“So it seems you’ve been set up by your own family.”
A cold, indifferent sneer came from the man beside her ear.
Pei Ji had wrapped Jiang Qingning in the quilt and carried her out through the window, hiding not far from the side chamber.
He had heard about the whole “true and false daughter” affair in the Jiang family, but he never expected Jiang Qingning to be in such a predicament.
He glanced over—Jiang Qingning, with only her head poking out of the quilt, was crying again.
Why was she still as prone to tears as before?
Pei Ji frowned in disdain, only to be met with a glare from Jiang Qingning’s tearful, doe-like eyes.
Even if her second brother and sister had given her Sujin Powder, the one who had actually taken her innocence was Pei Ji himself!
And now he was kicking her while she was down, laughing at her misfortune—truly detestable!
She, Jiang Qingning, wasn’t made of mud—she had a temper too.
The sorrow in her heart transformed into hatred for Pei Ji, and her little face puffed up like a blowfish in anger.
Pei Ji raised an eyebrow, finding it amusing, and couldn’t resist the urge to reach out and poke her cheek.
But the next moment, Jiang Qingning—who knew where she found the nerve—grabbed his collar and viciously bit down on his shoulder!
“You…”
Pei Ji’s eyes widened. Since they were hiding and couldn’t make a sound, he couldn’t believe that even a cornered rabbit would bite.
He wrapped his arm around Jiang Qingning’s waist, his breath catching.
More than the pain on his shoulder, what he noticed first was the warmth of Jiang Qingning’s breath against his skin.
Ticklish and hot…
This was really going to be the death of him—the Aphrodisiac Incense hadn’t fully worn off yet.
[Wait, why are the female supporting character and the big villain biting each other?]
[What just happened?]
[Oi, there are people still searching for adulterers up ahead—you two, restrain yourselves!]
After biting him, Jiang Qingning looked at the text floating before her eyes and only then realized how impulsive she’d been.
This was her most feared Teacher Pei!
She didn’t dare look up at Pei Ji. She gave him a gentle push and took the chance to twist away from his embrace and run off.
She needed to go home—her second brother and sister had harmed her like this, and she would demand justice from her parents!
This little ingrate—she bit someone and ran off. Who was it that had been begging him for help just moments ago?
Pei Ji watched Jiang Qingning’s panicked retreating figure, letting out a soft hiss of air through his teeth at the wound on his shoulder.
He glanced back at the side chamber, his deep, dark eyes swirling with an unreadable meaning.
Jiang Manor—
“Kneel!”
When Jiang Qingning, who had no carriage, rushed home, Mother Jiang sat in the seat of honor, her brows tinged with anger.
Beside her, Jiang Xuan and Jiang Shuwan both looked at her with a hint of curiosity.
Jiang Qingning didn’t dare defy her. She quickly knelt, and just as she was about to speak, Mother Jiang pointed at her and scolded, “What did you do today that made your second brother and sister the laughingstock! They were kind enough to take you to the noble’s banquet, and this is how you go out and disgrace the Jiang family’s name?”
These words struck Jiang Qingning like a club to the head.
Shocked and terrified, she quickly explained, “Mother, I didn’t do anything! It was second brother and sister who put Sujin Powder in my wine. I…”
How did she know about that?
Jiang Xuan’s heart jolted. She quickly stepped forward and cut her off, “Jiang Qingning, what nonsense are you spouting!”
[Did the female supporting character grow a brain?]
[How does she know that second brother and the female lead gave her Sujin Powder?]
[Even if she knew, what could she do? The idea was the female lead’s, and the one who carried it out was Second Brother. The two worked together flawlessly—where could she possibly find evidence?]
[Tsk tsk, our female lead has the persona of a beloved darling. Even if the female supporting character tattles to Mother Jiang, it won’t do any good.]
[Sigh, spare 0.1 seconds of sympathy for the female supporting character.]
Those golden words appeared before her eyes again. Jiang Qingning stared at the content, momentarily stunned.
That’s right—she had no evidence.
And ever since Jiang Shuwan had returned, her standing in the Jiang household had plummeted.
But this concerned a woman’s honor. She refused to believe Mother Jiang could be so partial.
“Sister, how can you slander Second Brother and me with empty accusations?”
Jiang Shuwan held back Jiang Xuan’s agitation, stepped forward, and looked down at her with cold, condescending eyes.
Because of a dream, she had learned she was the Child of Destiny and, moreover, a young lady of the Jiang household. So she had mustered her courage to come claim kinship—never expecting the dream to actually be true.
