With each additional word Tang Ning uttered, Qin Qianqian's face paled further. Her eyes were fixed on Tang Ning, who was kneeling on the ground, and she didn't even dare to look up at General Qin, Madam Qin, Princess Jian, or Wei Jing, who was sitting very close to her.
Why?
She truly didn't understand at all, and had no idea that Tang Ning, who had rushed home, would say such heartfelt words, especially after she had unhesitatingly uttered those slanderous and defamatory remarks about her.
Compared to Tang Ning, who was now sincerely explaining and pleading for her and Wei Jing, the woman who had just directly accused Tang Ning was like a clown jumping around, her ugly face making everyone present feel disgusted.
Qin Qianqian's hands, hanging limply to her side, trembled slightly. A chilling cold, no less intense than when she was caught "adulterously" at the Princess's residence, spread through her entire body, so cold that she could hardly bear it.
She never imagined that she, Qin Qianqian, would one day suffer such humiliation twice in one day, as if she had been stripped naked from head to toe and paraded through the streets.
Unfortunately, both of these humiliations were inextricably linked to Tang Ning.
The first time, she was trying to follow Tang Ning when she was suddenly pushed into that problematic room by someone. The second time, Tang Ning personally ripped her face off.
It was at this moment that Qin Qianqian finally understood what the fortune teller meant by mutual generation and mutual restraint. She didn't know about others, but the only thing she was certain of was that Tang Ning was born to be her nemesis.
Ever since she appeared in the capital, she has been constantly antagonizing her.
Because of her, it was revealed that she was not the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion, and that her fourteen years of happiness were stolen. Her reputation plummeted in an instant.
Because of her, her parents no longer loved her, her brother no longer paid attention to her, and even... she even stole the heart of the person she loved, leaving her in a state of being ignored by everyone.
Because of her, she has completely lost her reputation. It won't be long before everyone in the capital starts to laugh at her without restraint, and she might not even be able to leave the house. Not to mention, her meanness, malice, and narrow-mindedness only highlight Tang Ning's magnanimity, selflessness, and kindness.
hehe.
Why.
Why couldn't she have died on the way from Xihe County to the capital?
Looking at Tang Ning, who was still kneeling on the ground, Qin Qianqian couldn't help but think this.
After all, if Tang Ning had never existed in the first place, she wouldn't have had to face all this humiliation and disgrace, would she?
Qin Qianqian's gaze grew colder and deeper...
At this moment, General Qin, who had finally pieced together the general outline of the matter from everyone's words, looked at Qin Qianqian in disbelief.
He remembered that Qianqian used to be very well-behaved and obedient. Even if she was a little spoiled at times, those were all harmless little things. But now, how could she have become like this?
She said that Tang Ning had an affair with Young Master Helan, which is why she deliberately plotted against her.
He has eyes to see and ears to hear. How could Tang Ning, who just pleaded for her, possibly do such a thing? Moreover, she hoped that they could thoroughly investigate the matter. Is this the attitude of someone who would actively scheme against others?
General Qin looked down. Qin Qianqian, who had been in pain for fourteen years and could not completely transfer her feelings to her biological daughter Tang Ning even after her daughter returned, was almost overwhelmed by disappointment and regret.
Madam Qin was just as disappointed as General Qin. Back in the Princess's residence, she had already sensed Qin Qianqian's intention to drag Tang Ning into the mess. She stopped her at the Princess's residence, but she never expected that after returning to the General's residence, Qin Qianqian would still insist on involving Tang Ning.
Madam Qin never imagined that Qin Qianqian, with whom she had spent fourteen years, was actually so stupid and vicious.
Qin Qianqian's attempt to implicate Tang Ning in this way, in stark contrast to Tang Ning kneeling and begging for Qin Qianqian's life, is like a resounding slap across the face, loudly reminding her just how much of a failure her years of teaching have been.
On the one hand, she felt a sense of relief that her own daughter had grown into such a kind, gentle, and generous person, even though she hadn't seen her.
Just thinking this, Madam Qin's gaze towards Tang Ning softened unconsciously.
