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

Jiang Ruining stomped her foot in frustration: "With those two's abilities, even if I don't want to go out, they'll find a way to force me out. Did you see the look in Cui Jingwei's and the others' eyes that practically want to devour me?"

"And your dear aunt!"

He raised his finger and circled around.

"With such a commotion, did you see her even come out to inquire? She's so adept at using others to humiliate and bully her own daughter! If someone wanted me dead, she would definitely be hiding in the shadows helping me!"

Chu Jin didn't want to believe that her aunt had been so cruel to Ningning, but the fact that her aunt hadn't come out to protect Ningning was undeniable.

He could only make up excuses for her: "No way! Even tigers don't eat their cubs, your aunt wouldn't do that to you!"

Jiang Ruining scoffed, "It's not important, and I don't care." She didn't dwell on the topic any further. "I haven't had breakfast yet, and I'm starving! Have you eaten? Want to eat together?"

Chu Jin, who always gets up early and has already eaten, shook her head and said, "You should go back and have your meal! I'm going to check on my aunt."

Jiang Ruining nodded, but then decided to go anyway.

In the past, it was the original owner who couldn't bear to see Madam Jiang and Chu Jin acting so intimately like mother and son in front of her, so it was the original owner who was upset.

But she doesn't care!

Yesterday, she disobeyed him and made Madam Jiang so angry that she almost fell over, but she couldn't get rid of her.

If she goes there again, it will be Madam Jiang who will suffer!

I was tormented by two groups of lunatics this morning, and I'm already furious. I need to find someone to vent my anger on!

"Forget it, I'll still go! Otherwise, she'll have another excuse to belittle me!"

Chu Jin didn't know how to respond.

The two arrived at the south courtyard.

The old woman guarding the gate replied respectfully, "Madam is unwell and will not be here today..."

As he was replying as ordered, he was interrupted by Granny Song.

Let the two of them in.

But when they arrived at the main room, Chu Jin was asked to wait a moment.

"Madam has something to say to the eldest daughter in private."

Chu Jin, remembering the conflict they had already had yesterday, feared that it might escalate further, so she said, "Ningning, I'll go with you."

Jiang Ruining smiled reassuringly: "I know what Mother wants to say, it's alright."

Chu Jin hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.

Jiang Ruining: "If she doesn't cause trouble, I won't either."

But it's impossible to make her continue to suffer Madam Jiang's temper!

They went into the inner room.

The layout is almost identical to Jiang Ruining's place, except that the decorations are a bit more old-fashioned.

On the raised table sat a dark, incense burner with three dragons emerging from the water, its milky white smoke and the scent of styrax rising leisurely from the openwork carvings.

The window was open, and a thin, light blue curtain covered the window frame.

The filtered light softened and fell on Madam Jiang's face, which was suppressing her cold anger, but it did not soften her stern expression.

Jiang Ruining curtsied: "What does Mother wish to say to me?"

Madam Jiang was in pain, a pain that seemed to emanate from her very bones, like the dull, cold pain in her abdomen during menstruation—not sharp, bearable, but constant and relentless, eroding her spirit and patience.

Even though he told himself to stay calm and composed, the moment he saw her "I don't care about anyone" expression, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and blurted out, "What trouble have you caused this time, turning the house upside down?"

"Do you have to completely ruin the Jiang family's reputation before you'll stop? Why can't you learn from Jin'er? Look how proper, gentle, and likable she is!"

Jiang Ruining replied indifferently, "Didn't my mother make any mistakes when she was young? Didn't she ever tarnish the family's reputation?"

A single, casual remark.

It was like a spark falling onto a late autumn grassland, instantly igniting a raging fire that crackled and popped.

Madam Jiang's suppressed rage surged to the top of her head: "You unfilial daughter! How dare you speak ill of your own mother!"

Jiang Ruining remained calm, her tone equally indifferent: "It seems that Mother made some rather serious mistakes in her youth, otherwise why would she still be so furious when she thinks about them after all these years?"

Madam Jiang pointed at her, her fingertips trembling like swords.

He was so angry that he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"You...you..."

Jiang Ruining's face was bathed in a halo of light, obscuring her expression. Only the faint outline of her mocking lips could be seen: "If you can't even be a loving mother yourself, don't expect me to be a filial daughter."

"When you were young, you caused a great disaster, and your maternal grandparents forgave you. Why can't you learn from their tolerance and generosity? Why do you have to keep harping on my little mistake?"

Anyone can criticize others.

If you're shameless enough, then all the mistakes will be someone else's fault!

Besides, the mistakes made in the past were made by the original owner, not her, so what is there for her to feel guilty about?

Madam Jiang sensed the sarcasm and her anger intensified. She couldn't help but belittle her as before: "How have you become so despicable!"

Jiang Ruining showed no anger or resentment, and said with a smile, "My mother has raised me well!"

As parents, we have a responsibility to guide and raise our children.

If they didn't teach well, it's the parents' fault.

Without instruction, the mistake was compounded.

Even the Heavenly King himself would agree on this!

Madam Jiang was speechless again, her eyes flashing with a complex mix of emotions in an instant. As if remembering something, she forcefully suppressed her anger and asked again, "What's going on between you, the Regent, and the Duke of Shao?!"

Jiang Ruining found a secluded spot to sit down, reaching out to inhale the coolness of the ice mirror: "Some petty thieves, chased by the patrol team, have nowhere to hide and are trying to force their way in. They probably want to take the women of the manor hostage!"

"The two of you just happened to be passing by the gate and helped apprehend the thief. They were just doing what officials are supposed to do, why are you dragging me into this?"

Madam Jiang slammed her hand on the table: "Don't try to fool me! If they were really just passing through, why would they come into the manor for tea, and specifically ask to see you?"

"Knowing you're afraid of thunder, Duke Shao disregarded propriety and covered your ears in public. What would he say about a private agreement with you? Would the Regent ask you to prepare a thank-you gift and go to thank him in person?"

Jiang Ruining thought to himself, "The news travels fast; they've already gone on to this point in such a vivid way."

He shrugged. "How can just anyone guess what a powerful and influential person is thinking or doing?"

A slight pause.

A shameless smile.

"Maybe he suddenly realized I'm beautiful, kind-hearted, and intelligent, so he wants to propose!"

Madam Jiang was taken aback, not expecting her to be so shameless: "You were so eager to pester Duke Shao before, but he didn't even give you a second glance! The Regent Prince holds absolute power; he has every beauty and noblewoman he could ever want. Why would he even look at you?"

"Explain yourself clearly: what exactly did you do to cause them to suddenly treat you this way?"

They belittled and humiliated their own daughter, treating her as worthless.

If it were the original owner of this body, she would definitely go crazy.

But Jiang Ruining showed no emotional fluctuations at all, only leaning to the side with her elbow on her hand, resting her chin on her hand as if deep in thought.

When Madam Jiang saw how indifferent the other woman was to her evaluation, she panicked and realized once again that she was out of control and could no longer control her emotions!