Chapter 32: Jiang Lingyao, If You Have the Guts, Strike Me Yourself

Jiang Lingyao watched Jiang Xiushu’s frantic display of rage, her mind drifting for a moment.

What was a threat, truly?

Back then, she had worked tirelessly to finally secure the IOU that could have ruined Jiang Xiushu. She had held onto it solely to prevent him from straying again, fearing he would destroy his own future.

Jiang Xiushu was the legitimate son of the Duke’s estate, and with the estate now a top-tier family in the capital, everyone fawned over him. His life had always been smooth sailing; with an elder brother above him to shoulder the pressure, he was surrounded by countless sycophants and troublemakers trying to lead him astray.

After that incident years ago, even their father had considered giving up on him. If not for her, how could Jiang Xiushu have remained at the world-renowned Bailu Academy?

She curled her lips in a mocking smirk. "Well? Can we discuss this properly now?"

Jiang Xiushu erupted, "Jiang Lingyao, you despicable wretch! If only my sister were Lian'er. I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to encounter a cold-hearted, calculating woman like you!"

The Duke’s expression turned grim, his tone colder still: "Mingzhu, do not make a mockery of your third brother's future."

Song Lian'er began to sob. "Sister must be joking, right? How could you bear to ruin Third Brother? Sister, don't say such cruel things; it hurts our bond too much."

Jiang Xiuyuan stepped in to mediate. "Exactly. How could Mingzhu bear to do such a thing? She used to be the most—"

She didn't speak, yet the people before her grew lively. As they spoke, they kept glancing her way. Seeing her remain silent, they sighed in relief, assuming she had truly moved past it.

In truth, they did not believe Jiang Lingyao was capable of the ruthlessness required to destroy Jiang Xiushu’s future. Everyone had seen how well she had treated him in the past.

"Why don't you say it, Mingzhu?" The Duke’s tone softened slightly, though his gaze upon Jiang Lingyao held a hidden pressure. He sighed as if it were a casual matter. "Mingzhu is sensible and would not make things difficult for us, but your third brother was indeed in the wrong and must be punished."

Jiang Lingyao had thought she had already reached the peak of her disappointment, but she had not expected things to become even more egregious. By handing the handling of Jiang Xiushu over to her, any punishment she meted out would force her to worry about whether he would harbor resentment toward her for it.

What was her father’s intention? Was he pushing the entire burden onto her to force her into leniency?

But this time, she certainly would not let them have their way.

Jiang Lingyao let out a sharp laugh and responded calmly: "Since Father has spoken, I shall obey. Third Brother’s lack of filial piety is a grave offense. He shall receive fifteen lashes, kneel in the ancestral hall for ten days, remain confined to the estate for six months, and, for the next three months, he must transcribe Buddhist scriptures daily to pray for Grandmother’s health."

"Jiang Lingyao!"

Jiang Xiushu, who had initially let out a sigh of relief, stared at her with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth. "Are you intentionally trying to destroy me?"

Jiang Lingyao’s expression grew colder. "Do you find something unreasonable about this?"

Jiang Xiushu roared in fury, "Stop trying to scare me with your little schemes! I won't fall for it!"

He truly did not believe that if he refused to submit, Jiang Lingyao would actually dare to ruin the reputation of her own brother!

The Duke’s expression hardened. "This is too much. Jiang Lingyao, do not push your luck!"

Jiang Xiumo, who had been silent until now, spoke up hesitantly, "This punishment is too severe. Does it not pain you?"

Jiang Xiuyuan frowned. "Jiang Lingyao, he is your own brother. You cannot destroy him just because of a momentary fit of pique!"

Song Lian'er whimpered, "Sister, if you truly must punish someone, punish me instead. Third Brother only said those things for my sake and for the sake of the Jiang family."

"Your reputation is already in tatters. If you intend to marry Brother Pei, the Duke’s estate will suffer a heavy blow. Besides... besides, Brother Pei doesn't even like you. Why force it?"

Once they finished, they looked at her with icy gazes, as if she were a heinous criminal.

Jiang Lingyao wanted to laugh, but her heart felt as if it were being gnawed on by insects. A fine, dense pain surged from her chest to her limbs, leaving her paralyzed.

She was seeking justice for her grandmother! These people—one and all, heartless and ungrateful—how could they have the audacity to condemn her?

Jiang Lingyao suppressed the tears in her eyes, her gaze reddening as she said word by word: "My reputation is in tatters—for whose sake? Who was the one to provoke this, knowing full well that Grandmother is in poor health, yet choosing to be venomous? Who showed no respect for their elders? And who is it that cares nothing for their own biological mother, thinking only of covering up their tracks for fear of damaging their own reputation?"

She stared at them intently, her gaze as sharp and cruel as a blade, making their hearts tremble.

"I mean what I say. If Jiang Xiushu does not accept this punishment today and go to Grandmother’s bedside to apologize, then in three days, the news of Jiang Xiushu’s lack of filial piety and his gambling addiction will be known throughout the capital!"

"Do you think I am incapable of it?"

Jiang Lingyao let out a cold, sharp laugh and pointed at Jiang Xiushu’s head. "If I were truly incapable of it, how do you think he got that wound on his head?"

Jiang Xiushu froze, staring at her as if she were a stranger, his lips trembling slightly.

How... how had she become like this?

Was this still the lively, kind-hearted, protective, and radiant sixth sister he once knew?

Only then did everyone suddenly snap back to reality, realizing that Jiang Lingyao had been telling the truth.

She really dared to—and was truly willing to—destroy Jiang Xiushu!