The gentle touch paused instinctively when it reached Tang Ning's empty left ear. Her eyes carefully examined Tang Ning; her hair was half-dry, and although her clothes were dry, they were quite wrinkled.
After looking at Tang Ning, Madam Qin's gaze fell on He Lanruo, who was standing not far behind Tang Ning. She saw that He Lanruo had slightly furrowed brows and her gaze was fixed directly on Tang Ning, who was kneeling on the ground.
In an instant, Madam Qin clenched her fists tightly.
If she wasn't mistaken, someone had indeed fallen into the water at the Princess's residence earlier, and that person was Tang Ning. The main reason why they rushed over but failed to find Tang Ning was that this young master Helan had rescued Tang Ning and taken her away immediately, or... hidden away.
Only this can explain Tang Ning's half-wet hair, wrinkled clothes, and the garnet earring she accidentally left by the lake.
Furthermore, if Tang Ning really fell into the water, then Qianqian's claim that Tang Ning deliberately plotted against her and Wei Jing would be even less valid. She doesn't have the ability to be in two places at once, so how could she be plotting against Qianqian while falling into the water at the same time?
Thinking of this, Madam Qin couldn't help but feel a little disgusted with Qin Qianqian.
Even more so, a thought arose in my heart: was the accidental switching of Qianqian and Tangning at birth really an accident?
Previously, she was still thinking about Qianqian, so she didn't pay much attention to what happened back then. But now, thinking back, ever since she met Madam Tang, the way Madam Tang looked at her clothes and jewelry had always been a bit strange. And when she told Madam Tang that her husband's family was serving in the military, a hint of...greed flashed in Madam Tang's eyes.
That should be it, it's greed.
However, she hadn't thought too much about it before, only assuming that the other person was envious of her. But if they were really envious, why would they make her feel slightly uncomfortable?
Even after all these years, she could still vividly recall that strange discomfort.
So, back then, when the two children were switched at birth, was it really just as the wet nurse from the Tang family said, that she was so exhausted that she accidentally switched the two children?
Looking at Qin Qianqian like this, Madam Qin suddenly felt that the face of her beloved daughter, whom she had cherished and cared for for so many years, seemed to overlap with that of Madam Tang, whom she had met by chance fourteen years ago.
This inexplicable feeling caused Madam Qin's eyes to darken slightly.
perhaps……
She should send someone to Xihe County to investigate thoroughly. The wet nurse is dead, but if someone wants to hide a secret, they will always leave some trace. She should also find the maids who followed her back then and make them carefully recall the events of fourteen years ago. Although they were relegated to the sidelines back then, if they really think about it, they should be able to remember something.
Princess Jian, sitting to the side, glanced at Qin Qianqian, whose face was shockingly pale, then at the Qin couple in the main seat, whose faces were grim, and at her own son standing to the side, whose face was filled with astonishment and confusion, and who was greatly shocked.
In any other situation, Wei Jing's unhappiness might have upset Princess Jian as well, but with Qin Qianqian, she felt as refreshed as if she had drunk a bowl of chilled mung bean soup on a sweltering summer day.
Eight hundred years ago, she saw through Qin Qianqian's appearance, which seemed charming and endearing, but was actually a treacherous villain.
Now, should we ask her to be right?
She asked herself if she was a difficult person to get along with, so why couldn't she get along with Qin Qianqian? Because of her, she had arguments with her son time and time again, and her son had disobeyed her more than once because of her.
Now everyone can see whose problem it really is, right?
Thinking this in her heart and clearly showing it on her face, Princess Jian actually let out a soft sneer in front of everyone, neither too loud nor too soft.
That single sneer shattered the tranquility of the situation almost instantly.
Qin Qianqian's body trembled involuntarily, but the expressions of General Qin and his wife, who had regained their senses, were even more unpleasant.
It was only then that they realized Tang Ning was still kneeling on the ground.
Seeing this, General Qin coughed lightly and softened his voice, saying, "Father understands, Tang Ning, please get up."
Upon hearing General Qin's words, Tang Ning raised her head in confusion. Because she had bumped her forehead so hard earlier, and because she was prone to leaving marks, a red mark was immediately visible on her forehead.
