After the Spoiled Fake Young Master Was Kicked Out

In the twenty-first year of the Jian Yuan era, the Emperor sought immortality while eunuchs controlled the court. General Yan Yi died on the battlefield, causing the Zhenbei Army to retreat. In the capital, the wealthy Xie family controlled nearly ninety percent of the waterways. Xie Jinning, the favored second young master, was a delicate, spoiled playboy who had survived childhood illnesses. His life was disrupted when Xie Zhu, a calm and mature young man, arrived at the residence. Servants whispered that Xie Zhu resembled the family patriarch, Xie Qing, more than Xie Jinning did. Xie Jinning felt increasingly excluded as his father and brother grew closer to the newcomer, sharing secrets and spending time together in the study.

After overhearing maids speculate that Xie Zhu was an illegitimate child, Xie Jinning became paranoid. He visited a teahouse where a storyteller narrated a tale of an illegitimate son seeking revenge by poisoning the legitimate family. The story terrified Xie Jinning, who envisioned Xie Zhu as a murderer. He rushed home to warn his mother, Lin Jinhua, but she refused to drive Xie Zhu out. Enraged, Xie Jinning attempted to seize Xie Zhu, but his father discovered him and confined him to his courtyard for five days. During his confinement, Xie Jinning tried to escape through a small hole in the wall but got stuck. He eventually squeezed through and ran to the ancestral hall, interrupting a secret ceremony where Xie Zhu was being added to the family genealogy.

Xie Jinning caused a scene, accusing his father of bringing an illegitimate child into the family. His outburst revealed his ignorance of the truth. Servants dragged him away, and he was returned to his confinement. Meanwhile, a eunuch from the Eastern Depot, Zhao Yi, tracked a carriage leaving the capital. Inside was Wang Zhihe, who had kidnapped Xie Jinning. Wang Zhihe revealed to the boy that he was not the biological son of Xie Qing and Lin Jinhua. Xie Jinning was shocked and heartbroken, realizing he had been living a lie. He had been the child swapped at birth with Xie Zhu.

Wang Zhihe transported Xie Jinning to a poor village, Hetian Village. Xie Jinning attempted to escape multiple times but failed due to his lack of survival skills and physical weakness. Wang Zhihe eventually drugged him to ensure he stayed on the carriage. Upon arrival, Xie Jinning was left in the care of Yan Yi, Xie Zhu's biological father. Yan Yi was a stern, muscular laborer who lived in a dilapidated house. Xie Jinning, accustomed to luxury, was disgusted by the poverty and the simple food provided. He threw a bowl of porridge and cornbread on the ground, calling it trash.

Yan Yi, angered by the waste of food in a time of scarcity, disciplined Xie Jinning by spanking him. Xie Jinning, never having been punished physically, struggled and cried, feeling humiliated. He lamented his fate, questioning why he had to suffer for a switch he did not choose. Yan Yi insisted that Xie Jinning adapt to his new reality and respect the value of food. The story ends with Xie Jinning in a state of emotional collapse, forced to confront the harsh life he now faces, while Yan Yi maintains a strict demeanor to enforce discipline.