mtl008 Chapter 402 Who's Suffering More?
Chapter 402 Who's Suffering More?
Yunxi said, "Madam, I really can't explain why your jade pendant ended up here. But I think, if I really stole it, with so many servants coming and going in the mansion today, there must have been someone who saw me approach the place where you kept the jade pendant. Madam, you might as well send someone to investigate in detail."
Wang Jin stood aside, and upon hearing Yun Xi's words, his smile deepened, and the light in his eyes became even more dazzling.
She secretly gloated to herself, thinking that Yun Xi was incredibly foolish to have jumped into the trap herself, saving her the trouble of explaining. She was going to get what was coming to her later!
After a moment of contemplation, Madam Li turned to the steward and instructed, "Summon all the servants who lived near my room before and after the banquet. I want to question them personally."
The steward accepted the order and hurriedly left. Before long, he returned with a group of anxious-looking maids and servants standing in the hall.
Madam Li questioned him one by one.
Most of the servants in her courtyard were old men who had followed her for over a decade and were extremely loyal. Only a few young maids were newcomers who had recently arrived for her birthday banquet and were somewhat inexperienced and nervous.
Madam Li's eyes were sharp as she scanned the crowd and asked loudly, "Has any of you seen this Miss Yun approach my courtyard?"
Several maids and servants followed the direction in which Old Madam Li pointed and carefully examined Yunxi.
Yunxi remained calm and composed, accepting their scrutiny with equanimity.
The old ladies' maids, who had served the old lady for over a decade, all spoke in unison:
"Reporting to Madam, this servant did not see this young lady."
"This servant was helping in the kitchen and didn't see it."
"This servant didn't see it either..."
Of the dozen or so servants, most of them said they hadn't seen Yunxi.
Only the three newly arrived maids remained, looking at each other with hesitant expressions.
Madam Li's gaze fell on the maids, her tone indifferent, "And you?"
Two of the maids shook their heads repeatedly, "Reporting to the old lady, we didn't see it either."
Yunxi smiled faintly, "Madam, this might prove my innocence..."
Before she could finish speaking, Wang Jin spoke up sarcastically, "Miss Yun, don't be in such a hurry. There's still one maid who hasn't spoken yet."
Yunxi turned to look at Wang Jin.
Although her gaze was calm, Wang Jin felt that it carried a hint of sharpness, as if he could see through her inner thoughts.
She felt extremely uncomfortable under that gaze and instinctively wanted to look away, but soon she realized that she was actually being stared at by a little girl and wanted to back away, and she felt both ashamed and annoyed.
He raised his chin and stared back at Yunxi defiantly.
All eyes were on the last little maid.
However, the maid kept her head down, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, and remained silent.
Seeing that Old Madam Li's face was already displeased, the steward of the Li family shouted sternly, "Huaixiang, what did you see?! Tell me the truth right now!"
Huai Xiang's face was deathly pale. Her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and she bit her lower lip hard.
Old Madam Li's gaze fell on her like a hawk's, and noticing something was wrong, she impatiently snapped, "Speak!"
Huai Xiang's body trembled violently, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, stammering nervously, "Replying to the Old Madam, this servant...this servant didn't see Miss Yun approach the courtyard. But...but this servant saw...saw other people..."
Wang Jin's expression suddenly changed, and his eyes shot towards Huai Xiang like knives.
She clearly instructed Huai Xiang to publicly point out that Yun Xi had stolen Old Madam Li's things, so why did that wretched woman change her story?!
Seeing Wang Jin's strange expression, Madam Li became suspicious and looked at Huai Xiang with even greater sternness: "Who did you see? If you dare to utter a single falsehood, you'll regret it!"
Huai Xiang trembled with fear, stammering, "Madam... spare me..."
"Yes, it's Madam Zhou!"
Huai Xiang pointed at Wang Jin, her expression uneasy. "This servant saw Madam Zhou enter your room... After Madam Zhou saw me, she gave me a silver ingot and said that if anyone later asked if anyone had entered your garden, I should say it was Yun Xi, the daughter of the Yun family."
Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in chaos, their gazes shooting towards Wang Jin like sharp arrows.
Wang Jinfu's family name is Zhou, and she is the only 'Mrs. Zhou' at today's banquet.
Wang Jin was being scrutinized by everyone, and his temples throbbed with excitement under their probing gazes.
Her face turned pale and then flushed, her head throbbing with pain. She retorted angrily, "You wretched servant, how dare you spout such nonsense! I have no grudge against Madam Li, why would I steal her jade pendant? Would I, Wang Jin, even covet such a piece of jade?!"
"When did I ever ask you to frame the Yun family girl?"
"You've clearly been bribed by someone to frame me!"
Madam Li remained silent, her face grim.
Li Zhuoyue couldn't help but glance at the Prince of Qi, raising an eyebrow.
He didn't speak, but the King of Qi understood what he meant.
The play seems to be getting a little out of their control.
King Qi turned his head, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on Yu Wan. He saw that she seemed to care nothing about the Yun family, and she and the Duchess of Anguo and her daughter were quietly watching the show from the side.
There was no rush, nor any intention to stand up for the Yun family mother and daughter.
Although, so far, it seems that the Yun family mother and daughter do not need to step in.
But why would that girl Huaixiang suddenly turn against us?
really interesting.
Madam Li is not stupid; by now, she can see that this whole thing was a setup orchestrated by someone.
Regardless of whether Wang Jin or Yun Xi took the jade pendant, she will not let them off easily today.
Today is her birthday banquet. How dare these people cause trouble at her birthday banquet? Do they think she's made of clay?!
Just as she was about to speak, she heard a voice from below, "Grandmother."
Li Zhuoyue looked at Old Madam Li with a smile, a smile that seemed to hide a deeper meaning: "Today is your birthday, such a joyous day. Since nothing is missing, why don't we just let this matter go?"
Madam Li looked at her grandson in shock.
Li Zhuoyue smiled gently and said, "Grandson thinks that since Grandmother's beloved item has been found, it would be better to let this matter pass by quietly. This will also allow Grandmother to accumulate good fortune."
Madam Li's hand, resting on her knee, trembled slightly, and her gaze swept over Prince Qi discreetly.
She took a deep breath and forced a kind smile onto her face.
She looked up at everyone at the table and said, "Alright, alright, this matter is probably just a misunderstanding. I apologize to everyone for causing you all distress."
This means that the matter should be let off lightly.
Yunxi glanced at Wang Jin, then turned back to the table and sat down next to Madam Shen.
Wang Jin looked as if he had swallowed a fly; his face was extremely ugly.
Yunxi could still sit there, but she couldn't. She bid farewell to Madam Li and turned to leave the banquet hall.
The matter was still unclear, but everyone at the table tacitly avoided mentioning it and soon resumed their conversation and laughter as if nothing had happened.
Yu Wan rested her chin on her hand and watched, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
At this birthday banquet, Wang Jin must be the only one who feels as uncomfortable as if he'd swallowed a fly.
Her eyes drifted toward the first seat out of the corner of her eye.