Old Madam pondered for a moment, her expression stern as she glanced faintly at Su Leyun.
“If it cannot be found, then it cannot be found. What else do you intend to do?”
Upon hearing this, Sun Jiarou’s chest heaved, and her body trembled slightly, clearly enraged. This was not about searching for stolen goods at all—it was clearly an excuse to torment someone!
“Grandmother’s beloved item cannot simply be dismissed. If it is not found in your granddaughter’s quarters, the entire mansion should be searched.”
“This…”
Old Madam frowned slightly. To turn the entire household upside down over a bracelet—what kind of spectacle would that be?
“Grandmother, in such a large Su Mansion, why search only me? Do others not have any suspicion? If outsiders hear of this, those who understand will say you are doing it for my own good, but those who do not know the reason will think you are unkind.”
Su Leyun pressed forward step by step, her delicate and radiant features filled with openness and honesty.
Seeing this, Su Wan’er glanced at Chunxing and, upon seeing her nod, felt slightly reassured. She then advised Old Madam, “Sister Yun is right. If it is not found in her courtyard, they can search mine as well.”
Old Madam was quite pleased and patted Su Wan’er’s hand.
“As you say, go in and search.”
Su Leyun held Sun Jiarou’s arm and cleared the courtyard gate, allowing the others to enter.
The servants from Old Madam’s courtyard, along with those brought by the steward, entered in a large group of maids.
Sun Jiarou’s face turned pale as she watched them rummaging through the place as if conducting a raid. Several times, she wanted to reprimand them but was stopped by Su Leyun.
The real show was yet to come—how could they stop it now?
Su Leyun leaned close to her mother’s ear and whispered, “Do not worry, Mother. Just watch.”
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the maids had searched every inch of Zhaohua Cottage. Mama Zhao stepped forward to report.
“Old Madam, it was not found.”
“Impossible! I saw with my own eyes that the young lady hid the jade bracelet under her pillow!”
Chunxing rushed into the bedroom in a panic and, in front of everyone, lifted the pillow—only to find nothing beneath it.
“Impossible, this cannot be!”
Chunxing could not believe her eyes. She frantically searched the bed with her hands but found nothing.
Seeing this, Old Madam’s expression darkened, and she slammed the table heavily.
“Bold servant! How dare you falsely accuse your master! Take her away and give her fifty lashes.”
Chunxing was terrified out of her wits. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. Fifty lashes—how could a young woman like her endure them? Even if she did not die, she would be crippled.
She scrambled on her hands and knees to Su Wan’er, clutching her calf and pleading desperately.
“Young Miss, please, save me! Save me!”
Instead of begging Old Madam, who had ordered her punishment, Chunxing turned to Su Wan’er. Everyone’s gaze scrutinized her.
Su Wan’er could not maintain her composure and hurriedly pushed Chunxing away.
“Even if my heart is kind, I cannot help you. Why didn’t you think of your family before committing such a foolish act? Now they will share in your shame.”
Upon hearing the word “family,” Chunxing’s face turned pale, and her body suddenly lost all strength.
“This was my doing alone. I beg Old Madam not to involve my family.”
Chunxing stood up, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed heavily. Then, she cast a deep glance at Su Wan’er before turning and rushing toward a stone pillar in the corridor outside the courtyard. She collided with it and lost her life on the spot.
“She knew what was right. Let this be a lesson to all of you—this is the fate of those who betray their master.”
Old Madam’s gaze swept over everyone as she slammed her teacup heavily onto the table.
Su Leyun watched their performance coldly. Fortunately, after discovering the bracelet last night, she had Cuiliu take it elsewhere; otherwise, today she would be the one unable to defend herself.
In her previous life, Mama Zhao had directly retrieved the bracelet from under the pillow. The news spread far and wide, and the entire capital knew that the Su Family’s legitimate daughter was a petty thief with shallow eyes.
Because of this incident, she was pointed at and whispered about, hiding in her own courtyard for a long time, too afraid to go out.
Later, after marrying into the Li Family, she was often mocked and scorned because of this matter.
Having been reborn, she intended to return all of this exactly as it was to Su Wan’er.
Old Madam severely punished Chunxing, hoping to suppress the matter of searching the residence, but Su Leyun was determined not to let them have their way.
Before Su Leyun could speak, Mama Zhao handed an object to Old Madam.
“Old Madam, although I did not find the jade bracelet, I did uncover this.”
Seeing the apricot-yellow tassel dangling from Old Madam’s hand, Su Leyun’s heart sank. Oh no, it was Prince Jin’s jade pendant!
After returning home, she had hidden the jade pendant in a cabinet. Today, during the search of the courtyard, she had completely forgotten about it!
“A royal jade pendant—where did you get this?”
Old Madam’s expression turned grave, her tone carrying a caution and authority not usually present.
Seeing this, Su Wan’er put on a panicked expression and urged, “Sister Yun, privately hoarding royal items is a serious crime. You should return it quickly.”
Su Wan’er’s exaggerated words had their effect. Sure enough, Old Madam’s expression changed, and she struck her cane heavily on the ground.
“You wretch! Speak the truth at once—where did this jade pendant come from?”
“It was given by this prince!”
A clear, resonant male voice came from outside the courtyard. Prince Jin walked in at the front, with Marquis Su and Su Ye accompanying him on either side.
Everyone in the room rose to pay their respects, while maids and servants knelt in rows.
Prince Jin raised his hand to signal everyone to rise, then strolled over to Old Madam, took the jade pendant from her hand, and handed it back to Su Leyun.
“Miss Yun, you must keep it safe.”
Su Leyun lowered her eyes and, to avoid touching it, grasped the jade pendant by its tassel.
“Thank you, Your Highness Prince Jin.”
“You are too polite, Miss Yun.”
Prince Jin chuckled softly, glanced briefly at the master of the house, and then, led by Marquis Su, took the seat of honor.
“Everyone, please be seated.”
At Prince Jin’s words, everyone sat down. Old Madam took the first seat on the right, her gaze shifting between Prince Jin and Su Leyun.
She wondered inwardly: since her granddaughter had been found and brought back, she had only visited her maternal grandparents’ home. How had she come to know Prince Jin? And to have earned his favor, even receiving a jade pendant from him?
Su Wan’er glanced at Prince Jin out of the corner of her eye, her brow slightly furrowed.
Prince Jin was famously indifferent to women. When had this country bumpkin managed to climb such a high branch as Prince Jin?
Marquis Su sat in the first seat on the left. Only after Prince Jin had taken a sip of tea to soothe his throat did he cautiously speak up.
“May I ask what brings Your Highness here today?”
Prince Jin smiled apologetically, his gaze resting on Su Leyun as he spoke in a low voice.
“Miss Yun was troubled by her inability to be recorded in the family register and specifically asked me to find the midwife who delivered the late Marchioness to prove her identity. Unfortunately, I was a step too late. By the time my men found the midwife, she had already passed away.”
His gaze swept over everyone present, and Prince Jin understood the situation clearly.
It was said that the eldest daughter of the Su Family was a talented woman, but now it seemed she was ruthless and cunning.
“Since I failed to accomplish the task, I have come specifically to apologize to Miss Yun.”
Su Leyun’s face flushed red and then paled white, inwardly cursing that Prince Jin truly had a silver tongue, telling lies without even batting an eye.
When had she ever begged him to find someone, and how could she dare blame him…