Chapter 129: The Full Story

"If you do that, even if I become a ghost, I won't let you go!"

"You can choose not to let me go, but only after you become a ghost first. I recall I just said it: my medical skill is excellent; if I don't want you to die, even if your name is already on the Book of Life and Death, I can erase it. Do you believe that?"

Her voice was not loud, carrying a bone‑deep chill, as if she herself were the evil spirit that had walked out of hell.

Ru Xin shivered, his complexion turning very ugly.

"I—I'm Miss Meng Qinghe..."

Indeed.

The members of the Chi Family, upon hearing that answer, couldn't help but feel anger rise in their hearts.

"This Meng Qinghe is literally a white‑eyed wolf!" Chi Huai Qian shouted angrily. "We provided her with food and drink, kept the best of the household for her, and what happened? She turned around and even sent assassins to kill us!"

"Exactly, we didn't treat her poorly; now she has returned to the Meng Family, a sparrow turned phoenix, and wants to exterminate us completely." Chi Zhiqiu recalled the scene when Meng Qinghe had just returned to the Meng Family and turned to kill them, gritting his teeth: "Our family really raised a wolf."

Wen Zhilan and Chi Ting Song exchanged a glance, a hint of burning anxiety in their eyes.

We've already hidden here; why are there still so many troublesome matters?

Chi Nan Yi had Ji Bai look at Ru Xin, while she went to Chi Ting Song and Wen Zhilan's room.

"Yi'er, where have you been all this time? Your father and I went to the town several times, and you weren't in the shop; your eldest brother and third brother also don't know where you went."

"I went to Qingjun County once, and then I went to Nanpu."

"Nanpu?"

"That's right," Chi Nan Yi's gaze locked onto the two of them, saying word for word: "I rescued an elderly gentleman there; coincidentally, he also bears the surname Chi, named Chi Zhongshan."

When they heard the name Chi Zhongshan, the couple's complexion changed completely.

"The old family head?"

"She actually rescued the old family head?"

Seeing their reaction, Chi Nan Yi continued: "Father and mother, are you hiding something from me?"

"Yi'er, we... how could we..."

"Mother," Chi Nan Yi cut Wen Zhilan off: "Since I'm asking this, it shows I've already figured out something, so you and father need not hide anything further."

Wen Zhilan kept rubbing her hands, her eyes full of unease.

"Yi'er, we..."

"Yi'er, in fact, we are not your parents." Chi Ting Song sighed: "Since you've encountered the old family head, we'll be truthful." Chi Ting Song grabbed Wen Zhilan, knelt directly before Chi Nan Yi: "Miss."

"What are you doing?" Chi Nan Yi hurriedly helped them to their feet: "Father and mother, if you act like this you'll break me."

"That's not the case," Chi Ting Song said softly: "Miss, we are not your biological parents. I am the lady's stablehand, and she is the lady's maid. After arriving at the General's Residence, the lady approved our marriage."

"Then what? What happened with the Situ Family's mansion? And the inexplicably appearing baby girl at the General's Residence—where did she come from?"

"Back then, the lady became pregnant and had just given birth to the miss when the Situ Family mansion was brutally massacred—over a hundred people, none survived. That night, the General's Residence ran red with blood. When the lady vaguely sensed something was wrong, she handed the miss to me, insisting I must take her away. However, news of the lady's delivery had already spread; if the child couldn't be found, those villains would not rest easy." Wen Zhilan, now sobbing, continued: "A month before the incident, I gave birth to a baby girl, and I exchanged her for the miss..."

Wen Zhilan's tears kept falling, and Chi Nan Yi's heart felt as if cut by a knife.

"They wouldn't even spare such a small child—it's sheer madness! We must, must capture those people and root them out!"

"Then why did I end up at the Meng Family?"

"Back then, when delivering for Lady Meng Xiang, the household doctor diagnosed that the child was probably stillborn. Lady Meng originally wanted to spend some silver to buy a son back, and the deal was initially settled, but later that household refused to sell. Your grandmother... no, my mother‑in‑law..."

"Mother," Chi Nan Yi interrupted her: "You and father are my family, and that will never change." To save her, she offered her own child, a life for a life; that child saved her own life, and she ought to, in return, properly honor her parents.

"Lady Meng feared that giving birth to a stillborn would displease Meng Xiang and cause her to lose favor. Your grandmother told them she knew a household that had just a newborn daughter, so Lady Meng bought you, and your grandmother secretly took away the stillborn she had given birth to. Your grandmother originally intended to give her a proper burial, but unexpectedly the child cried midway, and she couldn't bear it, so she brought her back. No one could have imagined that she would raise a white‑eyed wolf." Wen Zhilan continued: "The reason we sent you to the Minister's Residence was because we didn't want you to endure a wandering, miserable life with us. Moreover, when the General's Residence fell into chaos, we dared not send you back to the Chi Family for fear of implicating the main household. Our future was uncertain; although I gave birth, my milk was insufficient, and I feared I couldn't raise you. If you were in the Minister's Residence, at least food and clothing wouldn't be a worry." She took out a cloth pouch hidden under the bed, which contained ten taels of silver.

"This was the silver Lady Meng originally gave us; we haven't touched a single cent, leaving the miss alone there. Our conscience couldn't bear it; even if days were hard, we never touched this silver." Wen Zhilan wiped her tears: "Now seeing the miss grow so well, I feel at peace."

Having spoken thus far, Chi Nan Yi had already clarified the whole chain of events.

So that's how it was.

"I've already recognized my maternal grandfather," Chi Nan Yi said softly. "The Chi Family indeed suffered because of the Situ Family; you and father have shown me great kindness. If not for you, I would have died long ago. You, back then, separated flesh and bone to save me; this debt of gratitude I will never forget in this lifetime."

"Miss..."

"Mother, I've said it, I am forever your and father's daughter, the brothers' sister; how can you still call me Miss?"

"Ah, good, good daughter."

Wen Zhilan and Chi Ting Song were both very emotional: "Yi'er, what are your plans from here on?"

"Return to the capital, avenge." Chi Nan Yi said firmly: "If, as my grandfather said, the Situ Family from top to bottom is wholeheartedly loyal to the court and the Chi Family harbors no rebellious intent, even a small safe haven is unacceptable; they must be eradicated. Since that's the case, I cannot just wait to be slaughtered."

"Yi'er, seeking revenge is no easy matter. Back then, the lady had me take you away, intending to keep you out of conflict for a lifetime; even the Situ Family and the Chi Family had to steer clear of her influence..."

"No problem, we have to try to see if it can work."