My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

"You really won't give up until you're completely cornered. You were caught red-handed stealing and you still tried to deny it. I think you need to be taught a lesson."

"Hurry up and return the imperial gift. You can't even get the Empress Dowager's reward yourself, so you're jealous of others. I'm afraid you've never seen anything so good in your life."

Unpleasant words kept drilling into Wei Nanxun's ears. She was surrounded by five or six people, but her back remained straight, and she never showed the slightest bit of timidity.

Her gaze pierced through the gaps in the crowd, landing on Jiang Qiongzhi in the stone pavilion not far away.

He was the only person present who witnessed everything, and the only one who could stand up and clear her name.

With just a glance, Wei Nanxun knew that there was no need to beg Jiang Qiongzhi.

The other person remained indifferent and did not speak from beginning to end. She seemed to be detached from everyone else, observing this farce.

Although she appears different from those who bully Wei Nanxun, her actions are actually far more egregious.

Wei Nanxun gave a mocking smile. These were the so-called ladies from well-to-do families, the noble ladies who knew the rules and etiquette. No wonder Man Xinghe was so disgusted with them.

"Oh? Really."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the sarcastic tone was sharp, like a pebble thrown into water, immediately creating ripples.

"What's with that smile? You stole something and aren't returning it, are you still not satisfied?"

"I told you, did anyone see me steal it?"

Everyone looked at Zhang Yuru, and then at the little palace maid kneeling beside her.

When so many people suddenly appeared, the palace maid shrank to the side. Seeing everyone looking at her, she shook her head quickly with a look of fear on her face: "This servant, this servant doesn't know anything."

"When you came, did you see that this man surnamed Wei was wearing a hairpin?"

The young palace maid first shook her head and then nodded. She was there to serve tea, so she dared not look up at the distinguished guest. She could only honestly say, "This servant...did not see clearly."

Wei Nanxun gripped the jade hairpin in her hand, looked up and said, "Why make things difficult for a palace maid?"

“If you say I stole the hairpin, I can also say that I found it or that someone else framed me. It’s all baseless accusation, so why should I kowtow and apologize?”

"What a joke! Yu Ru didn't even know you before, and had no grudge against you. Why would she frame you?"

"Besides, who are you? You're just the daughter of a concubine's son in the Duke's mansion. Yu Ru is the legitimate daughter of the Zhang family. Why would she need to frame you? You're not worthy."

Wei Nanxun had always known that because of her father's status, she was never liked by her elders, including these outsiders.

She never forces herself into circles that don't belong to her.

It's not that she looked down on her father's background or felt inferior; on the contrary, she thought her father was remarkable.

If you're not good at studying, go into business and make a name for yourself without the help of your family. How is that any worse than those who become officials?

She has always been clear-headed about this; she neither wants to marry up, nor does she intend to climb the social ladder, nor does she need to associate with those people.

She hadn't heard many such sharp and sarcastic words in her past life; at least, few people would say them to her face.

Hearing this, I first felt uncomfortable, and then I found it ridiculous.

They judge the credibility of a person's words based entirely on their family background, not on who the person is.

Wei Nanxun smiled noncommittally, playing with the jade hairpin in her hand. Even Zhang Yuru was just the eldest daughter of the Zhang family.

Seeing her smile, the others were confused, wondering if she had lost her mind.

In such a tense and acrimonious situation, she can still laugh? Is she truly at her wit's end and resorting to shameless tactics?

"why are you laughing?"

"It's nothing. You can make me kowtow and apologize, I'll do it."

Everyone immediately felt relieved. This Wei woman was indeed fierce in appearance but reserved in reality. She had spoken so fiercely just now, and all the accusations she made were just sophistry. She was easily intimidated and quickly admitted her mistake.

He was about to ask her to return the hairpin so he could quickly kowtow and settle the matter.

Then she said, "But what if I didn't take this hairpin? What will you do then?"

Wei Nanxun's gaze swept over them one by one, as if trying to see their faces clearly. He paused and said, "Shouldn't you all apologize to me? No need to kowtow, just admit your mistakes."

Is it fair?

Zhang Yuru's eyelids twitched. She didn't have time to tell which side was twitching, but she instinctively felt that this woman was not easy to deal with.

Furthermore, they had made quite a commotion, and she was afraid of attracting unnecessary trouble, so giving them a warning was enough.

Then, wanting to play the understanding sister again, she said, "Sister Wei, why are you doing this? If you really like this hairpin, I'll give it to you..."

Before she could finish her hypocritical speech, someone nearby angrily said, "What are you afraid of! Our Yu Ru is upright and honest, and would never do such a despicable thing. Just do as she says! I have no objection."

With each word this person spoke, Zhang Yuru's face darkened further; wasn't every single word an insult to her?

Where did she get to know such a brainless person...?

Zhang Yuru forced a smile, pretending she hadn't been scolded, and tried to pull the person next to her back: "Sister Wei..."

Before she could speak, Wei Nanxun raised her hand to interrupt her, saying, "I've wanted to say this for a long time. I just turned 18 not long ago, and it's hard to say who's older or younger between us. Don't make me sound old by calling me 'older sister,' or it will make it seem like I'm bullying someone younger."

"Besides, this matter is still unresolved. You're in such a hurry to leave, are you feeling guilty?"

Zhang Yuru didn't know what gave her confidence, but she was already in a difficult position and couldn't refuse.

He could only grit his teeth and say, "Fine, if I have truly misunderstood the Wei family... Miss Wei, I will definitely admit my mistake."

"Now can you give me back the hairpin?"

Wei Nanxun smiled with her eyes crinkling, and handed over the hairpin she was holding in her left hand. But just as Zhang Yuru was about to reach out and take it, she took out another slender object from her bosom with her other hand and handed it over.

In an instant, two identical jade hairpins appeared before everyone's eyes.

"What, what's going on? You, how could you have..."

Wei Nanxun tilted her head and asked in the same curious tone, "Yeah, how come I have an identical hairpin? If I have the same one, why would I take hers?"

She continued calmly, "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace and, during my greetings, bestowed upon me a hairpin, which happens to be the same as Miss Zhang's. Since both were bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and I already had one, how can I be jealous and claim to have stolen it when I've never seen it before?"

Those present were all legitimate daughters of various families, and none of them were fools. They instantly understood the intricacies of the situation.

Most importantly, Wei Nanxun didn't force herself into the palace today; she was personally invited by the Empress Dowager.

This favor alone surpasses that of many others present.

The crowd exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts, but they all kept quiet and moved half a step away from Zhang Yuru. However, not everyone was smart; some were foolish.

She was the woman who just jumped out and said she believed in Zhang Yuru and had no objections.

She immediately became anxious: "Then you might have taken the wrong one, mistakenly thinking that the one on Yu Ru's body was yours, so you stole it. Now that you've realized you took the wrong one, you have to be stubborn and make up excuses. I think you've never seen anything good before, and you did it on purpose."

Why aren't you saying anything? Did you also believe her sophistry?

"No matter what, I will never believe that this Wei woman is innocent."

Wei Nanxun was too lazy to talk to such a blind and deaf person, and just stared at Zhang Yuru, waiting for her to fulfill her promise.

Just then, someone in the crowd bumped into her.

Before Wei Nanxun could react, she swayed slightly and fell towards the pile of broken porcelain shards.

Seeing that she couldn't escape, she instinctively closed her eyes.

The expected stinging pain did not come; instead, a tightening sensation was felt around the waist.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her steadily back into their embrace.

She heard a deep voice in her ear: "I believe her."