Chapter 36 Who Raised This Daughter?

"Kneel down right now!" Jiang Zhengting roared, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Jiang Zhi. "I always thought you were a law-abiding person, but I never expected you to do such a thing. How could I have given birth to such a wicked child?! I can't control you anymore. Let the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion take you back and let them decide your fate."

Lady Zhongqin said angrily, "Very well, let me gouge out her eyes first."

Wang Yuru was still feigning concern, saying, "Please, Madam, have mercy. Miss lost her mother at a young age and has a withdrawn personality, but she certainly didn't do it intentionally. If she loses her eyes, how will she live in the future? This is tantamount to taking her life."

Wang Yuru's words only fueled the anger of the Lady of Zhongqin, who wished she could tear her apart. "And what about my son? Did he deserve to be blinded?"

“Yes, Mother, you are too soft-hearted,” Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. “My sister not only had an affair with another man, but also injured someone. She is not like someone from the Jiang family at all. I wonder who raised her?”

Jiang Zhi's expression immediately darkened, even though she had been calm and composed.

Without saying a word, she stepped forward and slapped Jiang Yunqian hard across the face. "To publicly slander a deceased person, especially your stepmother, is this how your mother raised you?"

"You dare hit me?" Jiang Yunqian asked in disbelief.

"Outrageous! This is utterly lawless!" Jiang Zhengting could no longer contain his anger and raised his hand to slap Jiang Zhi across the face.

With a sharp "smack," Jiang Zhi's face turned to the side as she was struck, blood immediately appearing at the corner of her lips, and a clear, bright red finger mark visible on her face.

Jiang Zhengting was much stronger than Jiang Zhi, and his strength was completely different from when she hit Jiang Yunqian's face.

Jiang Zhi wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, a wave of mockery washing over her.

He could remain unmoved by someone insulting his wife, yet he would push his daughter out to vent his anger without distinguishing right from wrong in order to advance his career.

Her father never disappoints.

"Bring me my whip, and tie this wretched child up again. Today I'm going to cleanse this family of its evil ways!"

"What is Lord Jiang doing?" At this moment, a deep voice rang out untimely.

Jiang Zhengting looked closely and saw Lu Yuan approaching with one hand on his sword. His dark-colored outfit gleamed coldly in the shadows under the tree, and his thin lips were stretched into a sharp line.

Jiang Zhengting withdrew his hand somewhat awkwardly, "I am disciplining my unfilial daughter, and I apologize for making Lord Lu laugh."

"Oh? May I ask what mistake Miss Jiang has made?"

Jiang Zhengting sighed, "I am ashamed. My daughter has gone too far. Not only did she injure the second young master of the Yan family, but she also refused to repent. I was so angry that I had to give her a light punishment."

Lu Yuan's gaze fell on Jiang Zhi's blood-stained lips, and his brows furrowed deeply.

He had once said he would make her pay back for the two slaps she had given him, but now that he saw her injured, he felt no triumph or joy, but rather a strange sense of displeasure.

"Why is Young Master Yan here?" Lu Yuan asked him, his expression unchanged.

"They were probably led here by this unfilial daughter."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yuan scoffed, "So this is how Lord Jiang solves cases. It's truly astonishing."

"What do you mean by that, Lord Lu?"

"If the Second Young Master Yan can be allowed to enter the Jiang residence's backyard without being punished, then wouldn't anyone be able to come and go as they please in the future? If the household is in turmoil, what will Lord Jiang do then?"

Jiang Zhengting looked embarrassed, "This..."

Lady Zhongqin finally couldn't hold back any longer, "Lord Lu, shouldn't there be an explanation for my son's injury at the Jiang residence? A life for a life, that vile woman should pay the price!"

Lu Yuan stared at her with his narrow eyes, then chuckled softly, "Indeed, she should pay the price."

"Good to know," Lady Zhongqin gritted her teeth, "Then let me take her back and make her atone for my Kang'er's sins!"

“What I mean is that Young Master Yan should pay the price,” Lu Yuan said slowly. “He broke into an official’s backyard, drugged the women, and even tried to kill them to cover it up. His intentions are truly despicable.”

Drugging?

Everyone present was immediately taken aback.

Wang Yuru's heart also clenched.

However, many people present drank the honey wine, and the rest were disposed of by themselves, so Jiang Zhi had no evidence at all.

Thinking of this, she felt temporarily at ease. "Lord Lu, Young Master Yan is already so badly injured. It's not right for you to slander him like this."

Lu Yuan glanced at her sideways, a cold laugh escaping his throat. "Is Madam Jiang saying I'm talking nonsense?"

His attitude, though seemingly very amiable, made Wang Yuru's back stiffen, and she immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

How could she forget that the man before her was the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in charge of the Imperial Prison? If she offended him, she wouldn't even know how she died.

Her face turned deathly pale, and she stammered, not daring to speak again.

"Get out of here! How dare you interfere with Lord Lu's investigations?" Jiang Zhengting scolded Wang Yuru in a low voice, then apologized to Lu Yuan, saying, "My wife is ignorant and her behavior is improper. I hope Lord Lu will not take offense."

"Of course not, it's just that Young Master Yan has committed a crime, and I happen to be here today, so I'll take him back to the Imperial Prison for a proper interrogation."

"What?!" Lady Zhongqin exclaimed in shock. "My son is injured like this, and you still want to take him to the imperial prison? Lu Yuan, what is your relationship with this vile woman that you are protecting her like this!"

Lu Yuan ignored her completely, and with a wave of his hand, two Imperial Guards appeared behind him and went to the room to arrest her without saying a word.

Lady Zhongqin was both anxious and angry. "Lu Yuan, how dare you! You'll have to step over my dead body first! You've arrested people without any evidence. Who gave you the audacity? I'll definitely have the Third Prince report you to the Emperor for abusing your power and settling personal scores!"

"Abuse of power, settling personal scores?" Lu Yuan laughed. "I originally wanted to give your Earl's Mansion some face, but since that's the case—"

He paused for a moment before saying, "Young Master Yan is connected to the assassin who tried to kill the Crown Prince. I am going to arrest him and take him back for questioning. This item is the evidence. Does anyone have any objections?"

Everyone looked closely and saw that Lu Yuan was holding a small pearl earring between his fingertips, which shimmered with a lustrous luster in the sunlight.

"What is this?" Lady Zhongqin had never seen this earring before. "What does it have to do with my son?"

Lu Yuan looked at Jiang Zhi, who was standing silently to the side, and asked, "Why don't you ask Miss Jiang to explain this to everyone?"

Jiang Zhi had wiped the blood off her lips, but her lips were still a little swollen and torn. She nodded and said, "I discovered Yan Wenkang breaking into the backyard. During the struggle, this item fell off him and I picked it up. He not only tried to take it by force, but also tried to kill me to silence me. I had no choice but to injure Yan Wenkang to protect myself. I beg Lord Lu to see the truth."