Seeing the red marks made the Qin couple look at Tang Ning with even more tenderness and love.
Not only them, but even Princess Jian, standing to the side, felt a unique fondness rising from the bottom of her heart. What a wonderful girl! Compared to Qin Qianqian, she was worlds apart. Fortunately, she had sharp eyes and saw through this girl's true nature at a glance. She shamelessly pulled the marriage contract away from Qin Qianqian and placed it on her. It was easy to imagine that the two of them, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, would get along very well in the future...
No, wait a minute.
Only then did Princess Jian realize that her son, A Jing, had been caught in bed with Qin Qianqian not long ago.
Being caught in bed with another man means that Qin Qianqian can never marry anyone else but A Jing.
The Qin family would never marry both of their daughters into their Prince Jianfu at the same time, which means she has already chosen her daughter-in-law and there are no other options.
From now on, she will only be facing... Qin Qianqian.
Thinking of this, Princess Jian clenched her fists, her eyes almost overflowing with disgust as she looked down at Qin Qianqian.
Isn't there any way to get Qin Qianqian to give up on her own, or even go to Bai'e Mountain to cut her hair and become a nun?
After all, such a thing happened in front of everyone. Any girl with a shred of shame should have committed suicide on the spot to prove her innocence. Even if she didn't die, she should have voluntarily entered a nunnery.
Qin Qianqian, on the other hand, has a skin thicker than a city wall, and she even tries to drag her good daughter-in-law, Tang Ning, into the mess.
His intentions are despicable.
Princess Jian cursed her in her heart.
Don't think she didn't know. She had already found out on the carriage that Qin Qianqian and A Jing hadn't done anything. The most important thing was that, according to what A Jing's servant said, it was Qin Qianqian's personal maid who suddenly called A Jing out in such a hurry. Who knows if she was deliberately plotting against A Jing?
Since that's the case, let's show her just how thick-skinned Qin Qianqian really is!
Just as Tang Ning heard General Qin tell her to get up, she was momentarily confused about what he meant by "I understand" and hesitated whether to get up.
Princess Jian immediately coughed lightly.
"Now that my son A-Jing and Qianqian have been found lying together in the Princess's residence, it's likely that the news has already spread. In any case, we should minimize the impact of this matter before it completely gets out of hand. Therefore, if possible, I hope that Qianqian can enter our Prince Jian's residence as soon as possible..."
Princess Jian paused slightly at this point.
Madam Qin had a bad feeling.
Then she noticed that a mocking look flashed across the Princess Consort's eyes as she looked at Qin Qianqian, and she had already spoken the rest of her words.
"As a concubine."
With just six words, Princess Jian drew the attention of almost everyone present.
If Qin Qianqian could still barely comfort herself before, even though she had almost no face left, at least the outcome was good. She had married Wei Jing as she wished, eliminating all possibilities between Wei Jing and Tang Ning. Regardless of now or in the future, as long as she held onto Wei Jing's heart and lived a good life, she didn't believe anyone would dare to mock her to her face.
She will make everyone envious and jealous of her.
But now...
Concubine.
concubine.
Qin Qianqian could hardly believe that one day this word would have any connection with her.
That vile Princess Jian is deliberately trying to disgust and annoy her, and is deliberately seeking revenge against her!
In an instant, because of these six words, Qin Qianqian hated Princess Jian to the core. In her heart, Princess Jian had begun to be on par with Tang Ning.
To this, Tang Ning, who appeared utterly shocked, could only say—
Well done! [Thumbs up]
"Your Highness!"
Even if they felt that Qin Qianqian was wrong, to General Qin and his wife, she was still their daughter, the adopted daughter of the General's Mansion.
Princess Jian's suggestion that Qianqian enter the Jian Prince's mansion as a concubine was not only an insult to Qianqian, but also an insult to their General's mansion.
Before the two of them could say anything, Qin Qianqian staggered to her feet, her eyes bloodshot as she looked at Princess Jian, who was standing not far away. "Your Highness, Qianqian has always known that you have never liked me, and even hated me. But today, it's clear that I was framed and plotted against. Now that my innocence is gone, why are you humiliating me like this? Is it... is it only when I die in front of you that you will stop hating me so much?"
