Jiang Youli's words left Jiang Zhao speechless, and just as a hint of guilt began to surface, Jiang Yonghe started sobbing again.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Blame me for having such a mother. Sister, if you hate me, hit me or scold me, but don't blame Second Brother..."
As she spoke, she struggled to free her hand from Jiang Zhao's grip, biting her lip with a look of grim determination before taking small, hurried steps toward Jiang Youli.
"Yonghe!" Jiang Zhao panicked and immediately stood up to follow her.
When she reached Jiang Youli, Jiang Yonghe pretended to kneel, but Jiang Zhao, who had caught up, quickly pulled her back.
"Yonghe, what are you doing? I told you, this isn't your fault—it's your mother's!"
Jiang Youli watched the scene unfold and burst into laughter again, clapping her hands with a mocking expression.
"Clap, clap, clap."
"How entertaining. Truly entertaining. Are you putting on a melodrama for me?"
Her utter refusal to relent extinguished the last trace of guilt in Jiang Zhao. After helping Jiang Yonghe up, he glared coldly at Jiang Youli. "Why must you be so unreasonable? Yonghe is sincerely apologizing to you, and yet you still mock her!"
"I'm not just mocking her—I'm mocking all of you," Jiang Youli retorted. "She had a scheming, malicious mother who went out of her way to swap our places, letting her steal twenty years of my life. Now that I, the real daughter, have returned, you—my so-called parents and brother—still defend her right in front of me. With a family as unlucky as yours, I truly feel cursed."
Jiang Zhao's expression darkened further.
Qin Bilian turned helplessly to her husband. There was nothing she could do about their stubborn biological daughter.
Whether emotionally or logically, Qin Yulian simply couldn’t bring herself to like this girl.
Jiang Yangxu, who had remained silent until now, spoke again. "Enough, Youli. Yonghe’s mother has already been punished. Now she’s alone with no one to rely on. Your mother and I raised her for twenty years—we can’t just throw her out. Our family is wealthy enough; keeping her here is just an extra mouth to feed. She won’t interfere with your life as the true heiress."
But Jiang Youli wasn’t convinced. "If it’s just an extra mouth to feed, why not send her somewhere else? Why keep her here to torment me, forcing me to relive the suffering I endured because of the swap every time I see her?"
Jiang Yangxu was taken aback that even after his intervention, his daughter refused to comply. Like his wife, his resentment toward their biological daughter grew.
Compared to the obedient and sensible adopted daughter Jiang Yonghe, their real daughter was utterly unruly!
Jiang Yonghe bit her lip, letting tears fall silently, her fragile appearance heartbreakingly pitiful.
Seeing Jiang Youli remain so relentless, Jiang Zhao finally lost his temper. "So you’re determined to make us send Yonghe away today, is that it?"
Jiang Youli nodded. "Yes. This house can only have me—not her."
The moment those words left her mouth, the expressions of all four turned grim.
"Dad, Mom, Second Brother… I don’t want to leave you," Jiang Yonghe whispered tearfully, her voice trembling with sorrow.
Her delicate, tear-streaked face was truly a sight to move anyone’s heart.
Jiang Zhao gripped her hand tightly. "Yonghe, don’t worry. You’re not going anywhere! As long as I’m alive, I won’t let anyone force you out of the Jiang family! You’ll always be my sister, always a daughter of this house!"
Jiang Youli raised an eyebrow. "She’s not leaving? So that means I should go instead?"
Qin Yulian’s patience was nearly exhausted, but she forced herself to speak gently. "Youli, you’ve just returned. You don’t know Yonghe well yet. She’s kind and understanding—once you spend time with her, you’ll grow to accept her. Her staying won’t threaten your position. No matter what, you’re our real daughter."
Jiang Youli cut straight to the point. "Really? Then why do you look at me with such disdain? Is it because I’m not as fair-skinned and beautiful as her? Because I lack her refined, scholarly air? But have you forgotten—if I hadn’t been swapped, I would be the fair-skinned, elegant one. Everything she has now was built on the suffering I endured."
Qin Yulian stiffened, then shook her head. "We don’t disdain you. We’re just not used to—"
"You need time to adjust to your own daughter? Why don’t Uncle and Aunt feel the same way when they see me?" Jiang Youli challenged.
Qin Yulian had no answer, silently thinking to herself: Of course my brother and his wife dote on her—they have no children of their own.
Taking a deep breath, she softened her tone. "Daughter, we won’t mistreat you from now on. Your living expenses will match Yonghe’s. Your father and I won’t favor either of you."
Jiang Youli scoffed. "And I should be grateful for that? Please. To me, ‘not favoring anyone’ is the greatest favoritism of all! I must say, you two are truly saints—abandoning your real daughter while spending money to keep your enemy’s child. The Buddha’s throne should be reserved for you!"
Qin Yulian suppressed her anger and continued, "Youli, stop being difficult. You’re my flesh and blood. Your father and I searched so hard to find you—how could we let you suffer outside any longer?"
Jiang Youli sneered. "Oh, so you do remember I suffered while your enemy’s daughter lived lavishly on the resources you gave her. And now, before I’ve even been properly acknowledged, you’re ready to discard me again."
Jiang Zhao snapped, "Get this straight—we’re not discarding you. You’re the one making things difficult. You could stay peacefully, but you refuse to tolerate Yonghe."
"Of course I can’t tolerate a criminal’s daughter!" Jiang Youli shot back. "If I hadn’t been lucky enough to survive, her mother would’ve been a child-trafficking murderer! Her mother committed a crime, yet she faces no consequences—why should she keep living in luxury without a care?"
Jiang Yonghe staggered, nearly collapsing.
Jiang Zhao steadied her, his temper flaring. "With your crude, vicious attitude, do you even deserve to stay while forcing Yonghe out?"
"Of course I do. First, I’m Jiang blood. Second, I’m not an idiot like you." Jiang Youli had run out of patience. "So, have you decided? Is she leaving, or am I?"
Jiang Zhao pulled Jiang Yonghe protectively into his arms. "Dad, Mom, if I have to choose, Yonghe is the only sister I recognize!"
"Good, one vote!" Jiang Youli held up a finger, then turned to Qin Yulian. "And you?"
Suppressing her frustration, Qin Yulian said gently, "Daughter, please don’t do this..."
"Alright, two votes!" Jiang Youli couldn't be bothered to watch her put on that hypocritical act any longer. Finally, she turned to her indifferent biological father, Jiang Yangxu. "Your vote is useless now. With two votes already in favor of Jiang Yonghe, fine—she stays, and I leave."
Jiang Yonghe’s eyes flickered with anxiety. If this wild woman really walked away, who would take her place in marrying the Qi family’s eldest young master, Qi Huan?
