Seventeen-year-old Jiang Shuwan, you have gone too far in bullying others.

The three of them looked up. The sunlight shone on her, and through the haze, they could see Jiang Shuwan’s face, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Though it appeared to be a smile, somehow, it carried a coldness as sharp as a blade, sending chills down their spines.

Jiang Shuwan came to stand before them.

Jiang Xunian looked uneasy and asked, “Why are you here?”

Jiang Shuwan sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, then said, “Father called me just now. I thought something had happened to you, so after tidying up, I hurried over without delay.”

Jiang Xunian was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Shuwan glanced at the boxes in their hands. “Father, why are you carrying these boxes around? It must be exhausting! These are things from our own household, and you are the head of the family. Carrying boxes like this in front of others damages your image.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xunian cast her a wary glance but felt she was right.

He walked over and placed the boxes on the table, followed by Jiang Xueyu and Madam Li setting theirs down as well.

“Where did these boxes come from? And what about these ready-made clothes and fabrics?” Jiang Xiyu asked curiously.

“Well...” Jiang Xunian felt a pang of guilt and didn’t know how to answer.

“These were gifts for Father from someone else. What right do you have to interfere in Father’s affairs?” Jiang Xueyu glared fiercely at Jiang Shuwan.

“Oh, really?” Jiang Shuwan scanned the boxes in their hands. “I recall my maternal grandfather’s family owns a jewelry store in the capital. Their boxes are embroidered with peach blossom patterns. The boxes you’re holding look remarkably like theirs.”

Their faces changed drastically.

“Y-you’re lying!” Jiang Xueyu stammered.

“Am I? Just look for yourself.”

With that, Jiang Shuwan took a paper from her sleeve and unfolded it.

“Coincidentally, today after I prayed for the Marquis of Pingning at Cien Temple, I met my second cousin on the way back. He said he sent me some jewelry and ready-made fabrics.”

Their faces were filled with panic.

A faint smile curved Jiang Shuwan’s lips as she stood before them.

“Please put down the boxes. I want to compare the contents with the list to see if these are indeed the gifts from my second cousin.”

Jiang Xueyu stiffened and shouted, “Why should what you say be true just because you say so?”

Jiang Shuwan’s expression darkened. “Why are you so agitated, little sister? I’m just checking. If it’s not, then no harm done. But if it is, since they were gifts from my cousin, naturally, I should take them.”

Jiang Shuwan gave Liusu a signal. Liusu stepped forward and opened one of the boxes Jiang Xunian had placed on the table, and Jiang Xunian was too slow to stop her.

Inside the box were three carefully arranged hairpins.

Jiang Shuwan said calmly, “One pear blossom hairpin, one silver and copper double-prong hairpin, and one magnolia hairpin.”

With each item she named, Jiang Xunian, Madam Li, and Jiang Xueyu felt a tightening in their chests.

They had thought the so-called list in Jiang Shuwan’s hand was a fabrication, but it turned out to be true.

Jiang Shuwan looked at them with a smile that was neither sincere nor insincere. “What a coincidence—it's exactly the same as the list I have.”

“You’re lying!”

Jiang Xueyu didn’t believe it. She rushed forward, snatched the paper from Jiang Shuwan’s hand, and upon seeing that it matched exactly what Jiang Shuwan had just read, her face instantly turned pale.

“Now you believe, little sister?” Jiang Shuwan said with a smile, showing no anger.

Madam Li stepped forward to Jiang Xueyu’s side, her face also turning pale upon seeing the list was genuine.

Ignoring them, Jiang Shuwan moved to the place where the fabrics were laid out and touched them—the silk was smooth and glossy.

“I see the list mentions silk fabrics for ready-made clothes. These should be them, right?” She then said to Liusu, “Liusu, take these away.”

“Yes, Miss.” Liusu smiled and stepped forward, lifting the fabric.

Seeing her prize about to be snatched away, Jiang Xueyu stepped forward to grab it, but Liusu sidestepped deftly. Jiang Xueyu, caught off guard, fell to the ground.

“Ah, that hurts so much! Jiang Shuwan, you’re too much!” Jiang Xueyu cried out in pain.

Madam Li rushed over, concerned, and knelt beside her.

Jiang Xunian, who had been holding back for so long, stepped forward and slapped Jiang Shuwan harshly. “Is this how you bully your sister as her elder sister?”

Jiang Shuwan’s eyes turned cold as she grabbed Jiang Xunian’s wrist. “Father, it was your greedy daughter who bit off more than she could chew and fell herself. In your eyes, is only my sister your daughter? Am I not?”

Jiang Shuwan’s accusation did not make Jiang Xunian feel guilty; instead, it only made him more agitated.

“You still have the nerve to speak? Don’t you see what you’ve done? You married the late Marquis of Pingning without permission, and now you want to snatch your sister’s things without distinction. Have you ever considered me, your father?”

Seeing Jiang Xunian twisting the facts, Jiang Shuwan released his wrist, a mocking smile playing on her lips, though it hurt a little inside.

“So this is how Father sees me. Fine, then I don’t need to show you any respect.”

“Wan’er, don’t hurt your father’s feelings like this. He cares about you too,” Madam Li said, supporting Jiang Xueyu and trying to mediate.

Jiang Shuwan sneered inwardly at Madam Li’s sudden act of playing the kind mother.

In her previous life, whenever Jiang Xunian scolded her, Madam Li would always step in with a sympathetic, maternal demeanor.

Yet each time, Jiang Xunian only grew angrier.

And she foolishly thought Madam Li was standing up for her out of kindness.

Now she realized Madam Li had only been adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, Jiang Xunian’s voice grew cold and severe. “This wicked daughter can’t tell right from wrong. Don’t speak for her anymore. If she dares to take these things today, I will disown her.”

Jiang Shuwan said coldly, “Father, why can’t I take them? If I hadn’t met my second cousin today, I wouldn’t have known he’s been sending me a monthly allowance. Yet I never received those jewels or money. This month I happened to see it; it’s mine, so I’m taking it.”

Her gaze settled on the boxes and fabrics.

Jiang Xueyu stammered, “Y-you’re talking nonsense! These belong to the household.”

She clutched the boxes tightly, afraid Jiang Shuwan would snatch them.

Jiang Shuwan said casually, “Oh? Then bring all the boxes here. I want to compare them with my list one by one.”

Jiang Shuwan crouched down and picked up the list that had fallen when Jiang Xueyu was pushed.

“This Marquisate is still run by me. It cannot tolerate your recklessness,” Jiang Xunian raised his voice.

“Father, why are you so angry? Could it be that I was right—that these all came from my second cousin?” Jiang Shuwan asked.

Jiang Xunian choked slightly, then raised his voice even louder, “These are gifts my close friends gave me after court. What does that have to do with you?”