The situation seemed to have reversed.

Seeing things going badly, Marquis Xia immediately roared angrily at the physician: “Quack doctor! How dare you lie!”

“No, Master,” the physician retreated several steps, not knowing what had gone wrong. This wasn’t the scene he had expected, and immediately cold sweat poured down his face.

“Why should Marquis Xia be angry? Perhaps it’s truly as Miss Jiang said—this arsenic simply has no effect on her.” The Crown Prince’s words carried unclear meaning. They sounded like casual nonsense, yet they made Marquis Xia’s back break out in cold sweat.

No matter how incompetent, untalented, and lacking in virtue this Crown Prince might be, he was still imperial family. How could he tolerate a subject playing clever tricks right under his nose?

Just then, Xuan Li spoke: “Since this is the quack doctor’s mistake, bind him and take him away first. Keeping such quack doctors around will only harm lives in the future.” He then ordered his attendants to bind and remove the physician. The physician hadn’t expected this sudden disaster and cried out: “It was clearly the old…” Before he could finish, his mouth was gagged and he was dragged away.

Jiang Susu looked at Xuan Li gratefully, though Jiang Li’s face showed a flash of anger. Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Why did His Eighth Highness have the physician bound and taken away? Now whether these pastries are poisoned or not, whether I am guilty or innocent—these matters have become unclear.”

She gave Xuan Li no face whatsoever.

Xuan Li felt somewhat disappointed. He had thought this eldest Miss Jiang was intelligent, and intelligent people should let matters rest at this point. Did she really think anyone here would seek justice for an unfavored Jiang family daughter? It would be better to behave quietly now and save herself much trouble. Thinking this, he glanced toward Jiang Ruan, but upon looking was stunned. He saw Jiang Ruan quietly watching him, and in those beautiful eyes was an inexplicable emotion—one he had seen many times before, something bone-deep and unforgettable. Hatred?

Hatred?

Why would this Miss Jiang harbor groundless hatred toward him? Just because he had spoken a few good words for the Xia family? Xuan Li’s heart paused, and when he looked toward Jiang Ruan again, she had already turned her head away, as if the emotion in her eyes had been merely his imagination. But Xuan Li understood clearly—it wasn’t imagination. The girl opposite him indeed harbored some inexplicable hatred toward him.

A calm voice suddenly broke the silence: “In that case, Ye Feng, take my seal and fetch Divine Physician Qiu.” Everyone’s gaze focused on him as Xiao Shao continued without changing expression: “This matter can then be clarified.”

The Xia family members couldn’t help but ponder—was he actually speaking for Jiang Ruan? This Prince Jinying’s sudden visit with the Crown Prince today was already strange. He had previously saved Jiang Susu at Linglong Pavilion, so why did he now seem to be on Jiang Ruan’s side?

Jiang Ruan herself was puzzled—what was Xiao Shao’s purpose in suddenly helping her?

Ever since Xiao Shao had entered, Xia Jiaojiao had been glancing at him intentionally or not. Hearing Xiao Shao speak now, her pretty face immediately turned deathly pale as she bit her lower lip tightly, looking as if she was about to cry.

Xuan Li glanced at Jiang Susu. Veiled as she was, her eyes brimmed with tears that seemed ready to fall, truly pitiful. Looking at the other Xia family members, the expressions of the young wives mirrored Xia Yan’s—all showing panic and helplessness, three parts unease and seven parts vulnerability, truly inspiring sympathy.

In stark contrast to their expressions stood Jiang Ruan in the center of the hall. Her face bore a smile, her gaze cold and indifferent, each step sharp as a blade, with the cruelty of one determined to destroy.

Xuan Li finally spoke: “Why trouble Divine Physician Qiu, Brother Xiao? I believe this matter is already clear—it’s merely a quack doctor causing harm by misdiagnosing the Marquis’s wife’s condition. The pastries on the table aren’t poisoned, and Miss Jiang is innocent. It’s all just a misunderstanding. We’re all family, and Father Emperor taught us from childhood that family harmony brings prosperity to all endeavors.”

