chapter 2

“Very well, Ke’ren. You tell me—what should be done now?” Zhao Song’s tone when addressing Zhao Ke’ren was the polar opposite of the vitriol he had just spat at Zhao Keran.

Beautiful and brilliant, Zhao Ke’ren had always been Zhao Song’s pride and joy. He believed that with her stunning looks and exceptional talent, she was destined to marry into royalty or high nobility. Such a match would bring nothing but absolute benefit to his own career. Consequently, he had always doted on her excessively.

“Father, why don’t we interrogate the servants of the courtyard?” Zhao Ke’ren suggested. “The servants of Chunhui Garden are always attending to Sister. Whether she did it or not, even if they don’t know everything, they are bound to have noticed some clues.”

“Hmph.” Zhao Song nodded with approval before barking an order. “Someone! Bring in the servants who were guarding the door. This Grand Preceptor shall interrogate them thoroughly!”

In short order, Mother Li and the maidservant Ling’er, who had been on duty, were hauled in. They knelt on the floor, trembling as they awaited Zhao Song’s questioning.

“Speak! Why did a man appear in the Eldest Miss’s bedchamber? Did you let him in?” Zhao Song roared. “And who is that man? Why did you allow him entry? Do you not know this destroys her reputation? Do you value your lives so little?” He glared at them. “Speak the truth! If I catch a single lie, you shall be beaten to death!”

“Slave… this slave…” Mother Li stole a guilt-ridden glance at Zhao Keran when no one was looking. Then, gritting her teeth, she replied stiffly, “Reporting to Master… this slave does not know who that man is. It was the Eldest Miss who ordered us to let him in. Afterward, she commanded us to guard the door and allow no one to enter.”

“That’s right, that’s right!” Ling’er, standing nearby, immediately chimed in. “This isn’t the first time. There have been several occasions where Mother Li and I were responsible for guarding the door.”

“What!” Enraged, Zhao Song snatched a porcelain cup from the table and hurled it at Zhao Keran. “You wretched girl! To think you would commit such filthy acts!”

“No, Father! I didn’t!”

The cup struck Zhao Keran squarely on the forehead. Fresh blood began to seep from the wound, creating a gruesome and shocking sight.

“They are lying! They want to frame me!” Zhao Keran turned desperately toward Ling’er, who hadn’t yet stopped talking. “Father, you must believe me! Your daughter would never do something so depraved!”

“Oh, Eldest Miss! One must live with a conscience!” Mother Li immediately began wailing and protesting her innocence. “Even if this slave had the courage of a lion, I wouldn’t dare frame the Eldest Miss!”

“Yes, exactly!” Ling’er echoed. “Eldest Miss, I didn’t want to say anything, but now that Master and Madam are asking, we truly do not dare to deceive them!”

“Sigh… Sister, how could you do such a thing?” Zhao Ke’ren looked the picture of heartbreak. She used a silk handkerchief to lightly dab at the tears in the corners of her eyes. “By doing this, how can you face our parents? And how can you face the Heir?”

“I didn’t! I didn’t! They are lying!” Zhao Keran looked with indignation at Mother Li and Ling’er—especially Ling’er. Ling’er was her personal maid, someone who had grown up by her side. She never imagined that in the end, Ling’er would be the one to betray her.

“Ling’er, I believe I have treated you well. Why are you framing me like this?” Zhao Keran demanded. “Who told you to say this?”

“Miss, I’m not!” Ling’er cried out, feigning grievance. “Miss, if you did the deed, you shouldn’t fear admitting it. I cannot lie just to protect you!”

“You’re lying!”

Just then, Zhao Keran’s other personal maid, Long’er, came rushing in from outside and threw herself onto her knees. “Master! The Eldest Miss is surely being framed! These two must be acting under someone’s orders to ruin her reputation! Master, please investigate clearly!”

Zhao Keran looked at Long’er with immense gratitude. Ling’er had always been silver-tongued and charming, so Keran had favored and trusted her more. In fact, under Ling’er’s subtle instigation, Keran had consistently sidelined Long’er. Yet, she never expected that at the ultimate crisis, Ling’er would frame her while Long’er would risk everything to defend her.