Chu Xin'er tactfully added fuel to the fire. "Well, isn't this Prefect Chen's precious daughter? Your father is a high-ranking official, after all. How did he raise a daughter whose mouth spews filth? Aren't you ashamed of talking like that in public?"
Chen Furong knew Chu Xin'er had an explosive temper, so she neither wanted nor dared to engage with her casually.
She snorted and cursed, "The Marquis earned every bit of the Marquis’s Residence’s wealth on horseback, fighting with real blades and spears. He married to establish a household and hoped to take the Marquis’s Residence to greater heights. Who knew his new bride would be such a spendthrift? He’d have been better off not marrying!"
Jiang Shuyue covered half her face with her sleeve and blinked her big, round eyes. "Yes, yes, I think these things are far too expensive too. Even mountains of gold and silver couldn't withstand such extravagance."
"But the Marquis said not to worry. He earns money for me to spend, and if I don't spend his money, he feels uncomfortable. Sigh, what a dilemma."
System: [Although the Great Villain has never said anything like that, judging by his behavior, that should be what he means. Host, your comprehension is getting better and better!]
Jiang Shuyue: [Yes, yes, I think I'm becoming more and more human. Someday, I'll know what the Great Villain is thinking without him even opening his mouth. I'm practically the roundworm in his belly!]
A roundworm... that didn't sound particularly great either.
Chen Furong stamped her foot in fury, and Jiang Shuyue felt the earth tremble.
"You shameless thing! You spend Brother Yun Shen's money and still have the nerve to act like this. Marrying you was eight lifetimes' worth of bad luck for him!"
"Everyone says sweetness comes after bitterness. Once his bad luck runs out, good luck will follow! He should be soaring to success very soon, shouldn't he? How wonderful."
Chu Xin'er was stunned enough to last three hundred years.
Girl, your husband is already below only one man and above ten thousand. If he soars any higher, he'll overshoot.
"Don't you understand human speech? I said you're not worthy of Brother Yun Shen!"
Jiang Shuyue brushed aside the loose hair by her ear, wearing an expression that begged for a beating. "I'm certainly not worthy of him, but what can I do? The Marquis likes me. They call this a needle tip meeting a wheat awn-we caught each other's eye."
"Oh, and since you keep calling him Brother Yun Shen, you must be a relative of ours, right? Since we're relatives, shouldn't you call me sister-in-law according to our seniority?"
The system burst out laughing. [Host, you're brilliant! How did you know Prefect Chen is an orphan and his adoptive father is a eunuch? A eunuch couldn't possibly have any connection to the Marquis’s Residence.]
[I didn't know. I just thought she was ugly, so she couldn't possibly be related to the Great Villain.]
What incredible radar! That was its host, all right.
Chen Furong lost her temper and barged through the crowd, charging toward Jiang Shuyue.
"Oh!"
Jiang Shuyue collapsed limply beside Zhou Luming, as though she had no bones.
"Boohoo, little sister, you've gone too far. How could you suddenly hit me? Boohoo, daughter, check whether I'm swelling up!"
Even the system wanted to cry at her acting. [Your staged injury is far too obvious. Who would believe such terrible acting?]
[Terrible? I thought it was pretty good.]
System: [Yes, yes, you're right about everything. Let's see how you handle this in a moment.]
The onlookers exchanged meaningful glances.
The Marchioness of Zhennan was so adorable. How could they let her get hurt?
They had to protect their little fairy at all costs!
"Miss Chen, you've gone too far. You could have just talked things out. Why resort to violence?"
"Exactly! The Marchioness of Zhennan is so delicate. What if you'd injured her? The Marquis would be heartbroken."
"Miss Chen, you should rein in your temper. You're two years older than Her Ladyship, aren't you? Why are you behaving so frivolously?"
Chen Furong was dumbfounded. "No, I didn't! Are you blind? I never even touched her!"
"Hmph, just because you say you didn't touch her doesn't make it true!"
