Such familiar words.
Zhou Ziheng had spent his entire life chasing after these two words, scheming and disguising himself for decades.
Only at the brink of death did he finally reveal his true nature.
The moment he heard those words, his mind was flooded with memories of his difficult and turbulent life.
He had spent every moment deceiving others, living in constant fear that Qin Chanyue would discover his secrets.
Now, as he lay dying, he could finally be himself.
Kneeling beside the bed, Fang Qingqing silently shed tears.
She spoke softly.
“You always said that your elder brother bullied you, that you lived a difficult life as a second son.
If even you suffered so much, what will become of our son in the future?
When you are gone, what will Qin Chanyue do to me?
You have to leave us something to rely on.”
Yes, he had to give his son something to rely on.
Looking at Fang Qingqing’s tear-streaked face, Zhou Ziheng recalled all the grievances she had suffered over the years.
He thought about how, in order to please Qin Chanyue, he had done countless things that had hurt Fang Qingqing’s heart.
He should make it up to her.
He should make it up to their son.
As for Qin Chanyue…
Qin Chanyue had lived a life of luxury.
She was still a noblewoman, a princess.
She had never truly suffered.
She had everything.
Her sons had the Qin family and the support of the Prince of Zhen Nan.
Why should they continue to monopolize his title?
Zhou Ziheng, in a daze, murmured to himself.
“Yes… the good things should be left to our son.”
His entire life had been spent blindly pursuing a title, forcing himself into actions he hadn’t wanted to take.
Now that he was dying, he couldn’t let his son suffer the same fate.
He had to give his son something good.
“Go… go call Lady Qin here,” Zhou Ziheng mumbled.
Fang Qingqing immediately ordered someone to summon Qin Chanyue.
When she arrived, Zhou Ziheng dismissed everyone else from the room.
He struggled to sit up, grasping Qin Chanyue’s hand as he prepared to speak.
He looked frail, his illness having wasted him away.
Sitting on the bed, he was little more than skin and bones.
At any moment, he could breathe his last.
Yet, as he held Qin Chanyue’s hand, tears welled up in his clouded eyes.
“I still remember the first time I saw you.
You stood in the pavilion, wearing a bright crimson pomegranate dress.
Like a celestial peach tree in the Jade Pool, radiant for a thousand years.
I thought to myself how wonderful it would be if a woman like this were to marry me.”
A husband reminiscing about the first time he met his wife words like that would soften anyone’s heart.
Then he continued.
“I have wronged you.
You married me and endured many grievances.
Now that I am dying, I have one last request.”
A man on his deathbed, making a request who could refuse?
Tears welled in Qin Chanyue’s eyes.
She clasped his hand and said, “Just tell me.
If I can do it, I will.”
“Our son among the three of them, the first two have utterly disappointed me.
With hearts like that, they do not deserve to be my sons.
Only Zhou Wenshan, who has just returned, has a good nature.
Although he was not born from you, he will certainly treat you as his own mother.
I wish to pass my title to him.
From now on, he will take care of you in my place.
Will you agree?”
At these words, Qin Chanyue lifted her gaze and studied Zhou Ziheng’s face carefully.
It was still the same handsome face, aged but still refined and elegant.
Hearing these words, Qin Chanyue thought he truly had no other choice now.
If Zhou Ziheng were not gravely ill, and if he wanted Zhou Wenshan to inherit his title, he would have taken a different approach.
He would have first weakened his other two sons, then built Zhou Wenshan’s reputation and secured him an official position.
Lastly, he would have found a way to suppress her.
But now?
He had no time left.
He could only hold her hand and hope she would give in.
Who would give in?
Who would hand over their power and wealth to another?
The Qin Chanyue of the past certainly wouldn’t have agreed.
But now, instead of immediately refusing, Qin Chanyue hesitated and asked, “I do not know Wenshan well.
Will he truly be filial to me in the future?”
“Of course!”
Zhou Ziheng’s face flushed with excitement.
He immediately called out, “Summon Zhou Wenshan!”
Moments later, Zhou Wenshan entered the room, head bowed.
He was still just a boy, having been taught by Fang Qingqing a few petty tricks that he treated as treasures.
As soon as he stepped inside, he knelt and kowtowed to Qin Chanyue.
“Son will serve Mother with utmost devotion.”
Qin Chanyue looked at Zhou Wenshan’s features, noticing how much he resembled Zhou Ziheng.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
“This child… does seem filial.
If it is what my lord wishes, then I shall comply.”
He had won!
Zhou Ziheng had not expected things to go so smoothly.
He grasped his wife’s hand, trembling with emotion.
“You are truly a good wife.
In the future, Wenshan will certainly be filial to you.”
Qin Chanyue gazed at his frail, haggard form.
For a brief moment, she almost felt reluctant to let him die.
Perhaps she should let him live just a little longer
Long enough to see what would become of his beloved mother and son.
The news that Zhou Ziheng intended to pass his title to the illegitimate son, Zhou Wenshan, spread through the Marquis Residence in no time.
Liu Yandai kept her eyes shut, pretending she saw nothing.
