Zhuang Xiyan was the calmest one.
Cheng Jinyi, however, did not want her to suffer any injustice. "Just now, the princess said that the Zhuang family's fate is sealed. Why is that?"
Old Madam Zhuang's expression immediately changed upon seeing her beloved granddaughter crying, and Zhuang Shixu also looked at Jiang Shumiao.
No one gets up early without a reason.
Sure enough, you only know the pain when you prick yourself with a needle.
A hint of mockery and bitterness flashed in Zhuang Xiyan's eyes.
Jiang Shumiao then began to explain to them, “The law of the country has the punishment of collective punishment, and the laws of the underworld are even more severe. If a mortal commits heinous crimes, it will implicate his ancestors and descendants. The Zhuang family was originally on the rise in fortune in this generation, but someone used evil magic to harm people, and even targeted his own sisters. He did not repent and harbored immoral thoughts.”
Just now, when Zhuang Xiyan questioned Zhuang Xiuyan, Old Madam Zhuang still thought it was absurd. Upon hearing this, she was filled with disbelief.
"Xiuyan, are you really..."
When her most despicable thoughts were exposed, Zhuang Xiuyan felt utterly ashamed and angry, and instinctively denied them.
"I didn't, she's lying!"
Jiang Shumiao said, "Do you know why I didn't interrogate those two ghosts again in court? Because as the person involved, your memory is the most complete."
Zhuang Xiuyan's heart skipped a beat.
"What...what do you mean?"
Jiang Shumiao said calmly, "Great cultivators can search the souls of mortals, from birth to death, down to the smallest detail. You colluded with evil cultivators and ghost cultivators, tampering with the life and death of mortals and disrupting the order of the underworld. So, I will immediately extract your soul as retribution you deserve."
Zhuang Xiuyan had been pampered since childhood and had everything she wanted. She had never experienced anything like this before. Fear and hatred grew in her heart at the same time.
But there was nothing they could do.
Humans are far too insignificant in the face of a true God.
Even if the child in front of her was only five years old.
"You were born into a life of luxury and raised in a land of wealth, where you never had to ask for anything. Yet, you were greedy and insatiable, and jealousy and hatred led you to harbor evil thoughts. When you arrive in the underworld, you will receive all the punishments you deserve."
Hearing this, Zhuang Xiuyan finally became afraid.
She started to cry.
"I didn't mean it, elder sister, elder sister!" Zhuang Xiuyan crawled a few steps to Zhuang Xiyan, grabbed her skirt, looked up at her, and cried pitifully, "I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. Please, please let me go, okay? We are sisters born of the same mother, we are blood relatives..."
Zhuang Xiyan looked down at her, her eyes filled with pain.
"When you harmed me, did you not think of me as your elder sister, your own flesh and blood?"
Zhuang Xiuyan choked.
Zhuang Xiyan closed her eyes and said softly, "I really don't understand what you're jealous of. I was born with a red spot on my face, ugly and insecure. You, on the other hand, were born to be the center of attention, the apple of everyone's eye. Do you know how much I envied you? My mother loved me and took extra care of me. Yet you can't even stand this one special thing. In your eyes, am I destined to live in the mire for the rest of my life?"
Zhuang Xiuyan shook her head.
"No, I didn't think that way..."
Zhuang Xiyan did not miss the fleeting look of guilt and resentment in her eyes.
So that's really what she thought.
Heh~
"It disgusts me to hear you say the words 'closest flesh and blood'."
Zhuang Xiuyan stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She couldn't believe that her usually gentle and tolerant sister would be so ruthless.
"Elder sister, are you trying to force me to my death?"
Even now, she's still trying to shift the blame.
Enraged, Zhuang Xiyan slapped her hand away, "It was you who wanted me dead!"
Cheng Jinyi put his arm around his wife's shoulder and looked coldly at Zhuang Xiuyan, "Sixth Miss, you should bear the consequences of your own sins. There's no need to play the victim and act innocent, as if everyone owes you something."
This statement is the most scathing.
The catalyst for Zhuang Xiuyan's evil deeds was Cheng Jinyi. Seeing that he remained unmoved no matter how much she feigned weakness, she was consumed by jealousy. "You're so protective of her now, do you know how hideous she used to be? Because of her, the Zhuang family has to spend at least 30,000 taels of silver every year to help the people. She alone has dragged down the entire Zhuang family. How can such a selfish woman marry you? She doesn't deserve it—"
Madam Ning took two steps forward and slapped him across the face.
Grandma Zhuang was still in shock from her granddaughter's words when the crisp sound of a slap brought her back to reality. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Zhuang Xiuyan covered her face, "Mother, did you hit me?"
She screamed angrily, "Why? I'm your daughter too! Why are you only thinking about this ugly woman..."
Madam Ning slapped her again, but tears fell from her eyes.
"No wonder you could be so cruel; it turns out you've never considered your sister a sibling. If you had even a shred of conscience, you wouldn't have said such a thing. You say I'm biased? From childhood to adulthood, have I ever said a harsh word to you?"
Zhuang Xiuyan's eyes flickered, but she remained silent.
Madam Ning gave a bitter laugh, "Your arrogance shows that you don't care about your mother at all. All you think about is comparing and plundering. It's my fault for not discovering your true colors in time, which allowed you to become so rampant."
Zhuang Xiyan held her hand, offering silent comfort.
Madam Ning was in tears, filled with regret.
Cheng Jinyi suppressed her anger and said calmly, "Your appearance reflects your heart. Even though Xiyan is ugly, she is kind-hearted and sincere. You are ruthless, selfish, and hypocritical. Even if you have the beauty of a celestial being, you are nothing more than a demon in human skin."
Zhuang Xiuyan was struck dumb.
Cheng Jinyi then looked at Jiang Shumiao and asked, "Princess, if we indulge her today, what will happen to the Zhuang family?"
Zhuang Shixu, who had been observing coldly, was now becoming anxious and eager.
Jiang Shumiao curled her lip, "Aiding the wicked is like raising a poisonous insect; in the long run, it will inevitably backfire."
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