The Double-Chapter 461 - 148 Sincerity

"Xiao Deyin, and everyone in the Shen family," said Hai Tang.

The lamplight was faint, perhaps because the wick had grown too long. A slight breeze from outside fluttered the flame, which seemed on the verge of extinguishing for a moment. Jiang Li steadied herself, took up the silver scissors beside her, and trimmed the wick a bit shorter. The flame thus stabilized, no longer causing the shadows in the room to flicker.

"Why do you say that?" asked Jiang Li.

Hai Tang did not answer immediately but looked at Jiang Li and asked, "Can I trust you?"

Hai Tang was a calm, rational, and decisive girl; otherwise, she would not have had the heart to destroy her own beauty to evade the soldiers’ pursuit. But her asking this question now indicated that, with the world so vast, she no longer knew who she could trust. She had to find someone to rely on, a reason to keep living.

Jiang Li’s heart ached as she looked at Hai Tang, seeing her own past self. She said gently, "You can trust me. I am like you, wishing for the truth to be revealed to all, hoping that Xue Fangfei can be vindicated."

Hai Tang seemed moved by the sincerity in her eyes. After a long pause, she slowly said, "That day, during Madam Shen’s birthday banquet, Xiao Deyin was there. She and Miss Shen were good friends, often competing in zither. That afternoon, Xiao Deyin kept drinking with Madam Shen. Madam Shen was pregnant and not good at drinking, so she only wanted a little. Xiao Deyin, however, feigned anger, insisting on finishing the drink with Madam Shen."

"I found it strange, for Mr. Xiao had always been so gentle and considerate, never forcing anyone to do anything, especially not Miss Shen. But Miss Shen noticed nothing amiss, and I, being a servant, had no place to accuse Xiao Deyin."

"Later, Miss Shen got drunk, and I needed to help her back to her room. Xiao Deyin’s maid detained me, claiming she couldn’t find her way to the kitchen and wanted to get some sobering soup. When I returned from the kitchen, Miss Shen was gone, said to have been taken back to her room by Mr. Xiao’s Miss Shen."

"Then, Xiao Deyin returned alone. She said Miss Shen was resting in her room, but shortly after, someone discovered a man in Miss Shen’s room, alleging an illicit affair."

At this point in her narrative, Hai Tang spoke bitterly, "We stayed by Miss Shen’s side day and night; we knew for a fact she was innocent and could never engage in such an affair. But the evidence was undeniable. I pondered over and over, and Xiao Deyin’s actions were very unnatural. I intended to gather more evidence to confirm that Xiao Deyin framed her, but before I could finalize anything, Miss Shen banished Du Juan and me. She chuckled bitterly, "Even if I had told Miss Shen, she might not have believed me. After all, Xiao Deyin had no apparent reason to harm Miss Shen. She didn’t covet fame or wealth, her disposition was kind, and she was always on good terms with Miss Shen, with no animosity between them. I couldn’t fathom a motive for such an action."

Jiang Li shook her head gently, "The human heart is unfathomable; anything could serve as a motive."

"Do you believe me?" Hai Tang was taken aback.

"I believe you," Jiang Li replied. Of course, she believed, for during the days after, while she lay bedridden and unable to leave the Shen residence, she had repeatedly recalled the details of that day. The more she thought, the more suspicious Xiao Deyin became. As to why Xiao Deyin would do such a thing, in her previous life, she couldn’t figure it out. But this life, after verifying with the Six Arts, she had nearly grasped the beginning of an answer.

It was nothing but jealousy.

Jealousy made people ugly, especially someone like Xiao Deyin, who pretended to be noble and untainted by worldly desires, yet could not tolerate anyone surpassing her. She hid her ambition and selfishness beneath a facade of generosity and gracefulness, which was what made her most repugnant. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Jiang Li paused for a moment and continued, "So, what do you mean by ’everyone in the Shen family’?"

Hai Tang’s eyes shifted, and she suddenly sneered, "Don’t you find it strange? When the scandal of Miss Shen’s supposed affair came out, she kept defending herself, but no one in the Shen family would listen to her. Such a scandal wasn’t good for the Shen family’s reputation either, yet the Shen family did not only fail to investigate the oddities of the situation, they even seemed eager to convict her. Especially the son-in-law."

Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat, "Shen Yurong? What about him?"

Hearing Jiang Li call Shen Yurong by his full name, Hai Tang was momentarily surprised, but she quickly put this puzzlement aside and said, "Before the wedding, the son-in-law was extremely caring for Miss Shen, but after she came to Yanjing City with him, a stranger in a strange land, Madam Shen and Miss Shen were difficult to serve, and Miss Shen had to manage everything personally, suffering many hidden grievances. The son-in-law always mouthed his apologies but never changed anything. Rather than slighting Madam Shen and Miss Shen, he preferred to let Miss Shen suffer. That alone was enough," she said with resentment, "but when Miss Shen faced trouble, he, as her husband, should have trusted her unconditionally. What did he do? He said nothing and even blamed Miss Shen. It was like gouging out Miss Shen’s flesh!"