Zhou Luming rolled her eyes. "I saw it all. Your claws were right in front of my mother's face. You scared her out of her wits."
Chu Xin'er nodded. "I saw it too. Her Ladyship fell because of what you did. Besides, she's so delicate that one breath from you could blow her over. How could she withstand that shove?"
Chen Furong was clumsy with words and usually used her fists rather than her mouth. Besieged by the crowd, she was so furious that smoke streamed from all seven orifices, yet she couldn't squeeze out so much as a fart.
Jiang Shuyue snuggled against Zhou Luming's shoulder and snickered. [Oh my, I never imagined everyone would be this blind. Heaven is truly on my side.]
The onlookers: You know perfectly well whether we're blind, don't you?
Jiang Shuyue pretended to wipe away tears. "Forget it. My constitution is simply too frail. When little sister came toward me, I almost thought there was an earthquake. It's all my fault."
"My father and Prefect Chen are merely colleagues. If that alone counts as a family connection, then every child of every civil and military official at court would be my father's relative."
"Oh, so you're not a relative. Then please change how you address him, Miss Chen. After all, my husband's position is sensitive. It wouldn't be good if you suffered for it."
"You! You really are a bitch, just as Liuli said."
"Huh? Little sister says that about me behind my back? I don't believe it, I don't believe it! Not unless she admits it herself. Little sister, what do you say?"
Jiang Liuli had been hiding outside the crowd and eavesdropping. She had been perfectly well concealed until the sudden mention of her name startled her.
Jiang Liuli tried to flee, but Chen Furong grabbed her hand and dragged her in front of Jiang Shuyue.
"With me here today, you can speak freely. Expose every shameful thing she's done, and let's see whether the Marquis still wants her!"
Jiang Liuli truly wanted to forget everything and faint right then and there.
Jiang Shuyue said, "Little sister, what shameful things have I done? Tell everyone!"
"Th-this must be a misunderstanding on Furong's part. Elder sister is gentle and kind and looks after me in every way. How could she have done anything shameful?"
Jiang Liuli lowered her head pitifully, looking aggrieved, as though she wanted to speak but didn't dare.
Jiang Shuyue: [Acting like that will only make everyone suspect I'm at fault. A true green tea bitch. I ought to applaud her.]
System: [Your Green Tea Points were increasing slowly earlier, but now they're shooting up. You've already passed three hundred points! System reward: one Marrow-Cleansing Pill!]
A large medicinal pill instantly appeared in Jiang Shuyue's pocket, making it bulge.
Just smelling its medicinal fragrance left Jiang Shuyue feeling refreshed and clearheaded.
Jiang Shuyue: [Second Brother's Marrow-Cleansing Pill is finally secured. Next are Prince Huai's pill and my daughter's Youth-Restoring Pill, plus Chu Xin'er's. I hope Jiang Liuli steps up her game so I can save enough Green Tea Points soon!]
So Jiang Liuli had this use too!
Everyone's eyes lit up. They stared fixedly at Jiang Liuli like prey spotting meat, refusing to look away.
"Liuli, tell us whatever grievances you have. Everyone here will stand up for you."
It wasn't that she didn't want to make things up. She didn't dare.
In the past, it certainly wouldn't have mattered, but now every step she took in the Jiang Family was a struggle. If something really went wrong, she feared no one would protect her.
Best not to get tangled up in this. Getting out of danger comes first.
"Stop saying that. Elder sister hasn't done anything wrong. Don't pressure her."
Pffft~~
Chu Xin'er blinked. "Um... did you hear something just now?"
Zhou Luming said, "Yes, it sounded like a far-"
Pfft, pfft, pfft~~
The air fell silent for several seconds. Before everyone's minds could catch up, Jiang Shuyue's unrestrained laughter rang out.
[Hahaha, a barrage of farts! Jiang Liuli just let out a barrage of farts!]
Before you continue