Chapter Thirty: No One

Xiangqiao’s sudden outburst left everyone in utter shock.

Yet the most intense reaction did not come from Jiang Li, but from Tong’er. Tong’er immediately stepped in front of Jiang Li, shielding her like a mother hen protecting her chick, and retorted loudly, “Nonsense! Slander! My lady has never done such a thing. Xiangqiao, it seems your conscience has been devoured by wolves, to frame my lady like this!”

Xiangqiao did not so much as glance at Tong’er. Instead, she turned to the Old Madam Jiang and knocked her head against the floor several times, her tears streaming as she cried, “I dare not utter a single lie. If there is even half a word of falsehood in what I say, may heaven strike me down with thunder!”

“You—!” Tong’er was so furious she could barely speak. For Xiangqiao to swear such a venomous oath, she must truly be desperate, ready to risk her life.

But those very words seemed to nail the accusation against Jiang Li firmly in place, impossible to refute any longer.

Jiang Yuer gave a mocking laugh and said, “Second Sister, you don’t even own a single piece of jewelry yourself, yet you bought a set of gemstone hairpins worth four hundred taels of silver for Third Sister. Truly generous of you. Such a grand gesture must surely come from the deepest sisterly affection. You’ve been back in the capital less than a month, and already you and Third Sister are so close.”

The implication was obvious: Jiang Li and Jiang Youyao had never gotten along, so how could Jiang Li possibly have spent a fortune on such a lavish coming-of-age gift for her out of the goodness of her heart? Clearly, she had tampered with it.

Jiang Youyao lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed with grievance, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief as she spoke sadly, “Second Sister, I was so happy when you returned, but I never expected you still harbor resentment toward me.”

“Li’er.” Until now, Ji Shuran had remained silent. Now she stepped forward, pulling Jiang Youyao into her arms and patting her comfortingly before turning to Jiang Li. “If you have any grievance, you should bring it to me. As your mother, I have always cared for you, favored you, treated you with sincerity. I do not ask you to accept me, only that for your father’s sake, we can get along as a family. But even so, Youyao is your own blood sister. How could you be so heartless as to curse her? Do you truly feel nothing for your own kin?” At this, she began to weep, clutching Jiang Youyao tightly, heartbroken.

The pitiful sight of mother and daughter moved many to sympathy. Especially Ji Shuran’s final words, which reminded everyone that Jiang Li had once caused Ji Shuran to lose a child. Among the women present, those with children were all the more inclined to side with Ji Shuran. Someone whispered, “No wonder it’s hard to be a stepmother, with a daughter like that even a saint would struggle.”

The Old Madam Jiang’s face was dark as water. What should have been a dignified coming-of-age ceremony had devolved into a farce. Today, Jiang Li had thoroughly disgraced the Jiang family. She cast a reproachful glance at Jiang Yuanbai—if only he’d managed his household properly, how could all this trouble have arisen?

Jiang Yuanbai, too, looked at Jiang Li with a trace of irritation. Ji Shuran’s words stirred up his old guilt. After all, it was Jiang Li’s unruliness that had caused Ji Shuran to lose a child—his child. And now, with this vicious act today, any affection he might have felt for her, due to their resemblance, vanished like smoke.

He said, “Wretched girl, aren’t you going to kneel?” Disappointment clouded his judgment, and he gave no thought to the consequences. If Jiang Li truly knelt now, her reputation among the nobility of the capital would be utterly ruined. Even if she remained in the Jiang family, she would never again be able to lift her head in high society, let alone consider marriage.

A flash of delight passed through Jiang Youyao’s eyes. Just as Lady Liu was about to intervene, Jiang Li raised her brows and shot back, “Why should I kneel?”

No one had expected Jiang Li to talk back in front of everyone. Even Jiang Yuanbai was momentarily stunned. Madam Lu was taken aback, while Madam Yang gripped Jiang Yuer’s hand tightly, afraid she might speak out of turn.

“You are ill-intentioned and have cursed your legitimate sister. As your father, it is my duty to discipline you. Kneel!” Jiang Yuanbai thundered.

Jiang Li looked at him and spoke two words: “I won’t.”

She matched him, blow for blow.

Tong’er was trembling with fear but still stood resolutely before Jiang Li.

Before Jiang Yuanbai could respond, Jiang Li spoke again, “If I have done wrong, it’s only right for you to discipline me, Father. But before I admit to any wrongdoing, shouldn’t you first believe in me and help me, rather than aiding others in framing me and punishing me?”

Her words were blunt, and the guests around them looked uncertain—who dared speak thus to the mighty Grand Secretary? Though Jiang Yuanbai always wore a genial smile in court, no one truly thought he was a man to be trifled with.

“So you still dare to argue?” Jiang Yuanbai trembled with rage.

“Li’er, Xiangqiao said she saw it with her own eyes. Will you still not admit it?” Ji Shuran said, “Your father is angry, yes, but you are his own daughter. Confess and apologize, and we will not speak of it again.”

Her words were gracious.

Jiang Li found it amusing. Confess and apologize, and all will be forgotten? Of course not. Once she admitted to this groundless crime, the label of a malicious nature would stick with her forever. Such a poisonous scheme.

Though Jiang Li herself cared little for such empty reputations, that poor girl—the real Second Miss Jiang—would not have thought so.

Jiang Li replied, “If I had done it, I would admit it. But I am not so meek a scapegoat as to let anyone throw filth upon me. I say here today: the knife marks on that hairpin were not made by me. Of all present, who believes me?”

All eyes turned to her.

The girl spoke gently and softly, her features delicate and serene, but her words were unyielding, resolute, a stubbornness that shone in her clear, limpid gaze.

No one spoke.

The guests all averted their eyes, and that was the end of it. In the end, today was just a family matter of the Jiangs. The Old Madam fixed her eyes on Jiang Li, lost in thought. Jiang Yuanbai’s gaze was full of anger and regret, while Jiang Youyao and Ji Shuran embraced, both in tears.

Nearby, Jiang Bingji glowered at her. Jiang Yuyan shrank back, Jiang Yuer looked triumphant. Madam Yang’s eyes darted away, Madam Lu watched as if for sport. Jiang Yuanping smiled blandly, an onlooker, while Jiang Yuanxing bowed his head and pretended not to see.

Jiang Jingyou and Jiang Jinger, meanwhile, whispered together as though they hadn’t heard a word.

Had they truly not heard? Or were they simply looking out for themselves?

Jiang Li looked at each of them in turn, a slight smile on her lips—one tinged with irony.

This grand Jiang household, all these blood relatives, yet not a single person stood by her or believed her.

How pitiful, this Second Miss Jiang. Jiang Li sighed inwardly, uncertain whether the sigh was for the unfortunate Second Miss, or for herself.