Volume One, Chapter 18: He Was Jealous

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Everyone had just misunderstood the innocent Chun’er Fu and had nearly driven her out of the academy; now, their faces bore expressions of embarrassment. However, as privileged elites, they were too proud to apologize, so they all redirected their anger toward the true culprit who had deceived them.

“Xiaolian Fu, since you have the original letter, did you already know who the mastermind was?”

“Yeah, judging by how confidently she spoke, she must have known the whole story all along.”

“Wait, these two new sheets of paper were brought out by Rongrong Jiang. Could it be that she’s the one behind this?”

The more they pondered, the more plausible it seemed, and they all turned their gaze toward Rongrong Jiang.

Startled, Rongrong Jiang hurriedly waved her hands, “No, it’s not me. I don’t know who put the letter on my desk…”

Seeing their obvious disbelief, Rongrong Jiang was on the verge of tears. She now loathed the mastermind with every fiber of her being, even suspecting that the scheme wasn’t aimed at Chun’er Fu but was deliberately set to harm her instead!

Xiaolian Fu quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She was immensely grateful that she had placed the letter with Rongrong Jiang instead of confronting the matter herself. Now, by shifting the blame onto Rongrong Jiang, she could escape unscathed.

With that thought, she confidently said, “Stop guessing. Actually, I’m the one behind it all. I deliberately stole my sister’s brush and ink, hired someone to forge a letter, and placed it on that fool Rongrong Jiang’s desk. The purpose? To ruin Chun’er Fu’s reputation. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the calligrapher from the Ink Elegance Studio—I paid him to do it!”

Those words struck like thunder. The air instantly fell silent as everyone turned around, dumbfounded, staring at Xiaolian Fu.

A smug smile still lingered at the corner of Xiaolian Fu’s lips, but seeing their expressions, she suddenly realized what she had just said.

She immediately covered her mouth, but it was too late. Rongrong Jiang strode forward with reddened eyes and slapped her fiercely. “Xiaolian Fu, why would you do this to me?”

Xiaolian Fu’s eyes widened in terror.

Why? Why had she repeatedly spoken words against her will today? She had tried to control herself fully. She even felt she had uttered the words that would pin the blame on her, yet when she thought back, she had indeed revealed her true identity!

Suddenly, Xiaolian Fu glared at Chun’er Fu.

It was her! She must have used some sorcery to force her to confess the truth!

Chun’er Fu met her furious, terrified gaze without a flicker of emotion.

In the previous life, it was Lingxiao Yin who first noticed the clue. He pointed out that the ink on the letter was still wet, and since the capital was at least two days’ journey from Qian’an County, it had to be a forgery.

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When everyone discovered the ink stains on Rongrong Jiang’s hands, they all accused her of framing her classmates. Then Xiaolian Fu fanned the flames, firmly placing the blame on Rongrong Jiang’s shoulders and walking away unscathed.

Rongrong Jiang was punished by being sent home for three months of reflection. Her heart grew bitter with hatred for Chun’er Fu, suspecting that she had orchestrated the entire scheme. Upon returning to the academy, she targeted her even more relentlessly.

In this new life, Xiaolian Fu finally reaped the consequences of her actions.

As everyone began to doubt whether Xiaolian Fu had lost her mind, Chun’er Fu lifted her indifferent eyelids and calmly asked, “Xiaolian, aren’t we biological sisters? Why would you harm your own elder sister?”

That question echoed the thoughts of everyone present.

“So, Xiaolian Fu never truly liked her older sister who returned from the countryside. It was all just an act?”

“What’s going on? I always thought she was kind.”

“She usually exudes such charm; only you men can’t see through it.”

“Tsk tsk, I never imagined she could be so vicious behind the scenes.”

Just an incense stick’s time ago, malicious ridicule had been aimed at Chun’er Fu, but now it all turned toward Xiaolian Fu.

Xiaolian Fu was utterly panic-stricken. She cared most about her image, but now she had completely shattered the noble lady’s facade and exposed that all her past concern for Chun’er Fu had been a sham!

What terrified her even more was that since Chun’er Fu had asked why she would harm her own sister, she couldn’t help but want to speak the truth—to tell everyone she wasn’t truly Chun’er Fu’s biological sister but the daughter of a courtesan named Mei Niang, and that her persecution was purely out of jealousy!

Xiaolian Fu clamped her hand over her mouth tightly to keep herself from speaking.

As long as she said nothing, there was still a chance to salvage the situation. Her family was unaware of this matter; once she returned home, she would manipulate the matron to stand by her side and then twist the facts to throw dirt on Chun’er Fu!

Yet, as she thought this, her eyes inadvertently glanced outside, and she suddenly saw a scene that filled her with dread.

Behind the crowd, Shangguan Hao and Fu Heng stood silently, watching her.

Shangguan Hao’s gaze was slightly surprised, and when it fell upon Chun’er Fu, it held a hint of pity.

Fu Heng’s face was dark, his eyes full of anger and disappointment toward her.

Seeing the crowd’s agitation and their attempts to pry her hand away from her mouth, Xiaolian Fu’s eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the ground, her face pale as she fainted.

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Chun’er Fu withdrew her gaze. She hadn’t really expected Xiaolian Fu to reveal her identity; it was still too soon.

After all, the Fu family would soon intermarry with other noble houses, and then as a concubine-born daughter, Xiaolian Fu would completely lose any standing, replaced by herself.

Reborn with a second chance, all she wanted was to pass the imperial examination and change her fate. She wanted nothing to do with irrelevant people or matters.

Lingxiao Yin looked at her bowed head in silence, the image of her clear eyes flashing in his mind. He thought: such a well-behaved girl must be deeply saddened now.

Had she grown numb from being bullied often at home?

After a moment, Lingxiao Yin thought he should apologize; after all, this matter had ultimately arisen because of him.

Though... the girl seemed unwilling to speak with him; she showed resistance in every gesture and tried hard to conceal it.

Just as he pondered this, he looked up again, but her figure was gone.

Lingxiao Yin hurriedly scanned the surroundings and found her standing outside the crowd, with someone by her side.

Shangguan Hao was in front of her, slightly bowing his head as he spoke. Then he took out a handkerchief and wiped her forehead.

Chun’er Fu did not shy away; instead, she obediently accepted the obviously personal handkerchief, clutching it in her palm. He must have said something amusing, for they both laughed together.

Lingxiao Yin watched from afar for a while and suddenly felt that their smiles were somewhat dazzling.

Zhang Jichen squeezed over beside him. “Lingxiao, what are you doing here? I heard there’s a white tiger with piercing eyes roaming the northern forest. Let’s go hunt it down!”

Lingxiao Yin sneered coldly, “Let’s go.”

Hmph, talking to others isn’t so unnatural after all.