The cold gaze made her back chill and her hair stand on end. Ling Muzhu’s voice was tinged with timidity.
"What did you do to Chuqing just now?"
"Nothing... I didn't do anything!" Ling Muzhu quickly shook her head and denied it.
"Nothing?" Feng Jin asked suspiciously, "If you didn't do anything, why was Chuqing drenched just now, and how was the aphrodisiac on you dissolved?"
There was only one way to resolve the aphrodisiac's effects, and she could hardly think of a second. Recalling Chuqing’s state earlier, Feng Jin felt even more terrified and stared at Ling Muzhu with murderous eyes.
"I told you earlier I'd find you a woman, and you refused. Now you've done this. How old is Chuqing? How could you be so cruel!"
Hearing this, Ling Muzhu realized Feng Jin had misunderstood and quickly explained, "Eldest sister-in-law, I absolutely did not do anything of that sort to Chuqing. Just now, it was only..."
Hesitating for a moment, Ling Muzhu recounted everything that had happened to Feng Jin.
Feng Jin listened intently to Ling Muzhu’s narration and was utterly shocked by such a melodramatic turn of events. It was too coincidental! No wonder Chuqing had left in such a panic just now; anyone would have reacted the same way.
"Eldest sister-in-law, these are the events that just transpired. Although it's somewhat absurd, I absolutely did not do those things to Chuqing."
Ling Muzhu’s face was earnest. Fearing Feng Jin wouldn't believe her, she made a gesture of swearing with two fingers, about to make an oath.
"Alright, I believe you!"
Feng Jin said in a deep voice. The reason she believed was that with Ling Muzhu’s capabilities, she couldn't have done those things to Chuqing.
"You go change into clean clothes first. I'll take you to see a good show."
Since this incident happened in Ling Muzhu's courtyard, it was only fitting for her to be present to witness it as a witness.
"A good show... what good show?"
"You'll know when you see it."
Feng Jin deliberately withheld information, thinking it would be more interesting if she saw it herself first.
After Ling Muzhu changed her clothes, they set off. Upon arrival, the entire courtyard, inside and out, was heavily guarded by soldiers in black armor.
In the main hall, the elder Master Ling sat at the head seat with a cold expression. To his right sat Ling Mo Han, who looked indifferent and was dragged along to make up the numbers. To his left sat Ling Changyi, looking flustered and still not understanding what was happening.
She had clearly come to catch Ling Muzhu and Zhang Miaor, but the man entangled with her in bed had changed. Where had Ling Muzhu gone? Just as she was about to leave with Zhang Miaor, Elder Master Ling and his party burst in, stumbling upon the scene.
Zhang Miaor knelt on the ground, trembling. Her mind was hazy. She distinctly remembered the man in bed with her was Ling Muzhu, but when she sobered up, it was that disgusting man.
Having lost her purity and being caught by so many people, she wished for death. Tears streamed continuously from the corners of her eyes.
When Ling Muzhu arrived, she saw this scene. As her gaze fell upon Zhang Miaor kneeling on the ground, a trace of disgust flashed in her eyes, and her stomach churned.
"The rest is up to you. What did I tell you when we came? Do you remember?"
"I remember it clearly, eldest sister-in-law. Just wait and see the show."
Ling Muzhu’s gentle eyes were filled with fierce resolve. Thinking of how she had been schemed against by Zhang Miaor, if her eldest sister-in-law hadn't arrived, she would have been caught in the act.
Seeing a seemingly gentle woman, yet with such a venomous heart, she felt there was no need to show leniency.
"Greetings, Grandfather, Eldest Brother." Ling Muzhu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Muzhu, where were you just now?" Elder Master Ling asked with displeasure. Discovering such a scandalous affair in the Ling family and having to witness it himself, he felt he had lost all face.
"Replying to Grandfather, your grandson was just studying. Encountering a difficult point, I went to the East Courtyard to seek guidance from my eldest sister-in-law, then played with my two nephews for a while. I heard from my eldest sister-in-law that something had happened in my courtyard, so I came over with her."
Ling Muzhu recounted the events according to their prior discussion with Feng Jin.
"No... impossible, I clearly..." Ling Changyi stammered.
Zhang Miaor replied with a look of horror, but her words were laced with uncertainty. She had no clue why this had happened.
She clearly remembered being with Ling Muzhu, but upon waking, the person beside her had changed to someone so repulsive that she couldn't bear to look at him.
"Clearly what? I'd like to ask you, why were you in my courtyard, engaging in such a lewd act!"
Ling Muzhu pressed her sternly, her words stunning both Zhang Miaor and Ling Changyi.
After a pause, Ling Changyi knelt before Elder Master Ling. "Father, your daughter merely saw that Muzhu was working hard studying late at night, so I made some food and asked Miaor to deliver it to her cousin. Who would have expected such a thing to happen? It's such a pity for Miaor, a young girl having to endure such an ordeal."
"What kind of deep hatred could lead to such a plot against my Miaor? How can she live from now on? How can she face anyone? My poor daughter, who could possibly wish her no good!"
Ling Changyi wailed, vehemently asserting that Zhang Miaor was framed, attempting to shift the blame.
Zhang Miaor, also quick-witted, saw this and quickly chimed in with Ling Changyi. "Mother... Mother, it is I who have brought shame upon you. After such an incident, I have no face left to live. The only way to prove my innocence is through death."
Saying this, Zhang Miaor stumbled to her feet and moved to strike her head against a pillar.
"Stop her!"
Elder Master Ling roared. She couldn't die in the Ling family. If his granddaughter's life were lost in the Ling family, no amount of explaining would suffice.
A nearby servant quickly stepped forward to stop Zhang Miaor, who was attempting suicide, and held her down, preventing any movement.
"Let me go, let me die! After such a shameful incident, what is there to live for? It's better to die and prove my innocence!"
Zhang Miaor cried out loudly, acting as if she had suffered immense injustice.
"Daughter, my poor daughter, if you can't bear to live and leave me, how can your mother go on? I might as well... might as well follow you to the grave..."
Mother and daughter wept in each other's arms, lamenting their grievances. Those who were unaware would truly be moved by their cries.
However, everyone in the room was sharp and cunning; they could see through the mother and daughter's intentions.
Their scheme had failed, and they were now trying to turn the tables. Ling Muzhu looked at the two women kneeling on the ground, wailing like shrewish women, her disgust deepening.