Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 284: Mother-Daughter Bond, You Know All About It, Don’t You?

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Mother-Daughter Bond, You Know All About It, Don’t You?

Zhan Beicang, upon hearing Zhan Xinzhang’s words, felt his legs give way and, with a thud, he knelt before his father, tormented with pain, he said, "It is my fault for being blind!"

He had not expected that Zhan Lan, for the sake of the Zhan Family, had given so much for them.

He had always been proud of Zhan Lan’s achievements today, thinking that she, like her father Xue Wei, was a fearless warrior who faced death head-on.

He regretted not realizing sooner Zhan Lan’s well-intentioned efforts, that she had discovered the truth of her birth so early and had been silently plotting for the Zhan Family’s benefit.

Zhan Xinzhang continued, "No matter the reason that led to the mix-up with Lan’er, what’s most important now is to not let her suffer any more grievances. She has given so much to this family in silence, we absolutely cannot hurt her heart again."

The normally tearless Zhan Beicang choked up and said, "Father, rest assured, I will certainly make up for the wrongs done to Lan’er."

Zhan Xinzhang nodded, "I know Xue Wei was your most loyal subordinate; he saved you twice, the first time carrying you back from a pile of dead, the second time using his body to shield you, ultimately dying under the enemy’s spear. And since you joined the army together and shared a tent in the barracks at first, I know you two shared a deep bond. However, from now on, you must distinguish between Zhan Lan and Zhan Xuerou, to recognize who is truly your daughter!"

Tears streamed down Zhan Beicang’s face as he continued to listen to his father’s teachings.

"I’ve inquired with the elders in the mansion recently; because of my affection for Zhan Lan, Zhan Xuerou has had much dissatisfaction in her heart, and sometimes she’s done too much against Zhan Lan."

Zhan Beicang was stunned; he hadn’t expected the normally obedient Zhan Xuerou to act against Zhan Lan.

"Over the years, we have neglected the inner courts too much and have not been observant enough, letting Zhan Lan endure many grievances. She is the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion; she should not feel as though she lives at the mercy of others when this is her home!"

Zhan Xinzhang clenched his fist, his eyes reddened, "But indeed, it is our making... letting this child grow up without the love of family and having to be subservient to the whims of others!"

Zhan Beicang’s tears uncontrollably flowed; he tried hard to control his emotions, looking towards Zhan Xinzhang, "Father, I will go to Lan’er tomorrow, I want to personally ask her, I want to apologize to her, to bring her home!"

Zhan Xinzhang said, "Don’t act rashly, the current court situation is at a critical point of the dispute over the Crown Prince. Although the Regent King Mu Yan, Lan’er’s future husband, is in overall control, the forces of the Crown Prince, as well as King Wei’s forces, and other Princes’ forces, are all waiting to make their move. We must not act impulsively at this juncture, lest the Zhan Family becomes the target of all. If then the Crown Prince and King Wei, Prince Xian, and Prince Qi join forces, it would not be good for us at all!"

"Do you mean that we can’t let the world know Lan’er’s true identity?" Zhan Beicang asked.

Zhan Xinzhang nodded, "I will think of a solution."

"It’s me, the incompetent father, who wronged Lan’er. I want to acknowledge her!" Zhan Beicang, drained of energy, said.

Zhan Xinzhang’s slender yet strong hand rested on his shoulder, his voice grave, "Recognition is possible, but you know your Zhan Family Army, combined with Lan’er’s Brave Army, totals four hundred thousand soldiers. Do you believe that if you let people know Lan’er’s identity tomorrow, immediately the Imperial Censorate will accuse our Zhan Family of having ulterior motives and amassing forces for rebellion?"

Zhan Beicang fell silent, as Zhan Xinzhang continued, "In recent years, Nanjin has experienced two great wars and the national treasury is depleted. If internal strife breaks out at this time, it would invite the other three nations to pounce, bringing about both internal and external crises. Nanjin would be in danger!"

