Old Madam Jiang’s face slowly changed color.

After the initial silence in the hall, whispered conversations suddenly erupted, like countless mosquitoes buzzing and flying around Old Madam Jiang’s ears.

She struggled to open her eyes. Her right eye was heavily fogged, adding to her irritation.

Old Madam Jiang looked at Li Jiāo with her clear left eye.

Li Jiāo’s scalp exploded with shock. Forcibly suppressing her panic, she stuttered an explanation: “The Master asked me to… write poetry…”

Her pair of beautiful phoenix eyes opened very wide, full of pleading and unease.

It was Grandmother who had made her step forward—surely Grandmother would have a solution?

Li Jiāo’s words quieted the room momentarily, then the whispers grew louder, with clear sounds of snickering audible.

Old Madam Jiang’s temples throbbed, her head splitting with pain.

This fool! Saying this only confirmed the reputation of impersonation being exposed on the spot!

She coughed once, her face stern: “Jiāojiāo, Grandmother’s eyesight is poor. When I saw that Buddhist scripture placed on top, I assumed it was yours. Child, when the high monk asked earlier, why didn’t you pay attention before rashly following along? You’ve caused such a spectacle!”

Li Jiāo’s head buzzed.

What was Grandmother saying? Why couldn’t she understand any of it?

What did she mean by not paying attention? It was Grandmother who—

Li Jiāo instinctively looked toward Old Madam Jiang, only to see that her usually loving grandmother’s eyes held no warmth at all, cold enough to freeze.

She shivered, hazily understanding something.

“Jiāojiāo, do you know your mistake?” Old Madam Jiang heavily slammed the table.

The teacup on the table shook, making quite a sound.

Li Jiāo’s gaze wandered, catching Old Madam Deng’s sighing expression and colliding with the West Residence Second Lady Liu’s gloating eyes.

The surrounding discussions were extremely noisy. Li Jiāo could no longer resist this invisible pressure. Her knees went soft, and she knelt: “Grandmother, I… I was wrong…”

Old Madam Jiang felt relieved.

Knowing how to take responsibility for the matter, this girl finally showed some sense.

Old Madam Deng, who had been coldly observing throughout, sighed deeply in her heart: With Lady Jiang saying this, Second Miss’s reputation would be ruined forever!

The ladies and young misses present weren’t fools. Upon careful consideration, who would believe Second Miss hadn’t paid attention at the time? They would all understand that Second Miss had harbored thoughts of impersonation for the sake of literary fame.

Her gaze toward Old Madam Jiang grew even colder.

To treat even the granddaughter she had always treasured as the apple of her eye this way, one could imagine how ruthless this person was. She would need to be more careful in the future.

“Amitabha—” Having such a scene unfold before him, the guest monk was quite embarrassed. He interrupted Old Madam Jiang, who was preparing to lecture her granddaughter: “Old Madam, I wonder which young lady from your residence wrote that Buddhist scripture? The Master at Sparse Shadow Nunnery is still waiting to see her.”

The hall immediately quieted, with the ladies quietly exchanging glances.

So it was written by some Miss Li? But who exactly?

They couldn’t help but look toward Li Jiǎo in the corner.

Li Jiǎo lowered her brows and eyes, her heart racing.

Could it be that the Buddhist scripture favored by Master Wumei was written by her, but was substituted by Great-Aunt and attributed to Li Jiāo?

It must be so. She had wondered why, when she had given her all this year and her calligraphy was more beautiful than Li Jiāo’s, the chosen person had ended up being Li Jiāo!

“Cousin Jiao—” Du Feixue called softly, squeezing Li Jiǎo’s hand.

Compared to Second Miss Li, with whom she had a distant relationship, she naturally hoped good fortune would fall upon her cousin.

Old Madam Jiang felt somewhat embarrassed: “This old woman really can’t say for certain. I’ve been suffering from dim eyesight lately, with one eye already unable to see. After the girls’ hand-copied scriptures were collected, I only glanced at them hastily without examining them carefully, which led to this mistake. I’ve made everyone laugh at me.”

“Oh my, this is inevitable. Your Ladyship shouldn’t take it to heart.” Lady Li busily smoothed things over.

