Spring Rises in the Phoenix Pool Chapter 42

No one knows a mother better than her daughter. After being raised by Madam Wang for over ten years, Qi Jin had already come to understand her every move in detail.

Seeing Madam Wang’s posture, Qi Jin didn’t even pause for a moment. She immediately covered her face and knelt on the ground, crying bitterly, “Mother, I was wrong! It’s all my fault!”

It had always been like this since childhood—Madam Wang could not tolerate defiance but would soften when met with submission.

If you made a mistake and still tried to resist her, Madam Wang’s anger would only intensify. What might have started as a single slap could escalate into a situation beyond control.

But if you sincerely admitted fault right from the start and promised not to repeat it, Madam Wang would always give you another chance, no matter what.

Qi Jin didn’t have time to think. Everything she did now was pure instinct, honed over the years.

She crawled forward on her knees and clung to Madam Wang’s leg, crying her heart out: “Mother, I was so scared! I was thrown out of the house, and I was terrified you wouldn’t want me anymore…”

A mother’s heart is made of flesh. Seeing Qi Jin crying so pitifully, Madam Wang felt a mix of anger and heartache. “So that’s why you could seduce your brother?! Do you know this will destroy him and yourself?!”

Qi Jin wailed even louder, “Mother, I didn’t! I really didn’t! It was Sister Xiang from the Xiang family who said I wasn’t a real daughter, that I was just a b*stard! Brother only said that even though she’s his fiancée, she isn’t his official wife and has no right to say such things!”

Deep down, Madam Wang didn’t want to believe or accept that the children she raised herself could have done something so unspeakable.

Even though she had come filled with rage and murderous intent, as soon as Qi Jin admitted fault, begged for mercy, and explained herself, Madam Wang’s heart began to soften.

That’s the weakness of human emotion.

Seeing Qi Jin sobbing so miserably that she couldn’t even lift her head, Madam Wang felt deeply conflicted.

But then she remembered Qi Zhen’s look before he left, and a chill ran through her.

No, she couldn’t lose her husband’s support.

Her whole life had been lived according to the rules of society. To her, her husband was her entire world.

Even if she lost her parents, she could not afford to lose her husband.

She took a deep breath and clenched her hand so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, but she didn’t feel a thing.

After a moment of silence, she softly said, “Ah Jin, all these years I’ve always treated you as my own daughter. Even after learning the truth about your birth, I never thought of abandoning you. But what you’ve done this time… it’s too much.”

When you make a mistake, you must pay the price. She could no longer afford to soften her heart.

Qi Jin suddenly sensed impending doom and realized that Madam Wang really intended for her to die.

In that instant, countless memories flashed through her mind, but ultimately, she pulled out another gold hairpin from her head and pressed it against her throat, sobbing, “Mother, it’s my fault. I’ve made things difficult for you. I am unfilial, I’ve brought shame upon you and Brother. I won’t let you suffer because of me…”

She steeled herself and stabbed the hairpin into her flesh, and blood instantly beaded out.

She whimpered but still called out softly, “Mother…”

Madam Wang’s heart shattered.

If Qi Jin had remained defiant, she might have been able to force herself to go through with it and eliminate this disaster.

But now, the child she had personally raised was willing to die just to avoid burdening her.

How could she bring herself to do it?

Qi Jin closed her eyes and gripped the gold hairpin tightly: “Mother, I’ll go now. Please take care of yourself…”

She was just about to push the pin in further when Madam Wang suddenly grabbed her wrist and slapped the hairpin to the ground with a loud crack.

Everyone was stunned.

Yunyan’s legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, wide-eyed and swallowing nervously.

Heavens, she had really thought her young lady was going to die just now.

Gao Momo frowned at Madam Wang, already feeling concerned.

The Marquis had given a death order—Qi Jin must be eliminated. He thought she was ungrateful and scheming.

But the Madam had changed her mind at the last moment.

How would they explain this to the Marquis when they returned?!

Qi Jin, with tears blurring her vision, threw herself at Madam Wang’s legs: “Mother!”

In her heart, she let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Fortunately—fortunately she had gambled correctly.

If Qi Zhen had come today, her act would have been completely useless.

But it was Madam Wang who came. In the end, women are softer-hearted. Her strategy of playing the victim and retreating to advance had worked.

Madam Wang patted Qi Jin’s head and helped her up: “You must leave.”

Qi Jin looked at her in shock: “Mother?”

“Don’t call me mother anymore. You are no longer part of the Qi family.” Madam Wang gritted her teeth and made her decision: “Go. I will give you the contracts of these servants, and also ten thousand taels of silver notes. I will have Aunt Liu continue to follow you and help you settle either in Jiangnan or Fujian. Never come back.”

People say that the bond of raising is stronger than the bond of birth.

Only Madam Wang knew how much effort she had poured into this child.

When Qi Jin was sick at six months old, Madam Wang had stayed by her side day and night, praying for her recovery.

When Qi Jin fell seriously ill again at age two, Madam Wang had even gone to Mount Wutai, kneeling and prostrating herself step by step all the way to the golden summit to pray for her.

Years of accumulated affection could not be erased by mere blood ties.

Madam Wang had made up her mind to give Qi Jin a way to live.

Qi Jin tearfully knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Madam Wang: “Mother, your daughter bows to you one last time!”

While this mother-daughter pair was in a deeply emotional farewell, over on Qi Yuan’s side, the food she had prepared was finally ready.

A mouth-watering aroma wafted from the steaming basket.

Lianqiao’s stomach immediately grumbled loudly, embarrassing her.

Everyone around chuckled.

Qi Yuan lifted the lid, and as the steam dissipated, several grayish-brown bun-like items appeared, still releasing heat.

Lianqiao blinked and asked, “Miss, what are these?”

Buns were usually white. Why did these look so strange? Were they even edible?

Qi Yuan flicked her nose with a smile: “You’ll know if they’re edible once you try them.”

But Lianqiao really was hesitant to try them.

The color was too odd, and they looked somewhat translucent, as if you could see what was inside.

She had never seen anything like this before.

Still…

She pursed her lips and, determined not to let her lady lose face even if it killed her, bravely took a bite.

Baizhi watched nervously, afraid she might spit it out.

But Lianqiao’s eyes widened in surprise: “Miss, this is delicious!”

Qi Yuan smiled and carefully packed the items into a food box. Her smile gradually faded: “Let’s go back. The guest should be arriving soon.”

Guest?

Lianqiao and Baizhi exchanged confused glances— When had their lady invited a guest?