A Dream within a Dream

As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes in the hall turned toward Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan continued to smile faintly, offering no defense.

Jiang Li, ever eager to stir up trouble, cried out, "How could Grandmother become like this after eating Da Jiejie's pastries? Could there be something wrong with them?"

Xia Jiao Jiao, who had been standing beside Shen Rou with a somewhat bewildered expression, seemed to recall something upon hearing Jiang Li and Jiang Susu's words. She exclaimed, "You vile Jiang Ruan! Our Xia Family has treated you with sincerity, yet you dare to poison my grandmother!"

"Cousin, you must be mistaken," Jiang Ruan said calmly. "This box of pastries wasn't prepared by me—it was prepared by Mother on my behalf."

"Ruan'er, what are you saying?" Xia Yan looked at her, eyes filled with disappointment. "Are you implying I would poison my own mother? You were unfamiliar with the household rules and forgot to prepare gifts for your grandparents, so I kindly did it for you. And now you accuse me like this—what have I ever done to deserve this?"

Her words made it sound as though Jiang Ruan was deliberately framing Xia Yan.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. "But the pastries were indeed prepared by Mother for me, weren't they?"

"Cousin, you're wrong," Xia Jiao Jiao interjected. "Even if the gift box was prepared by Aunt, that doesn't mean you couldn't have poisoned it! You harmed Grandmother and now seek to frame Aunt—that's your true nature, isn't it?"

Yu Ya frowned. "Is this really the case?"

Jiang Ruan sighed. "Since everyone has already laid out the reasoning so clearly, what more is there for me to say?"

Just then, a physician carrying a medicine chest hurried in. Without delay, he checked Xia Furen's pulse and exhaled in relief. "I'll prescribe a remedy first. Have it prepared and administered to Madam immediately—quickly!"

Several maids carried Xia Furen back to her room. After ordering servants to fetch the medicine, Xia Cheng stepped forward and asked, "Physician, what is the nature of my wife's condition?"

"From the looks of it, she most likely ingested poison," the physician stroked his beard. "Fortunately, the dose wasn't fatal."

Silence fell over the room once more. Moments later, a shrill voice rang out: "It's you! It must be you who tried to harm my grandmother! You poisoned her! I beg Your Highness to uphold justice for our Xia Family!" Xia Jiao Jiao prostrated herself, her tone righteous and indignant.

Jiang Susu froze for a moment, then turned her gaze to Ye Li without speaking. Hidden behind her veil, only her pitifully beautiful eyes were visible—enough to melt even the hardest of hearts.

Ye Li glanced at her gently before turning his attention to the red-clad girl standing composedly in the hall. Even under the weight of countless accusing stares, she remained upright, the corners of her lips slightly upturned as if Xia Jiao Jiao's words had never reached her ears.

Xiao Shao stood behind the crowd, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Ruan. Noticing this, Xia Cheng also rebuked, "To be so malicious at such a young age! Jiang Ruan, today you harmed my wife. Even as a daughter of the Jiang Family, you won't escape responsibility. I implore Your Highness to uphold justice for our Xia Family!"

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. Under the furious glares of the crowd, she stepped forward unhurriedly, stopping before the box of pastries. She picked up a piece and held it out to the physician. "Physician, did Xia Furen truly ingest poison?"

"Indeed," the physician answered without hesitation.Jiang Ruan sighed softly, "It's truly baffling. Why is it that when Madam Xia is poisoned, it must be me who did it? Could it be that Madam Xia poisoned herself?"

"Nonsense!" Xia Cheng roared angrily. "Why would my wife poison herself for no reason?"

"Elder Sister, you're still trying to evade blame. Grandmother fainted precisely after eating the pastries you sent. The evidence is irrefutable," Jiang Chao said furiously.

"In that case," Jiang Ruan pondered, then picked up the pastry in her hand. "Physician, is this pastry poisoned?"

The physician was taken aback but quickly bent down to sniff the pastry in Jiang Ruan's hand. He nodded, "Indeed, it contains the exact same poison as Madam Xia ingested!"

