For Yunshuang’s name to suddenly come from Jiang Li’s mouth was somewhat surprising.

Yunshuang, who was in the crowd, was caught off guard by being called out. When she understood clearly what Jiang Li was saying, her first thought was to look at Ji Shuran’s expression.

Even through the crowd, Yunshuang could still feel Ji Shuran’s gaze fixed on her, as if staring at a dead person.

She instinctively wanted to shake her head in denial, but Jiang Li turned toward her, very gratefully and seemingly with appreciation, saying: “Yunshuang warned me before to be on guard against Xiangqiao. At that time, I didn’t quite believe it. Looking back now, I was too arrogant. Many thanks to Yunshuang.” She then said to Ji Shuran: “Although Mother misjudged Xiangqiao, she sent the thoughtful Yunshuang to my side. Jiang Li thanks Mother for her painstaking efforts.”

Ji Shuran squeezed out a smile. What she was feeling in her heart at this moment was unknown to anyone.

It was too late for Yunshuang to say anything now. Moreover, in front of all the guests, she really had no way to refute these words. Xiangqiao had indeed hidden the ruby headdress well, but Yunshuang, who had been following her all along, dug out the headdress and secretly placed it in Xiangqiao’s room.

Most people in this world don’t resent scarcity but rather inequality. She and Xiangqiao were both spies Ji Shuran had planted beside Jiang Li, but Xiangqiao, just by virtue of her smooth tongue, had stubbornly obtained many rewards from Jiang Li. Those rewards—they probably wouldn’t receive so much even after following Ji Shuran for ten-plus years.

Yunshuang was envious and found Xiangqiao increasingly displeasing to the eye. She had eavesdropped on Tong’er and Jiang Li’s plan, knowing that to turn the tables on Ji Shuran, Tong’er would testify in front of the guests that Xiangqiao had switched the headdress. So Yunshuang quietly put that headdress back in Xiangqiao’s room.

Even this way, Ji Shuran’s plan would fail. So what? Even if Xiangqiao told Ji Shuran about Jiang Li’s plan and Ji Shuran rearranged things, she would merely be claiming credit without harming Xiangqiao in the slightest. But by going along with Jiang Li’s plan, Xiangqiao would surely die.

A servant with ulterior motives who framed her master had no way to survive in the Jiang household. Moreover, having botched the task Ji Shuran assigned, how could Xiangqiao possibly meet a good end?

Originally, everything went smoothly until Xiangqiao was exposed. Who knew that just as it was about to end, one sentence from Jiang Li would plunge Yunshuang into the abyss.

Yunshuang’s legs went weak, and she nearly knelt down.

Jiang Li’s smile became even more genuine. Ji Shuran was probably a suspicious person. Her one sentence would make Ji Shuran truly suspect whether Yunshuang had developed a rebellious heart. After all, something that seemed foolproof had suddenly turned around at this point—unless there was an inside traitor who informed Jiang Li.

Xiangqiao naturally wouldn’t dig her own grave, so it must be Yunshuang.

At this point, the matter had become crystal clear. Old Madam Jiang said coldly: “What are you waiting for? Drag this girl who disturbed the household down and beat her to death with clubs!”

Xiangqiao’s eyes widened. With her mouth stuffed with cloth, she could only make “wu wu wu” sounds and couldn’t speak. She could only look toward Ji Shuran for help. But at this moment, how could Ji Shuran involve herself in an unclear relationship for her sake? She even urged: “Quickly, didn’t you hear Mother’s words?”

Xiangqiao was dragged away struggling. Watching this, the guests also felt a chill in their hearts. The Jiang household’s family rules were strict. Worthy of being Jiang Yuanbai—even though he seemed amiable ordinarily, his methods were not to be underestimated.

Watching this, Yunshuang also felt waves of cold running down her spine. She vaguely sensed that by going with the flow to frame Xiangqiao, she had probably made a tremendous mistake.

