Half an hour later.

Finally, someone couldn't sit still any longer. "I wonder what important matter Your Excellency has summoned us ladies here for?"

They can't just sit here and listen to you two shamelessly praising that Miss Jiang, can they? If it weren't for the fact that the two of them were having such a lively and sincere conversation, they would have thought it was all an act!

Well-behaved and cute?

Filial piety and benevolence?

Excellent medical skills?

...

Are you sure you're not talking about the second Miss Jiang next to you? And the infamous eldest Miss Jiang?

Yesterday's events were not widely publicized at the request of the Duchess, and those present were all women who came to worship Buddha, so their opinion of Jiang Jiaojiao was still based on the infamous incident of her climbing into bed with someone.

The ladies and young women who knew the inside story each had their own thoughts and secretly observed Jiang Xue and Consort Jin.

"Is it so boring for Lady Sun to keep me company while I drink tea? Are you looking down on me? Or on His Majesty?"

A huge pot came crashing down!

Lady Sun, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, paled drastically and quickly apologized, "This humble woman dares not, this humble woman... this humble woman was worried that Your Highness was thirsty and wanted to brew you a bowl of pear soup to moisten your thirst!"

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was the direct superior of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and thus considered Lady Zhao as one of his own.

Yesterday, Madam Zhao was helped back to the temple. Her mouth and eyes were crooked, and she looked like she had suffered a stroke. When she learned that it was because Jiang Jiaojiao had angered her, she naturally blamed Jiang Jiaojiao.

I never expected this noble lady to be so protective of her own.

She was humiliated in front of so many people, and she was just a minor dignitary...

Her cousin is a noble concubine in the palace!

Madam Sun gritted her teeth in hatred, but dared not directly confront Consort Jin.

Even if one's rank is low, one is still an imperial concubine.

Disrespecting the empress and concubines is a serious crime.

When she finally gets a chance to see her cousin, she'll definitely give her a piece of her mind. She's just an unfavored noblewoman; there are plenty of ways to torment people in the harem.

The others sitting with him dared not utter another word and immediately sat up straight.

"Since it's pear soup, make a lot and send some to Jiaojiao too."

Madam Sun's face darkened further.

Those present finally realized that Consort Jin was going to support Miss Jiang!

He quickly recalled whether he had said anything that offended Miss Jiang yesterday. He secretly rejoiced if he hadn't, and was trembling with fear if he had.

Madam Sun reluctantly went down to prepare pear soup.

As for Jiang Xue...

I was so angry I almost bit my lip until it bled, and I wished I could disappear into a hole in the ground, especially when I felt the sympathetic looks from the ladies sitting next to me.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I dared not let them fall.

If I had known, I should have made up an excuse not to come today. Since I was there to support Jiang Jiaojiao, I was bound to stand up for her.

Jiang Xue's face was pale, and her body swayed involuntarily, but she still "forced" herself to stand up straight and said with her head down, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. I served my grandmother her medicine late yesterday and was not in good spirits. I was impolite and please punish me."

"Are you complaining that your grandmother is tiring you out?"

Jin Guiren suddenly raised her voice and questioned her sternly.

"You unfilial and disrespectful wretch!"

Jin Guiren slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and pointed at Jiang Xue angrily.

Jiang Xue trembled all over, tears streaming down her face like a burst dam, "This humble woman..."

She was about to explain when Jin Guiren interrupted her.

"Enough! That's enough!"

Consort Jin waved her hand with disgust. "I've always heard that Miss Jiang is commendably filial, serving her grandmother's medicine without complaint. If that's the case, why should she humiliate herself just to gain that empty reputation for filial piety? How utterly hypocritical!"

Jiang Xue felt wronged upon hearing this, but dared not argue and could only silently shed tears.

"Alright, you may go and rest," Consort Jin said coldly. "I will send someone to explain things to the old lady. From now on, you no longer need to serve her medicine." After saying that, she didn't look at Jiang Xue again and turned to sit back in her chair.

boom--

Jiang Xue's mind went completely blank!

