Ji Xinhe’s nonchalant greetings, at this moment, sounded like mockery to Yi Ling.
Yi Ling’s face was filled with discontent, completely dropping her false pretense, she sneered venomously, "Do you think I am in the mood to stroll in the garden?"
Ji Xinhe blinked in pretended surprise, "Does that mean you came here specifically to wait for me? When Aunt Yun left the Flower House, she was so resolute that I thought you would never want to see me again in your life."
Yi Ling, however seemingly on the verge of a breakdown, yelled with bloodshot eyes, "Do you think manipulating my life is fun for you? You repeatedly hurt me. Do you want me dead? Despite being a woman who has lost a child, how can you be so cruel!"
Xiaoyu’s face darkened instantly, she shouted sternly, "Insolent!"
Shulan couldn’t help but step forward and slap Yi Ling, glaring at her and reprimanding, "Is someone like you even capable of cursing our Madam and the unborn child in her belly!?"
Yi Ling was outraged by the slap but couldn’t fight back. Ji Xinhe was surrounded with a crowd, while she intentionally came to wait for Ji Xinhe this time alone to avoid attracting attention. If she pushed back now, wouldn’t she end up worse off?
She lifted her head and looked at Ji Xinhe, whose face was impassive, yet her eyes held a hint of icy chill.
No matter when, a child would always be her bottom line. She could tolerate pretty nasty provocations, but not when it came to her child. Therefore, she did nothing when Shulan slapped Yi Ling.
That was the punishment for speaking out of line.
At that moment, Yi Ling looked at the indifferent Ji Xinhe standing before her, trembling with fear within. She realized she had underestimated this woman; her cunning and ability were probably far beyond what she had seen.
Ji Xinhe slowly stepped into the gazebo, her face still unexpressive. Xiaoyu laid a clean handkerchief in the gazebo. Ji Xinhe leaned against the railing and sat down, her icy gaze staring into the calm lake. She spoke in a soft voice, "You say I keep pressuring you, but you don’t mention why I pressure you. You claim that I’m targeting you, but don’t think about why I target you. Look at the girls in the Flower House. Isn’t each one living better than you? I treated them as high-ranking ladies, even giving them dignity and anything and everything they ever needed. Looking at them now, you might be jealous, but you have forgotten that I once offered you the same."
Ji Xinhe’s soft voice echoed, piercing Yi Ling’s heart, causing her immense pain.
Xin He scoffed, "Yet you didn’t want it. You chose to leave and chose to be locked in this seemingly luxurious mansion, where you bow and scrape, demeaned by others. What right do you have then to blame others?"
Yi Ling bit her teeth hard, "It’s all your fault that I am reduced to such a state."
Ji Xinhe sneered, "I torment you to make you understand that there are consequences for doing wrong. Especially when you cross me, the punishment is always more severe. I’ve taught you so many times, but you never understand. I don’t know whether to say that you’re arrogant or just too naive."
"You!"
"Yes, the one who used you to bring down Yihong Courtyard was me. The one who covertly supported Ji Xiulan, enabling her to suppress and trouble you was also me. This is the consequence you got for betraying me twice. Today I’m here to intimidate you and it’s so relaxed. Perhaps it’s just a word; you should know the reason why. I’m not a fool to what happened in the Flower House yesterday." Xin He laughed coldly lilghtly:
"Yi Ling, ’do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do to you.’ If you can stay out of trouble, especially my trouble, I’d let you off the hook. Otherwise, no one can predict what will happen in the future. Today I’m here to teach you a lesson, and give you a warning: don’t provoke me. If you do, you’ll never realize what your worst-case scenario could be." Ji Xinhe spoke with heart-chilling coldness.
Yi Ling trembled with rage, her lovely eyes filled with complicated emotions.
But in the end, she wasn’t able to utter a single word.
She didn’t want to admit it, yet had to concede that she had never won against this woman.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose your real identity!" Yi Ling threatened through gritted teeth.
Ji Xinhe was the unknown owner of Flower House and Winding Pavilion. No one knew, but Yi Ling did.
At this point, this was the only thing she could threaten Ji Xinhe with.
However, Ji Xinhe casually smiled, "Oh? Really? What if you do? Yi Ling, do you think such a tiny leverage can control me? You’re the one in my palm, and I’ve got plenty on you, like...the real cause of Grandpa Sun’s death."
Yi Ling’s face changed abruptly and a panicked look dawned in her eyes.
How much does she know!?
But Ji Xinhe only scoffed and said no more, "Like I said, be good and don’t provoke me, and you won’t have any trouble. But if you are obstinate, don’t blame me for showing no mercy."
Yi Ling, on hearing this, immediately knelt down, sobbing, "I was wrong, I was really wrong. Madam, don’t tell anyone. I really won’t dare anymore!"
No matter how much Ji Xinhe knew about Grandpa Sun, Yi Ling didn’t dare to bet. If this case were to be dug up again and thoroughly investigated, it wouldn’t only be her life on the line. Where else could she go if not bow her head now?
Ji Xinhe just glanced at her indifferently and turned to walk away.
It was only when she had walked quite a distance that Shulan couldn’t help but ask in a hushed voice, "Madam, do you really know about Miss Yi Ling’s involvement in Grandpa Sun’s death?"
Xin He replied lightly, "What use is there knowing about these messy affairs? I merely made a guess that she was involved and said that to scare her. When people like her accumulate too much guilt, anything you say can send them cowering in fear."
Shulan nodded blankly, "Madam is right."
——
The Fushou Courtyard of the Sun family was bustling with activity today, whereas another courtyard of the Sun family was unusually quiet. Even the maids and women walking around were extremely careful, not daring to make any noise. Due to the peaceful silence of this courtyard, no visitors took notice of this place.
In the room, a young woman was pacing restlessly, her expression filled with anxiety and impatience.
"Miss, please calm down. With Madam Sun protecting you, you’ll be fine. Please be assured, Miss," the young maid tried to reassure.
Song Ya Lan threw a look of resentment at her, cursing angrily, "What do you know? If my grandmother truly lets go and allows my second aunt to take me back, my life will be ruined!"
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