The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

He and Jin Yaoyao were his direct cousins, and neither of them were his first choice. They discussed this embarrassing incident privately among themselves, and then each went on to find someone better, thus ending the scandal.

But to everyone's surprise, Granny Zhang and Granny Wang suddenly barged in, catching them in their shameful affair and disrupting his plans.

He was about to accept his fate, but Jin Yaoyao, who had been shouting at him to kill him just moments before, suddenly spoke up for him.

As expected of cousins, they share the same shrewd and calculating genes.

Now is the time to capture Hua Sirong; only then will their scheming today not have been in vain.

He looked at Hua Sirong with a deep affection, but what he said was the opposite: "I have never met Rongrong... no, Miss Rong, how could you wrong me for no reason?"

His words were utterly unconvincing, but instead fueled the listener's imagination, conjuring up all sorts of erotic scenarios.

Hua Sirong grasped Wang Mama's trembling hand, stepped out from an inconspicuous corner, and stood before the masters of the Marquis's mansion.

“I do come from a merchant family, and my parents are both gone, but I know etiquette and have a sense of shame. I swear on my deceased father and mother that I had never seen this young master Zeng before coming to Fushoutang.”

Seeing Jin Yaoyao about to interject and Zeng Xiucai's hesitant expression, Hua Sirong smiled and reminded him, "Before making wild accusations, you should use your brain. Some things can be investigated and the truth will come out. You can't just make things up out of thin air."

Upon hearing this, the old lady and the others' hearts swayed towards Hua Sirong again, and their gazes toward the Jin family became even more unfriendly.

Hua Sirong remained composed and continued to explain, "My cousin, the young master, is getting married. The Third Madam arranged for me to dine in a side hall. My mother and maid were borrowed by the head of the main kitchen, leaving me alone in the side hall."

After finishing my meal, I felt rather bored being alone, so I left the side hall and went to the pavilion outside.

Fearing she might offend the distinguished guests, she didn't stay long before deciding to go find her mother and Chunyan, preparing to return to Qingwu Courtyard.

"Unexpectedly, I ran into the Third Miss, who was accompanied by many noble ladies. It's not convenient for me to leave directly. Would the Third Miss be willing to testify for me in this matter?"

He San, who had been watching the drama unfold, was now caught in the crossfire. Since Hua Sirong had indeed helped him earlier, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Jin Yaoyao originally thought Hua Sirong was a softie who was easy to bully, but who knew that she would dare to be so sharp-tongued in front of the masters of the Marquis's mansion.

But Jin Yaoyao was going all out today. "After your two servants leave the side hall, you'll be all alone in the room. What happens after that is up to you to make up however you want."

Even if you did leave that side hall, who knows what traps and mechanisms you set up before you left? Now that something's happened, you're trying to shift the blame onto others while claiming you're completely innocent.

What a shrewd merchant's daughter! She's incredibly good at calculating; we refined gentlemen from scholarly families are no match for her.

Instead of answering, Hua Sirong asked, "The innocent are innocent, and I have a clear conscience. But Miss Jin, why did you go to the side hall?"

This was a question that Zeng Xiucai wanted to know, Jin Shi wanted to know, and even the old lady and others wanted to know.

Jin Yaoyao lied without batting an eye, "I heard from my aunt that you were dining alone in the side hall today. I thought that since we are both cousins ​​living in the manor and studying together at the Marquis's Girls' School, I thought I would come and keep you company."

Who knew I'd fall for your scheme? My sincere heart, who would have thought…

"Waaah," Jin Yaoyao cried uncontrollably today, she was truly heartbroken.

No one present believed the reason for the sisters' friendship, yet they couldn't find a single fault in it.

Hua Sirong remained calm and composed; she had already overcome the greatest tribulation of the day.

The current troubles are nothing more than empty talk. "You keep saying that I have an affair with your cousin, and that my actions are only for meeting him in secret? If that's the case, why don't I just stay in the side hall and wait for him to come to my door?"

I went to great lengths to set a trap, all to lure him in. Why should I leave the side hall and let all my scheming go to waste?

Jin Yaoyao retorted, "Why weren't you in the side hall? It's just that you regretted it at the last minute. There are too many people around today, and you were afraid that your scheme would be exposed, damaging the reputation of the Marquis's mansion and incurring the displeasure of the head of the mansion."

But you've brought misery upon my cousin and me. You caused this trouble, and now you want us to bear the consequences. How can my cousin and I ever face visiting the Marquis's residence again?

Even my aunt has been dragged down by the two of us younger generation. Who knows, the Marquis's mansion will blame my Jin family for failing to properly educate her, sob sob sob..."

"Aunt, Aunt, you must stand up for my cousin and me today! You mustn't let our affairs implicate you. And Hua Sirong schemed against my cousin and me; now that the truth has come out, she can't get away with it."

I've lost my innocence today, and I'll accept it as if I'd been bitten by a dog. But Hua Sirong, don't even think about clearing your name.

Since she and her cousin are in love, I must watch her marry her cousin from the Zeng family before I can feel at peace.

"I beg the old lady, I beg the lady of the Marquis, I beg my aunt to grant my request!" she cried out, her bloodshot eyes flashing frighteningly.

She hated everyone present equally.

Hua Sirong laughed as she watched Jin Yaoyao's energetic performance. "I have never met this young master Zeng before, so how could we be so compatible?"

I think Miss Jin and this young master Zeng have a great understanding of each other. They are cousins ​​who grew up together as childhood sweethearts, so it's only natural to say that you two are in love.

Today is the young master's wedding again, so it's understandable that you're envious and can't help but feel jealous.

There is nothing wrong with men and women loving each other.

But you are both unmarried, living in someone else's home, and trying to drag innocent people into this mess, like me. Your behavior is truly disgraceful.

At this moment, Zeng Ke finally stepped forward and said, "Rongrong, I originally did not want to make our relationship public."

But you keep trying to distance yourself from me, and even try to push me onto a woman I don't love. This blow feels like my heart has been ripped out.

Every part of him, except his words, was a accusation of Hua Sirong's ruthlessness and cold-heartedness.

"Fine, since you are so heartless and ruthless, why should I cover for you anymore!"

To be frank, today Hua Sirong spent money to have a maid secretly send me a message, begging me to come to the side hall to meet you.

You said that you're the only one in the side hall today, which is very convenient. You also said that after we two get married, the Lady of the Marquis won't be able to find you any more of those random people to be considered for marriage.

You also said in your letter that if I didn't come, you should die.