Chapter 20 — He Has Come

Jiang Xuejun bent down to pick up the pearl, her eyes filled with shock as she looked at Xie Xiulin and Wanru. Around them, the gazes of the others turned sharp with scorn.

Today, all those present were sons and daughters of noble families—who would have imagined anyone stooping to such petty thievery?

Xie Xiulin sobbed so hard she could barely breathe, shaking her head frantically.
“No, no—it wasn’t me! Xing’er gave it to me!”

“Caught red-handed, and still you smear others with your filth?!”

Xie Xiuyun sneered, pointing at Wanru.
“Truly from a low-born family—uncouth and disgraceful. The moment you saw something fine, you couldn’t keep your hands off it.”

Wanru’s face darkened. So this was the trap waiting for her?

A single pearl meant little, but if the charge of theft stuck, she would never recover her reputation in this lifetime.

Xiulin was already in utter panic, looking desperately at Wanru, tears streaming down, full of regret—why had she been greedy enough to take the pearl?

Wanru fixed her gaze on Xing’er.
“Xing’er, you claim you saw me and Seventh Miss steal the pearls with your own eyes?”

Xing’er lifted her chin proudly.
“Of course! I saw it clearly—you and Seventh Miss circled back while everyone left, sneaking out of the waterside pavilion with something tucked in your arms!”

“If everyone had left, how did you happen to see us?”

“I—I forgot something and came back for it. When I reached the door, I saw you both sneaking out, clutching something. Obviously stolen!”

Wanru pressed, “And were the gifts left unattended?”

Two maidservants nervously stepped forward.
“We were told to guard them, miss.”

“Then did you see me or Miss Xie stealing?”

“N-no… but someone lured us away midway. Someone shouted outside that a person had fallen from a boat. We feared for Miss’s safety and ran out to look. But outside there was no one in the water, and when we returned, two pearls were missing.”

“So in other words—you didn’t actually see who stole them?”

The two maids exchanged a look, then shook their heads.

Xie Xiuyun cut in sharply, “What more is there to question? Xing’er saw it, and the evidence is in hand—”

Wanru’s voice sliced through, cold and firm.
“Only Xing’er claims to have seen it. That does not make it true—it may well be the thief crying ‘stop thief.’ Xing’er says we stole them, but I say Xing’er did.”

“You dare spout nonsense?!”

Wanru’s tone turned harsher.
“If two pearls were stolen, then why has only one been found? Where is the other?”

The words fell, and the pavilion fell silent.

Xiuyun froze for a breath, then snapped, pointing at Wanru.
“You must have hidden it! You two stole them, splitting the spoils—one pearl each!”

A glint of cruelty flashed in her eyes.
“Come! Strip her clothes and search thoroughly!”

The two old nursemaids at her side cracked their knuckles, eager. Even if no pearl was found, to publicly strip Xu Wanru would be ruin enough—her life destroyed forever.

Even Xie Xiuzhu paled.
“Isn’t this going too far? Over just a pearl?”

Jiang Xuejun chimed in, timely smoothing things over.
“Yes, merely a pearl or two. Let it go. Consider them my gift to Miss Xu and Seventh Miss.”

But Wanru said steadily,
“Even if it were a gift, it must first be found. As it stands, the pearl is not in my hand. How can you call it mine?”

Jiang Xuejun’s face stiffened—she had offered her a way out, yet Wanru refused to take it.

Wanru continued,
“There’s nowhere at the lakeside to hide such a thing. Pearls this precious—any thief would hardly throw them away. But keeping it on one’s body risks being caught on the spot. Out here, the safest place to hide it is naturally in the carriage.”

At that, Xiuyun’s expression wavered ever so slightly.

Wanru met her gaze, enunciating each word.
“If we must search, then start with the carriages—not only mine, but yours as well.”

Xiuyun exploded.
“What do you mean by this?! How dare you drag me into it?!”

Wanru turned directly to Jiang Xuejun.
“I ask Miss Jiang to send two maids at once to search our carriages. If it is truly found in mine, I will accept any punishment.”

Still hesitant, Jiang Xuejun lingered, but Xiuzhu seized the chance to stir things up.
“Search them! If you’re innocent, you’ve nothing to fear. Whoever refuses must be the thief!”

The crowd agreed at once, voices rising:
“Search! Search!”

Pressed by all, Jiang Xuejun could only nod and lead them to the row of carriages by the lakeside.

There, she ordered a search of Wanru and Xiulin’s carriage first. After a thorough inspection—nothing was found.

