She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Liu Jia recalled the pearl hair ornament on Jiang Ruining's head, a total of eighteen pink pearls the size of a fingertip. Pink pearls are rare, and it is worth a thousand pieces of gold to obtain just one. Yet she possessed so many. Liu Jia was curious and envious!

"The Regent treats her so well!"

Chu Jin gave a faint "hmm": "A savior is always different."

Madam Liu seemed to be deep in thought, then changed the subject: "Now that Ningning has returned safely, your aunt should also be brought back to the mansion. Such a large mansion of the Grand Secretary is a laughing stock if it doesn't have a mistress to manage it."

Chu Jin clenched the handkerchief in her hand and said, "Your uncle has gone to the palace for a meeting. You can come and discuss this with him when he is on leave."

Madam Liu said, "I, as her mother, have not taught my daughter well. When she sees me, she will inevitably feel resentful. It is not convenient for me to say it out loud."

He held her hand and patted it gently, a gesture of utmost respect, as if entrusting her with a great responsibility.

"You wouldn't want Ningning to be talked about behind her back, being seen as unfilial, would you?"

Chu Jin raised her eyes, her bright eyes meeting his directly: "Throughout the capital, everyone knows that my aunt abused her own daughter, even sending someone to push her off a cliff. Others can only pity her for her tragic fate."

"If someone criticizes or slanders, it shows their malice! Who cares what a malice person says?"

Madam Liu sighed anxiously, "Ningning is currently favored by the Regent and is enjoying great popularity. So many people are jealous of her. Even things that aren't her fault will be twisted into her fault. Besides, there are no parents who are always right!"

Are there no parents who are always wrong?

Is it wrong for a mother to try to "atone" for her mistakes by abusing and killing her own daughter?

Chu Jin almost laughed out of anger at that shameless remark!

But people who are successful are often envied. If Ningning refuses to take her aunt back, she will likely be the subject of gossip!

She didn't show it on her face, but lowered her eyes and her long eyelashes trembled slightly: "Grandmother, I am innocent in this matter too! But it is also a fact that I stole her happiness, took her place, and am one of the culprits who made her suffer abuse."

"The people in the whole world who are least qualified to advise Ningning to forgive are my aunt and me."

"Now that the Regent and my uncle have explicitly forbidden anyone from making things difficult for her or upsetting her, I know she hasn't forgotten the severe abuse and harm she suffered in the past. How can I possibly say such a thing!"

Old Madam Liu knew she was forcing someone, but for the sake of the family's reputation, sometimes people had to swallow their grievances: "I only asked you to persuade her, not to pressure her!"

"I can see that you and Ningning have a very good relationship. She won't blame you. Besides, your aunt has spoiled you for so many years. Are you really willing to leave her alone on the estate to suffer?"

Chu Jin gave a bitter smile and broke free from her hand: "My aunt dotes on me to atone for her sins, and also to use me to kill Ningning, to prove that I am evil, and my mother is evil too. Her past targeting and plundering were not wrong!"

"How much sincerity did she have towards me? I don't hate her; that's already out of gratitude for her raising me!"

"Ningning didn't hold it against me for taking away her happiness, but that doesn't mean she won't be sad, much less that the Regent and my uncle will let me off the hook after they find out I went to persuade her!"

"My maternal grandmother was afraid of offending my uncle and the regent, so she dared not show herself, but instead sent me..."

Her eyes were full of tears, swaying with broken pain and despair.

Old Madam Liu's eyes showed pity: "You child, what are you saying? I..."

Chu Jin didn't want to listen, covered her face and cried, then ran out.

"Madam! Miss and Miss Ning are both your own granddaughters, don't you care about them at all?" Chunxi dared not contradict the old lady, so she could only say this much before stamping her foot angrily and quickly chasing after her, "Miss! Miss, don't run, be careful not to fall!"

Old Madam Liu swayed slightly.

Madam Liu helped her sit down and soothed her chest, saying, "Mother, don't worry, bringing Second Sister back from the estate can't be rushed."

