The moment he said that, Matriarch He was startled and her expression immediately turned ugly. Chu Lian was also astonished as she shook her head helplessly. This Divine Physician Miao was used to doing things his own way. Even though he said those words to fight for her, he had actually harmed her instead. Looking at the Matriarch's expression, she could tell that the estrangement between them was getting deeper and deeper. After he said that, Divine Doctor Miao knew that he didn't think through his words. But there was no use in regretting it. Words that had been said couldn't be taken back. He cupped his hands towards Old Matriarch He, who was sitting at the head of the table. He then found an empty seat in the reception hall and sat down. Old Matriarch wasn't in the mood to argue with Divine Doctor Miao. Her expression darkened and her gaze suddenly turned to Chu Lian, who was sitting beside He Changdi. She shouted sternly, "Chu shi, what else do you have to say!" Chu Lian really didn't expect that the Matriarch would be the first to make things difficult for her, and with such a vile attitude. Perhaps it was also because of Divine Doctor Miao's words earlier. He Changdi also didn't expect that after a night, his grandmother would still be so stubborn. This matter wasn't without loopholes. Based on Old Matriarch He's past methods and brains, she would definitely have found out the truth after a night. He Sanlang's expression darkened. He was about to stand up and speak up for Chu Lian when Chu Lian, who was sitting beside him, grabbed his hand and shook her head lightly. Then she stood up calmly. With a faint smile on her face, it was as though this wasn't a "court" being questioned by everyone, but a beautiful garden and lake. She glanced around leisurely, her gaze lingering on Zou shi and Eldest Grandaunt He Ying for the longest. In the end, she met the Matriarch's murky but sharp eyes. There wasn't a trace of fear in her clear eyes. In the next second, everyone in the reception hall heard Chu Lian's voice. "Grandmother, not only does granddaughter-in-law have something to say, I have a lot to say!" Old Matriarch's expression darkened even more. Eldest Grandaunt He Ying was also angered by Chu Lian's indifferent attitude. She scoffed coldly. "Third daughter-in-law, do you think everyone will believe you just because you pretend like this? Let me tell you, even if the child is saved, we can't pretend this never happened! Mother, our residence cannot allow such a venomous woman with a venomous heart to exist! " He Ying's words were very serious. She was clearly trying to chase Chu Lian out of Duke Jing 'an's estate and get He Changdi to divorce her. It was a pity that she didn't have a brain. He Changdi and Chu Lian's marriage was decreed by the Empress Dowager. How could he divorce his wife just because he wanted to? Besides, Chu Lian was a titled battle pet warrior. "Auntie, in the future, please think before you speak, and then polish your eyes." He could not reason with someone like Great Grandaunt He Ying, nor could he give her face. She was her daughter after all. Although she knew that He Ying's words were unpleasant, Old Matriarch still sided with her biological daughter. She said angrily, "Madam Chu, Miaozhen is in danger of having a miscarriage because she ate the sweet mountain dregs you made. Although the child was born of a concubine, he's still your brother's eldest son!" Countess Jing 'an was the first to feel guilty when the old matriarch said this. She couldn't bear to look at her youngest daughter-in-law, who was standing ramrod straight. "Mother, I'm also at fault for this. I was the one who told San Lang's wife that my mouth doesn't taste good and that I wanted to eat the sweet mountain dregs. I didn't know that Miaozhen likes sour food the most … " "Don't say anymore. Even if that's the case, she was the one who made the harmful sweet mountain dregs." At this point, anyone who paid attention would have noticed. Old Matriarch He's goal wasn't entirely to solve the problem of Miaozhen's miscarriage. She merely wanted to use this opportunity to punish Chu Lian. He Changdi clenched his fists tightly, and his deep eyes flashed. The old matriarch already had authority in Count Jing 'an's estate. Countess Jing' an had been seriously ill for many years and hadn't been home for a long time, so her personality had become much weaker. After being rebutted by her mother-in-law, she couldn't say anything in the end. Chu Lian didn't seem to care about Matriarch He's forceful words at all. She calmly took two steps forward, tilted her head, and said coquettishly, "Grandmother, although you're certain that I did it, you should at least give me a chance to speak up for myself!" Old Matriarch He stared at Chu Lian and didn't say anything. She tacitly agreed that Chu Lian had a chance to explain herself. He Ying's lips twitched, and her eyes were filled with pride. She wanted to see what this niece-in-law of hers could say today. Chu Lian wasn't stupid. She wouldn't really allow others to slander her. She turned to look at Countess Jing 'an. "Mother, do you still have the sweet mountain dregs I gave you?" Countess Jing 'an hurriedly nodded. "Yes, Miaozhen only ate a little because she was greedy. I still have the rest." When she finished speaking, Countess Jing 'an turned around and had the head maidservant beside her personally fetch it. Countess Jing 'an's courtyard wasn't far from Qingxi Hall to begin with, so the maidservant worked very quickly. In less than a quarter of an hour, the plate of sweet mountain dregs that Chu Lian had personally made was placed on the sandalwood table in the center of the reception pavilion. Chu Lian walked to the side of the table. She stretched out her slender finger and tapped the sweet mountain dregs in the sweet white porcelain bowl. "What do you think this is?" Chu Lian asked. He Changdi had been closely watching Chu Lian's movements the entire time. When he heard her question, a thought suddenly