Though others didn’t say much, their gazes circled Li Jiāo.

Li Jiāo knelt on the ground, the ice-cold floor piercing her with bone-deep cold, tears instantly moistening her eyes.

Those mocking, contemptuous looks turned into countless flying daggers landing on her, instantly leaving this girl who had always been raised as the apple of everyone’s eye completely wounded.

Old Madam Deng secretly sighed and spoke: “Master, could you let this old woman have a look at the Buddhist scripture?”

The guest monk hurriedly handed over the Buddhist scripture.

Old Madam Deng already knew what to expect. At this moment, she was merely putting on a show. After glancing at it, she said, “Indeed, they were mixed up. This belongs to our Third Miss. At the time, seeing that she had written it well, I deliberately placed it on top when sending it to the East Residence. I didn’t expect my nephew’s wife to have the same thought, wanting Your Ladyship to see it at first glance. Who knew Your Ladyship would misunderstand? When Your Ladyship said it belonged to the Second Miss just now, how could a young girl pay attention when she was nervous?”

These words somewhat salvaged Li Jiāo’s reputation.

Even if the ladies present knew full well that Li Jiāo had harbored inappropriate thoughts at the time, the Li Residence couldn’t confirm this matter.

Old Madam Jiang was cold-hearted by nature; her first thought was to clear herself of blame, but Old Madam Deng refused to let her have her way.

She had four granddaughters. If Second Miss’s reputation was ruined, what good could the other girls gain?

Old Madam Jiang was stunned. Given that the scene was already embarrassing enough, she said no more, tacitly accepting this explanation.

Li Jiāo kept her head lowered, tears falling.

“So it was written by your residence’s Third Miss. I wonder where this young benefactor is now?” the guest monk asked loudly.

The hall was completely silent, but discussions arose outside, with voices so loud they carried inside.

“The Li Residence’s Third Miss? Isn’t that the one who was kidnapped some days ago?”

“That’s right, wasn’t she sent back later? Oh yes, I heard she was sent back by Physician Li.”

“That’s not right. I’ve seen this young lady before—she doesn’t look like someone who could write good calligraphy.”

“Heh, whether someone can write good calligraphy isn’t something you can tell by looking.”

…

Du Feixue said with a stern face: “Cousin Jiao, that year at your East Residence uncle’s birthday, didn’t Li San send a piece of calligraphy? I remember that writing wasn’t presentable at all!”

She deliberately raised her voice, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Li Jiǎo stood upright with a gentle smile: “Perhaps Third Sister has been diligently practicing calligraphy since then and improved her level.”

Du Feixue pouted: “In just two years, she improved so much? Better than all the young ladies in the capital, even making the Master at Sparse Shadow Nunnery break precedent to summon her?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Li Jiǎo maintained a gentle smile at the corners of her mouth: “Perhaps Third Sister has exceptional natural talent and has recently become sensible and diligent, so her level has improved by leaps and bounds.”

If Li Zhao had exceptional natural talent, that would be seeing ghosts, but she would never speak ill of her sister in front of outsiders.

She didn’t know where that Buddhist scripture had come from, but Great-Aunt couldn’t help but claim it for Li Jiāo, while Grandmother wanted to claim it for Li Zhao.

Seeing Li Jiǎo defend Li San at every turn, Du Feixue couldn’t help but sneer: “If she has exceptional talent and improves by leaps and bounds, then the sun would have to rise in the west!”

Quite a few people nodded secretly.

The guest monk listened, his heart beating like a drum.

If they got it wrong again, there would be no way to explain.

“Old Madam?”

Old Madam Deng, completely unaffected by everyone’s discussions, said calmly: “Our Third Miss didn’t come today, but since the Master at Sparse Shadow Nunnery wishes to see her, it’s her good fortune. This old woman will immediately send someone to fetch her.”

Old Madam Jiang, beside her, sneered inwardly: She would like to see which divine immortal was assisting Third Miss, enabling her to produce such a Buddhist scripture!

At Yahe Courtyard in the West Residence.

Qing Jun hurried over and said to Binglu, who came out to meet her: “Quickly have Third Miss get ready. Old Madam has ordered me to fetch her to Da Fu Temple!”