Speak of the devil.
Jiang Fei felt like tearing her own mouth at that moment.
Her heart tightened as she quickly glanced back at Zhao Xingbang, whose face had turned deathly pale—clearly, he had also heard the commotion outside.
Their eyes met, and Zhao Xingbang immediately began panicking, looking around frantically for a hiding spot. Spotting space under the bed, he crouched down to crawl underneath.
Jiang Fei swiftly grabbed him and asked, “Do you want to live?”
Zhao Xingbang, terrified and disoriented, nodded desperately.
Jiang Fei said, “Then do as I say.”
In the original story, Jiang Rufei had been entangled in carnal pleasures with Zhao Xingbang and hadn’t heard the noise outside, nor had she heard how her third sister had incited their mother to bring people to catch them in the act. Later, when Jiang Rulin pleaded for her, Jiang Rufei had been profoundly grateful.
With her god-like perspective, Jiang Fei knew exactly how much effort her third sister, Jiang Rulin, had put into orchestrating this day.
Jiang Rulin had long admired Wei Mingzhen, but the Wei family had already arranged a marriage with Jiang Rufei. To replace Jiang Rufei, she deliberately introduced her to Zhao Xingbang, secretly encouraged their relationship, and constantly whispered misleading advice into the ear of her indecisive and foolish second sister, leading to today’s events.
From outside came Jiang Rulin’s voice, “Mother, you mustn’t! If we barge in like this, how will Second Sister face others in the future?”
Jiang Fei sneered inwardly.
This third sister, pretending to care for her on the surface, was actually eager to see her reputation ruined so she could take her place and marry Wei Mingzhen.
Jiang Fei quickly pulled the door open and rushed straight toward the dignified and elegant woman in the center.
“Mother!”
Yao Shi, initially furious, felt her anger subside slightly upon seeing her daughter fully dressed. “What are you doing here?”
Jiang Fei immediately looked at the people around her. Everyone else wore expressions similar to Yao Shi’s, except for one slightly younger girl, who stared at her in shock—this must be Third Sister, Jiang Rulin.
“Third Sister,” Jiang Fei said, grabbing her hand. “You told me to wait for you here. Why didn’t you come? Instead, a young master showed up.”
Jiang Rulin’s face changed. “Second Sister, what nonsense are you talking? When did I ever ask you to wait for me here?”
Jiang Fei held Jiang Rulin’s hand tightly, feigning innocence. “Didn’t you tell me to wait for you here? You said you had something important to discuss with me. I waited for a long time, but you never came. Instead, the son of the Prime Minister’s family arrived.”
Yao Shi frowned deeply. “Rulin, what is going on? Is what your sister said true?”
Caught off guard by Jiang Fei’s words, Jiang Rulin panicked and shook her head hurriedly. “Mother, Second Sister must have remembered wrong. I never asked her to wait for me here, nor did I say there was anything important to discuss. If you don’t believe me, let Zhao Xingbang come out and confront us.”
Jiang Fei felt relieved. The entire Jiang family seemed foolish—not a single clever one among them. With her training from various palace and household dramas, wouldn’t she be able to manipulate the Jiang family as she pleased from now on?
“Third Sister! I never said which son of the Prime Minister’s family was in the room. The Prime Minister has seven sons. How could you be so sure it was Zhao Xingbang?”
Jiang Rulin was stumped by Jiang Rufei’s question, her face instantly turning ashen.
She never expected that Jiang Rufei would turn the tables on her at this critical moment.
Hearing this, most of those present believed Jiang Rufei’s account.
Yao Shi’s frown deepened, her tone turning cold and sharp. “Rulin, how did you know the person in the room was Zhao Xingbang?”
Jiang Rulin, cornered by Yao Shi’s piercing gaze, immediately pointed at Jiang Fei. “It was Second Sister! Second Sister wanted to meet Zhao Xingbang in secret and asked me to deliver a message. I thought it was wrong and would ruin her life. Knowing I couldn’t dissuade her, I called Mother here to stop Second Sister.”
Jiang Fei sneered inwardly.
I’ve watched Empresses in the Palace and learned well from Consort Xi’s teachings. Even if I were thrown into a palace intrigue drama, I could survive eighty episodes. How dare you play these tricks with me?
She immediately feigned shock and hurt. “Third Sister, how… how could you falsely accuse me like this? When did I ever ask you to deliver a message? Fine, since you insist on confronting this, let’s have Young Master Zhao come out and face us.”
Zhao Xingbang, who had been anxiously waiting inside, stepped out upon hearing Jiang Fei’s voice.
His back was drenched in sweat, but he forced a calm expression, bowing to Yao Shi before turning to Jiang Rulin.
“Lin’er.”
Jiang Rulin’s mind went blank at the sound of “Lin’er,” leaving her stunned as she looked between Zhao Xingbang and Jiang Fei.
Zhao Xingbang knelt with a thud before Yao Shi. “Madam! Lin’er and I are deeply in love. I beg for your blessing.”
Everyone froze in place. Yao Shi’s knees buckled, and she was steadied by her maid. “What did you say?”
Zhao Xingbang pressed his forehead to the floor. “I beg you to bless our union.”
Jiang Fei breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Xingbang’s acting was quite convincing—one might truly believe he was devoted to Jiang Rulin.
Zhao Xingbang kept his head bowed, feeling that his neck was probably safe for now.
Jiang Fei had shown him a clear path: as long as he distanced himself from her and proved he hadn’t trespassed on Pei Jing’s territory, his life would be spared.
“You… what nonsense are you spouting!” Jiang Rulin trembled with rage. “When have I ever been in love with you? It was clearly you and Second Sister meeting in secret!”
Zhao Xingbang lifted his head, his gaze resolute. “What’s the use of hiding it now? You asked me to wait for you here, saying you had something important to tell me.”
Jiang Fei, who had been supporting Yao Shi while enjoying the show, let out a well-timed gasp of surprise. “So, Third Sister arranged to meet Young Master Zhao and also asked me to wait for you here? Next time, Third Sister, don’t schedule meetings in the same place. If anyone saw Young Master Zhao and me alone together, I’d never be able to clear my name.”
Her words sank in, and everyone’s expressions shifted. Anyone with half a brain could piece together the truth.
Yao Shi’s face darkened unpredictably as her eyes swept over the three of them.
Jiang Fei felt confident—the scales of victory were tipping in her favor. She was about to secure her first triumph since transmigrating into this book.
Yao Shi clenched her fists and suddenly demanded, “Young Master Zhao, you claim to have feelings for Lin’er. Do you have proof?”
Zhao Xingbang replied, “Her arranging to meet me here is proof.”
Yao Shi relaxed slightly and let out a cold laugh. “So there’s no concrete evidence. Without proof, how dare you slander my daughter’s reputation with empty words?”
Jiang Fei’s heart skipped a beat. How could she have forgotten?
In the original story, Yao Shi was extremely biased. Among her four children, she disliked Jiang Fei the most and had neglected her upbringing, which was why Jiang Fei had grown into a fool.