SGEIRS -Chapter 117 Biting Back

After hearing this, Ningdong was stunned for a moment, still feeling indignant. She said angrily, “That really lets her off too easily.”

Meng Jinyao curled her lips into a smile. “She slandered me in front of Princess Jingning and got the princess to make things difficult for me. I gave her a scare in return and even made her fall. I didn’t lose out. It counts as settling the score on the spot.”

Qingqiu recalled what had just happened and smiled faintly. “Madam, what you said earlier—if Princess Jingning isn’t a fool, she should be able to tell that Meng Jinyu failed in her scheme and ended up hurting herself.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao paused slightly, then shook her head almost imperceptibly. “Hopefully. But Princess Jingning doesn’t seem very smart either. It’s possible she’ll be fooled by a few sweet words from Meng Jinyu.”

Ningdong was startled. “That won’t happen, will it?”

Meng Jinyao smiled lightly. “Hard to say.”

In fact, Princess Jingning really wasn’t very smart.

Over there, just as Meng Jinyao and her two maids turned around and continued down the stairs, a maid finally reacted and hurried over to help Meng Jinyu up from the ground.

Meng Jinyu hissed in pain. If it weren’t so unladylike, she would have rubbed her backside. Earlier, Meng Jinyao had pulled her back, but let go before she had regained her balance. She fell backward, landing hard on her bottom. It hurt terribly.

Seeing her mistress frown in pain, the maid asked anxiously, “Second Miss, where are you hurt? Should we go see a doctor?”

Enduring the pain, Meng Jinyu shook her head gently. It wasn’t easy to get Princess Jingning to come out with her—she couldn’t spoil the mood. Besides, nothing was broken. She could endure this much.

“I’m fine. No need to see a doctor.”

Princess Jingning glanced at her indifferently. “Miss Meng, don’t force yourself. If you’re injured, you should see a doctor early. Otherwise, if you miss the right time for treatment, it may leave lasting problems.”

Noticing the coolness in her tone, Meng Jinyu didn’t understand why and hurriedly forced a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Princess. It’s nothing serious—just a fall.”

Princess Jingning stared at her and asked bluntly, “Were you trying to trip your elder sister just now?”

At these words, waves surged in Meng Jinyu’s heart, but she maintained her composure on the surface. She looked at Princess Jingning in feigned confusion.

“Princess, how can you say that? Why would I trip my elder sister for no reason? I’m the one who fell. I don’t even know what happened. I was standing perfectly well and suddenly fell.”

Princess Jingning was doubtful. “So you weren’t trying to harm her and ended up hurting yourself instead?”

“Princess, that’s really an injustice.” Meng Jinyu shook her head repeatedly. Seeing that the princess was still half-convinced, she hardened her heart and raised three fingers in a poisonous oath.

“I swear I really didn’t. If I had any intention of harming my elder sister, may my mother die a horrible death.”

Princess Jingning was shocked and chose to believe her. Filial piety was paramount—who would dare swear on their own mother if it weren’t true?

“All right, all right, I believe you. Why would you use Madam Meng to make such an oath?”

Meng Jinyu lowered her head with a wronged expression and murmured, “You wouldn’t listen to my explanation just now, Princess. I had no choice. But it’s fine—I really didn’t do it. If I had, how would I dare swear like that?”

In truth, she had only sworn casually. So many people in the world made poisonous oaths—if they all came true, wouldn’t every heartless man who made empty promises be struck by lightning?

Princess Jingning believed her completely. Seeing her frown in pain, she said, “Let’s stop shopping for now. I’ll take you to a clinic and have a doctor look at you. Don’t let it leave any aftereffects.”

Meng Jinyu no longer pretended to be strong. “Thank you, Princess.”

Thinking of what Meng Jinyao had said earlier, Princess Jingning guessed, “Did your sister deliberately push you, then pretend to help you, and finally make you fall?”

Meng Jinyu was slightly stunned, then shook her head blankly. “I can’t remember clearly. I was so frightened just now. I only remember standing there, and then suddenly I fell.”

Princess Jingning snorted coldly. “It must have been her. She pushed you, pretended to be kind, made you fall, and then said some ambiguous things to mislead people.”

Meng Jinyu sighed softly. “Elder Sister probably doesn’t like me and just wanted to scare me. And she had just been embarrassed in front of you, so she must have been angry. Forget it. I won’t argue with her.”

Princess Jingning glared at her in exasperation. “A-Yu, you’re too kind. If it were me, I’d have stood up and slapped her twice.”

Meng Jinyu’s lips curved slightly, a trace of laughter flashing in her eyes. In a gentle voice, she coaxed, “Don’t be angry, Princess. Let’s not lower ourselves to her level. It’s not worth ruining your health over her.”

Princess Jingning’s lips moved slightly, but in the end she said nothing, wearing an expression of “There’s really nothing I can do about you.”

Seeing someone approaching, Meng Jinyu said, “Princess, let’s go.”

Princess Jingning nodded lightly and walked ahead. A maid supported Meng Jinyu as they followed, while the others trailed behind. The group left the theater and headed for the clinic.

At the Entrance of a Rouge Shop

Just as Meng Jinyao walked out of a rouge shop, she suddenly saw a familiar face approaching. She stopped at once, a delighted smile appearing on her face.

Song Xinning quickened her steps and walked over, smiling. “A-Yao, what a coincidence to meet you here.”

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. “It is. Where are you going?”

“I’m helping Aunt Shen get some medicine. I just came out of the clinic and was going to buy some rouge,” Song Xinning replied. She stepped aside to reveal the maid behind her, who was holding several packets of medicine.

“I see,” Meng Jinyao said. “Then I’ll accompany you to choose some rouge.”

Song Xinning asked curiously, “A-Yao, did you just have some conflict with Meng Jinyu?”

Meng Jinyao was slightly startled. “A-Ning, why do you ask? Were you at the theater earlier too?”

“I ran into Meng Jinyu at the clinic just now. Princess Jingning was with her. The princess was standing up for her, and she even pretended to say good things about you,” Song Xinning said with a snort. “Who knows what tricks she used to fool the princess and make her play along with her nonsense.”

Meng Jinyao frowned slightly and briefly explained what had happened. In the end, her gaze turned cold and she sneered.

“If I’d known it would turn out like this, I should’ve let her fall properly. Otherwise, my reputation as a ‘vicious elder sister’ is completely undeserved.”