Chapter 217: Showdown

Chapter 217: Showdown

Madam Jiang was silent for a long time after hearing Lu Lingyun's words.

At that moment, Jiang Qianzhu returned after putting away her things and changing her clothes.

As soon as she entered and saw that Lu Lingyun had not left, she pouted and whined, "Aunt, why is this person still here? Our family's temple is too small to house such a grand statue."

She walked over to Madam Jiang and spoke to her as usual.

Hearing her words, Madam Jiang's eyes turned cold. "Yes, our family's temple is indeed too small to accommodate such a grand statue."

When Jiang Qianzhu heard the agreement, she looked triumphant and directed her words back at Lu Lingyun. "Then shouldn't some people who don't know their place leave first? Otherwise, people might say they lack upbringing."

She returned Lu Lingyun's words like a childish retaliation.

Lu Lingyun could only feel amused seeing Jiang Qianzhu's smug expression.

At this point, Madam Jiang slammed the table. "Qianzhu, where did you just go?"

Startled by the sound, Jiang Qianzhu turned to see her frowning aunt. Still unaware of the situation, she replied, "I went shopping with friends."

"Is that so?"

"Of course," Jiang Qianzhu lied, trying to change the subject. She pulled out a jar of rouge. "Aunt, I found this rouge while shopping today. I think this color suits you."

The rough and ordinary rouge box was clearly not a high-quality product, which Madam Jiang never used. In the past, Madam Jiang would have been satisfied with such a gift from Jiang Qianzhu, warmly accepting it and even giving something in return.

Because Madam Jiang had always treated her like her own daughter, and her daughter's gifts were appreciated for their sentiment.

Now, seeing this cheap rouge box, Madam Jiang sneered inwardly. So, in her so-called 'dear niece's' eyes, she was only worthy of such inferior items!

Even if Yangshi had paid for it, Jiang Qianzhu hadn't been willing to buy something expensive!

"What, Aunt, don't you like it?" Jiang Qianzhu asked, noticing her aunt's lack of response.

Madam Jiang no longer indulged her and coldly said, "I never use such inferior items."

Her voice was extremely cold, startling Jiang Qianzhu, who sensed that something was off with her aunt. "Aunt, this is my heartfelt gesture, how can you measure it with money?"

"Ha! Your so-called 'sincerity' is clear as day!" Madam Jiang didn't want to talk anymore. "Get someone to escort Miss Qianzhu back to her hometown!"

Madam Jiang directly called for someone to escort her out.

Lu Lingyun thought that Madam Jiang's arrangement showed she was still too emotional, clinging to past familial sentiments and merely sending her away.

However, upon hearing this, Jiang Qianzhu's expression changed dramatically.

"Aunt, what are you doing..." Seeing the servants actually moving, she quickly added, "If you think this makeup is too cheap for you, I can buy you a better one. How can you treat me like this?"

"Miss Jiang, why are you upsetting her?" At this moment, the senior matron of Jiang Qianzhu also hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

Being a long-time servant of the Jiang family, having served even before Madam Jiang was married, the matron had some influence and could speak on Jiang Qianzhu's behalf. "Miss Qianzhu is also showing filial piety. She's young and didn't think much of it. As elders, we should guide her gently."

Madam Jiang gave the old woman a cold glance. "Nanny Sun, you are also a long-time servant of the Jiang family, so you should know what the consequences are for betraying the family and loyalty!"

Jiang Qianzhu's private communications with Yangshi were all facilitated by Nanny Sun, and this old servant should have reported it to Madam Jiang if she had any loyalty and loyalty.

"Even more so, she follows behind Jiang Qianzhu every day, listening to her talk to outsiders without a single word to dissuade her.

How infuriating!

"Aunt! This old servant wouldn't dare!" Nanny Sun, clearly more sensitive than Jiang Qianzhu since she was a servant, immediately begged for mercy.

"And there are still things you wouldn't dare to do!" Aunt Jiang coldly looked at the pair, "I will write to your father myself. From now on, you're not welcome in my home!"

Jiang Qianzhu, in a panic, said, "No, I'm not going back! Aunt, is this her doing? Is she trying to turn us against each other?"

She still thought that Lu Lingyun had secretly complained and turned their aunt-niece relationship sour.

"Miss, forget it. If Aunt Jiang doesn't want us here, let's go back," Nanny Sun pulled her and said.

"Aunt, tell me, is she, an outsider, closer to you, or am I, a blood relative? You can't let her deceive and blind you!"

Aunt Jiang, unable to bear it any longer, slammed the powder box on the table, "My blood relative of a niece is colluding with outsiders to scheme against our family every day. Tell me, who is closer!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qianzhu fell completely silent, stunned that Aunt Jiang knew everything.

But how could she know?

She had trusted her so much. She hadn't shown any signs at home. How could she...?

"Aunt, you secretly investigated me!" she said in disbelief.

Aunt Jiang sneered, "If I hadn't investigated, the old foundation of my Wang family would have been reported to Lady Yang by you!"

Jiang Qianzhu's chest heaved as she said, "Aunt, you've misunderstood me."

"What else do you have to say in your defense? Should I repeat everything you said? Going back to inquire about your brother-in-law Liu Shuhui's situation!"

Jiang Qianzhu, realizing she was completely transparent in front of Aunt Jiang, blinked her innocent eyes and said, "It was all because Lady Yang coaxed me into saying those things. I didn't think much of it. I didn't know it was something I shouldn't inquire about. I won't say anything in the future."

Aunt Jiang was so angry that she laughed, "Jiang Qianzhu, ask yourself this, how have I treated you? Every year when you visit, I've always bought you whatever you wanted. Whatever Qiluo has, you have too. You didn't want to stay at your own home, so I treated you like my own daughter, raising you in my house and finding you a good match. Do you even have a conscience?"

This speech left Jiang Qianzhu red-faced, embarrassed by being exposed. She twisted her hands and said, "Aunt, I won't say those things anymore. I'll change, alright!"

"Get out! Out of gratitude for our aunt-niece relationship, I won't tell your father, but from now on, I will act as if you are no longer my niece. Never come back!"

Jiang Qianzhu, realizing this was serious, became even more furious, "Aunt-niece relationship? Hah! Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? All the good you did for me was just to humiliate me! What you gave me were all the leftovers of Wang Qiluo. You treated me like trash and wanted me to be grateful to you! You're hypocritical!"

"While the rest of the Jiang family has fallen, you're the only one who remains in the Imperial City, a fourth-rank general's wife. My parents said you treating me well was only natural! But in reality, all you did was humiliate me!"

"You wanted to arrange a marriage for me, didn't you? You planned to marry me off to your illegitimate son! How could you even think of that?"