C117 Evil Intentions!

Second Concubine felt a chill run through her body. She forced a smile and said, "Yuvyuv, I don't quite understand what you're saying. I was just concerned about your sister."

After speaking, she quickly looked at Ye Nianci, who was always kind-hearted and gentle. "Nianci, wasn't I just worried about you?"

Ye Nianci didn't move or speak. She seemed lost in a trance, completely unresponsive to everything around her.

Yuvyuv glanced worriedly at her sister, then lost her patience and suddenly stomped on Second Concubine's foot.

At home, Second Concubine wore soft-soled fabric shoes, and Yuvyuv's booted foot brought immediate pain, causing her face to pale.

She cried out, "Yuvyuv, what are you doing? You stepped on my foot, move it!"

"Does it hurt? If it does, remember this well. Watch your mouth and don't just say whatever comes to mind." Yuvyuv pressed down harder, deliberately grinding her heel into Second Concubine's toes.

Her voice was clear and cold, ensuring everyone in the living room heard her distinctly. "My sister went out today to have tea with just a regular colleague. That colleague needed a favor from my father, so they asked my sister to pass on a message. It just so happened that my father was at the teahouse too and met the colleague. My father is always professional and declined politely."

At this point, Yuvyuv paused, giving Second Concubine a cold, mocking look. "Second Concubine, what were you shouting about my sister having tea with a boyfriend for? Are you trying to ruin her reputation with your malicious intent? You really are quite devious."

As Yuvyuv's icy words hung in the air, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the study door on the second-floor landing was open. So, deliberately, she ended with that remark about Second Concubine's malicious intent.

She wanted her father to understand that some people's intentions were not just petty jealousy but aimed at destroying his two daughters.

"Bang!"

A heavy, hard-covered book was thrown from the second floor, landing with a thud at the feet of the Second Concubine.

Ye Mingyuan's face was dark with anger as he glared in her direction. If he hadn't been worried about hitting his daughter, Erya, that book might have been aimed to hurt the Second Concubine.

His eyes were filled with rage. He never imagined the Second Concubine could be so malicious. Usually, he ignored her little schemes, but now that her wicked thoughts targeted the daughters his late wife left behind, he wouldn't let it slide.

"Someone, lock the Second Concubine in the storeroom. No food for two days, not a single bite, and no water. Let her remember to watch her mouth from now on."

With that, Ye Mingyuan turned away, not sparing a glance at the Second Concubine's pleading face, and returned to his study, slamming the door behind him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Second Concubine, going without food and water for two days, you better hold on. I heard that if you go three days without anything, you might not make it. So, hang in there."

Yuvyuv sneered, lifting her foot from the Second Concubine's, which she'd been pressing down with her boot.

Unable to bear the pain, the Second Concubine collapsed to the side. Her face twisted with malice she could no longer hide. "Yuvyuv, what have I ever done to you and your sister to deserve this?"

"Well, Second Concubine, you shouldn't speak carelessly. My dad just punished you, remember? Don't forget so soon."

Yuvyuv shook her head, exasperated, unwilling to look at the Second Concubine's fake, virtuous facade any longer.

"Truly unsightly."

Yuvyuv, mindful of her older sister's feelings, had no interest in exchanging words with the already punished Second Concubine. She took her sister's hand and, under the varied gazes of the other concubines, led her upstairs.

In the corner, Xiaotao, the maid, watched the Second Concubine with a cold, mocking smile. Her gaze then followed Yuvyuv's retreating figure, harboring sinister thoughts.

Yuvyuv suddenly felt a prickling discomfort on her back but dismissed it, assuming it was just the Second Concubine's resentment.

Once in her sister's room, Yuvyuv closed the door and guided her dazed sister to sit on the bed. She turned to fetch a glass of warm water but was stopped by her sister's grip. "Sister," she whispered softly.

Feeling both upset and guilty, Yuvyuv knew her sister had been frightened today. But it wasn't just fear; it was the betrayal by Wen Shixing that left her sister with a storm of emotions.

Yuvyuv pulled up a small stool and sat beside her sister, looking up at her just like when they were kids. Without their mother, her sister had been her greatest comfort. "Sister, I'm sorry!"

Nianci's body trembled, her eyes reddening as she looked at her younger sister, who resembled the little girl who used to plead for forgiveness with an upturned face whenever she did something wrong. Her heart would soften then.

But this time was different.

Tears finally escaped Nianci's eyes, and through her blurred vision, she sighed softly, "Yuvyuv, you should have told me earlier."

"Sister, I'm sorry. It's my fault," Yuvyuv said, gripping her sister's hand tightly, unsure of what to say. She had kept the truth from her sister, fearing she wouldn't believe what kind of person Wen Shixing was. She thought it best for her sister to see for herself.

But in doing so, she had also hurt her sister. Her sister, kind and gentle, was far from foolish.

On the contrary, the eldest sister is actually very smart. She just never wants to argue with others, which makes people think she's weak and easy to bully.

Yuvyuv felt extremely sad. Even though she didn't mean to hurt her sister, she still ended up making her upset.

"Yuvyuv, do you think that if you told me the truth about that person, I wouldn't believe you?"

As tears welled up in Nianci's eyes, a bit of the heaviness in her heart eased. She looked at her sister, knowing that everything Yuvyuv did was for her sake.

She couldn't bring herself to blame her sister anymore. With a gentle hand, she softly touched her sister's face.

In a tender voice, she sighed, "You know, in my eyes, Yuvyuv is the only one. No one can take your place in my heart. So, whatever you say, I will believe."

"Sis!" Yuvyuv's voice trembled, her upturned face glistening with tears like crystal drops falling gently.

"Dear Yuvyuv, I know you meant well for me. This time, I won't blame you." Nianci, feeling her sister's pain, quickly took a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Yuvyuv's face.

She spoke softly, "Just promise me, don't deceive me again. I'm your sister, older than you. I should be the one standing in front of you, not letting an eighteen-year-old girl face everything alone."

"Sis, I want to stand in front of you. I want to protect you, protect Dad, and protect our family," Yuvyuv suddenly said, her eyes shining brightly.

Nianci was taken aback. She never knew her young sister had such thoughts.

She was a bit shaken, holding her sister's hand, her voice slightly trembling, "Yuvyuv, why would you say that? Our family may not hold great power, but Dad and Great Marshal Huo are as close as brothers. Dad is the Finance Secretary, a position of real authority. Why do you feel the need to protect our family? Have you heard something troubling?"

Ye Nianci couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over her.