But in recent days, she had vaguely dreamed that her destiny was falling upon Jiang Qingning instead!
Unease stirred within her.
Jiang Qingning—she absolutely had to drive her away!
Suppressing her scheming thoughts, she said coldly, “Flies don’t land on unbroken eggs. Surely Sister must have done something improper today for such rumors to spread about you.”
“You know very well in your heart who did what. If you don’t want me to remain in the Jiang household, just tell me directly—I’ll pack my things and leave on my own. Why must you frame me like this?”
Jiang Qingning looked at her, genuinely wanting an answer.
She didn’t understand why Jiang Shuwan had suddenly become so hostile toward her overnight.
Hadn’t she always put Jiang Shuwan first in everything, even taking the blame for her countless times? Why would Jiang Shuwan want to ruin her reputation completely?
“After enjoying all the wealth and glory of the Jiang household for so long, would you really be willing to leave if we let you go now?”
Jiang Xuan’s face twisted with contempt.
He had known since childhood that Jiang Qingning was adopted, and he always felt she had stolen the identity of his real sister. Over the years, he had never gotten along with her.
He spat on the ground. “Who knows who’s been carrying on with our eldest brother behind everyone’s backs. You’re nothing but a cheap wench trying to climb the social ladder. Why else would you have left the banquet for so long today? You must have gone off to seduce some young master again.”
At this, Jiang Xuan felt a surge of intense displeasure.
It was all Jiang Qingning’s fault—she had made him swear up and down that he’d catch her in the act, and he’d ended up humiliated instead!
“What! You dare to carry on with your eldest brother?”
Mother Jiang shot to her feet upon hearing this.
This would never do!
The Jiang family’s official career had been stagnant for so long. Now that her eldest son had finally managed to enter the court as an official, they were hoping he’d rise higher and higher—they hadn’t even dared to arrange a concubine for him.
And now this little wench dared to set her sights on her eldest son!
“Mother, I didn’t!” Jiang Qingning’s face turned pale as she swore, “I know I’m not of Jiang blood, but I’ve always regarded Eldest Brother as a sibling. I would never dare do anything improper!”
A vicious glint flashed in Jiang Shuwan’s eyes as she said softly, “Is that so? Then why did I see you coming out of Eldest Brother’s room the night before last?”
Jiang Qingning froze. “When did I ever—”
“Slap!”
Before she could finish, Mother Jiang strode forward and dealt her a vicious slap across the face.
“You little wench! I’ve raised you all these years, and you dare to seduce your own eldest brother!”
Mother Jiang trembled with rage, never imagining that such a disgraceful affair could unfold right under her own nose!
“Mother, I didn’t—I never went to Eldest Brother’s room…”
Jiang Qingning felt utterly wronged. She scrambled up from the ground, sobbing as she tugged at Mother Jiang’s hem.
Her left cheek was swollen high, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth where she’d been struck.
“Mother, do you not believe Ning’er?”
Tears streamed down Jiang Qingning’s face. This was the first time Mother Jiang had ever raised a hand against her.
A flicker of softness passed over Mother Jiang’s expression, but she kept her face cold.
Jiang Qingning’s lips trembled slightly, her heart shattering in two.
She turned to Jiang Shuwan and demanded, “Jiang Shuwan, you say I went to Eldest Brother’s room—do you have any proof?”
Jiang Shuwan said nothing, only casting Jiang Qingning a light sigh, which only made the accusation seem all the more true.
[The female supporting character is kinda pitiful, but I’m enjoying this.]
[But doesn’t anyone think the female supporting character is really innocent? What the female lead just said was pure fabrication!]
[That just shows how high-level the female lead is!]
[This is the part where the female lead has awakened and is scheming to drive the supporting character away, so she’ll use every trick—but she’s not being that extreme.]
[Not extreme? That’s outright slander!]
[Stop arguing, isn’t it normal for the supporting character to lose to the female lead? There’s an even bigger show coming up!]
Those golden words appeared again. Jiang Qingning realized she was now beyond all defense, and a profound dread filled her at the mention of “an even bigger show” in those texts.
She trembled uncontrollably. What more was going to happen to her?
Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded from outside.
“Father, Eldest Brother, you’re back!”
Jiang Xuan called out toward the door. As everyone instinctively looked over, Jiang Shuwan suddenly reached out and tore open Jiang Qingning’s outer garment…