"What more do you have to say for yourself!" Xia Cheng demanded, turning once more to the Crown Prince who was observing from the sidelines. "Your Highness, I beg you to seek justice for my wife!"

The Crown Prince remained silent, his gaze fixed on Jiang Ruan as if waiting to see her next move. Jiang Ruan held the pastry between her fingers and shook her head. "In that case, I truly have nothing left to say. It seems the only solution is a life for a life." With that, she took a small bite of the pastry and slowly swallowed.

The crowd watched in shock. A glint flashed in Jiang Chao's eyes, while Jiang Susu felt a surge of malicious glee. Xiao Shao, seeing the girl's swallowing motion, inexplicably felt his heart clench with worry for her.

The physician hadn't expected Jiang Ruan to be so bold. But moments passed, and Jiang Ruan finished the entire pastry without any ill effects.

She blinked innocently. Jiang Chao stared at her in disbelief. Xiao Shao's tension eased, while Ye Li frowned. The Crown Prince, however, burst into laughter, clapping his hands. "Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!"

Jiang Susu and Xia Jiao Jiao were speechless. Xia Cheng stood frozen, his gaze darting between the remaining pastries on the table and Jiang Ruan.

Shen Rou and Yu Ya exchanged thoughtful glances. Jiang Ruan dusted the crumbs from her hands and said softly, "So it seems this poison discriminates between people. Grandmother and I ate from the same pastry—the same poison—yet she fell unconscious after just a bite, while I consumed the entire piece without consequence. Indeed, human lives have their hierarchies. Someone of my lowly status can apparently ingest several doses of poison without harm."

Her words were playful and self-deprecating, yet each one struck like a dagger, leaving Xia Cheng utterly speechless.

Jiang Ruan then turned to the Crown Prince with a sudden gentle smile. "Your Highness, won't you seek justice for Jiang Ruan?"

The tables had seemingly turned.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Xia Cheng immediately turned on the physician in fury. "You quack! How dare you lie!"

"No, my lord!" The physician retreated several steps, sweating profusely as he realized something had gone terribly wrong from the expected scenario.

"Marquis Xia, there's no need for such anger. Perhaps it's as Miss Jiang says—this poison simply doesn't affect her," the Crown Prince remarked ambiguously. Though his words sounded like casual nonsense, they sent a chill down Xia Cheng's spine.

No matter how incompetent or morally lacking this Crown Prince might be, he was still a member of the imperial family. How could he tolerate subjects playing clever tricks right under his nose?At that moment, Ye Li spoke up, "Since it's the quack's fault, have him tied up first. Keeping such a quack around will only cost lives in the future." With that, he ordered his attendants to bind the physician. The doctor, caught off guard by this sudden misfortune, cried out, "But it was clearly the old—" Before he could finish, his mouth was gagged as he was dragged away.

Jiang Susu cast a grateful glance at Ye Li, while Jiang Li's face flashed with indignation. Jiang Ruan smiled faintly, "Why has the Eighth Prince ordered the physician to be taken away? Now whether the pastries were poisoned or not, whether I am guilty or innocent—this matter remains unclear."

She left Ye Li no room to retreat.

Ye Li felt a pang of disappointment. He had thought this eldest daughter of the Jiang family was clever enough to let the matter rest at this point. Did she truly believe anyone here would clear the name of an unfavored Jiang daughter? It would be wiser to stay quiet and avoid unnecessary trouble. As these thoughts crossed his mind, he glanced toward Jiang Ruan and froze. She was staring at him calmly, her captivating eyes brimming with an inexplicable emotion—one he had seen many times before. It was bone-deep. Hatred?

Hatred?

Why would the eldest daughter of the Jiang family hate him for no reason? Just because he had spoken a few good words for the Xia family? Ye Li paused, then looked at Jiang Ruan again, but she had already turned away, as if the emotion in her eyes had been nothing but his own delusion. Yet Ye Li knew better—it was no illusion. This young girl opposite him harbored some inexplicable hatred toward him.

A cold voice suddenly broke the silence, "In that case, Ye Feng, take my seal and summon the miracle healer." All eyes turned to him as Xiao Shao continued impassively, "Then the truth will come to light."