popped into his mind. Eldest Madam covered her mouth and laughed loudly. "Third Husband's wife, are you trying to stall for time? We're not blind. Don't tell me that we can't even recognize the mountain dregs?" Countess Jing 'an also had a puzzled expression. "Third Husband's wife, this is the sweet mountain dregs that you gave us. I personally tasted it. It's sweet and sour, and it's very appetizing." The corner of Chu Lian's mouth quirked up. She waved her hand to summon a young maidservant from the reception pavilion. The young maidservant trembled with fear. She lowered her head and said in a trembling voice, "Third … Third Young Mistress, what do you want?" Chu Lian picked up a mountain dregs that were wrapped in icing and placed them in front of the young maidservant. "Try one and tell me what it is." Seeing that it was just a simple request, the young maidservant visibly let out a sigh of relief. She shakily took the dregs from Chu Lian's delicate fingers and slowly placed them in her mouth. The sweet and sour taste melted on the taste buds. It wasn't sweet, but it wasn't greasy. It made one want to eat a second one. After chewing it carefully and swallowing, the young maidservant couldn't help but smack her lips a few times as if she was savoring the taste of that dregs. "Third Young Mistress, this is a mountain dregs. It's very delicious. This is the first time this servant has eaten such delicious mountain dregs." The mountain dregs that she usually ate were very sour. She didn't expect that they would taste so good after being processed like this. The greedy young maidservant couldn't help but look at the dregs of sweet mountain dregs on the table a few more times. He Ying rolled her eyes, but Chu Lian smiled. She waved her hand to dismiss the young maidservant in charge of testing the dregs. She reached out to pick up another dregs of mountain dregs and walked in front of Divine Doctor Miao. Divine Doctor Miao smiled. "Could it be that Lord wants this old man to eat one as well?" Chu Lian stared at him with an expression that said "you understand". Divine Doctor Miao shook his head in amusement. He took the dregs of mountain dregs and sniffed them. Then he pried them open and carefully observed the structure of the dregs of mountain dregs before bursting into laughter. He stood up, one hand holding half of the dregs as he walked to Old Matriarch He's side. He cupped his hands and said, "Old Matriarch, this isn't mountain dregs. It's a type of lantern fruit from the Northern Region. Its taste is very similar to mountain dregs, but its effects are completely different. Mountain dregs digestion and strengthens the stomach, but pregnant women can't eat too much of it. The lantern fruit from the Northern Region is more temperate, replenishing qi and calming the nerves. According to its effects, it can be used as a medicine to prevent miscarriage. It's beneficial and harmless for pregnant women. " In comparison, the lantern fruit from the Northern Region that Chu Lian was using had similar effects to ginseng. When Divine Doctor Miao said this, almost everyone in the reception pavilion was stunned. What? The white porcelain plate in the center of the table wasn't filled with mountain dregs, but with the lantern fruit from the Northern Region! How was this possible?! If this plate of mountain dregs wasn't mountain dregs, then this matter had nothing to do with Chu Lian! The expression on some people's faces couldn't be described with just one word: shock. In an instant, Madam Zou's face turned deathly pale. Under her wide sleeves, she clenched her fists so tightly that she didn't feel anything even when her sharp nails pierced her palms. After Divine Doctor Miao revealed the truth, a strange look flashed across He Sanlang's eyes. Old Matriarch He, He Ying, and even Pan Nianzhen couldn't believe it. "What did you say? This is clearly mountain dregs!" Old Matriarch He was clearly still in disbelief. Divine Doctor Miao chuckled. "If Old Matriarch doesn't believe me, you can find the imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to verify it." Once Divine Doctor Miao said this, everyone in the reception pavilion basically believed him. Chu Lian bowed to Old Matriarch He, Countess Jing 'an, and the others. "Grandmother, Mother, I'm done." Countess Jing 'an's face was full of guilt. "Lian' er, Mother has wronged you." Old Matriarch didn't apologize. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if trying to calm her surging emotions. After a long while, she opened her eyes again. She swept her gaze over everyone in the reception pavilion before letting out a soft sigh. "Since this matter has nothing to do with San Lang's wife, please take a seat at the side!" Only then did Chu Lian turn around and return to her seat beside He Changdi. He Sanlang glanced at Chu Lian's calm almond-shaped eyes, but his heart ached uncomfortably. She didn't allow him to interfere earlier because she was already prepared. If it wasn't for the fact that she didn't have complete trust in her grandmother and mother, why would Chu Lian leave a way out for everything? Then, did she leave a way out for him as well? With this thought, He Sanlang's expression darkened even more. The husband and wife weren't in the mood to listen to what Old Matriarch said. Suddenly, they heard Old Matriarch slam the small table hard, followed by her angry voice. "Investigate this for me! Even if I have to flip the entire residence upside down, I want to know who the evil culprit is this time!" Old Matriarch was truly enraged! Anyone with half a brain could tell that Chu Lian had been maliciously framed by someone else. Duke Jing 'an's residence didn't have many children, and Old Matriarch hated doing anything that would harm her children or bloodline. In Duke Jing' an's residence, scheming and plotting against each other could be forgiven. Even greed for the Mo family's wealth could be forgiven, but plotting to harm one's children was not allowed! End of Chapter Content — >