It was finally discovered that Cui Zhu was responsible. Cui Zhu, lazy and negligent, had been caught several times by her personal Sister Su, who then reported her. She scolded Cui Zhu and fined her monthly money, clearly stating that if she didn't improve, she would be sold and sent away from the mansion.

Instead of repenting, Cui Zhu harbored resentment against her. Taking advantage of nap time, she drugged the young Ling Yao with medicine, rendering her unconscious, and threw her into the pond. Had Sister Mu not felt that something was amiss and gone out to search for her, Ling Yao would no longer be alive.

Attempting to murder one's master was a capital offense. She executed Cui Zhu in front of all the servants in the house as a warning to others.

Unexpectedly, Ling Yao witnessed it and thus came to believe that she was a heartless monster. How could she bear such a burden?

Cradling his shaky wife gently, Nangong Yelin was filled with self-reproach and regret.

The mother did everything for the sake of her fifth daughter, yet the daughter resented her. Nangong Lingfei and Nangong Lingyan expressed their inability to understand how their fifth sister could think like that.

Withdrawing her gaze, Yang Mengchen asked, "Why did you go there?"

"Sister Mu said that mother blamed the servants in the courtyard for not taking good care of me, so she fabricated evidence to frame Cui Zhu. If I didn't go save Cui Zhu, mother would have beaten her to death," Nangong Lingyao replied. "Sister Mu also said that since she was my personal sister, mother would certainly not spare her either.

I didn't want Sister Mu to die, so I followed her to the garden;

Seeing that Cui Zhu was already dead, covered in blood, I fainted right then and there. It was Sister Mu who carried me back to my room, telling me never to tell mother about this matter, or else mother would kill Sister Mu and lock me up, or even send me away and not want me anymore. I was very scared and have never spoken of it."

"Do you remember how you fell into the pond?"

"I don't remember. I only remember Sister Mu giving me some snacks, then I fell asleep, and I don't remember anything else."

"Is it because Sister Mu wouldn't let you get close to your family?"

"Sister Mu said they are all bad people, who only pretend to be nice to me, but actually want to harm me, to abandon me. I don't want to die or be abandoned, so I just hid in my room and didn't go out or get close to them."

Now, even the dullest person could see that Ling Yan's transformation was all deliberately orchestrated by the scheming Sister Mu.

After using the Black Needle to seal a few of Ling Yan's acupoints, Yang Mengchen took out a small porcelain bottle and waved it under her nose. Soon Nangong Lingyao slowly opened her eyes, and seeing the people gathered around her, she became agitated and fearful, desperately trying to flee but unable to move. She could only hysterically shout, "What are you going to do?

Let me go!" She seemed almost deranged.

"Ling Yao..." Lady Nangong left her husband's embrace, stepping forward to try to comfort her daughter.

But to Nangong Lingyao, it was as if her mother were a terrifying beast. Her voice was hoarse with fear and resentment as she screamed, "You demon, stay away from me, or I'll kill you! Sister Mu, where are you? Come back and save me! Sister Mu..."

With a sharp 'snap', not only did it cut off Nangong Lingyao's scream, but it also left everyone stunned.

Holding his wife tightly in his arms, Nangong Yelin looked coldly at his fifth daughter, seeing the five bright red finger marks on her fair cheek. His eyes darkened as he struggled with his pain but spoke with an icy, chilling tone, "She is the mother who gave birth to you and raised you, yet you threaten to kill her. This is utterly unfilial!"

"My Lord, no more!"

Lady Nangong tugged at her husband's sleeve. Her pale face was bloodless, her eyes dead. She tried to smile at her fifth daughter, who was full of suspicion and hostility. The smile was uglier than tears, and her heart felt as if it was being sliced by a thousand knives, a pain beyond endurance.

Nangong Lingfei's expression was dark and fierce, his eyes flickering with a dark flame, hinting at the heaviness and menace of an approaching storm.

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