CMWKSD -Chapter 290 Four Little Moles

Ji Yiqing watched the Wei Ning Marquis, who had been appearing at the Ministry of Personnel more often lately.

Although he held a hereditary first-rank military marquis title, his status was extremely high. Even if he didn’t appear in person, no reward or promotion that should go to him would be withheld.

Ji Yiqing recalled what Shao Qing had discovered. It was clear that the Wei Ning Marquis was trying to probe a path through him. Frowning, he left the Ministry through the side gate.

Back at the residence, Ji Chaomian also wore a serious expression when he found Ji Yiqing.

Both brothers, when it came to matters concerning Jiu Yue, tended to get flustered. They feared missing any piece of information; even a small oversight could make it impossible to keep up with Jiu Yue’s pace.

“Big brother, he’s here again…”

Ji Chaomian nodded and gestured for Shao Qing, who was holding a pile of documents, to enter the study.

Once inside, Shao Qing placed the thick stack of materials on the table.

Ji Chaomian glanced over casually. “Is that all?”

Shao Qing nodded. “Some of it is information I picked up while following rumors. After all, these events happened twenty years ago; digging into the past is not easy.”

Ji Yiqing tapped the table impatiently. “Get to the conclusion.”

Shao Qing’s chest heaved as he recalled the findings, anger evident in his voice. “I don’t know if the truth is exactly as I found, but I traced several lines to investigate the Wei Ning Marquis’ former wet nurse—the one who had once nursed the Marquis’ youngest daughter.”

“I also spoke with several former maids and attendants who had served the Marquis’ youngest daughter closely.”

“And?” Ji Chaomian’s expression remained calm. In high-ranking households, sordid matters were common; whether or not Jiu Yue was the Marquis’ daughter, they needed to clarify everything thoroughly.

Recently, rumors had been circulating in the capital. People said Jiu Yue looked remarkably similar to the Marquis’ wife. Coupled with the fact that the Marquis had once lost a young daughter, many speculated that Jiu Yue might be that missing child.

Jiu Yue herself was an orphan, having fallen from the cliffs of Yunshan. The Marquis’ family had lost a young daughter in Qingshui County’s Yunshan. This made the suspicion even stronger.

“She died. Within three years of the Marquis’ youngest daughter going missing, those little maids and attendants mysteriously fell ill, drowned, or met other accidents.”

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian both lifted their heads, frowning.

Shao Qing continued, “Only the wet nurse survived, narrowly escaping after being harmed and thrown into the water. When people from the Dark Moon Pavilion sought her out, she initially denied being the wet nurse. Fortunately, we found her family’s home.

“Her family was loyal and moved entirely to another region, changing their names to protect her. If we hadn’t found her family, we wouldn’t have found her at all. According to the wet nurse, the Marquis’ youngest daughter was thrown off Yunshan by the Marquis’ own mother.

“She was only three years old when it happened!”

Ji Chaomian slammed his hand down. “Monsters!”

Ji Yiqing clenched his fists, eyes red as he met Shao Qing’s gaze. “Was it Jiu Yue?”

Shao Qing didn’t know whether to nod or shake his head. He only said, “I don’t know. I only learned from the wet nurse that the Marquis’ youngest daughter had four red moles on the sole of her left foot, arranged in a square pattern.”

Familiar with Jiu Yue’s body, Ji Yiqing suddenly slammed the table. “Worse than beasts!”

Even Ji Chaomian was surprised. Could Jiu Yue really be the Wei Ning Marquis’ daughter? But the old lady’s heart was truly cruel. To throw her own three-year-old granddaughter off a cliff…

By sheer luck, Jiu Yue had survived. She had grown up learning various skills…

Both Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian avoided saying “learned” casually, because being forced versus voluntary made all the difference.

Ji Yiqing took deep breaths. How had the Wei Ning family dared to approach Jiu Yue now? The Marquis and the old lady still acted like a devoted mother and son. Did the Marquis not know that his daughter had been thrown by his own mother?

Even if he didn’t know, they had never searched for her all these years. At least in the capital, the Dark Moon Pavilion had agents everywhere, gradually spreading across all of Daqi, yet there had been no news of a first-rank military marquis searching for a daughter. If they had known, the Wei Ning family’s guilt would be unforgivable.

“Anything else?”

Shao Qing nodded, eager to finish. He hated the Wei Ning family so much that it made his teeth itch.

“In my investigation, I found that the old lady treated the Marquis and his two sons poorly, but the Marquis remained respectful and filial to her. The old lady favored the other two children—a son and a daughter. The daughter married the Grand General of Huaihua, a third-rank military officer.”

“That general’s daughter, of about Jiu Yue’s age, married one of the general’s deputies, who held a high rank and was about to be promoted to a fifth-rank Central General.”

All capable people.

Shao Qing went on, “According to the wet nurse and others who had seen the Marquis’ youngest daughter, she was exquisite and charming from birth. Her family and many who saw her adored her. She was clever, often smiling, and even at three years old, she was quick-witted and praised by everyone.”

Ji Yiqing listened without a trace of joy.

The three in the room felt a choking frustration, unable to speak. They could even imagine how adorable Jiu Yue would have been as a child, had she grown up in a good family. How could she have become so cold, so unfamiliar with kindness and love, having never experienced even basic affection?

“Why was she thrown away?”

Ji Yiqing couldn’t understand, couldn’t fathom what reason could drive a grandmother to throw her own granddaughter off a cliff.

Shao Qing clenched his fists, lifting his gaze to steady his emotions. Only God knew that when he discovered this, he had refused to believe it was true, thinking the Dark Moon Pavilion had not been thorough—but this was the reality.