Chapter 103: The Illegitimate Versus the Bastard (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 103: Base-born vs. Illegitimate (Please Subscribe)

As soon as Lu Xueqing’s voice fell, it drew every gaze in the great hall. Everyone looked at her with complex emotions, and for all but a very few, those feelings quickly curdled into shock.

Lu Xueqing’s face was pristine. There was not a trace of the smallpox that had supposedly afflicted her!

If this news reached the ears of Emperor Jun Dingyue, it would surely cause a massive uproar. Lu Xueqing’s "crime of deceiving the Emperor" would undoubtedly bring catastrophe upon the Prime Minister’s estate.

"Qing'er, your face..."
"Qing'er, your face..."
"Qing'er, your face..."

Madam Xu, Lu Anrong, and Leng Yiyun murmured in unison. How could it be? How could Qing'er’s face have healed so thoroughly in just a few short days?

While the mortality rate for smallpox was only twenty-five percent, the disease typically left scars as the pustules scabbed over and fell off. To see someone like Lu Xueqing, whose skin was as clean and smooth as a peeled egg, was truly eerie.

Anran curled her lips into a smile, but a closer look revealed it didn't reach her eyes. Even as she smiled, an icy aura emanated from her, sending a chill through those around her.

"Qing'er, why are you here?" Seeing her face healed and free of spots, Leng Yiyun, beyond shocked, trotted over to grab Lu Xueqing’s hand, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

"If I didn't come, would I just let others ride roughshod over me?"

Lu Xueqing patted Leng Yiyun’s hand to reassure her. Her sharp eyes remained locked on Anran, burning with a hatred so intense she wished she could tear her to pieces, consume her flesh, and drink her blood to vent her fury. She had originally intended to use a much cruder phrase, but fearing that such vulgarity would lower her standing in the eyes of others, she had improvised on the spot.

"Don't be in such a hurry to emphasize who is the 'Eldest Miss Lu.' When the truth comes to light, it might not be so clear who that is! For the sake of saving some people’s pride, I offer a piece of kind advice: don't be so certain—anything can happen!" Anran looked back at Lu Xueqing, her eyes brimming with provocation.

"Sister, your face recovered so quickly, you scared me to death! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that just yesterday you were covered in pox and looked hideous enough to make one vomit." Lu Xuexiang’s words held a double meaning. Anran secretly gave her a thumbs-up; she certainly hadn't taught her to say that.

Lu Xueqing was speechless, not knowing how to respond. Before falling asleep the previous night, she had been tortured by the agony of the pox, but upon waking and dressing this morning, she discovered the spots on her hands had vanished into thin air. Startled, she touched her cheeks, finding no indentations—only skin as delicate and smooth as silk. In her excitement, she didn't even bother with shoes, running barefoot to the vanity to gaze into the bronze mirror, where a breathtaking, celestial beauty stared back at her.

She had recovered! Her looks were not only restored but were even more radiant than before!

"Hmph, it must be the blessings of the Lu family ancestors and the heavens opening their eyes that allowed me to recover overnight. What, are you jealous?" Lu Xueqing shot a smug, disdainful look at Lu Xuexiang, finding it hard to believe she had such a pig-headed sister.

"Sister, the selection hasn't ended yet. Now that your smallpox is gone, the imperial decree will likely arrive tomorrow!" Lu Xuexiang ignored the insult, striking directly at Lu Xueqing’s pain point. Since she was cured without a single scar and looked even more beautiful, how could she escape the fate of entering the palace?

Lu Xueqing’s face changed instantly. How could she have forgotten about the selection? She had been too busy showing off and hearing that Anran had come to cause trouble, wanting to crush Anran’s spirit and prove she no longer needed to be threatened. How could she have forgotten the most important thing?

"What, sister, are you afraid?"

"Enough! Both of you, be silent!"

Even at a moment like this, Lu Anrong maintained his official arrogance, even before his own daughter. He was not just a father; he was the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor.

"Old Madam, the items are prepared!"

As Lu Anrong spoke, Nanny Biqing entered from outside, followed by two maidservants. One carried a tray holding a bowl of clear water and a gleaming dagger.

"Anran, I do not know what evidence you have to claim you are the 'Eldest Miss Lu,' but the Lu family will never allow someone of impure blood and malicious intent into our estate!"

