"Someone, go and find Cuizhu. Question her, and we'll know everything!"
At the old lady's order, almost all the servants in the courtyard were dispatched.
With a severe look in her eyes, she stared intently at Princess Jiahe as if two nails were piercing straight into the princess's heart.
She didn't know what Cuizhu had done, but she knew that apart from being a bit greedy for money, Cuizhu would never have had the audacity to frame Song Wanchu.
Cuizhu must have been instigated by someone!
But that someone was not her!
Liang Yuzhou glanced at Princess Jiahe, taking in all her panic and confusion. His jet - black eyes were as deep as a cold abyss.
Behind the old lady, Yu Huiyan pursed her lips tightly. Her face was slightly pale as she secretly exchanged glances with Caidie.
Caidie remained relatively calm and nodded gently at Yu Huiyan.
It seemed as if the mistress and maid had reached some kind of tacit understanding.
Their little actions didn't escape Liang Yuzhou's eyes either.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the chief steward returned with his men and reported, "Madam, we've found the person."
"Bring her here!"
The chief steward hesitated for a moment, then bent lower and said, "Madam, we fished her out of the lotus pond. It seems she was being playful and accidentally fell in. She's already dead."
Everyone gasped in shock.
Immediately after, they showed expressions of sudden realization.
Du Yong's eyes were cold as he looked at Princess Jiahe and said, "You're really quick! Eliminating the witness so there's no proof!"
The old lady glared at Princess Jiahe, her eyes shooting out two cold glints.
Princess Jiahe was experiencing for the first time the injustice of being suspected by everyone. Her mind was in a complete mess, and her heart was in turmoil. Only her mouth was instinctively defending herself.
"It wasn't me. I didn't do it!"
People's gazes were like sharp thorns, piercing straight into her flesh and blood.
"Steward, did you find any other clues on Cuizhu?"
The old lady was shrewd and deep - minded. She didn't want to jump to conclusions too early.
The steward took two steps forward and presented a silver note.
"Madam, we found a silver note worth two hundred taels on her."
The old lady let out a soft sneer.
Everyone understood the meaning behind the old lady's sneer, and their gazes at Princess Jiahe became more meaningful.
A maid's monthly salary was only two taels. There was no way she could have such a huge sum of two hundred taels!
Even if she did, she wouldn't carry it around with her.
Cuizhu had been bribed to lead Du Yong into Song Wanchu's courtyard and then lock the door and run away.
The case couldn't be more obvious.
Just because Cuizhu was Princess Jiahe's maid, it was almost enough to convict Princess Jiahe.
Princess Jiahe was completely panicked.
"I didn't instruct Cuizhu to harm anyone, and I didn't give her the money. Why are you all looking at me!?"
She shouted hysterically, even more agitated than when she was shouting about catching Song Wanchu in an affair.
The difference was that before, she was excited and overjoyed, but now she was terrified and wronged.
"Vicious woman!"
The old duke couldn't bear it any longer. He slapped the table angrily, his eyes blood - red.
His fingers were trembling as he pointed at her furiously. "If it wasn't you, then who could it be? Who was it that, as soon as they heard that Young Master Du had entered Wanchu's courtyard, was so sure they had an affair and came to catch them in the act? Who was it that, even after seeing Yuzhou in Wanchu's room, still didn't believe that Wanchu was just unwell and kept pressing Young Master Du for an explanation about why he was in Wanchu's courtyard?"
Although Princess Jiahe had always been looked down upon by the old duke, he had always been relatively restrained and had never scolded her to her face.
But now, in front of all the noble families in the capital, he called her a vicious woman!
"I didn't. I really didn't..."
She finally understood what it meant to be unable to defend herself. At this moment, she suddenly empathized with Song Wanchu, the person she hated the most.
Three years ago, Song Wanchu was also cursed by everyone. They said she had used her father's sacrifice to obtain the imperial edict to marry Liang Yuzhou. People scolded her for taking advantage of others' kindness for personal gain, occupying someone else's position, and stealing someone else's love.
Princess Jiahe knew she was innocent, but she had enjoyed watching Song Wanchu being slandered and having dirt thrown at her.
