If the young lady commits murder, will the master show favoritism?!

The question was asked with such force that the already quiet courtyard fell even more silent.

Prime Minister Huang's gaze lingered on Hongyan for a long time.

Hongyan was almost suffocating under that gaze, but she gritted her teeth and endured it in order to bring down Huang Ningmeng.

Prime Minister Huang actually admired her somewhat.

but!

Her mistake was that she shouldn't have set her sights on his daughter.

"As the prime minister, I will never show favoritism."

Hongyan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Before she could even relax a little, Prime Minister Huang continued, "But as a father, if I find out that you have slandered my daughter, I will sentence you to the maximum penalty allowed by the criminal law."

Hongyan's face turned as pale as snow.

The Prime Minister's wife felt extremely sorry for her and softened her tone, "My lord, she is still a child and doesn't understand many things. I will definitely discipline her properly. Please let her go."

As she spoke, the Prime Minister's wife went to help her up.

Hongyan brushed her hand away and looked at Prime Minister Huang with a firm gaze.

The Prime Minister's wife felt a chill run down her spine from her action, but this was her daughter, and she couldn't ignore her.

Huang Ningmeng sneered, "What a show of motherly affection. Are you afraid others won't see your relationship?"

Prime Minister Huang also clearly noticed something amiss, especially the way Hongyan looked, which bore a resemblance to his wife. No, it wasn't just her demeanor; there were many other similarities.

"Step aside and listen to what she has to say."

After witnessing her hitting Huang Ningmeng, Prime Minister Huang never gave her a kind look again.

The Prime Minister's wife looked at Hongyan with worry, hoping that she would not do anything foolish. She herself would suffer if she went head-to-head with Huang Ningmeng, let alone a little maid like her.

Hongyan pulled the wooden hairpin from her hair and presented it to the Prime Minister. "This hairpin was a token of love that Jiang Sheng gave to Miss. But just now, Miss stuck the hairpin in my hair and threatened me not to take it off."

Prime Minister Huang looked at Huang Ningmeng and asked, "Is that really true?"

Huang Ningmeng laughed and said, "The hairpin was indeed given to me by Jiang Sheng, but it wasn't a token of our love. How could I like such a despicable person? Some people, on the other hand, are very fond of it. Now that Jiang Sheng is gone, I've given the hairpin to the most suitable place. What's wrong with that?"

Hongyan looked up at Huang Ningmeng with a sudden jolt, but the other woman remained all smiles and laughter, and she couldn't figure out what she really meant.

Prime Minister Huang was confused by her. "Girl, what are you saying?"

Huang Ningmeng said, "Father, some things cannot be judged rashly now. Hongyan is trying to smear me, but I did nothing wrong and I am not afraid to make a big fuss. If you were to judge this matter, it would be unfair. How about this, we call the Prefect of the Capital and hold a public trial?"

“Nonsense, I won’t allow it.” Prime Minister Huang’s face darkened, but his eyes showed concern. “Going to court is tantamount to ruining your reputation. How will you get married in the future? Now that so many young men have come to propose marriage, you should choose one peacefully.”

"Father, your daughter's reputation for being shrewish is already well-known. They still want to propose marriage, but it's only because I've been behaving better in the temple. If I were to marry into the family and revert to my original personality, wouldn't they divorce me? If I'm going to find someone, I'll find someone like Young Master Du, who is broad-minded and will tolerate me even if I bully him." Huang Ningmeng looked at Du Chenyan, who was standing invisible behind her, with a smile on her face.

Du Chenyan's face flushed red when he heard what she said.

Prime Minister Huang was both amused and exasperated. He glanced at Du Chenyan and indeed thought he was quite good, but... he glared at Huang Ningmeng, "Aren't you ashamed, young lady? How can you say such a thing in public?"

"Your daughter's reputation has been ruined to such an extent, she doesn't need this little bit more. Does Young Master Du mind?" Huang Ningmeng asked with a smile.

"No, no, I don't mind." Du Chenyan could barely speak properly, and his heart was pounding in his throat.

How could Prime Minister Huang not see it? This boy was clearly in love with his daughter.

Hongyan knelt on the ground, watching the father and daughter talk. Their familial affection was so harmonious that it was almost impossible for anyone to interrupt. She was filled with jealousy.

Why? She's also her father's daughter. Why should she live the life of a maid and have to watch her father not acknowledge her?

Hongyan turned and glared at the Prime Minister's wife. It was all her fault. If she hadn't been the one to stop her, she wouldn't be in this situation now.

The Prime Minister's wife was startled by her gaze, instinctively feeling that something must have happened, but she couldn't ask right now.

What Hongyan resented even more was that it was one thing for Jiang Sheng to like Huang Ningmeng, but why did Du Chenyan also like her? What was so good about her? She wasn't gentle or graceful at all, and she was notoriously shrewish. Everyone knew that if Huang Ningmeng continued like this, she would become a shrew.

Why does Du Chenyan like her? Why?!

Hongyan was so jealous she was almost going crazy.

Huang Ningmeng couldn't help but laugh. She was just teasing him, but she didn't expect him to react like this. When did this guy fall in love with her?

At first glance?

Huang Ningmeng turned to look at Hongyan. This girl was full of resentment; her gaze was so intense that it was hard for Huang Ningmeng to ignore it.

Hongyan was startled by her gaze, and hurriedly looked away and lowered her head.

Huang Ningmeng shook her head slightly. This was just a girl in her early teens; although her methods were ruthless, she was still too immature. She tugged at Prime Minister Huang and said, "Father, this is official business. Why are you bringing up my personal matters again?"

"This concerns your reputation, so your father cannot ignore it," Prime Minister Huang said righteously.

"Alright, alright, let's put that aside and get down to business," Huang Ningmeng said.

“Yes, sir. If Miss isn’t afraid, you should also give Jiang Sheng justice,” Hongyan said, looking up.

Prime Minister Huang glanced at her, his eyes filled with intimidation. "I don't need your reminder. I know what to do. Meng'er, you and your father are thinking the same thing. Before I came, I summoned the Prefect of the Capital. I was worried about you, so I rushed over here first."

Huang Ningmeng's eyes lit up, and she rushed into Prime Minister Huang's arms, "Father, you are so good."

Hongyan watched as she watched Huang Chengxiang call her "Dad" without restraint and receive his love. Thinking of Huang Chengxiang's tone and attitude towards her earlier, her heart felt like it had been ripped open by a dull knife, bleeding profusely, the wound larger than usual.

"Master, you are much older than him." The ring spoiled the mood again.

Huang Ningmeng's enthusiasm was instantly extinguished...

When the Prefect of Jingzhao arrived, it was almost noon.

The father and daughter disliked Hongyan and were both the same kind of person, so they made her kneel on the ground and never told her to get up.

Although the Prime Minister's wife felt sorry for Hongyan, the Prime Minister did not tell her to get up, so she could not simply help her up and could only stay with her.

Hongyan is getting more and more annoyed with her mother. She was blind before, thinking her mother was a good person. Now that she is in trouble, what can her mother do?