"Bring it here!" Lu Anrong finished his stinging remark and commanded the maid to bring the tray. He would verify this himself, and let Prince Li see Anran’s true colors.

"Yes, Master!"

One of the maids stepped forward. Lu Anrong’s conical hat was veiled in black, the fabric falling to his waist, perfectly concealing the tray so he didn't have to expose his own rotting, raw-fleshed hands.

He used the veil to cover the bowl before reaching into his sleeves with his horrific hands. With his right, he picked up the dagger, a vicious glint in his eyes. He hardened his heart and sliced his left hand. The pain made him gasp. His skin had already rotted away, exposing raw flesh; the blade cutting into that was several times more painful than cutting normal skin. The blood that oozed out was thicker and darker than a normal person's. With a *plop*, it dripped into the water.

"Fine, it is your turn!" Lu Anrong gritted his teeth.

The maid understood and brought the tray to Anran. The hall fell into an eerie silence, and one could hear the very breathing of those present.

Although they wanted to believe Anran was just stirring up trouble, they were inexplicably caught up in the tension. Especially Leng Yiyun—she knew full well that the talk of the outing and the "child-snatchers" was all nonsense and that Anran was lying. Yet, she could not help but be gripped by curiosity and panic, holding her breath and staring intently at Anran’s hands.

"Don't be nervous."

In that tense silence, Jun Moli suddenly interjected. It was unclear who he was speaking to, making the atmosphere even more bizarre.

Anran wore a faint smile, looking entirely confident. She took the dagger, lightly pricked her index finger, and a drop of bright red blood fell into the water with a *plop*.

In the clear water, the two drops of blood slowly moved closer, touched, and then... they merged!

Their blood had actually merged!

Jun Moli and Leng Yiyun were standing closest. Shock appeared on both their faces. Jun Moli had long known Anran was not of the Lu family and was mentally prepared. Yet, seeing the two drops merge, he was still genuinely startled, though he quickly regained his composure.

To be able to fuse the blood of two people with no biological relation—Anran’s medical skills were truly profound!

Leng Yiyun stared in horror at the merged droplets, retreating until she hit the table behind her. She didn't know if her legs would have given way otherwise. How could this be? How could this be? How could Anran be Lu Anrong’s daughter?

"Ah—" The maid finally snapped out of her shock and cried out, her hands trembling so hard she nearly dropped the tray. Anran was truly a young lady of the Prime Minister’s estate!

Madam Xu, seeing Leng Yiyun’s terrified state and hearing the maid's exclamation, felt her chest tighten. A foreboding feeling arose in her heart. Could everything really be as Anran said?

"Bring it here, let me see!" She gestured to the maid. Biqing, having witnessed the scene, walked toward Madam Xu.

The maid finally composed herself and brought the tray to Madam Xu. Though her eyes were dim with age, she could clearly see the blood in the water. Trembling, she touched the bowl, murmuring, "How can it be, how can it be..."

Lu Xueqing and Lu Xuexiang were increasingly confused and crowded around to look. Both stared at the blood in shock, long unable to speak. Was Anran really their sister?

Lu Xuexiang had always repeated her hope that Anran was her sister, though it seemed those words had slipped out involuntarily. Moreover, Anran treated her specially, holding no grudges and even teaching her weight-loss and beauty secrets. She had used them for half a month, and they really worked. Her waist was now slender, her complexion rosier, and she looked fresh and lovely.

She had never imagined Anran would be her biological sister, but even if she wasn't the "true" Lu Xueqing as Anran claimed, the blood in the bowl proved that Anran at least carried the Lu family’s blood.

Lu Xueqing’s beautiful face turned hideous. She had never expected Anran to be blood of the Lu family. Her father, Lu Anrong, had always been a model official, never frequenting brothels or keeping mistresses outside. But the evidence was undeniable. Could it be, as Anran said, that she herself was the fake? At this moment, not only were those in the hall doubting Lu Xueqing’s identity, but Lu Xueqing herself began to doubt it.

Still, she braced herself, using a more persuasive reason to calm down: her father was a hypocritical gentleman, but who knew if he had left illegitimate children outside? Perhaps Anran was that child and had simply come to claim her place!

