Chapter 289: Chapter 14: Sisters in Conflict (14)

When Jiang Lin was at the academy, although she initially had excellent grades, as time went on, they worsened, and she couldn’t keep up, let alone during the last few years.

After leaving the academy, she had even more things to face, and Jiang Lin’s magic skills became increasingly neglected.

Working at the Magic Guild, she didn’t need to use her skills; she just sat there helping to handle some matters.

She joined the Mercenary Squad, initially confident, thinking she was still capable — after all, it’s just a mercenary squad. Yet, although she was a commoner in the Imperial City, she was pampered by her mother from a young age; in the academy, Jin Jie protected her, and later on, she even relied on men for survival — she was not someone who could endure hardship.

Following the mercenary squad into the forest, encountering Demon Beasts was manageable initially, but after a few nights camping, Jiang Lin felt completely uncomfortable.

Facing windy meals and nights out in the open, combined with the need to fight occasionally, Jiang Lin was fearful when encountering stronger Demon Beasts.

The main issue was that while the mercenary squad members might not be as skilled as Jiang Lin, they had experience and their own methods for battling Demon Beasts.

Despite Jiang Lin’s stronger abilities, her lack of experience and chaotic fighting made her more of a burden to the squad.

Jiang Lin was in a bad state.

The more it was like this, the more indignant she felt inside.

Why? She was also a Duke’s daughter. Why could Xu Dong be the favored heir in the Duke Mansion, while she was at the very bottom, living in fear?

Following the Mercenary Squad and enduring hardships for little reward.

Why could Li Shuning become the center of attention, and why was Jin Jie comfortable living as her Duke status when Jiang Lin was not actually worse off to begin with?

It wasn’t until once when Jiang Lin was injured and lying at home recovering, she saw her mother secretly washing clothes for others to earn Demon Crystals that the string in Jiang Lin’s heart snapped.

“Mom, why must we suffer like this? The Duke touched you and had a child; does that mean he can just ignore us? What are we considered as? Even hiding in this small courtyard, has he ever thought of us in his heart?”

Jiang Lin’s mother was somewhat silent.

She was well aware of the path Jiang Lin had taken all these years.

She had even contemplated whether she was wrong?

If she had been content in her role as a servant, would she have avoided today’s predicament?

If not for vanity, thinking Duke Xu Yuan would view her differently because of the child, why would she have given birth to the child?

The great mistake had been made, and she was clear-minded. Whoever the Princess was, even returning to the Duke Mansion, life wouldn’t be much better than it was now.

But she likely underestimated Jiang Lin’s potential.

After recovering, Jiang Lin sought out a former client to help secure an invitation to a banquet.

The person initially didn’t pay Jiang Lin any heed, but Li Shuning’s influence secured Jiang Lin an invitation, making Jiang Lin mistakenly believe the client remembered their fleeting romance, and she was emotionally moved.

This banquet included attendance by Duke Xu Yuan, the Princess, and Xu Dong.

Jiang Lin ’dolled’ herself up and went to the banquet.

She was fully prepared this time.

Back when Jiang Lin’s mother was accommodating, Duke Xu Yuan had given her something, which Jiang Lin could now use.

Jiang Lin entered the venue with the invitation, hiding in a corner and quietly waiting for the Duke family to appear.

When the banquet officially started, Xu Yuan and the others went in.

Jiang Lin looked at that family, dressed in opulent clothes, faces full of smiles, despite their age still appearing very youthful.

And for her, struggling bitterly for survival; the clothes she wore were still ones Jin Jie had given her years ago.

Now when she went out, she perhaps seemed more haggard than the Princess.

How could she keep living such days?

Jiang Lin adjusted her clothes and walked straight toward Xu Yuan.

Everyone present were shrewd observers; seeing the situation unfold, their eyes brimmed with gossip, sensing something was about to happen.

Despite wearing a gown, Jiang Lin’s gown had several patches, and she had made her face look pale as if she were malnourished.

Seeing Jiang Lin, disgust flashed in Xu Yuan’s eyes, hoping this woman would have the decency to withdraw.

It was apparent Xu Yuan would be disappointed.

As Jiang Lin got closer to Xu Yuan, she suddenly knelt down, crawling toward Xu Yuan.

“Duke, my father, are you really going to let my mother and me fend for ourselves? Why treat us like this?”

“Father, I’m only twenty-six, yet look at me as if I were forty; your wife seems younger than me.”

“Father, do you know how my mother and I survived? To subsidize our family, my mother washes clothes for people daily, her hands red and swollen from the cold; your daughter, to earn Demon Crystals, follows mercenaries, life and death beyond her control. Father, are you really not going to care for your daughter and mother? If you truly do not care for us anymore, your daughter will have nothing to say. Do the promises you made to my mother after she gave birth really not matter anymore?”

Jiang Lin suddenly produced a ring.

This ring was a silver ring.

However, everyone instantly recognized that it was indeed Xu Duke’s possession. The ring bore the Xu Family crest; it was said Duke Xu used this ring as a seal until later he received a Jade Seal from Your Majesty, swapping out the silver ring for it.

The Princess beside Duke Xu Yuan was bewildered at this moment, her whole presence floating.

She never imagined her always obedient, publicly affectionate husband would have such an elder daughter.

Xu Dong bore a bitter expression too, having kept this a secret from his mother; he never expected that this woman would dare speak these words at such an occasion.

If something happened to his mother because of this, he would make Jiang Lin pay dearly.

“If Father really doesn’t wish to be responsible, then let this ring be returned to Father.”

Li Shuning having orchestrated all of this would not let the affair go unresolved.

Within the narrative, Xu Dong had been relentless toward Li Shuning, and Li Shuning did remember.

A disruptive Jiang Lin could not be allowed to avoid the Duke Mansion at this rate.

Sure enough, several nobles came forward to speak.

“Mr. Xu, didn’t you say you only had Xu Dong? Such a grown daughter left suffering outside, it’s too much.”

“Indeed, indeed, Mr. Xu, Your Majesty values offspring greatly; know that if found out, Your Majesty may hold you accountable.”

“Exactly, dare to act and dare to take responsibility, or take care of your waistband.”

PS: Apologies, the name of Duke Jin Jie was previously confused with Ding Xiang, who is a supporting character in the following story, it’ll all be corrected shortly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep