Sun Yanyan seemed to sense something amiss and immediately chimed in with Cheng Xiran, "Sister, Xiran is after all Zhiyue's elder sister. What's wrong with her going to check on her? Why are you being so harsh?"
Liu shot her a venomous glare and said impatiently, "Don't you know your place? Since when did you get to dictate things in this family?"
Just as Sun Yanyan was about to say something, a voice rang out.
"I could hear you arguing from afar. Can't you let people have some peace in the early morning!"
Cheng Xiang's words interrupted the chaotic scene.
Cheng Xiran immediately feigned pity and said, "Father, I just wanted to see my younger sister, but the madam wouldn't let me go. I'm really confused."
Seeing this, Sun Yanyan also said helplessly, "Exactly. We're all family. Why should we exclude Xiran like this?"
"I'd like to see just how unseemly Zhiyue is..."
As he spoke, Cheng Xiang rushed towards the courtyard where Cheng Zhiyue was staying.
Cheng Xiran waited quietly with anticipation.
Liu followed closely behind, wanting to dissuade him but not daring to say anything more.
Cheng Xiang gently knocked on the door. After a long while, there was no response. Having no other choice, he summoned a maid from the courtyard and asked carefully, "Isn't the Second Miss in the room?"
The maid averted her gaze, which only confirmed his suspicion.
The smile in Cheng Xiran's eyes grew deeper.
"Tell the truth!" Cheng Xiang snapped.
The maid quickly replied, "Reporting to the Prime Minister, the miss went out last night and... hasn't come back since."
Cheng Xiang was furious. "How dare you! Where was she all night!"
Cheng Xiran knew that her father always attached great importance to etiquette and education. He disliked being the butt of jokes and was extremely concerned about his reputation. The family's rules were strict, and he would never tolerate such a scandal in his family.
Even if the other party was Helian Yue, this act had undoubtedly lowered his status. How could he bear it? Even though he might not show any emotion on the surface and could still smile and chat, he would definitely punish Cheng Zhiyue in private.
Cheng Xiran lowered her voice and softened her tone. "Last night, the prince and I were invited to Prince Qi's mansion for dinner. My younger sister was there too..."
Liu slowly closed her eyes. She knew it was all over and also realized that this was all Cheng Xiran's plan.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have come so coincidentally and insisted on seeing Cheng Zhiyue.
"Prince Qi's mansion!"
Cheng Xiang clenched his fists in anger, scaring the maid into kneeling on the ground.
"Go, send two people to find her. I'd like to ask her what on earth she did last night!"
After leaving these words, Cheng Xiang turned around and headed for the front hall.
Cheng Xiran's scheme had succeeded. She relaxed slightly and let out a sigh of relief. After Cheng Xiang had walked far away, she was about to follow him when Liu called out to her, "Cheng Xiran, you're so scheming. You even plotted against your own younger sister!"
Cheng Xiran slowly shook her head. "Madam, you're joking. What I've done is nothing compared to what you've done."
"Now you two should have been living in peace. Why do you have to cause trouble!"
Liu stamped her foot in anger.
"I just don't like you guys."
Cheng Xiran turned around and gave her a smug smile, then left with Sun Yanyan.
Behind them came Liu's roar, "Cheng Xiran, you just wait. One day, I'll teach you a lesson!"
Yes, she had to wait, wait to see Cheng Zhiyue's downfall.
Zhuque and Yun'er finally understood why their miss had changed her attitude today.
They skipped breakfast and finally invited the old madam out.
After hearing the reason, the old madam's face immediately darkened.
"This is simply nonsense. Have you ever seen a girl as shameless as her?"
So the whole family was waiting for Cheng Zhiyue. Cheng Xiang even skipped the morning court and just waited for her.
Cheng Xiran wasn't in a hurry. She was just a bit hungry. Fortunately, she had eaten half a bowl of wontons on the way here.
When it was already high noon, Cheng Zhiyue came back. To Cheng Xiran's surprise, she walked in through the main gate instead of sneaking in through the back door. She probably thought that Cheng Xiang wasn't at home and she could easily get away with it.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered, Steward Wang led her to the front hall. When she saw Cheng Xiang sitting on the main seat with a铁青 face, she was instantly frightened.
She immediately looked to Liu for help.
Liu stepped forward and criticized, "You silly child. Why didn't you say a word when you went to the Xiao family? Your father and I were so worried about you at home, thinking something had happened to you. Come quickly and apologize to your father!"
Cheng Zhiyue was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward. Just as she was about to bow, she heard Cheng Xiang say calmly, "I've sent someone to Prince Qi's mansion to inquire. You spent the night there last night. How do you want to defend yourself? Do you think the prince would play such a trick on me?"
Liu bit her lower lip tightly and suddenly knelt down, begging, "Prime Minister, I'm sure Zhiyue must have acted on impulse. She didn't do it on purpose. She must have had some difficulties. Please forgive her this time. I'm sure she won't dare to do it again."
"Is there going to be a next time!"
The old madam, who had been silent all this time, slapped the table and stood up.
"Do you think the prince forced her into this?"
The old madam's words left Liu speechless.
Cheng Zhiyue started her usual trick: wailing loudly.
Cheng Xiang wasn't lenient because of this. On the contrary, he got angrier and angrier. Finally, he couldn't even sit still. He stood up, pointed at her with a trembling lip, and it took him a long time to say, "My good daughter, my good daughter has done such a thing. How will others look at me? Are the girls of the Cheng family so shameless?"
He angrily waved his sleeve, and several teacups on the table instantly shattered on the ground.
This scared Cheng Zhiyue into stopping her crying, but she didn't explain either because she simply couldn't.
"Last night, there was a reason. I was drugged..."
As she said this, she immediately looked at Cheng Xiran, who was calm and composed.
Liu immediately pointed at her and said, "It must be you. You must have harmed our Zhiyue!"
"Why would I harm my younger sister? We left after dinner last night without staying any longer. It was my younger sister who went back after seeing us off. Father, if you don't believe me, you can ask the prince."
Cheng Xiang roared, "At a time like this, you're still shirking responsibility. Don't you realize your mistake?"
Cheng Xiran watched Cheng Zhiyue's disheveled appearance and felt extremely satisfied.
"Father, I really... I..."
Cheng Zhiyue was extremely anxious but couldn't find a suitable excuse. She could only stand there in a hurry.
Since she didn't say anything, it was considered an admission.
"Someone, fetch the family punishment!"