Xue Ning clenched her fingers, glanced at Xue Zhaofei, took a deep breath, and then turned to Xue Mingzhu.
“Xue Mingzhu, you know perfectly well who is responsible for the death. I don’t need you to reluctantly admit it—it wasn’t me in the first place. I dare swear an oath: if I caused anyone’s death, may I spend my life with only a dim lamp and ancient Buddha, be utterly disgraced, and never marry. Do you dare do the same?”
Xue Ning did not actually place much importance on marriage, but she knew very well that for Xue Mingzhu, marriage was the most important thing.
Whether it was the reputation as a talented lady of Jingdu that she had carefully cultivated early on, or the path paved for her by her father, mother, and even her brother—all of it was meant to secure her a high-status marriage and elevate her standing.
Therefore, Xue Ning was certain that she would not dare to swear on this matter!
Sure enough, when Xue Mingzhu heard Xue Ning’s words, her expression turned dark and complicated. Her lips trembled a few times before she bit them and remained silent, seething with resentment inside.
Seeing Xue Mingzhu silent while Xue Ning remained perfectly calm, Xue Zhaofei couldn’t help but frown anxiously.
“Cousin, if it wasn’t you, what are you afraid of? What harm would swearing do? Just say it already!”
Even at this point, he was still convinced that Xue Ning was the one responsible.
“I…”
Xue Mingzhu was caught in a dilemma. Just as she was struggling, a voice suddenly sounded from behind her, instantly giving her confidence.
“You rebellious girl! Whether this matter is true or not, your reputation was already tarnished to begin with, making it difficult for you to marry. Mingzhu is nothing like you—she is a well-known virtuous young lady in the capital, sought after by a hundred families, and that is no exaggeration.
You, a jinx yourself, still dare to curse your cousin? How could I have a daughter like you? Truly, heaven has no eyes!”
Xue Youdao walked in with a stern face, his gaze toward Xue Ning filled with oppressive force.
“Father!”
Xue Mingzhu’s face lit up with delight. She shot a triumphant glance at Xue Ning before standing behind Xue Youdao with a look of grievance.
“Mingzhu, are you all right?”
Madam Wen looked at Xue Mingzhu with concern, holding her hand and gazing at her reddened eyes, her heart aching with pity.
Watching this scene, Xue Ning felt a pang of heartache, even though similar situations had occurred many times over the years.
She was their biological daughter, yet she could only watch helplessly as they shielded Xue Mingzhu and stood on the opposite side against her.
Xue Ning stood alone in place while Xue Zhaofei hovered around Madam Wen, complaining that Xue Ning, as an elder sister, showed no consideration for him and still refused to apologize to their cousin. He recounted every detail of the earlier argument.
Madam Wen shook her head disapprovingly at Xue Ning. “Ningning, you’ve really gone too far this time. I can’t speak up for you anymore.”
Xue Ning’s lips moved slightly as she looked at them stubbornly. “I didn’t do it.”
But no one believed her.
Xue Youdao grew angry. “Even now, you still refuse to tell the truth? I think you deserve punishment. Last time, I spared you for your mother’s sake, but this time I will not let it slide!
Xue Ning, get out of here and go to the Fotang right now. Without my permission, you are not to return!”
Xue Ning sneered. “The Fotang?”
She glanced at Madam Wen and Xue Mingzhu. Their expressions instantly turned somewhat awkward. It seemed her father did not yet know that she had already been sent to the Fotang by her mother to make way for Xue Mingzhu. He still thought sending her to the Fotang was a punishment.
“Father, I’m already living in the Fotang now, and I’ve given up my courtyard to Xue Mingzhu. Compared to the Fotang, do I have a better place to go now?”
After saying this, Xue Ning turned and walked away.
Her cold and resolute demeanor was startling, giving the sense that she was about to do something earth-shattering.
Xue Youdao called out to her, “Xue Ning, where are you going?!”
Xue Ning did not turn back. “Gongzhu Fu. Since the whole family believes I caused someone’s death and tarnished the Xue family’s reputation, I will now go to Gongzhu Fu to confront the matter, clear my name, and ensure I harm no one in the Xue family.”
Her words instantly caused their expressions to change drastically!
Madam Wen pleaded, “Ningning, come back quickly, don’t be willful!”
Xue Youdao, furious, immediately shouted for help, “What are you all standing around for? Go stop her!”
Xue Ning was intercepted and brought back. She calmly looked at Xue Youdao and asked, “Father, why stop me? Or perhaps deep down, you know that if I insist on confronting this, the outcome may not be what you wish?”
Xue Youdao’s gaze darkened with anger. “Xue Ning, this matter is settled. If you still consider yourself a member of the Xue family, do not bring it up or cause trouble again, lest you interfere with your cousin’s important Bandu Linxuan.”
Xue Ning’s face paled. So, just as she had suspected, her probing had revealed the truth.
Her father was not entirely without doubts about Xue Mingzhu, but in his eyes, Xue Mingzhu held more value than she did.
Thus, regardless of the truth, it had to be her.
Xue Ning’s gaze swept over everyone present: Madam Wen avoided her eyes, Xue Zhaofei frowned with mixed emotions, Xue Mingzhu secretly rejoiced with smug satisfaction, and her father’s eyes were filled with warning…
A bitter, numb smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and the light in her eyes dimmed.
“In that case, I take my leave.”
Xue Ning turned and walked away. In their picture of familial harmony, there was never a place for her.
As she left, she bumped into her eldest brother, Xue Yan, who had just returned. He called out to her, “Xue Ning, let’s have dinner together tonight. I have something to say, something you’ll want to hear.”
Thinking of the screen, Xue Yan decided to help Xue Ning by speaking well of her in front of the family, hoping to mend their relationship.
Ideally, everything would return to how it was before, with Xue Ning revering and admiring him as her eldest brother as she always had.
However…
Xue Ning did not even glance at him. “It has nothing to do with me.”
She brushed past Xue Yan, as cold and indifferent as if he were a stranger.
Xue Yan frowned slightly, about to say something, but then he looked into the courtyard and saw his parents’ grim expressions. He guessed that Xue Ning must have had another unpleasant confrontation with them.
In the end, he decided not to stir up more trouble and let Xue Ning go.
“Eldest Brother, you’re here!”
Xue Zhaofei spotted Xue Yan and beamed with delight, always idolizing his eldest brother.
Xue Yan softened his tone. “Sixth Brother, what’s going on with everyone?”
Xue Zhaofei hesitated for a moment before recounting what had just happened, adding a few extra complaints about Xue Ning.
Xue Mingzhu put on a tolerant and aggrieved expression. “Eldest Brother, don’t blame Ningning. I’m not angry. Let’s just say it was my fault.”
Xue Mingzhu expected to hear Xue Yan criticize Xue Ning, but this time, things were different.
After careful thought, Xue Yan directly informed the Xue family about the matter of the screen.
“Regardless of everything, Xue Ning was willing to give me the screen to present as a birthday gift to Elder Madam Jiang. In this, she has done a service to the Xue family. Let’s not bring up past unpleasantries again. In truth, aside from competing with Mingzhu for favor, Xue Ning has always been good to the family. Don’t you agree, Father, Mother, Sixth Brother?”
Xue Zhaofei said awkwardly, “Fifth Sister has actually been quite good to me. She often sends things to the training ground for me. It’s just that her reputation is a bit poor, which makes me feel embarrassed.”