The Abused Female Protagonist In The Angst Novel Is Actually A White Lotus - Chapter 12

Madam Ling glanced coldly at Shen Sijing, completely ignoring her words. It was as if she had become a different person since arriving at the Ling Residence.

Disregarding even Shen Sijing, Madam Ling brushed aside her hand. “Young Miss Shen, you’re unaware of this girl’s cunning nature. She has countless ways to evade the truth. If we truly want justice for my daughter, we must interrogate her thoroughly again.”

The last sentence was practically spat out through gritted teeth, and Shen Sijing felt a chilling undercurrent in Madam Ling’s words. It was clear Madam Ling intended to extract a confession through torture.

Such torture would undoubtedly be a hundred times more agonizing than ordinary punishment. In the original story, Ling Qingyi had no one to protect her initially, yet she stubbornly refused to confess. After being dragged back to the Ling Residence, she endured relentless beatings until she was bedridden for months. It was during this time that her “good sister,” Ling Yunliu, meticulously plotted to get close to Xiao Jing, ultimately stealing Ling Qingyi’s fiancé.

This marked the tragic beginning of Ling Qingyi’s downfall.

Shen Sijing would never allow Madam Ling to strike Ling Qingyi, but she didn’t know how to interfere in the family’s affairs with a legitimate reason.

Seeing Shen Sijing stop, Madam Ling assumed she had silenced her with her words. She laughed mockingly, wrenched her wrist free from Shen Sijing’s grasp, and slowly approached Ling Qingyi.

Each step Madam Ling took etched fear deeper into Ling Qingyi’s heart. Her cowering gaze made Shen Sijing’s heart clench.

Madam Ling halted before Ling Qingyi, her eyes blazing with hatred as she stared at the girl’s face, as delicate as a flower and as smooth as jade. It was as if, through Ling Qingyi’s face, she saw the face of her birth mother.

Madam Ling immediately raised her hand and slapped Ling Qingyi across the face. The sound rang out sharply, leaving a red handprint on Ling Qingyi’s cheek. To Shen Sijing, the mark felt as if it had burned into her own face, a searing pain.

“Madam! Please show mercy!” Shen Sijing pleaded, biting her lip as she stepped forward to intervene. “It hasn’t been proven that Ling Qingyi is the true culprit who pushed Eldest Sister into the water. You can’t punish her before the truth is revealed!”

But Madam Ling, now in a frenzy, cared nothing for Shen Sijing’s dignity. She showed no mercy. “Young Miss Shen, do not interfere in the Ling family’s affairs!”

Madam Ling shoved Shen Sijing aside and grabbed Ling Qingyi’s sleeve, her face contorted with impatience. Shen Sijing crashed to the ground, the dull pain sparking an idea.

“It hurts…” Shen Sijing murmured, her voice pitched just right. Before Madam Ling could react, Ling Qingyi, whom she had been dragging, wrenched free and rushed to cradle Shen Sijing in her arms, her face etched with worry as she checked for injuries.

Turning her back on Madam Ling, Ling Qingyi spoke with quiet dignity, “Mother, punishing Qingyi is a minor matter, but harming Sister Shen would sever the ties between our families!”

Though Shen Sijing was feigning injury, the pain still brought tears to her eyes. Lying in Ling Qingyi’s warm embrace, a lump formed in her throat, and tears spilled down her cheeks. Madam Ling panicked at the sight. Shen Sijing had only come to see Ling Qingyi and was due back at the Prime Minister’s Residence soon. If Madam Shen saw her precious daughter had been mistreated like this, she would surely storm the Ling Residence!

“Young Miss Shen! Are you alright?” Madam Ling exclaimed, quickly shifting the blame. “Oh dear, it’s all Qingyi’s fault for being so reckless and bumping into you! Qingyi, help the young miss up at once!”

Yun Nian, who had been waiting at the gate, watched the scene unfold. It didn’t look at all like Qingyi had pushed Shen Sijing. But there was no time to argue; helping her young miss was the priority.

Yun Nian rushed in, stumbling over her own feet, all the etiquette she’d learned at the Prime Minister’s Residence forgotten. After helping Shen Sijing to her feet, Shen Sijing coughed several times. Yun Nian’s worry flared. “Madam Ling! I saw you blocking our young miss! She’s still recovering from yesterday’s anger-induced illness. How dare you treat her this way? Do you think the Prime Minister’s Residence has no one to stand up for us?!”

Having served as the head maid at the Prime Minister’s Residence for so long, Yun Nian naturally carried a certain air of authority. Her raised voice was quite intimidating.

Madam Ling, already feeling guilty, panicked when her attempt to shift the blame failed. She desperately wanted to explain, but then she remembered that while she might not enjoy the same prestige as Madam Shen, she was still the wife of an official. Explaining herself to a mere maid would be utterly humiliating. So she turned to Shen Sijing and apologized, “Sijing, please don’t take offense. I was just anxious. After all, someone capable of pushing their own eldest sister into the water can’t possibly be a good person.”
Even now, Madam Ling couldn’t resist pushing Ling Qingyi under the bus. But Shen Sijing had come with the sole purpose of rescuing Ling Qingyi. How could she possibly believe Madam Ling’s words?

Shen Sijing pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and delicately dabbed away the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes, perfectly mimicking the pitiful, weeping demeanor of Lin Daiyu.

“What does Madam mean by that?” Shen Sijing asked, her voice trembling. “I’ve already said it clearly: she was right beside me the whole time, never leaving my side! Cough, cough…” She deliberately played up her frail persona, knowing Madam Ling was already deeply guilty. The sound of her coughing sent the woman into a panic.

Madam Ling immediately signaled a nearby maid to pour tea for Shen Sijing and help her to a seat.

“Sijing, are you feeling any better?” Madam Ling asked, wiping cold sweat from her brow, her eyes never leaving Shen Sijing’s face. “Don’t get so agitated. I understand now. We’ll investigate this matter thoroughly before taking any action. Does that sound fair?”

Yun Nian, her heart aching for Shen Sijing, had no time for such formalities. She knelt down to help Shen Sijing catch her breath and offered her tea. For a moment, the entire Ling Residence was gripped by anxiety.

Ling Quan was due to return from court any minute. Yet Shen Sijing remained so frail and vulnerable in their home. If Ling Quan questioned her upon his return, wouldn’t they be forced to apologize immediately?

Ling Quan was a man who clung to life and feared death, terrified of offending the newly powerful dignitaries. The Shen Clan, with its vast wealth and influence, was the object of Ling Quan’s most obsequious flattery. If he were to discover that his daughter had repeatedly driven Shen Sijing to such a state, there would undoubtedly be a major uproar.

Madam Ling’s mind raced, and after much deliberation, she devised a compromise. “Young Miss Shen seems quite fond of Qingyi,” she said. “Why not stay for lunch with her before you leave?”

Madam Ling intended to lure Shen Sijing to Ling Qingyi’s room and then tell Ling Quan that Shen Sijing’s old ailment had flared up again. She believed this would prevent any serious consequences.

Yet, despite her meticulous planning, she overlooked one crucial detail: Ling Qingyi’s room could only be described as dilapidated. This oversight, however, was precisely what Ling Qingyi had planned for.
Unaware of this, Shen Sijing obediently rose and allowed Yun Nian to guide her toward Ling Qingyi’s room, the path growing increasingly secluded.

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