“You’re talking nonsense! Shut your mouth!”
Seeing Jiang Wanxin hesitate while Jiang Chaohua added fuel to the fire, even someone as cautious as Fang Cheng couldn’t bear it any longer.
His eyes reddened at the corners as he stared fixedly at Jiang Wanxin, disregarding Fang Ankang’s warning, and stood up:
“Wanxin, what are you hesitating about? Has someone been giving you trouble? Tell me, just say it, and I’ll resolve it for you.”
Shen Shi is Jiang Chaohua’s birth mother. Since Jiang Chaohua treats Wanxin so harshly, how could Shen Shi genuinely care for Wanxin?
Shen Shi must have pressured Wanxin, right? She must have!
“Jiang Gongzi should weigh his words carefully. Why do I feel that instead of winning affection, Jiang Gongzi is blaming me? Whatever is between you and Jiang Wanxin, she knows best herself. How can it be blamed on me? Could it be that I possess psychic powers and foresaw you coming to propose today?”
Shen Shi let out a cold laugh, the imposing aura of the sole daughter of Zhongyi Marquis Estate radiating outward. Fang Ankang immediately darkened his expression:
“Cheng’er!”
Women truly are trouble-makers, capable of turning his usually calm and prudent son into this state.
How dare they speak of Shen Shi that way? She’s under the Empress Dowager’s protection.
“Exactly. Just because Fang Gongzi failed to win affection doesn’t mean he can blame my mother. Do you truly think our Jiang family is easy to bully?”
Jiang Chaohua also cooled his expression, his gaze shifting meaningfully toward Jiang Wanxin:
“Cousin, why don’t you say something? With that expression of yours, anyone would think my mother is preventing you from marrying.”
“If you like Fang Gongzi, just say so directly. In all these years you’ve been with the Jiang family, where has my mother ever treated you poorly? Anyone with eyes can see the expensive clothes you wear and the jewels in your hair.”
Jiang Chaohua rose and helped Shen Shi sit in a chair, refusing to yield an inch.
Jiang Laofuren was furious. Seeing Jiang Chaohua acting like a troublemaker, she instantly lost her temper and scolded:
“Shut your mouth!”
How dare this wretched girl interrupt their conversation.
“Grandmother? How could you be so harsh with me? Father doesn’t like me, and now it turns out Grandmother doesn’t like me either.”
Jiang Chaohua paused, her tone sarcastic. Jiang Laofuren’s heart sank, vaguely sensing that Jiang Chaohua’s words carried deeper implications.
Shen Shi felt wronged. She finally understood—both Jiang He and Jiang Laofuren were protecting Jiang Wanxin.
How dare an orphan girl try to stir up trouble in the Jiang family while she was still here!
“Mother, Chaochao is only afraid I’ll be wronged. While I’m still sitting here, I won’t allow anyone to throw dirty water on me!”
Shen Shi’s eyes turned sharp as she patted Jiang Chaohua’s hand. Looking at Jiang Wanxin, she said coldly:
“Wanxin, what exactly are you thinking? You might as well speak up. Stop making that suspicious expression. If you say you’re willing, I’ll immediately prepare your dowry and send you off to be married!”
Shen Shi was enraged. When she was angry, even Jiang He didn’t dare speak recklessly, because he feared Zhongyi Marquis Estate and the Empress Dowager.
“Wanxin, say something.”
Fang Cheng looked nervous, while Fang Ankang’s face had long since darkened.
He wanted Jiang Wanxin to marry into the Fang family, but not under these circumstances.
“No, I…”
Jiang Wanxin gritted her teeth. She was drenched in sweat, her mind racing to find a solution.
Her figure swayed slightly—she wanted to faint, but how could Jiang Chaohua let her have her way?
In a few quick steps, Jiang Chaohua went over and firmly supported Jiang Wanxin.
Her nails dug into Jiang Wanxin’s flesh, the pain nearly making her scream.
“Cousin, you haven’t spoken yet. You mustn’t faint, or how will Mother settle this for you?”
“Chaochao!”
Old Madam Jiang rose to her feet in fury. If Jiang Wanxin fainted, she could escape this predicament, but Jiang Chaohua had to intervene again.
This wicked girl was truly infuriating her.
“Cousin, do you not wish to marry Young Master Fang? Otherwise, why are you so hesitant?”
