Hearing these words from Gu Lan, Madam Wen stared at Gu Jin Chao in astonishment. She saw her step forward in great surprise, lips pressed tightly together.

Now that she had heard what Gu Lan said, she realized this person was speaking complete nonsense. That day, Gu Lan and Concubine Song played good cop and bad cop, putting on quite a performance. But who knew if these mother and daughter were slandering Gu Jin Chao just as they were slandering her!

When Gu Jin Rong heard what Gu Lan said, his face turned pale. Gu Lan’s words pierced his heart like knives.

Had Gu Lan slandered Gu Jin Chao like this when he wasn’t aware?

He had nothing to say about other matters, but regarding his studies, it was he who ultimately told his father he wanted to go to Qi Fang Hutong. How could Gu Lan claim that Jin Chao had forced him to go?

How could Gu Lan do this? Jin Chao was her sister, after all.

She had always appeared gentle and kind in front of him, who would have thought she could be so vicious behind others’ backs, twisting right and wrong!

Seeing how Madam Li had been provoked to anger by her words, he recalled how he too had once been incited by Gu Lan’s words, rushing angrily to confront Gu Jin Chao, demanding that she not interfere in his affairs, calling her a viper, saying she was malicious…

He still remembered pointing at her and saying: “Second Sister truly cares about you sincerely. She often advises me not to conflict with you, saying Mother would be unhappy. For Mother and Second Sister, I’ve held back many times. You… do you think everyone is as malicious as you…”

And then there were the knee pads Jin Chao had sewn for him, with such close stitches.

If a truly kind person was called malicious by her brother, and casually framed and insulted by her sister. If she wanted what was best for her brother, only to be accused of meddling…

If he were that kind of person, he would feel worse than dead!

The more Gu Jin Rong thought about it, the worse his expression became, his lips trembling slightly. He felt an indescribable sourness in his heart… He even wanted to reach out and tug at Jin Chao’s sleeve, or perhaps apologize to her. But none of that would be enough… His elder sister had been right all along—he was impulsive and thoughtless. How could he have believed Gu Lan’s words all this time, without ever questioning whether what she said was true?

He had never considered Jin Chao’s feelings!

“She… with behavior like this, how will she ever get married!” Madam Li was also shocked, never having seen such a shameless young lady as Gu Jin Chao!

Gu Lan said helplessly: “Whether she can get married or not, she must marry. In the future, whether it’s a widower or a cripple, she must obey her father, mustn’t she!”

Gu Jin Rong took a deep breath. She dared to slander his elder sister like this. What nonsense about widowers and cripples—how could someone as good as his elder sister be treated with such disrespect! He couldn’t bear it anymore and stepped out from behind the wall, saying coldly: “Gu Lan, be quiet!”

Jin Chao knew it was not good when she saw him step out, and couldn’t hold him back. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—why did he have to go out so early? Who knew what more interesting things Gu Lan might have revealed…

Hearing Gu Jin Rong’s voice, Gu Lan was so frightened that a chill ran down her spine. She almost thought it was her imagination, but then saw the ghost-like expression on Madam Li’s face opposite her: “Who are you… how did you appear from there!”

“Sister, I am here too,” Madam Wen, seeing that Gu Jin Rong had already gone out, naturally smoothed her already neat collar, took Jin Chao’s hand, and walked around the wall, coming up to the flower hall from the stone path, smiling, “Gu Lan, seeing me, why don’t you greet me, hmm?”

Cold sweat instantly appeared on Gu Lan’s forehead. The words she had just said… don’t tell her these three people had heard everything!

How could they have come around from behind the chambers? Who would wander into the Xiang Fei bamboo grove for no reason? Her gaze lingered on Gu Jin Chao’s face.

Jin Chao was also looking at her, seemingly in disbelief, her voice sorrowful: “Sister Lan, I have always felt that I haven’t mistreated you, how, how could you say such things…”

Gu Lan’s mind went blank. Was this Gu Jin Chao? What was she playing at?

Glancing at the expressions of Gu Jin Rong and Madam Wen, she instantly understood, but at the same time, her heart sank. The words she had just spoken were too harsh; there was no room for retreat! Her only option now was to play the victim… She quickly stood up, staring at Jin Chao with eyes full of tears: “Elder Sister, you… how did you all get here? Those words I just said, please don’t misunderstand, I… I was only repeating what the servants said! I don’t believe it!”

Gu Jin Rong stepped forward, standing in front of Jin Chao, unable to contain his anger: “You still dare to quibble? How could you have heard this from servants… you… you, I’ve always thought you were gentle and kind, never bullying others! I never imagined you would speak of Elder Sister like this behind her back! Even if she has faults, she is still your sister! I ask you, how did you know that going to the academy was her forcing me? It was I who asked for Father’s permission! Elder Sister was only thinking of my good when she suggested I study at Qi Fang Hutong. Don’t you dare twist right and wrong!”

Tears were already streaming down Gu Lan’s cheeks. She said softly: “Brother Rong… even you don’t believe me… we’ve had a sibling relationship for over ten years!… How can you wrong me like this? I only know what you told me. You said Elder Sister didn’t want you to stay at home. I don’t know about anything else!”

