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

Zhao Shuyun heard Jiang Ruining's voice in a daze, looked up, and met an angry face.

My heart sank, and the dizziness intensified.

Why did you ambush me?

"Why?" Jiang Ruining sneered, hands on her hips. "This old lady has a bellyful of tricks up her sleeve. You dare to show off your skills in front of Guan Yu? You're nothing!"

Zhao Shuyun's eyes twitched slightly: "I don't know what you're talking about, Miss Jiang. Have you misunderstood something?"

Jiang Ruining remained calm and said slowly, "Chu Jin invited me out today, so she certainly wouldn't have left me behind while she was chatting idly. Someone must have deliberately delayed her."

"And you, your eyes light up when you see her, it's clear your admiration is ingrained in your very bones. If she were truly being bullied, how could you resist rushing to her aid?"

"Even if it's truly inconvenient for you to get involved, there are maids and servants everywhere in the restaurant at the customers' beck and call. Why did you go all the way to find me instead of calling someone nearby? You must have some scheme against me!"

"To be honest, you were the one who plotted against me first. You failed because you were stupid, and I succeeded because I was capable."

Yun Mi pointed at him, her face flushed with anger, and slapped him: "My young lady has never offended you, yet you try to harm her. You're shameless!"

Zhao Shuyun's eyes trembled.

Clearly, no one expected her to have such keen observation and analytical skills!

But he didn't panic at being exposed; he just looked at her coldly.

Neither admit nor deny.

Jiang Ruining questioned him: "Did Chu Jin instigate you to scheme against me, or did you act on your own behind her back?"

Zhao Shuyun remained silent, but an invisible crack appeared on her gentle and refined face, revealing a hint of mockery.

Jiang Ruining chuckled, a triumphant air of finally succeeding: "So it was her who ordered you! Very well, soon my father, the head of the family, will be returning to the capital. Then you'll see for yourself how she'll be kicked out!"

Zhao Shuyun's expression changed: "Don't think that just because you put on a few acts in front of others, they'll believe you! You're a stupid and vicious wretch!"

Jiang Ruining deliberately spoke with smugness: "Whether others believe me or not, do you think I care? But my father will definitely believe me, especially after he knows that Chu Jin not only took everything from me but also instigated people to hurt me. He will personally deal with those who hurt me and made me sad!"

"Including you! And including Chu Jin!"

Zhao Shuyun panicked and couldn't stand her smugness: "You plotted against Miss Chu first, you deserve your retribution!"

Jiang Ruining's smile became even brighter.

very good!

It's good that you've admitted it!

She scoffed dismissively, "My targeting of Chu Jin is malicious, but you schemed against me for no reason, so what kind of good person are you? You have a mother, sisters, and a future wife and daughters, yet you tried to drug me with aphrodisiacs, attempting to ruin my innocence!"

"Zhao Shuyun, don't try to portray yourself as so righteous. At least I'm acting openly and honestly, and I have legitimate reasons to target her. But you're nothing but a treacherous, worthless piece of trash!"

"What right do you have to judge me!"

Yun Mi nodded vigorously, as if playing the straight man, then spat at him, "You're not worthy!"

Zhao Shuyun quickly scanned the room again, rubbing the back of her head. She glanced at the door and windows, and after confirming no one was around, she curled her lip in a mocking smile: "Do you think anyone will believe you once you step out that door?"

"I am a refined and promising young official from Dazhou, a member of the Earl's household! You? A vile and incompetent fool despised by everyone!"

Jiang Ruining's gaze, as if looking at a fool, landed on his seemingly shrewd face: "Zhao Shuyun, you're so naive!"

Zhao Shuyun asked suspiciously, "What do you mean?!"

Jiang Ruining blinked: "You don't think I could catch you off guard and drag you out a bunch of things just to have a pointless verbal battle with you, do you?"

She got up.

She walked briskly to the window and pushed it open forcefully.

Zhao Shuyun looked over and saw a vast expanse of blue sky, but in the next instant, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of one face after another, some disdainful, some speechless, and some disappointed.

This group included not only his childhood friends, but also his superiors and the Censorate officials who were always ready to arrest any official for wrongdoing!

After being hit, he felt dizzy and his head was ringing sharply. He had no idea when these people had appeared!

Finished!