The Xia family members exchanged thoughtful glances. Was this an attempt to speak up for Jiang Ruan? It was already strange enough that Jinying Wang and the Crown Prince had arrived unannounced today. Earlier, on the Exquisite Boat, he had saved Jiang Susu—so why did it now seem like he was siding with Jiang Ruan?

Jiang Ruan herself was puzzled. What was Xiao Shao's motive for suddenly helping her?

Xia Jiao Jiao had been stealing glances at Xiao Shao ever since he entered. Now, hearing him speak, her pretty face paled, and she bit her lower lip hard, as if on the verge of tears.

Ye Li glanced at Jiang Susu, whose face was veiled, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears—a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. The other Xia family women wore expressions mirroring Xia Yan's—flustered, three parts unease and seven parts fragility, perfectly crafted to evoke sympathy.

In stark contrast stood Jiang Ruan in the center of the hall. A smile graced her lips, but her gaze was icy, each step sharp and unrelenting—a ruthless determination to drive someone to their doom.

Finally, Ye Li spoke, "There's no need to trouble the miracle healer, Prince Xiao. The truth is already clear—it was merely a quack's misdiagnosis of the Marchioness's condition. The pastries on the table were not poisoned, and the eldest Jiang daughter is innocent. This was all just a misunderstanding. We are family, after all. Our father has always taught us that harmony brings prosperity."These words were truly cleverly spoken. Jiang Ruan inwardly sneered—harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all endeavors. But whose family's harmony? Whose prosperity? This had nothing whatsoever to do with her. With Ye Li's words, Xia Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and shot Xia Yan a meaningful glance. Xia Yan, momentarily stunned, stepped forward to Jiang Ruan and said, "Ruan'er, this is all Mother's fault. If I had been more cautious and not misled by that quack's words, you wouldn't have suffered this wrongful accusation. I—I can only kneel to beg for your forgiveness." With that, she bent her knees, about to kneel before Jiang Ruan.

Jiang Ruan sidestepped slightly, avoiding Xia Yan's grand gesture, and smiled. "Mother, you jest." If she accepted this kneel today, by tomorrow the capital would be abuzz with rumors of her disrespect toward her stepmother. What was the point?

She turned to Xia Cheng and said, "We are all one family—harmony leads to prosperity. The Eighth Prince's words are truly profound. One might even think the Eighth Prince is a member of the Xia Family."

Ye Li's expression stiffened. Jiang Ruan continued, "But my suffering is a trivial matter. Grandmother's illness is the real concern. How could she lose consciousness after eating just one piece of my pastry? There must be something deeply suspicious about this. No matter how I think about it, it makes no sense—how strange." Standing in the hall, her posture unchanged, she added with a smile, "Still, I must thank His Highness the Prince for speaking up to clear my name today. Otherwise, that quack would have escaped justice, and I might have ended up in prison. The charge of harming my grandmother is no small matter—I doubt I could bear it even if I gave my life."

In truth, this matter had nothing to do with Xiao Shao. Yet, in this entire room, he was the only one who had spoken fairly. His words were like a slap to everyone's faces. The Crown Prince suddenly laughed. "The Eldest Miss Jiang speaks rightly. This matter cannot simply be dropped. In court, wrongful accusations carry consequences. Just now, I observed the Xia Family's young miss, the two young madams, Madam Jiang, the Second Miss Jiang, and the Second Young Master Jiang all accusing Eldest Miss Jiang. Given Marquis Xia's advanced age, we shall overlook his involvement, but the others cannot be let off lightly. Since Eldest Miss Jiang has asked for my judgment, I shall grant it. For wrongly accusing her, each of you shall receive twenty strokes of the cane."

"What?" Xia Jiao Jiao cried out involuntarily. "Your Highness, how could you do this?"

Shen Rou quickly pinched her arm and pleaded in panic, "She's just a child who doesn't know better and speaks recklessly. Please spare her this once, Your Highness."

"No matter," the Crown Prince laughed heartily. "This prince has always been merciful. Go on—I shall watch as you receive your punishment."

