"Kneel down and apologize to your grandmother!"
Marquis Murong angrily said to Murong Jiu.
He was hot-tempered and vicious, and had restrained himself in front of Jun Yuyan. But now, with no outsiders present, he showed his true colors.
He had always been this way towards her, cold looks and beatings were the norm, and his gaze seldom hid his disgust.
Because of the word "filial," she neither fought back nor retorted.
In the past, Murong Jiu did not understand why a father would detest his own daughter so much, but now she did.
Meeting Marquis Murong's furious gaze, Murong Jiu remained composed and said unhurriedly,
"Grandmother called me a bastard, so I asked her if I am her granddaughter. She became furious out of shame. Now I am very curious as to why Grandmother is so angry, why you are angry, Father, it's as if I have committed some unforgivable sin."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Murong was stunned for a moment, and Lady Wang also showed a trace of shock in her eyes.
What's going on?
Murong Jiu was doubting her own identity?
No, that's impossible. The incident from that year was completely clandestine; even now that family had not detected anything amiss, treating their youngest daughter as a treasured jewel.
What could Murong Jiu, a teenage girl, possibly know!
It seemed that becoming Princess Consort had emboldened her, daring to talk back to them!
"You angered your grandmother to such an extent, if not an unfilial act, what is it! Worthless thing, kneel down!"
Lady Wang also cried, covering her eyes with a handkerchief, "I labored through ten months of pregnancy to give birth to you, almost stepping into the gates of hell. And yet, you ungrateful creature dare to utter such unfilial words. Wuu wuu wuu, why is my life so full of hardships!"
Lady Wang thought to herself that Murong Jiu held her, her mother, in high regard and would not remain indifferent. Surely, she would panic and kneel down to apologize and admit her wrongs.
However, after glancing at Murong Jiu, Lady Wang nearly choked in anger.
Murong Jiu was actually looking at them with cold eyes, not kneeling or speaking. Her clear black and white eyes made them feel guilty.
"Evil daughter!"
Marquis Murong was burning with rage, his eyes full of malice, and he raised his hand to slap Murong Jiu's face.
Murong Jiu's eyes flashed with mockery, she didn't dodge or hide, only extending her hand.
"Ah!"
Marquis Murong suddenly let out a scream and pulled his hand back.
"Marquis!"
Lady Wang exclaimed, looking closely to see several silver needles had penetrated Marquis Murong's palm! His face distorted in pain!
"You little bitch! You're defying heaven!" Marquis Murong gritted his teeth, wishing he could flay her alive, "Someone come hold her down for me!"
Immediately, several maids and old women closed in on Murong Jiu, grabbing vases and other objects at hand, fearing being hurt by the silver needles.
"What is going on here?"
Suddenly, a cold, stern voice came from outside the door.
Murong Jiu turned her head and saw Jun Yuyan, to her surprise.
Marquis Murong, Lady Wang, and the Old Madam were all startled. Why had Prince Ling come?
"Dad! What happened to your hand? Who hurt you?"
Murong Man entered from behind Jun Yuyan, seeing Marquis Murong's hand pierced by the silver needles, her pretty face turned pale, and she hurried over.
"A calamity in the household! A calamity indeed! How did the Murong Family give rise to such a disloyal and unfilial creature!"
Old Madam beat her chest and stamped her feet, sighing heavily.
"Did Ninth Sister do this?"
Murong Man asked incredulously.
Lady Wang, while having someone call for the Imperial Physician, continued to cry,
"Who else could it be but her? Your father was merely admonishing her, telling her not to be disrespectful to your grandmother, but who would have thought... who would have thought that she would pierce your father's palm with a silver needle! Indeed, a child left unraised is bound to be unacquainted. Her lack of manners has made a mockery of the Prince."
Lady Wang twisted the truth, as if the three of them were faultless, and it was Murong Jiu who was an ungrateful troublemaker.
