Prince Jing snorted coldly, "Just kill him, why waste time?"
But the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince after all. Although Zhao Yan didn't take him seriously, the lesson of reflecting on his actions during his three years in his fiefdom was still fresh in his mind. He just made a comment and waved his hand to have Guard Tong take the man away quickly.
Madam Yang instructed the nannies to lead the ladies and young women to Xinghua Hall to rest for a while before the banquet.
Lin lost all interest in the meal; she was so angry at the way others looked at her that she felt full, let alone eating.
She paused for a moment, patted Jiang Yanwan's hand, and said considerately, "You shouldn't go either. The matter isn't settled yet, and it will only be awkward if others ask. It wouldn't be appropriate to say anything."
Jiang Yanwan nodded, "Then I'll go and tell Miss Gao."
Things didn't go as smoothly as she had anticipated, but at least everything that needed to be exposed had been exposed, and Lin Qingwan couldn't clear her name. Only... she didn't know how many times she had looked at Prince Jing; the prince's eyes were always on Lin Qingwan, so obviously domineeringly protecting her—what did he take her for?
What's so good about Lin Qingwan? Why is the prince still willing to show her kindness even after things have turned out this way?
After most of the Lin family members had left, he said to Lin Qingwan, "Aren't you coming in? How long are you going to keep making a fool of yourself here?"
Lin Qingwan preferred to stand outside. If it weren't for Jiang Yanwan, she would have thought her mother was naturally aloof and had nothing to complain about. She would have used the rest of her life to get closer to her and warm her heart, because she was convinced that during the years she missed her mother, her mother must have been thinking of her too.
But the truth is...
Lin's gaze was cold and sharp; when she met Lin's eyes, the pressure was immense.
Aunt Qin urged, "Miss Qingwan, Madam wants you to come in."
Lin Qingwan said calmly, "I heard it."
Qin Ma couldn't help but frown. She heard it but didn't respond. Was she determined to embarrass the lady?
"Then you..."
Lin Qingwan said frankly, "Since the Crown Prince and the Prince helped me, I should go and kowtow to thank them first."
Even Qin's mother understood: outsiders were willing to lend her a hand, but her own mother had never said a word in her defense.
Qin Ma couldn't help but explain on behalf of the lady, "Miss, this is not something to be proud of. In front of all the nobles in the capital, if the lady insists on protecting you, she won't be able to help you, and she will be criticized."
"Even if I really wanted to help you then, I wouldn't be able to."
Lin Qingwan asked with a smile, "When will that be? When I'm being pinned down in the mud and spat on, or when I can't survive in the capital?"
"This..." Qin's mother couldn't answer.
If Gao Peng hadn't been holding him back, Jiang Zhenlin would have rushed over long ago. He couldn't stand it anymore and said with a dark face, "Are you out of your mind? How can you say such harsh things to your own family like that?"
"In the end, if it weren't for your indiscretions and the trouble you caused, the Prime Minister's residence wouldn't have lost face like this because of you!"
"How will we ever be able to show our faces in the capital again! I haven't even settled accounts with you, and you've already given Mother such a hard time. You're simply..."
Jiang Zhenlin thought about how he had fought with Jiang Mingting in public for her sake; after all, they were brothers, and people would inevitably gossip about them. He didn't expect Lin Qingwan to appreciate it, but he hoped she wouldn't treat him badly either!
Gao Peng was afraid that he would get too angry and say things without thinking, so he kept trying to persuade him.
Jiang Zhenlin wouldn't listen at all, "They're worse than animals!"
"Ah Lin!"
Seeing Lin Qingwan's pale face and trembling lips, Gao Peng hurriedly said, "Miss Qingwan, Ah Lin was just saying that out of anger, don't take it seriously. He does consider you his older sister..."
Jiang Zhenlin pushed him away, angrily saying, "What nonsense are you spouting! I wish she had never come back!"
Gao Peng's expression tightened. Sure enough, although Lin Qingwan remained expressionless, her clear gaze had become even more intense.
"Ah Lin! You'll regret it later if you keep talking like that."
"Hmph." Jiang Zhenlin snorted coldly; this word was far removed from his own experience.
Lin Qingwan also wished she had never come back.
His gaze passed over Jiang Zhenlin and met Jing Wang's interested eyes.
Seeing her look over, Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips. Her peach blossom eyes glanced at the empty seat beside her, as if waiting for her to come over, yet certain that she would.
Lin Qingwan hadn't given him an answer back in the pavilion.
Lin Qingwan had no choice now, especially since she had already said she wanted to thank the prince for protecting her. She forced herself to calm down and took a step forward.
Zhao Yan's smile widened even further.
Lin's pupils trembled, but she couldn't say anything more, only giving Qin Ma a look.
Qin Ma understood and immediately followed to escort Lin Qingwan. "Miss Qingwan, the Prince's repeated protection of you is his will, and no one can change it. However, the Prince and the eldest daughter's engagement is common knowledge. If you overstep the line, you will only suffer the consequences."
You should think it over carefully.
Lin Qingwan has always been clear-headed, but these words only made her want to stay away from everyone in the Prime Minister's residence.
Her eyes shone like water as she looked at Prince Jing. "I told my mother long ago that Jiang Yanwan is not capable of winning the prince's favor. She should find a way to please the prince instead of blaming others."
Qin Ma was shocked. "Miss Qingwan, anyone can compete with Miss Yanwan, but you...you are her sister."
Lin Qingwan scoffed, "If we're not blood relatives, what kind of sisters are we?"
Qin Ma was dumbfounded. "But, Miss is your savior. Madam has treated her like her own daughter all these years. Even if you have wronged her, you should still repay this kindness."
Lin Qingwan stopped abruptly, her gaze suddenly sharpening as she stared at her. Qin Ma felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to Lin Qingwan speak, word by word, "After escaping danger, Cheng Shi faked my death and went into seclusion, never intending to send me back to the Prime Minister's residence. For the past fifteen years, do you know how she has treated me? Can you even imagine how she has treated me?"
"What does gratitude matter? I've already repaid it all! If you really think about it, they still owe me."
A dull pain shot through her chest, and her blood surged violently. The anger and resentment she felt were far more terrifying than she had imagined.
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