Ye Ling’er looked suspicious and asked in confusion, “What bracelet?”
“Hah, are you playing dumb?” Qin Rou said angrily. “It’s the gold-inlaid white jade bracelet from my birthday a few days ago, worth eight hundred taels of silver.”
“I just showed you that jade bracelet yesterday, and you said it was very beautiful and you liked it. Have you forgotten already?”
Ye Ling’er thought for a moment and recalled the incident with Qin Rou’s bracelet.
After Qin Rou obtained the bracelet, she brought it to the academy and showed it off to her classmates in every possible way.
She even insisted on shoving the bracelet into Ye Ling’er’s hands to look at, so Ye Ling’er could only politely compliment it as beautiful.
Ye Ling’er shook her head. “I haven’t seen it, and I certainly didn’t steal it.”
“I don’t believe you!” Qin Rou sneered. “Last night, I placed the bracelet in my desk drawer. When I arrived today, it was gone.”
“Every day after school, you’re always the last to leave. If you didn’t steal it, who else could it be?”
Ye Ling’er felt irritated and repeated, “I said it wasn’t me.”
“You still won’t admit it?” Qin Rou clenched her fists in anger, on the verge of tears.
Ye Ling’er knew that Qin Rou was accustomed to playing such tricks. Her tears seemed to have an on-off switch, falling whenever she pleased.
It was precisely this deep mastery of “green tea” tactics that made many wealthy young men orbit around her, utterly bewitched.
Sure enough, seeing Qin Rou’s tear-filled eyes, the boys’ hearts swelled with pity and protectiveness, and they began to condemn Ye Ling’er one after another.
“It was clearly you who stole it. Why won’t you admit it?”
“Daring to do it but not daring to own up to it—what kind of hero is that?”
“The prestigious Prince Xiaoyao’s household engaging in such sneaky, thieving acts—aren’t you ashamed?”
“Hmph, the Ye family has long since fallen from grace. What kind of princely household are they now?”
“The entire Ye family is practically extinct, leaving only her father, who’s nothing but a hopeless drunkard.”
“I heard that drunkard lives in a drunken stupor every day, completely neglecting to discipline his daughter.”
“It’s only natural for her to engage in such sneaky, thieving acts…”
Hearing someone mention the Ye family, Ye Ling’er instantly flared up in anger.
“Don’t you dare slander my father!”
Qin Rou showed no fear. “Then return my bracelet! Let us search you!”
“On what grounds?!” Ye Ling’er said furiously. “This is nothing but false accusation…”
However, at Qin Rou’s command, the boys immediately surrounded Ye Ling’er without another word.
They kicked over Ye Ling’er’s desk and emptied everything from the drawer.
They even snatched her schoolbag and dumped its contents all over the floor.
Ye Ling’er clenched her fists in rage but forcibly restrained her impulse, standing quietly to the side.
“Huh? It’s not here.”
“What’s going on? Did she hide it somewhere else?”
The boys made a complete mess of Ye Ling’er’s belongings but found no trace of the bracelet.
Qin Rou glanced at Ye Ling’er standing nearby, a sly, cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
Her false accusation against Ye Ling’er stemmed from long-standing jealousy.
Within White Deer Academy, she was renowned for her excellent character and academic achievements.
Only Ye Ling’er consistently outshone her in every aspect.
In terms of appearance, Qin Rou had to admit that Ye Ling’er’s skin was fairer than hers, and her features were more handsome.
Many boys secretly regarded Ye Ling’er as their dream lover.
It was just that Ye Ling’er was inherently aloof and rarely responded to others’ attempts at conversation.
Otherwise, these boys would surely flock around Ye Ling’er every day, instead of surrounding her as they do now.
In terms of academics, Ye Ling’er excels in both cultural studies and cultivation, always overshadowing her and earning praise from the teachers.
Qin Rou cannot bear the existence of a girl who surpasses her in every way.
However, today’s scheme of false accusation was instructed by her father, who taught her exactly what to say and do.
As for why her father would do this, she has no idea.
After searching for a while and finding nothing, the boys silently stepped back.
Ye Ling’er picked up her schoolbag and said coldly, “You didn’t find anything. It’s a false accusation.”
“Kneel down and apologize to me.”
“You… what did you say?”
Qin Rou’s face flushed with anger.
But before she could speak, the boys beside her rushed to defend her.
“Nonsense!”
“Miss Rou’er has always been kind-hearted and excels in both character and studies. How could she possibly slander you?”
“Exactly! Miss Rou’er is the daughter of Prime Minister Qin!”
“Prime Minister Qin is a model for scholars across the land, renowned for raising his daughter with utmost care. How could he possibly allow her to slander you?”
“It’s clearly because your Ye family has fallen into decline that they produced a thief like you!”
Faced with their accusations, Ye Ling’er couldn’t help but laugh in anger.
With irrefutable evidence right before their eyes, they still defended Qin Rou.
Are these people’s brains not fully developed?
“I know!”
Qin Rou suddenly thought of something and shrieked, “My bracelet went missing last night.”
“You must have stolen it last night and hidden it in your prince’s mansion!”
“Everyone, please accompany me to search the mansion!”
Hearing this, Ye Ling’er could no longer contain her fury, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
“How dare you!”
“Our Ye family is filled with loyal martyrs. How could we allow you to tarnish our name?”
“You clearly see that our Ye family has declined, with only my father holding up the household, and think we’re easy to bully!”
Qin Rou sneered disdainfully, “My father is the current prime minister, at the peak of his power. How could a declining prince’s mansion like yours be worthy of our slander?”
“Ungrateful and treacherous!”
Ye Ling’er said coldly, “If it weren’t for the successive sacrifices of our Ye family ancestors fighting against the Demon Tribe, do you think your father could sit comfortably in court?”
“Hah, my father’s talent has been recognized by His Majesty.”
Qin Rou mocked, “As for your Ye family, in my opinion, you’re nothing but a bunch of incompetent rabble.”
“It’s only because His Majesty pities you that he bestowed upon you the title of Prince Xiaoyao.”
“If you weren’t incompetent, how could your entire family have died out, leaving only a drunkard?”
“Oh, wait, that’s not right. There’s also you—a bastard born to a mother but raised without one!”
“Hahahaha!”
Hearing Qin Rou’s words, the others immediately burst into laughter.
Even some of the other classmates couldn’t help but chuckle.
Listening to their mocking laughter, a thick killing intent flashed in Ye Ling’er’s eyes.
Insulting her was one thing.
But insulting the Ye family…
She could never tolerate it!
Ye Ling’er took a deep breath, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.
“Qin Rou, are you sure… I stole your bracelet?”
“You are the most suspicious!”
Qin Rou sneered, “If you didn’t steal it, let us search the prince’s mansion to prove your innocence.”
“Otherwise… it must have been you!”
Ye Ling’er didn’t continue the topic, instead asking with great interest, “What realm are you at now?”
Qin Rou was caught off guard by the question and instinctively replied, “Sixth Layer of Qi Refining… why?”
Ye Ling’er smiled and said, “Then guess what realm I’m at?”
Qin Rou asked suspiciously, “Foundation Establishment? What does that have to do with me? We’re discussing the bracelet right now…”
In the next second, before anyone could see what happened.
A shrill scream was heard as Qin Rou was sent flying through the air.
“A mere Qi Refining cultivator… dares to slander me?”