Next came Xiuyun’s carriage. At first, nothing turned up, but one of the seasoned nursemaids knocked on the seat and heard a hollow sound. Feeling carefully, she found a hidden compartment. Inside lay a pearl.

“Found it!” The woman held it high for all to see.

Xiuyun’s face went ashen. She had clung to the hope that her hiding place was secure. But now…

A chorus of gasps erupted. No one had expected such a reversal.

Wanru spoke gravely,
“The pearl Xiulin held was given by Xing’er, who said it came from Miss Jiang. Otherwise, why would Xiulin be foolish enough to carry stolen goods openly on her person—deliberately presenting evidence against herself?

Clearly, the true thief, torn between greed and fear, handed her a pearl to frame her, while keeping the other hidden. Two birds with one stone: destroy their target, and steal the pearls unnoticed.”

She fixed her eyes on Xiuyun.
“Such a scheme.”

The crowd buzzed in outrage, many eyes filled with disdain as they turned on Xiuyun.

The Zheng heir also stepped forward.
“I spoke with Miss Xu and Seventh Miss at the lakeside barely a quarter-hour ago. That spot is some distance from the pavilion—there was no time for them to slip back and steal.”

Xiulin’s eyes were red, tears streaming anew, but now filled with gratitude as she looked toward the heir.

Xiuyun’s face turned white. She suddenly spun and slapped Xing’er hard.
“Wretched maid! You stole the pearls, didn’t you?! You tried to frame Seventh Miss and even drag me down with you! Have I not treated you well? Only last time when you broke a cup, I scolded you a few words—so you plotted revenge and dared to steal?!”

Xing’er fell to the ground, terrified, kowtowing frantically.
“It was this servant’s fault! This servant confesses! I know my crime, I know my crime!”

Wanru’s lips curved in a cold sneer. Xiuyun’s reaction was quick—shoving all blame onto her maid. But who would truly believe her?

Xiuzhu scoffed.
“So this is how it is now—steal what you please, then dump it on a servant. Their lives are in your hand, they dare not refute you. Easy enough, isn’t it?”

“You—!” Xiuyun glared furiously.

Jiang Xuejun stepped in once more.
“Enough, enough. It’s only two pearls. I never meant for things to escalate so. We are all sisters—why make such a fuss?”

Everyone knew the truth well enough. They left it at that, treating it as entertainment.

Wanru supported Xiulin.
“Come, let’s rest.”

“Yes, Sister Xiulin is frightened. Go have some tea and calm down,” Jiang Xuejun agreed.

By the lakeside, Xiulin was still weeping.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken the pearl. Xing’er was Xiuyun’s maid—I should never have trusted her. How could I be so stupid?”

Wanru patted her back gently.
“Don’t cry. It’s over now.”

“Why is she so vicious? I already humbled myself enough—why still treat me so?”

“That is the way of the world—survival of the fittest.”

Xiulin wiped her tears.
“But how did you know she’d hidden the pearl in the carriage?”

“I refused to take the pearl. To steal one was bold already; to put it back was impossible; to throw it away, too great a loss. South Sea pearls are rare. The third branch lives off their monthly allowance—they’d never discard such treasure.”

Wanru knew too that the carriage had a hidden compartment. She had ridden in it once before, when the Third Madam treated her like a servant and took her out to purchase fine medicines. From that, she discovered the secret.

“She wouldn’t throw it away, nor keep it on her. On an outing, the hidden space in her carriage was the safest choice.”

Xiulin sniffled.
“I want to go home.”

Wanru glanced at the sky, then said,
“Then you return first. I still need to stop by the marketplace for some medicine.”

Xiulin nodded tearfully.
“Alright… you go quickly.”

“Then I’ll be off. Chunmian, look after your young mistress.”

“Yes, miss.”

Only then did Wanru leave. After taking leave of Jiang Xuejun, she boarded her carriage and departed.

As the carriage rolled away from Tai Ming Lake, the driver asked,
“Shall we return to the Xie residence, young lady?”

“First to the marketplace. Take me to Vermilion Bird Street.”

“Very well.”

Wanru leaned back against the wall of the carriage, closing her eyes in thought. Rarely did she have a chance to leave the estate—she should take this chance to meet Lin Han.

Meanwhile, a fast horse galloped near.

Its rider wore silver-gray robes, his hair tied with a silver coronet, dark locks streaming loose in the wind. His presence shone like clear moonlight, a figure as dazzling as a shooting star streaking across the night and day.