However, Jiang Qingmo resolutely defended her identity as the elder sister. She put on a stern face, forcibly pulled Jiang Songyi's hand away from her forehead, and sternly warned: "Don't be so rude and touch your cousin's head so carelessly."
Jiang Songyi responded seriously, "Yes, cousin."
Jiang Qingmo snorted lightly, and said firmly: "My sisters and I are not like that eldest cousin. We only recognize you as our cousin."
Jiang Songyi suddenly remembered something and said, "But if we talk about kinship in detail, she is your biological sister after all."
Jiang Qingmo's reaction was extremely intense: "She's just a concubine's daughter! She can't be considered our biological sister! In my opinion, she should be sent to that unlucky Chansi Marquis's Mansion."
On the training ground, Jiang Yuyao naturally noticed Jiang Songyi and Jiang Qingmo walking slowly under the shade of the locust tree.
"Brother, I feel a little tired. Why don't we take a rest under the shade of that tree?"
"Well, your body is relatively fragile, so do everything within your ability."
Jiang Jinzhao led her horse directly to the shade of the tree and carefully helped her dismount.
"Sister Songyi, Cousin Qingmo, where are you going?"
Jiang Yuyao stood in front of the two of them, smiling and asking in a soft tone.
Jiang Qingmo had never had a good impression of Jiang Yuyao. The indifference on his face was as cold as ice. "What does this have to do with you?"
Jiang Yuyao's expression showed a slight hurt. She asked softly, "I was just asking casually, Cousin Qing Mo, why are you so harsh to me? Did I offend you unintentionally?"
Jiang Qingmo's heart burned with rage the moment he saw her pitiful appearance. "Jiang Yuyao, stop pretending to call me cousin. You're just an illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Chansi, yet you spend all day in the Marquis's mansion, stealing someone else's identity, taking away someone else's brother, and even coming here to disgust me. Do you still have any shame?" Jiang Yuyao's tears instantly burst out, and the tears fell like pearls from a broken string. "I, I..."
Jiang Jinzhao had just tightened the reins when he turned around and witnessed this scene, his brows furrowed involuntarily.
Yuyao's words were true. Everyone in the mansion, from elders to peers, doted on Jiang Songyi but treated her coldly. No wonder she was always alone and sad, feeling the awkward situation of being dependent on others.
Jiang Jinzhao stepped forward and stood in front of Jiang Yuyao. His gaze swept across Jiang Songyi with a deep and calm look, and then turned his gaze to Jiang Qingmo: "Qingmo. Your words were too sharp. Apologize to Yuyao."
"I refuse. Cousin, everything I said is true, even if it is sharp, it is the truth." Jiang Qingmo said in a firm tone, with an unyielding light in his eyes.
Jiang Qingmo held her head high. With the strong support of her grandmother and uncle, she was not afraid of her cousin at all. She even felt an urge to blame this extremely biased cousin.
"And you, Songyi is clearly your biological sister. She was displaced because of Jiang Yuyao and suffered so much hardship, but you are indifferent. Even for Xia Miao, you only prepared supplies for her because of Jiang Yuyao, only taught her riding and archery, and only took her outings. Do you know how much pain and grievance Songyi is feeling?"
As Jiang Qingmo said these words, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. Her crying was far more intense than Jiang Yuyao's sobbing, which was like a pear blossom in the rain. It was entirely out of deep sympathy and grievance for Jiang Songyi.
Jiang Jinzhao looked at the two people in front of him who were about to burst into tears, and a trace of collapse and helplessness flashed across his gentle and distant face.
He had originally felt that Jiang Songyi's grievances were visible to everyone, while Yuyao's were ignored. But after hearing Jiang Qingmo's sobbing, he felt a deep sense of guilt towards Jiang Songyi. Although he sympathized with Yuyao, he had no reason to vent his anger on Jiang Songyi.
He subconsciously looked at Jiang Songyi and prayed silently in his heart that she would not cry too.
However, Jiang Songyi's calm and indifferent eyes met his gaze. Her gaze was not cold and icy, nor filled with resentment. Instead, it was as gentle as a mountain spring, appearing to be indifferent.
For some reason, Jiang Jinzhao felt as if a thin needle was pricking his heart, and the pain at that moment came inexplicably.
Jiang Qingmo was in tears, with snot and tears mixed together. Her crying seemed more sincere and touching than Jiang Yuyao's.
Jiang Songyi gently took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears carefully, saying softly, "Don't cry, I don't feel wronged."
Jiang Qingmo stared at her with red and swollen eyes, so angry that even snot bubbles appeared. His voice trembled: "No, you are wronged! You are obviously wronged!"
Jiang Songyi smiled gently, and said in a doting tone: "Okay, I feel wronged, I feel wronged."
[Since my cousin is standing up for me, I'll just go along with it and endure the grievance.]
Jiang Jinzhao wasn't worth the slightest bit of injustice I felt. After all, in my previous life, my heart for him had already turned as cold as ice.
Jiang Jinzhao was stunned for a moment.
What secrets are hidden in the past life?
He had heard Jiang Songyi's inner voice mention his past life more than once, but whenever the topic came up, it was always about how he was coveted by Zhang Dingqian and how he was tortured and died in prison. These painful memories were unbearable for him to hear and filled with guilt. Deep down, he longed to ask, but he was also afraid that Jiang Songyi would realize that he could see into her inner world and become even more wary and distant towards him.
Jiang Yuyao's tears welled up in her eyes, her voice choking with sobs. "All the faults are mine. Just as Cousin Qing Mo said, I was greedy. I've been doted on by my brothers for years, but I still can't let go of that attachment. I should leave and return all the love to Sister Songyi."
Jiang Jinzhao still had a deep affection for his sister in his heart, and it was difficult to sever the long-standing brother-sister relationship. "Yuyao, this is not your fault."
"It's my fault."
He frowned and turned his eyes to Jiang Songyi, lamenting the delicacy and complexity of a woman's mind.
He explained to Jiang Songyi, "It's not that I don't want to take you to Xia Miao. As long as you are willing to ask, I will agree immediately."
"Heh." Jiang Songyi obviously didn't believe what he said.
In my past life, I begged you countless times, even pleading with you, but you never took me. It wasn't until my mother forced you to do so that you reluctantly accompanied me. And in front of my classmates, you only mentioned Jiang Yuyao, as if I wasn't even your sister.
Jiang Jinzhao: Absolutely impossible! There must be a misunderstanding!
Although he has a deeper affection for Jiang Yuyao, who grew up with him, he will never ignore his sister who is related by blood. In fact, Jiang Songyi has not done anything that disgusts him so far.
The incident that led to Jiang Yuyao falling into the water had been verified and confirmed to be a misunderstanding. Therefore, he had even less reason to feel disgusted with her.
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