Chapter Forty-Three: The True Identity of Lady Fourteen Revealed

“Did I say anything wrong? Aren’t women like you all eager to seek favor with the powerful, warming their beds? I don’t need you to take the initiative; I found you a good match, and you don’t even thank me. Instead, you repay kindness with resentment!”
“Or do you think you’re worthy enough to be associated with the Xie family? Have you ever looked in the mirror to see if you’re qualified?”
As she spoke, Lady Fourteen tore the jade token from her waist and threw it at Xue Fanzhi’s feet.
“So you really think you’re worthy?” Xue Fanzhi knew Lady Fourteen’s true identity. Since Lady Fourteen believed people must be ranked by status, she ought to let her know: she was an illegitimate child. Let’s see if she remains so arrogant.
Xue Fanzhi picked up the jade token—it was, after all, given to her by the Grand Matron. If Lady Fourteen bore such hatred over this token, there was no reason for Xue Fanzhi to indulge her temper.
She was about to reveal the truth, when the Grand Matron glanced at the token and, eyes lowered, ordered coldly, “Such insolence; she shall be flogged to death!”
Lady Fourteen’s face turned pale. She cried out, “Great-grandmother, you truly are senile! I am the granddaughter of the Xie family. What are they compared to me? You even gave your jade token to them, and now you want to flog me to death? You’re nothing but an old thief in the family!”
The Second Lady was so terrified her face lost all color, and she dropped to her knees, pleading, “Grandmother, Lady Fourteen is young and ignorant; I failed to teach her properly. If punishment must be given, let it fall on me—please, spare her life!”
The Grand Matron had no real wish to take the life of the younger generation—her anger was overwhelming. She meant to punish Lady Fourteen, knowing her niece would plead for mercy, so both sides would compromise and preserve their dignity, thus settling the matter.
But clearly, her great-granddaughter had no sense of respect.
To throw away her own jade token—she knew nothing of her own privilege.
Considering it, she had dozens of grandchildren, but only one close niece. Which side mattered more to her?
Resolved, the Grand Matron waved her hand mercilessly to the servants.
They began to drag Lady Fourteen away, when suddenly the Second Lady cried, “Grand Matron, if you refuse to show compassion, don’t blame your granddaughter-in-law for disrespecting you. Xue Eight was sent here from Prince Shou’s estate. If Lady Fourteen suffers any harm, I won’t hesitate to let everyone speculate about Xue Eight’s relationship with Prince Shou!”
This was the reason Xue Fanzhi hesitated at first; she didn’t want to be entangled with Prince Shou, but with Lady Fourteen present, could she hide it if she wished? That woman wished for nothing more than her downfall.
The Grand Matron’s demeanor changed; she narrowed her wrinkled eyes, sneering, “You dare threaten me?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” The Second Lady kept her head lowered, wishing she could disappear into the earth. Who would want to face her father-in-law’s mother? Xie Feng was famously dutiful.
“Mother, what’s there to fear?” Lady Fourteen, hearing the Second Lady’s words, thought she now had support, and spoke indignantly, pointing at Xue Fanzhi. “With your status, you’re only fit to be Prince Shou’s plaything—you just haven’t realized it yet!”
“You’re nothing but an illegit—”
“Second Lady, Mistress Cui has had too much to drink!” Just as Xue Fanzhi was about to reveal Lady Fourteen’s origins, an old servant woman rushed in, heedless of whose courtyard this was.
Mistress Cui, the most favored concubine of the Second Branch.
In these times, the hierarchy between wives and concubines was strict; any concubine who tried to take the wife’s place would have her property confiscated and be exiled a thousand miles, so concubines were mere playthings.
But in the Xie family’s second branch, Mistress Cui was favored for her beauty and charm, gaining much affection from Xu Erlang. When the Second Lady was ill during pregnancy, the affairs of the branch fell to Cui, who herself was also pregnant, showing how much Xu Erlang valued her.
Later, Mistress Cui bore a son, while the Second Lady bore a daughter. Cui’s status rose even higher, the second branch was practically untouchable. Only when the Second Lady’s brother was promoted and Xie Feng warned Xu Erlang did Mistress Cui restrain herself.
If one asked whom the Second Lady hated most, there was only one answer: Mistress Cui. She couldn’t stand hearing anything about her.
The Second Lady turned to see her trusted old servant. Afraid of losing face before the staff, she stood and scolded, “So what if she’s drunk? She’s just a plaything—if she drinks herself to death, send her off. Why panic? Don’t you see there are others here?”
The old woman shook her head, ignoring the others. “No, Mistress Cui revealed a shocking secret after drinking: she said she actually gave birth to a daughter—Lady Fourteen. The Fourth Young Master is your true son! When you were unconscious, she bribed the midwife and switched the children.”
Xue Fanzhi frowned slightly, thinking it was quite a coincidence—she hadn’t spoken yet.
The Second Lady was stunned, appearing completely confused. “What are you saying?”
Before the old woman could repeat herself, Lady Fourteen was already furious, cursing, “You old hag, how dare you slander my origins?”
The old woman bowed her head. “I wouldn’t dare; only repeating Mistress Cui’s own words. She’s still drunk, and the servants in the courtyard all heard it. If you don’t believe me, you can see for yourself.”
This time the Second Lady understood, and she suddenly looked at Lady Fourteen.

Lady Fourteen’s face was livid, shouting, “Mother, how can you believe such rumors?”
No, it might not be a rumor. She had often thought the Fourth Young Master looked like herself, but sometimes he resembled Erlang. She used to think it was wishful thinking—a mother’s desire for a son.
But what if she hadn’t been mistaken? If her son truly was her own?
The Second Lady scrutinized Lady Fourteen’s features, and the more she looked, the less she believed she was Mistress Cui’s child.
No wonder. No wonder Mistress Cui hated the Second Lady seeing the Fourth Young Master. No wonder Mistress Cui was so kind to Lady Fourteen in private. So this was the truth.
“Mother, I really am your daughter!” Lady Fourteen pleaded; the Second Lady’s gaze was fixed, unmoving, the once-loving eyes now clouded, cold, sharp as blades.
“Mother, you can’t abandon your daughter just because of slander!” Lady Fourteen’s voice was nearly hoarse.
The Second Lady turned to the Grand Matron. “Grandmother, I must investigate this thoroughly!”
There was no mother-in-law in their household; the great-grandmother remained aloof, and none of the elders could speak for her. The eldest sister-in-law was timid and could never meddle in the second son’s affairs.
Without elders, there was no restraining Xie Erlang, and the Second Lady didn't believe he knew nothing.
She had no allies left, no one to keep Xie Erlang in check, so she could only turn to her grandmother.
“Grandmother, you must stand up for me!” she cried again, her grief pouring from her heart.
She had borne the eldest son, only to have him switched with an illegitimate daughter, forcing her to bow her head for years in the Xie household, while her own flesh and blood remained nearby, unknown to her—a cruel, hateful fate!