All the achievements and goodwill he had painstakingly built up in the government office were ruined by Jiang Ruining!

Jiang Ruining knew exactly what he was thinking, and she raised her index finger and shook it: "You ruined your own future by doing evil, don't blame me! I never schemed against you!"

then.

He punched him in the temple.

Zhao Shuyun's eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Jiang Ruining flicked the bright hairband draped over her chest, clapped her hands, and stepped over Zhao Shuyun.

Everyone: "..."

The way the group of teenagers looked at her changed from disdain to curiosity.

"So this ginger herb packet isn't a herb packet at all after all!"

Back in the private room.

Jiang Ruining called the waiter to serve the dishes.

They've just finished serving.

Chu Jin finally turned back.

Sitting across from her, his eyes filled with slow apology, he said, "I heard about what happened earlier, Ningning. I'm sorry, I've never spoken ill of you in front of outsiders. I never imagined he would scheme against you."

Jiang Ruining nodded: "I know this has nothing to do with you. He's just being delusional, trying to be your protector; he's actually a dark and wicked person!"

He paused for a moment.

He added, "I only said I would ask my father to kick you out earlier to get information out of Zhao Shuyun. Don't worry, since I said we should get along well in the future, I won't do it."

Chu Jin was prepared for her to question her, or even get angry and hit her.

Unexpectedly, she was so calm, with no trace of suppressed anger in her expression or eyes.

Jiang Ruining lowered her head and ate her food: "Do you know how Zhao Shuyun plans to harm me?"

Chu Jin clenched her chopsticks tightly and nodded.

Someone told her.

Zhao Shuyun actually wanted to use an aphrodisiac on her...

Jiang Ruining used serving chopsticks to put some food on her plate: "Eat up! After you're done, I'll take you somewhere."

The two finished their meal quietly, then got up and went downstairs.

They happened to run into Ruan Zhenzhen, who was also about to leave.

Seeing that she was alright, Ruan Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief and then pouted.

Jiang Ruining blocked her way.

Ruan Zhenzhen frowned: "Excuse me, please move aside, don't block the way!"

Jiang Ruining's expression was one of disgust: "They're clearly biased towards the poor, wronged people who suffered under their parents' thumbs. You got help, you turned your life around, and now you turn around and use that mean face to scheme against those who couldn't climb out of hell. Is that something to be proud of?"

"What are you so smug about?"

Ruan Zhenzhen sneered arrogantly, her contempt and disgust undisguised: "I'm not as vicious as you!"

"You're not vicious, you poisoned your stepsister!" Jiang Ruining knew that her actions were a form of retaliation, but since she could twist her own pain, why couldn't he twist her original intentions?

With a slight lift of her chin, she said, "If I'm malicious, then you have the right to scheme against me. Similarly, if my friends were to be schemed against by you, they could justifiably scheme against you in return!"

"You deserve it!"

Ruan Zhenzhen's expression changed drastically.

Jiang Ruining warned her, "Ruan Zhenzhen, what happens between Chu Jin and me is none of your business! If you dare to do anything else, I'll show you what retribution is!"

After saying that, he pulled Chu Jin away.

Ruan Zhenzhen stood there stunned for a long time, Jiang Ruining's words echoing in her mind: "They are all victims of parental favoritism..."

The carriage went around in a circle.

The further we went, the more remote the area became.

Chu Jin was somewhat wary: "Where are we going?"

Jiang Ruining smiled and said, "Don't worry, so many people are watching us work together. If I were to harm you, your dear aunt wouldn't let me live to see tomorrow's sun."

Chu Jin: "..."

The carriage soon arrived at its destination.

The two got off the car.

The surroundings are old and dilapidated.

The courtyard has been abandoned for a long time.

Chu Jin followed Jiang Ruining to the courtyard gate.

Loud banging on the door, greasy joking, and other strange noises kept coming from inside.

Chu Jin frowned upon hearing this, then turned to see that her face was pale and her body was trembling slightly, so he reached out and put his arm around her.

Much later.

The knocking stopped.

Jiang Ruining led her to hide.

The gate was opened, and a group of ragged beggars poured out.

The leader tossed a wad of silver coins, grinning from ear to ear: "I thought we were going to scare a little girl, but it turns out we're here to watch two men do 'that' and entertain them!"