Noticing her husband's expression and Qiao Ci's confident demeanor, Qiao Wen also seemed to believe Qiao Ci's words had some merit.
However, when compared to Qiao Shan's heavenly beauty, Qiao Ci's disfigured face was undeniably inferior.
Especially since Qiao Shan had recently been working diligently, offering Qiao Wen many suggestions on state affairs. The profit-driven Qiao Wen immediately made her choice.
"Nonsense! Do I not know whether Qiao Shan is my own daughter? You scoundrel, if you spout any more rubbish, I'll break your legs!"
Qiao Ci wore an "I knew it" expression and ignored Qiao Wen, instead looking at Ma Zhuang. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Looking at Qiao Ci, who was likely flesh and blood from his own body, Ma Zhuang's eyes showed a moment of struggle. At this moment, Qiao Shan walked over, grabbed his arm, and called out, "Father~"
Qiao Wen also coughed lightly.
Ma Zhuang gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and said coldly, "What should I say? I have only one daughter, Qiao Shan, and she has never had a birthmark. I advise you to watch yourself and not sow discord in our father-daughter relationship."
Qiao Ci smiled. "Very well. Since you have chosen to disregard the truth, I, Qiao Ci, announce today that I am severing all ties with all of you."
Saying this, she took out a pair of scissors, painlessly snipped a lock of her hair, and threw it on the ground. "It is said that one's body and hair are gifts from one's parents. Today, I cut my hair to sever our familial ties. I ask everyone here to be my witness."
The surrounding onlookers were not fools; they could discern some mischief from the expressions of the people involved.
The couple from the Ministry of Rites were truly heartless, disowning their own flesh and blood and happily letting the housekeeper raise a child. Hmph, one wondered who would see them off when they were gone.
Having made her decision, the Minister of Rites official didn't want to stand at the door being a spectacle. He turned to go back inside.
"Oh, right," Qiao Ci spoke again, causing the turning Qiao Wen to freeze.
Qiao Wen looked at Qiao Ci impatiently. "What do you want now?"
"Nothing, it's just that Qiao Shan previously accused me of stealing from your Qiao family. I think it's necessary to clarify." Qiao Ci looked at Qiao Shan. "Aren't you going to say something?"
How could Qiao Shan help her clarify? It was wishful thinking leading to self-humiliation. "Qiao Ci, the evidence of your theft is conclusive… umph!"
Qiao Ci flicked her finger, and a black pill landed in Qiao Shan's throat, which she swallowed reflexively.
Qiao Shan's eyes widened in terror as she clawed at her throat. "What did you give me?"
Qiao Wen and Ma Zhuang were also terrified. They rushed to Qiao Shan's side, but were still a step behind the housekeeper. The housekeeper, who had already reached Qiao Shan, pushed them aside with his posterior!
Qiao Wen's expression stiffened!
The housekeeper, while patting Qiao Shan's back, sternly berated Qiao Ci, "You wicked girl, what poison did you give Miss? Hand over the antidote quickly!"
"No need to be nervous. It's just a truth serum. It makes you speak the truth for the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn. There are no other side effects," Qiao Ci said cheerfully.
Seeing Qiao Wen's face so dark it could be used for ink, Qiao Ci found it incredibly amusing.
Qiao Ci looked at Qiao Shan and asked gracefully, "Qiao Shan, let me ask you, why did you slander me for stealing family treasures back then?"
"Because you are the…!" Qiao Shan blurted out without thinking. Realizing her slip, she quickly covered her mouth.
But it was too late. Her small mouth quickly spoke, "Because you are the true daughter of the Qiao family, and I am just the housekeeper's child. I couldn't let you return and take everything from me, so you had to disappear. Slandering you for theft was just the first step. The second step was to disfigure you and break your legs, so you could never return to fight with me!"
After speaking, Qiao Shan slumped onto the housekeeper as if all her strength had left her. Qiao Wen was also stunned by this sudden confession. Looking at the pointing and whispering townsfolk, the old woman's face lost all composure. She immediately scolded, "Qiao Ci, what kind of nonsense medicine did you give my daughter!"
Qiao Ci shrugged. "I already said it's a truth serum. If you don't believe me, you can ask her a few questions you want to know."
Qiao Wen certainly wouldn't ask. The crowd, however, started to heckle. One woman, who often frequented the small official's brothel with Qiao Shan, lewdly asked, "Qiao Shan, two days ago when you were chosen as the honored guest for the Green Bamboo Flower Queen because of a poem, did you sleep with Qing Zhu? How was his performance? Is he still a virgin?"
Qiao Shan resisted the urge to speak, tears welling up. The housekeeper helped cover her mouth, but she bit his hand fiercely, then spat it out with a "peh!" Her mouth opened and closed uncontrollably. "Of course, I slept with him. Why wouldn't I sleep with a handsome man in my arms? I'm a germaphobe, so I only sleep with virgins. His technique is much better than my tutor's. I'm still savoring the memory."
Everyone's gaze instantly shifted to the tutor, Lin Ziang, standing at the back near the mansion gates. Li Ziang's face turned pale, and he bit his lip, covering his face as he left.
Qiao Wen's old face was utterly disgraced by Qiao Shan at this moment!
She cursed, "Someone drag this embarrassing creature back into the mansion!" Then, her piercing eyes fixed on Qiao Ci. "No matter what you do, I, Qiao Wen, will never acknowledge you!"
Qiao Ci smiled lazily and, in a mock gesture, cupped her hands. "Then I thank Lord Qiao for the grace of non-acknowledgement."
With such a mother, she feared she might be driven to patricide.
"Hmph!" Qiao Shan had already been carried into the mansion by servants. Qiao Wen snorted coldly and followed, ordering the gates to be shut tightly, as if that could block out the mocking laughter from outside.
Qiao Ci also left, thinking about seeing Dan Qing. She spoke to Xiao Shaozi, who had returned to the system space, "Is there no special medicine for my face?"
Xiao Shaozi replied obediently, "Host, the scars on your face have already been seen by many. Suddenly recovering completely would cause adverse reactions. Xiao Shaozi suggests you wait patiently. The scars will fade day by day until they heal."
Qiao Ci was speechless. You could conjure a truth serum that defies the common understanding of medicinal practices in the Dan Kingdom, yet you're afraid of my recovery being too fast?
Qiao Ci suspected Xiao Shaozi was doing this on purpose, just to see her embarrassed!
It wasn't that she couldn't recover immediately. She had just been doing missions with Xiao Shaozi for so long and often punished it by locking it in the dark. She wouldn't make things difficult for it this time and would go along with it for now.
Little silly system~
Xiao Shaozi thought Qiao Ci wouldn't listen and would have to laboriously persuade her. It didn't expect her to agree.
The host is becoming more approachable, so happy~
Hehe, I must seize this opportunity to learn new dances. As soon as the mission ends, I'll arrange it for the big boss!
Qiao Ci first prepared herself a decent outfit, wrapping her face tightly. Then, following Xiao Shaozi's instructions, she stealthily arrived at Dan Qing's sleeping quarters.
"Are you embroidering... a sachet?" Seeing Dan Qing working diligently by lamplight, Qiao Ci couldn't help but speak.
"A'Ci, you're here~" Dan Qing quickly put down her needlework and looked at Qiao Ci with surprise, her eyes instantly shining like stars.