Lu Xueqing took a deep breath and looked at Anran. Before she could speak, Anran preempted her: "Lu Xueqing, it is your turn!"

As Anran’s voice faded, her cold eyes swept toward the other maid at the door. The maid trembled and brought the tray to Lu Xueqing, whispering, "Eldest Miss, please."

Lu Xueqing snorted. Was she supposed to be afraid? Even if Anran carried the Lu family’s blood, she was just an illegitimate bastard born to a base woman. Trying to steal her position as the eldest legitimate daughter was a pipe dream!

Anran gave Lu Xueqing a smile, her cold eyes looking as if she were viewing an idiot, before turning away. She really didn't want to bring down such a fool. She was stupid enough to reveal her healed face to show off—a brainless simpleton.

She had originally had Han Bing add something to the sandalwood incense to heal Lu Xueqing’s face, letting her be smug for two days before thoroughly destroying her beauty, letting her experience being abandoned by Prince Kun, and forcing her to endure the loneliness of the night.

But she hadn't expected Jun Ruohan to come knocking on the orders of Jun Dingyue. Since that was the case, she would escalate the situation, making the "Eldest Miss Lu’s" fate even more tragic. Looking at how Lu Xueqing was showing off, she clearly couldn't wait.

Once the imperial decree came down and she was summoned to the palace to serve, only to be toyed with by both father and son—she wondered if the Eldest Miss would cry or laugh in her depravity then.

Lu Xueqing gritted her teeth and pricked her finger. A drop of blood welled up on her fair skin, and she turned her hand to let it fall into the water. She glared at Anran defiantly and said arrogantly, "Even if you are father’s daughter, you are nothing but a base-born bastard born to a woman who couldn't see the light of day!"

"Who is really the base one, we shall soon know!" Anran ignored her and looked at Lu Anrong.

Lu Anrong had remained silent and motionless, standing like a wooden stake. He hadn't personally looked at the merged blood, but he knew the result from the expressions of Leng Yiyun and Madam Xu. Was Anran truly his daughter?

He was instantly pulled back into memories from over a decade ago.

That gentle yet strong-willed woman had once said she wanted to bear him a daughter, asking for no status, no place in his heart—only that he redeem her from her servitude so she could take their child, return to the countryside, and live a common life.

After that night, she had indeed left, and never appeared before him again. It wasn't that he hadn't searched for her, but she had vanished as if she had evaporated into thin air.

Only now did he understand why he always found Anran’s eyes familiar. They were exactly like hers, especially that indifferent, otherworldly gaze. They were indeed very much alike!

"Prime Minister, it is your turn."

"Your mother... is she well?"

Lu Anrong ignored Anran’s words, asking instead with deep longing.

At his question, the entire hall fell silent. A *thump* echoed as a heavy object hit the floor. Leng Yiyun collapsed, tears welling in her eyes as she shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing from Lu Anrong.

He actually had another woman outside!

Madam Xu sighed heavily, looking at Lu Anrong with disappointment, though she quickly regained her composure. For a man to have three wives and four concubines was normal; Lu Anrong only had three concubines after all. Besides, what man didn't visit brothels? Lu Anrong had never done so, and this was merely a small mistake that left behind a loose end; it was nothing major.

However, this storm had turned the entire Prime Minister’s estate upside down. Once Anran was added to the family register, she would teach this wild girl a lesson in manners. And the matter of her koi fish—she would definitely take revenge. Such a base-born creature did not deserve to live in the Lu house!

Madam Xu made up her mind: she would let Anran claim her ancestry, then kill her quietly. A concubine’s daughter—no, Anran couldn't even be counted as a concubine’s daughter, but at most an illegitimate one—so her life or death was insignificant to the Prime Minister’s estate. Outsiders would care even less about the fate of an illegitimate child!

"Prime Minister, it is too late."

Anran’s ambiguous words left Lu Anrong desolate. *Too late, too late...* If she wasn't dead, why would she have let her daughter return to the Prime Minister’s estate? She had been far better than the women in his house and was worth his longing, yet he hadn't cherished her. Now, it was truly too late.

"Prime Minister, it is your turn. The identity of the 'Eldest Miss Lu' is still waiting for you to verify it!"

