When the stall is spread too large, sooner or later there will come a day when it cannot be held up.
When virtue does not match one’s position, disaster is bound to follow.
Originally just a pile of rotten mud on the ground, a toad in the water, yet she still delusionally wants to touch the moon in the sky and become a lofty swan, she deserves to die!
Commandery Princess Xianning also silently let out a breath of relief.
She had no grievances with Qi Yuan, let alone any deep hatred.
But sometimes, the incompatibility between people requires no reason.
Just like with Qi Yuan, her existence was too dazzling; that in itself was her original sin.
There were far too many people in this world born into higher status than Qi Yuan, so why was it that Qi Yuan was more outstanding than these noble ladies and had an even better future ahead of her?
The bird that sticks its head out gets shot, if Qi Yuan was targeted, it was her own fault.
The crowd discussed in low voices, exchanging looks as they listened to the commotion inside the room.
Speaking of it, it really was true, whenever Miss Qi attended a banquet, things were always especially turbulent and full of surprises; unexpected situations would always occur, almost like watching a play.
No, not just like watching a play, it was even more exciting than a play.
Only, in the past, this Miss Qi had always been able to finish the performance perfectly and win thunderous applause.
But this time?
Would she still be able to perform beautifully like before?
I’m afraid that would be difficult.
Commandery Princess Luochuan listened to the surrounding discussions with a mocking expression. The jealousy and resentment that had been building in her heart finally eased somewhat.
Meanwhile, the Eldest Princess was unaware of the disturbances outside. She only stared nervously at Qi Yuan before her. When Qi Yuan stood up, she hurriedly asked, “Yuan Jie’er, how is it?”
Lu Jintang suddenly scrambled up and rushed to the bedside. Seeing that Zeng Wenxiu’s face was completely drained of color, pale as paper, his anger instantly flared.
“What exactly did you do to Wenxiu?! If anything happens to her, I will never let you go!”
He also knew that both his father and mother liked Qi Yuan very much.
He also knew that the reason he had been able to return to the capital and reunite with his mother was thanks to Qi Yuan’s help.
But gratitude was one thing.
No matter how deep the favor, it could not compare to his own wife and child.
If something really happened to Zeng Wenxiu today, Lu Jintang asked himself honestly, he would protect his wife and child even if it meant completely breaking with his parents.
The Eldest Princess immediately scolded irritably, “Jintang! Don’t talk nonsense!”
Zeng Wenxiu’s face was deathly pale as she trembled continuously, yet when she looked at Qi Yuan, her expression was filled with gloom.
So troublesome.
Why did this woman have to be so troublesome?!
She couldn’t help biting her lip.
Qi Yuan paid no attention to Lu Jintang’s anger.
People like him could not affect her at all.
She simply smiled at Zeng Wenxiu and said word by word, “Young Madam, how did you fall into the water?”
Zhou Wangfei suddenly raised her head to look at Qi Yuan, her heart uncertain and suspicious.
Why would Qi Yuan suddenly ask that?
Did she know something?
The Eldest Princess was also startled, her expression turning complicated as she looked at Zeng Wenxiu.
Yes, just now Zeng Wenxiu had said she had run into Qi Yuan meeting a man in private…
She coughed lightly.
Zeng Wenxiu shrank back, trembling all over, appearing extremely frightened of Qi Yuan.
Shaking, she began to cry: “Miss Qi, don’t kill me, I… I didn’t see anything! I didn’t see anything!”
Third Madam Qi’s right eyelid twitched violently, and her eyes widened at once.
What did Zeng Wenxiu mean by that?!
Wang Chan immediately refuted, “What nonsense are you talking about?! You were the one who, for some reason, jumped into the lake. Yuan Jie’er went to pull you up to save you, but you dragged her down with you! What do you mean by saying this now?”
Third Madam Qi felt like she was about to faint!
They had simply come out to attend a banquet, how had such a huge incident happened?
Zeng Wenxiu was the Eldest Princess’s own daughter-in-law!
If she insisted that Qi Yuan had pushed her, who could clarify the truth?
Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, it would be impossible to wash the accusation clean!
Zhou Wangfei’s temples also began to throb, but she calmly let out an “Ah” and said, “Why would the young madam suddenly become so distraught?”
The Eldest Princess looked at Zeng Wenxiu, half-believing and half-doubting, suspicion already rising in her heart.
She felt something was wrong.
But she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
Zeng Wenxiu continued crying as she shook her head. “Miss Wang, what are you talking about? I am now carrying Jintang’s child. My life is comfortable, and my mother-in-law treats me very well. Why would I think of jumping into the lake? And even drag Miss Qi along?”
Wang Chan was so angry that her chest hurt.
What exactly had gone wrong with Zeng Wenxiu?
Why insist on dragging Qi Yuan into the mud?
Attempting to murder the Eldest Princess’s daughter-in-law and the child in her womb, nearly causing two deaths in one body, what a grave accusation that was!
If people truly believed it, Qi Yuan wouldn’t even be able to keep her life!
Not to mention her previous relationship with the Eldest Princess.
Everything Qi Yuan currently had would vanish.
How could someone be shameless to this extent? Not only repaying kindness with hostility, but also fabricating rumors and framing others out of nothing?
She stamped her foot in anger, but Zhou Wangfei frowned. “What the young madam says actually makes sense. She has married into the Eldest Princess’s residence, and she and Jintang are deeply affectionate. She’s pregnant as well, why would she suddenly try to take her own life?”
Third Madam Qi felt as though countless open and hidden attacks were flying toward Qi Yuan.
It was hard to imagine how a young girl could face such accusations without panicking.
Jiang Mama also hesitated to speak, her face full of worry.
Lu Jintang, meanwhile, felt both distressed and furious.
He couldn’t help turning to the Eldest Princess. “Mother! You still believe her?! Wenxiu is your own daughter-in-law, could what she says be false?”
After a pause, Lu Jintang spoke words that struck at the heart: “Or is it that in your heart, your own son is less important than Qi Yuan?!”
In his view, Zeng Wenxiu was the person involved. Since the person involved had already so firmly identified the culprit, what was there left to hesitate about?
Why not believe one’s own family and instead believe an outsider?
The Eldest Princess took a deep breath, feeling a sharp pain in her chest. But she knew very clearly that something was wrong with this matter.
And not just a small problem, a very big one.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Qi Yuan and asked gently, “Yuan Jie’er, what exactly happened?”
In the end, she still chose to listen to Qi Yuan.
At this moment, the feelings accumulated over the past two years and the hardships they had experienced together overcame everything else.
She chose to trust Qi Yuan.
Zhou Wangfei felt somewhat disappointed.
Zeng Wenxiu also bit her lip, but she was not particularly worried. She merely reached out to touch her lower abdomen and revealed a faint, almost imperceptible cold smile.
How could something like this possibly be clarified?
Each side would have its own argument. The past could not be replayed. Aside from Wang Chan, who had seen the scene at the time, no one else had witnessed it.
And Wang Chan was Qi Yuan’s cousin and close friend, everyone knew how good their relationship was.
No one would believe Wang Chan’s words.
As long as she insisted that Qi Yuan had done it, there would be nothing anyone could do.
Besides, her child was already gone.
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