Shen Jingxuan looked at Shen Honglang and Shen Ruoyue—both of whom still had traces of arrogance and smug confidence on their faces—and said helplessly,
“Honestly, it’s not that I didn’t want to come out sooner. With Father and Sister Yue acting like that, I didn’t even dare interrupt. I simply couldn’t find the right opportunity…”
He had not forgotten his little sister’s great kindness and had long intended to step forward and clear her name!
Xie Yu said coldly, “Indeed. The Marquis and Miss Shen were so imposing that even I, who was directly named, had no room to speak, let alone Jingxuan.”
Shen Jingxuan continued, “I came to the courtyard with the heir apparent to discuss something with Yi’er. That’s why we stayed here briefly. I never expected it would be misunderstood like this.”
“Yi’er has always been well-mannered and proper, and the heir apparent is also clear about boundaries. How could anything improper possibly happen? I hope Father and Sister Yue will not spread baseless rumors and tarnish someone’s innocence in the future.”
Shen Honglang’s face darkened bit by bit, as though his skin were burning with fire.
He had actually embarrassed himself so badly in front of four juniors today—and it was all because of Shen Ruoyue’s misinformation!
He shot her a vicious glare, coughed twice, and then casually dismissed everything he had just said as if it had never happened. Laughing awkwardly, he said,
“Hahaha, I knew it. How could Zhiyi possibly do something like that?”
“Jingxuan, you really should’ve said something earlier. You were standing behind the rockery completely hidden—anyone would’ve misunderstood upon entering. It’s not really your Yue’er sister’s fault for misreading things.”
“In the future, if something like this happens again, you must come out immediately. What is more important than your sister’s reputation? Even if you can’t speak, you must force yourself to. Don’t delay like this again, or your Yi’er sister would be heartbroken if she were wrongly accused.”
【Wow, Father’s stable mental state is impressive. Never reflects on his mistakes—just lectures others instead. How shameless. What does this even have to do with Second Brother?】
Shen Jingxuan’s faint guilt was instantly washed away by Shen Zhiyi’s inner voice.
Right. What did it have to do with him?
Wasn’t this all because Father believed rumors and jumped to conclusions? Why had he almost felt it was his fault?
Shen Ruoyue never expected Shen Jingxuan to be here in the courtyard. Just yesterday, everything was still fine—why was he suddenly defending Shen Zhiyi?
Shouldn’t he be on her side?
She immediately put on her usual pitiful, white-lotus act and stepped back, eyes misty with tears.
“It was all the maid Xiaozhi’s mistake… and because Second Brother was blocked from view, I misunderstood. I’m truly sorry, Sister.”
“Ruoyue only rushed here so quickly because I was worried about Sister and the heir apparent’s reputation. Otherwise, who knows what those loose-tongued servants would have spread? Fortunately, Father and I arrived in time, and the misunderstanding was cleared, preserving Sister’s innocence.”
Then, she struck first:
“Xiaozhi, do you admit your mistake? Go kneel in the Buddhist hall for three days and nights, pray for Sister, and repent. If you dare speak nonsense again, I’ll sell you off!”
Xiaozhi’s face went pale. She had been hit with a disaster out of nowhere—but she didn’t dare speak.
【Father shifts blame to the fake daughter, fake daughter shifts blame to the maid… impressive.】
Shen Zhiyi was almost ready to applaud in her mind.
Xie Yu let out a cold snort.
“The Marquis and Miss Shen want to brush this off with just a few words, but say nothing about the damage done to Miss Zhiyi and me?”
“When I arrived at the residence, I already encountered Miss Shen. She clearly knew I was coming to find Jingxuan—so how could she be fooled so easily by a maid’s words? Or was she pretending not to know?”
“Or do you all think the rest of us are fools, easily deceived with a random excuse?”
Shen Jingxuan also said, “Indeed. Only those who admit fault can improve. Anyone falsely accused like this would feel deeply wronged. Yi’er sister must be terribly upset. This matter cannot just end like this.”