Qin Qianqian sobbed uncontrollably.
Upon hearing this, Princess Jian subconsciously raised an eyebrow, then burst out laughing. "Your innocence is gone? Anyone who didn't know better would think my A-Jing did something to you! But on the way here, I already asked A-Jing, and clearly nothing happened between you two in that room! So how can you say your innocence is gone?"
"More importantly, I've already asked A-Jing's servant. Today, your personal maid, Luyi, deliberately went to the West Garden to find A-Jing so you could meet him privately. A-Jing even wanted to bring his servant, but your maid refused to let him. Why don't you tell me what urgent matter you had that you were so eager to see A-Jing that you wouldn't even allow your servant to bring anyone... and then you were found in bed with him. What a coincidence! Don't tell me it was all an accident, a coincidence!"
Princess Jian said sarcastically.
Upon hearing her words, Qin Qianqian, who finally understood what it meant to shoot herself in the foot, swayed subconsciously.
What is she supposed to say?
Are you suggesting she called A-Jing over to show him the affair between Tang Ning and He Lanruo? And that she ended up in bed with A-Jing because she was following Tang Ning and He Lanruo and was accidentally pushed into that problematic room? The person who pushed her was most likely either Tang Ning or He Lanruo.
Having just tried to provoke Tang Ning only to be outmaneuvered by her, Qin Qianqian felt a bitter taste in her mouth and was unable to speak.
"I...I...Yes, it was an accident, everything was...an accident..."
Qin Qianqian said this with difficulty.
"Listen to this, listen to this, even you probably don't believe what you're saying, do you?"
Princess Jian's expression became even more sarcastic.
She glanced at General Qin and his wife, who were speechless, and a slight smile played on her lips. "The gates of my Jianwang Mansion aren't for just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to enter with some dirty tricks. Since you've used underhanded methods, then you'll have to suffer the consequences. Unless your General's Mansion can produce evidence that none of this has anything to do with Qin Qianqian, then I will gladly welcome her into the gates of my Wei family with a grand procession. Otherwise..."
"You'd better behave yourself, take a small sedan chair, wear a light red wedding dress, and enter my Prince Jian's mansion through the side gate as a concubine."
Princess Jian said this, enunciating each word clearly.
Every word was like a heavy hammer striking Qin Qianqian's heart, causing her chest to ache, as if she could spit out a mouthful of bright red blood if she opened her mouth.
In an instant, Qin Qianqian's body began to shake violently. Unable to support herself, the woman fell to the ground in a disheveled state.
Seeing Qin Qianqian like this, Madam Qin was truly furious at her lack of ambition.
After all, if it were her, given her personality, she wouldn't marry at all. Is Wei Jing the only man in the world? Why would she be so desperate for him? So what if her reputation is ruined? At worst, she can remain unmarried for life. If all else fails, she can simply cut off her hair and become a nun. That would be much better than suffering such humiliation.
"We don't..."
Thinking of this, Madam Qin subconsciously wanted to say what she was about to say.
To her surprise, Qin Qianqian immediately looked up at her after she had only uttered three words, a pleading look flashing in her eyes.
She hasn't lost yet; she still has Wei Jing.
She couldn't believe it. She had already been forced into this situation, and Wei Jing, who had once loved her so much, would really be unmoved. She also couldn't believe that Wei Jing would be willing to let her marry into the Jianwang Mansion as a concubine.
Thinking of this, she looked sadly at Wei Jing beside her.
Unfortunately, before she could even make eye contact with Wei Jing, Princess Jian had already rushed in front of him, completely obscuring her son.
"Alright, here's my suggestion. You can accept it if you want, or we can discuss it further if you don't. It's getting late, and I should head back now. Ah Jing, let's go."
As she spoke, she turned around and stared intently at Wei Jing behind her.
The boy, whose mind was in turmoil, retreated step by step under her closing gaze.
He stiffly followed in Princess Jian's footsteps.
“Ah Jing…”
Qin Qianqian's pitiful voice rang out behind him. Before Wei Jing could stop, Princess Jian grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.
"Walk!"
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