Chapter 5 Framed

Someone suddenly stormed over, kicking open the sedan door, and spoke with seething anger.

“Who dares to block the path of our General’s Residence? You must be tired of living!”

Lu Qingqing met the person’s gaze, and immediately after, there was a scornful snort.

Hua Mei stood with her hands on her hips, laughing so hard she nearly bent over. “Well, well, who did I think it was? Turns out it’s Miss Lu. No, I should say, Young Madam Xie.”

Her eyes brimmed with intense disgust.

“I advise you to be sensible and kneel to our young lady in apology. Then we’ll let this matter go.”

Hua Mei had been raised in the Shen family since childhood. After the Shen family’s downfall, she wandered outside for some time, only to be found and brought back recently. Naturally, she knew all about the grievances between Lu Qingqing and Shen Jin.

She had never liked Lu Qingqing, and now seeing her again, her arrogance was even greater.

“Hua Mei, cough… cough, they didn’t do it on purpose…” Jiang Jiu Yue’s frail body was wracked with coughs as she made her way over.

Forced out of the sedan, Lu Qingqing looked at the woman before her. Something about Jiang Jiu Yue’s features seemed oddly familiar, though she couldn’t place it.

“Forgive us for bumping into you.”

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Jiu Yue replied gently, her gaze open and direct as she looked at Lu Qingqing for a long time.

Hua Mei pinched her voice in disdain. “Just a simple apology? Young Madam, aren’t you looking down on our General’s Residence? Times have changed. Our young lady is now cherished by her master. If you’ve harmed her with that bump, can you bear the consequences?”

“And what do you want?” Lu Qingqing’s voice was cold as she regarded Hua Mei. She hadn’t expected this little maid to become so petty.

Back when Hua Mei was bullied by the servants in the Shen household, it was Lu Qingqing who had stood up for her and thoroughly punished those bullies.

But now, Hua Mei acted as if she could trample Lu Qingqing beneath her feet.

“Of course, you must kneel and offer a proper apology. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

“Hua Mei!” Jiang Jiu Yue made to stop her, but her slender hand weakly rested on Hua Mei’s arm.

The standoff lingered. There was no way Lu Qingqing would kneel in the street. She looked around—it was clearly the others who had rushed over, and the corner here made it hard to see what had happened.

“Kneel! The Marquis’s Residence is desperate for our master’s help right now—they’ll do anything for it. Young Madam, you wouldn’t want me to air out your dirty laundry in public, would you?”

Hua Mei’s words were full of threats and menace.

She looked provocatively at Lu Qingqing—the once proud daughter of the Lu family, now reduced to being bullied by a servant.

“All right, Miss Lu didn’t do it on purpose. There’s no need for this…” Jiang Jiu Yue stepped forward, reaching to steady Lu Qingqing, repeating that there was no need for her to kneel.

But in the next instant, just as Lu Qingqing’s hand was taken, Jiang Jiu Yue suddenly lost her balance and fell heavily backward.

From behind, it looked as if Lu Qingqing had pushed her. Hua Mei saw this and immediately rolled up her sleeves, ready to charge over. “My lady is gentle—she won’t let you bully her!”

But someone was faster, grabbing Lu Qingqing and yanking her aside, radiating furious anger.

Shen Jin’s eyes were red, barely containing his rage as he gritted his teeth. “What are you doing? There’s no need to target Yueyue. Lu Qingqing, you’re truly arrogant and willful!”

Lu Qingqing wrenched her hand free, pain shooting through her wrist. “I didn’t push her, Shen Jin. How did I never realize you were blind?”

“Enough!” Shen Jin was shaking with fury. “You have no right to defend yourself!”

“……”

“Do what you’re supposed to and don’t try to provoke me. You can’t afford the consequences.”

With that, Shen Jin shoved her back into the sedan. His voice was icy, as if he might end her life at any moment.

He hurried to check on Jiang Jiu Yue, who weakly opened her mouth.

“It wasn’t Sister Qingqing’s fault.”

“How can you say that? You’re frail—if you need anything, tell me. I’ll bring it back for you,” Shen Jin replied gently.

Through the curtain, Lu Qingqing looked at the face she had longed for day and night. He was right there, yet it felt as distant as a galaxy—utterly unreachable.

As the sedan was carried away, she could still hear Shen Jin coaxing Jiang Jiu Yue.

Her heart plunged into icy depths.

Shen Jin lifted Jiang Jiu Yue and carried her inside with great care, while behind them, Hua Mei added fuel to the fire. “Master, you have no idea how arrogant Young Madam Xie just was—she’s simply jealous of our lady…”

Shen Jin didn’t reply, only shot her a cold glare.

Jiang Jiu Yue immediately interjected, “Sister Qingqing never treated me that way. Don’t speak nonsense.”

“My lady, you’re too kind-hearted, you just don’t realize…”

“That’s enough. Take your lady inside. If you need anything, I’ll send someone to buy it.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Shen Jin turned and left, the woman sitting there flashed a trace of loathing in her eyes. So you still can’t let go of your old flame? Shen Jin, I will make you belong to me completely.