Chapter 200 - 198: How His Concubine Came to Be Called Madame Xue

Words : 1431 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Shen Yinning was feeling embarrassed for Luo Wanxiang when someone suddenly tugged at her sleeve. She turned her head, and Xue Qingqing looked up at her pitifully and whispered, "Sister Shen, the new year is already over. When will my sister come back?" The young girl was convinced that Shen Yinning knew her sister’s whereabouts. But she also understood that, for some reason, it wasn’t convenient to speak openly about it. She waited patiently, but her longing became overwhelming, so she couldn’t help but quietly inquire. Shen Yinning glanced toward Luo Wanxiang, a calculating glimmer flashing through her phoenix-shaped eyes, then said playfully, "Perhaps she’ll be back very soon." On the other side, Luo Wanxiang had used all her efforts to gain even a glance from Xue Ling, but he disdainfully turned away and walked off. Her temper flared, and she suddenly threw her ornamental sword to the ground in public. The other young ladies present were bewildered. Shangguan Yu asked cautiously, "What’s wrong, Second Miss Luo? Did someone upset you?" Luo Wanxiang shot a glance at Xue Ling’s retreating figure and, as if afraid he wouldn’t hear her, raised her voice: "Who could possibly upset me? I’m just in a bad mood, that’s all! Can you all stop asking? Can you just leave me alone?! You’re all just a bunch of powder-faced women who will never understand me! My problems—I’ve had to solve them alone my entire life, from childhood to now, carrying everything myself. No one has ever truly cared about me..." The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became. Suddenly, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted to the sky, "Luo Wanxiang, you must be strong! If no one shields you from the wind and rain, you must learn to hold your own umbrella!" After shouting, she ran off crying. Shangguan Yu stood there awkwardly. She had only meant to express some concern, but this Second Miss Luo had quite the temper. And she ended up scolding all the sisters present while she was at it. Talking about carrying burdens—wasn’t she the pampered daughter of a magistrate? How many women in this world could compare to her privilege? What burdens could she possibly have? Utter nonsense! Shen Yinning found the endlessly sobbing Luo Wanxiang in a pavilion. She handed her a handkerchief and smiled gently, "Second Miss Luo truly is different from us ordinary women. Your strength is admirable; it makes people’s hearts ache for you." Luo Wanxiang took the handkerchief and glanced at her. "Are you here to ingratiate yourself with me? What is this, have you decided to become my brother-in-law’s concubine?" "Let’s not talk about me for now. I just saw Second Miss Luo displaying remarkable swordsmanship earlier—it was truly unparalleled and extraordinary! With your skills and your chivalrous spirit, I’d like to ask you to save someone." "At least you have taste." Luo Wanxiang sniffled, a bit delighted. "Who do you want me to save?" "Xue Ling’s small concubine." "Save... her?!" "To be honest, Second Miss Luo, she’s actually being secretly imprisoned in the Xue Mansion by Xue Ling. She doesn’t like him and doesn’t want to stay by his side. If you rescue her from here, not only would it be a noble act of righteousness, but it would also eliminate a competitor for yourself. Why not do it?" Luo Wanxiang frowned deeply. "You’re saying she doesn’t like Xue Ling? How is that possible? She’s just a lowly concubine—how could she not like Xue Ling?! Shen Yinning, are you trying to deceive me?! You women are always so cunning!" "Even if I’m deceiving you, this plan brings you nothing but benefits. If that little concubine completely disappears from Xue Ling’s life, wouldn’t he finally have the time to notice you?" Shen Yinning handed her a hand-drawn map of the Xue Family’s residence. "Look, the Xue Mansion doesn’t have many guards. You simply need to rescue her from this Warm Pavilion and send her out through the back door. It’s very simple." Luo Wanxiang looked at the map. Admittedly, Shen Yinning’s words made a lot of sense. She was tempted. To create an opportunity for Luo Wanxiang to execute the rescue, Shen Yinning personally set a fire in the Xue Family’s back courtyard. As the servants and maids rushed to extinguish the