How cleverly said, Jiang Ruan sneered inwardly. Family harmony brings prosperity—but whose family harmony, and whose prosperity? This had not the slightest relation to her. With Xuan Li’s words, Marquis Xia breathed a sigh of relief and gave Xia Yan a meaningful look. Xia Yan was startled, then walked before Jiang Ruan: “Ruan’er, this is all Mother’s fault. If Mother had been more careful and not misled by this quack doctor’s words, you wouldn’t have suffered this injustice. Mother… Mother can only kneel to ask your forgiveness.” She bent her knees as if to kneel before Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan stepped slightly aside, avoiding Xia Yan’s grand gesture, and smiled: “Mother, you jest.” If she accepted Xia Yan’s kowtow today, by tomorrow the capital would spread news of her disrespecting her legitimate mother—why invite such trouble?

She looked at Marquis Xia: “We’re all family, and family harmony brings prosperity. His Eighth Highness speaks so well—those who don’t know might think His Eighth Highness is a Xia family member.”

Xuan Li’s expression stiffened. Jiang Ruan continued: “Though my suffering a little grievance is a small matter, Grandmother’s illness is serious. How could she suddenly lose consciousness from eating one of my pastries for no reason? There must be some great mystery here. I’ve thought and thought but can’t understand—truly strange.” She stood in the hall, her posture unchanged, smiling as she spoke: “However, I must thank His Highness for speaking to clear my name today. Otherwise, with the quack doctor getting away scot-free, I might have ended up in prison. The crime of harming Grandmother is no small matter—I would stake my life and still couldn’t bear such responsibility.”

This matter originally had nothing to do with Xiao Shao, but among all these people, only Xiao Shao had spoken a fair word—words that struck everyone’s faces like a slap. The Crown Prince suddenly laughed: “Miss Jiang speaks correctly. I believe this matter cannot be left unresolved. In court, wrongful judgments also come with consequences. Just now I observed that the young Miss Xia, the two young wives, Lady Jiang, Second Miss Jiang, and Second Young Master Jiang all accused Miss Jiang. Marquis Xia is advanced in years so we’ll excuse him, but the others cannot be lightly forgiven. Since Miss Jiang asked me to seek justice for her, I’ll seek justice once. Since you all wrongly accused Miss Jiang, each of you will receive twenty strokes of the rod.”

“What?” Xia Jiaojiao cried out: “Your Highness, how can you do this?”

Shen Rou quickly pinched her arm, saying in alarm: “Children don’t understand and speak nonsense. Please spare her this once, Your Highness.”

“No matter,” the Crown Prince laughed heartily: “I’ve always been merciful. Go on then—I’ll stay right here and watch you receive your punishment.”

Xia Yan was dumbfounded. Jiang Chao and Jiang Susu were also momentarily stunned. Marquis Xia was already so angry that the flesh on his cheeks trembled slightly. The Crown Prince’s actions were a slap to his face! Making all these Xia family womenfolk lie on benches to be beaten—and this included unmarried young ladies!

“Your Highness…” Marquis Xia tried to speak.

“Your Highness!” But Xia Jiaojiao threw herself before Xiao Shao and knelt down: “Your Highness, you are benevolent and kind-hearted. Since you just helped my cousin, please plead with the Crown Prince for us!”

Watching her actions, Jiang Ruan remembered how arrogant and domineering Xia Jiaojiao had always been in the palace. When had she ever seen her so desperate? In the end, it was still just four words: using power to bully others.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Shao slowly stepped back. His beautiful, heroic face showed no change in expression, remaining as coldly aloof as always. He said flatly: “What does this have to do with me?” His tone held complete disdain, showing no tender feelings for beautiful women.

Hearing this, Xia Jiaojiao stiffened, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her gaze toward Xiao Shao was full of hurt and helplessness—unfortunately, her passionate feelings met his indifference, wasting her tears.

“Are you questioning my decision?” the Crown Prince said displeasedly.

Xia Jiaojiao was startled. Jiang Susu cast a pleading look toward Xuan Li, who looked at her apologetically—under these circumstances, he couldn’t openly conflict with the Crown Prince.

