Looking at Madam Qian’s response, Qian Jiujiu could not help but have a hunch that something might have happened to the mother of the initial owner.

Otherwise, why would she disallow me to pay a visit? She could not let it be since she had occupied the body of the original owner, so she should take responsibility for her mother as well.

Moreover, she had something very important to discuss with her mother. Not allowing me to meet her? This will not do.

As Madam Qian listened to Qian Jiujiu’s voice, she felt a little unpleasant but she still faked a smiley expression on her face. “My dear daughter, you’re now the noble Princess Consort.”

“You don’t have to take these people seriously. It’s okay to not meet them. You only have to know that your mother is doing well. That’s good enough, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing that, Qian Jiujiu snorted. Before she could say something, Madam Qian continued, “Besides, Concubine Wan is not feeling well recently, so it may not be convenient for you to meet her.”

“Jiujiu, if you want your mother to stay well, you’d better be obedient.”

“Looking at your expression when you first stepped in, I thought you don’t care about your mother already. Since you still care for her, then we can talk it over.”

Seeing that Madam Qian had altered the expression on her face, Qian Jiujiu could not help but feel funny about it. It seems like they have already planned to give me the identity of the daughter of the first wife since the beginning.

They intentionally show their weakness so that I would think that I have the upper hand and finally reveal my real intention of returning home.

Now that I have mentioned it myself, they thought they can grab hold of my shortcomings and use it to threaten me.

Thinking up to this point, Qian Jiujiu could not help from clicking her tongue. “As the saying goes, old ginger is still spicier than young ginger. Madam Qian is indeed bravo!”

“So you all plan to put aside all considerations and use my mother to threaten me?”

Madam Qian looked at Qian Jiujiu with a smile. “It’s inappropriate for you to say so. We are all family members. There’s no such thing as threatening! Furthermore, we actually wanted to find out something from you.”

“Tell us all that has happened in Xiao Manor. If not, we don’t know what will happen to your mother.”

Qian Jiujiu pursed her lips. “Are you treating me as a fool? If I told you everything, what can I use in exchange? I can tell you if you want to know it but you have to let me meet my mother first.”

“If not, I am a barefooted person who is not afraid of those who are wearing shoes. In fact, His Highness treats me pretty well these few days, if I bring His Highness along with me to come to fetch my mother, what do you think will eventually happen?”

Madam Qian let out a smirk. “Who do you think you are? Are you sure you’re able to summon His Highness?”

“Seems like you don’t trust me. Do you know who the two people that tagged along with me are today? One of them is Dong Chen, Lord Xiao’s personal bodyguard.”

Madam Qian hesitated for a moment. If that’s the case, then Qian Jiujiu is indeed favored by Lord Xiao?

Would Lord Xiao spare a glance at someone with her look? Qian Jiujiu observed Madam Qian looking down upon her coupled with her disdainful stare at her. She could not help but let out a cough.

What’s wrong with my appearance? Although I’m not the prettiest, at least I’m decent and graceful. Moreover, my skin condition seems to become better and has turned into pale ivory, making me look rather adorable.

Why do I seem unworthy in the eyes of this old lady? I’m extremely vexed about it.

“Actually, I will have to express my gratitude to Madam and Elder Sister!” My birth chart is just right. If it was the Elder Sister’s birth chart, I bet it might bring harm to His Highness.”

“But my birth chart is said to bring luck to my husband according to the fortune teller hired by His Highness! Of course, I’ll bring harm to others as well. Those who are affected by me must be those with short lives.”

“In other words, those who have short lives can’t withstand my prosperous fate.”

Qian Jiujiu was elated to see the three ladies of the Qian family being enraged to a certain degree. She knew their real intention.

She knew these ladies from the Qian family well enough to realize their real purpose of using her as a substitute in marriage. They wanted to use her to bring bad luck, but now it turned out to be the opposite. I do not bring harm to my husband, instead, I bring luck to him.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

She had indeed helped to revive Lord Xiao who was about to die. Madam Qian’s facial expression altered. In the midst of her anger, she thought of something else.

“Qian Jiujiu, has Lord Xiao found out that you’re not the daughter of the first wife in the Qian family?”

Qian Jiujiu blinked her eyes. “He doesn’t know about it. Doesn’t the most beautiful lady in the Capital put on a veil whenever she goes out? Oh, I think I know what you mean now. You mean the birth chart?”

“It was such a coincidence that on the day of our marriage, a fortune-teller came over to make predictions for us. He claimed that we were not compatible, etc.”

“Then I told him that my original birth chart was another one. It just so happened that His Highness believed in me without any doubts.”

It was easy for Qian Jiujiu to utter such words but Madam Qian and others could not trust her just like this. Moreover, they could not justify if the words mentioned by Qian Jiujiu were true or fake.

“Alright, Madam Qian, I have to stop my nonsense with you. I want to meet my mother. Besides, I have already told you things that have happened in Xiao Manor.”

“If you don’t allow me to meet her, I will summon Dong Chen to break into her room straight away.”

