Ming's father did indeed mean that.
He had hinted at it very subtly through both words and actions.
Many people had understood,
but no one would directly point it out.
When the teenager with the ash-grey hair said it in such a mocking tone,
everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Indeed, what normal parents would publicly imply their daughter was promiscuous?
Just moments ago, they were accusing Ming Zheng of embarrassing them in public and disgracing the Ming family.
Wasn't their own behavior now also disgracing the Ming family?
Or perhaps...
Did the Ming family members, from the bottom of their hearts, believe that Ming Zheng simply didn't deserve to be part of the Ming family, that Ming Zheng wasn't a member of the Ming family?
The notorious double standards were nothing compared to the Ming family's double standards!
Tsk, they had never seen such a family before.
Treating an adopted daughter like a treasure,
and treating their own biological daughter like an outsider.
"Our Ming family's affairs are none of an outsider's..."
Ming's father was furious, turning his head to roar at the direction of the voice, attempting to intimidate that immature, young brat with his presence.
But as he turned.
Ming's father's imposing aura was instantly extinguished, as if doused with icy water from head to toe in December.
"Assistant Si, Assistant Si Lin..."
Si Qi and Si Lin, twins serving the head of the Chi family.
They were called assistants,
but in reality, they were guards arranged by the Chi family to protect the safety of the Chi family head.
They were almost inseparable from the Chi family head.
Therefore, their presence here
meant... the head of the Chi family was also at Imperial Capital Academy!
The Chi family was an extremely formidable hidden family in Xia Country, with all their descendants having broken through to the congenital realm, successfully entering the path of cultivation.
Those with the Chi family bloodline possessed extraordinary talent,
true peerless prodigies.
As a result, the Chi family had remained standing for centuries, firmly holding the position of the foremost hidden family.
Starting from the previous generation of the Chi family,
the Chi family gradually emerged into the public eye.
They ventured into countless industries in Xia Country,
instantly becoming the wealthiest family in Xia Country.
And the current head of the Chi family, it was rumored, was only twenty-five years old, yet already in charge of the Chi family, with formidable methods and an unshakeable position.
What's more, this young Chi family head was so powerful... that he had already entered the Qi-attracting realm years ago.
Now, he had likely truly entered the path of immortal cultivation.
Across the entire Xia Country,
who wouldn't want to align themselves with the Chi family?
It was for this reason that, merely seeing the two guards accompanying the Chi family head, Ming's father's entire imposing aura completely vanished.
Ming Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly with curiosity.
Unlike others, her gaze towards Si Qi and Si Lin did not carry any fear.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with confusion.
The Chi family?
Why would someone from the Chi family specifically appear to speak up for her?
She and the Chi family... whether in her past life or this one, she seemed to have had no intersection with them.
So, what was their purpose in appearing now?
Had they figured out her true identity?
Or... did they have another motive?
"What's wrong? Chairman Ming wasn't very arrogant just now? Come on, say the words you didn't finish, one by one, slowly."
Si Lin smiled brightly, stroking his ash-grey hair.
However, that smile caused his slightly curved eyes to refract a sharp cold glint,
making Ming's father's heart suddenly tremble.
He gritted his teeth, cursing "dogs relying on their master's influence" in his heart, but forced a smile on his face, "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding... I was just... angry because of my unfilial daughter."
He explained his previous words: "I was worried... worried that she might do something inappropriate to compete with Rou'er."
"After all, my daughter was brought back from the countryside. She grew up all alone in the countryside since she was young, and no one taught her right from wrong."
"It doesn't matter if she disgraces the Ming family's reputation; the most important thing is to be responsible for her own body..."
This explanation.
It did not absolve Ming Zheng in the slightest.
On the contrary, it further solidified the blame on Ming Zheng.
Si Lin chuckled, "Chairman Ming is truly amusing. Miss Ming Zheng is, after all, the legitimate, bona fide eldest daughter of the Ming family. Does she need to compete with an adopted daughter?"
He deliberately emphasized the words "eldest daughter" and "adopted daughter."
His gaze shifted to Ming Zhi Rou, clearly with a hint of mockery. "Even if Miss Ming Zheng, this eldest daughter, truly grew up alone and with hardship in the countryside since childhood, then... wouldn't the greatest fault lie with you, the parents who swapped your own biological daughter?"
"Your mistakes have become a sharp blade used to mock and suppress Miss Ming Zheng."
"You parents are truly exemplary."
His tone was mocking.
Certain words were always deliberately emphasized,
fully conveying the mocking sentiment.
This also caused Ming's father and Ming's mother's faces to turn ashen.
But these twins,
backed by the Chi family,
were not people they could afford to offend!
Despite their hearts filled with rage, they could only curse Ming Zheng inwardly, considering her a jinx, that anything concerning her brought nothing but trouble!
"Let me see what kind of divine being this fake daughter is, whom the entire Ming family is willing to abandon their own biological daughter for. What special abilities does she possess?" Si Lin looked around, his gaze sweeping over the Ming family members.
Although he had already seen Ming Zhi Rou,
he directly ignored her.
Ming Zhi Rou's reddened eyes narrowed again.
She bit her tender lips with her teeth, appearing wronged yet also humiliated, and softly called out, "Assistant Si Lin, I never thought of competing with my sister, nor did I ever want my parents and brothers to abandon my sister..."
"It's you, then."
Si Lin glanced at Ming Zhi Rou, appraising her from head to toe as if she were merchandise.
Then he commented, "Tsk, not much to look at, either."
She wasn't even half as pretty as Brother Chi's savior.
Crying and acting pitiful, she was clearly a white lotus.
Her personality wasn't even half as likable as Brother Chi's savior.
He really didn't know what the Ming family, as a whole, saw in her.
Si Lin pouted, withdrawing his gaze with some impatience.
The harm was great, and the insult was extreme!
"You!" Ming Zhi Rou widened her eyes, which were now dotted with tiny crystalline tears, as if in disbelief.
Usually,
whenever she cried, felt wronged, or acted weak,
everyone would dote on her and indulge her!
Si Lin's gaze became even more disdainful.
He was about to say something else,
when Si Qi suddenly adjusted the earpiece near his ear, his stern eyebrows remaining unchanged.
A few seconds later.
He stepped in front of Si Lin, raising his hand to stop Si Lin from speaking.
He raised his eyebrows, looking coldly at Ming Zhi Rou, and said in a voice devoid of emotion, "Miss Ming Zhi Rou, the family head wishes to see you."