Jiang Susu bit her teeth: “This is all my fault. Susu willingly accepts punishment. Please forgive us, Elder Sister.” Without looking at anyone else, she walked directly toward the courtyard.

The Crown Prince waved his hand: “Set up the benches. I want to personally watch them receive their punishment.”

Jiang Chao and Xia Yan exchanged glances, having no choice but to grit their teeth and follow toward the courtyard. Though Shen Rou and the others were extremely reluctant, seeing Xia Yan obediently step forward, they dared not refuse.

The servants in the courtyard quickly found benches and rods for punishment. The ones administering punishment were the Xia family’s own matrons, who had originally planned to be lenient. But after the Crown Prince’s statement—”If I see anyone not doing their duty properly, I’ll immediately have them dragged away, chopped up, and fed to dogs”—these servants immediately abandoned such thoughts.

Marquis Xia watched his children and grandchildren being punished in the courtyard with anger and heartache, furious beyond measure. After smooth sailing for so many years, he hadn’t expected to fall today at the hands of a small girl, suffering such humiliation.

The Crown Prince stood in the courtyard watching lazily. The matrons were all stout and strong, showing no mercy. Everyone present consisted of delicate ladies and young misses who had never endured such harsh punishment. They immediately cried to heaven and earth, screaming continuously. Jiang Susu lay on the bench, excruciating pain shooting through her buttocks. But worse than the pain was the humiliation—before Jiang Ruan, before these noble princes and lords, she had lost all face, bound to a bench like a dead pig receiving punishment. She swore that if she didn’t repay this grudge, she would forfeit her humanity!

Jiang Ruan slowly walked forward from the crowd, quietly watching Xia Yan and the others being punished. Did it hurt? The suffering these people had inflicted on her was a hundred, a thousand times worse than this. No one would come to rescue her, no one would plead for her. Struggling to survive in pain—for the Xia family, the suffering was just beginning.

Xuan Li walked to her side: “Miss Jiang, don’t you think they’re pitiful?”

“Pitiful people must have detestable qualities,” Jiang Ruan smiled: “Moreover, the order came from His Highness the Crown Prince—I am powerless to help.”

Xuan Li felt a catch in his throat. Looking at her so close by, for some unknown reason, his heart held a strange feeling. The eldest Miss Jiang before him, facing various situations today, had never shown the slightest panic or confusion. From beginning to end, she maintained the same expression—a gentle, appropriate smile.

At such a young age, either she possessed remarkable adaptability, or she had already foreseen everything that might happen today. Was all this within her control? Xuan Li immediately rejected his own thought—everything in the world was in constant change. How could anyone control everything? Yet looking again at Jiang Ruan’s smiling expression, he began to doubt his earlier assumption.

Jiang Ruan quietly watched everything happening before her. Yesterday, she had already had Lian Qiao replace those pastries—she naturally understood Xia Yan’s intentions. The Crown Prince’s sudden visit to the Marquis Xia’s mansion today was also her handiwork.

The Crown Prince had a retainer who usually disguised himself as a storyteller at Dongfeng Tower—she had heard Xuan Li mention this in her previous life. When Xia Yan came to notify her about visiting the Marquis’s mansion, Jiang Ruan had Lu Zhu go to Dongfeng Tower, pretending to be a Xia mansion maid who inadvertently discussed the matter.

The relationship between Xuan Li and Marquis Xia was already somewhat delicate. Among the princes, he was particularly sensitive to such matters. Once news of Xuan Li visiting Marquis Xia reached him, this Crown Prince would naturally also come to the Xia mansion to interfere. She just hadn’t expected Xiao Shao to return as well.

As for the current Crown Prince, in her previous life in the palace, she had heard much about his various behaviors. Though this Crown Prince lacked political insight and wasn’t particularly shrewd, in earlier years when the Emperor wanted to change the crown prince, it didn’t succeed due to Xiao Shao’s intervention. Everyone thought this Crown Prince was out of favor, but when Xuan Li systematically eliminated the other princes in the palace, this supposedly unfavored Crown Prince remained until the end. Whether the Emperor had a hand in this was unknowable.