Madam Qian gazed at Qian Jiujiu. Indeed, she is different from what she used to be. She even dares to intrude the Qian Manor as she wishes. It seems like she is more confident now.

After all, it should not be a problem for her to meet the ill person. “Okay, go and meet her.”

As she uttered that statement, she shot a glance at her senior servant. “Bring Princess Consort over.”

Qian Jiujiu did not care much. She only murmured a tone of agreement. Just then, she followed the senior servant to her mother’s place. Once she was outside, she saw Minister Qian and the Third Prince standing right there.

Based on the memory of the original owner, Qian Jiujiu could recognize the Third Prince right away. However, she did not walk toward him, instead, she chose to turn around and left, pretending as if she had not seen them.

Puzzled, Qian Jiujiu wondered how Minister Qian could be granted this title of his!

He has the audacity to be involved in the battle for the throne. Does he feel that he has great longevity? No way, I need to speed up to prevent my mother from being killed due to these people.

As thoughts ran through her mind, she finally made her way to a dilapidated small courtyard. “Princess Consort, here we are. I’ll wait for you here.”

Qian Jiujiu mumbled a tone of acknowledgment. Unconcerned, she walked in immediately to find the person right before her lying on the bed weakly.

The most disheartening part was her ragged clothes. One could not tell that she was actually the concubine of Minister Qian. People would have thought she was the wife of a farmer!

The corner of Qian Jiujiu’s mouth twitched twice. Her heart could feel a sense of familiarity as she approached. It was a mix of grievance and sadness, probably this was how the original owner would have felt.

As a result of being affected by the emotions in her heart, her eyes welled up with tears. She paced over to the bed, looking at the person lying on the bed. “Mom.”

Concubine Wan on the bed struggled to open her eyes. Her eyes filled with joy and pleasure when she saw the person before her. “Jiujiu, is it you? My Jiujiu is finally back.”

Concubine Wan spent most of her time with Qian Jiujiu in the village. They only had each other to rely on during that time.

Never had they expected that an unforeseen calamity would cause them to be brought home. This had resulted in them separating from each other. How could Concubine Wan not be agitated when she got to meet Qian Jiujiu again?

As a result of being agitated, she vomited a mouthful of blood out instantly, causing Qian Jiujiu to be petrified by this.

“Mom, what happened to you?”

Amid the chaos, she called out her Mom without any strange feelings. Feeling anxious, she forgot to conceal her identity. She immediately grabbed hold of Concubine Wan’s hand to feel her pulse.

Her facial expression was getting worse from day to day. Concubine Wan was only back to the manor for a few days, yet these people who left no room for her were already thinking to poison her to death.

Qian Jiujiu’s facial expression turned gloomy. “Mom, let me take you away. This place is real torture.”

Concubine Wan looked fixedly at Qian Jiujiu. “I know my Ah Jiu is capable now but Mom is useless. How could I allow you to marry…”

“Mom, His Highness treats me well. My purpose in visiting Mom is to ask you something.”

“Are you willing to leave with me?”

Concubine Wan was stunned for an instant. She then shook her head in response. “I know my Ah Jiu is filial but I cannot be your burden. Since you said that His Highness treats you well…”

“Then you shall stay by His Highness' side obediently. You don’t have to care about me, is that alright? I know that my life is almost coming to an end.”

Upon hearing that Concubine Wan was almost breathing her last, but all she thought of was still her daughter, even if she was merely the mother of this body’s owner, she still felt touched at this moment.

She hugged Concubine Wan tightly. “Mom, listen to me, we have lived together for so many years. I can leave you alone. You don’t have to worry about your health. I’ll take responsibility for it.”

“I need you to stay alive and experience longevity. You need to be here to witness the birth of my children and help me take care of them!”

“Let me ask you. If I have a way for you to break free from Minister Qian, would you be willing to leave with me?”

Concubine Wan let out a smile. “You foolish girl. Your mother is merely a concubine so I only need a letter from him. I only have you in my life”

“And only you. If it was not for you who has always been my pillar of support these past years, Mom would have died long ago. If I could get the letter, for sure I will be willing to leave with you.”

Qian Jiujiu caressed her head. That’s right. My mother is not the legitimate first wife so she doesn’t need to divorce from him. As for the letter to release the concubine, it’s a piece of cake.

Besides, it’s good to hear that my mother is willing to leave with me. She looked at Concubine Wan as she uttered, “Mom, open your mouth.”

Concubine Wan did not hesitate when she opened her mouth. Just then, Qian Jiujiu inserted a poison healing pill into her mouth.

“Mom, this is a poison healing pill given by His Highness. Your body is feeble because you are poisoned. You must promise to wait for me here until I come to get you. Take good care of yourself.”

Once Concubine Wan heard that it was a poison healing pill, she said, “You silly girl, you shall leave such a thing for yourself to save your own life when necessary. How can you give it to me?”

Seeing that Concubine Wan said hurriedly and sincerely considered about her wellbeing, Qian Jiujiu smiled at Concubine Wan.

“Mom, you can rest assured. I have more for myself. Remember to wait for my return. Do you hear that? I will certainly come back to get you.”