Zhan Xinzhang’s eyes burned intensely, "Internal strife harms the people, who can no longer bear such turmoil. Whoever can strengthen Nanjin’s power now, whoever can bring welfare to the people, is the future Emperor that we should support."

Zhan Beicang nodded in agreement, "Yes, father, no matter who ascends the throne, the people must not suffer, otherwise we..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, as Zhan Xinzhang and Zhan Beicang understood the meaning in each other’s words without the need for further explanation.

"He who gains the people’s hearts is the true Emperor," Zhan Xinzhang gazed at the ancestral tablets.

They fought bloodied battles, killing enemies to serve their country, never for the purpose of dominating Nanjin, but so that the people of Nanjin could always live peacefully behind them!

"The Iron Blood division, with wills as solid as steel, passionate blood, a devoted heart, accept death as a return, to serve the family and country!"

This is the military soul that has passed down through generations of the Zhan Family Army!

Zhan Beicang’s heart was tumultuous, their ancestors had fought bloodied battles, and the prestige of the Zhan Family Army built over a century could not be destroyed by their hands.

If they were to become targets of public criticism, one option was to surrender military power to protect themselves, the other was to rebel!

But when his father told him these words in the ancestral shrine, it was to remind him that he must not rebel, must not tarnish the good name of the Zhan Family’s loyal and virtuous generals that had stood for a hundred years.

Zhan Xinzhang reminded, "Zhan Xuerou can no longer stay in the General Mansion, she must return to the Lis’, and as for her marriage to Si Jun, if Si Jun wishes to marry her, he may. However, Si Jun must not expect to reap any benefits from the Zhan Family in the battle for the crown!"

"Yes, Father!" Although Zhan Beicang was in pain and conflicted, he also had to let go of Zhan Xuerou.

Because with Zhan Xuerou still staying in the mansion, it would bring even greater harm to Zhan Lan, and although he couldn’t bear to part with Zhan Xuerou, who he had raised for eighteen years,

He could only compromise.

Zhan Beicang’s late-night conversation with his father came to an end, he returned to his own room and looked at the unconscious Qin Shuang, saying, "They say a mother and daughter’s hearts are linked, Lan’er is our child, you know all about it, don’t you..." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

After Zhan Beicang finished speaking, Qin Shuang’s little finger twitched, Zhan Beicang tucked her in and said, "Tomorrow, I will bring Lan’er back home."

...

Inside the General Mansion, there was another person who didn’t sleep all night.

Zhan Xuerou sat under the lamp, continuously recalling the events that had happened during the day.

She thought of Qin Shuang calling out Zhan Lan’s name in her sleep, she thought of Zhan Lan calling Qin Shuang mother.

And the moment when Qin Shuang suddenly, madly pursued Zhan Lan.

A thought surged into Zhan Xuerou’s mind, but she was unwilling to believe it.

Impossible! Zhan Lan couldn’t possibly be her parents’ child, if Zhan Lan were Qin Shuang and Zhan Beicang’s daughter, then who was she?

She and Zhan Lan were born on the same day, could it be that the midwife swapped the children by mistake.

Her whole body broke out in goosebumps as she murmured to herself, "Impossible, it must be Zhan Lan trying to swap identities with me, coveting the identity of the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion, therefore she’s deceiving my mother!"

"Right, it must be Zhan Lan’s conspiracy!"

Zhan Xuerou clenched her teeth and said, "She can’t bear being the humble adopted daughter, so she wants to steal my identity as the legitimate daughter!"

Zhan Xuerou’s hatred toward Zhan Lan reached its peak, she clenched her fists and said, "Zhan Lan, you already have military power, and a powerful fiancé, why do you still want to take away my parents, no! I will never let you succeed!"

...

Under the high-hanging moon, Li Sui, weakened by a poison needle, took the antidote that Zhan Lan had given him in the carriage.

Zhan Lan hadn’t lied to him, not long after taking the antidote, his body regained strength.

After simply bandaging his wounds, he arrived at the place agreed upon with his employer.

In the cave, a person appeared behind him and asked in a stern voice, "Where is the person, didn’t you bring them?"