Old Madam Liu squeezed her eyes shut and said helplessly, "Ning'er and Jin'er are so pitiful, how can I not feel sorry for them? Your second sister did something wrong and should indeed pay the price, but there is still some kindness between them!"

"We can't ignore the reputation of both families! Only with a stable marriage alliance can they have another powerful backer. I'm doing this for their sake!"

Madam Liu wisely replied, "The girls are still young and don't understand the bigger picture. We'll talk to them properly later, and they'll understand!"

Madam Liu pounded her chest: "It's all your father's fault for being so heartless and leaving us so early. The Liu family's position in the court is not what it used to be. Only by securing this marriage alliance can our sons' futures be bright and our daughters' marriages be successful!"

Madam Liu's tone was full of gratitude: "I understand your good intentions. You are doing this all for the children! But the incident of Ning'er falling off the cliff caused such a big fuss that everyone knows about it. Everyone suspects that she ordered someone to push Ning'er off the cliff. If we bring her back now, it will be bad."

"Others will say that you are unkind for coercing and threatening your abused granddaughter for the sake of your wicked daughter! If Ning'er is disgusted and complains to her brother-in-law and the Regent, won't she offend them?"

Madam Liu was shocked and gasped, "I was too hasty!"

Madam Liu analyzed, "Right now, we need to build a good relationship with Ning-jie and make her happy! As long as Ning-jie respects and trusts you, how could she refuse once you ask?"

"We won't ask her to forgive us, we just want her to agree to let our second sister come back for the New Year. By then, no matter how angry she is, she should have calmed down. Once our second sister is back, can she, as her daughter, really kick her own mother out again?"

"If she really did that, the whole world would condemn her!"

Madam Liu's dim eyes suddenly brightened, her face beaming with smiles: "You're right! As long as Ning'er has a good relationship with us, if we have her plead with the Regent, will our sons' futures be anything but smooth? The Regent has many nobles under his command, so our daughters' marriages won't be a problem!"

"The prestige of our Liu family will naturally be upheld!"

Madam Liu nodded and smiled: "Mother is right to think that way!"

Having a relative by marriage who is a Grand Secretary is already incredibly lucky; I never imagined that my cousin could have such a close relationship with the powerful Regent!

This is Heaven's will for the Liu family to rise again!

"There are still three months until the New Year in the neighborhood. Let's put aside the matter of our second sister for now and focus on building a relationship with Ning-jie!"

Madam Liu nodded repeatedly, "Good! We'll do as you say!" She then praised her daughter-in-law, "You're so insightful and composed!"

In fact, Madam Liu did not want her sister-in-law to return to the capital.

Such stupidity and malice, and yet they stand right under the nose of the wronged cousin every day, it's likely to make her feel disgusted with the rest of the Liu family!

"Mother taught her well!"

Yun Mi, who was eavesdropping outside the door, was furious!

After rolling her eyes, she ran back to Chaohua Residence.

Seeing her angry expression, Jiang Ruining knew that the people from the Liu family must have said something unpleasant!

"What did those people say?"

Yun Mi put her hands on her hips and exhaled forcefully, as if trying to force out the pent-up frustration she hadn't been able to vent: "They know perfectly well that you dislike Madam and that Miss Jin is living under someone else's roof, yet they still had Miss Jin persuade you to bring Madam back!"

Jiang Ruining was not surprised at all.

Although the book describes the Liu family as "doting on the female lead," when they went to the capital to meet her, Shao Yunting had already put on a show of wanting to marry her, and protected and helped her in every way. Naturally, they were very close to her and showered her with affection.

Now that the female lead is not engaged and has no value, it is no surprise that the Liu family shows their indifference.

People, especially those from large families, are driven by self-interest and are opportunistic!

Even the closest relatives can be abandoned without hesitation.

Besides, Chu Jin was never raised by the Liu family for even a single day!

"Everyone knows that Madam Jiang is vicious and selfish. She was driven out of the manor, and the marriage between the two families is now illegitimate. And now, my father has entered the cabinet, and I am highly favored by the Regent, enjoying great power and influence. The Liu family is in a panic!"