Chapter Thirty-Four: Trust

  Liu was also shocked beyond words.

  She didn't think of this at all last night, simply because she knew Lushi too well. Although Lushi was a clever person, he wasn't vicious, how could he come up with such a despicable idea to harm Ruoxi? Moreover, Ruoxi was his own niece! How could he be at peace with himself if he harmed her?

  "No, it's impossible." Liu thought for a moment and still refused to believe. "Don't say that your second aunt can't do such a thing, even if she could, she couldn't have done it! She doesn't understand the situation in this manor, let alone control the maidservants, where did she get the skill to do something so secretly?"

  "This is what I wanted to say." Lin Zhaoyan slowly swept his gaze over the two of them, then raised an eyebrow and said word by word: "So, apart from Second Aunt, there's someone behind her! And I'm sure that based on Second Aunt's reaction when she fainted last night, she was also set up by that person!"

  She also knew Lushi, Lushi couldn't do such a thing, even if she was forced to fabricate it, ruining Lin Ruoyan's reputation. There was no way she would let her design an affair between her own son and niece before marriage!

  "This person wants to ruin Ruo Yan's reputation, wants Ruo Yan to leave the Hou Mansion as soon as possible, and wants to deal a blow to her mother. So..."

  Lin Ruoyan was not stupid, and upon hearing these words, her eyes were filled with resentment that seemed to cover the entire sky.

  "Either it's Madame Hou or it's Wan Niang!"

  The whole Hou Mansion, the only people who can hate her so much and also benefit from her misfortune are Madame Lu and Wan Niang.

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded slightly, "I also think it's one of those two."

  "What's the use of guessing? Everything must be based on evidence!" Liu was also furious, thinking that her beloved youngest daughter had almost been framed and humiliated, ruining her life. She hated the person behind the scenes so much that she wanted to catch them and flay them alive, cutting them into a thousand pieces!

  But as for what happened last night, if Minglan hadn't informed her, she would have been completely unaware.

  "There is evidence, it's just...". Lin Zhao sighed and said helplessly: "It's just that I don't know if it counts as evidence."

  "What does it mean?" Lin Ruoyan asked anxiously, her eyes flashing with an unprecedented intimacy and trust.

  At this moment, she pinned all her hopes on this elder sister whom she had always looked down upon.

  "It's that maid who told you to go see Wen Xuan's brother." Lin Zhao Yan replied, and asked: "Do you still remember what she looks like?"

  Lin Ruoyan immediately furrowed her brow, "Who would notice a maid? And she's always lowering her head, wearing a plain green jacket, I'm not sure!"

  Lin Zhaoyan let out a disappointed sigh. To think that the maid was the most central figure in this matter, and also the most obvious suspect. As long as they could catch her, they wouldn't have to worry about catching the mastermind behind the scenes.

  "What's to be done? Apart from this maid, isn't there any other evidence?"

  Lin Zhaoyan was about to shake his head, but suddenly his eyes flashed and a smile appeared on his face, "There's no other evidence, but this maid might be able to dig something up."

  She almost forgot that she had asked Manhua to stay at the Weeping Flower Gate last night to observe suspicious strangers, so she must have done her best and been able to describe the general characteristics of the maid. Even if she couldn't find it immediately, using a carpet-style search, she would have to catch that maid!

  "Mother, I let Manhua follow and take care of Wenxuan last night, but she hasn't come back yet. Where is she?" Lin Zhaoyan knew that Liu would not kill innocent maids like Manhua, but she also wouldn't have a good ending.

  As expected, Liu's eyes flickered with a hint of guilt, before she composed herself and said: "Last night, all the maids saw what happened between your brother and Zi Su. Mother can't guarantee they won't talk, so she had them locked up first. Today, Chen Gui will send them to the villa."

  After finishing, she rarely opened her mouth to comfort him, "I know Manhua has been growing up with you since childhood, and you must be reluctant to part with her. But mother has no choice either. Tomorrow, mother will assign a better maid for you."

  Man Shuang heard this and couldn't help but shed tears.

  She and Manhua are as close as sisters, and she is unwilling for Manhua to be sent away.

  She couldn't help but secretly pray that this time, the gentle and reserved Fourth Young Miss would be able to win one round for Manhua, just one round!

  Lin Zhaoyan's eyes drooped slightly, and after a brief moment, she spoke softly: "The red-tasseled sister by Grandmother's side is clever and cautious. Although Manhua can't compare to her, over the years, she hasn't made any mistakes either. This time's matter wasn't something Manhua could control; if she had a choice, she would rather dig out her own eyes and cut off her own ears than know anything about it."

  Her tone is soft and gentle, yet every word is sharp and reasonable, striking people's hearts and souls, making it impossible to refute.

  She knew that Liu would not dispose of Hongying, after all, she was the maid in front of her grandmother, but if she was willing to believe Hongying, why didn't she believe Manhua?

  "Mother, Manhua has been following me for so long, always loyal and devoted, keeping to her duties. Last night I had something to attend to and left the table, she followed me and waited for me at the Huahua Gate for a long time. That maid must have passed by the Huahua Gate when entering or leaving the inner courtyard, Manhua must have seen her."

  Lin Zhaoyan said, softening his tone, a pair of eyes like autumn water looked at Liu's family, with hidden tears, "Mother, Manhua is meticulous, if she can really help to catch that maid, then, can you, let her return to my side?"

  She rarely made such a pitiful appearance, which would make people feel a little soft-hearted just by looking at her. Adding to that was her previous "complaint" and the promise she had made earlier, Liu could only helplessly sigh.

  "It's fine, as long as she can help find that maid, mother will let her off." Liu Shi promised, and glanced at Lin Ruoyan who was standing beside her, only to feel a strong sense of powerlessness rising from the bottom of her heart.

  This matter of Man Hua should be handled by Ruo Jie, but it's likely that they will part on bad terms and both suffer losses.

  "What shall we do now? Shall we call all the maids over to let Manhua identify them?" Lin Ruoyan asked impatiently.

  "No, that would only alarm the snake in the grass." Lin Zhaoyan shook his head and vetoed the idea, saying slowly: "Don't rush into it for now. That person hasn't succeeded in their scheme, so they must be filled with regret and remorse. But more likely, they're thinking of ways to clear themselves. Since we've already guessed that it's either Madame Hou or Princess Wan behind this, let's find someone to secretly keep an eye on their movements. As soon as there's an opportunity, we'll expose the truth and make them unable to retreat."

  Lin Ruoyan's heart was vexed and her mind was in disarray, she said irritably: "Didn't you say that Second Aunt also participated? Then ask Second Aunt, force her to speak out!"

  She can't wait any longer and just wants to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible, she must make her pay the price!

  Before Lin Zhaoyan could respond, Liu's expression turned cold and she scolded: "When will you learn to think things through before acting? Do you think your second aunt is a fool? Without evidence, do you think she would admit it?"

  She wasn't not anxious in her heart, it's just that everything had to be done with a good strategy. If she rushed forward impulsively, she would only end up having a falling out with Lu Shi and become a laughing stock for outsiders. How could they then talk about uncovering the mastermind behind the scenes?

  Thank you for the rewards from Wu Dong Yue Ling, Mu Hong, Qi Lian, Winter Night Rain Stroll, The Sky Has Faded to Blue, and Cai Mi's Happiness!