CMWKSD -Chapter 289 She Thinks I’m Her Daughter?

Madam Hou got scolded by Shao Qing.

By rights, Shao Qing was just the steward of the Ji family. A steward in name, but outsiders would only ever see him as a servant. The only difference was that they knew he wasn’t treated as an ordinary servant by Jiu Yue.

Now even a mere steward dared speak to her like this.

Ultimately, it was all the confidence Jiu Yue had given him.

But what on earth was Madam Hou thinking? She actually believed that, given her status—or rather, her self-perceived status—Jiu Yue ought to be on her side. That she could scold Shao Qing senselessly and expect Jiu Yue to back her up.

Little did she know that in Jiu Yue’s eyes, not only was she no match, even if all the Madams of the capital combined, they still wouldn’t equal a single pinky of Shao Qing.

Never mind anyone else—if Madam Hou insisted on doing anything to Shao Qing, with Jiu Yue’s fiercely protective and unreasonable temperament, Madam Hou would be lucky to leave with all her limbs intact. Any harm done would be Jiu Yue’s fault.

Madam Hou hurriedly looked at Jiu Yue, hoping she would speak a few words on her behalf. But Jiu Yue didn’t even glance at her. Instead, seeing her tear-streaked face, Jiu Yue gave her a look of pure disdain, thinking even that wasn’t enough. Right in front of Madam Hou, she muttered sarcastically, “Cry, cry, cry! All your blessings have been cried away.”

Madam Hou: Waaa… I can’t even cry anymore.

She had just said she was so blessed, and then turned around to say her blessings had all been cried away.

The two of them walked on without a word, leaving Madam Hou behind, caught in the in-between of crying and not crying.

All the way in silence, Shao Qing cautiously glanced at Jiu Yue.

Jiu Yue stood on the hillside, watching Ji Jingxu below, toddling around after butterflies, stumbling and wobbling like a little round ball of meat. Every movement was unbearably cute. Jiu Yue couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Shao Qing stood silently by her side, saying nothing. He felt Jiu Yue needed a little time to process what Madam Hou had said.

He had never thought Jiu Yue was unintelligent; in fact, he considered her one of the rare truly clever people in the world, perceptive and detached from everyone else.

After some time, Jiu Yue finally stopped laughing, looking out at the vast clear sky, almost as if asking herself—and hoping Shao Qing could answer—“What does she mean?”

Even the people of the Dark Moon Pavilion and the Hawk-Eye organization had no way of knowing Jiu Yue’s origins. Could a mere Madam Hou know?

Jiu Yue found it a little amusing.

After having a child, Jiu Yue felt infused with a hint of human warmth. With her newfound humanity, she naturally wanted to know where she came from—but she also knew it was impossible. She decided to treat it as idle gossip.

Shao Qing paused, and instead of giving a direct answer, he said ambiguously, “Madam Hou once had a daughter.”

Jiu Yue snickered and glanced at him. “She wouldn’t be thinking I’m that daughter, would she?”

Shao Qing gave a small nod.

Madam Hou had been inquiring everywhere about Jiu Yue, and Shao Qing, having already learned quite a bit about the Weining Hou family, knew exactly what she was thinking. She truly considered Jiu Yue as her own daughter.

Moreover, the two of them did share a certain resemblance in appearance, making it hard not to suspect. The reason no one in the capital had connected the two over all these years had nothing to do with Madam Hou; it was because Jiu Yue’s ability and personal charm always made people forget many of those around her. Even the Ji family brothers had only stood out and been remembered due to Jiu Yue’s strong aura, combined with their own talents. Otherwise, they’d only have the titles of Jiu Yue’s husband or her eldest brother-in-law. They wouldn’t have become the respected Ji Da Ren and the younger Ji Da Ren as they were now.

Madam Hou, trying to connect herself to Jiu Yue with just a similar face, was simply dreaming. After all, in the capital under the Emperor, there were countless people of high status. What was Madam Hou in comparison?

Jiu Yue laughed. “No wonder she was so shocked when she first saw me. Come to think of it, we do look a bit alike.”

Shao Qing didn’t know how to respond.

Jiu Yue paused and asked, “You usually tell me these things yourself. Why not this time? The Weining Hou family isn’t exactly low-ranking. Is there another reason?”

Shao Qing averted his gaze awkwardly, his face reddening. “Mistress, ever since you saved me and I took over the Dark Moon Pavilion, I’ve learned not too little about your affairs. I know your origins. I want you to have a family beyond your lord, more people to care about you, so you can be happier and more fulfilled. I don’t want your life to feel reckless and wasted.”

He didn’t want Jiu Yue to live a life like that. Her life was vibrant and bright. So many people had used their light to illuminate her, and she had illuminated them in return. No one could be allowed to ruin that.

“But the Weining Hou family doesn’t deserve to be your family.”

Jiu Yue laughed. Bloodlines aren’t something one can choose. Besides, as a modern person, she could never have any real connection to people from ancient times. She was just a little surprised to see Shao Qing take it so seriously.

If someone could make Shao Qing so indignant as to say they were unworthy, Jiu Yue was curious. “Why?”

Shao Qing’s face grew even redder. A mere commoner saying that people of the upper class were unworthy? To anyone who didn’t know the truth, it might seem like he had ulterior motives, deliberately keeping Jiu Yue from a noble lineage.

Fortunately, Shao Qing knew Jiu Yue, and Jiu Yue knew Shao Qing. This misunderstanding wouldn’t happen between them.

Shao Qing came from a poor background, but he had loving parents. Even though his father died young, leaving a mess behind, Shao Qing had always felt rich in love. During times of hunger and poverty, his heart was still full. There was a way to be happy even in poverty, just as there was a way to be happy in wealth. Meeting Jiu Yue had been an unexpected joy.

Thus, Shao Qing was willing to follow Jiu Yue for a lifetime as a humble steward. Even as the Dark Moon Pavilion grew more famous and Shao Qing, young and small, could stand on his own, many had already tried to recruit him with sugar-coated offers. But a good horse is common, a good trainer is rare. Without Jiu Yue, Shao Qing might still be living in Qingshui County, sweeping stables and trading minor information with beggars. How could he be as dignified as he was now, nobler even than the sons of many officials?

“That old Madam Hou isn’t easy to deal with. And the Weining Hou siblings are no good either. If you really were her daughter, being so favored and holding such high status in Daqi, they’d be sucking you dry.”

Jiu Yue looked at him with disdain.

Shao Qing choked for a moment and quickly corrected himself. “Of course, that’s impossible. Everyone knows your abilities; trying to get even a shred of advantage here is impossible.”