Jiang Yalian’s face was a mask of cold fury. “So, you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence.” Jian Huan glanced at the guilt-ridden Jiang Ziying. “You asked for me?” “Do I have to spell it out for you?” Jiang Yalian snapped. “Your shameless behavior has brought disgrace upon Jingyang. Is this how the Jian family raises its daughters?” Jian Huan played dumb. “Mother, I’m not sure I understand. What have I done that was so shameless?” Her feigned ignorance only stoked Jiang Yalian’s anger. “You have the nerve to ask?” she spat. “Clinging to Jingyang, leaving those… *marks* on him. How are you any different from the whores on the street?” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Jiang Ziying’s face before she smoothed it over, soothing gently, “Aunt, your heart… please don’t get so worked up.” Then, turning to Jian Huan, she said, “Cousin, you should just apologize to Aunt.” Jian Huan let out a mocking laugh. “I’ll apologize if I’m in the wrong. But I wasn’t the one with Lou Jingyang last night.” “What did you say?” Jiang Yalian’s brow furrowed. “If it wasn’t you, then who was it?” Jian Huan’s gaze fell on her cousin. “She’s asking you, Ziying. Who was with Jingyang last night?” Jiang Ziying’s eyes widened in feigned innocence. “Cousin, what are you talking about? How would I know where he was? I was in my room all day yesterday.” “You were in your room,” Jian Huan’s voice was cold. “But wasn’t Lou Jingyang in there with you?” “Enough!” Jiang Yalian cut her off, her voice sharp with rage. “Ziying and Jingyang are like brother and sister. How dare you slander them like this!” As if on cue, Jiang Ziying burst into tears. “That’s right, Cousin! Just because you don’t want to admit what you did, you can’t spread rumors like this! I’ve always seen him as my real brother.” She wasn’t worried. She had grown up by Jiang Yalian’s side; their bond was as close as mother and daughter. There was no way her aunt would believe an outsider like Jian Huan. Just then, Lou Jingyang walked in. The moment he saw his darling cousin in tears, he rushed to her side without a second thought, pulling her into a comforting embrace to wipe her tears. “What’s wrong, Ziying? Who hurt you?” Jiang Ziying looked up at him as if he were her savior, her voice soft and pitiful. “Brother…” Lou Jingyang’s heart melted. “Don’t cry,” he soothed. “Tell me what happened. I’ll make it right.” “Jingyang, you’re just in time,” Jiang Yalian said, glaring at Jian Huan. “She’s claiming you weren’t in her room last night. She says you were with Ziying. What do you have to say to that?” Lou Jingyang froze, shooting Jian Huan a venomous look. The damn gossipmonger, tattling to his mother! Did she really think this would win him back? A fool’s dream. “That’s impossible!” Lou Jingyang denied it without hesitation, turning on Jian Huan. “I was in your room last night. Why would you tell such a lie? I’m warning you, if you dare spout any more of this nonsense and ruin Ziying’s reputation, you can forget about ever being part of the Lou family!” “That’s enough, Jingyang. You’re above getting angry with her,” Jiang Yalian said, her tone lofty and condescending. She turned her gaze back to Jian Huan. “Well? Do you have anything else to say?” Watching them close ranks, a united front against the outsider, Jian Huan knew it was useless. Unless she could slap hard evidence in front of Jiang Yalian, her words were meaningless. “I’ve said what I needed to say. Whether you believe me or not is your business.” “How dare you speak to your mother-in-law with that tone!” “You’ve shamed Jingyang and shown no remorse. As punishment, you will clean the ancestral altar. And you are not to ask the maids for help!” - In the main hall, Jian Huan gathered the flowers from the altar and placed them in a trash bag. The maids outside had already heard the news. None stepped forward to help, content to whisper among themselves. She didn’t mind. Compared to the kind of torment the Jian family could inflict, this was child’s play. As she reached for a used cup, another hand intercepted hers. She looked up to see her sister-in-law, Yun Jing, smiling at her. “I’ll get the cups. You can clear the plates.” With Yun Jing’s help, the work went twice as fast. This was the second time Yun Jing had come to her aid. When they finished, Jian Huan offered a sincere smile. “Thank you, Sister-in-law.” Yun Jing waved it off and invited her to the south courtyard for a chat. “His mother is actually a good person,” Yun Jing said as she poured tea. “She was just upset today. Don’t take it to heart.” “I won’t.” “This tea just arrived from the plantation. Have a taste, Sister-in-law.” Jian Huan took a few sips and offered a polite compliment. “The aroma is so delicate. It’s excellent tea.” Yun Jing’s smile deepened. “Then you should have some more.” It was just tea, but as Jian Huan drank, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. A sense of unease crept over her. She stood up. “Sister-in-law, I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll head back.” Yun Jing subtly blocked her path. “There’s no need to be a stranger. Your brother isn’t here, so my guest rooms are all ready. If you don’t mind, you can lie down for a bit.” Jian Huan was about to refuse, but her vision was already darkening at the edges. Yun Jing gently guided her back down. “Sister-in-law, you don’t look well. Why don’t you rest for a bit?” The moment her back touched the sofa, Jian Huan’s body went limp, and she fell still. Yun Jing tested her. “Sister-in-law?” “Jian Huan?” After a few calls with no response, Yun Jing began to remove her outer coat. Jian Huan was wearing a turtleneck underneath, which wasn’t easy to take off. Yun Jing lifted the hem first, then pulled her arms out from the sleeves. A trail of dark, intimate marks ran along her pale skin, disappearing from her neck into the collar of her shirt, faint scratches visible among them. Yun Jing’s fingers paused. She continued her inspection, checking Jian Huan’s front. No injuries. Not until she saw her back. A shocking pattern of crisscrossing welts covered her skin, the broken areas already scabbed over. It looked like the wounds had been treated. Yun Jing frowned. So, Jian Huan had gotten the medical kit for herself? She thought for a moment, then picked up the phone from the coffee table and dialed a number. “Hello? Is it a good time to talk?” “…” “I checked. She is injured.” “…” As Yun Jing spoke, the woman who was supposed to be unconscious moved. Just before she lost consciousness, she had bitten down hard on the tip of her tongue, the sharp pain granting her a fleeting moment of clarity. She cracked her eyes open just a slit. Yun Jing’s back was to her. Silently, she fumbled for the phone in her pocket. Her movements were agonizingly slow, confined to the narrow space between her body and the sofa cushions, all while listening for any sign that Yun Jing might turn around. Yun Jing, oblivious, was still on the phone. “…I suppose she got it for herself.” Jian Huan unlocked her phone as fast as she could. She had just opened her messaging app when she heard Yun Jing say, “Yes, I understand what needs to be done.” There was no time to type a message. Tapping on the most recent contact, she sent a single character: “1”. At that same moment, Yun Jing ended the call and started to turn around. It was too late to hide the phone. Jian Huan could only shove it beneath her body. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Yun Jing looked over at Jian Huan, who appeared to be sleeping soundly, a lock of hair falling across her face. She sighed. “Don’t blame me,” she murmured, her voice tinged with a strange pity. “If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for getting involved with Lou Xiao.” With that, she stood and called towards the door. “You can come in.” Two bodyguards entered the room. “First Young Madam.” Yun Jing glanced at Jian Huan, her expression sympathetic. “Be gentle with her.” “Yes, Ma’am.” As they were about to leave, Yun Jing added one last instruction. “Make sure you get her face in the video.” Only then would they have what they needed to control her later.