Feng Jin's head ached from their commotion. She rubbed her ears in annoyance, their crying filling her mind as if it were a funeral dirge.
Unable to watch any longer, Feng Jin stepped forward, standing before the mother and daughter. She spoke with a cold voice, "You claim someone framed you, but who exactly framed you, and why would they target you? And why would they choose to do so in Ling Muzhu's courtyard?"
Feng Jin's questions left the mother and daughter momentarily speechless, unable to find a rebuttal.
"So, you have nothing to say now? Weren't you just chattering away a moment ago, weeping about being framed? Now you're speechless. You change your tune quite quickly. Are you feeling guilty and unable to speak?"
Feng Jin was aggressive, her tone stern, showing no mercy.
"Why must you drive people to their death? No matter what, Miao'er is your cousin. How can you not tolerate her? What you're saying could very well push her to her demise!"
As the saying goes, the older ginger is spicier. Ling Changyi's cunning ran deep; she quickly thought of a way to counter Feng Jin, while simultaneously playing the victim, directly pushing Feng Jin into the spotlight.
"I'm driving her to her death? I only asked a couple of questions. Aunt, why must you place all the blame on me? Aunt, are you willing to slander others with falsehoods just to protect your daughter?"
Certain of Ling Changyi's intentions, Feng Jin brought the matter out into the open.
When dealing with such a "green tea" or "white lotus" type, one must directly point out their motives and then pave their way to ruin.
Before Ling Changyi could retort, Feng Jin continued, "Or perhaps, Aunt, you believe it was I who framed your daughter, and that's why you're slandering me? But how could I have anticipated that Zhang Miao'er would come to Muzhu's courtyard in the middle of the night…"
She deliberately emphasized "in the middle of the night," instantly drawing everyone's attention.
The elderly Master Ling, seated in the place of honor, understood the situation immediately but, concerned with appearances, did not directly expose it. "Let this matter drop. Everyone disperse."
"No!" Ling Changyi exclaimed suddenly. "No, Father, Miao'er has suffered such a great injustice, this cannot just end here. How will Miao'er ever face people after this?"
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she found the situation. She absolutely could not let this matter go unresolved.
Ling Changyi clung to the issue, refusing to let go. "Father, Miao'er is your granddaughter, after all. You cannot simply turn a blind eye. Father, you must do justice for Miao'er, Father."
A flicker of disgust crossed the elderly Master Ling's eyes. For the sake of the Ling family's reputation, he suppressed his anger.
"So, Aunt's intention is to get to the bottom of this?"
"Naturally. My daughter has suffered such a great wrong; must I, as her mother, not question it?"
Feng Jin let out a cold laugh. She had been waiting for Ling Changyi to say just that. "Very well, let's discuss this matter thoroughly. Aunt, why did you send Zhang Miao'er to deliver food to Ling Muzhu in the middle of the night?"
"As an elder, I was concerned about my nephew, what is wrong with that?"
"Then why specifically send your own daughter? Zhang Miao'er is still an unmarried young lady. Going to a man's room in the middle of the night, a man and woman alone together, it doesn't sound good if word gets out. Aunt, you were just concerned about your daughter's reputation. What were you thinking when you did this?"
A trace of panic flashed across Ling Changyi's face, but she quickly concealed it, clearing her throat. "They are cousins, even if…"
"Cousins? They are only distant cousins. And strange things can happen between distant cousins… Also, the clothing Zhang Miao'er was wearing when she arrived, Aunt must know, shouldn't you?"
As Feng Jin spoke, she quickly pulled away the bedsheet Zhang Miao'er had been using to cover herself, revealing a large expanse of her chest.
The men present could not help but avert their gazes at the sight. Her attire was more revealing than that of prostitutes in brothels.
"Dressed like this, coming over late at night, what were her intentions? Everyone here knows. Aunt, what else do you have to say?"
Feng Jin's cold gaze was fixed on a somewhat guilty-looking Ling Changyi. With the situation as it was, what further excuses could she offer?
"You are talking nonsense! What can a piece of clothing prove? Ultimately, she lost her purity in his courtyard. Even if you turn the world upside down, you cannot escape responsibility for this matter!"
Ling Changyi screamed hysterically, her previous elegance and grace completely gone. She pointed at Feng Jin and angrily accused, "You are also responsible for this! Perhaps you framed Miao'er yourself!"
"It was clearly you who had ill intentions, and now you are reaping what you sow and still trying to shift the blame. You truly have the nerve!"
Feng Jin's voice was filled with rage. She forcefully threw the evidence in Ling Changyi's face, leaving her with nothing more to refute.
"The pastries you had Zhang Miao'er deliver contained aphrodisiacs. And the incense was also laced with aphrodisiacs. You just didn't expect that Ling Muzhu wouldn't be in the room, and that Zhang Miao'er would end up with another man."
"And your timely appearance was precisely to orchestrate the 'caught in the act' drama. Your goal was to marry Zhang Miao'er to Ling Mo Han, wasn't it, Aunt?"
Her secret exposed, Ling Changyi's face turned ashen. She was so terrified that she forgot to deny anything.
She knew all too well what awaited her if this matter was revealed. Such a meticulous plan had ended in complete failure. Her dream of marrying into wealth had shattered, and she had even dragged Zhang Miao'er down with her.
Ling Changyi suddenly looked as if her soul had been ripped from her body. She slumped to the ground, listless and without the strength to stand.
"Take these two disgraceful individuals away and confine them. No one is to see them without my order!"
The elderly Master Ling declared in fury. He did not want to look at them any longer and immediately ordered them to be taken away.
The farce finally concluded. Feng Jin stretched, feeling quite exhausted. They had been at it all night, and the sky was beginning to brighten, yet she hadn't had a moment's rest.
"Grandfather, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to rest now."
"Wait. I still have other matters to ask you about."
The elderly Master Ling stopped Feng Jin from leaving. Although this incident was over, there were still other things he had not yet clarified.
"Grandfather, this matter is already resolved. What else do you need to ask me?"