Lady Pingguo was stunned on the spot, then burst into laughter:
"So it's true! I was blind to have recognized such an ungrateful wretch as my adopted daughter. For you, I ruined the entire Duke of Pingguo's mansion, and I ruined myself too! I let a wolf into the house! I let a wolf into the house!"
Li Jiaojiao was furious and embarrassed; things had come to this point, and they had completely broken off all pretense of civility.
"Shut up! This is not a place for you to act recklessly. Guards, throw her out of the manor! If she dares to come back again, beat her out!"
The servants around looked at each other, all shocked by Li Jiaojiao's shamelessness.
Seeing them standing there motionless, Li Jiaojiao was furious: "What are you standing there for? I am your master! Get to work!"
The maids hesitated before stepping forward.
"Stop!" A furious shout rang out, and Old Madam Gu was seen being helped over, with Gu Han following behind.
When Li Jiaojiao saw them, her face turned pale.
Madam Gu said, "No matter what, she is still your adoptive mother. She didn't mind that you had been to prison, she didn't mind that you offended the Shen family, and in the end, you even caused her family to be ruined. Now that she has come to you for help, how can you drive her away? How can you be so heartless and ungrateful?"
Li Jiaojiao said in a panic, "No... I didn't mean to kick her out. She's the one who smeared me and made such a fool of herself. I was just angry for a moment."
"I just want to ask her to leave now. After she calms down in a few days, I will take good care of her."
Old Madam Gu sneered, "Smearing you with dirty water? Ha, is that dirty water? Everyone knows perfectly well whether you did it or not. Do you think we're all fools?"
Upon hearing this, the Duchess of Pingguo clutched her chest, her eyes wide with shock:
"So...everyone knew all along! Only I...only I was like a fool."
He let a wolf into the house, and she caused him to be abandoned by everyone!
Li Jiaojiao was both shocked and angry, wishing she could shut her up, and hurriedly said, "Grandmother, you have no proof—"
"This is not a courtroom; we don't need evidence!"
Li Jiaojiao's expression changed, and she quickly looked at Gu Han, her eyes filled with tears: "Gu Han..."
Gu Han stared blankly at the Duchess of Pingguo: "Madam, did Jiaojiao... ever think about marrying Prince Shen? Did she really want to be paired with Prince Shen?"
Lady Pingguo's eyes were bloodshot: "Yes. When she first heard that she was going to marry into the Shen family, she was practically flying with joy. She even said that she didn't understand love between men and women, and that it was your wishful thinking. She only listened to her elders."
Gu Han was not surprised by the answer and even smiled.
Seeing his state, Madam Gu was extremely worried: "Han'er, let it go. Why bother putting your heart into someone as ungrateful and heartless as Li Jiaojiao?"
"Even now, don't you understand? She's a menace! She's capable of anything for herself."
Li Jiaojiao said with a pale face, "Madam, how can you say such a thing about me? Even if I have done something wrong, it was because I was forced by circumstances."
Old Madam Gu said with a stern face, "Let's not even talk about all the trouble you've caused in the past, just look at the Duke of Pingguo's mansion. What did they force you to do? They didn't harm your interests at all, yet you betrayed them!"
Li Jiaojiao shook her head: "I didn't... Why are you framing me..."
A pang of pain shot through her heart. Indeed, the Duke of Pingguo's mansion hadn't done anything to her, and the reason she did that was only for ten thousand taels of silver...
Is she really that kind of person?
But what did she do wrong?
Her past life taught her a lesson: a kind person is often bullied, and a good horse is often ridden.
From the moment she was reborn, she vowed that if there were an afterlife, she would never let herself suffer.
Old Madam Gu looked at Gu Han: "Han'er, this kind of woman cannot be kept. Divorce her!"
Li Jiaojiao's expression changed. Divorce?
That won't do.
She finally managed to marry into the Marquis's mansion. Although she didn't have Gu Han or inherit the title, it was still a Marquis's mansion.
If she divorces him, she will never be able to marry someone more respectable than Gu Han.
Even with a dowry of ten thousand taels, without the protection of the Marquis of Ningguo's mansion, she would be skinned alive and bloodied by outsiders. Not to mention the state she has brought upon the Duke of Pingguo's mansion.
The Duke of Pingguo's mansion is gone, but Liu Shangwei's wife's family still exists, as does the Duke of Pingguo's daughter. Although they haven't done anything yet, she knows these people must hate her to the core.
She cannot leave the Ningguo Marquis's residence.
Li Jiaojiao shook her head: "I haven't committed any of the seven grounds for divorce, so why should I be divorced!"
Madam Gu said coldly, "Just because you concealed your sentence when you were imprisoned! I've already inquired, and your descendants are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations!"
Li Jiaojiao's expression changed.
Madam Gu said, "Han'er! She only saved you on a whim, and she only took you in as a servant, and even caused you to lose your position. She's a scourge! What are you still hesitating about!"
Gu Han was taken aback and looked at Li Jiaojiao with mixed feelings.
He recalled how Li Jiaojiao's momentary slip of the tongue caused him to lose his position as heir apparent.
With Qian San's words and her harsh and ungrateful behavior today, Gu Han is utterly disappointed in her.
The once charming and adorable Li Jiaojiao has somehow become rotten and foul.
He was tormented and in agony, utterly at a loss as to how to face her...
I want to stop, but I can't let go. I want to continue, but I can't swallow it...
Li Jiaojiao felt a chill run down her spine under her gaze and shook her head: "Gu Han, how can you be so heartless? Yes, I saved you on a whim..."
“I saved you because you’re pretty! I liked you the moment I saw you! What’s wrong with that? You said I took you in to be your servant… but think about it yourself, if you don’t work, why should we support you? I’ve told you this before!”
"Regardless of my reasons, the fact remains that I saved you! A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions."
As she spoke, Li Jiaojiao burst into tears, heartbroken.
“I saved you… and you still accuse me of acting on a whim, of being vain… If it weren’t for that whim, would you still be alive? Back then you were just a pathetic beggar, would I even know you?”
"What, you expect me to fall head over heels in love with you the moment I see you, to love you to death, only then can I save you? And you, did you love me to death the moment you woke up? What gives you the right to accuse me!"
"If it weren't for me, you would be dead long ago, you wouldn't even have the chance to stand here! And now, you actually want to divorce me? Divorce me... Waaah..."
Hearing her words, Gu Han was deeply moved...
Yes, what right does he have to accuse her of acting on a whim, or of vanity simply to show off her kindness? The fact is, she saved him.
He couldn't be ungrateful, and he still had some feelings for her.
He pursed his lips and looked at Old Madam Gu: "Grandmother, give her a chance!"
Old Madam Gu closed her eyes in despair: "Whatever you say. As for the Duchess of Pingguo... you should contact the Second Madam of the Marquis of Du'an's mansion and see how to arrange things."
The eldest daughter of the Duke of Pingguo's wife married the second son of the Earl of Du'an's family. The Earl of Du'an's family was no less powerful than the Duke of Pingguo's family; both were outwardly strong but inwardly weak.
As for the other daughter of the Duke of Pingguo's wife, she married far away from the capital and will not be able to return for a while.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
