The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

"..." Situ Yaorao gritted her teeth, but she didn't dare agree. Because she really liked Tan Tai Wu Yue, and there was absolutely no way she would give up for this matter.

Although she used Situ Yaorao's body and received Mrs. Situ's care, she had her own principles. That was that she would never let herself be unhappy.

Now, for Madam Situ's sake, she had already decided not to get too close to Tan Tai Wu Yue openly. If she were asked to compromise again, it would be impossible.

Thinking that Situ Yaorao didn't say anything.

But Madam Situ said the third thing: "Third, you can't marry Gu Yunjing, the future master of the Gu family!"

"Didn't mother hope that I could be with Gu Yunjing before?" Situ Yaorao asked back. Madam Situ was embarrassed when she heard this, then she said, "In short, you can't marry him. If you marry him, you..." Madam Situ didn't finish her words.

Seeing this, Situ Yaorao stood up and said, "Mother, now that you've said all this, shouldn't you listen to your daughter?"

"What do you want to say?" Madam Situ asked. She also felt that she had said something too much. Situ Yaorao stood up and said, "My mother told me not to marry the crown prince of Mingyue Country. That's fine. After all, I don't want to be too far away from my mother. Besides, I only like and respect him, not love him. But my mother told me not to marry Tan Tai Wu Yue, and that's something I absolutely dare not agree to. I love him so much that I'm willing to give up everything for him. But, I can't be with him now. So, I won't embarrass my mother or the Situ family in front of others. But behind others, that's my own business. This is a love that doesn't even have a future, but I'm willing to give up everything for this relationship. Even my own life.

As for the third one… Since I adore the Crown Prince, I naturally won't marry my cousin. However, I still need an answer, Mother. Why do you reject Gu Yunjing so much, and why do you want to return to the Gu family? Please don't tell me you're angry. That's not your style," Situ Yaorao said.

Mrs. Situ was silent for a moment when asked this by Situ Yaorao.

"Mother, silence won't solve the problem. Please give me an answer." Situ Yaorao looked at Madam Situ and said lightly. Madam Situ heard this, glanced at Situ Yaorao, and sighed softly: "Yaorao, do you still remember what mother told you about the current situation?"

"Remember, mother told me this just to persuade me not to be with the prince." Situ Yaorao said.

Madam Situ nodded when she heard this. "Yes, I did tell you about this at the time. But at the same time, there are some things I didn't tell you. For example, the Gu family."

"Gu family?"

"That's right. The Gu family married me to your father. First, to consolidate the Gu family's position, and second, to merge the Gu family with the Situ family. Completely becoming the Gu family's power. And the Gu family relied on Mother back then. The Gu family believed that with Mother's talent and beauty, she would surely win your father's love, and that he would risk everything for me and stand by the Gu family. But to our surprise, he already had a woman he loved, Hong Lei's mother. Even until now, Mother hasn't received a single ounce of his sympathy. He framed Mother for the sake of his Situ family, and that's what brought you to this state."

This is completely contrary to the Gu family's original intention. That's why they wanted Mother to give up everything in the Situ family and return to the Gu family. They wanted to wait until Honglei's mother was no longer able to manage the Situ family, so that your father could come to Mother and ask for her help, thereby raising Mother's status. Another purpose was to seduce you. If the Gu and Situ families were to form a marriage, regardless of whether your father agreed or not, you would be the eldest daughter of the Situ family, and Yunjing would be the only heir of the Gu family. Therefore, the two of you being together is what the Gu family wants to see."

After Madam Situ finished speaking, she looked at Situ Yaorao and said, "So Yaorao, no matter what, you can't marry Gu Yunjing. Once you marry him... the Situ family will..."

"Does Mom like Dad very much?" Situ Yaorao looked at Madam Situ and asked curiously. Madam Situ was stunned when she heard this: "Why do you say that?"

"If Mother didn't like it, she wouldn't care so much about the Situ family, and she wouldn't have warned me about this matter. In all this time, this is the first time I've seen Mother so angry that she made me kneel down. And every time Mother gets angry, it's because of something related to the Situ family."

Situ Yaorao held Madam Situ and said lightly.

"Mom just... feels sorry for your father." Mrs. Situ said in a low voice.

"Sorry? But in my opinion, it's Dad who's wronged you all these years. How have you wronged him?" Situ Yaorao asked in confusion. Madam Situ frowned upon hearing this, "This is an adult matter. Don't ask too much, child. Just remember what mother said. Don't be with your cousin Yun Jing."

"Mother is angry today, probably because I was carried on the back of my cousin Yun Jing, right?" Situ Yaorao looked at Madam Situ with a smile. Although she had intended for Madam Situ to see it, she had not expected Madam Situ to have such a big reaction.

"Did you do this on purpose?" Madam Situ was no fool; she guessed it almost instantly. Upon hearing this, Situ Yaorao blinked and said, "If I hadn't done this, how could I have told you the truth about your return?"

"You girl!" Mrs. Situ was a little annoyed.

"Don't blame me, mother. It's just that you don't tell me anything, making me feel like an outsider. I know you're good to me, but your overprotection makes me feel like I don't even have the right to be independent." Situ Yaorao whispered. Upon hearing this, Madam Situ sighed softly, "You really are just like him."

"he?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just want to say that you are just like your father, both of you have your own opinions." Mrs. Situ said a little flustered.

"Mom, I heard something a while ago, something related to the Mingyue Kingdom, but I don't think it's true. After all, I trust you. And Dad should also trust you, even if he's not kind to me." Situ Yaorao said thoughtfully. Madam Situ frowned upon hearing this: "No matter what you heard, just believe what Mom says. Just remember that you are the eldest daughter of the Situ family."

"Yes, daughter knows." Situ Yaorao whispered.

Upon hearing this, Madam Situ sighed softly: "Mother has always been reluctant to tell you about the affairs of the Situ and Gu families. I was afraid that you, a girl, know nothing, but are still afraid. But I didn't expect that you are strong enough to bear all this. However, even so, mother does not want you, Yaorao, to know those things. After all... it is enough for you to just be a good child. Mother will protect you." Madam Situ said softly.

"If possible, I just want to be a child forever. Under your protective umbrella. But mother, you don't have the energy to protect me now, so I can only protect you in return. No matter what affair happens in the future, no matter what we become. I will try my best to protect you. This is my promise to you." Situ Yaorao looked at the woman and said firmly.

Madam Situ looked at Situ Yaorao and shook her head helplessly: "Sometimes I really can't help but wonder, girl, are you really my Ha Zi? Obviously, you were still so naive before. But... when I look at you, I have to admit that you are really my Yaorao. In this world, no one else can pretend to be you."

"Mom, I just figured it out." Situ Yaorao's expression dimmed slightly. How much did she want to tell this woman that she was not her daughter. But an outsider?

But I didn't have the courage. I didn't want to see that disappointed expression again. I didn't want this woman to be sad either. So, I could only keep these things hidden deep in my heart. This was a secret that only Cang knew.

Situ Yaorao even wondered if this was the reason she fell in love with Cang. Keeping the secret all by herself was exhausting. And he, coincidentally, made her feel at ease. That's why she mistook it for love. Ultimately, this delusion prevented Cang from moving on, and left her burdened with guilt.