The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 686: Chapter 274 My Mother-in-law is a Loyal Servant (Part 18)_2

She indeed switched her own daughter for a son brought home, but she was merely oblivious to being used by her mother-in-law.

But Feng Yanting truly wasn’t her flesh and blood, and when Nanny Zhao came forward with the stance of a justice warrior to expose, accuse, and judge Gu Xiuniang, Gu Xiuniang was scared out of her wits.

There was no need for her to admit it herself; just by looking at her face filled with guilt and panic, everyone believed she was the culprit.

That’s how it was—if a person had any faults in their character, then everything they did was wrong.

Even if it wasn’t their fault, others would still believe it had something to do with them.

So, when Gu Xiuniang came to her senses later and understood the crimes Nanny Zhao had accused her of, her desperate cries of innocence fell on deaf ears.

Everyone believed Nanny Zhao and agreed with her side of the story—

Gu Xiuniang coveted the wealth of the Marquis Mansion, used Nanny Zhao’s status within the mansion, connections, and secretly conspired with troublesome slaves, committing the appalling act of switching babies like stealing a dragon and transforming a phoenix.

As for why replace a daughter with a son, what treasures could a daughter seize on her behalf in the Marquis Mansion? These somewhat illogical factors weren’t considered by anyone anymore.

Anyway, the villain had received her just desserts, and the Young Master Heir of the Marquis Mansion, lost among the commoners, had smoothly returned to recognize his ancestors, and reunions of fathers and sons, mothers and sons took place—the loyal servant also received rewards, achieving the Great Perfection of Hua Country’s standards.

Whether they were part of the play or watching it, everyone seemed to be satisfied!

But that was the original script.

Now with He Tiantian stepping in as Nanny Zhao’s daughter-in-law, it wouldn’t be easy for Nanny Zhao to shift the blame onto her.

He Tiantian was unlike the original protagonist who kept a low profile, earning money through embroidery, she simply told everyone outright.

She supported Mrs. Zhang’s entire family and treated the Marquis Mansion’s ”legitimate eldest daughter” like a little master with meticulous care and thorough consideration.

Even her own son kept his distance, fearing that he might slight Wei Yuanniang, this Eldest Miss.

He Tiantian’s good reputation had long since surpassed Nanny Zhao’s.

Therefore, if Nanny Zhao attempted to follow the original script, claiming He Tiantian had despicable intentions, coveting wealth, and secretly swapped the children, it would be hard for the world to believe.

Of course, Nanny Zhao might still present corroborative evidence: if not for already knowing Wei Yuanniang was her own flesh and blood, why would ”Gu Xiuniang” show such favoritism?

However, Nanny Zhao could think of reasons to refute this argument herself: ”The Marquis Mansion had fallen into misfortune; nobody could be sure at that time if the Marquis was still alive, let alone if he would return with honors.”

”The Second Madam and Third Madam’s natal families sought self-preservation, all demanding their daughters divorce the Wei Family’s second and third sons.” Otherwise, they wouldn’t care about their own grandsons and granddaughters.

”...Everyone had concluded that the Marquis Mansion would collapse, while my Feng Family had already been released from servitude and was a proper family of good standing.”

”If I truly pitied my daughter, I would’ve directly taken her back, not let her continue to suffer under the guise of a Sin Slave for someone else!”

On the other hand, He Tiantian was also quite kind to Feng Yanting.

Maybe not as indulgent and spoiling as in the original script, but she had given the best of what she was able within her ability.

Including Feng Yanting, no one around ever doubted that ”Gu Xiuniang” was not his birth mother.

And if, as Nanny Zhao claimed, ”Gu Xiuniang” was a villain with treacherous motives and reckless daring, then her character would be extremely poor.

How could someone of such low moral character lovingly and patiently raise a stranger with no blood relation as their own?

After all, someone who could treat another’s child as if they were their own, calling them a Holy Mother wouldn’t be an overstatement.

This was a contradiction.

And what’s more, Nanny Zhao had a premonition that given ”Gu Xiuniang’s” current demeanor, when the truth came out, she might not readily admit her guilt!

Nanny Zhao carefully pondered the events of the past few years and suddenly realized that at some point, ”Gu Xiuniang’s” way of treating Feng Yanting lacked that subtle guilt and caution.

Whether disciplining Yanting or facing Zhongliang, she was so righteous and confident it was as if the person who disdained the daughter and swapped the dragon for the phoenix wasn’t her!

Nanny Zhao: ...Oh dear, really caught in a bind!

What should I do?

Mrs. Zhang definitely couldn’t be at fault, and the originally planned perfect ”scapegoat” had become uncontrollable—the huge blame of ’child swapping’, who should carry it now?

Nanny Zhao was anxious and irritated inside, restless, unable to sleep night after night.