Chapter 18: Defamation

"Mother." Chi Nan Yi said softly: "Father and Mother raised me for over ten years; I have indeed enjoyed more than ten years of wealth and prosperity that should have belonged to my sister. I, Yi'er, have no face to remain here any longer. Thank you for your nurturing grace; please allow Yi'er to leave."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Clan looked anxiously at Meng Hui behind her: "Sir..."

Meng Hui frowned tightly, glancing at Meng Qinghe and then at Chi Nan Yi. Meng Qinghe saw her father's wavering resolve; Meng Hui also wanted to speak to retain her. Meng Qinghe hurried to his side, speaking in a voice only the two could hear: "Father, the reason I came here is because I had a dream in which a deity guided me, saying I am your and Mother's child."

Meng Hui heard this and was startled. Originally he did not believe in such supernatural nonsense, but recent strange occurrences in Jingcheng have been frequent, so he cannot help but ponder further.

"What else did you dream of?"

Meng Qinghe did not know what had happened at the Minister's Residence; after all, the trajectory of her previous life had already been altered by Chi Nan Yi.

"The celestial being in the dream said there is a calamity source in the Minister's Residence; that person is not of the Minister's bloodline. If not removed, the consequences would be unimaginable." Meng Qinghe looked at her father's visibly changed expression and continued: "I also dreamed of a golden dragon."

Golden dragon?

Meng Hui's eyes lit up.

Calamity source, golden dragon, and a blood‑child guided home by a deity.

Meng Hui felt extreme hesitation and inner struggle.

But thinking of the mysteriously lost items in his own household, which have been rumored throughout Jingcheng,

if she truly is a calamity source, then our Minister's Residence will also suffer disaster.

Considering this, Meng Hui gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "Yi'er, since you have already resolved to leave, we will not force you to stay. However, the Chi family swapped you with He'er, letting He'er bear an undeserved disaster and even mistreating her. As the originator of this matter, this Minister will show no leniency."

The implication of his words is that he intends to deal with the Chi family.

Chi Nan Yi naturally understands his petty conduct.

"Father is right; the originator of this matter must absolutely not be spared." Chi Nan Yi clearly understood in her heart how the Chi family could swap the children without a sound and mistreat her.

This is fundamentally impossible.

In the previous life, Meng Hui also said he would investigate thoroughly, but in the end the matter came to nothing.

Chi Nan Yi's gaze fell upon the somewhat flustered Jiang Clan.

It seems this matter is inseparable from this Minister's Residence lady!

Chi Nan Yi looked at Meng Qinghe: "May I ask, sister, where is the family residence? I too wish to seek my kin."

Meng Qinghe heard this and coldly laughed: "This time I came to the capital together with the Chi family; when I just entered the residence, they were also in the crowd, so I suppose they have not left yet."

At that moment, a little servant walked in.

"Sir, Madam, there are two people kneeling outside the gate! They say..."

"What do they say?"

"They say we must return their child to them; they will not sell their daughter."

"Return it?" Jiang Clan slammed the table hard: "I want to ask him well—just whose daughter is this!"

After speaking, she angrily said: "Bring those two people over."

After the little servant left, Jiang Clan looked at Chi Nan Yi again, her eyes devoid of any affection; since she wishes to leave, she is no longer her daughter.

"Yi'er, there are some things I need to tell you: even if you were once our daughter, I will not let the Chi family off because of this. If you leave and have no home to return to, that is not our fault."

Chi Nan Yi nodded: "Yes, I know."

Homeless?

How could that be?

Who will end up homeless when the time comes is still unknown!

Not long after, two men followed the little servant inside.

Seeing Meng Qinghe, who now seemed like a completely different person, they could not help but widen their eyes.

Entering the residence as servants, do they all dress this well?

This is hardly a maid; clearly she is a young lady!

"Commoner Chi Ting Song, accompanied by his son Chi Zhiqiu, pays respects to the adult."

Meng Hui saw their etiquette seemed fairly proper and waved his hand: "Please rise."

"Thank you, Sir."

Just as they stood up, Jiang Clan said in a low voice: "Are you He'er's foster father?"

Foster father?

Chi Ting Song wiped the sweat from his forehead, trembling as he said: "Commoner... commoner does not know what Madam means."

"Still lying!" Jiang Clan swept the teacup onto the floor: "He'er is clearly my biological daughter; how did she end up in your household? Speak clearly at once! Otherwise I will surely hand you over to the Dali Temple for a thorough interrogation."

"Madam, spare my life, spare my life!" Chi Ting Song said with a quivering voice: "Commoner will confess, will confess."

"You had better tell the truth, or I will cut out your tongue!"

"Commoner dare not deceive." Chi Ting Song knelt on the ground, sighed: "That day my wife gave birth; the child had just been delivered when a black‑clothed person snatched it away. I gave chase with all my strength, but could not catch him. On the way back I actually picked up a baby girl," thus I thought it was heavenly will and wanted to bring her home to raise. I never imagined He'er would actually be the Minister's and Lady's daughter! Please, Sir, show mercy; though my family is poor, I have raised He'er cradled in my palms, and I beg the Sir's leniency."

"Hah, cradled in your palms?" Meng Hui said angrily: "Nonsense! He'er has already said you all maltreated her, making her chop wood and carry water before dawn, wash clothes, cook, farm and weed, treating her as a servant!"

Chi Ting Song heard this, his eyes widened, looking incredulously at Meng Qinghe: "He'er, you... how could you say such a thing!"

Meng Qinghe tightened her grip, feeling somewhat guilty.

What she said was indeed exaggerated, but since her rebirth she has endured great hardship; compared to the previous life of fine clothes and jade food, the Chi family's daily meals are like pig slop.

"He'er, when did you ever go up the mountain to chop firewood and fell trees? Not to mention washing clothes, cooking, and farming." Chi Zhiqiu frowned: "How could you say such a thing!"

"Barren mountains and evil waters produce wicked folk; you have done so many wicked deeds, yet now you come to slander my daughter!" Jiang Clan said angrily: "I have not yet pursued your crime of swapping the children, yet you dare to malign my daughter—He'er is so pure and kind, would she lie?"

Hehe, pure and kind?

Yes, she is kind; if she were kind, there would be no wicked people in this world.

She would not lie, but she would kill.

Chi Nan Yi lowered her head and rolled her eyes.

"Sir, these wicked folk should still be handed over to the Dali Temple for proper interrogation!" Jiang Clan said somewhat urgently: "Let us see how they have maltreated our daughter."

Meng Hui nodded, and at that moment Chi Nan Yi's voice came over: "You doing this, isn't it equivalent to making her background public?"