Chapter 429 - 223: Partners in Misfortune, Count Me In?

Chapter 429: Chapter 223: Partners in Misfortune, Count Me In?

She took a deep breath, trying to quell her rising frustration.

"Fine, I can’t control you. Go ahead and fight it out! Word will get out soon enough anyway. I’d like to see how you’ll clean up this mess in the end!"

With that, Nie Xiangjun tipped her head back and took a large swig of Spirit Wine. Shaking her head with a sigh, she turned and left.

Only after her figure had vanished beyond the courtyard gate did Nie Zhijing slowly walk between the two of them. Her eyes swept over their faces, and a knowing smile played on her lips.

"Alright, spill it. What’s this little act you two are putting on?"

"Zhijing, can’t you tell?"

Nie Lingshan jumped in, her voice full of grievance.

"Lingxi is insisting on fighting me for him. She’s being completely unreasonable! I don’t know what happened to all the etiquette she’s learned over the years."

"If you had truly learned your etiquette, you wouldn’t be trying to steal the man your younger sister has her eye on!"

Nie Lingxi shot back.

Nie Zhijing chuckled and tapped her finger on the stone table beside her.

"Our aunt has been away cultivating for a long time, so perhaps she doesn’t know you two very well. But the three of us grew up together. You think I don’t know what you’re really like?"

At this, Nie Zhijing paused, her gaze sharpening.

"Even if that Chen Sheng truly is a peerless genius, a Banished Immortal gracing the mortal world, it wouldn’t be enough to make you two sisters turn on each other and have a public falling-out like this."

Nie Lingshan’s expression stiffened, and she lowered her head uncomfortably. Nie Lingxi also pursed her lips, remaining silent.

"Still not going to tell me the truth?" Nie Zhijing raised an eyebrow.

"Zhijing, you’re overthinking it... I just want to marry Chen Sheng."

Nie Lingshan remained stubborn, even managing to squeeze out a wronged expression.

But Nie Zhijing wasn’t buying it at all.

"If you two try to play games with me again, believe me, I’ll go find our aunt right now and expose your entire little scheme. Sisters fighting over a man... you might be able to fool outsiders with that, but I’m not buying it."

"...Alright, fine. I’ll talk."

Unable to withstand her cousin’s all-seeing gaze, and knowing she was too smart to be fooled, Nie Lingshan sighed and explained everything from the beginning.

As Nie Zhijing listened, her brow furrowed and smoothed out in turn. In the end, she couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh in exasperation.

"Lingshan, do you really think those old geezers in the clan will believe such a petty trick? I guarantee you, in the end, you still won’t escape the fate of a marriage alliance."

There was a hint of resignation in Nie Zhijing’s voice. ’If a trick like this actually worked, why would I have had to accept my own fate back then?’

"That’s what I told her, too."

Nie Lingxi added softly, a look of helplessness on her face.

"But my sister insisted on trying. She said Grandfather has always doted on her, and that maybe he could really put a stop to this."

"Actually... it’s not as simple as you think."

Nie Lingshan looked up, a cunning glint in her eyes.

"I have another move to make."

"Oh?"

"Think about it. If the news of Lingxi and I fighting over a man spreads like wildfire, it won’t just damage the Nie Family’s reputation—my own honor will be ruined. When everyone knows that I refuse to marry anyone but Chen Sheng, what other family would dare to propose a marriage?"

"You’re gambling with your own reputation?"

Nie Zhijing’s brow furrowed even more deeply.

’A woman’s reputation is paramount. Isn’t that too high a price to pay?’

"It doesn’t matter."

Nie Lingshan, on the contrary, seemed carefree.

"If it doesn’t work out, worst-case scenario, I’ll follow our aunt’s example and join a Daoist Sect to pursue a life of quiet cultivation."

Since she dared to take such a risk, she was already prepared to face any and all consequences.

Nie Zhijing turned her gaze to Nie Lingxi.

"And you, Lingxi? Why are you going along with her act?"

Nie Lingxi lowered her eyes, her voice soft but clear.

"Someone has to bear the burden of the family’s marriage alliances. Since my sister is unwilling... I’ll do it. Besides..."

Nie Lingxi paused, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

"That Chen Sheng... he’s not... not bad."

"See! She’s just being coy. It’s obvious she’s taken a liking to him herself!"

Nie Lingshan immediately pointed at her sister, grinning slyly.

"Nonsense!" Nie Lingxi shot her a glare, both embarrassed and annoyed, and turned her face away.

Nie Zhijing watched the two sisters, her eyes swirling with thought. After a moment of silence, she suddenly muttered to herself,

"What do you think... if I were to get involved too? We could stage a drama of three women fighting over one man. How about it?"

Nie Lingxi and Nie Lingshan whipped their heads around in astonishment.

"Zhijing, absolutely not!"

Nie Lingshan hastily tried to dissuade her.

"Your marriage alliance with that member of the imperial family is already set in stone. The clan will never allow any complications. If you do this, not only will it be useless, it will probably just pressure the family to rush you into getting married sooner.

"Besides, the damage to your reputation would be far too great!"

"She’s right."

Nie Lingxi nodded repeatedly.

"Zhijing, if you get involved, it would be too unbelievable. The Patriarch and the elders would never believe it. After all... your situation is different from Lingshan’s."

Hearing this, Nie Zhijing sighed softly, a faint veil of sorrow clouding her features.

...

The events in front of the Simurgh Phoenix Pavilion were like a boulder tossed into a placid lake, with ripples spreading rapidly throughout the Nie Family.

In less than half a day, the rumor of the sisters fighting over a man had swept through every courtyard and hall like a gale, causing a massive stir.

Countless Nie Clan Members were stunned by the news, but the high-ranking elders were utterly enraged.

That the noble ladies of the distinguished Nie Family’s Direct Lineage would publicly quarrel over a man from another family—even coming to blows and making open declarations—was nothing short of a scandal for a thousand-year-old Noble Family that had always prided itself on rules and decorum.

If word of this spread to the outside world, what would become of the Nie Family’s pristine reputation?

What would become of the family’s honor?

Instantly, numerous elders came forward, demanding that Nie Lingxi and Nie Lingshan be severely punished to uphold the family’s laws.

And Patriarch Nie, Nie Tiankun, was currently nursing a massive headache.

If it had been any other disciples, he would have ordered a severe punishment long ago to make an example of them. But it just had to be these two girls.