Xia Yan was dumbstruck. Jiang Chao and Jiang Susu were momentarily frozen. Xia Cheng's cheeks trembled with rage—the Crown Prince's actions were a direct insult to him! To have the women of the Xia Family, including unmarried young ladies, bent over benches to be caned!

"Your Highness..." Xia Cheng tried to speak again.

"Your Highness!" Xia Jiao Jiao threw herself at Xiao Shao's feet and knelt. "Your Highness, you are kind and benevolent. Since you helped my cousin earlier, I beg you to plead with the Crown Prince on our behalf!"

Jiang Ruan watched her actions coldly. In the past, Xia Jiao Jiao had always carried herself with arrogance in the palace. When had she ever been seen in such a pitiful state? In the end, it all boiled down to one phrase: a dog barks louder when backed by its master.Under the gaze of the crowd, Xiao Shao slowly took a step back, his handsome face remaining as cold and indifferent as ever. "What does this have to do with me?" he said, his tone dripping with disdain, showing not the slightest hint of chivalry.

Xia Jiao Jiao stiffened at his words, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes, filled with sorrow and helplessness, turned toward Xiao Shao, but alas, her unrequited affection was met with cold indifference, rendering her tears utterly wasted.

"Are you questioning this prince's decision?" the Crown Prince said unhappily.

Xia Jiao Jiao was startled, and Jiang Susu cast a pleading glance at Ye Li. Ye Li looked back apologetically—under these circumstances, he couldn’t openly defy the Crown Prince.

Jiang Susu gritted her teeth and said, "This is all my fault. Su Su willingly accepts punishment. Please forgive us, Da Jiejie." Without sparing another glance at the others, she strode toward the courtyard.

The Crown Prince waved his hand. "Bring out the benches. This prince will personally oversee their punishment."

Jiang Chao and Xia Yan exchanged glances, then clenched their teeth and followed into the courtyard. Shen Rou and the others, though inwardly unwilling, dared not refuse after seeing Xia Yan comply obediently.

The servants quickly fetched benches and wooden rods for the punishment. The ones administering the beatings were the Xia Family’s own maids, who had initially considered going easy. But the Crown Prince’s warning—"If this prince sees anyone showing leniency, they’ll be dragged away and fed to the dogs"—instantly dispelled any such thoughts.

Xia Cheng watched with a mix of fury and heartache as his children and grandchildren were punished in the courtyard. His resentment burned fiercely. After years of smooth sailing, he never expected to be humiliated like this by a mere girl.

The Crown Prince stood lazily in the courtyard, observing as the stout maids delivered the blows without mercy. The noble young ladies, with their delicate skin, had never endured such harsh punishment before, and their agonized screams filled the air. Jiang Susu lay over the bench, her buttocks searing with pain, but the humiliation cut deeper than the physical torment. Before Jiang Ruan, before these esteemed princes and nobles, she had been stripped of all dignity, bound like a pig to be beaten. She swore to herself—she would have her revenge, or she was no longer human!

Jiang Ruan slowly stepped forward from the crowd, watching calmly as Xia Yan and the others were punished. Did it hurt? The suffering they had inflicted upon her was a hundred, a thousand times worse. No one had come to her rescue, no one had pleaded for mercy. She had endured the pain alone, barely clinging to life. For the Xia Family, the suffering had only just begun.

Ye Li approached her and said, "Miss Jiang, don’t you find them pitiful?"

"Pitiable people often have hateful traits," Jiang Ruan replied with a faint smile. "Besides, the order came from His Highness the Crown Prince. There’s nothing I can do."

Ye Li’s throat tightened as he studied her up close. For some reason, an eerie feeling crept over him. The Jiang Family’s eldest daughter had faced every twist and turn today without the slightest hint of panic. From start to finish, she had maintained the same composed and graceful smile.

At such a young age, she was either extraordinarily quick-witted or had foreseen everything that might unfold today. Could all of this have been within her control? Ye Li immediately dismissed the thought—the world was ever-changing; no one could possibly orchestrate everything. Yet, as he looked again at Jiang Ruan’s serene expression, he couldn’t help but doubt his own conclusion.Jiang Ruan watched the scene before her calmly. She had already instructed Lianqiao to replace the pastries yesterday, fully aware of Xia Yan's scheme. The Crown Prince's sudden visit to the Xia Family's residence today was also her doing.