flames, Luo Wanxiang used her rudimentary Kung Fu skills to scale the wall and sneak into Xue Ling’s courtyard, quickly finding the Warm Pavilion. She kicked the door open. "Hey, I’m here to rescue you!" Xue Mianmian, who had been napping, was startled awake. "Rescue me?" "Stop wasting time!" Luo Wanxiang grabbed Xue Mianmian and started pulling her along. Meticulously following the map Shen Yinning had given her, she carefully navigated corridors and shadow walls. Yet, instead of reaching the back door, she stumbled into the main courtyard. There, she ran straight into Xue Madam, who was entertaining other officials’ wives in the courtyard. Luo Wanxiang froze. Shen Yinning had deliberately given her a fake map?! As she fumbled for an explanation, Xue Madam’s teacup suddenly fell to the ground, and with reddened eyes, she stood up in disbelief. "Mian... Mianmian?!" Xue Mianmian was also dumbfounded. Was she really seeing her mother today? The years she had been imprisoned by Xue Ling were the darkest time of her life. The distant past seemed like a fleeting glimmer, but her childhood with Xue Madam had been filled with warmth and wonder. She had never thought she’d live to see the day she could openly appear before her mother again. Her nose stung with emotion. Even knowing Xue Madam wasn’t truly her mother, she couldn’t suppress her excitement as she dropped to her knees, exclaiming, "Mother!" "My Mianmian!" Xue Madam staggered forward, pulling Xue Mianmian tightly into her arms. Mother and daughter embraced, crying bitterly, causing the other officials’ wives to tear up as well. Luo Wanxiang was utterly stunned. Xue Ling called Madam Xue his mother, and now this small concubine was also calling Madam Xue "Mother"? Could it be... Could it be that they were... Siblings?! Xue Ling imprisoning his own sister—what was this madness?! She blurted out, "Your Xue Family—" "Thank you, Second Miss Luo, for helping Madam Xue reunite with her long-lost adopted daughter," Shen Yinning suddenly appeared and solemnly curtsied to Luo Wanxiang. "Did you find her in Jiangnan? Madam Xue has always cherished Mianmian deeply and will surely reward you handsomely. Lord Xue, as Mianmian’s elder brother, must also be grateful to you." Luo Wanxiang’s mouth hung agape, the words "incest" stuck in her throat. So this girl called Xue Mianmian was actually the Xue Family’s adopted daughter. She had heard whispers of the Xue Family having swapped children years ago, leading to the existence of a false young lady named Xue Mianmian, who had since vanished without a trace. Who would’ve thought she had been imprisoned in Xue Ling’s courtyard all this time? Shen Yinning’s final words were clearly a reminder: as long as Xue Mianmian returned to Xue Madam’s side, she and Xue Ling would be nothing more than siblings. As siblings, Xue Mianmian would naturally never be his concubine or mistress. Though Luo Wanxiang detested Shen Yinning’s manipulation, at least the outcome was favorable. Xue Madam might appreciate her for bringing Xue Mianmian back and might even marry her to Xue Ling. Her mind raced, and she quickly explained, "Mianmian was wandering lost in Jiangnan when I happened to take her into my household. Over the years, she was so reticent that she never mentioned her past. Today, when I brought her to the Xue Family banquet, I saw her crying profusely. After questioning her carefully, I learned she was Madam Xue’s daughter." Shen Yinning dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed dramatically, "Mianmian’s safe return is a tremendous blessing. Madam, do you intend to send her to live on an estate, or will you formally recognize her as an adopted daughter?" "She’s not going to live on an estate..." Xue Madam cried as she stroked Xue Mianmian’s face. "Mianmian is the daughter I personally raised. She will certainly stay by my side. Our Mianmian will remain a daughter of the Xue Family—a true daughter of mine!" "Mother! Mother!!" A flood of emotions overwhelmed Xue Mianmian. Calling out "Mother" again and again, her voice was filled with such sorrow and longing that it moved everyone to tears. She leaned against Xue Madam, sobbing uncontrollably. Xue Ling hurried over just in time to witness this mother-daughter reunion.

Chapter 200 - 198: How His Concubine Came to Be Called Madame Xue

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