The man's frivolous eyes gleamed with an uncertain, dark fire.
"So creating a painting with my own hands is called deceit? Everyone present is from noble families and distinguished socialites. Are you going to discern right from wrong like this?" Li Qiyu continued to impose moral shackles, "If that's the case—I'm sorry."
Madam Bo's face burned with humiliation.
Although Li Qiyu did not use a single dirty word, every word implied that they were abusing their power.
"Since it's all a misunderstanding, everyone should head back and rest early!" Madam Bo had trouble saving face and said.
"Grandma, misunderstanding me isn't important, but I represent the honor of the Bo family. To question me is to look down upon the Bo family."
"I accept your gift! There's no need to talk about this matter any further."
"I know you must feel very guilty for the misunderstanding you had about me just now... How could someone as respectable and esteemed as you bear to misjudge me? Accepting the gift means grandma really likes it? No need to thank me, it's all my duty." In front of so many people, giving Madam Bo a figurative hat to wear was to not easily let her off the hook.
For the upper echelon, face is more important than anything else.
Madam Bo tugged at her lips, so furious her liver ached: "What? Do you really expect an old lady to thank you?" Preposterous!
"No need to thank me," Li Qiyu responded promptly.
Seriously aggressive! It was infuriating enough to kill the old lady! Madam Bo's complexion darkened further, her lips trembling as she wanted to erupt but found no excuse, and she glared with eyes that couldn't utter a word.
Everyone around looked as if they had seen an alien. Had Li Qiyu taken the wrong medicine tonight? Offending Madam Bo so irreversibly, wasn't she afraid of facing tough times in the future?
Bo Yexun sat on the arm of Madam Bo's chair, his cheek muscles aching from smiling the whole time...
It was rare to see Madam Bo at a loss. Moreover, the one giving Madam Bo a hard time was Li Qiyu!
The woman who normally acquiesced to everything, even the Bo family's cats dared to bully her!
Li Qiyu turned her face away, looking disdainfully at Bo Yeyuan: "I'm tired, I'm going back first."
"Madam, although the painting is a counterfeit, it's exquisitely imitated. Could she have the ability to paint it so well?"
Which shameless person wanted to add fuel to the fire? Li Qiyu's displeased gaze swept over.
"If she can paint on the spot and prove her ability, only then will we believe her," said Aunt Pan.
"Yes, words alone are not proof."
"If she can't paint, the Bo family law is strict—deceiving the ruler is a crime that, at the very least, deserves a caning, right?"
"She must be taught a lesson for daring to deceive even the Madam. That's too much."
Madam Bo, clutching her chest, regained her composure: "Since you doubt me, as the Young Lady of the Bo family, you have to demonstrate your ability to convince others. Arthur, bring the painting kit and pigments over."
"Yes, Madam," said Arthur, the butler, who went to instruct the servants.
"Proving myself isn't a problem, but what if I do paint it? What about these false accusations?" Li Qiyu felt very insecure; she had already forgotten everything from the past and had no idea whether she could paint. Moreover, judging by the surprise of these people, had Li Qiyu never painted before? Otherwise, they wouldn't have questioned her like this.
"Madam, if there has indeed been a misunderstanding about the Young Lady, I am willing to be punished!"
"Then let's begin," Madam Bo said authoritatively, leaning on her armchair. "Paint well, don't let people think I'm sheltering you. Since marrying into the Bo family, you've been punished by our family discipline numerous times, how have you not made any progress?"
Li Qiyu felt more than a little aggrieved—punished by the family law numerous times? How many beatings had she endured?!