Chapter 1251

"I've been keeping this from Grandmother, I didn't dare say it."

Tian Yulan said, "She was bought from outside by my mother-in-law, she's not a maid of our household."

Tian Xiang said, "No wonder she's so timid. Sister Ayu, you should keep an eye on her. She keeps secretly prying into your affairs. I sensed something was off."

Tian Yulan nodded.

She again urged Tian Xiang, "You absolutely must not say too much, or people will seize on it as a handle against you."

Tian Xiang, all smiles, took her hand and acted coquettishly: "I know, Sister. You must take care of your health too. We're all worried about you."

The two of them were very close.

Tian Yulan smiled and said she was fine.

Tian Xiang urged her a few more times, then left.

Tian Yulan stood in place, thought for a moment, and decided to go see Tian Tian and find out why she wanted to slander her.

She called two maids to accompany her.

"Go find out where the Young Master went and who he met," Tian Yulan ordered.

The maids accepted the order and scattered.

Tian Yulan took her maids and headed for the front hall.

Tian Tian lived in the east courtyard of the Tian family mansion, some distance from the back courtyard. Tian Yulan took a sedan chair and it took nearly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Tian Tian lived in the east wing room.

Her bedroom was in the southeast corner of the west side courtyard.

The southeast corner was the parlor, dining room, and the like; the southeast corner of the west side courtyard was the storeroom and kitchen.

The Tian family's male members generally lived in the east wing room; Tian Tian's father was the eldest legitimate son and lived in the best guest room.

Tian Yulan took two maids and went to the west side courtyard.

The maid knocked on the door; Tian Tian opened it, revealing her pretty eyes, her gaze wary.

Tian Yulan said, "It's me, Tian Yulan."

"What do you want?"

"I'd like to ask my elder cousin a question," Tian Yulan said.

Tian Tian let her into the room.

She sat on the couch by the window, pointed to the chair beside it, and gestured for Tian Yulan to sit.

Tian Yulan sat down.

She looked at Tian Tian.

Tian Tian wore a lotus-root purple garment, fair-skinned and beautiful, with a slender, Eight Linglong figure. Her features were delicate, her eyes moist and clear.

Only that streak of arrogance concealed her liveliness and grace.

"... Sister Ayu, go ahead and ask," Tian Tian said.

Her manner was languid; she didn't take Tian Yulan to heart at all.

Tian Yulan didn't mind, and said directly, "Elder Cousin says you are Qin Yulan's granddaughter—do you have proof? If there's no evidence, I'm afraid you've slandered someone's good name."

"I have no proof, but I'm certain I am Qin Yulan's granddaughter. I had my bones and flesh tested with my grandfather and uncle," Tian Tian said coldly, her tone very firm.

Tian Yulan looked at her in surprise and asked, "Why do you want to impersonate her?"

"I hate them," Tian Tian said.

Tian Yulan: "Who do you hate?"

"My father—he killed my own grandfather and grandmother. After killing them, he dumped the bodies in the wilderness. He no longer exists in this world.

Tian Tian is a wandering soul reborn; they cast me aside without a care. My memories are muddled; I don't even know who my father is, and I've forgotten my own identity," Tian Tian said, her voice a little choked.

Tian Yulan was stunned.

She widened her eyes and stared at Tian Tian.

"I-I-I don't believe it," Tian Yulan stammered. "Tian Tian, you're talking nonsense, you can't do this to me. How could you make up a story?"

Tian Tian began to cry.

She wept like pear blossoms in the rain: "I'm not talking nonsense. Sister Ayu, I'll tell you my origins right now, and I'll also tell you why I impersonated my grandmother."

Tian Yulan was chilled to the bone.

She felt all of this was like a dream.

She thought of her own plight; she assumed Tian Tian's was the same.

A wave of nausea rose in her heart.

She suddenly stood up and fiercely slapped Tian Tian across the face.

Tian Tian covered her face, stunned.

Her maids rushed forward to protect their mistress.

Tian Yulan then snapped, "Get out, all of you!"

Tian Yulan was the Tian family's second Young Lady.

After Tian Yulan married Tian Qiyu, she became the Tian Fu's third Young Lady.

As everyone knew, she was a concubine-born daughter.

She had a bad temper and was jealous, spending her days making snide remarks and scolding Tian Qiyu's concubines; Tian Yulan's maids had long harbored grievances.

These people had endured endless grievances on ordinary days.

Tian Yulan's actions today greatly excited them.

They happily went out to tell the Lady of the Tian household.

Tian Yulan hit Tian Tian, and Tian Qiyu also learned of it.

"So it's true?" Tian Qiyu was shocked. "She is Qin Yu's posthumous daughter?"

The maids all nodded in unison.

Tian Qiyu's face turned ashen.

Rage consumed his heart, and he felt both grief and agony.

He had always believed Tian Tian was the daughter of him and Lady Tian.

He had never doubted it.

"... My own flesh and blood, and yet she ended up among common folk," Tian Qiyu murmured.

Tian Yulan was kneeling outside.

Tian Yulan's maids added fuel to the fire.

"This servant heard that when Lady Qin was giving birth, the Master went to see Lady Qin and accidentally knocked her down, causing a difficult labor and her death. After Lady Qin died, the maids and wet nurse by her side took the chance to flee, and no one tracked them down.

Lady Qin passed away from illness, and only then was Qin Yulan born," the maid said. "She was a baby girl."

Tian Yulan is Qin Yulan's granddaughter.

Tian Yulan is the daughter of a concubine, and shares no blood relation with Tian Tian.

The men of the Tian family all took wives and concubines. Tian Qiyu's birth mother was Lady Tian's niece.

Because Tian Qiyu's birth mother died so tragically and had nowhere to be laid to rest, Lady Tian brought her back to the household.

"... My father killed their entire family; Qin Yulan will not spare my father," Tian Tian said through gritted teeth.

The maids were so frightened their faces went pale.

They all hung their heads low.

Tian Yulan was even more terrified, at a complete loss.

She couldn't bring herself to believe what Tian Tian said, yet it was the truth.

In their household, only Qin Yulan's line carried on the single heir. With Qin Yulan dead, the Tian family line was finished.

All these years, the daughters-in-law of the Qin family were distant cousins or distant relatives from Lady Qin's maiden family.

This bond of blood cannot be severed.

Tian Qiyu killed the entire Qin clan, so he was doomed to lose the Qin's support.

This was also why Tian Yulan feared Qin Yulan so much and did not dare to provoke her.

With Qin Yulan's backing gone, Qin Yulan would not allow Tian Yulan and Tian Qiyu to be together.

"You may all withdraw first," Tian Yulan waved her hand, sending the others out.