The Double
Chapter 146 - 146 84

146: Chapter 84 Chaos_3 146: Chapter 84 Chaos_3 Just then, she caught a glimpse of Shen Ruyun, held in Mother Shen’s arms.

Ruyun blinked, not looking sorrowful but rather smug, as though some scheme had paid off.

Jiang Li doubted what she saw and looked again.

This time, although she did not catch the same look in Shen Ruyun’s eyes, she noticed the disarray of Ruyun’s clothes and the messiness of her hair all seemed very exaggerated.

Besides, who would be in such a disheveled state after being molested, yet have not a speck of dirt on her shoes, with her hairpin still properly in place and her earrings not lost?

It was really too strange.

Jiang Li suddenly thought of a possibility.

She looked at Shen Ruyun incredulously.

If her conjecture were true, even as Ruyun’s sister-in-law, she would be astonished at Ruyun’s boldness.

Shen Ruyun kept saying that Zhou Yanbang would take liberties with her, and Jiang Youyao, upon hearing this, was infuriated.

Without waiting for Madam Ningyuan to speak, she stepped forward and declared, “Nonsense, How could Prince Zhou take liberties with you!

Prince Zhou is upright and honorable, it must be your slander against Prince Zhou!”

To everyone else, it indeed seemed implausible.

Although Shen Ruyun was considered to have decent features, compared with Jiang Youyao, she was certainly less attractive.

To leave such a beauty like Jiang Youyao aside but molest Shen Ruyun, who was far less attractive, seemed unthinkable unless Zhou Yanbang was a fool, which made no sense to anyone else.

Seeing Jiang Youyao acting as if she was already Prince Zhou’s official wife, envy surged in Shen Ruyun’s heart.

Without much thought, she sneered, “Hmph, he did more than just take liberties with me.

He also molested the fifth young lady of your household!”

Jiang Yue!

Ji Shuran’s mind went blank, and she instinctively looked toward Lady Yang.

Lady Yang was also stunned; she had already been anxious for not finding Jiang Yue, and now hearing Shen Ruyun’s words, it hit her like a thunderbolt.

Unlike the others, if what Shen Ruyun said was true, with Ruyun’s status as a scholar’s sister, marrying Zhou Yanbang would not be difficult.

But how could Jiang Yue compare with Shen Ruyun?

Was she supposed to become Zhou Yanbang’s concubine?

Even if she did, how would the main wife ever spare her?

Lady Yang muttered, “Impossible…”

“How is it impossible?” Shen Ruyun replied immediately, “The Emperor and various ministers have all seen it with their own eyes, Miss Jiang the Fourth was…

was…” She didn’t continue.

Madam Ningyuan felt the world spinning around her.

Oh, what had Zhou Yanbang done!

Why did he get entangled with two strange young ladies, and why had the Emperor witnessed it!

Zhou Yanbang was ruined!

Jiang Youyao stepped back, feeling drained of all strength.

Although she kept saying “Impossible,” she had already believed it by seventy percent.

If Shen Ruyun said the Emperor and ministers had all seen it, it must be true.

In an instant, Jiang Youyao felt excruciating heartache.

She couldn’t understand why Zhou Yanbang would do such a thing.

To let it pass with Shen Ruyun was one thing, but Jiang Yue was a member of the Jiang family.

Zhou Yanbang was slapping her in the face!

How was she supposed to face this in the future!

Was she supposed to let Jiang Yue marry in as a concubine and serve the same husband alongside her?

Even as the main wife, Jiang Youyao would never allow it!

At this moment, Jiang Youyao still regarded herself as Zhou Yanbang’s official wife, probably thinking that, despite what happened, Zhou Yanbang would still marry her.

Jiang Li, however, saw it clearly, Jiang Youyao’s hope of marrying Zhou Yanbang was impossible now.

All because Shen Ruyun had also interfered.

Had it not been for Shen Ruyun’s meddling, it would have been just Zhou Yanbang and Jiang Yue’s scandal known to all.

But Jiang Yue was the daughter of an illegitimate son, with a different status, so it was normal for Jiang Youyao to suppress her.

However, Zhou Yanbang’s future in office would be doomed, and there would always be discord with Jiang Youyao as time went by.

Throwing Jiang Yue into the mix, to have the sisters fight each other, would also save Jiang Li the trouble.

But Shen Ruyun was “taken liberties with” by Zhou Yanbang.

Shen Ruyun was the close sister of a rising star at the imperial court, Shen Yurong.

With Emperor Hongxiao now valuing Shen Yurong, he would certainly stand up for her.

Ruyun, whose heart was set on Zhou Yanbang, naturally couldn’t bear him being punished.

The best solution was for Ruyun to marry Zhou Yanbang.

Shen Ruyun got what she wanted.

Jiang Li was almost certain that the so-called Zhou Yanbang “taking liberties” with Shen Ruyun was a fabrication by Ruyun herself.

It was likely that at the time, Zhou Yanbang was not in his right mind, yet Ruyun seized the opportunity and falsely accused Zhou Yanbang.