But this Crown Prince’s greatest characteristic—perhaps his greatest flaw—was his simple-mindedness. Like Jiang Ruan in her previous life, the Crown Prince lived in the imperial family while appearing unfavored in everyone’s eyes. He should have been deeply calculating, but instead he was simple-minded, or rather, too sentimental.

What he couldn’t tolerate most was calculation and scheming among close brothers, especially conspiracy within families. Thus, whenever he saw fraternal conflicts, he became extremely violent. In her previous life, Xuan Li had exploited this trait of the Crown Prince, allying with the Fourth Prince. The seemingly harmless Fourth Prince had always been close to the Crown Prince, so the Crown Prince was ultimately framed by this intimate brother, ending up dead in prison.

When Xuan Li told her about this, it was already the later stages of the struggle. He no longer displayed his former gentle restraint, showing some pride and arrogance, expressing extreme contempt and mockery for the Crown Prince’s trust in brothers. But Jiang Ruan could understand the Crown Prince—he was just a pitiful person who, in extreme loneliness, yearned for family affection and offered his most precious trust. Like her, they were both betrayed.

Seeing the Xia family’s treatment of her, the Crown Prince would certainly think of his own situation. The more excessive the Xia family was toward her, the more violent this Crown Prince’s heart became. If not for Xuan Li’s presence today, the Xia family would certainly not have gotten off with just a beating.

However, Xuan Li ultimately stood with the Xia family. Jiang Ruan’s gaze darkened—she wondered if in this life, Xuan Li would still end up married to Jiang Susu as before. She greatly anticipated that moment.

After great difficulty, the twenty strokes were completed. Xia Jiaojiao had already fainted.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Grandmother’s matter has concluded, but Your Highness hasn’t yet decided on the ancestral hall matter. How should those villains in the ancestral hall be dealt with?”

Jiang Susu had just been helped up from the chair by Butterfly when, hearing these words, her body went soft and she nearly collapsed again, staring at Jiang Ruan in disbelief. Marquis Xia looked at Jiang Ruan as if he wanted to devour her. Xia Yan seemed to just hear about it: “What about the ancestral hall?” She suddenly thought of something, looking suspiciously at Jiang Ruan. How could Jiang Ruan look so well after spending a night in the cold, damp ancestral hall environment, showing no signs of weakness? And what was this about villains?

Jiang Ruan met Xia Yan’s confused gaze and smiled as she clarified: “Last night I prayed for the Xia family ancestors in the ancestral hall. At midnight, when my strength failed, my maid replaced me for the latter half of the night. Who knew villains would sneak in under cover of darkness and defile my maid. This is why I begged Your Highness for favor—to severely punish those evildoers.”

Xia Yan was somewhat dizzy from her words but still understood their meaning—someone had tried to defile her, but was blocked by Jiang Ruan’s maid. Xia Yan inwardly cursed—why was Jiang Ruan always so lucky? She looked at Lian Qiao beside Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan had only brought Lian Qiao and Shu Xiang on this trip. Lian Qiao stood perfectly fine in place—could the person be Shu Xiang? Her heart tightened. She heard Jiang Ruan continue: “Grandfather, since His Highness the Crown Prince is here, why not bring that evildoer forward?”

Marquis Xia nearly vomited blood, certain that Jiang Ruan definitely knew Xia Jun’s identity. This was certainly deliberate acting, and he felt Jiang Ruan’s scheming was terrifyingly deep.

Jiang Ruan looked toward Xia Yan: “Speaking of which, Mother gave me an excellent maid. This maid is loyal and considerate—I’m very fond of her. If not for her last night, I might have had to prove my innocence through death today. Such a loyal servant, and one sent by Mother—Mother also hopes to clear Shu Xiang’s name, doesn’t she?”

Xia Yan couldn’t say a word. Hearing Jiang Ruan’s words, Xuan Li looked at her meaningfully. The Crown Prince knew the man in the ancestral hall was Xia Jun, so he remained silent, just watching the show with interest as he observed Marquis Xia.

Marquis Xia wiped cold sweat from his forehead and finally said heavily: “Nonsense! That’s no evildoer—that’s your cousin!”

