Anning watched Qi Wenjuan defending Qi Wenwei ardently and thought that if she did not tell her so things, Qi Wenjuan might foolishly continue to treat Qi Wenwei as a close blood relative, and even when he betrayed her, she would still help him count his gains.
"You go down first."
Anning waved to have Mrs. Hao lead the maids away.
Mrs. Hao was alert; after leaving the room, she told the young maids to stay put while she sat in the corridor to keep watch, effectively acting as Anning’s lookout.
Anning pulled Qi Wenjuan to her side, the smile on her face disappearing, and then her entire face darkened.
Qi Wenjuan was sowhat scared and timidly said, "Mother."
Anning wiped her face, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes, "Wenjuan, you were young before, and there were things your mother never dared to tell you. Now that you are growing up and already managing the house affairs like a steward, I must tell you these things to prevent you from being sched against in the future."
Qi Wenjuan’s eyes widened as she looked intently at Anning, "Mother, what is it that you want to tell ?"
Anning forced a bitter smile: "Your elder brother, he... he isn’t my son."
Eh?
Qi Wenjuan was taken aback, "Mother, don’t be mad and say things you don’t an. How could that be... This..."
Anning patted her hand, "Don’t be scared, let explain everything to you in detail."
She told Qi Wenjuan about how Qi Rui and Zhou Zhenniang had been secretly involved long before, but because Qi Rui had wanted to marry Anning, he tricked everyone. During Anning’s labor, they switched her real son with the child Zhou Zhenniang had given birth to, and now her own real son’s whereabouts were unknown, whether alive or dead.
Anning knew that Ye Anning had given birth to a stillborn.
But Qi Wenjuan didn’t know this.
In order to prevent Qi Wenjuan from forming a close sibling bond with Qi Wenwei, she fed her so lines, aiming to incite hatred in Qi Wenjuan against Qi Wenwei and Qi Rui, so they wouldn’t end up using her in the future.
"My brother?"
Qi Wenjuan staggered a step back, her face a picture of utter shock, "Mother, is this really true?"
Anning nodded heavily, tears slowly trickling down, "I didn’t know it originally, but these past two years, I always felt that sothing was wrong, so I secretly investigated. As it turned out, Qi Wenwei is not my son but the child of my enemy. How could I treat him kindly? If I treated him well, how could I face my own flesh and blood, your own legitimate brother..."
Anning’s tears prompted Qi Wenjuan to also start crying.
Although she was still young, children matured early in ancient tis, and Qi Wenjuan understood what it ant to have the sa mother or a different one.
Especially since Qi Wenwei was Zhou Zhenniang’s son.
Qi Wenjuan could figure out that Zhou Zhenniang harbored ill intentions towards Anning, so how could she naïvely expect Qi Wenwei to be sincere?
"Does, does my elder brother know about this?"
Anning said through clenched teeth, a tone of hatred, "He knows, he has always known, just hiding it from us. Qi Rui frequently takes him to visit his birth mother, who knows what she has been instigating him with."
Anning gripped Qi Wenjuan’s hand, "It’s not that I’m heartless; it’s just that he’s an ingrate that cannot be nurtured. I’ve painstakingly raised him to this size, but with just a few provocations, he harbors resentnt against . How can one trust such a person?"
Qi Wenjuan thought the sa.
If Qi Wenwei didn’t know about this, then never mind, but he did. On one hand, he was enjoying the privileges of a legitimate son, while on the other, he was in contact with his birth mother. This kind of character was truly untrustworthy.
"Mother."
Thinking that she had raised her voice to Anning over such a person, Qi Wenjuan felt terribly sorry for her mother and suddenly burst into tears as she buried herself in Anning’s embrace, "I didn’t know, if I had known earlier, I would never have argued with Mother for his sake."
"Mother knows."
Anning gently patted Qi Wenjuan’s back: "Our Wenjuan is a good child, just like Wenshao, both doing very well."
Qi Wenjuan understood in her heart.
Since relying on Qi Wenwei was no longer an option, she had to place her hopes on Qi Wenshao.
She understood why Anning was so good to Qi Wenshao.
Rather than giving her love to an ingrate, spending so much effort to raise sothing that would turn against her, it was better to genuinely care for soone who knew gratitude.
Thinking about Qi Wenshao’s usual character and nature, Qi Wenjuan felt that he was actually not bad.
She cried for a while before lifting her head, her eyes red and swollen from the tears, looking very pitiable: "Mother, I understand now. From now on, I’ll never be close to him again, I... I’ll take good care of Second Brother."
Anning shook her head: "Keep doing as before; just treat your Second Brother well. You must not show even a hint of hatred towards your Eldest Brother, do not alert the enemy by accident."
Qi Wenjuan knew that Anning had a plan in mind, that there must be so sort of arrangent, so she quietly agreed.
Anning smiled and took a handkerchief to wipe Qi Wenjuan’s face: "In front of your father, you must not show anything either. Otherwise, our mother and daughter, even your Second Brother, I’m afraid, will have a hard ti."
"Mother, I have it in mind."
Qi Wenjuan replied solemnly.
Anning talked with her a little longer, then called for Mrs. Hao to co in.
Soon after, the maids also ca over to join them, and just as the steward old woman ca to report, Anning went with Qi Wenjuan to attend to the affairs.
After the Yonghe Troupe’s performance, Boss Zou hurriedly followed Zhou Zhenniang after removing his makeup.
"Miss, please wait."
Zhou Zhenniang turned around and saw Boss Zou, who looked even more handso in a change of clothes, speaking to her. Imdiately, a blush crawled up her cheeks.
Boss Zou was good looking and sang well; Zhou Zhenniang could be said to be a fan of his, often throwing money to support him. However, since there were many who fawned over Boss Zou, Zhou Zhenniang didn’t stand out and naturally had never spoken to him.
But now, being called by her idol, Zhou Zhenniang was naturally excited.
This was very much like how modern fans feel when they et their favorite stars.
"You’re calling ?"
Zhou Zhenniang couldn’t believe it and pointed to herself.
Boss Zou smiled and nodded: "I often see Miss watching the opera, you must be soone who understands it. Just, just wanted to invite Miss to discuss it, if you would?"
How could she refuse? It was simply too perfect.
Zhou Zhenniang hurriedly agreed: "Yes, of course."
Boss Zou led Zhou Zhenniang backstage and found a quiet place for her to sit down, then personally made tea and brought it to her.
Zhou Zhenniang happily accepted the tea and began to drink.
Boss Zou sat by her side, speaking to her with a tender face, occasionally singing a few lines and asking for Zhou Zhenniang’s opinion.
Such closeness from Boss Zou made Zhou Zhenniang dizzy with excitent; she couldn’t believe she had such good fortune to be able to talk to Boss Zou from such a close distance.
In the end, when Zhou Zhenniang left, she also left so silver coins and made an appointnt with Boss Zou to co back in two days to watch the opera again.
After Zhou Zhenniang left, Boss Zou watched her retreating figure, a hint of coldness erging on his face.
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