Chapter 158: You’re Talking Nonsense, I Didn’t
“Silly girl, don’t worry. Since Second Master called me to the manor, he should already have a foolproof plan. Besides, most of those going tomorrow are women, and the Crown Prince may not even appear there.”
Thinking of the things Wei Chang had done for her when she left the capital, she felt very grateful to him in her heart. She truly hoped this drought could pass smoothly, and that he could handle the grain matter well.
**
As soon as they got out of the carriage, Zhong Xintong received envious gazes from those around her.
Many people around crowded over.
“Is this clothing made of brocade?”
“It really is. It looks very silky. I heard this cloth is what the empress in the palace and the princesses use. One bolt costs a thousand taels of gold.”
“I’ve always heard about brocade before and thought it was just rumors. I didn’t expect to see it in my lifetime.”
One after another, their words of praise greatly satisfied Zhong Xintong’s vanity.
She straightened her back and raised her head high.
Yushui looked at Zhong Xintong in the crowd, her brows slightly furrowed. “Eldest Daughter, Second Miss stole your cloth and is now showing it off there. Aren’t you going to go explain?”
“Let her be. The higher they praise her now, the harder she’ll fall later.”
Old Madam Zhong watched her granddaughter steal the show and was happy for her.
Her own back also straightened, as if the one being praised was her.
After they entered, a girl beside Zhong Xintong asked, “Sister Xintong, was that the one your family brought back from the countryside just now?”
This was a concubine’s daughter from the He Family, usually not favored, and always currying favor with Zhong Xintong.
Zhong Xintong followed her gaze and saw Jiang Ruanxi’s back. She slightly restrained her smile and nodded.
Seeing that she didn’t like Jiang Ruanxi, she followed up, “As expected, she’s someone who can’t come to the stage. At such an occasion, she wears tattered clothes, completely incomparable to the brocade on you. It seems Sir Zhong favors you more.”
“Of course. Does she think climbing onto the Yu Family turns her into a phoenix on the branch? As long as I’m in the Zhong Family for a day, she won’t have an easy time.”
“Exactly, Sister Xintong is the capable one.”
The girl flattered her, hugging her arm happily as they headed toward the Yu Family gate.
A group of young girls surrounded Zhong Xintong as they entered. She greatly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention.
In the distance, the young girl in peach-colored clothes just frowned slightly at this.
“Miss, let’s go in too.”
The girl nodded, and the maidservant continued, “That Zhong Xintong has been very arrogant lately. I’m afraid Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family hasn’t had it easy at home, being bullied by her.”
“Bullied?” Thinking of the scene just now, the girl couldn’t help shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”
After entering the courtyard, a burst of sharp cries came from the Yu Family courtyard.
“Zhong Xintong, I’ve long heard you bully your sister. I didn’t expect you to bully her to this extent. Isn’t that too much?” At this moment, the girl in a goose-yellow ruqun had an oval face paired with almond eyes, looking dainty and lovely.
Zhong Xintong’s face stiffened, panic flashing in her eyes, but she quickly said toughly, “Yu Qiulin, what nonsense are you spouting? Who bullied her?”
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her gaze. Could this be Second Master’s sister?
If she was here, was Madam Yu nearby too?
“How am I spouting nonsense? The brocade you’re wearing was given to Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family by my Second Brother. Now it’s on you—didn’t you steal Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family’s thing?” Yu Qiulin’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present heard it clearly.
Zhong Xintong hadn’t expected Yu Qiulin to know and quickly retorted, “My sister gave it to me.”
“What a blatant lie. My Second Brother went to great lengths to get these two bolts of brocade from the imperial palace. When he gave them to Miss Zhong, he told her to treasure them carefully and not give them to others. How would she give them to you? You must have stolen them when she wasn’t paying attention.”
Jiang Ruanxi raised her brow. This Yu Qiulin was truly interesting.
When Second Master sent the things, how could he have told her these things?
She was clearly tricking Zhong Xintong.
Sure enough, Zhong Xintong’s face tightened, unable to retort a word, and could only stamp her foot awkwardly.
The noblewomen around looked at her, their gazes gradually changing.
Jiang Ruanxi was in a good mood and had already entered the courtyard ahead of time.
“You’re lying, I didn’t…” Zhong Xintong’s voice with a crying tone came from behind.
Her eyes instantly reddened. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask my sister.”
“Heh, aren’t you saying that because you saw your sister has already gone in? Sisters usually go together, but now she doesn’t even want to stand with you. It must be because you bullied her, so she doesn’t dare to walk with you.”
Zhong Xintong was so angry her face turned red at Yu Qiulin’s inverting right and wrong. Her eyes darted around looking for Jiang Ruanxi, wanting Jiang Ruanxi to help her.
“Eldest Daughter, should we go help Second Miss?” Yushui said.
“No need. Doesn’t she like stealing the spotlight? This is just what she wants. Let’s not disturb her.”
Yushui was stunned, but thinking of what Zhong Xintong had done lately, she said nothing more.
“Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family?” A guard-dressed man came to her side and asked uncertainly.
“And you are?” Jiang Ruanxi felt he looked familiar but couldn’t recall where she had seen him.
“I’m Second Master’s guard.”
Yu Yi introduced himself.
Jiang Ruanxi suddenly understood.
Yu Yi stepped closer to her and said in a low voice, “Miss Zhong, could you come with me? My family’s Second Master has had a flare-up of his condition.”
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned and immediately said, “Please lead the way.”
“Zhong Ling, come over quickly and explain for me.”
Finally, Zhong Xintong spotted Jiang Ruanxi and was calling her, but Jiang Ruanxi was rushing to find Second Master and couldn’t hear her voice at all.
In others’ eyes, this looked like Jiang Ruanxi had been bullied badly and didn’t want to help her.
“I see you’re still not admitting it. I didn’t expect you to be so intolerant. You’re really glittering on the outside but rotten inside. Luckily, such a person didn’t marry into our Yu Family, or it would be our Yu Family’s misfortune.”
These words were like a slap to Zhong Xintong’s face.
She wanted to speak, but the women who had just surrounded her now turned against her, hurling all sorts of cold mockery and sarcasm.
“Exactly, Zhong Ling is the legitimate daughter, but she was raised in the countryside. Now that she’s back, she’s bullied like this by her own sister. It’s truly pitiful.”
“Who says otherwise? One look and you can tell Eldest Daughter of the Zhong Family is kind, unlike some people who are arrogant and domineering every day, thinking they’re a heavenly fairy when they’re just a pheasant.”
“She really thinks putting on fancy clothes makes her a phoenix. She should take a look at what kind of goods she is.”
