"And besides, everyone knows Jiang Lulian is pursuing me and that our families are considering a marriage alliance between us. You and Jiang Lulian having this kind of scandal, does it reflect well on me? The man who was pursuing me turns around and has an affair with my sister. Does that make the Ming family look good?"
"Silian, you might not understand me well, given how briefly you've been back. I don't blame you for that. But the elders know that I am not the kind of person who disregards the bigger picture."
"That's right," Old Mrs. Ming nodded. "Yutong has never brought shame to the Ming family since she was young."
Even Old Mr. Ming nodded in agreement. While he might doubt other things, he trusted Ming Yutong's sense of propriety, especially concerning the family's reputation.
"You and Jiang Lulian caused this scandal. How do you think outsiders will view it? That once the elder sister is out of the picture, the younger one steps in? Our family would become a laughingstock," Ming Yutong shook her head. "If I wanted to refuse Jiang Lulian, there are many ways to do it. This is the most disgraceful one."
Ming Yutong didn't explicitly say that she wouldn't let Ming Silian be with Jiang Lulian, but her words made the elders ponder.
"Indeed, Silian cannot be with Jiang Lulian," Old Mrs. Ming said.
"Otherwise, the Ming family will be mocked. We were just concerned about Silian's suffering and didn't think it through. Thankfully, Yutong reminded us, preventing us from making a disgraceful decision."
"Yes, Jiang Lulian is excellent, but our family doesn't need him that badly," Old Mrs. Ming agreed.
Ming Silian looked at the elders in disbelief.
Last night, they were insisting Jiang Lulian should take responsibility. Now, a few words from Ming Yutong had completely changed their minds.
"Right, otherwise, people might think the Ming family's daughters are so undesirable that they must compete over one man," Ming Yuqian added.
"Silian, I know you like Jiang Lulian, but you can't..." Ming Yutong shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment and hurt. Her pale face, combined with her sorrowful expression, made the elders and Zhu Cailin's hearts ache.
As for what Ming Yutong didn't say, everyone understood.
They recalled what Ming Yuqian had mentioned about seeing Ming Silian and Jiang Lulian together. Jiang Lulian was a young, talented, and charming man, naturally attractive to girls. Ming Silian, just back in the Ming family and inexperienced, was inevitably moved by such a man.
But liking Jiang Lulian was one thing, falsely accusing Ming Yutong was another.
This was the elders' sentiment.
Yes, Ming Yutong hadn't made any direct accusations, but she had made it clear enough that Ming Silian, infatuated with Jiang Lulian, was trying to frame her.
Fang Qian'an frowned, unable to bear seeing her daughter so aggrieved.
Her niece, Ming Yutong, was capable and articulate, with far more sophistication and cunning than her own daughter.
"Yutong, Silian is back thanks to you. She often tells me that you are the person she is most grateful to in this life. How could she possibly frame you? How can you accuse your sister like this?" Fang Qianan said disapprovingly.
Ming Yutong smiled bitterly. "Yes, I brought her back. If she is so grateful to me, why would she accuse me of framing her?"
Ming Yutong shook her head, looking fragile.
"Don't be sad, sister," Ming Yuqian interjected at the right moment.
Fang Qian'an: "..."
At that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang from the foyer.
Then, they heard Aunt Sun say, "Master, Madam, there's someone lying at the door."
"What's going on? Is someone here to cause trouble?" Old Mrs. Ming's first reaction was to ask.
"Go out and have a look," Old Mr. Ming instructed.
Ming Jingshan and Ming Jingshui both stood up and went to the courtyard entrance. Sure enough, they saw someone lying on their side, crying out in pain.
They exchanged glances, and Ming Jingshan turned the person over.
To their surprise, it was Jia Mingkai!
"You…" Ming Jingshan was at a loss for words. "Jia Mingkai? How did you…"
"It hurts… it hurts so much… let me… let me in, I have something to tell you!" Jia Mingkai cried out in pain.
He looked absolutely pitiful.
His right hand's tendons had been severed, causing excruciating pain, rendering his hand completely immobile.
His fingers hung limply, utterly useless.
One of his legs had been broken, with the bones in his calf shattered.
He recalled that last night, he had tried to sneak into the guest room amidst the chaos caused by Ming Yutong's dropped wine glass.
But midway, he was intercepted by a man in a black suit with a blank expression, who knocked him out with a single blow.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself locked in a small, dark room.
He had no sense of time.
The room didn't even have a window.
Fu Yinxiu sat before him, not bothering to hide his face.
This showed a complete lack of fear; he wasn't worried about being recognized, didn't care if Jia Mingkai knew who was behind it all.
Fu Yinxiu wanted Jia Mingkai to know exactly who had targeted him and why!
In his panic, Jia Mingkai heard Fu Yinxiu ask, "Which hand administered the drug?"
Jia Mingkai was momentarily stunned, unable to react immediately.
And because he didn't answer right away, Jia Mingkai was promptly kicked in the back of the head by Fu Yinxiu's subordinate.
Jia Mingkai's forehead slammed heavily onto the ground with a thud.
The impact made him see stars, and it took a while for his vision to clear.
Jia Mingkai, recalling Fu Yinxiu's question, finally remembered that he had drugged Ming Yutong.