The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

Madam Chen's expression changed slightly, but she quickly put on a smiling face and said, "Mother doesn't care about all that. Just rest assured, if you marry and have children in the capital, Mother will never mistreat you! Mother can give you a generous dowry!"

“I don’t care!” Qu Zian said angrily.

"Zian! How dare you speak like that?" Chen's face immediately darkened.

"Shut up!" Qu Zi'an roared. "What right do you have to decide my marriage for me! Let me tell you, I don't agree to this marriage! I will never marry you!"

Madam Chen's eyes widened in anger, about to erupt, but Qu Zi'an continued, "I've already told my father that my marriage is his decision! Don't try to interfere, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"You!" Madam Chen trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Qu Zi'an's nose. "So you think you're all grown up now! You dare to talk back to your mother! You really think you're the young master of the Qu family? You're nothing but a son born out of wedlock!"

“That’s still better than you!” Qu Zian said bluntly.

"You!" Chen was so angry she couldn't speak. She pointed at Qu Zian, flicked her sleeves, and stormed out of the courtyard.

The other maids also scattered in a panic.

"Oh dear, Young Master!" As the maids left, they didn't forget to wink at Qu Zi'an and tease him, "You're really something! To actually make the young lady of the Prince An's mansion go crazy for you, tsk tsk tsk."

"Hey! All of you get out of here!" Qu Zian roared angrily.

The maids ran off in a flash.

Qu Zian slumped into the chair, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

"You really are something!" Qu Zilin sneered. "I never thought you were this kind of person! You actually took advantage of me while I was drunk to do such a despicable thing!"

Qu Zian gritted his teeth, looked at Qu Zilin, and said angrily, "Who let her in? Who allowed her to climb into my bed?"

"You unfilial son! How dare you question this young master!" Qu Zilin slammed his hand on the table.

"How...how would I know?" Qu Zian was startled.

"How dare you deny it! Did you already know about our relationship, so you deliberately had her seduce me?!" Qu Zilin said angrily.

Qu Zian shook his head, "I didn't!"

"I saw it all!" Qu Zilin pointed at Qu Zian and said, "Don't tell me you didn't let her climb into your bed!"

Qu Zian took a deep breath and said, "I really didn't, but don't falsely accuse others!"

"I'm framing her? Ha, she's your personal maid. She slept with you, how could that be fake? If you don't want to admit it, fine, I'll have Father investigate thoroughly!" Qu Zilin sneered.

"How dare you!" Qu Zi'an roared. "If Father finds out anything, I will never forgive you!"

"Oh! Threatening me, huh!" Qu Zilin sneered. "Don't forget, we are the legitimate children, and you are the illegitimate one! What right do you have to threaten me! You're nothing but a spoiled brat that Father picked up!"

"Shut up!" Qu Zi'an roared, enraged. "If you dare insult me ​​again, don't blame me for turning on you!"

"Hmph!" Qu Zilin sneered and turned away.

Qu Zian slumped into a chair, his face filled with sorrow. He never imagined he would end up like this, never thought he would lose his self-respect and pride.

"Zi'an!" At this moment, Li Mama's voice came from inside the room, her tone filled with concern.

"Granny, I'm fine," Qu Zian said, forcing back tears.

"Zian, you absolutely mustn't let your father find out. If the Old Madam finds out, she will definitely not forgive you," sighed Granny Li. "Don't let this matter escalate to the Old Madam's ears. You know, the Old Madam always favors the Second Miss."

“Yes.” Qu Zian lowered her head. “I know what to do.”

Seeing him like this, Granny Li didn't know what to say, after all, Qu Zi'an was indeed raised by her.

In Qu Zian's room, Qu Zian sat on the couch with his knees drawn up to his chest, his mind filled with images of Qu Ziyu.

"No! How could I possibly betray her?" Qu Zian murmured to himself.

"Knock knock knock." Just then, a knock sounded on the door, and Qu Zixi walked in.

"Sister!" Qu Zixi walked to Qu Zi'an's side and called softly, "Why did you suddenly come back today?"

Qu Zian looked up at him. "I...I was a little worried about Grandma, so I came back."

"How could you think like that, child?" Qu Zixi scolded. "Grandma is old and has a heart condition; her health is already weak. How can she withstand such torment from you? You didn't even discuss it with me before coming back."

Qu Zian pursed his lips and said, "I...I was afraid you'd be unhappy."

"Silly girl!" Qu Zixi patted her head. "You're my sister, how could I not be happy? Now that you're back, you can take care of Grandma, and I won't have to work so hard serving her anymore."

“But…” Qu Zian hesitated.

"No buts! Get up and eat! I'll have someone get you some porridge!" Qu Zixi urged.

"Thank you, brother," Qu Zian said gratefully.

"No need to thank me, we're brothers!" Qu Zixi said with a smile.

"Brother, I have something I'd like to ask of you," Qu Zian said.

"you say!"

"Could we please not tell Grandmother about this?" Qu Zian asked.

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid she'll be angry and punish you," Qu Zian whispered. "I don't want my grandmother to be angry with me."

"Okay, I promise you!" Qu Zixi smiled gently.

"Thank you, brother," Qu Zian said.

“We’re like siblings, there’s no need for thanks,” Qu Zixi said.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qu Zian took his leave.

Back in his room, Qu Zian lay down on the soft couch, recalling what Qu Zilin had just said.

He said, "I am the legitimate son, and you are the illegitimate son. You may not know that Father favors you, but I know that Father loves me the most! How can you, an illegitimate son, be compared to me? You are nothing but a bastard!"

Qu Zian felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and her eyes reddened slightly.

He never dared to hope that one day he would become the illegitimate son Qu Zilin spoke of, and he didn't want his mother to suffer because of him!

Qu Zian felt so dirty, so disgusting to himself.

Qu Zian closed her eyes, trying hard not to let the tears fall, but her heart was filled with unbearable pain.

"Plop, plop," tears slid down the corners of her eyes and landed on the pillow, leaving a wet stain.