Chapter 24: Changing One's Name and Surname

Sheng Jintang struggled to push her wooden wheelchair, but the wheels became jammed by small pebbles on the ground, leaving her unable to move.

Before Sheng Yukun could order someone to intervene, a loud "crack" echoed through the air. The wheelchair, designed for an eight-year-old, could not bear Sheng Jintang’s weight and shattered under the gaze of the crowd. She tumbled to the ground in a pathetic heap. Even then, the narrow seat remained stuck to her lower body, encasing her like a turtle shell.

Seeing this, the onlookers hastily covered their mouths to hide their laughter, their eyes filled with mockery. Had it not been for the presence of the imperial edict, the crowd surely would have roared with laughter, caring little for her dignity.

Sheng Yunqing breathed a sigh of relief. She had not even made a move, and yet this girl had gone out of her way to make a spectacle of herself.

Sheng Yueying whispered to Sheng Qiuyao, "It is truly karmic retribution."

"Woof! Woof!" A fierce-looking large yellow dog suddenly bolted from somewhere, lunging at Sheng Jintang and biting her legs frantically. Even those who had been laughing moments before were too terrified to continue.

"Ah!" Sheng Jintang shrieked repeatedly. The servants turned pale with fright and fell into a panic, none daring to step forward for a long time. These wild beasts could crush human bones, and since Sheng Jintang was no longer a young lady of the estate, no one wanted to get involved in this mess.

After a while, the servant who handled the dog managed to restrain it, preventing a tragedy. The eunuch, startled, smoothed his chest and remarked, "My goodness, who is this? You nearly frightened the life out of me."

Sheng Jintang lay there with disheveled hair, her face filthy and her clothes torn, with blood seeping through. Sheng Yukun waved his hand at the servants. A maid understood the gesture and stuffed a handkerchief into Sheng Jintang’s sobbing mouth.

Sheng Yueying clutched her heart. "That scared me to death. Next time she faces retribution, could she give me some warning so I can prepare myself mentally?"

Sheng Yunqing arched her elegant brows and leaned toward Sheng Yueying to whisper, "Next time, I will warn you." Sheng Yueying gave a disdainful huff, unwilling to acknowledge her.

Sheng Yukun offered a fawning smile to the eunuch. "That is just a deranged maidservant in the house. I hope she did not disturb you, sir. Please, pay her no mind."

The eunuch exhaled softly. "Your Marquis estate is truly kind-hearted to provide for a mad maid. Very well, Eldest Miss Sheng, please accept the decree."

Sheng Yukun nudged Sheng Yunqing, whispering, "Qing'er, hurry and accept the decree."

Sheng Yunqing stood up and received the imperial edict. "I, Sheng Yunqing, thank His Majesty for his grace."

"Sheng Yunqing?" The eunuch paused, frowning. "My memory tells me the Eldest Miss Sheng is named Sheng Jintang?"

Sheng Yunqing gave a playful smile. "I just changed my name."

Hearing this, the eunuch did not press the matter further. He simply nodded, exchanged a few pleasantries, and departed.

Once the eunuch was out of sight, Sheng Yukun’s expression turned icy. He looked toward Sheng Jintang and said in a low, cold voice, "Bring that wretched creature to me!"

As soon as he spoke, two servants dragged Sheng Jintang and dumped her at his feet. Seeing the wretched, sobbing girl on the ground and then looking at the vibrant, flourishing Sheng Yunqing, the Old Madame frowned in confusion.

"Yunqing, are you certain the Prince of Ye intends to marry you? Your identity was only just made public; was the imperial edict not drafted before you even entered the estate?"

At these words, a glimmer of hope sparked in Sheng Jintang’s deadened heart, and she could not help but look up. Was it true? Was it still her that the Prince of Ye wanted to marry?

"I..." Sheng Yunqing faltered, her mind in chaos. In truth, she was no longer sure herself. She had only acted to prevent Sheng Jintang from succeeding. As the current Eldest Miss and the only one qualified to accept the edict, she had felt justified in seizing it, but... what was his perspective? If he was not marrying that woman, would he be disappointed?

As she pondered this, Sheng Yukun splashed a bowl of cold tea from the table directly onto her face. He scoffed, "Do you honestly think you are worthy of being the Eldest Miss?"

Choking on the tea, Sheng Jintang bowed her head, coughing as water dripped from her hair and cheeks, mixing with tears on the floor. He threw his sleeves back and stood with his hands behind his back. "Our Northern Marquis estate has only one Eldest Miss! The one the Prince of Ye is to marry is naturally Yunqing! If the Prince of Ye dares to call off the wedding, I shall march to the Prince’s mansion and force him to kneel and kowtow to Yunqing!"

Sheng Yunqing felt moved, her eyes shimmering.

He turned to her, his tone softening. "Qing'er, it is not that your uncle is unwilling to deal with her. It is only that she previously had an agreement with the Empress Dowager. With the Empress Dowager returning to the palace soon, it was necessary for her to see her. Had it not been for that, this ridiculous scene would never have occurred today!"

Yunqing curved her beautiful lips. "Very well, I shall not dispose of her." She walked slowly toward Sheng Jintang. "I changed my name to Yunqing because my father visited me in a dream, saying the name 'Jintang' had been tainted and was unlucky, so he gave me a new name himself."

Sheng Yukun opened his eyes wide in disbelief. "My brother visited you in a dream? So it was he who gave you the name..."

Sheng Yunqing nodded, looking down at the wretched girl. "I am no longer called Sheng Jintang, but that does not mean she can keep the name." After all, the name "Sheng Jintang" had originally been given by her father as well.

Sheng Yukun looked at Sheng Yunqing. "Then, Qing'er, what should we call her?"

"Did I not already give her a name?" Sheng Yunqing folded her hands. "Let us call her Jinxiu."

Jinxiu looked up at Sheng Yunqing; in her disheveled state, it felt as though she had truly been returned to her original, lowly form. It was as if... nothing had ever changed.

Sheng Yukun pointed to the large yellow dog. "Bring that troublemaking dog here as well!"

The servants dragged the dog over. Upon seeing Jinxiu, it growled uncontrollably until a servant behind it slapped it, causing it to whimper in grievance. The servant said fearfully, "This servant deserves death. I failed to watch the dog, and it nearly ruined the important event. But I do not know what happened; the dog has always been very docile..."

Sheng Yunqing arched her brows, walked up to the dog, and stared at it steadily. The dog whimpered, as if it had endless grievances it could not voice.

Sheng Yunqing nodded in understanding. "The dog says this woman kicked its pup to death."

Jinxiu looked on in shock. Could Sheng Yunqing truly communicate with animals?

Three days ago, the dog’s pup had run over to play with her. Irritated, she had kicked it hard, never imagining she would kill it. There had been no one around then, and the dog, tied to a chain, had watched helplessly as its child took its last breath, the culprit escaping unscathed.

"What... so it was you who..." The servant clenched his fists in heartache.

"People are not always what they seem. I once thought she was gentle and kind."