Chapter 19 — Truly a Scheme

“Xing’er?” Xie Xiulin froze.

Xing’er was Xie Xiuyun’s personal maid.

With an arrogant tilt of her chin, Xing’er didn’t even spare them a proper glance. She simply held out a small lacquered box.
“This is a reward from Miss Jiang for you.”

“What is it?” Xie Xiulin opened it, and inside were two pearls of the East Sea.

Her eyes lit up instantly, barely able to conceal the joy flooding her face.

Wanru frowned slightly and pushed it back.
“Such a precious gift, I cannot accept.”

“Take it. What’s rare for you is nothing more than a few pearls to Miss Jiang. She gave them to you only out of regard for the Young Master. She also gifted Fifth Miss and Sixth Miss two pearls each.”

Wanru asked doubtfully, “If they are truly from Miss Jiang, why would you be the one delivering them?”

Xing’er faltered, then immediately raised her voice.
“Because you ran off! Sixth Miss accepted them on your behalf and told me to bring them to you. If you don’t know how to appreciate kindness, then fine—if you don’t want them, forget it!”

Her words left no obvious hole, but Wanru still felt something was off. And besides, she hadn’t wanted to accept Jiang Xuejun’s gifts in the first place.

Wanru shook her head.
“In that case, leave them for Sixth Sister.”

Xing’er’s expression changed slightly. Xie Xiulin, however, looked torn. She was always suppressed, her clothing and food inferior to the others. Such fine pearls—she had never even seen them before.

Xing’er pressed, voice sharp,
“You really don’t want them? Then I’ll take them back. Don’t pretend to be noble now, only to come begging later!”

She turned to leave, but Xie Xiulin blurted, “Wait!”

Xing’er stopped. Xiulin whispered, “I want them.”

With a cold snort, Xing’er plucked one pearl from the box and handed it over.

Xiulin cradled it in a handkerchief, eyes shining with delight as though she had obtained a treasure.

Wanru’s brows furrowed.
“Xiulin…”

Xing’er asked again, “You truly don’t want it? Then I’m leaving.”

Wanru shook her head. With no choice, Xing’er clenched her teeth in frustration and left.

As soon as she was gone, Xiulin said, “Why wouldn’t you take it? Something this fine is rare to see. Even if you didn’t like it, you could sell it—it’d fetch several hundred taels of silver at least!”

Wanru pressed her lips together.
“Miss Jiang’s gifts aren’t mine to accept. But since you’ve taken it, why not thank her in person first?”

Xiulin carefully tucked the pearl into her pouch, nodding happily.
“Alright!”

Wanru then led her to look for Jiang Xuejun.

But before they could go far, a group of young men blocked their way.

“So this is Miss Xu? Why wandering idly here? If you’re bored, why not join us for a boat ride?”

Shaking their fans, they eyed Wanru up and down with teasing grins.

They had already noticed her earlier in the pavilion. Though dressed plainly, it was clear she was a beauty, and so they had taken interest.

Wanru’s tone was cold.
“No need. I’m only out for a walk—I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Ah, don’t go. What’s the point of coming to Tai Ming Lake if not to ride the boats?”

The young man in blue robes smiled mockingly.

Wanru recognized him—it was Xiao Chi, heir of the Marquis of Yongchang.

She had once arranged for Yuan Zhao to be beaten half to death. Though Yuan Zhao had to swallow the insult—after all, he had trespassed into the Xie family’s inner courtyard, and he dared not provoke them further—the Yongchang Marquisate might not be so forgiving.

Her voice turned icy.
“I’ve no interest.”

Xiao Chi sneered.
“Oh? And what little stray cat is this, pretending to be aloof? Didn’t you come to this banquet just to cling to someone powerful? I’m giving you the chance, and you dare turn up your nose?”

Xiulin’s face flushed red with humiliation, unable to utter a word.

Wanru said flatly,
“I was invited here by Miss Jiang. If the Heir has a problem, you may take it up with her.”

At that, the others paused. Since Jiang Xuejun had shown such favor toward this guest, they dared not go too far. They laughed to ease the moment.

“Xiao Chi, that’s too harsh. You shouldn’t speak that way to a beauty.”

“Exactly—we were just inviting her in kindness. Miss Xu, surely you can humor us with one boat ride?”

Wanru only replied, “Forgive me, I must decline.”

She turned and walked off, Xiulin hurrying after.

Catching up, Xiulin whispered anxiously,
“Wasn’t that too much? They’re nobles, after all…”

Wanru’s tone was still cool.
“And if I wished not to offend them, should I go along, let them toy with me as an amusement? I may be low-born, but I will not debase myself.”

“But what if a noble heir truly favored you? That would be an opportunity. Not just the Yongchang heir—there’s also the Zheng heir, and—”

“And if they ‘favor’ me, then what? At best, I’d be taken as a concubine. At worst, I’d be ruined for life. Is that a future worth chasing?”

She pressed her lips together, then added solemnly,
“Xiulin, marriage is best left to your parents’ decision. Though your mother treats you harshly, above her are the First and Second Madams, and Grandmother still watches over. The Xie family cares for its reputation; they will not let their daughters marry into disgrace.”

Xiulin bit her lip and nodded glumly.
“I understand.”

“Don’t fret. If you still worry, I’ll speak to Grandmother for you—”

Before she could finish, two fierce-looking older maids suddenly rushed forward.
“You two—stop right there!”

Wanru’s face darkened.
“What is it?”

“Miss Jiang summons you back to the pavilion at once!”

Wanru and Xiulin exchanged a look. Xiulin’s voice trembled.
“W-what’s going on?”

“You’ll know when you get there. Hurry—the whole pavilion is waiting!”

Wanru pursed her lips and led Xiulin back.

Inside, Jiang Xuejun, Xie Xiuzhu, and even Xie Xiuyun had all returned.

Seeing them enter, Jiang Xuejun stepped forward, her expression troubled.
“Miss Xu.”

Wanru asked, “What is so urgent that Miss Jiang had us summoned back?”

Xie Xiuyun sneered.
“Miss Jiang has lost something. We don’t know who stole it, but now the matter is being investigated thoroughly!”

Xiulin blinked, face turning red with anger.
“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting we stole it? How dare you slander us!”

Wanru’s brow twitched—something was wrong. She asked immediately,
“What exactly was lost?”

“What else?” Xiuyun spat. “The box of East Sea pearls gifted by the Zheng heir. In the blink of an eye, two pearls are gone!”

At that, Xiulin’s face went deathly pale. Pearls?

Before anyone could react, Xing’er stepped forward and declared,
“I saw with my own eyes the cousins sneaking back and stealing them!”

Xiuyun gave a sharp laugh.
“I never thought some people could stoop so low. Shameless enough to linger in our house, and now even learning to steal!”

Wanru’s expression sank into shadow. So those two pearls—this had all been a scheme.

Xiulin cried shrilly,
“No—it’s not true! Xing’er, you’re lying! It was you—”

But Xiuyun lunged forward, striking her hard across the face.
“Still denying it? Xing’er saw you herself! You would disgrace the entire Xie family, and our third branch most of all!”

Xiulin staggered back, falling to the ground. From her sleeve, the pearl she had carefully wrapped in a handkerchief rolled out across the floor.

Under everyone’s eyes, that dazzling pearl gleamed openly on the ground.