Anran waited for Lu Anrong’s next move, but he remained standing still. She couldn't see his expression, but she guessed that his regret outweighed his heartache. She hadn't expected that while Lu Anrong was involved with Leng Yiyun back then, he had accidentally uncovered such a massive secret!

Lu Anrong seemed lost in deep remorse, and whether Lu Xueqing was his daughter was now just a formality. He casually sliced his finger, and strangely, he didn't even feel the pain. Anran curled her lips in a cold sneer, mocking him internally. He had actually had a woman he truly loved?

However, based on her knowledge from her previous life, this hypocritical gentleman only truly loved status, power, and himself. The reason he missed that woman was simply that he had never possessed her. Things unpossessed were often deemed the best and the most regrettable.

Lu Xueqing, certain the blood would merge, walked to Lu Anrong’s side. Seeing the two drops fuse, she laughed triumphantly: "Anran, do you see? I am the legitimate Eldest Miss of the Prime Minister’s estate, and you are nothing but an illegitimate daughter among father’s many children!"

Lu Xueqing bit down hard on the words "illegitimate daughter," wanting to humiliate the woman who didn't know her place and dared to dream of turning from a pheasant into a phoenix. A girl of unknown origin daring to slander her and steal everything that belonged to her—it was sheer arrogance and self-humiliation.

"Is that so?"

Anran’s voice was indifferent, even carrying a hint of disbelief. She took a few hurried steps, which to onlookers looked like panic. People in the hall couldn't help but look at her with contempt and triumph. Only Jun Moli shook his head slightly; these people were truly stupid, deserving to be led around by the nose by his Ran'er.

"Eldest Miss Lu, are you certain you are the Prime Minister’s biological daughter?" Anran stooped over, eyes locked on the merged blood.

"Of cour—" Lu Xueqing snorted, but the word "course" was cut short as she was stunned by what she saw. How could this be?

The two drops of blood, which had been merged, were slowly separating, eventually dispersing into two distinct droplets in the water. One was dark red, the other bright red—clearly, the blood did not merge!

Blood between a father and daughter not merging meant only one thing: they were not father and daughter!

Lu Xueqing was not Lu Anrong’s biological daughter!

Not only Lu Xueqing, but even Lu Anrong was stunned by this unheard-of phenomenon. He had never heard of blood merging and then separating. If it didn't merge, it didn't merge; who had ever seen or heard of it merging and then splitting apart?

Leng Yiyun had just recovered from the shock of Lu Anrong having another woman, only to be struck dumb by the fact that Lu Xueqing was not his biological daughter. Lu Xuexiang, seeing Lu Xueqing’s horrified expression, ran over out of curiosity. She only saw the two unmerged drops, but that was enough to make her heart skip a beat and fill her with wild joy.

Lu Xueqing was not blood of the Lu family, and Anran was just an illegitimate daughter—that meant she was the only legitimate daughter left in the Lu family. She could now choose a husband as the sole legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s house. She wouldn't have to fear marrying only a secondary son or being a step-wife to some official. Her future marriage wouldn't be affected by Lu Xueqing’s "Eldest Miss" status, and she could rest easy. She could even afford to marry a prince as his principal wife. Of course, the one she most wanted to marry was Brother Li!

Anran felt Lu Xuexiang’s thoughts and felt nothing but disdain for such wolf-hearted behavior. But Lu Xueqing had brought this upon herself; who told her to put on a hypocritical facade while being as venomous as a snake? Especially after she had gotten involved with Jun Ruohan and, instead of reflecting, had actually enjoyed it. Such a slut deserved to be an outlet for that pervert Jun Dingyue and taste a life worse than death.

"Eldest Miss, are you shocked by why the blood merged and then separated?" Anran’s cold face blossomed into a flower, beautiful yet laden with lethal poison.

"You did this, didn't you?" Lu Xueqing’s bloodshot eyes were filled with hatred. Anran used the guise of saving people to commit murder. And with her high medical skills, she certainly had a way to make the blood separate. Lu Xueqing was now convinced Anran had played a trick.

"Does the Eldest Miss really think I am omnipotent?" Anran retorted sharply. "According to ancient texts, this is called 'similar solubility.' Your blood and the Prime Minister’s share a high degree of similarity. But because the blood is not from close kin, it separates after the initial fusion! You are related to the Prime Minister, but it is definitely not a father-daughter relationship!"

