A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

"It's not Shen Lin, it's Shen Ao," said Madam Liu.

The expectation in Song Qingyan's eyes suddenly froze, and her expression changed instantly.

"Shen, Shen Ao?"

She knew Shen Ao, of course.

She married Prince Rui, and at that time her identity as Mingyue Xian had not yet been exposed. Prince Rui took her everywhere he went.

Prince Rui and the Shen family father and son often mentioned Shen Ao.

Shen Ao manages the Shen family's clandestine businesses, but in their eyes, he is merely a servant, a lackey.

Whenever he talks about it, his tone is full of disdain and contempt.

Her father is Shen Ao!

"Heh, heh heh..."

Frustration struck again, and Song Qingyan burst into maniacal laughter.

"Liu, you are truly useless! Why? Why didn't you find me a better father?" Song Qingyan's eyes were full of resentment, like a cry from the depths of her soul.

These words struck a chord with Liu.

Looking back on all the meticulous planning and scheming in the past.

"How could I not want that? I wanted to marry into a powerful and wealthy family, I wanted to enter a high-ranking household, and the Marquis of Yongning was the best outcome I could realistically achieve!"

But fate is not on my side!

"Heaven favors the Lu family; she has everything. Heaven always likes to add flowers to brocade, and after many twists and turns, it gives her all the good things!"

She is not reconciled.

Neither mother nor daughter was willing to give up.

Silence fell over the room for a long time.

In silence, a tacit understanding is formed.

"Song Qingyan, don't underestimate Shen Ao." Madam Liu regained her composure.

Shen Ao worked tirelessly for the Shen State Duke's mansion, like a servant.

But she had witnessed his ruthlessness firsthand.

Such ruthless methods are not something a "servant" could possess.

She had also overheard him talking to Prince Yu. The matter was so secretive that even now, thinking about it makes her shudder.

She dared not inquire about or touch upon those secrets.

Shen Ao never married or had any children.

If that thing goes well, Shen Ao will be a hero, and Yan'er will be the hero's only daughter.

But after waiting for so many years, there was still no news.

Over the years, Shen Ao rarely saw her and wouldn't allow her to contact him.

Now she has no other way out but to turn to him for help.

"Take the ring to the Jixiang Tavern in the north of the city and give it to the manager. Your father will come to see you," Madam Liu instructed Song Qingyan.

"When you see him, tell him about that night at the City God Temple eighteen years ago..."

Clutching the jade thumb ring, Song Qingyan left the Marquis's residence and headed straight for the Jixiang Tavern in the north of the city.

As Liu instructed, she handed the jade thumb ring to the shopkeeper, who glanced at Song Qingyan and then told her to wait in a private room on the second floor.

Not long after, Shen Ao arrived at the tavern.

In the private room, the "father and daughter" met.

Shen Ao was dressed in plain clothes, not like a businessman.

The imposing aura he exuded was quite different from what Song Qingyan had seen before.

"What do you want with me?" Shen Ao glanced at Song Qingyan.

"Father...Father." Song Qingyan withdrew her gaze from him and suddenly knelt on the ground.

Shen Ao frowned and was stunned for a moment.

In the private room, Xiao Ling and Prince Yu paused while drinking, then looked at each other, both unable to hide their shock.

They naturally recognized Shen Ao's voice, but the woman called Shen Ao "father"!

Shen Ao had no secrets from them.

Therefore, they naturally knew that Shen Ao had a crush on Consort Shen back then, and once, in order to save Consort Shen, he injured himself and became unable to have sex.

Where did he get a daughter?

A private room outside the secluded area.

Shen Ao narrowed his eyes.

Something flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it and remained silent.

He stared at Song Qingyan, his gaze deep and intense.

Thinking he doubted her identity, Song Qingyan immediately repeated Liu's story, "Father, my mother is Liu, the second wife of the Marquis of Yongning. She asked me to pass on a message to you: Do you still remember that night at the City God Temple eighteen years ago?"

She finished speaking.

A sound came from the secret room.

Song Qingyan frowned and looked in the direction of the sound.

But when she looked up, Shen Ao actually stood up, walked over to her, and helped her up. "I know, what brings you here?"

Shen Ao's tone suddenly carried a hint of affection.

Song Qingyan was somewhat dazed.

She didn't know if this "father" was actually useful, but she had no choice but to take the gamble.

"Father, Mother has been unkind to Song Qingning all these years. She is worried that if Song Qingning marries the Prince of Huai and becomes the Prince's consort, she will take revenge on her. So she wants to stop Song Qingning from marrying the Prince of Huai."

"My mother said it would be better if Song Qingning were dead."

All his thoughts were placed on Lady Liu.

Song Qingyan handed the jade thumb ring to Shen Ao. "Mother said she's begging you to help her. Father, you'll help Mother, won't you?"

Shen Ao's gaze fell on the jade thumb ring.

After a moment, he smiled and said, "I will help her."

Shen Ao reached out his hand to Song Qingyan.

Looking at his upward-facing palm, Song Qingyan immediately understood. She placed the jade thumb ring in Shen Ao's hand and said, "In that case, on behalf of my mother, I thank my father."

"Father, your daughter awaits your news."

Song Qingyan didn't linger and left in a hurry.

After she left, Shen Ao held the jade thumb ring in his hand and glanced back at the direction of the secret chamber.

After pondering for a while, he entered the secret room.

Inside the secret room, Xiao Ling and Prince Yu both looked up at him.

Shen Ao bowed to the two of them, saying, "Please excuse my poor manners."

Xiao Ling wasn't interested in how Shen Ao, a man who was impotent, could have a daughter; what interested him was something else he had just heard.

That woman wants Song Qingning dead!

The image of Song Qingning flashed through Xiao Ling's mind, a chilling glint in his eyes. "Song Qingning's life belongs to this Crown Prince! Your daughter can't take it away!"

His words sounded like a command.

Shen Ao glanced at Prince Yu and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, this subordinate will not interfere in this matter."

"Not getting involved?" Xiao Ling frowned. "I didn't tell you not to get involved."

Shen Ao: "..."

What does he mean?

"Your Highness, please grant me your permission."

Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow. "Her life belongs to me, the Crown Prince. How can she marry the Prince of Huai? Since we share the same goal, why not help her?"

The implication was that simply disrupting the marriage between Song Qingning and the Prince of Huai would suffice.

Xiao Ling stood up, patted Shen Ao on the shoulder, and said, "This Crown Prince will help you!"

After saying that, Xiao Ling entered the secret passage.

After Xiao Ling left, only Shen Ao and Prince Yu remained in the secret room.

"Your Highness..." Shen Ao looked at Prince Yu, frowning as he probed, "Song Qingning is a hidden danger, but what about the Crown Prince of Nanlin..."

Shen Ao hadn't finished speaking.

Prince Yu's expression grew increasingly somber.

He was well aware that Song Qingning was a potential threat.

But Xiao Ling seemed to be bewitched, completely disregarding the bigger picture for the sake of Song Qingning.

He knew Xiao Ling's temperament; if he went against his wishes, their years-long cooperation would likely collapse.

We can only let him be willful.

"That's enough!"

Prince Yu did not want to say more.

His gaze fell on the jade thumb ring in Shen Ao's hand, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Seeing his expression, Shen Ao presented the jade thumb ring. "Your Highness, what should we do with this?"

The two looked at each other and recalled that night at the City God Temple eighteen years ago.