Between girls, where is there really any need for true offense or grudges?
Sometimes it’s simply that they don’t like each other, and that alone is enough for them never to interact again for the rest of their lives.
Besides, the one Ling Qiang truly disliked was Qi Yuan.
Speaking of it, among the noble ladies of the capital, which one would truly like Qi Yuan?
This girl who had appeared out of nowhere, who had only halfway through been brought back from a rural estate after being raised by a butcher, if she had been timid, with no redeeming qualities, quietly living behind everyone else, it would have been one thing.
But instead, she stole all the spotlight.
From Liu Mingzhu to County Lady Luochuan, anyone standing beside her would be overshadowed, unable to gain the slightest advantage.
Why?
Who could possibly accept that willingly?
They could tolerate losing to princesses or commandery princesses or county princesses. At worst, losing to Liu Mingzhu and the others who had ties to the imperial family wasn’t embarrassing.
But why lose to Qi Yuan?!
What kind of person was she?!
Just a lowborn nobody with nothing, what right did she have to step on everyone else to climb upward?
Ling Qiang sneered repeatedly, struggling nonstop: “Who ruined her reputation? What are you? People can say whatever they want, are you going to control what others say?”
Duke Cheng Shizi’s Madam also reacted.
She was indeed angry that her daughter had undermined her and even more angry that her daughter didn’t know how to restrain herself.
But she disliked Qi Yuan’s use of force even more.
It was far too improper.
She couldn’t help lowering her face: “Miss Qi, the girls of my Duke Cheng residence are not for an outsider to discipline!”
Qi Yuan curled her lips slightly: “Shizi Madam, you’re mistaken. I’m not that kind-hearted. The reason I took action is simply because Miss Ling’s mouth is too foul.”
……
Those words were extremely unpleasant.
It was practically the same as pointing at someone’s nose and scolding them.
These young girls nowadays were truly more troublesome than the last.
Duke Cheng Shizi’s Madam took a deep breath: “Miss Qi, mind your words! What right do you have to lay hands on my daughter?”
“I’m helping the authorities catch a criminal!” Qi Yuan replied righteously. She glanced at Duke Cheng Shizi’s Madam, then sneered. “The matter from before had already been settled, but judging by how confidently Miss Ling speaks, she’s clearly a fish that slipped through the net!”
As she spoke, she turned to Madam Lu: “Aunt, Miss Ling speaks so thoroughly and decisively, it’s obvious she must still know the inside story of what happened back then.”
She raised her brows: “Aunt, why not quickly report this to the authorities? If Miss Ling truly knows, then she’s a loose end. Perhaps Miss Ling is even the mastermind behind it.”
She clicked her tongue and added with a half-smile: “And if Miss Ling knows nothing yet still speaks like this, then that means she’s someone who gossips, stirs up trouble, and fabricates rumors. It would be good for the authorities to step in and see how a supposedly noble young lady can speak so recklessly and viciously!”
Madam Lu immediately understood and instructed Wang Mama at once: “That’s right! Wang Mama, go quickly, send someone to report to the authorities! Tell them that we still have a witness here from the noble ladies’ disappearance case at the Buddha Lantern Festival!”
Duke Cheng Shizi’s Madam instantly turned pale.
No matter what, she had never expected Qi Yuan to be this sharp and difficult.
The sharpness of this girl’s tongue was truly rare in a lifetime.
Ling Qiang was also stunned: “What nonsense are you talking about?! Who is involved in the Buddha Lantern Festival matter? Don’t slander me!”
“Slander?” Qi Yuan repeated the word, clicking her tongue as she leaned down to look at her. “Aren’t you the ancestor of slander yourself? What, are you afraid now?”
Wang Chan bit her lip, and only now did she feel the knot of anger in her chest finally loosen.
She had truly been pushed too far by Ling Qiang just now.
She had never thought that a person could harbor such inexplicable malice toward another.
As for this marriage, she had already completely abandoned the idea.
Just now Ling Qiang had spoken nonsense, humiliating others with vicious words, yet from beginning to end Ling Chuhan had not said a single word.
If such a man became her husband in the future, that would be terrifying.
Rather than suffer later, it was better to cut off the possibility now.
At the thought of this, she let out a cold laugh. “Oh, so when you treat others, you can spout whatever you like without caring about the truth, but now that someone is fighting back, it suddenly becomes slander, does it?”
Duke Cheng Shizi Madam was left somewhat stunned by Qi Yuan’s bluntness.
But Qi Yuan’s firmness had indeed taken her by surprise, especially when Qi Yuan said she would report the matter to the authorities.
How could something like this be reported?!
Ling Qiang couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the Buddhist Lantern Festival. But if Ling Qiang were taken in, then once rumors spread, who knew what stories people would start telling? Moreover, a charge of fabricating lies and falsely accusing others would be impossible to escape.
She immediately grabbed Madam Lu, gritted her teeth, stepped forward, seized Ling Qiang, and pulled her to her feet.
Qi Yuan hadn’t used much force. Seeing Ling Qiang being pulled up, she wore a faintly cold smile.
Ling Qiang, however, was still furious and wanted to go after Qi Yuan.
She was a noble daughter of a ducal household, by status, she was even a rank above Qi Yuan. What right did Qi Yuan have to lay hands on her?
But before she could act, Duke Cheng Shizi Madam had already grabbed her tightly and suddenly slapped her across the face.
The slap rang out loudly, shocking everyone present.
Even Ling Chuhan, who had shown no reaction until now, immediately stepped forward to stand in front of Ling Qiang. “Mother, what are you doing?!”
Duke Cheng Shizi Madam snapped angrily at Ling Qiang, “I’ve told you again and again to watch your words and actions, but you never listen! Who told you to make baseless accusations like this?!”
In the end, they were still the ones in the wrong.
If this matter were blown up, Ling Qiang’s reputation would be ruined beyond repair.
Duke Cheng Shizi Madam understood this clearly, which was why she could only punish her own daughter first, in hopes that the Wang family would let the matter rest.
But Ling Qiang couldn’t understand her mother’s intentions. Her own mother was siding with outsiders, she was nearly driven mad with anger.
Biting her lip and clutching her cheek, she turned and ran off in a rage.
Ling Chuhan quickly chased after her.
Duke Cheng Shizi Madam was both alarmed and angry, yet she still didn’t forget to apologize to Madam Lu. “I’m truly sorry, I…”
Madam Lu’s expression was equally unpleasant. She turned her head away coldly. “Forget it. Your household’s young master is of such noble status, we are not worthy of such a match. Let us consider this marriage proposal as if it had never been mentioned.”
With things having escalated to this point, the marriage was clearly no longer possible.
Duke Cheng Shizi Madam gave a bitter smile and said nothing more. Before leaving, she specifically glanced at Qi Yuan, then turned and walked away with a deeply furrowed brow.
Wang Chan immediately grasped Qi Yuan’s hand. “Yuan Jie’er, what are you going to do?”
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