Xiao Jin tilted her head slightly, an almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips as she observed the unfolding drama. Her father, Xiao Yi, was a man who prided himself on his reputation, nothing irked him more than public humiliation. Yet here he stood, red-faced, trying to manage the chaos his second wife and daughter had brewed.
"Disgrace? *You* call this disgrace, Father?" Xiao Jin's voice was soft but carried enough bite to silence the crowd's murmurs. She took a step forward, her elegant figure casting a shadow over the still-smirking Aunt Yao and the indignant Xiao Qin.
"Do enlighten me, Aunt Yao," Xiao Jin continued, her tone light as if she were discussing the weather. "Since when does the mistress of a house openly scheme at the gates for all the world to see? Or is public humiliation part of the family tradition now?"
Aunt Yao's face twitched, but before she could retort, Xiao Jin turned to Xiao Yi. "Father, forgive me, but I must clarify something. Are the gatekeepers no longer under your employ? It seems they follow someone else's orders entirely." She gestured toward the men blocking the entrance.
Xiao Yi’s jaw tightened. "You may enter through the main gate, Xiao Jin," he said curtly, his eyes darting nervously to the onlookers.
"And rightly so!" Xiao Yi bellowed, silencing his favorite daughter's protests. "You dare insult your elder sister in front of the entire city? Have you no sense of propriety?"
The onlookers began to whisper again, this time about Xiao Yi’s favoritism toward his second wife’s family. Aunt Yao’s face was pale, her carefully constructed image cracking under the weight of Xiao Yi’s public scolding.
Xiao Jin took a deep breath and walked gracefully toward the gate, pausing only to glance back at her father. "Thank you, Father. It seems that, despite everything, some family values do remain."
Her words stung like a whip, and Xiao Yi could only grit his teeth, knowing full well the truth in her veiled accusation. Xiao Jin stepped through the gate with her head held high, the palace maids trailing behind her, carrying the luxurious gifts bestowed by the Empress.
Meanwhile, Aunt Yao clutched Xiao Qin’s arm, muttering, "This isn't over. That wretch will regret crossing me."
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