Gu Jin Rong was furious: “You’re being too much… Although I said it, did I say Elder Sister forced me? Have you always spread such rumors about Elder Sister? You’re too vicious…”

Jin Chao took a deep breath and gently advised him: “Jin Rong, Sister Lan is still your sister after all…”

Gu Jin Rong snorted: “You still treat her as a sister, but I no longer wish to consider her my sister… how could she speak of you like this…”

Madam Wen, seeing that Gu Jin Rong had gone on for so long without finding the main point, silently cursed him as useless. She stood up with a cold smile and said: “Gu Lan, I ask you, if you don’t know the facts, then what are you rambling about? Making things up when you know nothing—isn’t that slander? Who has wronged you? Why are you crying? Trying to play the victim for whom?”

Gu Lan momentarily lost face and was completely flustered inside. She remembered how Madam Wen had agreed to officiate her hairpin ceremony. She never imagined someone would eavesdrop, so her words had been extremely harsh. There was no way to salvage the situation! Not only would the hairpin ceremony be impossible, but Madam Wen would likely hate her from now on…

She couldn’t afford to offend Madam Wen!

Gu Lan’s tears fell in streams: “Second Aunt… those… those words weren’t my true intention. Please don’t be offended!”

Madam Wen snorted coldly, “Who is your Second Aunt? Call me Madam Wen!” Then she smiled even more brightly: “Not your true intention? Then whose was it, Concubine Song’s? Indeed! If she hadn’t taught you to say these things, could you have come up with such devious ideas yourself!”

Gu Lan opened her mouth to say something, but not a word came out.

Madam Li also stood up. She didn’t quite understand what was happening and tried to persuade Madam Wen: “Elder Sister, this must be a misunderstanding. Don’t be upset…”

“Misunderstanding?” Madam Wen laughed coldly, “Song Miao Ying, I might as well tell you, that I never approached Concubine Song about officiating Gu Lan’s hairpin ceremony. It was the mother and daughter who came to me crying pitifully! They even asked me to arrange a marriage for Gu Lan. I never spoke to Song Miao Hua about you and Lord Li. Think about it—with our friendship, would I discuss your affairs to get close to Song Miao Hua? You’ve been used and don’t even know it!”

By the time Gu Lan heard this, her entire body had gone numb. She felt like she was in a nightmare!

Those words from earlier had been heard, every single one, by these three people!

Hearing this, Madam Li fell into deep thought, also feeling something wasn’t right.

She had been completely provoked to anger by Gu Lan and hadn’t even considered whether it was true or false…

Gu Jin Rong glared fiercely at Gu Lan: “Your skill at making things up has certainly improved! One way to your face, another behind your back, and even falsely accusing others of things they never did… how, how have you become like this!”

Gu Lan understood that crying was no longer effective. Even though she was clever and calculating, she was still just a fifteen-year-old girl. For a moment, she was completely flustered and reached out to grab Gu Jin Rong… If she lost the advantage of having Gu Jin Rong’s support, her loss would be substantial!

But Gu Jin Rong harshly knocked away Gu Lan’s hand, glanced at the silently tearful Jin Chao, and left the flower hall.

Madam Wen also saw Gu Jin Chao silently grieving. She thought that this eldest young miss had it hard; she probably had a quiet nature and who knew how many hidden grievances she had suffered from Gu Lan! If it were her, she would have torn Gu Lan’s mouth apart!

If a woman’s reputation was slandered, how could she marry into a good family? Her entire life would be ruined. Gu Lan was too much!

She took Jin Chao’s hand and said: “Don’t be sad.” Then she turned to Gu Lan, smiling: “Sister Lan, regarding the hairpin ceremony, my status is truly not high enough to officiate for you. Why don’t you ask Madam Li to help you, or find a marchioness, a first or second-rank lady, who would be worthy of you, wouldn’t that be better?”

Gu Lan couldn’t say a word for a moment.

“I have urgent matters at my residence, so I won’t be attending your coming-of-age ceremony. I’ll take my leave now.”

She didn’t speak to Gu Lan anymore and left the flower hall with her two maids.

“Second Sister, please think carefully. Sister is truly heartbroken. I have never mistreated you. Why do you repeatedly frame me and try to sow discord between me and Jin Rong…” Jin Chao looked at Gu Lan and asked softly.

“When I first returned to the Gu family, you were just over eight years old. We played cat’s cradle together, and you even insisted on sleeping next to me and wouldn’t go back. I truly thought you cared about me, who knew you would act like this…”

Gu Lan took a deep breath, finally stopping her tears. She didn’t care anymore whether Madam Li was present or not. Since everything was out in the open, she didn’t care!

Gu Lan looked at Gu Jin Chao with a cold smile and said: “Gu Jin Chao, stop pretending! You brought them here! You wanted to embarrass me, right? You wanted to ruin me, didn’t you? I tell you, I, Gu Lan, am not easy to bully! I will pay you back sooner or later! Don’t talk to me about past feelings. We have no feelings between us!”