"Your Majesty, I didn't! Waaah... I'm innocent!"

Jiang Jiaojiao must have complained to Consort Jin. If Consort Jin's words get out, what reputation will she have left?

No matter how aggrieved Jiang Xue was, she wiped away her tears.

Consort Jin remained unmoved and directly ordered Jiang Xue to be dragged out.

He tapped the person sitting next to him again.

His words were full of protection for the Jin family and Jiang Jiaojiao.

Only then were the ladies and young women allowed to leave.

On the return journey in the carriage.

The thought that Jiaojiao had almost fallen for Jiang Xue's scheme made Jin furious. "I treated her like a daughter and never mistreated her because she was a concubine's daughter, yet she still schemed against you like this."

After hearing Jiang Jiaojiao's description, it was easy to guess the role Jiang Xue played yesterday.

Unfortunately, her mother-in-law didn't believe her and Jiaojiao at all; she only had eyes for that illegitimate daughter!

After Jiang Xue was dragged away, she actually called him over and scolded him.

Inside the carriage in front.

Jiang Xueduan felt wronged and unwilling, "Grandmother... Xue'er is innocent."

Madam Jiang's face was very pale.

She looked down on the Jin family, and even more so on Consort Jin. Entering the palace as the daughter of a merchant was already lowly enough. Moreover, she was the adopted daughter of the Jin family, who had been rescued from bandits. It was said that after waking up, she had forgotten where her parents, brothers, and home were.

Such a lowly woman.

Does he even deserve to be called a noble person?

Jiang Xue gripped the crescent-shaped jade pendant tightly!

She was determined to make Consort Jin die even more tragically than in the stories, only then could she avenge her current grievances.

"She's my sister's aunt, Xue'er never expected this..."

"snort!"

Old Madam Jiang snorted coldly, "Who does she think she is!"

"And that unfilial son! You kindly took the Fifth Prince to rescue her, and she actually turned around and slandered you! Fortunately, the Fifth Prince is magnanimous. If it were someone else, would your marriage still be possible?"

"You are now a prince's concubine, there's no need for you to ruin your reputation for those lowly people."

The Empress has no sons, and these princes are all potential candidates to become the Crown Prince and ascend the throne. Among them, the Fifth Prince is exceptionally talented, deeply admired by the veteran ministers, and is the prince she favors the most.

If the Fifth Prince ascends the throne...

How could Jiang Xue be a mere concubine?

"Yes, Grandmother."

Fortunately, the Fifth Prince believed her.

Only the General's Mansion, the Fourth Princess's Mansion, the Duke's Mansion...

The thought of all these connections and support that should belong to her filled her with anxiety, especially since... she heard that the Seventh Prince had immediately dispatched his personal guards to protect Jiang Jiaojiao's safety.

She's an ugly, stupid, and vicious woman... does she even deserve it?

She absolutely could not stand by and watch the Seventh Prince be deceived by Jiang Jiaojiao. Since... Jiang Jiaojiao was unwilling to refuse the marriage, then she would make the Seventh Prince annul the engagement!

Back at the Marquis's residence.

Without saying a word, Madam Jiang locked Jiang Jiaojiao in the small Buddhist hall for her improper behavior.

But--

To Madam Jiang's surprise, the usually timid Jin suddenly rushed out and denounced Jiang Xue for framing her elder sister. Madam Jiang was so angry that she fainted.

Jiang Qingyun learned the news.

In a fit of anger, he locked Jiang Jiaojiao and Jin Shi in the small Buddhist hall.

In the small Buddhist shrine.

Jin was furious and cursed Jiang Xue for being an ingrate and Jiang Qing for being heartless and ungrateful.

“If it weren’t for our Jin family, how could this Marquis’s mansion have been preserved? Now they look down on me because I’m a merchant’s daughter, and they find fault with me at every turn… How come I didn’t see through their true colors back then!”