How dare a low - ranked sixth - grade official's daughter covet the position of the mistress of the Duke's Mansion?
Now she finally knew what it felt like to be wronged.
It was the bitterness that a mute couldn't express, the panic and helplessness of being judged by everyone's gazes, which was more terrifying than being cut into pieces.
The old lady let out a cold laugh, her face covered in frost.
"The princess is so tight - fisted in her own life, but she's quite generous when it comes to bribing maids!"
Princess Jiahe opened her mouth, but her throat tightened. The silent yet contemptuous looks from everyone made her want to go crazy.
But the old lady didn't stop scolding her. "Everyone knows you don't like Wanchu. Since Wanchu married into the family, how many times have you found ways to torment her, and how many times have you belittled and insulted her? Who in the entire capital doesn't know your intention to marry your niece Yu Huiyan to Yuzhou and drive Wanchu away?
You actually resorted to such despicable means to frame Wanchu. Jiahe, you're really unworthy of being a member of the royal family!"
The old lady's powerful voice seemed to carry after - waves in her angry scolding. Even Yu Huiyan, who was hiding behind Princess Jiahe, felt a palpitation.
Sorry, aunt. You'll have to bear the stigma. I must keep myself clean!
Princess Jiahe's mind was completely blank. She didn't even know how to defend herself or appeal for justice.
All her past actions against Song Wanchu and her eagerness to catch her in an affair today had become irrefutable evidence against her.
At this moment, three pairs of different gazes passed over Princess Jiahe and landed on Yu Huiyan.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes were cold, the Crown Prince's expression was gloomy, and the Princess Dowager's whole face was contorted in anger.
But each with their own thoughts, none of the three said what was on their minds.
Song Wanchu, who had been pretending to be asleep, slowly opened her eyes.
She had heard all the commotion outside clearly.
She slowly turned her head, and her gaze fixed on the tea on the table.
It seemed that Princess Jiahe's guilt was already a foregone conclusion, but Song Wanchu knew that the mastermind behind it was not her.
Princess Jiahe's badness was always on the surface. Her mind was too shallow to be the mastermind.
She would never have been able to plan such a perfect conspiracy.
Liang Yuzhou, the first witness, had only described part of the truth to everyone.
What he had deliberately ignored was the most shameful and embarrassing part for her.
Liang Yuzhou was smart and wise. He must have already guessed that Princess Jiahe was wronged.
So, had he guessed who the mastermind was?
Would he, like the previous times, choose to remain silent and protect the person?
Outside the house, Princess Jiahe's cries were earth - shattering. The old duke coldly ordered that she be locked in the Fragrant Snow Pavilion, all the servants around her be removed, and only Nanny Gao be left.
From today on, she was forbidden to step out of the Fragrant Snow Pavilion, and she was prohibited from attending any banquets as the wife of the Duke's Mansion. Even her monthly allowance and rations as the wife were cancelled.
Although the old duke hadn't divorced her, it was no different from a divorce.
The commotion outside finally died down, and Song Wanchu's ears were quiet, but her heart couldn't calm down.
She moved her body, and her legs felt weak. Her throat was also hoarse.
Just thinking about how Liang Yuzhou had tossed her around in various positions and how she had actively cooperated...
Song Wanchu was so ashamed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into!
"Awake?"
Beside her ear came Liang Yuzhou's teasing voice.
Suddenly, a pair of phoenix eyes full of obvious smiles met her eyes.
His breath brushed across her cheek, warm and as if still carrying the lingering passion.
The feeling of shame welled up in her heart again. Song Wanchu bit her lip and wanted to pull up the quilt to cover her blushing face.
"My lady, were you satisfied with my service just now?"
Liang Yuzhou laughed wickedly.
"Boom!"
Song Wanchu's face burned. Even her earlobes and neck turned pink.
She was like a peony flower just moistened by the rain and dew, more charming and coquettish.
"If you don't say anything, does it mean you're not satisfied?"
Liang Yuzhou reached out and gently pinched her ear. He blew into her ear, and his tone gradually became ambiguous. "Shall we do it one more time?"