of the Marquis Mansion during this birthday banquet.

"There are so many guests,"

Meng Qianqian murmured softly.

People are always curious creatures, prone to unintentionally falling into traps of prejudice. For instance, even though Old Madam Xie was fully aware of Meng Qianqian’s noble status now, she instinctively branded her with the stigma of her merchant upbringing.

Her conclusion was that Meng Qianqian wasn’t suited for this kind of setting.

Old Madam Xie gently patted the back of Meng Qianqian’s hand. "Don’t be nervous; Grandmother is here for everything."

"Look, it’s her!"

Someone recognized Meng Qianqian.

"Who?"

"Earlier at the front gate, she claimed to be the eldest miss of the Marquis Mansion, but nearly got chased away by Third Madam Xie."

"Why would she be with Old Madam Xie now? Could it be that she really is the eldest young miss of the mansion?"

"Isn’t the eldest miss Xie Lingling?"

"Hard to say. Maybe she’s a secret illegitimate daughter of Marquis An Yuan."

"Marquis An Yuan is an upright man; how could he possibly have an illegitimate daughter?"

The whispers of the crowd reached Old Madam Xie’s ears.

She gave Meng Qianqian a reassuring look and addressed the crowd, "Today, our mansion is hosting this banquet, and I sincerely thank all for attending. Here, I wish to announce some good news: my long-lost eldest granddaughter has been found."

A noblewoman gasped, "Long-lost eldest granddaughter? She... she truly is the eldest miss of the mansion? Who is her mother?"

Since she carried the title of the mansion’s young lady, her father must undoubtedly be Marquis An Yuan. It was only unclear which concubine was her mother.

Yu Family lowered her gaze, masking a fleeting unease.

Meng Qianqian replied, "My mother is the mansion’s first madam."

Xie Lingling’s biological mother had been the original wife of Marquis Mansion, the very first madam, while Yu Family was the second.

"Right, Grandmother?"

Meng Qianqian smiled at Old Madam Xie.

Old Madam Xie nodded kindly, "Correct. Your mother was the mansion’s first madam."

The crowd collectively turned to look at Yu Family.

Meng Qianqian also gazed at her.

In the split second their eyes met, Yu Family’s body stiffened instantly.

Marquis An Yuan lightly patted her shoulder in comfort. "It’s alright. Mother has arranged everything."

Yu Family took a deep breath. Indeed, her mother-in-law was astute and cunning, superior to any woman she’d seen in the inner courtyard battles. The fact that she could bring Meng Qianqian to this banquet proved she had already persuaded her.

After all, Meng Qianqian merely wanted her acknowledgment and had agreed to receive equal affection to Xie Lingling. She shouldn’t be too unreasonable now, should she?

Yet for some reason, an ominous sense of foreboding began rising in Yu Family’s heart...

Old Madam Xie sighed, "She was my late daughter-in-law. Qianqian and Ling’er are twins, with Qianqian being the elder sister. Due to some unfortunate events, Qianqian was secretly taken away by the servants. For years, we’ve been searching for Qianqian’s whereabouts. Thank heavens, we’ve finally found her."

As she spoke, Old Madam Xie looked warmly and lovingly toward Meng Qianqian.

To her surprise, Meng Qianqian wore a blank and bewildered expression. "Old Madam Xie, what are you saying? I’m clearly a daughter of the Meng Family, how could I suddenly become someone born from your mansion?"

Old Madam Xie froze in shock.

Meng Qianqian stepped forward to Yu Family, confidently grasping her cold hand. "This is my mother."

Yu Family shuddered violently!

Marquis An Yuan’s face darkened.

The guests were utterly flabbergasted by this sudden turn of events.

What is going on here?

Why were the girl’s words completely contradicting Old Madam Xie?

Was she the daughter of the late wife, or Yu Family’s daughter?

"Don’t you think... she resembles Yu Family a bit?"

The noblewoman’s comment sparked a flurry of nods among the crowd.

Indeed, their facial features were strikingly similar—only Meng Qianqian’s brows carried an unusual boldness, while Yu Family’s disposition was overly gentle, creating a stark contrast in temperament.

Now, as Meng Qianqian’s expression softened, she suddenly appeared unmistakably like Yu Family’s daughter.

Third Madam Xie sneered, "You’re older than Ling’er, so are you suggesting eldest sister-in-law and eldest brother had an illicit relationship, conceiving you before marrying into the mansion?"

"Enough!"

Old Madam Xie slammed the table and barked, "Meng Qianqian! That wasn’t what you said just now!"

Meng Qianqian responded with a faint smile, "I only called you grandmother out of respect for my mother. I never agreed to abandon the Meng Family who raised me to become a daughter of your Xie Family."

Old Madam Xie slumped into her chair, her lifelong shrewdness unraveling in the face of a young girl’s clever ploy. She had unknowingly spoken on her own behalf, while the girl had never explicitly promised anything!

Third Madam Xie interrogated Yu Family, "Eldest sister-in-law! What’s going on here?"

Yu Family forcefully withdrew her hand from Meng Qianqian’s grasp. "Meng Qianqian! That’s enough! Come outside with me!"

Meng Qianqian remained unmoving. "Say whatever you need to say right here. Are you my mother? Admit it, and explain my origins clearly. Deny it, and I’ll explain everything myself."

"You—"

Yu Family’s face turned pale.

Marquis An Yuan stepped forward. "Qianqian! Let’s discuss this calmly!"

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