Related, but not father-daughter? Then what was their relationship?

"Mother..." Lu Xueqing turned back abruptly, looking at Leng Yiyun in terror. Could her mother have been with one of the uncles or cousins of their clan...? Lu Xueqing was too shocked to even imagine it.

"Anran, what nonsense are you spewing? You are just an illegitimate daughter, yet you dare to slander the legitimate Eldest Miss! I think you are itching for a beating! Someone, bring the family law!" Leng Yiyun looked at Anran with a狰狞 expression and roared toward the hall.

"Family law? That’s a fresh term!"

"Slandering the legitimate Eldest Miss? Prime Minister’s Madam, are you certain you are truly the legitimate Madam? Are you not living under someone else's identity?" Anran’s face turned cold, her voice dropping, and she turned to look at Leng Yiyun—every word sounded as if it had crawled up from the depths of the underworld.

"Anran, you dare to slander the legitimate Eldest Miss and then the mistress of the house! How can the Lu family have descendants like you? You disgrace our family reputation! Where is the family law? Is it here yet?" Leng Yiyun was so frightened by Anran that her voice trembled. But she thought, *The people who should be dead are dead; even if Anran knows something, there is no proof!* Her courage grew slightly.

"Ran'er, do you really want to return to a family with such unclear blood relations? Why not come back to my estate? I will take good care of you. The Prince Li estate is much more comfortable than this Prime Minister’s residence!"

Jun Moli took advantage of the chaos, announcing to the people of the estate that Anran was his choice. Whoever dared to bully her was bullying him and opposing Prince Li. Regardless of whether he was favored or not, he was a high-status prince—the royal relative everyone envied!

Madam Xu heard their conversation, and with Lu Xueqing’s reaction, she understood everything. Her eyes stared at Lu Xueqing in shock, her breathing becoming rapid. The granddaughter she had loved for over a decade was actually fathered by a clansman with Leng Yiyun? She had just been cursing Anran for being base-born, yet her most beloved granddaughter was the bastard of a clansman! This...

"Old Madam, don't be agitated, don't be agitated..." Nanny Biqing, seeing Madam Xu’s state, shed tears. She stroked her back, but Anran had said before that if the Old Madam fainted again, she would not save her!

"Bi...qing... drive them... out of the estate... drive them out..."

Madam Xu gasped for breath, stuttered her command to Biqing, and then her head slumped, and she passed out!

And who did this "them" refer to?

"Old Madam, Old Madam..."
"Mother, Mother..."
"Grandmother..."
"Has the doctor arrived? Has the doctor arrived?"

With Madam Xu fainted, everyone in the hall except Anran and Jun Moli panicked.

Anran glanced coldly at Madam Xu, feeling not a shred of sympathy. She even felt a bit of resentment; she had made it very clear that she must stay calm, or it would be a waste of her medicine. Yet, Madam Xu hadn't been able to steady herself, all for the sake of the filthy, dirty granddaughter that was Lu Xueqing!

Before they could recover, a sharp voice sounded from outside: "Imperial decree! Lu Xueqing, receive the decree!"

As the words fell, Eunuch Fu had already crossed into the hall with a decree. His small, sharp eyes flickered when he saw Lu Xueqing. The smallpox was indeed gone, and she looked even more beautiful than before. No wonder the Emperor had been so anxious the moment he received the news!

"This subject receives the decree!"

Lu Xueqing knelt down to receive it, and the others followed, leaving only Anran and Jun Moli seated in their chairs, with no intention of kneeling!

"By the grace of the Emperor: I have heard that Lu Xueqing, the foster daughter of the Prime Minister’s estate, has recovered from smallpox. I specially dispatch the Grand Interior Eunuch, Little Fu, with the Imperial Guard to bring Lu Xueqing into the palace to continue participating in the selection. Proceed to the palace immediately, without delay! Respect this!"

As Eunuch Fu’s high-pitched voice faded, Lu Xueqing’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor!

(PS: Graduation dinner, so melancholy. Four years of university life have passed just like that. I'm sad, and I can't focus on writing. Wuwuwu... please give me tickets for comfort... (I'm not good at palace intrigue, please just ignore the decree...))