Jiang Xue screamed.
Everyone looked over, and the Fifth Prince's face turned green on the spot. Young Master Yuan not only hugged him tightly, but his hand, which was about to fall, landed right on his chest.
oh--
Malicious murmurs rose from all around.
Jiang Xue struggled frantically, but she was light and agile and could not push the obese Young Master Yuan away.
The Fifth Prince's Consort quickly instructed the maidservants beside her to help the person up.
The Fifth Prince's wife was frail from a young age, while the nannies around her were all robust.
With a gentle tug, they lifted the person up.
He just went a little too hard and his movements were a bit rough...
"Sizzle..."
A sound like fabric being torn.
Jiang Xue's sleeve was completely torn off and hung on Young Master Zhao's belt.
...
This scene is truly... an eyesore!
The Fifth Prince's face turned ashen green, and his gentle mask finally crumbled. "Drag him away!"
Before Yuan could react, he was suddenly attacked by guards who slashed him unconscious with their bare hands and dragged away like a dead pig.
The Fifth Prince's wife was so frightened that she trembled.
Not daring to look at the Fifth Prince, she stealthily moved behind Jiang Jiaojiao, her fingers clutching a tiny bit of fabric, feeling reassured.
Jiang Xue sobbed and rushed towards the Fifth Prince, "Your Highness..."
The Fifth Prince shifted his feet and actually avoided Jiang Xue. Jiang Xue instantly swayed like a small white flower in the wind and rain, tears streaming down her face.
Once tears are shed, who can rival them?
The Fifth Prince looked reluctant, and the mocking voices around him stopped.
"Your Highness..."
The little white flower's voice was soft and pitiful, "I was framed, someone... someone pushed me."
While wiping away tears, she looked at the Fifth Prince's wife with an expression that conveyed utter grievance.
The Fifth Prince immediately looked at the Princess Consort, his anger barely contained, "I shouldn't have brought you out."
The little crybaby was so scared that she huddled behind Jiang Jiaojiao, trembling uncontrollably.
Then……
All eyes fell on Jiang Jiaojiao.
"Miss Jiang the Second is so pitiful. She became the Fifth Prince's concubine and is still bullied by Miss Jiang the Eldest!"
"What does this have to do with Miss Jiang?"
A little fan, who appeared out of nowhere, retorted.
"Tch—didn't you see the Fifth Prince's Consort hiding behind her? They're definitely in cahoots, ganging up to bully Miss Jiang. How vicious."
"I heard before that Miss Jiang had turned over a new leaf and started a new life, but that was all a lie!"
"It's so pitiful. Miss Jiang should have been a concubine, but now she's not only a maid, but she's also being framed and tormented by the Fifth Prince's wife."
"Young Master Yuan is the Fifth Prince's wife's own brother. How could Miss Jiang possibly compete with him? It's outrageous!"
"..."
The comments from the onlookers became increasingly harsh, and the little fan who stood up for Jiang Jiaojiao was almost drowned in a sea of spittle.
Jiang Jiaojiao's understanding of the protagonist's halo was once again refreshed.
Jiang Xue wasn't shedding tears, she was probably taking hallucinogenic drugs, wasn't she?
"Cough cough..."
The seventh prince suddenly started coughing, "cough cough cough..."
After coughing violently for a while, his face turned even paler, and he looked as if he might cough himself unconscious at the slightest provocation. He gasped for breath and said, "How can you make wild guesses without any evidence? You're ruining... ruining my Jiaojiao's innocence."
“If you continue to talk nonsense, I will take you to court and sue you for defamation.”
"Cough cough cough..."
The seventh prince almost suffocated after speaking several sentences in one breath.
A moment of silence.
Suddenly, another fearless voice rang out, "They must have done it on purpose! Report them to the authorities! The emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners; they must be severely punished to clear Miss Jiang's name!"
“Miss Jiang, don’t be afraid. If the Seventh Prince dares to protect you, we will accompany you to file a complaint with the Emperor.”
"Yes! We'll complain to the Emperor! She's not worthy of the Seventh Prince at all!"
"..."
The noise from the crowd gradually became outrageous.
The Fifth Prince's face grew increasingly grim. Seeing that he was about to rush out of the Red Chamber and storm into the palace to lodge a complaint with the Emperor, he quickly stopped him, saying, "Thank you all for your righteous words. This is just a small family matter. Why make a scene before the Emperor and cause my father any worry? I will definitely give Xue'er an explanation when I return to my residence."
These words struck like a thunderbolt.
Suddenly regaining his senses, Mr. Li looked at the weeping Jiang Xue with a somber expression. This woman was a bit strange. When he heard the crowd sympathizing with her and falsely accusing the little girl, he wanted to speak up for the little girl.
His throat felt like it was blocked by something, especially when he saw the woman's tears; the words of rebuttal that were on the tip of his tongue suddenly vanished.
Looking at the struggling eyes of her mentally challenged son beside her, she probably felt the same way.
Even the young ladies in the Grand View Garden seemed to suddenly realize what was happening before they came to their senses.
Immediately, a sharp voice rang out, "Bah—I've finally seen such a shameless person in this world! This doesn't look like the Fifth Prince's concubine at all; she looks like one of your concubines, being protected so fiercely!"
"She was the one who fell into the man's arms, and in the struggle, her clothes were torn, yet she blames it on someone else. How shameless!"
Daiyu took out a handkerchief and pressed it to the corner of her eye. "Sister Xifeng is absolutely right. It's a wonder you all listened to that concubine and didn't care about anything else. How come you believed her so readily? She's more convincing than an imperial edict!"
“When Miss Daiyu speaks, it’s hard to say whether you like her or hate her, but today she’s saying what’s on the minds of us sisters in the Grand View Garden.”
Miss Xue Baochai slowly stood up, her movements elegant and dignified, and said softly, "I just saw with my own eyes that Aunt Xue inexplicably stepped back and ended up falling right into Young Master Zhao's arms."
Seeing her former best friends stand up for her, Xiangling felt a surge of courage and chimed in, puffing out her cheeks, "That's right! That's exactly it! I saw it too!"
Young Master Li was about to speak in agreement.
But Mr. Li beat him to it, declaring, “Words are no proof. Let’s put it in writing. Since you’re going to report this to the authorities, it’s best to write it down. If the evidence is conclusive, I, as your teacher, will not tolerate it!”
"Ahem... Someone, bring me pen, ink, paper and inkstone."
The seventh prince made the final decision, and all was silent.
Jiang Jiaojiao's eyes widened.
This is... breaking free from the protagonist's halo? That's amazing!
Xiao Jinjin was well-trained; look at the girls in the Grand View Garden, each one eloquent, leaving Jiang Xue speechless and ashamed.
The Fifth Prince's expression changed rapidly, and he glanced at Jiang Xue impatiently.
"Someone come... escort Aunt Xue back to her residence."
With a single command, the weeping Jiang Xue was finally taken away.
Once the protagonist's halo disappeared, Jiang Jiaojiao instantly felt that even breathing became easier.
Everyone agrees.
Even the men who had just loudly defended Jiang Xue shuddered and shrank back.
Are they possessed?
For the sake of a concubine, she actually offended the Jin family of the Marquis's mansion and the Seventh Prince.
Several scholars wished they could slap themselves a few times.
They actually... made empty promises and angered Mr. Li. I am truly ashamed.
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