Chapter 25: What Instruction Does Madam Sheng the Sixth Have?

Cornered and retreating step by step by Yun Zhaozhao’s sharp retorts, Miss Mei was overwhelmed with panic and completely at a loss.

Useless trash!

Kong Yuling glared fiercely at her and stepped forward herself.

“What more evidence do you need? Just now, those two sisters sat beside her—aren’t they the culprits? Why not just search them? Or are you feeling guilty and afraid to search?”

“If you put it that way, then I’m all fired up,” Yun Zhaozhao stepped forward. “Just now, you stood opposite me. When a silver note fell from me, I suspected you hid it in your undergarments. Shouldn’t we strip you and check inside, then?”

“Yun Zhaozhao, you’re shameless!” Kong Yuling shouted in anger.

“What’s the matter? Afraid? Feeling guilty?”

“You… you…”

“Tsk, look at you stammering like that from guilt.”

Kong Yuling was silenced by the sharp retort, tears threatening to spill.

“Madam Sheng Liu, why must you be so aggressive?” Bai Wan’er suddenly approached, her expression calm yet compassionate.

“In the end, Miss Kong is just standing up for Miss Mei. Even if her methods are extreme, it’s well-intentioned. Shouldn’t we show mercy? Why does Madam Sheng Liu have to humiliate and slander her so harshly?”

“Tsk, what a pristine lotus blooming in the prosperous age.”

“What do you mean by that, Madam Sheng Liu?”

“I’m praising you—pure and unstained despite growing in the muck.”

Bai Wan’er smiled politely, “Thank you for the compliment, Madam Sheng Liu.”

“Not done yet—the reason the lotus is white is because its roots lie in the mud.”

For a fleeting moment, Bai Wan’er's smile stiffened. “I’m merely speaking fairly. Must Madam Sheng Liu be so overbearing and intolerant?”

“Miss Bai’s ‘fair words’ hardly seem fair. On one hand, she sides with Miss Kong; on the other, she baselessly accuses my sister. Such fairness is something our General’s household cannot accept.”

Yun Chuchu’s words cut to the core.

A flicker of darkness flashed in Bai Wan’er’s eyes before she pressed her lips tightly. “Miss Bai misunderstood; that was not my intention.”

“Fine, if you say so, then so be it.”

Yun Zhaozhao was tired of arguing and just wanted to lie down and relax.

She glanced at Xiang Lian’er and Xiang Zhu’er nearby, whose eyes held envy, jealousy, and something else.

“What are you dawdling for? Aren’t you leaving?”

“No one is allowed to leave!” Kong Yuling spread her arms to block their path. “Until the matter is clarified, no one leaves. Leaving means guilt!”

“Is this never going to end?”

Yun Zhaozhao’s patience wore thin. “Alright, speak. What do you want?”

“Very simple: a body search. If we find a hairpin on either of them, your General’s household admits to being thieves and kneels to apologize.”

“And if nothing is found?”

“That’s impossible!” Kong Yuling declared loudly.

Her eyes gleamed with the excitement of impending revenge.

Yun Zhaozhao sneered coldly. “You’re so sure before even searching? That’s basically telling everyone you ordered her to frame us.”

“Nonsense!”

“Then stop stalling! Search them. If you find something, we’ll do as you say. If not, then you strip and we’ll see if my silver notes are hidden inside your clothes. How about that?”

“Why me? If anyone should be stripped, it’s her!” Kong Yuling pointed at Miss Mei.

Miss Mei trembled with fear. “I—I don’t…”

“Kong Yuling, do you think everyone’s a fool? You’ve been the most eager all along. The ‘no silver buried here’ trick has been played by you for all to see.”

“I didn’t! Yun Zhaozhao, stop slandering me!”

“Enough. Just say yes or no. If no, step aside and don’t block the way.”

Kong Yuling looked at Miss Mei and her companions. Seeing their confident glances toward Xiang Zhu’er, she gritted her teeth and said, “Fine, I agree!”

“Snap!” Yun Zhaozhao snapped her fingers. “Then let’s begin.”

“I refuse! I won’t agree to a body search. If this spreads, how will I face anyone in the future?”

Xiang Zhu’er protested loudly.

“Sister Zhao, Zhu’er is right. If we get searched, all the sisters in our General’s household will be talked about. We don’t want to drag you and Sister Chu down with us.”

Yun Zhaozhao inwardly sneered.

These two sisters had only the cunning to be fierce at home.

“No worries, Miss Kong will accompany you.”

With that, she pushed the two sisters into the center of the crowd.

Kong Yuling’s side surged forward and thoroughly frisked the two sisters from head to toe.

“How could there be nothing?”

“Impossible! I clearly…”

They searched repeatedly but found not a single hairpin.

Kong Yuling was utterly crestfallen.

She quietly retreated step by step into the crowd.

Yun Zhaozhao kept her in sight. “Miss Kong, where are you going? No hairpins found, so you owe up to your bet.”

“No! You’re slandering me. I absolutely refuse to undress!”

“That’s not up to you!”

Yun Zhaozhao moved swiftly, stripping off Kong Yuling’s outer garment in a few quick moves.

“Ah!”

Kong Yuling screamed, curling tightly in shame.

Yun Zhaozhao took a moment to admire her miserable state, then ceased.

She tossed the garment back lazily. “Looks like there really aren’t any silver notes of mine. Fine, forget it.”

“Yun Zhaozhao, you vile woman! I’ll kill you!”

Kong Yuling’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Miss Kong, you must accept the bet. This time I spared your undergarments, but next time I’ll strip you bare!”

“Yun Zhaozhao, just wait. The Duke of Qingguo’s household won’t let you off!”

Shaking while putting on her outer garment, Kong Yuling spat threats.

“Clack!”

A jade hairpin fell from her clothes, shattering into two pieces on the ground.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Miss Mei looked at the broken hairpin with terror and regret.

“Smack!”

Kong Yuling fiercely slapped her. “Wretch, how dare you frame me! The humiliation I suffered today will be repaid a hundredfold!”

Miss Mei seemed drained of all strength, collapsing to the ground.

Yun Zhaozhao ignored them, turning her gaze to Bai Wan’er, who was about to leave.

“Miss Bai, wait.”

“Madam Sheng Liu, what do you wish to say?”

“I wouldn’t dare instruct you. But Miss Bai, you like to speak fairly, don’t you? Now, isn’t it time to speak a fair word for our General’s household?”

Bai Wan’er’s calm expression almost faltered. She took a deep breath. “Apologies, I was biased and misled. Please forgive me, Madam Sheng Liu.”

“Well said! Miss Bai, with your beauty and kindness, now that you see the truth, surely you cannot bear to see our General’s household suffer such injustice. Why not speak well of us for seven days in the bustling capital?”

Seeing Bai Wan’er’s mask slip, Yun Zhaozhao’s mood lifted as she left the palace.

She glanced back to see Xiang Zhu’er glaring at her with hatred.

“If you keep staring like that, I won’t hesitate to gouge out your eyes!”

Yun Zhaozhao said coldly.

Xiang Zhu’er shrank her neck but still complained bitterly, “You could have stopped them from searching us. Why didn’t you?”

“Why should I?”

“You!”

Xiang Zhu’er fumed, “Just wait. I’m telling Grandmother. She’ll punish you for sure!”