Chen Wanran spoke coldly, “Even a maid dares to gossip about her masters? Has the Marquis household lost all its rules and discipline? I don’t think there’s any need to send her to kneel—just sell her off immediately.”
Hearing the mistress of the house speak, Xiaozhi broke down in tears.
“I don’t want to be sold! This wasn’t me—it was the young miss who told me to do it!”
All three of them had been defending Shen Zhiyi from the start, and now the blame had completely shifted toward Shen Zhiyi.
Chen Wanran narrowed her eyes. “So now you’re trying to shift blame to protect yourself?”
Shen Ruoyue’s expression turned cold, though she still looked aggrieved. “Xiaozhi, even if Mother’s punishment is harsh, you can’t slander your master to save yourself.”
The Marquis, eager to end the matter before things escalated further, immediately said,
“Enough. Those who make mistakes must be punished. Xiaozhi will be sold immediately. As for Ruoyue, since she has shown remorse before, she must have simply been misled.”
“Ruoyue, it seems your previous reflection wasn’t sufficient. Go kneel in the Buddhist hall and pray for your sister.”
“This matter is settled. I have other things to attend to.”
【As expected of Father—always sending Shen Ruoyue to kneel. Can’t even change the script a little? And what about my emotional damages? What kind of stingy miser is he? No compensation at all?】
Shen Zhiyi was still thinking about saving up a fortune to run away.
“Wait. This matter cannot end like this.”
Chen Wanran said coldly, “Ruoyue has bullied Zhiyi more than once. Even if she was misled, this punishment is too light.”
“If rumors have already spread, how will Zhiyi and the heir apparent’s reputations be restored?”
“I suggest this: in ten or so days, when Zhiyi’s return banquet is held, Ruoyue should publicly apologize to Zhiyi. That way, all rumors will be silenced, Ruoyue will gain a reputation for repentance, and everyone benefits.”
Apologize?
At the banquet?
That would mean nobles and young lords and ladies from all prominent families would be present—and she would have to apologize in front of all of them???
“I—”
Just imagining it, Shen Ruoyue felt her face burning with humiliation. It would be worse than kneeling in the ancestral hall for a year. She couldn’t bear it.
Before she could finish a word, she fainted on the spot.
The Marquis, unwilling to deal with the mess, simply nodded.
“Fine. Let it be so.”
He turned to leave, only to be stopped again by Chen Wanran.
“Zhiyi has suffered such grievance. Shouldn’t she receive some compensation?”
【Ahhhhh my wonderful mother!! I love you!! Don’t worry, I’ll earn lots of money and take you away from this scummy father someday!】
Shen Jingxuan froze.
Take her away…? Divorce?
Did Mother mean divorce from Father?
Hearing the word “divorce,” Chen Wanran felt as though a fog in her mind had suddenly lifted.
Her thoughts became clearer.
After investigating for days, she already roughly understood which of the household’s assets were fully controlled by Shen Honglang. So she said,
“The cosmetics shop in the west of the city seems quite good. Girls like beauty products—let’s transfer that shop into Zhiyi’s name.”
Shen Honglang instantly felt his heart ache.
That was one of his most profitable businesses in the capital’s cosmetics market!
Xie Yu could see his reluctance clearly. Although it was not appropriate for him to interfere in household matters, he could still assist Chen Wanran.
“Miss Zhiyi, crying too much is harmful to your health. Please take care of yourself. Ah Xuan, take your sister to rest for a while.”
Shen Jingxuan looked at Shen Zhiyi—whose face was rosy and completely dry of tears—and was still confused, but obediently complied.
Shen Zhiyi also acted quickly, squeezing out two fake tears on the spot, leaving Shen Jingxuan stunned.
Chen Wanran’s voice rang again like a death sentence.
“Marquis, what do you think?”
Under pressure, Shen Honglang reluctantly agreed and quickly fled the courtyard.
Just as Shen Ruoyue was slowly waking up, she heard this and fainted again.
Chen Wanran watched him leave coldly.
Then she waved to Shen Zhiyi.
“Zhiyi, come. Let’s go collect the deed and ownership papers for the cosmetics shop.”