County Lady Jiang and her daughter-in-law, Lady Wu, hurried in, and in an instant, the small West Side Courtyard was packed with people.
As soon as Second Miss Li Jiāo saw them enter, she immediately began crying: “Grandmother, Mother—”
Lady Wu glanced at the broken porcelain scattered on the floor and her daughter’s face paler than snow, immediately changing expression. She quickly walked to Li Jiāo’s side and called out: “Jiāojiāo, let Mother see how badly you’re hurt.”
Li Jiāo lifted her foot slightly: “It hurts so much—”
Lady Wu saw her daughter’s tender little foot covered in blood and immediately gasped, holding Li Jiāo close as she said sternly: “Nanny Dong, quickly examine Second Miss!”
A middle-aged woman with her hair in a round bun walked over, untied the box she carried with her, and crouched down to treat Li Jiāo’s wound.
Li Jiāo softly cried out in pain. Lady Wu held her while coaxing gently, her eyes calm but containing hidden sharpness as they swept toward Lady He and her daughter.
In front of County Lady Jiang, who valued propriety, no matter how annoyed Lady Wu felt, she wouldn’t speak first.
County Lady Jiang walked over, glanced at Li Jiāo’s injury, and frowned: “The wound on her foot is quite deep. A young lady can’t have scars. Nanny Dong, did you bring the Cloud Frost Balm?”
“Yes, I brought it.” Nanny Dong replied while skillfully treating Li Jiāo’s wound.
County Lady Jiang nodded and slowly walked to sit in a chair, only then speaking unhurriedly: “How did Second Girl get injured?”
“Grandmother, it’s all Li Zhao’s fault—” Li Jiāo couldn’t help but shout.
Hearing that she might have scars made Li Jiāo even more furious. Her phoenix eyes glared at Qiao Zhao, wishing she could pounce over and tear a piece of flesh from her.
County Lady Jiang glanced at Li Jiāo.
Li Jiāo immediately fell silent.
Having been raised beside the County Lady for so long, she naturally knew County Lady Jiang’s temperament.
County Lady Jiang withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Old Madam Deng: “Sister-in-law, have you asked about what happened?”
Old Madam Deng smiled: “I just arrived myself. As soon as I came, I had someone treat Second Girl’s wound first. I haven’t asked about the specific situation yet, and you arrived right after me.”
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Qiao Zhao from the corner of her eye, thinking to herself that this troublemaker really couldn’t go a day without stirring up trouble—what happened to copying Buddhist scriptures!
“Haven’t asked yet?” County Lady Jiang raised her eyebrows and looked at Qiao Zhao. “Third Girl, since that’s the case, you tell us what happened.”
Lady He gripped Qiao Zhao’s hand tightly.
Qiao Zhao walked in front of County Lady Jiang, curtsied, then stood up and began speaking in a gentle voice: “In response to Great-aunt, this is what happened. Just now, Second Sister barged into my room. Seeing that she was very angry, I invited her to have tea. Who knew Second Sister didn’t catch it properly, and the teacup fell, landing right on her toe—”
“You’re lying! Grandmother deliberately let go; that’s why the teacup hit my foot! She also made me fall, and my hand got cut on the broken porcelain…” Li Jiāo couldn’t help but sob as she finished.
County Lady Jiang’s expression immediately darkened.
She had seen plenty of deliberate hand-slipping tricks like this!
Usually, when concubines paid their respects, if the main wife wanted to make things difficult, she would often use this very move. She hadn’t expected Third Girl to learn such underhanded tactics at such a young age!
County Lady Jiang looked at Qiao Zhao with a stern face.
The young lady stood in the center, bearing various gazes with complete composure.
County Lady Jiang felt annoyed but also somewhat puzzled.
The Third Girl was just a paper tiger who bullied only family members. In the past, seeing her was like a mouse seeing a cat—she would have been trembling with fear long ago. What was different about today?
County Lady Jiang had long been displeased that Qiao Zhao hadn’t been punished after returning this time. Now, looking at her was even more disagreeable. With a stern face, she shouted: “Third Girl, in front of so many elders today, tell me exactly what happened. If there’s even half a lie, even if your grandmother protects you, I won’t spare you!”
