“Sister-in-law, it’s not like that.” Ren Wanyun explained with a smile, “I’ve already asked the guards to put out the fire just now. I treat Jiaojiao as my own daughter. How can I watch her fall into danger? Sister-in-law, you know very well how I’ve treated Jiaojiao all these years. Otherwise, why would Jiaojiao be so close to us?” She was also anxious. Luo Xueyan had never been angry with anyone before. She used to be easy to coax, but when she was really angry, her aura was very shocking.
“Your own daughter?” Luo Xueyan sneered. “Our Jiaojiao doesn’t have a vicious mother like you.” She faced Ren Wanyun and forced her to retreat step by step, but her tone was cold. “I also want to ask you, Sister-in-law, since it’s Old Madam’s birthday, why is Jiaojiao alone in the ancestral hall?”
“Fifth Sister wants to go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the ancestors…” Under Luo Xueyan’s intense gaze, Ren Wanyun panicked and found a clumsy excuse.
“Ren Wanyun!” Luo Xueyan shouted sternly, “You’re lying to me with these excuses. Do you think I’m stupid? You locked her up in the ancestral hall and forced her to marry. I’ll settle the score one by one. I won’t let this matter rest so easily. Ren Wanyun.” Luo Xueyan was fierce to begin with. When she was angry, she had a domineering aura. “If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll make you pay!”
After she finished speaking, everyone in the room trembled in fear. Luo Xueyan was not in the Shen family’s mansion all year round, and the servants in the house had long stopped treating her as their madam. Most of the people in the house were Ren Wanyun’s spies. Every time Luo Xueyan returned, she always had a smile on her face. She was broad-minded and straightforward, and she did not fuss over small matters. Everyone thought that she was easy to talk to and had never seen her so stern.
Shen Miao, who was sleeping in the room, turned over, facking the wall. Her eyes were bright and clear. She had tried her best to put on this show and even leave a scar on her body to make sure the plan succeeded.
Now, Luo Xueyan no longer trusted Ren Wanyun and Chen Ruoqiu as much as before. She treated the people of the second and third branches like enemies. At least Shen Miao didn’t hurt herself for nothing.
At this moment, Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were confronting Shen Gui and Shen Wan.
“Brother, this is all a misunderstanding.” Shen Gui was a little flustered. He did not know that Ren Wanyun wanted Shen Miao and Shen Qing to be married off, and Shen Miao was locked up in the ancestral hall because she had made a mistake previously. Shen Gui had been holding a grudge against Shen Miao for talking back to him at Rongjing Hall that day, so he naturally had no objections to Shen Miao being locked up in the ancestral hall. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, the ancestral hall was on fire.
“Second Uncle, this is not a misunderstanding.” Shen Qiu took a step forward. He clenched his fists tightly and tried his best to control his urge to go forward and flip the two of them over. He said, “During Grandmother’s birthday banquet, my sister was locked up in the ancestral hall alone. I want to ask what kind of mistake she made. Why are there so many guards guarding the door? These guards didn’t save her and just watched from outside. Second Uncle, Third Uncle, can I understand that these guards are not there to save her but to block others’ way and think of ways to kill her?”
After all, Shen Qiu was young and impetuous, so he naturally wouldn’t think twice before saying something. He didn’t disappoint Shen Miao, and his words were even more harsh than she thought. As soon as he said that, Shen Xin’s expression darkened, and Shen Gui and Shen Wan were shocked. Shen Wan hastened to say, “Nephew, how can you say that? Shen Miao is our niece. How can we harm her?” He looked at Shen Xin. “Brother, what happened today was an accident. Brother, if we wanted to harm Shen Miao, why would we bring her up? Don’t you believe us?”