They could only hear Ji Wanxin’s voice coming from inside the shop—

“I didn’t tear this. I just… only picked it up to look at it.”

“Just looked at it? You’re still making excuses! You clearly ripped it. This is the fabric I’m using to make my wedding dress. In all of Jinjiang City, this is the very last bolt. Now you’ve torn it for me. Tell me, what are you going to do about it?”

Another woman angrily accused her!

“It wasn’t me…”

As always, Ji Wanxin’s voice was still soft and delicate to the point of being pitiable, extremely wronged.

Then, a few more voices followed!

Ji Yunshu silently put away that orange-red jade, her expression indifferent, showing no emotion. But if one looked more carefully, one could see a ruthless determination in those clear, bright eyes.

Jingrong sitting across from her remained silent, but in his heart he actually understood clearly.

He seemed to vaguely sense something.

Previously when they were still in Shanhuai County, Ji Wanxin had left for Jinjiang without any word of greeting. According to a few maids, she had been helped out of Ji Yunshu’s room at the time, covering her face with her hand, her eyes full of tears, saying she had accidentally fallen and hit her face. Combined with feeling unwell, she couldn’t help but cry.

It was because of this that she had set off to return to Jinjiang.

Jingrong hadn’t investigated this matter deeply!

How would he know that in reality, Ji Yunshu had removed the fake mask from Ji Wanxin’s face at that time, even fiercely slapped her across the face, and had even severed their sisterly ties completely—that was why she left.

Only, Ji Yunshu hadn’t mentioned any of these things. Not because she harbored kindness in her heart or wanted to cover up Ji Wanxin’s actions, but because she didn’t want to make this matter known to everyone and bring trouble upon herself. At the end of the day, she found it exhausting—when she could be examining bones every day, why would she want to think about the scheming and deception between women?

Between women, things were always so strange and complicated.

Jingrong said, “Weren’t you anxious to go back and see how Fu Bo is doing? Then let’s go.”

As he spoke, he took out a piece of broken silver and placed it on the table.

The two rose to leave. As they passed by that shop, the commotion inside grew louder, and the crowd began to stir.

“Isn’t this the second young miss of the Ji family? How is she also here buying marriage fabric?”

“She must be getting married.”

“Marrying whom?”

“You don’t even know this? The other party is the son of the Minister of Rites from the capital. I heard that man is a dragon among men, handsome and refined, gentle and elegant, and extremely learned. How many young ladies from prestigious families are hoping to climb that high branch!”

Then with envious jealousy, someone sighed, “Who knows what blessings this second miss of the Ji family cultivated in her previous life? She’s picked up such a huge bargain! But the other party is also quite unlucky. Miss Ji Er has been sickly since childhood—who in Jinjiang City doesn’t know? Who’s to say that not long after marrying over, she won’t…”

Someone bumped him and interrupted, “Don’t talk nonsense! If someone hears this, you’ll be in for it.”

That person immediately shut up.

Ji Yunshu heard all of these words.

Ji Wanxin was getting married?

So soon?

Involuntarily, Ji Yunshu slowed her steps and glanced inside.

She saw Ji Wanxin’s frail body being supported by a maid. She herself pitifully lowered her head, the red mole on her forehead like a budding flower, reflected on her full forehead, adding embellishment to her pitiful and touching appearance—it was quite beautiful to see.

Who didn’t know that woman was Jinjiang’s famous great beauty!

So, even if it really was she who had torn someone’s fabric, everyone still felt sympathy.

Standing opposite her was a woman who could be considered striking, slightly taller than her, with a broader frame and a much bigger temper.

It was the young miss of the Zhang household!

Miss Zhang held in her hand a piece of red cloth that had been slashed open, flinging it forward. “Why don’t you speak up! What do we do now? You damaged this fabric—you have to give me an explanation.”

Ji Wanxin’s tone was choked with emotion. “It really wasn’t me. I didn’t tear your fabric.”

“You’re still denying it! The thing tore open as soon as it reached your hands. If it wasn’t you, could it have been a ghost?”

“You’ve misunderstood me.”

The maid standing beside her also followed her mistress’s nature, timidly and aggrievedly interjecting, “My young miss wouldn’t tear your fabric. When the shopkeeper handed it over just now, it was already torn. Don’t you dare try to pin this on my young miss.”

“You little maid, what are you talking about? As if I would frame her! Earlier she said she liked this fabric, but I bought it first. Unwilling to accept it, she tore a gash in the fabric for my wedding dress.”

“It’s not true, Miss. I really didn’t…”

She raised those phoenix eyes brimming with tears, as if saying two more words would cause her to stop breathing.

The shopkeeper, seeing the situation was going badly, hurried over and grabbed the fabric, also looking quite helpless.

“This fabric—there’s only this one bolt in all of Jinjiang. The price is not cheap.” He said to Ji Wanxin, “Miss, this fabric—Miss Zhang paid for it first. It’s already been sold to her. If you damaged this fabric, just pay the silver and that will be that, won’t it?”

Miss Zhang wouldn’t have it!

She snorted. “No! What? You think paying silver will settle this? My Zhang family really doesn’t lack this bit of silver. This fabric was specially selected by me to make my wedding dress. Now you’ve torn it—aren’t you cursing me? How truly inauspicious.”

The shopkeeper said, “Then Miss Zhang, this matter…?”

Miss Zhang raised her brow with a cold, proud snort. “I know you’re the second miss of the Ji family, with plenty of people behind you to back you up. However, this miss just dislikes people like you—relying on having two older brothers serving as officials in the court, acting so domineering and tyrannical, secretly scheming and causing mischief. I think, for this mischievous heart, the one who should suffer… should be that face of yours. Everyone says Ji Wanxin is as beautiful as a flower. Well then, since you tore the fabric for my wedding dress, then…”

A sinister smile!

She reached out and grabbed a pair of cloth-cutting scissors from the counter.

With cold, hooked lips, she approached Ji Wanxin. “Then I’ll tear up that face of yours as your apology and compensation to me.”

Gasp!

The onlooking crowd was startled!

What kind of logic was this?

Ji Wanxin suddenly raised those terrified eyes. The scissors were already closing in before her. Her heart suddenly seized—if she moved recklessly, those scissors might pierce into her eyes.

Her body trembled.

Those delicate lips also involuntarily opened and closed.

Miss Zhang smiled, moving the hand holding the scissors forward a bit more. At a paper’s distance, she was about to slash across her face.

Who would have known—

Her wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone. Not knowing what acupoint had been pressed, she only felt the meridians at her wrist being stung as if by a wasp. The intense pain forced her five fingers to loosen, and the scissors dropped to the ground.

Ah!

Accompanied by a piercing scream.

Ji Yunshu had only used thirty percent of her strength, seizing the weak point at her hand bone, which made Miss Zhang grit her teeth in pain.