The Crown Prince had a retainer who usually disguised himself as a storyteller at the East Wind Pavilion. In her past life, she had heard Ye Li mention this. When Xia Yan came to inform her about going to the Xia residence, Jiang Ruan had Luzhu go to the East Wind Pavilion, pretending to be a maid from the Xia household and casually bringing up the matter.

The relationship between Ye Li and Xia Cheng had always been somewhat delicate, and among the princes, this was an especially sensitive topic. Once news of Ye Li visiting Xia Cheng reached him, the Crown Prince would naturally come to the Xia residence to get involved—though she hadn’t expected Xiao Shao to return as well.

As for the current Crown Prince, in her past life at the palace, she had heard much about his behavior. Though he lacked political acumen and wasn’t particularly shrewd, there was more to him. Early on, the Emperor had intended to replace him as Crown Prince, but Xiao Shao's intervention prevented it. Everyone believed the Crown Prince was out of favor, yet when Ye 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 unknown.

But the Crown Prince’s greatest trait—and perhaps his greatest flaw—was his naivety. Like Jiang Ruan in her past life, though he was born into royalty and positioned as the unfavored heir in the eyes of many, he should have been cunning. Instead, he was simple-minded—or perhaps too sentimental.

The infighting and scheming among his brothers were things he could never tolerate, especially the idea of family members plotting against one another. Whenever he witnessed such strife, he became extremely volatile. In her past life, Ye Li had exploited this very trait, aligning with the Fourth Prince. The seemingly harmless Fourth Prince had always been close to the Crown Prince, and in the end, it was this trusted brother who framed him, leading to his death in prison.

When Ye Li spoke of this to her, it was already late in their power struggle. He no longer maintained his usual gentle restraint, instead revealing a hint of arrogance, sneering at the Crown Prince’s blind trust in his brothers. But Jiang Ruan understood the Crown Prince—he was merely a pitiable soul, desperately craving familial affection in his profound loneliness and offering his deepest trust. Like her, he had been betrayed.

Upon seeing how the Xia Family treated her, the Crown Prince would inevitably reflect on his own circumstances. The worse the Xia Family behaved toward her, the more displeased the Crown Prince would become. If Ye Li hadn’t been present today, the Xia Family would have faced far more than just a beating.

Still, Ye Li had ultimately sided with the Xia Family. Jiang Ruan’s eyes darkened. In this life, would Ye Li still end up marrying Jiang Susu as he had before? She was eagerly anticipating that moment.

Finally, after twenty lashes, Xia Jiao Jiao had already fainted.

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "The matter concerning Grandmother has been settled, but Your Highness has yet to address the issue of the ancestral hall. How should the scoundrels in the hall be dealt with?"Jiang Susu had just been helped up from her chair by Butterfly when she heard these words. Her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed again, staring at Jiang Ruan in disbelief. Xia Cheng's gaze at Jiang Ruan was as if he wanted to devour her, while Xia Yan seemed to have just heard the news: "What happened in the ancestral hall?" Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she looked suspiciously at Jiang Ruan. How could Jiang Ruan appear so well and not the least bit weak after spending a night in the cold and gloomy ancestral hall? And what was this about some scoundrel?

Meeting Xia Yan's puzzled gaze, Jiang Ruan smiled and explained, "Last night, I was praying for the ancestors of the Xia Family in the ancestral hall. By midnight, I was too exhausted to continue, so my maid knelt in my place for the latter half of the night. Unexpectedly, a scoundrel sneaked in under cover of darkness and violated my maid's innocence. That is why I sought justice from His Highness, to punish that villain severely."

Xia Yan was somewhat dazed by her words but still grasped the underlying meaning—someone had intended to defile her, but the attempt was thwarted by a maid serving Jiang Ruan. Xia Yan seethed inwardly, wondering why Jiang Ruan always had such good fortune. She glanced at Lianqiao, who stood unharmed beside Jiang Ruan. Since Jiang Ruan had only brought Lianqiao and Shuxiang this time, could the other maid, Shuxiang, be the one involved? Her heart tightened. Then Jiang Ruan spoke again, "Grandfather, since the Crown Prince is present, why not bring that villain forward?"