County Lady Jiang had built up her authority over many years. Now speaking these words with a cold face, let alone Fifth Miss Li Shu, who had been playing ostrich, even Li Jiǎo shivered. Beyond nervousness, she felt immense satisfaction.
Li Jiāo was injured, Li Zhao was being scolded—today was truly a wonderful day.
Qiao Zhao looked at County Lady Jiang, then at Old Madam Deng.
Old Madam Deng wanted to sigh.
She had thought that after suffering once, this troublemaker would learn some sense, but she was still hopeless. Today, she should indeed receive some punishment.
Qiao Zhao withdrew her gaze and said with a serious expression: “Great-aunt, since you put it that way, I’ll tell the truth and not cover for Second Sister. When I invited her to drink tea, she struck out and knocked the teacup from my hand, which is how it hit her foot—”
“You’re lying, you’re lying!” Li Jiāo’s face flushed red as she shouted.
Qiao Zhao glanced at her lightly with a calm expression: “At the time, Eldest Sister and Fifth Sister were also present. Great-aunt can ask them.”
“Eldest Sister, Fifth Sister, tell them—wasn’t she the one who deliberately hit me?” Li Jiāo asked first, fearing these two would tell the truth.
Li Jiǎo and Li Shu remained silent for a moment.
Li Jiāo held up her hand, crying: “Grandmother, look, my hand was also cut when I fell. It hurts so much—”
County Lady Jiang showed nothing on her face but was actually heartbroken inside, involuntarily glancing at Qiao Zhao.
Qiao Zhao didn’t even lift her eyelids as she supplemented: “After Second Sister knocked down the teacup and fell due to the slippery floor, cutting her hand, she got up in embarrassed anger and raised her hand to slap my face—”
“Enough!” Lady Wu from the East Residence couldn’t help but shout. After shouting, she suppressed her anger and said to Old Madam Deng: “Second Aunt, with Third Girl slandering Jiāojiāo’s reputation like this, you must discipline her properly.”
“Eh.” Old Madam Deng responded perfunctorily.
Looking at Third Girl’s manner, she didn’t seem to be lying. If it was really as she said, it was hard to say who needed disciplining.
County Lady Jiang coughed once, reminding Lady Wu to watch her words, then turned to ask Li Jiǎo and Li Shu: “Eldest Girl, Fifth Girl, you were both present at the time. Which of them is telling the truth?”
Li Shu couldn’t help but shrink back.
Li Jiǎo secretly gritted her teeth.
That wretched Li Zhao dragged her into this. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t be polite!
“Great-aunt, when Jiao’er was watching, it seemed like Third Sister didn’t hold it steady—”
Lady He roared in fury: “Li Jiǎo, you black-hearted thing, how can you falsely accuse your Third Sister!”
Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but hold her forehead.
For a stepmother to rebuke her stepdaughter so bluntly in front of the elders, only her cheap mother would do such a thing.
“Lady He, shut up!” Old Madam Deng was so angry that her eyes rolled back.
Li Jiāo smiled with pursed lips. She knew it—these two would stand on her side.
County Lady Jiang glanced at Lady He and pressed on: “Did Second Girl raise her hand to slap Third Girl’s face?”
Li Jiǎo pursed her lips, looked at Lady He, her eyes hiding smugness.
Lady He was so angry that her chest heaved. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Qiao Zhao gently shake her head.
County Lady Jiang coughed heavily: “Eldest Girl, don’t look at others. Just report truthfully.”
“Yes, Great-aunt.” Li Jiǎo’s peripheral vision swept over Qiao Zhao as she said word by word: “No, Jiao’er was helping Second Sister up at the time and had her sit down in the chair.”
Fifth Miss Li Shu suddenly raised her head, then quickly lowered it again.
Li Jiǎo smiled inwardly.
Fifth Sister’s weak character wouldn’t dare speak carelessly. Only a few of them knew what happened at the time. With her standing on Li Jiāo’s side, who could prove she was lying?
Heh, the maids in the room all belonged to Li Zhao—their words naturally didn’t count as evidence.
Confirmed that her precious granddaughter was both injured and wrongly accused, County Lady Jiang’s face darkened: “Third Girl, what else do you have to say?”