Chapter 860 - Chapter 860: Worried That Gu Yang Would Threaten the Successor Position
Chapter 860: Worried That Gu Yang Would Threaten the Successor Position
Editor: Henyee Translations
Tong Jiayin’s emotions were in turmoil.
She believed her father and the woman’s plan had no future.
She didn’t want to be complicit in their scheme. In fact, she even contemplated exposing her mother to the truth.
While she envied Gu Yang’s connection with the Gu family, she also saw a glimmer of hope.
The love she felt for her mother all these years was genuine. Besides, that woman didn’t even owe her a debt.
But her brother had branded their birth as an original sin. If her mother discovered the truth, with her pride, she wouldn’t tolerate their existence.
To her, they were a disgrace—a testament to her husband’s infidelity and the years she spent raising another woman’s child.
Tong Sinian and Tong Jiayin were born through IVF using Tong Rao’s body.
At the time, Tong Rao was unable to conceive naturally due to injuries, so she opted for IVF with her husband, Zuo Yuanyi.
However, Tong Rao never anticipated that Zuo Yuanyi would take the risk of bribing the doctor. The IVF embryo implanted in Tong Rao’s body wasn’t her own egg, but that of his mistress.
The birth process had always occurred right under Tong Rao’s nose, so she had never suspected that Tong Sinian and Tong Jiayin, who had grown up under her care, were not her biological children.
When Tong Sinian was young, Zuo Yuanyi often took him to visit his mistress, at her insistence. She wanted her son to maintain a close relationship with his father.
As for someone like Tong Jiayin, who wasn’t the heir to the Tong family, she didn’t seem to hold much significance.
Thus, over the years, Zuo Yuanyi had only divulged the truth to Tong Sinian, keeping Tong Jiayin in the dark.
Moreover, he believed that the fewer people who knew the truth, the lower the risk of exposure.
He revealed the truth to Tong Jiayin now mainly because he needed her help in dealing with Tong Rao.
Tong Rao and Zuo Yuanyi had lived apart for many years, their feelings for each other waning. Her primary focus was on the Tong family.
Initially, she had only married Zuo Yuanyi for his genetic qualities, devoid of any emotional attachment.
As a result, Zuo Yuanyi couldn’t enter Tong Rao’s bedroom independently. Despite Tong Sinian being her son, there were gender norms to consider, making it awkward.
Given Tong Jiayin’s close relationship with Tong Rao, her presence in Tong Rao’s bedroom wouldn’t raise suspicions. Therefore, she was the most suitable person to handle certain matters.
As for the household staff, Tong Rao’s bedroom was a strictly private and significant place. Typically, only the butler had access, being Tong Rao’s trusted aide.
Tong Jiayin desired to check on Tong Rao but was halted by the butler. “Miss, it’s rare for the Family Head to sleep well. Please do not disturb her rest.”
Though displeased, Tong Jiayin refrained from entering Tong Rao’s bedroom and returned to her own room.
Uncertain of her next steps, she sought advice from her closest confidant, her twin brother, Tong Sinian.
Tong Sinian advised calmly, [Don’t panic. Tong Rao surely doesn’t know about this yet. Otherwise, knowing her, she wouldn’t have tolerated it.]
However, the appearance of Gu Yang before Tong Rao compelled caution. Tong Jiayin needed to ascertain if Gu Yang was indeed the abandoned illegitimate daughter before devising any plans.
[If Gu Yang truly is that illegitimate daughter, we cannot allow her to confront Tong Rao again.]
[Even if Tong Rao is unaware of Father’s scheme, if this illegitimate daughter gains recognition, she will surely claim your inheritance.]
Tong Sinian kept a crucial detail from Tong Jiayin: his concern that if Gu Yang truly was Tong Rao’s daughter and acknowledged, she could potentially threaten his position as the heir.
Central to his father’s plan was ensuring Tong Sinian’s succession to head the Tong family.
Unlike some aristocratic families that restricted succession to sons, Tong Rao advocated gender equality and believed in meritocracy.
Among Tong Sinian and Tong Jiayin, Tong Sinian was chosen as the heir because of his superior abilities. He also benefited from Zuo Yuanyi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
As a son-in-law who married into the family, Tong Sinian harbored a disdain for female family heads and strong women. He believed that he needed to rely on his male offspring to continue the family line.