At these words, not only was Xia Yan stunned, but Shen Rou and Yu Ya were also shocked. Yu Ya cried out: “How could it be Jun’er?”

“Grandfather,” Jiang Ruan looked at him in surprise: “That person defiled my maid—how could it be Cousin?” Her words were full of shock while reminding everyone again of the fact that Xia Jun had ruined someone’s virtue.

Xuan Li paused. Watching Jiang Ruan’s excellent performance, Xiao Shao couldn’t help but curl his lips slightly, his usually cold gaze holding a trace of amusement.

Yu Ya said urgently: “What exactly happened? What’s wrong with Jun’er?”

Jiang Ruan said: “Aunt, this morning Grandfather and Their Highnesses all personally witnessed someone… behaving improperly in the ancestral hall. We never expected that person to be Cousin.”

Hearing this, Yu Ya staggered back two steps, unable to understand how her son, though wild in behavior, wouldn’t be stupid enough to do such things in a place like the ancestral hall. There must be hidden circumstances!

When Xia Yan saw Jiang Susu’s resentful expression, her heart skipped a beat and she immediately understood what had happened. Jiang Susu, not knowing she and Madam Xia had already discussed countermeasures, had acted on her own and presumably fallen into another of Jiang Ruan’s traps. She was both angry at Jiang Susu’s disobedience and rapidly considering her options. If something had really happened to Xia Jun, neither Marquis Xia nor Yu Ya would forgive them, mother and daughter—after all, Xia Jun was the mansion’s only legitimate grandson and would inherit the family business.

Marquis Xia gritted his teeth. Seeing matters had reached this point, he could only insist that the maid had seduced Xia Jun. He roared angrily: “Bring that unfilial son and the maid before me!”

Servants quickly brought the somewhat dazed Xia Jun and Shu Xiang forward. Both had awakened not long ago and were rather confused. Marquis Xia stepped forward and slapped Xia Jun hard: “Unfilial son! Who told you to do such base things!”

Xia Jun was first stunned by Marquis Xia’s slap. Yu Ya had already thrown herself over, holding him and crying: “My son, how could you be so foolish? How could you act so confused in the ancestral hall!”

Since awakening, Xia Jun had learned from the matrons what had happened. Last night upon entering the ancestral hall, he had felt his body heating up, even losing control. The taste of that night’s passion lingered, but clearly he had been intimate with the eldest Miss Jiang—how had it become the eldest Miss Jiang’s maid?

His gaze fell on the red-robed girl standing among the crowd. She smiled gently, but her gaze toward him was full of mockery. Xia Jun immediately understood—this eldest Miss Jiang had schemed against Jiang Susu and him together!

His thoughts racing, he suddenly knelt and kowtowed to Marquis Xia: “Grandfather, it’s all my fault. Last night I drank wine and mistakenly entered the ancestral hall. I didn’t expect this maid to seduce me… Your grandson did such things—I’m truly shameless. Please punish me, Grandfather!”

Marquis Xia breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xia Jun was clever enough to take responsibility.

But Shu Xiang was startled, not expecting Xia Jun to blame her outright. She looked toward Jiang Ruan—this matter was very clear. Jiang Ruan had schemed against her. She could only look pleadingly toward Xia Yan, but Xia Yan turned her head away, pretending not to know. Despair filled Shu Xiang’s heart as she cried: “I didn’t, Miss! I truly didn’t seduce the young master!”

Jiang Ruan looked at her with pity: “Shu Xiang, I naturally believe you. You’re a maid Mother personally selected for me—how could I not trust your character?”

Hearing this, Xia Yan’s heart jumped. With Jiang Ruan saying this, she couldn’t say anything at all. But seeing Marquis Xia’s furious gaze, she had to bite the bullet and say: “Ruan’er, you can know a person’s face but not their heart. This Shu Xiang usually seemed proper, but who knew she harbored such filthy thoughts?”

This was lying with eyes wide open. Behind her, Lian Qiao couldn’t hide her contemptuous look—Xia Yan really had the face to voice such reasons. Jiang Ruan sighed gently: “Originally I thought Mother’s chosen maids would certainly be excellent. I never expected that while Lian Qiao, Bai Zhi, and even Lu Zhu whom I chose myself never had such incidents, Shu Xiang whom Mother chose broke this record.” She looked at Xia Yan: “Please take back the other maids in my courtyard as well, Mother.”