Xia Cheng nearly spat blood in frustration. He was certain Jiang Ruan already knew Xia Jun's identity and was deliberately putting on this act. The depth of her scheming terrified him.

Jiang Ruan turned to Xia Yan and said, "Speaking of which, it was Mother who gifted me such a loyal and considerate maid. I am truly fond of her. Had it not been for her last night, I might have had to take my own life today to prove my innocence. Such a devoted servant, and one sent by Mother—surely you would wish to see justice served for Shuxiang as well?"

Xia Yan was rendered speechless. Ye Li listened to Jiang Ruan's words and cast her a meaningful glance. The Crown Prince, aware that the man in the ancestral hall was Xia Jun, remained silent, watching Xia Cheng with amusement.

Xia Cheng wiped the cold sweat from his brow and finally growled, "Nonsense! That was no villain—that was your cousin!"

His words stunned not only Xia Yan but also Shen Rou and Yu Ya. Yu Ya cried out, "How could it be Jun'er?"

"Grandfather," Jiang Ruan feigned shock, "How could that man, who violated my maid, be my cousin?" Her tone was laced with disbelief, yet she subtly reminded everyone of Xia Jun's disgraceful act.

Ye Li paused, while Xiao Shao, observing Jiang Ruan's flawless performance, couldn't help but let the corner of his lips quirk upward. A flicker of interest surfaced in his usually calm gaze.

Yu Ya pressed urgently, "What exactly happened? What's wrong with Jun'er?"

Jiang Ruan replied, "Aunt Yu, early this morning, Grandfather and His Highness personally witnessed someone in the ancestral hall... behaving improperly. Who would have guessed it was Cousin?"

Yu Ya staggered back two steps, unable to comprehend. Though her son was known for his recklessness, he wouldn't be foolish enough to commit such an act in the ancestral hall. There must be more to this!

Meanwhile, Xia Yan, seeing the fury on Jiang Susu's face, suddenly realized the truth. Jiang Susu, unaware that she and Xia Furen had already devised a plan, had acted on her own—only to fall into Jiang Ruan's trap. Furious at her daughter's disobedience, Xia Yan quickly strategized. If Xia Jun were truly implicated, neither Xia Cheng nor Yu Ya would let them off, especially since Xia Jun was the sole legitimate heir of the Xia family, destined to inherit its legacy.

Gritting his teeth, Xia Cheng saw no way out but to insist the maid had seduced Xia Jun. He bellowed, "Bring that disgraceful boy and the maid here at once!"

Servants soon dragged in a dazed Xia Jun and Shuxiang, both still groggy from their recent awakening. Xia Cheng strode forward and slapped Xia Jun hard across the face. "You disgrace! Who told you to commit such a vile act!"

Xia Jun reeled from the blow, while Yu Ya rushed to embrace him, wailing, "My son, how could you be so foolish? How could you lose your senses in the ancestral hall?"Xia Jun had learned what had happened from the old maids the moment he regained consciousness. Last night, as soon as he entered the ancestral hall, he had felt his body heating up uncontrollably. The taste of that night's madness still lingered, but the one who had tangled with him was supposed to be the eldest Miss Jiang—how had it turned into her maid instead?

His gaze fell upon the red-clad young woman standing amidst the crowd. She smiled gently, yet her eyes were filled with mockery as she looked at him. Xia Jun instantly understood—this eldest Miss Jiang had not only schemed against Jiang Susu but had also dragged him into the plot!

His thoughts raced, and he suddenly knelt, kowtowing to Xia Cheng. "Grandfather, this is all my fault. Last night, I drank too much and mistakenly entered the ancestral hall. I didn’t expect this maid to seduce me... Your grandson has committed such a disgraceful act and has no face left. I beg for your punishment!"

Xia Cheng sighed in relief. Fortunately, Xia Jun was clever enough to take the initiative and admit his mistake.

