Qi Mingzhu glared at Qi Zhenzhen, gritting her teeth. "How dare you ask me? I am engaged to Lu Chen, yet he has pleaded with Grandmother and Father multiple times for your sake. He even left in anger because they refused to take you back! If you hadn't seduced Lu Chen, would he have acted like this?"
Qi Zhenzhen laughed in anger. "Eldest Sister, please use your brain before you speak. Which eye of yours saw me seducing Lu Chen? If he went to plead for me, you should ask him what he was thinking, not come to me. Or perhaps Eldest Sister dares not ask Lu Chen and thinks I'm easy to bully, so you've come here to vent? If that's the case, Eldest Sister will be disappointed. I'm someone who yields to gentleness, not to force."
"How could I not come to you? If you hadn't returned, everything in the manor would have proceeded as usual. Where would all these complications come from?" Qi Mingzhu said in exasperation. "I am the legitimate daughter of the manor, but now Father's eyes are only on you, a concubine-born daughter. Grandmother too. I am her own granddaughter. You are restless and have been making a spectacle of yourself outside. If not for that, why would Lu Chen be avoiding me?"
In short, all the wrongdoings were attributed to Qi Zhenzhen.
Qi Zhenzhen felt wronged. Who had she offended? This marriage wasn't her decision, nor was it her who wanted to break it. As for Qi Mingzhu's accusation of her making a spectacle, it was only because Gu Sinian had sent word, and seeing the suffering of the refugees, she couldn't bear it. As for Qi Tianming having eyes only for her, a concubine-born daughter, Qi Zhenzhen disagreed even more. In his eyes, only those who could bring tangible benefits to the Marquis's manor were visible. As for Grandmother, as people age, they naturally yearn for their children and grandchildren to be around them. Qi Mingzhu, proud of being the legitimate daughter, carried herself with a certain air before the elder, lacking the liveliness expected of someone her age. How could the Old Madam favor her?
"Lu Chen avoiding you, liking you, it has nothing to do with me. What logic is there in you forcibly blaming everything on me? Eldest Sister, we have interacted quite a bit. Don't you have any idea what kind of person I am? There's a distinction between legitimate and concubine-born daughters. You look down on me, and I won't cling to you. We mind our own business, and there's no conflict. If you're looking for balance here, you'll surely be disappointed. I have nothing more to say to you. Please leave!" Qi Zhenzhen said with a stern face.
Her face contorted with rage, Qi Mingzhu's demeanor as a refined young lady vanished.
"Qi Zhenzhen, don't get smug. If you make me miserable, you won't have an easy time either. Gu Sinian still hasn't returned. Whether he wants you or not is still uncertain," Qi Mingzhu said through gritted teeth.
Qi Zhenzhen looked indifferent. "Eldest Sister needn't worry about that."
Still not returned? Heh, they had returned together, and Gu Sinian had even visited the Marquis's manor. Qi Mingzhu didn't even know. What did this mean? It meant her information was very limited. She knew what she was meant to know, and what she wasn't, she wouldn't know so quickly.
Qi Mingzhu gained nothing from Qi Zhenzhen and couldn't vent her anger at all. Instead, she was filled with more resentment, about to explode.
"You just wait," Qi Mingzhu said fiercely, then stormed out.
"Farewell, and don't see me out," Qi Zhenzhen called out with a smile.
Qi Mingzhu stumbled, her retreating figure looking utterly pathetic.