No Sisterly Love at All

Chloe's eyes burned with even more fury.

Of course, she was just putting on a show.

Before Cindy Zhu went to the palace, Chloe had to make herself look really pitiful.

"Stop glaring! Even if your eyeballs pop out, what can you do to me?" Cindy Zhu spat out, word by word. "I'm just giving you your own words back—just accept your fate!"

"What are you all doing gathered here?" A commanding voice rang out.

The girls turned around. It was the Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu.

Immediately, they all bowed respectfully. "Grandmother, Dowager Lady."

[Note: Chloe Zhu and her direct cousins call her Grandmother; more distant relatives refer to her as Dowager Lady.]

"The memorial service is over. You should all return to your rooms," the Dowager Lady said calmly. "Don't gather together and cause more trouble."

"Grandmother, Chloe Zhu is absolutely shameless! She actually did something so disgraceful behind Grandfather's memorial hall! She must be kicked out of the house, or she'll ruin the Zhu family's reputation!" Queenie Zhu protested indignantly.

"That's right! We should erase her name from the family registry!" Jenny Zhu chimed in. "Our Zhu family shouldn't have such a useless person, let alone someone so shameless!"

The Dowager Lady fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Prime Minister will investigate and handle this matter. You girls shouldn't interfere!"

"The facts are right in front of us—what's left to investigate?" Queenie Zhu retorted.

"What you see right now may not be the whole truth," the Dowager Lady replied wisely. "Bobby Zhu has always been mentally unclear, and Grace keeps insisting she's innocent. There are many doubts here—it must be properly investigated."

"Grandmother, you're so biased! Just like Uncle and Aunt Wan!" Queenie Zhu shouted, her face flushed. "She got caught doing something disgraceful, so of course she'll come up with excuses. How can you believe her?"

The Dowager Lady's gaze turned sharp. "Don't forget, you're all daughters of the Zhu family! I treat you equally. If I condemn her without an investigation today, then one day, if you get into trouble, you could be condemned without an investigation too!"

Queenie Zhu's expression changed slightly, and she fell silent.

Jenny Zhu also fell silent.

Cindy Zhu remained quiet, standing at the back, her face tense.

Hearing that the Dowager Lady wanted an investigation, Cindy Zhu grew nervous.

Hopefully, they won't find anything in the investigation, right?

"Remember, you all bear the Zhu family name! When one prospers, all prosper; when one loses, all lose! If word of this gets out and our family's reputation suffers, none of you will find a good marriage!" the Dowager Lady warned sternly.

"We're not stupid, of course we won't talk about it outside," Queenie Zhu said, shooting Chloe Zhu a sideways glance. "We just think... you and Uncle should really punish her!"

"We have our own plans for now. Go back! And watch your mouths!" the Dowager Lady ordered.

"Yes," Queenie Zhu replied, leading the others away.

From far away, Chloe could still hear them mutter: "Why doesn't Emperor Henry just have her executed? She's so annoying!"

"I'm really worried. If this gets out, none of us will ever find a good husband..."

Chloe glanced coolly at their retreating backs.

All sisters from the same family, but honestly, not a shred of sisterly love here!

Well, if that's how it is, she doesn't need to be nice to them ever again...

...

After everyone left, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu asked Chloe, "What happened today?"