A crimson lip curled as Jiang Chaohua’s voice, like a demon’s whisper, continuously pierced Jiang Wanxin’s ears:
“Though I may be wicked, I still know that toying with others’ affections invites retribution. Don’t you agree, Cousin?”
Jiang Chaohua laughed merrily, her expression and demeanor making no attempt to conceal her delight in watching the drama unfold.
Not only was she enjoying the spectacle, but she was also mocking Fang Cheng and Fang Ankang.
Could they still not see what Jiang Wanxin meant? She simply had no intention of marrying.
“Enough! Cheng’er, we’re leaving.”
If even Jiang Chaohua could see it, how could Fang Ankang remain oblivious?
He slammed his hand on the table, face flushed with rage. Jiang He’s heart sank, his expression darkening severely.
“No, I won’t leave. Wanxin, speak! Was it not you who told me how difficult your life in the Jiang family was? Did you not say Jiang Chaohua always bullies you? Marry me, and I’ll take you away. Say something!”
Fang Cheng, after all, was young, and Jiang Wanxin was like a pure, unattainable ideal to him.
Proud by nature, how could Fang Cheng accept that Jiang Wanxin had deceived him?
She must have her reasons.
“Wait.”
Shen Shi’s face grew increasingly somber, while Jiang Wanxin’s paled by the minute.
As Shen Shi stood up, Jiang Chaohua curled her lips and immediately lowered her head:
“Mother, I haven’t bullied Cousin. With Grandmother protecting her, how would I dare? I only feel indignant on your behalf. All these years, whatever I had, Cousin had too. Her treatment in the Jiang family was no different from that of a legitimate daughter. How could she say such things to Young Master Fang?”
Fang Cheng’s words were clear—they implied Shen Shi had mistreated Jiang Wanxin.
Shen Shi was deeply disappointed, staring at Jiang Wanxin in disbelief. Old Madam Jiang’s heart sank to the depths.
This Fang Cheng was nothing but trouble. Today, he was bound to stir up serious trouble.
“Wanxin, is what Young Master Fang said true?”
Shen Shi gazed coldly at Jiang Wanxin, her eyes utterly detached, as if looking at a stranger—no, as if looking at an ungrateful wretch.
“Madam, I did not.”
Jiang Wanxin dropped to her knees before Shen Shi—exactly what Jiang Chaohua had wanted:
“Then, Cousin, are you implying that Young Master Fang is lying?”
No sooner had she spoken than Fang Ankang’s face darkened like storm clouds.
If his son were lying, slandering Shen Shi in the Jiang household, and word reached the palace, Fang Cheng’s chances with the Hanlin Academy would be ruined.
The marriage might fall through, but Fang Cheng must not be implicated in any way.
“Miss Cousin, since matters have come to this, I shall speak plainly. Before coming, my son personally told me that the two of you were mutually devoted. Otherwise, I would not have shamelessly come to the Jiang family to propose.”
“Please give us a clear answer: Do you have feelings for my son or not? If not, then let this foolish boy face reality.”
And recognize what kind of person Jiang Wanxin truly is.
He could see it clearly now—Jiang Wanxin had been using Fang Cheng all along. Now that she was caught, she was trying to drag him down with her.
This woman was vicious at heart, like a hidden venomous snake. In comparison, Jiang Chaohua seemed far better. At the very least, Jiang Chaohua was clear-headed and straightforward in her actions. Even if she did something wrong, she never flirted with men in a promiscuous manner.
Fang Ankang was furious, growing angrier the more he thought about it. Jiang Chaohua had no idea what he was thinking, but if she had known, she would have surely remarked that there was no need to make such a comparison.
“I… I’m sorry. Young Master Fang has misunderstood. Wanxin has only ever regarded you as a friend.”
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jiang Wanxin had no choice but to speak the truth. If she agreed, Shen Shi would immediately marry her off. But she was destined to become Jing Wangfei—how could she marry a mere illegitimate son?
Thud.
Hearing Jiang Wanxin’s words firsthand, Fang Cheng collapsed to the ground. His gaze toward her shifted from deep affection to hesitation, then to doubt, and finally to unwilling acceptance—a chaotic whirl of emotions that brought Jiang Chaohua immense satisfaction.