Ji Huaian pointed his finger, and everyone turned to look at Zhao Xue.
The Young Marquis was going to deal with this girl again… That was what everyone thought.
Everyone in the Marquis Residence knew how Zhao Xue had ended up being sold here. Because she had a fierce and unyielding temper and refused to submit to the Young Marquis, he would come to torment her from time to time.
This was not the first time.
The women and maids looked at Zhao Xue with sympathy. They had all tried to persuade Zhao Xue to give in, but Zhao Xue was firm and completely unmoved.
“Don’t you dare slander me.” Under Ji Huaian’s gaze, Zhao Xue’s eyes flashed with panic, but in the eyes of others, she only looked afraid.
“Ahem, I was only making an assumption. No need to be scared,” the Young Marquis said with a shameless smile.
Zhao Xue turned her head away, not daring to look at him.
“Young Masters, that Jade Buddha is extremely valuable. It was offered by Madam Sixth to the Buddha Hall and must be retrieved. I think we should start questioning these six maids first,” Third Aunt said.
At that moment, Ji Huaian saw Honglian return. She nodded at him, meaning it had already been put back. Ji Huaian waved his hand boldly and said, “The Jade Buddha was not stolen by them. Let them all go.”
“Young Masters, how did you determine that?”
“I can read faces.”
“Then what about the Jade Buddha?” Third Aunt asked with difficulty.
“The Jade Buddha is spiritual. How could ordinary people steal it? Don’t worry, when the time comes it will return by itself,” he said while pretending to be deep and mysterious.
“This…” Third Aunt was speechless.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and untie them.”
Third Aunt did not dare disobey and immediately ordered people to untie the six maids’ ropes.
“Thank you, Young Masters, for your clear judgment…” The six maids knelt.
“Stand up,” Ji Huaian said as he helped the most beautiful maid up, taking the chance to touch her soft hand. “What is your name?”
The maid’s face flushed red as she shyly said, “Replying to Young Masters, this servant is called A Xiu.”
“So it’s Sister Xiu’er… Look at this, her fair hand has been bruised by the ropes. Third Aunt, in the future, if there is no evidence, do not act recklessly,” the Young Marquis said while kneading A Xiu’s little hand with a lustful smile.
Third Aunt seemed to understand something. She glanced at A Xiu and softly said, “I understand what Young Marquis means.”
At that moment, a maid rushed over, panting heavily, “Third Aunt, it’s back…”
“What is back?”
“Third Aunt, the Jade Buddha… has returned…”
“Really?” Third Aunt looked shocked.
“Really. I just entered the Buddha Hall to clean and saw the Jade Buddha has returned.”
“Let’s go take a look.”
Everyone rushed to the Buddha Hall and saw the Jade Buddha sitting safely in its original place. The Jade Buddha could not have returned on its own, so there was only one explanation. This must have been done by that brat.
Everyone thought the same, except Zhao Xue. She looked at the Young Marquis, feeling uneasy. She stole it herself, and it should be in Sun Yu’s hands now. How did it come back? Did something happen to Sun Yu?
“Third Aunt, didn’t I say the Jade Buddha has spirituality? Hahaha…”
“Young Marquis was right.”
“Although the Jade Buddha has returned by itself, we cannot ignore the fact that a thief entered the house,” the Young Marquis said as he looked at Zhao Xue, narrowing his eyes with a smile. Then he continued, “I remember there is a back door in the side courtyard. That door is unnecessary. Third Aunt, find someone to seal it.”
He discovered it?
Zhao Xue’s heart pounded wildly and panic surged within her. Third Aunt immediately agreed. The Young Marquis no longer stayed and left with Honglian.
Honglian was confused that he didn’t expose Zhao Xue, but she did not ask. The two returned to the eastern wing courtyard. The sunset glow decorated the sky, and the sun had already set.
“Go and summon Zhao Xue here.”
Honglian accepted the order and left. After a while, she brought Zhao Xue to the eastern wing room. Ji Huaian had not spoken, but Honglian sensibly closed the door and stood guard outside.
Inside the room, Ji Huaian looked at Zhao Xue. Although she wore servant clothing, she was beautiful and elegant, with delicate brows and graceful posture. Her figure was excellent, full and curvy, and the mole on her snow-white neck added a unique charm. No wonder the Young Marquis wanted her.
“What do you want to do?” Zhao Xue nervously asked.
“What do you think I want to do?” he said as he stepped closer.
Zhao Xue panicked and kept retreating to maintain distance. “Even if I die, I will not let a beast like you defile me.”
“Is that so?” Ji Huaian’s lips curled into an amused smile. This girl was stubborn, which instead stirred his desire to conquer her. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Give up that idea.”
“Hehe, then let’s talk about the Jade Buddha.”
“I don’t understand what you are saying.”
“Stop pretending. I saw you with my own eyes. This morning, at the back gate of the side courtyard, you handed the Jade Buddha to Sun Yu. I am not wrong, am I?”
“You… you are slandering me,” Zhao Xue said with her face flushed.
Not honest at all… Ji Huaian chuckled and took out the pawnshop slip. “This is the certificate of Sun Yu pawning the Jade Buddha.”
Zhao Xue bit her lips and said nothing.
“Still want to argue? Do you want me to drag Sun Yu here to confront you?”
“It was me who stole it. It has nothing to do with him. If you want to beat or kill someone, do as you please,” Zhao Xue said through clenched teeth.
Seeing Zhao Xue looking ready to die for another man made Ji Huaian strangely unhappy.
“I have the pawnshop certificate and the testimony of the shopkeeper. If I report Sun Yu for theft to the officials, what do you think will happen?”
Sun Yu was a scholar and would be attending the next imperial examination. If convicted of theft, not only would his qualification be revoked, but even his scholarly status would be stripped away. In this era, ordinary people rarely had chances to change their fate. If reported, Sun Yu’s future would be destroyed.
Zhao Xue trembled. Fear finally appeared in her eyes. “Young Marquis, please don’t…”
“Little girl, if you are begging, you should look like you are begging.”
“What do you want?”
“What do you think?”
He stared at Zhao Xue with a playful smile. The next moment, his pupils widened as he swallowed hard, because Zhao Xue untied her sash. Her clothes slipped down, revealing her fair collarbone, pink undergarment, smooth flat stomach, and long snow-white legs…
“Isn’t it me you want? As long as you spare Sun Yu, I will do as you wish,” Zhao Xue said as tears of humiliation rolled down her cheeks.
Ji Huaian’s throat tightened as he cursed inwardly, “Beast.”
Forcing a young girl to such a point was truly worse than a beast. He actually had no intention of truly doing anything to her. He was only bored and wanted to tease her. He did not expect that for Sun Yu, she would sacrifice herself.
Truly, the happiness of the rich was built on the suffering of ordinary people.
“Hurry and put your clothes back on. I’m not interested in you right now.” Although he said he was not interested, his eyes were practically glued to her.
“Young Marquis, I beg you, as long as you spare Sun Yu, I will do anything…” Zhao Xue said as she reached to untie her undergarment, and the next moment, a perfect pair of fair peaks bounced free. Ji Huaian instantly felt heat surge through his lower abdomen, and two streams of nosebleed flowed down.