Jiang Li pressed her palms together and softly recited “Amitabha.” People looked at her—this center of the entire incident’s vortex, the eye of the storm that had been stirred up—was now slightly bowing her head, as if unable to bear Xiangqiao’s fate, which only made her profile appear more beautiful and pure.

Old Madam Jiang looked at Jiang Li with an ambiguous expression and said to Ji Shuran: “Since Xiangqiao at Li girl’s side is gone, we still need to assign her new maids. Tomorrow, have the household matrons bring people over and let Li girl choose several herself.”

Hearing this, Tong’er’s heart stirred, and she immediately spoke up crisply: “Reporting to Old Madam, previously the cleaning maids of Fangfei Courtyard were all arranged by Xiangqiao. Since Xiangqiao’s moral character was deficient, I trouble Old Madam to also dismiss all those maids and choose new people. Let Fangfei Courtyard be clean and pure inside and out.”

These words made Ji Shuran’s face burn even hotter, her heart filled with anger. A little maid dared to criticize her in her words. But no matter how angry she felt inside, she didn’t show it on her face.

Old Madam Jiang said: “Do as you say.”

Ji Shuran hastily agreed, then smiled at Jiang Li: “Previously, it was Mother who couldn’t judge people clearly and nearly caused a major incident. How about this—Yunshuang will return to my side. Li’er, you can personally select your personal maids tomorrow yourself. Is that acceptable?”

Jiang Li showed a slightly regretful expression: “I was thinking that since I found Yunshuang quite good, why not keep her by my side? But Mother’s words also make sense, so I’ll listen entirely to Mother.”

Hearing Jiang Li speak, Yunshuang was scared out of her wits. Jiang Li’s words were pushing her into a pit of fire! Ji Shuran had already become suspicious of her. Keeping her by her side was nothing more than for the purpose of tormenting her. And yet Jiang Li was adding fuel to the fire!

“Today has been a spectacle for everyone,” Old Madam Jiang said gravely, seeing that matters had been handled: “The Jiang household was lax in disciplining servants, giving rise to such a laughable matter and disturbing everyone’s interest. This old body apologizes to everyone on behalf of the entire Jiang household.”

The guests all said they wouldn’t dare. Jiang Yuanbai also said: “Another day I’ll invite everyone to gather again.”

Those who came to observe the coming-of-age ceremony today witnessed such a dramatic spectacle and gained quite a lot. Only Jiang Youyao, who should have been the protagonist, had been vaguely overlooked.

Shen Ruyun and Madam Shen were being led out by Jiang family servants. She couldn’t help but discuss in low voices with Madam Shen: “I see that Third Miss Jiang is nothing special, but Second Miss Jiang is formidable. With just a few words, she turned the entire situation around. I’m afraid her scheming runs deep.”

Shen Ruyun disliked Jiang Youyao because Jiang Youyao was Zhou Bangyan’s fiancée. Today, when Jiang Li turned the situation around, on the surface she punished Xiangqiao, but in reality, she also swept away Ji Shuran’s dignity and made Jiang Youyao lose face. Jiang Li made Jiang Youyao lose her composure—Shen Ruyun was happy to see this happen. However, this didn’t mean Shen Ruyun liked Jiang Li. To Shen Ruyun, if Jiang Youyao hadn’t replaced Jiang Li, Zhou Yanban’s fiancée now should be Jiang Li.

Both were love rivals, equally detestable.

Just as they were talking, they suddenly heard someone nearby call out: “Miss.” Shen Ruyun and Madam Shen turned back to look and saw two people walking this way—it was Second Miss Jiang who had just stolen the spotlight and her maid Tong’er.

Second Miss Jiang also noticed them. Her steps paused slightly, and she smiled and nodded at them before passing by.

Since they weren’t acquainted, this wasn’t discourteous.

But in that moment, Shen Ruyun suddenly felt that the way Second Miss Jiang smiled and nodded at her seemed very familiar.

Where had she seen it before?