Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Su Qianrou and Su Wanshan walked at the very back.

Su Wanshan couldn't help but ask, "When did you find out, sister?"

Su Qianrou did not answer, but said, "Is my sister asking about the drugging me, the pushing me into the water, or the attempt to ruin my reputation today? But, sister, you really don't learn your lesson. It's only been a month, and you've already forgotten the taste of death."

“So you knew all along,” Su Wanshan stopped and looked at her.

"If I hadn't known, I probably would have died countless times by now."

"When did you find out? No, how did you find out?"

"If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place. Last time I wanted to teach you a lesson so you would remember, but it seems it didn't work. In that case, little sister, you'd better be prepared."

"Don't try to scare me. I don't believe you would dare to kill me."

"Why wouldn't I dare? Do you think Father would punish me for your sake?"

Su Wanshan remained silent, because she knew it wouldn't happen.

Su Qianrou leaned closer and said, "Su Wanshan, without my protection, you are nothing." Then she left without looking back.

Su Wanshan glared at her fiercely, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

After all the guests had left, except for Su Mingxuan and Song Shiyu, all the other masters gathered in Zilan Courtyard.

Su Jing'an and Lin Rong sat in the seats of honor, Su Qianrou and Su Haoyu sat in the seats of honor, while Su Wanshan and Yuehong knelt on the ground.

Su Jing'an and Lin Rong both looked rather unwell.

Lin Rong said, "You dare say you were unaware of what happened today?"

"Mother, I really don't know."

Lin Rong slammed her hand on the table. "Hmph, do you think I'm stupid? Confess now!"

Su Wanshan lowered her head, refusing to admit it.

Su Qianrou stood up and said, "Father, Mother, I also bear responsibility for what happened today."

"What does this have to do with you? Don't take the blame on yourself. No one can protect her after what happened today."

"Mother, you've misunderstood. I'm standing up today to tell Father and Mother that from now on, I will no longer protect my sister because... it's not worth it," Su Qianrou said, putting on a very sad expression.

Su Wanshan looked at her, wondering what she was going to do, and felt uneasy.

"Didn't you used to protect her the most? Why are you doing this now?" Su Jing'an asked.

Su Qianrou did not answer immediately, but instead walked up to them and knelt down.

"Rou'er, what are you doing?"

“Speak up if you have something to say, there’s no need to kneel.”

“Yes, sis, you’ve just recovered, don’t kneel too long and hurt yourself, get up quickly,” Su Haoyu came over to help her up.

Su Qianrou stood up without hesitation, since she had no masochistic tendencies and standing was more comfortable than kneeling.

When Su Wanshan saw Su Qianrou kneeling for only a short while, everyone felt extremely sorry for her, while she had been kneeling since she came in, yet no one had told her to get up, which made Su Wanshan even more resentful.

"Rou'er, did you know about today's events beforehand?" Lin Rong asked.

Su Qianrou did not hide anything and replied, "Yes, daughter knows."

"Then why didn't you stop them and let others laugh at our Su family?" Su Jing'an rebuked.

"Father, do you know that today's events were a scheme deliberately set up by my sister to ruin my reputation? If I hadn't known beforehand, I would be the one going to Wushan with Young Master Li now, not Yuehong."

"What did you say".

"Rou'er, what exactly is going on?"

"Sister, why are you framing me... Father, Mother, believe me, I really didn't know beforehand. It's all that damned maidservant's fault. She's shameless enough to climb into Young Master Li's bed. It has nothing to do with me."

"Yes, sir, madam, the second young lady and the eldest young lady have always been on good terms, so how could they possibly harm the eldest young lady... Eldest young lady, there must be some misunderstanding here, please don't be fooled," Aunt Liu argued from the side.

"Shut up... Rou'er, you continue."

“Yes, Mother,” Su Qianrou said slowly, “As the banquet approached, my elder brother was worried that my sister-in-law was hungry, so he asked me to bring her some food. When I came out of Shutong Courtyard, I met Yuehong. She told me that my sister was drunk and was resting in the west wing. She asked me to go and see her. I went, but when I entered the wing, I saw Young Master Li lying on the bed. It seemed that he had been drugged with aphrodisiacs. However, he was unconscious, so I was not very sure… Oh, right, I smelled a fragrance in the wing. Father, can you have someone investigate?”

"Someone, go and investigate."

“Yes,” the steward Wang Peng replied, and then walked out.

Su Wanshan visibly became nervous.

"And then?" Lin Rong asked.

"Later, under my persistent questioning, Yuehong admitted that it was her sister who instructed her to do it."

"I didn't... Second Miss, I really didn't," Yuehong knew Su Wanshan's ruthlessness, so she was afraid that Su Wanshan would settle scores later, so she was in a hurry to explain. Little did she know that her actions only made people more suspicious.

Su Wanshan glared at her, signaling her to shut up, then looked at Su Qianrou and said with a wronged expression, "Sister, why did you frame me?"

"Whether it's a frame-up or not, you know best... Father, I don't know why my sister hates me so much. First, she poisoned me, almost killing me. Now she wants to ruin my reputation. Over the years, I think I've treated my sister with all my heart and soul, caring for her without ever neglecting her. But my sister..."

"You said she poisoned you, what happened?"

"The reason I got sick a while ago was not because I caught a cold, but because my sister poisoned me. That day, she brought me some pastries. My father knows that I like sweets, but the ones my sister brought were savory. I took one bite and didn't want to eat anymore, but my sister insisted that I eat them. In the end, she forced me to eat two pieces before she stopped. That night, I started to have a fever and fell into a coma. I almost didn't wake up."

"Sister, this is just a coincidence. I have always respected you, so why would I harm you?"

"Yes, Miss, the Second Miss admires you very much, so how could she possibly poison you? You must have misunderstood."

"Rou'er, do you have any evidence?"

"No, that's why my daughter didn't say anything. Moreover, at first, my daughter didn't know it was her sister who did it. She only thought that Yuehong had been bribed because she disposed of the remaining pastries. It wasn't until today that my daughter realized that it was all her sister's doing."

"Yuehong, why don't you confess honestly?" Lin Rongli scolded.

"Master, Madam, I didn't. I am loyal to the young lady, how could I possibly harm her? Please investigate thoroughly, Master and Madam."

"So you're so loyal, you want to be my sister-in-law, huh?"

"Rou'er, what do you mean by that?"

"Mother, do you know why she has helped my sister harm me time and time again? It's because my sister promised her that after it was done, she would become my elder brother's concubine."

"What? You little maid, how dare you covet your master and even dream of becoming a concubine."

"This servant did not. This is all a frame-up by the young lady. This servant has never coveted the young master. Please, madam, investigate thoroughly."

"Guards, drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane. If she still doesn't tell the truth, beat her to death with sticks. I suppose the Li family won't miss out on one more concubine."

"Madam, spare me! Madam, spare me!" Seeing that she was about to be dragged away, Yuehong didn't care about anything else and grabbed Su Wanshan's arm. "Second Miss, save me!"

At this moment, Su Wanshan deeply regretted not eliminating her earlier, which left her with such a huge weakness. Now, she was in dire straits herself, and even if she wanted to save her, she was powerless to do so. So she could only watch helplessly as she was dragged away.