The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 343 The Crane Cries in the Marsh, the Mountain Ceases and the River Flows

The ritual is complete.

Lang Zhengfan's memorial tablet will be returned to the Ksitigarbha Hall for worship, and the eternal lamp will continue to burn. Lang Jiuchuan personally delivered it back. As for the Lang family, after the religious ceremony, they will still eat vegetarian meals in the temple. Because they are in mourning and rarely go out, they will visit the temple.

It just so happens that it is now March. Although it is still chilly at times, some people have already put on their spring clothes. Because the imperial examination is being held, many people have come to offer incense for their children taking the exam, hoping that they will achieve good results. Therefore, Huguo Temple is very lively.

Lang Jiuchuan first sent Lang Zhengfan's memorial tablet back to the Ksitigarbha Hall. Seeing that the ever-burning lamp was still lit, he adjusted the wick and then took out agarwood incense and lit another stick of incense in front of the memorial tablet.

Standing beside her, Cui smelled the agarwood incense and said in a hoarse voice, "This incense smells better than the usual ones. I heard you made it yourself."

"Ah."

"You've put your heart into this." Madam Cui looked at Lang Zhengfan's memorial tablet, remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Do you know why your name is different from your brothers and sisters in the family, and why it is not in the order of the Cai generation?"

"I heard it was Father's idea." Lang Jiuchuan looked over and saw that her eyes were red and swollen, so he lowered his gaze.

Madam Cui clutched her handkerchief and said, "That's right. When you were still in my belly, your father had a very favorite ink painting."

She looked at Mo Lan, who was holding a box. She opened it, and inside was a scroll. Granny Cheng took it out, unfolded it, and hung it to the side.

Looking at the ink painting, Cui pointed to the bottom of the painting, where there was a secluded valley. A lifelike crane was calling out in a deep swamp. Her expression was gentle as she said, "The crane is an auspicious animal. Its cry can be heard in the heavens. This is a metaphor for how even if a wise person is hidden in a valley or forest, their reputation can still reach the heavens."

Her finger moved upwards again, and the crane standing in the swamp spread its wings and soared high, standing above the mountains and rivers. Below it were countless mountains and rushing rivers. It looked down freely and arrogantly at all the heroes.

"He hoped his child would live a long and healthy life, and also that the child would be intelligent and indestructible. Even before the child was born, he had already placed high hopes and blessings on her." Tears fell from Cui's eyes as her fingertips trembled as she wrote a few powerful characters in the lower right corner of the painting. She said, "The crane cries in the marshland, the mountains stop and the rivers flow. The name Jiuchuan is grand and refreshing. It should be the name of my child. I hope that when she encounters trouble or injustice, she will be indestructible and unstoppable, as steadfast and unshakable as the mountains and rivers, and as free as the crane. These are his words, and these are the characters he wrote. And coincidentally, you are the ninth child. It is the will of Heaven."

Lang Jiuchuan felt a jolt in his heart.

Looking at that ink painting and those powerful characters, it's as if you can see a young man about to become a father standing in front of the painting, proudly inscribing the name of his child with a father's responsibility and love.

Jiuchuan, that's where the name comes from.

Madam Cui wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and said, "Your generation should use the character 'Cai' in your names. Originally, according to your grandfather's wishes, we named you Zhen, but he had already decided on that name and he is no longer here. I had to leave something for him, so I insisted on using the name Jiuchuan. No, actually, I was unwilling at first."

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Cui pursed her lips, met her gaze, and said, "I'm unwilling because I don't think you're our child." Lang Jiuchuan's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she remained silent.

Cui said, “When the news of his death in battle came, I went into premature labor. I was shocked, terrified, and heartbroken. To make matters worse, you were breech at the time. But even so, when you were born, I was still full of anticipation. I clearly saw a crescent-shaped birthmark on the back of your neck. They all said I was mistaken, and I also doubted that I was mistaken, but how could that be?”

Her eyes fell into a look of confusion and panic as she said, “Even if I’m mistaken, how could I not recognize our child? But do you know, when I look at you, I don’t feel a single blood connection. They all say that a mother and child are connected at heart, but when I look at that little you, I feel no emotion, only a heart full of anger.”

"Everyone thinks I'm too heartbroken and can't accept Fan's death in battle, so I've gone mad and developed hatred and prejudice towards you because of the difficult childbirth, but that's not the case. This is our first child, and I've been looking forward to her arrival so much. How could I hate her when I'm so heartbroken? But the truth is, every time I see that little you, I feel more and more disgusted and resentful. I think, if you really aren't my flesh and blood, then where is my child? What kind of life is she living in your place? Whenever I think of this, I can't control the hatred that arises in my heart."

Cui's tears fell like beads from a broken string. Looking at Lang Zhengfan's memorial tablet, she said, "I'm sorry to him. I couldn't even protect my child. I don't want that child to take the place of everything that originally belonged to my child, including the name."

"Then why do you still use this name?"

“Because it was his decision, what if I’m really wrong?” Cui looked at Lang Jiuchuan: “What if I’m the one who’s wrong, and not them?”

Lang Jiuchuan remained silent. She couldn't answer that question right now, nor did she dare to.

Because regardless of the truth, whether it's real or fake, both children are already dead, and she is merely a reincarnation in someone else's body.

If this were to be revealed, Cui would probably be devastated, because she couldn't protect either the truth or the falsehood!
Cui said, “I know I am cruel and heartless. Whether I am or not, I am so indifferent to a child who knows nothing. I am ruthless and I am not worthy of being a mother. I admit it. But I am more afraid that I will develop delusions and feelings for this child. In the end, she will just be an outsider. And how will I and Fan’s child deal with each other?”

“For more than ten years, I haven’t visited you. I didn’t dare. But when your grandfather passed away and you returned to the manor, I was quite confused.” Cui’s eyes were blank and helpless. She said, “I don’t know who you are. You are both a stranger and a familiar face, and you make me feel emotional and sad. Tell me, are you really our child?”

Lang Jiuchuan parted his lips slightly and said, "If you think it's not true, and it will make your conscience feel better, then just pretend I'm not."

Cui's face turned pale, and her body swayed precariously.

Lang Jiuchuan sighed and said, “Madam, regardless of blood ties, I am now Lang Jiuchuan. I will live according to my father’s expectations and walk this path. In the future, if you need me, I will take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days. I will also look after the Lang family, because I am Lang Jiuchuan, and I believe this is what he wished for.”

Following her hand, Cui looked down and saw that she was pointing at Lang Zhengfan.

Her Adam's apple bobbed; her words seemed to answer something, yet also seemed to answer nothing at all.

Madam Cui closed her eyes and said, "You can go out now. I want to talk to your father."

Lang Jiuchuan bowed, turned and left the Dizang Hall. Standing at the hall's entrance, he listened to the low, sobbing sounds coming from inside, feeling somewhat oppressed.