The beloved is reborn as a substitute, and the tyrant begs for forgiveness every night.

Zheng Lingjia frowned and looked at Jiang's father.

Is this the kind of upbringing your daughters receive?

Upon hearing this, Mr. Jiang gave an awkward smile.

"The two girls had a conflict, and as parents, we can't side with either of them, which is why things have gotten so ugly. Your Highness, please forgive us."

After he finished speaking, Mr. Jiang asked Zheng Lingjia to wait a moment.

Zheng Lingjia wisely refrained from going forward and instead quietly observed.

At this moment, Xu Leyao was unaware of their arrival and was staring at Jiang's mother, asking her question word by word.

"Is this really fair?"

Faced with her questioning, a hint of guilt flashed across Jiang's mother's face.

But when she saw Xu Leyao, she still stubbornly refused to admit it.

"Of course, I've always been fair to all of you children. How could I possibly do anything unfair?"

Hearing her rebuttal, Xu Leyao shook her head.

They really won't give up until they reach the Yellow River, and they won't turn back until they hit a brick wall.

Xu Leyao looked at her with icy eyes.

“Mother, you have always doted on Jiang Xiuxiu since she was a child, treating her like your own daughter and raising her. I have no objection to that. After all, no one knew that such a farce would happen back then. But now that I'm back, we still can't go our separate ways. Even with Zheng Zhihe's interference, you still insist on favoring Jiang Xiuxiu. If this is what you call fairness, then this fairness is better off not being there.”

After Xu Leyao calmly finished speaking, Jiang's mother was so angry that she pointed at her nose and cursed her.

"Jiang Yuwei, what do you mean by this? Are you going to cut ties with me?"

Xu Leyao looked at her calmly.

"Now, I am the one who will be added to the Jiang family genealogy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother was immediately enraged.

"Jiang Yuwei, what a filial child you are! Now that you have someone backing you up, you want to drive your own mother out of the Jiang family?"

At that moment, tensions rose between the two.

It was at this moment that Jiang Xiuxiu gracefully walked out.

Upon seeing Jiang's mother, she rushed over to her like a swallow seeking shelter in its mother's arms.

Seeing her like this, Jiang's mother was even more convinced that Jiang Xiuxiu had suffered a lot of grievances.

If she hadn't arrived in time, Jiang Xiuxiu would probably be being bullied by Xu Leyao right now.

Thinking of this, Jiang's mother looked at Xu Leyao with disdain.

"Look how scared you've made Xiuxiu! Jiang Yuwei, don't take advantage of my love for you and act so recklessly."

As she spoke, Jiang's mother shook her head, looking quite disappointed in Xu Leyao.

“Since you came back, I have never mistreated you. I just got a hairpin and sent it to you. I only sent a hairpin to Xiuxiu.”

Just as she was saying this, Jiang's mother noticed the hairpin in Xu Leyao's hair.

"Look at this hairpin. I've examined it carefully. Although it's a bit worn, it's still an extremely fine piece, which is why I specially sent it to you. Now it looks very fitting for you. Even so, you won't even give a hairpin to Xiuxiu?"

She mentioned the hairpin she was wearing in her hair.

Xu Leyao subconsciously touched the hairpin.

She looked up at Jiang's mother, her eyes filled with coldness.

"This should have been mine to begin with, but now it has returned to me through your hands."

Hearing her words, Jiang's mother felt completely bewildered.

“This hairpin was originally meant to be a gift for you, but how did it end up being yours? If it weren’t for my wishes, this hairpin would never have been yours.”

As Jiang's mother spoke, her gaze towards Xu Leyao even carried a hint of annoyance.

“If you don’t like something this good, you can just give it to me. Why bother making a scene in Xiuxiu’s yard?”

As she spoke, Jiang's mother patted Jiang Xiuxiu on the back.

"Xiuxiu, don't be afraid, your mother will support you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuxiu quickly lowered her head and buried herself in her mother's arms, replying in a muffled voice.

"Xiuxiu is scared, but with Mother here, Xiuxiu is not afraid anymore. If Sister really likes my hairpin, then give it to Sister. Mother must not cause any conflict with Sister."

Hearing her pleading words, Jiang's mother became even angrier.

“Look at you, even though you’re a little older than Xiuxiu, you’re far less sensible than her.”

Jiang's mother was clearly taking sides, which left Xu Leyao speechless.

The Jiang family has truly produced quite a few oddballs.

Logically speaking, Mr. Jiang has good taste, and it's unclear how he came to like Mrs. Jiang in the first place.

However, this is not something Xu Leyao can say for sure.

However, since Jiang Xiuxiu had just mentioned that she wanted to "give" the hairpin to her,

How could a proper older sister refuse her younger sister's kind offer?

Xu Leyao smiled broadly, looking into Jiang Xiuxiu's eyes like a hunter spotting its prey.

"Since my sister is willing to part with what she loves, I am naturally very grateful."

Upon hearing her words, Jiang Xiuxiu and her mother were stunned into silence.

Anyone who isn't a fool could tell that Jiang Xiuxiu was just being polite.

She had no intention of giving the hairpin to Xu Leyao; otherwise, she could have easily taken it out when Xu Leyao first arrived.

But to everyone's surprise, Xu Leyao pretended not to understand.

"I wonder if my sister should go looking for it, or if I should go get it myself?"

Xu Leyao's face was full of smiles, but Jiang Xiuxiu felt a chill run down her spine.

"Sister, if you like it, then I'll give it to you."

The words had already been spoken; what else could Jiang Xiuxiu do?

Now, this hairpin is far less important than the heartache that Jiang's mother felt for her.

Even though Jiang Xiuxiu liked that hairpin, she could still tell who she could rely on.

Moreover, with Jiang's mother here now, Xu Leyao might not be able to take the hairpin away.

Jiang Xiuxiu was making her own plans, but Xu Leyao wasn't one to sit idly by and wait for her fate.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you to go and get it."

When Jiang's mother saw Jiang Xiuxiu trying to compromise, she felt sorry for her.

But in the current situation, it is obviously more important to calm Xu Leyao down in time, so as to avoid any other trouble that would make everyone lose face.

Therefore, Jiang's mother did not speak up to stop her at this moment.

Things didn't go as she expected, and Jiang Xiuxiu couldn't help but feel a little panicked.

Similarly, she harbored a mixture of love and resentment towards her mother's inaction.

However, she is now in a situation where she has no choice but to bow her head under someone else's roof.

Seeing that Xu Leyao was not going to back down, Jiang Xiuxiu had no choice but to reluctantly give up on her.

Jiang Xiuxiu slowly took out the hairpin, then held it out for Xu Leyao to examine.

"Sister, take a look, do you like it?"