Bai Yuning and Zhou Chiye were too occupied with their late-night rendezvous to care.
Zhou Chiye had never expected to inherit the title anyway.
He wasn’t even the heir apparent.
In the past, when he was still on good terms with Zhou Yuanting, he might have stood up for him if someone else had been chosen.
But now…
He no longer cared who became the heir.
The only person who truly panicked was Zhou Yuanting.
He was so consumed by the thought of the title that he even forgot about Bai Yuning and his betraying brother.
That title belonged to him!
Zhou Yuanting was still recovering in Qiufeng Hall, conveniently close to his father’s quarters separated only by a rock garden.
When he heard that his father intended to pass the heirship to an illegitimate son, he jolted upright in shock.
Ignoring the pain in his chest, he rushed to confront his father.
He was the legitimate eldest son of the Marquis Residence.
He was the one who carried both the Qin and Zhou family bloodlines.
That illegitimate son was nothing more than the child of a lowly concubine how could he inherit the title?!
It was early afternoon.
Zhou Ziheng was resting in his quarters while Fang Qingqing was attending to him with all her charm and effort.
When Zhou Yuanting arrived at the door requesting an audience, Zhou Ziheng refused to see him.
“Send him away,” Zhou Ziheng waved his hand dismissively.
Zhou Yuanting was unwilling to leave.
He swallowed his pain, lowered his head, and knelt outside the door, raising his voice to question his father.
“Father, I heard that you intend to pass the title to an illegitimate son.
This goes against the law and tradition!”
The law?
Zhou Ziheng was furious.
His own son, who had disappointed him time and time again, dared to come and question him now?
If Zhou Yuanting hadn’t angered him into falling ill, wouldn’t the title have naturally gone to him?
“This title is mine.
I could have given it to you, but you are unworthy!”
Zhou Ziheng hurled a teacup against the door and roared, “Throw this unfilial son out!”
Having been dismissed by his father, Zhou Yuanting refused to give up.
He turned to the only person who could stop this his mother.
His father might have been blinded by that concubine and her son, but how could his mother ever agree to this?
Why would she allow a mere concubine’s son to take the title meant for her own child?
Zhou Yuanting hurried to see his mother.
When he entered the room, he found Qin Chanyue sitting by the window, calmly reviewing the household accounts.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face, making her striking features glow.
“Mother!”
At the sight of her, Zhou Yuanting’s heart clenched with grievance.
Just like in his childhood, whenever trouble arose, he instinctively sought his mother’s help.
His voice was anxious as he spoke.
“Father wants to give the title to that illegitimate son!
Why haven’t you stopped him?
How could you allow a concubine to trample over you?
How could you let an illegitimate son take my place?!”
Qin Chanyue lifted her gaze, looking at her son with quiet scrutiny.
In her past life, Zhou Yuanting and Zhou Wenshan had been the best of brothers.
After she had fallen from power and was cast out of the residence, her husband had welcomed that mother and son into the house.
And Zhou Yuanting, for the sake of the title, had swiftly acknowledged Fang Qingqing as his mother and recognized Zhou Wenshan as his brother.
They had been so close.
Nothing like now.
Qin Chanyue propped her chin in her hand, her expression indifferent as she addressed Zhou Yuanting.
“You made your own mistakes.
Your father no longer favors you, and I cannot help you.
Look at yourself now what kind of heir do you think you make?
And then look at Wenshan.
That child comes to greet me every morning.
He is far more filial than you.”
Zhou Yuanting was stunned.
“Mother, have you lost your mind?!
I am your son!”
Qin Chanyue sneered.
In her past life, when she had lost power, he had denied her.
Now that he was losing power, he suddenly remembered he was her son?
What a joke.
Qin Chanyue’s voice was cold.
“I cannot change your father’s mind.
There is no need to come to me.
The decision has been made.
In a few days, once your father’s health improves, he will formally petition for Wenshan to inherit the title.
It is already settled.”
Zhou Yuanting was devastated.
Stumbling out of Shangyue Garden, he returned to Qiufeng Hall in a daze.
That night, he lay in bed, unable to sleep.
He could not let this happen.
He had to do something.
And so, he began plotting.
But his plans did not escape Qin Chanyue’s notice.
The moment he made even the slightest move, someone reported it to her.
Qin Chanyue simply nodded in acknowledgment.
She had expected this.
In her past life, Fang Qingqing had desperately sought to have her son inherit the title after entering the residence.
And this life was no different.
At the same time, she knew her son well.
Zhou Yuanting had held the status of heir for too long he wouldn’t give it up without a fight.
Of course, he would resist.
And Qin Chanyue?
She quietly fanned the flames, subtly orchestrating their confrontation.
She didn’t need to dirty her own hands.
The forces within the residence would be more than enough to consume them.
In the past, she had treated these people as family, giving them her heart and soul.
She had never used deception or manipulation against them.
But now, she finally did.
And with just a few moves, she had them dancing in circles.
Ambition and greed were threads, weaving a delicate net.
A net that would soon tighten, waiting for one misstep
And for someone to fall, leaving nothing but bones behind.