Shuxiang, however, was stunned. She hadn’t expected Xia Jun to outright accuse her. She turned to Jiang Ruan—it was now abundantly clear that Jiang Ruan had set her up. Desperate, she cast a pleading look at Xia Yan, but Xia Yan averted her gaze, pretending ignorance. A wave of despair surged in Shuxiang’s heart, and she cried out, "I didn’t! Young Miss, I truly didn’t seduce the young master!"

Jiang Ruan looked at her with pity. "Shuxiang, of course I believe you. You were personally chosen for me by Mother—how could I doubt your character?"

At these words, Xia Yan’s brow twitched. With Jiang Ruan framing it this way, she couldn’t say anything. But under Xia Cheng’s furious gaze, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and say, "Ruan’niang, appearances can be deceiving. Shuxiang may have seemed well-behaved, but who knew she harbored such filthy intentions?"

This was nothing short of a blatant lie. Behind her, Lianqiao couldn’t hide her disdain—Xia Yan actually had the gall to spout such nonsense. Jiang Ruan sighed softly. "I had always thought the maids Mother chose for me were impeccable. Yet, none of my own—Lianqiao, Zisu, or even Luzhu, whom I picked myself—have ever been involved in such disgrace. But Mother’s choice, Shuxiang, has broken that record." She turned to Xia Yan. "As for the other maids in my courtyard, I’d like Mother to take them back as well."

Xia Yan froze, clenching her teeth in secret. The spies she had painstakingly planted were now being uprooted with just a few words from Jiang Ruan. But she had no choice but to comply. "Ruan’niang’s concerns are reasonable. It was my oversight."

Seeing this, Shuxiang cried out in despair, "No, no! Young Miss, I didn’t seduce the young master! Madam, save me! Second Young Miss, save me!"

The Crown Prince scoffed. "You’re the eldest Miss Jiang’s maid. Why are you begging the second young miss for mercy?"

"Your Highness may not know," Jiang Ruan smiled. "My younger sister has the softest heart, so servants who’ve done wrong always turn to her for help. But I’ve always been known for my severity—they all fear me."Xiao Shao raised an eyebrow slightly as Jiang Ruan continued, "Shu Xiang, though I trust you, I trust my mother more. Since she has spoken thus, there is nothing I can do." With this, she shifted all blame onto Xia Yan. Shu Xiang felt a wave of despair wash over her. Then Jiang Ruan added, "But even if you didn’t seduce my cousin, the fact that your purity was defiled in a sacred place like the ancestral hall—if it were me, I would have already hanged myself with a white silk rope. To preserve your reputation, there is no way out for you. Whether you seduced him or not, the outcome is the same."

Shu Xiang trembled, her gaze at Jiang Ruan filled with terror. Suddenly, she understood—Jiang Ruan was right. After today, there was no path left for her to survive.

Jiang Ruan would not save her, and between her and Xia Jun, Xia Yan would undoubtedly choose Xia Jun. No one would speak up for her. At last, she realized why Jiang Ruan had allowed her to stay in Ruan Residence despite knowing she was sent by Xia Yan. It wasn’t out of kindness—Jiang Ruan had been waiting for an opportunity to strike her down in one fatal blow, leaving no chance for recovery. And now, that opportunity had arrived.

Knowing she was doomed either way, with no escape left, and with her family’s lives still in Xia Yan’s hands, Shu Xiang let out a bitter laugh. "This servant has no face left to face the young miss. I beg the young miss to take care of my parents. We shall meet in the next life!" With that, she broke free from the maids’ grip. Before anyone could react, she dashed toward a pillar in the hall and slammed her head against it. Instantly, she collapsed into a pool of blood, her eyes wide open, body twitching a few times before lying still—dead with unseeing eyes.

Jiang Susu let out a sharp cry, her face drained of color. She knew full well that Shu Xiang’s death was tied to her, and fear gripped her heart. Xia Jun, too, was startled—the enchanting beauty from last night now lay in a gruesome pool of blood, a horrifying sight.

Jiang Ruan watched silently, her mind flashing back to her past life in prison, where she had seen Shu Xiang standing by Jiang Susu’s side. Time had passed, and in this life, Shu Xiang would never again have the chance to betray or harm her.

(End of Chapter)