Xia Yan was startled and secretly gritted her teeth. The spies she had worked so hard to plant were now all exposed by Jiang Ruan’s single sentence. But she had no choice but to agree: “Ruan’er thinks reasonably. Mother was inconsiderate.”

Seeing this, Shu Xiang said desperately: “No, no, Miss! I didn’t seduce the young master! Madam, save me! Second Miss, save me!”

The Crown Prince snorted with laughter: “You’re Miss Jiang’s maid—why are you pleading to the Second Miss?”

“Your Highness doesn’t know,” Jiang Ruan smiled: “My second sister is most soft-hearted. When servants make mistakes, they all like to plead to her. I’ve always been cold-hearted, so the servants all fear me.”

Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow. He heard Jiang Ruan continue: “Shu Xiang, though I trust you, I trust Mother more. Since she’s said this, I’m powerless to help.” This threw all blame toward Xia Yan. Shu Xiang felt complete despair, then heard Jiang Ruan continue: “But even if you didn’t seduce Cousin, you were defiled by someone in a place like the ancestral hall. If it were me, I would have hanged myself with white silk long ago. To preserve your reputation, you have no way to live. Whether you seduced him or not—it’s actually the same.”

Shu Xiang’s body trembled as she looked at Jiang Ruan with terror, suddenly understanding. Jiang Ruan was right—in today’s situation, she had no way to live.

Jiang Ruan wouldn’t actively save her, and between her and Xia Jun, Xia Yan would only choose Xia Jun. No one would speak for her. She finally understood why Jiang Ruan had allowed her to remain at Ruan Residence despite knowing she was Xia Yan’s spy. It wasn’t that Jiang Ruan was soft-hearted—she was just seeking an opportunity to destroy her with one move, leaving no possibility of recovery! Now, that opportunity had come.

Thinking that either way meant death, with no retreat left, and her family’s lives still in Xia Yan’s hands, Shu Xiang laughed bitterly: “This servant has no face to meet Miss. I beg Miss to care for my parents. We’ll meet again in the next life!” Having said this, she broke free from the matrons’ restraints. Before anyone could react, she threw herself headfirst against a pillar in the hall, immediately falling in a pool of blood, eyes wide open, body convulsing several times before dying with eyes still open.

Jiang Susu cried “Ah!” and turned completely pale. She naturally knew Shu Xiang’s death was connected to her, feeling extremely frightened. Xia Jun was also shocked—the beauty from last night’s passion now lay bloody and terrible.

Jiang Ruan watched quietly, her mind recalling her previous life in prison, watching Shu Xiang following beside Jiang Susu. Time had passed—in this life, Shu Xiang would never again have the opportunity to betray or harm her.

The Crown Prince said: “This maid was quite fierce—I feel some pity for her. Dying like this is truly pitiful. Since the maid paid with her life, Young Master Xia isn’t entirely without fault. I’m soft-hearted and considering his young age won’t punish him, but he’s barred from official positions for three years. I’ll report everything I’ve seen and heard today word for word to Father Emperor. Marquis Xia, conduct yourself well.” Having finished, his expression changed, losing his earlier joviality, and he swept his sleeves and left.

Xuan Li paused a moment, then followed out.

Yu Ya helped Xia Jun into the house, Marquis Xia following, with Jiang Susu and Xia Yan hurrying after. Maids and matrons scattered or left, and soon the hall was empty.

Jiang Ruan walked to Shu Xiang’s side in the pool of blood, quietly looking at the maid who died with eyes unclosed, saying flatly: “Stare wide all you want. On the road to the underworld, become a vengeful ghost—just don’t find the wrong person.”

Having said this, she turned around and faced a beautiful, heroic face. Xiao Shao’s cold gaze fell on her face. They were extremely close as he gave his flat assessment: “Too much malevolent energy.”

Jiang Ruan stepped back and returned his smile: “What business is it of yours?”