Chapter 56: Collusion and Betrayal

Jiang Ciyou was truly at a loss for words, unable to defend herself. Xia Ling had Jiang Xiaoxiao’s full cooperation. The crowd pointed and whispered, having already pinned the blame of pushing someone onto her.

Father Jiang and Mother Jiang also arrived after hearing the commotion. Jiang Jinhui, taking in the scene, asked, “What happened here?”

Jiang Xiaoxiao had her explanation ready. “Dad, I don’t know why, but big sister pushed Sister Xia Ling. And Sister Xia Ling is pregnant.”

Jiang Jinhui’s face darkened as he looked over at Xia Ling. She was sobbing in Yan Feng’s arms. Jiang Jinhui’s expression grew even more unpleasant. Yan Feng, who was supposed to be Ciyou’s husband, was now openly holding another woman in his arms—and that woman was carrying his child. Yan Feng had grown up under their watch, like a son to them. They had thought Xia Ling was just a passing infatuation for him, but things had clearly gone much further.

Worse yet, the Yan family had revealed that three years ago, Jiang Ciyou and Yan Feng had never actually registered their marriage. Just days ago, Jiang Ciyou had publicly announced her final breakup with Yan Feng and moved out of the Yan family home. For all they knew, Yan Feng and Xia Ling might have secretly registered their marriage already. And now, this Xia Ling had inexplicably become their goddaughter.

Jiang Jinhui felt guilty toward Jiang Ciyou. But, knowing her uncompromising nature, he couldn’t entirely dismiss the possibility that she had pushed Xia Ling. He had already arrived at his own judgment.

With the city’s elite all present today, he could not let the Jiang family lose face. He walked over to Xia Ling, his voice cold and heavy with pressure. “Xia Ling, are you certain Ciyou pushed you on purpose and not by accident?”

Xia Ling looked at him with a particularly innocent gaze, tears streaming down her face. She understood that Jiang Jinhui wanted to settle the matter quietly. In truth, she had no desire to escalate things and make the Jiang family a laughingstock, not when she had just been accepted as their goddaughter.

Her true aim was to convince Yan Feng that Jiang Ciyou had tried time and again to harm the child she carried, erasing any rekindling of old feelings for Jiang Ciyou in his heart. Clearly, she had succeeded. The way Yan Feng now looked at Jiang Ciyou was full of revulsion and hatred, just as it had been three years ago.

But she had no intention of letting the matter pass so lightly. Her tears flowed like broken pearls, shifting from shock to understanding, then to disappointment and an overwhelming sense of grievance. At last, as if she had made a difficult decision, Xia Ling choked out, “Godfather, you’re right. Ciyou didn’t mean it. She just accidentally pushed me.”

Jiang Ciyou took in every nuance of Xia Ling’s expression. Only now did she realize how skilled Xia Ling’s acting truly was. She played the role of someone forced to compromise under pressure, her face a vivid portrait of aggrieved forbearance.

Though her words claimed that Jiang Ciyou hadn’t meant any harm, her expression accused her of being coerced, sacrificing her own interests to protect the Jiang family’s reputation and choosing not to pursue the matter further. In doing so, she achieved three things: first, she made it clear to everyone present that Jiang Ciyou did indeed push her; second, she painted herself as the wronged party, eliciting sympathy and pity; third, she did Jiang Jinhui a favor, letting him see her as someone who understood the bigger picture. It was truly killing three birds with one stone.

Indeed, Xia Ling’s performance won over everyone. The look on Jiang Jinhui’s face softened, even showing a trace of guilt. Yan Feng, meanwhile, only held her tighter. All around, people whispered:

“It seems the eldest daughter of the Jiang family really did push her, and the woman is pregnant too. How vicious can she be?”

“Like father, like daughter. I’ve heard her biological mother is a murderer and her father a drunkard. Her mother even switched her own daughter with the real Jiang heiress so she could enjoy a life of luxury. Now she’s trying to harm someone else’s unborn child. Clearly, wickedness runs in the blood.”

“But why would Miss Jiang push Miss Xia?”

“Don’t you know? The Jiang and Yan families had a childhood betrothal. Miss Jiang has always liked the Yan family’s eldest son—the one holding Miss Xia now. Obviously, it’s jealousy. But to try to kill another woman’s child out of jealousy? That’s truly malicious.”

“The Jiang family is just too soft-hearted, unwilling to cut ties with the child they raised. If it were me, I’d have kicked her out long ago. Otherwise, they’re just inviting trouble.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Jinhui finally breathed a sigh of relief at Xia Ling’s words. Often, the truth is less important than a convenient cover. As long as the supposed victim didn’t press the issue, the matter would soon be forgotten.

But Jiang Xiaoxiao was not about to let Jiang Ciyou off so easily. She had worked too hard for this chance. Unless Jiang Ciyou was thoroughly ruined, how could she be satisfied?

“Dad, the three of us are all your daughters now. You can’t play favorites. If big sister pushed her, then she pushed her. You can’t shield her.”

Jiang Jinhui’s brief relief was choked off. Jiang Xiaoxiao saw his face darken and hesitated. She knew he was never satisfied with her—always comparing her to Jiang Ciyou, finding her lacking in talent, looks, academics, poise, demeanor, and upbringing. Yet she was his real daughter. If only she had grown up with them, she would have outshone Jiang Ciyou a hundredfold.

Jiang Xiaoxiao knew what mattered most to him was the family’s reputation. She didn’t dare push too far. Stepping back, she said, “At the very least, big sister should apologize to Sister Xia Ling. After all, the baby in her belly almost died.”

She glanced up at Jiang Ciyou, still standing on the stairs like a wooden statue. Forcing her to apologize would be worse than killing her. Besides, only she and Xia Ling knew that Jiang Ciyou hadn’t pushed anyone.

She wanted to see how much pride Jiang Ciyou had—whether she would bow under such pressure.

The crowd grew. Murmurs increased. At this rate, the Jiang family would soon become the city’s punchline—something Jiang Jinhui dreaded most. Compared to his children’s petty rivalries, he cared more about his family’s honor. He only wanted the matter settled swiftly.

He called out in Jiang Ciyou’s direction, “Ciyou, even if it wasn’t intentional, you’re still responsible for Xia Ling’s fall. Come and apologize, and this will be over.”

But how could Jiang Ciyou apologize? She let out a cold laugh. “Why should I apologize for something I never did?”