Chunya's situation was not good.
Jiaoyue had been with Shen Li since childhood. Shen Li was highly skilled in martial arts, and as they grew up together, Jiaoyue had also learned some self - defense skills. Although they were just some showy moves, it was more than enough to deal with Chunya.
Shen Miao called the servants and asked them to help Chunya up.
But as soon as Chunya stood up, everyone saw a jade pendant fall out of her bosom.
At this moment, everyone present fell silent.
This jade pendant was clearly no ordinary item. Anyone with a bit of sense could figure out what was going on.
Seeing the jade pendant fall, Shen Li was stunned for a moment and then walked over.
Chunya was extremely weak at this time. When she looked up and saw Shen Li walking towards her, she broke free from the servants holding her, sat on the ground, and quickly picked up the jade pendant, trying to put it away.
But it was too late. Shen Li, with her high - level martial arts skills, easily snatched the jade pendant from Chunya's hand.
"Sister, if I remember correctly, this is the jade pendant bestowed by the emperor that you told me about, right?"
"Who told you to bring the jade pendant to the Western Courtyard? Why did you do it?"
Shen Li didn't expect Shen Miao to answer. She looked down at Chunya and questioned her, scaring Chunya so much that she trembled.
Even so, Chunya still refused to speak. By now, she had been beaten by Jiaoyue and was in a sorry state. Her face and body were covered in dust, and her hairpin was askew. She looked extremely disheveled.
She had never seen Shen Li like this before. Shen Li's aura was so powerful that she didn't dare to move a muscle, and Shen Li's eyes seemed to look at her like dust, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Seeing that Chunya still didn't speak, Shen Li slowly squatted down and put her hand on Chunya's shoulder. "Not going to talk, huh?"
With a "crack" sound, it was particularly prominent in the quiet atmosphere.
"Ah!!!" Chunya immediately cried out in pain towards the sky.
Shen Li pinched Chunya's face, forced her to look at herself, and smiled. "Don't shout. I just dislocated your arm. If you confess properly, I'll put it back. Don't resist. The more you struggle, the more it will hurt. If you stay still, the pain will go away."
Chunya had been resisting at first, but now she was in so much pain that she couldn't care anymore. She cried out loudly and said while shouting, "It's the Second Miss! It's the Second Miss! It was the Second Miss who told this servant to put the jade pendant on the Eldest Miss's bed to frame her!"
"What did you say?" Shen Li asked knowingly.
"Eldest Miss! Please spare this servant. This servant was also forced!"
Shen Li didn't pay any more attention to Chunya. She just put Chunya's arm back in place and then let go.
She stood up, with an expression of disbelief on her face. She walked towards Shen Miao step by step and asked sorrowfully, "Sister, has there ever been anything I've done to let you down?"
Shen Miao was panicked at this moment.
This shouldn't be happening. Shen Li, this good - for - nothing, had never been so scheming before. There must have been an accident somewhere!
She had to find a way to clear herself now, or how could she maintain her image in front of others?
As Shen Li got closer and closer, Shen Miao became more and more flustered. Especially when she saw the suspicion and anger on Shen Li's face, she was even more afraid.
Shen Li sneered inwardly. Seeing Shen Miao's pale face, she continued to question, "Sister, why do you want to harm me like this? Did I do something inappropriate?"
"I always thought that our sisterly bond was deep. Even though the servants in the mansion said that I always followed you, I didn't care, because you're my sister, the one I thought was the best to me. But what did I do wrong? Why do you hold so much resentment towards me?"
"I... no, I..." Shen Miao opened her mouth, but was too flustered to know what to say.
Shen Li secretly glanced at the reactions of the onlookers from the corner of her eye and then said in a louder tone, "If I hadn't found out about this today, would you have framed me as a thief? Since you hate me, why do you act so nice to me in front of others? Why do you give me clothes, spices, gold and silver jewelry, and cosmetics?"
Actually, Shen Li's reputation in the capital wasn't particularly good, not because of her character, but because she didn't act like a proper girl at all.
When she practiced martial arts on weekdays, she dressed like a man. Sometimes she would dress up as a girl. It wasn't strange for a woman to practice martial arts, but her taste in women's clothing was really eye - catching.
Cheap materials that didn't match her status, tacky color combinations, old - fashioned styles, a head full of gold ornaments, and strong incense that could suffocate people when they got close.
All these were carefully chosen by Shen Miao. While dressing Shen Li up, she would praise Shen Li for looking very good. After a long time, Shen Li really thought this was the most beautiful way to dress.
After hearing these words, everyone immediately understood. It turned out that Shen Li's strange dressing style was all thanks to Shen Miao.
"Humph, a sharp - tongued girl." Xiao Luochi said to Xiao Jinnan.
"Don't worry about that. Isn't it interesting?" Xiao Jinnan replied without looking sideways. Xiao Luochi didn't answer and continued to watch.
By now, Shen Li had walked in front of Shen Miao. Her eyes were red, and her eyes were filled with tears. With a slight blink, the tears immediately ran out and fell to the ground.
These were the words she had wanted to say to Shen Miao in her previous life.
She had whole - heartedly treated Shen Miao well, but who would have thought that this would be her fate?
After being reborn, all the grievances from her last moment in her previous life and the emotional turmoil when she saw Shen Miao and Xiao Han again finally found an outlet at this moment!
But when Shen Miao looked at Shen Li, she didn't see the overwhelming hatred in Shen Li's eyes.
If she had understood the emotions in Shen Li's eyes, she would surely have thought that Shen Li had long known about everything she had done.
"Sister, please listen to me! I never thought of framing you!" Shen Miao had already burst into tears. Her two hands were tightly clasped together, and she was extremely nervous. This appearance was really ironic.
"It's all Chunya. It was all Chunya's own idea. She wanted to frame you, but I stopped her. This time, she sneaked out while we sisters were enjoying the birds. All the previous things were also chosen by Chunya under my order. I told her to choose the latest and best ones. It's all this damned servant! She has ruined our sisterly relationship!"
Hearing this, Chunya felt cold all over, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. Over the years, she had understood everything between the Second Miss and the Eldest Miss. All the things the Second Miss needed were also prepared by her.
She never thought that the more than ten years of master - servant relationship would be so insignificant in the Second Miss's eyes.
The princes and Princess Heyuan didn't say much. It was not appropriate for them to get involved in family affairs.
It was Shen Miao's mother, Mrs. Shen, who came out to smooth things over. "As long as it wasn't Miao'er who did it, that's fine. Li'er, don't be deceived by this damned servant!"
Shen Li didn't react much. She just looked at Shen Miao, who was acting in front of her, indifferently.
"Sister, please believe me. Our more than ten years of sisterly bond. Do you really want to believe Chunya's nonsense?" Shen Miao became more and more excited as she spoke, and her tears were almost streaming in a continuous line.
But Shen Li knew that she wasn't crying because she was afraid of Shen Li's anger, but because she was worried about ruining her reputation in front of so many people.
"Come here! Drag this slut out and execute her immediately!"
Shen Junming suddenly stood up and roared. It was really embarrassing for such a thing to happen in front of the princes and the princess.
Convicting Chunya was to protect Shen Miao.