The man had a handsome appearance, a bright look, and an extraordinary temperament.
Jiang Songyi recognized him at a glance. Wasn't this her adoptive brother Liao Lingxi, who had bad behavior?
He had long known her true identity and was also aware that she was not his biological sister. In the past, when Liao was planning to send her to a merchant as a concubine, he had attempted to do something indecent to her. Fortunately, she was strong and muscular from doing rough work, so the weak scholar was prevented from succeeding.
[Humph, the Duke of the Protectorate is truly audacious, actually daring to show off his concubine's son at his first wife's family home.]
The Protector of the State bowed respectfully and said apologetically, "I'm so sorry to bother you so late at night, mother-in-law."
However, Madam Jiang's gaze was fixed on Liao Lingxi who was beside him.
"Duke Protector of the Country, what is this person's identity?"
Madam Jiang never expected that Hao Ren would be so brazen as to bring his concubine's son into the house.
"This is a student I've taken in in recent years, his name is Ling Xi."
Hao Ren gave Liao Lingxi a look, and he stepped forward and saluted. "Lingxi greets the old lady."
Immediately, he glanced at Jiang Songyi with a sidelong glance, a playful smile on his lips, "Sister, how are you?"
Jiang Songyi gently pushed Jiang Yuyao next to him and said in a more serious tone, "This is your real sister."
Before the old lady could ask, Hao Ren explained, "Mother-in-law, it was fate. I met him by chance at the academy. Seeing his extraordinary talent and pride despite his humble background, I accepted him as my disciple and funded his studies. I never expected that he was actually Yuyao's older brother."
Jiang Songyi rolled her eyes inwardly after hearing this. "What kind of coincidence is this? White Egret Academy is teeming with truly gifted students from humble backgrounds. Liao Lingxi is nothing more than a figurehead. This is clearly a carefully orchestrated scheme by Hao Ren to keep his illegitimate son close to him and personally train him! Accepting him as a disciple at White Egret Academy is simply an opportunity to boost his reputation and gain him fame and fortune."
The old lady took every word Jiang Songyi said to heart, but remained expressionless as she responded calmly, "Well, what a coincidence. But, Lord Protector, didn't your favorite student ever tell you about Songyi's difficult life? If he had been honest with him earlier, Songyi might not have been stranded in a foreign land and suffered so much hardship."
Hao Ren firmly defended Liao Lingxi: "Mother-in-law, Lingxi was devoted to her studies and oblivious to the outside world. She knew nothing about the Liao family's evil deeds."
"Old Madam, my mother may have made a mistake. As her child, although I am unaware of it, I should apologize to you on her behalf."
As Liao Lingxi spoke, he lifted his robe without hesitation, knelt on the ground, and performed a solemn salute to the old lady.
Jiang Songyi watched coldly from the sidelines, sharply pointing out, "Liao Lingxi, you really didn't know? Then why did you try to let me into your room back then, promising to take me as a concubine in the future?"
Liao Lingxi suddenly stopped and looked at Jiang Songyi in astonishment.
Is Jiang Songyi crazy? She's willing to expose this past without caring about her own reputation?
The old lady was sitting upright above him. Upon hearing this, she picked up the teacup beside her and smashed it towards Liao Lingxi's head, angrily scolding him, "Shameless bastard!"
Liao Lingxi was caught off guard and was hit on the head, bleeding and in a miserable state.
Jiang Yuyao watched anxiously from the side, but she couldn't show any closeness to Liao Lingxi in front of the old lady. She could only pretend to be nervous and comfort Jiang Songyi: "Sister, your reputation is of paramount importance. Don't believe in nonsense."
Liao Lingxi simply assumed I was a woman, someone who valued my reputation, and therefore wouldn't dare to make it public even though he was harassing me. But Master is right; the perpetrator is at fault. I'm just beautiful, so what's wrong with that?
Seeing his only heir in such a state of disarray, Hao Ren was anxious and hurriedly explained, "Mother-in-law, perhaps there's some misunderstanding. They're all young people, how could they harbor such malicious intent? Perhaps Ling Xi was drunk and mistook my sister for someone else, leading to these nonsense."
Liao Lingxi clenched his fists and hurriedly apologized to Jiang Songyi, "Sister, my drunken behavior was indeed my fault. You taught me a lesson back then, but haven't I completely calmed down yet? I've always treated you as my own sister, so how could I have any improper intentions towards you?"
Jiang Songyi snorted coldly.
[He spoke as if he willingly accepted the punishment, but in reality it was simply because he was weak and powerless, whereas I, through long-term physical labor, had ample strength, which enabled me to defend myself in times of crisis.]
Old Madam Jiang stared at Liao Lingxi with an icy gaze, and her heart became more determined: There really is no one in the Liao family who is trustworthy!
Her words were sharp and unrestrained, piercing the heart. "Drunk and out of control, speaking without restraint? Even if you have no ill intentions towards Song Yi, your outrageous remarks before marriage, including mentioning the possibility of a concubine, clearly indicate a tainted heart. Everyone says virtue comes first, knowledge comes second. Lord Protector, your vision in selecting your protégés is truly questionable."
The Duke of Protectorate had always been proud of this son, but now he was belittled by the old lady as worthless. He was burning with anger and could hardly suppress it.
Madam Jiang angrily rebuked, "His biological mother was of low character to begin with. Like mother, like son. This family is simply too vulnerable!"
Jiang Songyi raised his eyebrows slightly, secretly feeling that the old lady's words were quite pleasing to the ear.
[Hahaha, this cursed all three people present. The Duke of Huguo was so angry that his face turned ashen and his fists clenched. The old lady seemed to have forgotten that Jiang Yuyao was Liao Lingxi's biological sister and they were actually family.]
Madam Jiang caught Jiang Songyi's thoughts and sneered in her heart.
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