Chapter 12: Trapped in One's Own Web

Shangguan Yunzhu’s face flushed crimson. Finally unable to endure the rage burning in her heart, she erupted, "This has nothing to do with you!"

She leaned in close to Shangguan Erya’s ear and hissed viciously, "I'm warning you, don't you dare speak nonsense, or I won't let you off!"

"Sigh." Shangguan Erya sighed and brushed her hand away. "Sister, everything I said is the truth. I know you are looking out for me, and although I often bully you in daily life, I absolutely will not let you take the blame for me today. Besides, the one meant to marry the Second Young Master Ning is me, Yunzhu. If others mistake it for being you, what am I to do? Moreover, the Old Matriarch said that if one admits to it, they will be granted the position of legal wife, so Sister, please do not worry about Yunzhu!"

Shangguan Yunzhu nearly roared, "Erya!"

The crowd couldn't help but look over. Realizing she had misspoke, Shangguan Yunzhu immediately changed her tune: "I meant... I meant you shouldn't admit to the things Erya did! I can just say you were talking nonsense to help me!"

"Don't be ridiculous. How could I possibly help you? I've been impersonating you just now, and Sister didn't even dare to say a single word against me. Everyone in the Prince's Mansion knows that the Second Young Miss always bullies the Eldest Miss, and that the Eldest Miss is a pushover who never talks back even when she's wronged!"

Qingwei chimed in from the side, "The Eldest Miss indeed is often bullied by the Second Miss."

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of Shangguan Erya's eyes. Trying to ruin her reputation? Then she would return the favor in kind!

She would make Shangguan Yunzhu swallow a bitter pill she couldn't voice!

Shangguan Erya said sincerely, "Sister, no one will believe you now. I already tried to throw mud at you, but when I thought that you might marry your sweetheart in my stead, I felt unwilling, which is why I finally admitted it. If I hadn't done it, why would I bother taking the blame for you? I have more than enough reason to bully you as it is!"

"No... it's not like that... You're slandering me... You aren't... Don't you dare ruin my reputation!"

Shangguan Yunzhu's speech became incoherent. She was so angry she was shedding tears, wanting to curse the other girl but unable to say her name!

Shangguan Erya blinked. "I'm ruining my own reputation? Sister, why are you so angry?"

*That's right, why is she so angry?*

This sentence tugged at the sensitive nerves of the crowd. Could it be that the angry woman was the real Shangguan Yunzhu?

Many people were already confused, yet some remained clear-headed, guessing that it was actually Shangguan Yunzhu who intended to harm her sister, only to end up ensnaring herself!

There was no longer a need for proof; the answer resided in everyone's own judgment.

"Enough!" Consort Gong shouted in a heavy voice. "You two sisters have completely disgraced the face of this Prince's Mansion!"

Feeling somewhat uneasy, she apologized to Old Matriarch Wang: "I am truly sorry for disrupting your birthday banquet today. I will certainly punish them properly when we return."

Old Matriarch Wang pondered for a moment. "Since this was not the scheme of your family's Eldest Miss, and she was merely acting out of a desire to protect her sister just now, I shall not pursue the matter further."

While Consort Gong deliberately blurred the focus by refusing to mention who was real or fake, or who was right or wrong, Old Matriarch Wang struck the nail on the head, closing the matter and leaving Consort Gong with nothing to argue against.

Seeing that things had escalated to this point, Consort Gong had long wanted to leave immediately. However, it was inconvenient to lose her temper at the Duke's Mansion, so she had been enduring it. She just hadn't expected Yunzhu to be so useless!

Not only had the plan failed, but Yunzhu's reputation was also utterly destroyed!

It was truly a case of losing more than one gained!

"Hehe." Consort Gong gave a forced laugh. "Then we shall not disturb you..."

Before she could finish, a woman's loud laughter came from outside the door: "Old Matriarch, wonderful news!"

Consort Gong frowned, thinking to herself: *Which blind person is interrupting me at a time like this?*

This was the second time today! She felt that nothing good was coming of this.

Before the person was seen, her voice arrived. The crowd was familiar with that woman's voice; it was none other than Concubine Zhang, the Duke's most beloved concubine.

With a face full of smiles, Concubine Zhang entered following a woman. Seeing this, everyone rose to greet them, "Greetings, Crown Princess."

The Crown Princess, Su Shishi, wore a lotus-colored palace robe with a light water-colored veil draped over it. Her wide skirt trailed behind her as she moved with elegance. She nodded to the crowd with a bright smile, "This Palace has arrived late."

She walked straight to Old Matriarch Wang of the Duke's Mansion. A young maid brought over a low stool for her to sit beside the Matriarch. "The Empress specially sent me to wish the Old Matriarch a happy birthday. Your niece is late; I hope the Old Matriarch will not blame me."

Seeing the Crown Princess's arrival, Old Matriarch Wang's mood improved slightly. She smiled and said, "The Empress is most thoughtful. It is only that something unexpected occurred today, and I was unable to personally welcome the Crown Princess. I ask for your forgiveness."

The Crown Princess did not press for the reason. She merely looked around and saw that almost all the matriarchs of the various families who had come to congratulate were in the room. However, there were no juniors present—only two women who looked identical. She asked with a smile, "Whose daughters are these? Why do they look so disheveled?"

Consort Gong found herself unable to leave even if she wanted to. She could only brace herself and step forward to answer, "Reporting to Your Highness, these two are the two biological concubine-born young misses of our Prince's Mansion."

"Oh, the ladies of the Prince Gong Mansion." The Crown Princess lowered her eyes, took the tea offered by the young maid, and took a light sip before saying, "I didn't hear Concubine Zhang explain clearly just now. Who was it that wanted to marry the Second Young Master of the Duke's Mansion?"

The Crown Princess's tone was calm, exuding a noble aura. Everyone turned their gaze toward Consort Gong, only to see her face flushed red, hesitating to speak as if she didn't know how to open her mouth.

With the Old Matriarch remaining composed and silent, the others had even less idea how to explain this muddled affair.

Consort Gong glared at Concubine Zhang, whose eyes darted around evasively.

At that moment, Shangguan Erya stepped forward and bowed, "Crown Princess, it is Yunzhu who wishes to marry the Second Young Master Ning."

"Nonsense!" The real Shangguan Yunzhu exploded the moment she heard this. "It's me, it's me! Shangguan Erya!"

The Crown Princess frowned at the ill-mannered Shangguan Yunzhu and questioned in a heavy voice, "You are Shangguan Erya?"

Shangguan Yunzhu's heart skipped a beat, and she stammered in fear, "I..."

Even Consort Gong thought to herself that this was bad. The Crown Princess had met Erya when they were children; could she have recognized her?

She truly hadn't expected the Crown Princess to appear so suddenly!

She said hurriedly, "This matter is complicated, actually..."

"Since you cannot explain it clearly, then please invite the Second Young Master Ning to come forward." The Crown Princess interrupted her with a gentle attitude. "The Second Young Master Ning must certainly know about this matter, wouldn't you agree, Old Matriarch Wang?"

Old Matriarch Wang nodded with a smile, "The Crown Princess is indeed most thorough!"

Just then, someone entered, their voice ringing through the room like jade: "Grandmother, I have brought my second brother!"