Chapter 53 A Mother’s Heart, Shattered

Xia Ling clung to Yan Feng’s arm, her voice tentative as she called out, “A’Feng…”
Yan Feng’s gaze finally shifted away from Jiang Ciyou.
He looked down at Xia Ling, his tone unmistakably displeased. “When did you and Jiang Xiaoxiao become friends?”
Xia Ling knew that Yan Feng harbored a deep dislike for Jiang Ciyou, but his aversion to Jiang Xiaoxiao was even greater—a pure, unvarnished dislike.
She hurried to explain, “A’Feng, actually, there’s something very important we need to do today.”
As she spoke, Xia Ling looked toward Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Jiang Xiaoxiao chimed in, “That’s right, Brother Yan Feng. Today is a big day. Sister Xia Ling and I hit it off right away and felt a special connection, so I’ve decided to ask my mother to take Sister Xia Ling as her goddaughter.”
In truth, Jiang Xiaoxiao had brought this matter up with Yao Shulan the night before.
But Jiang Xiaoxiao had merely mentioned having a friend with a pitiful background she wished her mother would accept as a goddaughter, never revealing that the person in question was Xia Ling.
After much wheedling, Jiang Xiaoxiao had finally secured Yao Shulan’s agreement.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ciyou’s face turned completely somber.
Jiang Xiaoxiao truly had a gift for making her feel sickened.
But what Xia Ling had done years ago was well known to both the Jiang and Yan families.
She remembered how the Jiang family had despised their betrayal and opportunism as much as she did.
Jiang Ciyou knew Yao Shulan held a grudge against her, but that stemmed from the previous generation’s entanglements.
Yao Shulan was not a woman to confuse right and wrong.
On the contrary, Yao Shulan had showered Jiang Ciyou with affection since childhood, teaching her with meticulous care, handling every aspect of her daily life herself, never delegating to a nanny.
Jiang Ciyou had grown up happy, her bond with Yao Shulan deep and abiding.
That was why she had struggled so much to accept the truth.
Now, Yao Shulan seemed a world apart from the woman she used to be.
She was still gentle and kind to others, reasonable and understanding.
Only towards Jiang Ciyou was she sharp-tongued and critical.
Yet in Jiang Ciyou’s heart, a sliver of hope remained.
The mother who raised her for twenty years was still her mother.
Her hatred and aversion sprang from having once loved too much, given too much.
Deep down, Jiang Ciyou believed Yao Shulan still loved her…
If even the faintest trace of feeling remained, however slight,
She would never take Xia Ling as her goddaughter.

Yan Feng was equally taken aback.
Because of Xia Ling’s involvement, Father Yan, Mother Yan, and the old patriarch all regarded her as a viper.
Even though Xia Ling was carrying a Yan heir, the family would rather forgo their own bloodline than acknowledge her.
How could the Jiang family possibly accept Xia Ling as a goddaughter?
After all, Jiang Ciyou had been their daughter for twenty years.
Surely they wouldn’t disregard her feelings entirely.
If they did, it would be unbearably cruel.
Yan Feng couldn’t help but let his gaze rest on Jiang Ciyou.
To his astonishment, he realized he was actually worried about her.
Perhaps… even feeling sorry for her…
From Xia Ling’s perspective, this should have been a great fortune.
At that moment, Jiang Xiaoxiao suddenly stepped onto the stage in the banquet hall.
She took the microphone from the host.
“Everyone, may I have your attention, please? I am Jiang Xiaoxiao. Thank you all for coming to my party today. Taking this opportunity, I have something very important to announce…”
The hundred or so guests in the banquet hall fell silent.
They all edged closer to the stage.
The speaker was none other than Jiang Xiaoxiao, the true heiress of the Jiang family.
Jiang Xiaoxiao pulled a young woman in a white dress to the center of the stage.
She announced, “This is my dear friend Xia Ling. I share a special bond with her, and on this joyous day, our Jiang family will take her as a goddaughter. From today on, Sister Xia Ling is also a daughter of our Jiang family. I hope all you uncles and aunts will look after her.”
A trace of confusion flickered across the faces of those present.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
“Which family does this Miss Xia belong to? She seems unfamiliar.”
“Why would the Jiang family suddenly take on a goddaughter? Madam Jiang truly has a Buddha’s heart—she already took in the daughter of an enemy, and now another goddaughter.”
“Taking a goddaughter is cause for celebration, I suppose, but judging by Madam Jiang and Mr. Jiang’s expressions, they look more shocked than we are, as if they hadn’t a clue beforehand.”
At that moment, Yao Shulan and Jiang Jinhui stood on the stage as well.
Yao Shulan was indeed aware.
Last night, Jiang Xiaoxiao had insisted she take a goddaughter, but refused to say who, only that it was a friend.
Yao Shulan had never expected that the person would be Xia Ling.
How could she not know Xia Ling’s name?
Three years ago, Jiang Ciyou had slit her wrists because of her.
Jiang Ciyou and Yan Feng had been childhood sweethearts. In college, this Miss Xia had appeared out of nowhere.

Yan Feng had seemed bewitched, utterly enthralled by her.
Though he was later forced to marry Ciyou, he ultimately eloped abroad with Xia Ling.
In truth, Yao Shulan already knew:
Yan Feng and Jiang Ciyou had never even registered their marriage, so it could not be considered a true union.
She disliked Xia Ling, and despised her methods even more.
Jiang Jinhui, for his part, was furious, striding over to Jiang Xiaoxiao’s side.
He barked, “Xiaoxiao, what nonsense are you up to?”
Jiang Xiaoxiao replied, “Dad, Mom already agreed.”
She knew there was no way Jiang Jinhui would consent, so she’d chosen to act first and report later.
Fortunately, Yao Shulan would not blame her; though perhaps displeased, she knew Yao Shulan would ultimately yield.
Because Yao Shulan felt guilty toward her.
Outwardly, Jiang Jinhui was the head of the family, but in truth, he deferred to Yao Shulan in everything.
Jiang Xiaoxiao clung to Yao Shulan’s arm,
Whispering pleadingly, “Mom, everyone’s watching. Please say yes. It’s only a goddaughter in name—what’s the harm? Mom, this is my birthday wish. If you grant it, I’ll listen to you in everything from now on.”
Seeing Jiang Xiaoxiao’s entreaty, Yao Shulan’s heart twisted.
She was a clever woman—how could she not see that Jiang Xiaoxiao wanted them to take Xia Ling as a goddaughter solely to torment Jiang Ciyou?
For three years, Yao Shulan had tried to make amends to Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Yet in her heart, Jiang Xiaoxiao still saw Jiang Ciyou as the enemy who had stolen everything from her.
This sort of thing had happened before.
Back when Jiang Ciyou and Yan Feng’s wedding was planned, Jiang Xiaoxiao had caused such a commotion that the ceremony never happened.
In front of Jiang Xiaoxiao, Yao Shulan had to treat Jiang Ciyou harshly to atone for all those years of injustice.
Yet in truth, Jiang Ciyou’s pain hurt her too.
The daughter she had lovingly raised for twenty years had turned out to be nothing but a tool for Yin Ruyun’s revenge.
She hated it—she hated Yin Ruyun, and had even directed her anger at Jiang Ciyou.
But after calming down, she knew with painful clarity that Jiang Ciyou was the most innocent of them all.
When Ciyou had slit her wrists,
As a mother, it had shattered her heart.