She wasn't afraid that Prince Ling would take issue with Murong Jiu, since the marriage was decreed by the Emperor. See, even when the bride was switched from Manman to Murong Jiu, didn't Prince Ling still obediently accept it?
Lady Wang thought that by showing how indomitable Murong Jiu was, she would make her suffer in Prince's Mansion and then she'd realize the value of Marquis Mansion.
Lady Wang believed that Prince Ling was bound to dislike her; no one favored an unattractive girl. Moreover, word had spread outside that it was Murong Jiu who was vain and replaced her sister to marry into Prince Ling's Mansion.
Consequently, Prince Ling's misunderstanding of Murong Jiu would only deepen.
In this world, not a single person stood by her side.
Murong Jiu thought the same at the moment, but it didn't matter to her. What did she care if the whole world misunderstood her?
She lowered her head, her lips curving into a self-deprecating smile.
"Ninth Sister, quickly apologize to Father. I believe you didn't do it on purpose. If you apologize, Father and Mother won't pursue the matter further."
Murong Man spoke to her with a gentle voice, slightly anxious as if she feared punishment for Murong Jiu.
"Why do I see that it was Marquis who tried to hit Princess Consort, who then took out the silver needle in self-defense?"
At that moment, Jun Yuyan suddenly spoke up.
Everyone was stunned.
The first reaction was, could Prince Ling actually be speaking up for Murong Jiu?
The second reaction was, Prince Ling had seen it happen!
Murong Man pursed her lips. Although Prince Ling was physically disabled, he was not slow to move. He had offered to visit the Old Madam, and while Murong Man led the way at first, he was ahead of her by the time they were close.
Thus, she did not know what Prince Ling had seen.
The more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes. She no longer spoke, standing there, seemingly a little at a loss.
The most astonished of all was Murong Jiu, who detected a protective tone in Jun Yuyan's voice.
Had he come over to support her?
Marquis Murong frowned and spoke in a grave tone:
"It is true that I was the one to start. In my anger, I merely intended to scare her, but who knew she dared to harm me with a silver needle? Such unfilial behavior would still be deemed her fault even in front of His Majesty! Prince Ling, today she used a silver needle, tomorrow she might dare to stab me with a knife. We must enforce family discipline to teach her a lesson!"
Jun Yuyan stepped forward, standing in front of Murong Jiu, and said in a mild tone:
"Ah Jiu is not one to cause hurt without reason, and I shall not solely take your word for it. Moreover, Marquis, she is now Princess Consort Ling, belonging to my Prince Ling's Mansion."
His words were meant to be a strong backing for Murong Jiu.
Regarding enforcing family discipline, one would also have to weigh the influence of Prince Ling's Mansion that stood behind her.
Gazing at his broad back, Murong Jiu felt an absurd sense of security. She had never felt someone so reliable before.
And this person was only her husband in name.
Although she was not afraid of Marquis Mansion's threats, the appearance of Jun Yuyan was indeed something for which she was grateful.
The others couldn't believe their ears; were these words really spoken by Prince Ling? Why would he defend a plain girl who was a substitute bride?!
Jun Yuyan, paying no attention to the reaction of the people around, turned back and looked at Murong Jiu: "Ah Jiu, do you think you've done anything wrong?"
Murong Jiu met his profound gaze and said, "I'm not wrong."
"Good, I believe you."
"Prince Ling! Her words cannot be trusted! She grew up in a manor, without manners, selfish and not only that, she's most skilled at lying! We admonished her because we were afraid she would cause trouble if she went to Prince Mansion!"
Marquis Murong said with an ugly expression.
The pain in his palm grew worse, with no blood yet an excruciating pain. He wished he could lash Murong Jiu hundreds of times to ease his anger, unwilling to let the matter rest!
Murong Jiu sneered, "Yes, I'm ill-mannered, everyone in Capital City knows I was born with a mother but raised without one."