Free Web NovelChapter 355: Chapter 355: Scheming
The words had barely left her mouth when Ye Shixian saw a figure striding toward her.
She quickened her movements and studied her reflection in the mirror. Her hand paused on its way to the Red Agate Hairpin. Instead, she picked up a nearby white jade hairpin and slid it into her hair at an angle.
She wore no powder or rouge, giving her a pitiable beauty.
Ye Shixian took a deep breath. "Quickly, show him in—"
Before she could finish, Murong Ye was already there.
He stood at the door, his expression chilling.
This wasn’t what Ye Shixian had expected. She stood and asked softly, "Mr. Murong?"
The oppressive aura around Murong Ye was palpable.
Recalling what Shaoyao had said earlier, Ye Shixian’s heart sank.
Murong Ye said coldly, "All of you, out."
Shaoyao instinctively glanced at Ye Shixian, who then said, "You may all go about your duties. No one is to enter without my permission."
"Yes."
Shaoyao and the servant quickly withdrew, remembering to close the door behind them.
Only Ye Shixian and Murong Ye remained in the room.
Ye Shixian stepped forward and curtsied. "I was not aware you were coming today, Mr. Murong. Please forgive my discourtesy."
Murong Ye stared at her, but unlike usual, he didn’t reach for her. Instead, he suppressed a chest full of rage.
"What the hell is going on with that flower tea?!"
Ye Shixian froze.
She had considered he might have come for this reason, but she hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from him.
In all the time they had known each other, she had never seen him so blunt and demanding.
She suppressed her unease and explained softly.
"...and that’s what happened. It’s all just some trouble caused by a maidservant’s passing greed. But please, don’t worry, Mr. Murong. The rumors out there are completely baseless. They won’t affect you at all—" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"Is this how you manage your servants? You can’t even control a single maid?!" Murong Ye was utterly exasperated. "Do you have any idea that the flower tea has been taken to Shuntian Prefecture? They’ve brought in several people to examine it! You’ve made me a complete laughingstock!"
He had actually known about Mrs. Gao’s death for a while, but he’d had no time to visit, nor did he want to.
He had always loathed Mrs. Gao, and now that she was dead, he only felt relief.
But he never imagined he would get dragged into it himself!
Remembering the furious, disappointed look on his father’s face when he’d confronted him that morning, Murong Ye’s chest tightened with frustration.
’He was fond of Ye Shixian, yes, but he never intended to risk his own reputation for her!’
Ye Shixian was stunned for a moment. "B-but... it was just a packet of flower tea. And it truly has nothing to do with my mother’s death. The government will surely clear this up quickly—"
"But I’m already in trouble now!"
Murong Ye cut her off impatiently. He then saw tears welling up in Ye Shixian’s eyes as she looked at him, speechless and on the verge of weeping.
’Before, his heart would have ached for her, but now, he just felt irritated!’
"And this courtyard! I went to great lengths to find you such a quiet, spacious place, afraid you’d feel slighted in any way. And now? Someone has died in it!"
Ye Shixian could no longer hold back. "But that was my mother! Mr. Murong, how can you say such a thing?"
Seeing her look as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice, Murong Ye remained unmoved.
The corner of his mouth twitched into a cold sneer.
"Don’t bother putting on this act of the deeply devoted daughter for me. Her showing up at Yunlai Tavern to cause a scene that day—that was your idea, wasn’t it?"
A wave of panic washed over Ye Shixian.
She stumbled back half a step, clutching her chest in disbelief. "So... this is how you see me, Mr. Murong? Am I really such a despicable person in your eyes!?"
Murong Ye’s patience had run out. He couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore.
"You knew perfectly well what condition your mother was in. Her mind was already gone; she couldn’t handle the slightest provocation! On top of that, I specifically assigned extra people to you to help watch over her, precisely because I was afraid she’d have one of her episodes and cause trouble for you again."
He secretly clenched his fists, his tone growing harsher.
"Did you really think I didn’t know? That you deliberately sent her attendants away that day so you could go in and speak with her alone for a long time? She went to Yunlai Tavern not long after you left!"
The color drained from Ye Shixian’s face.
"Y-you’re spying on me!?"
’She had always believed Murong Ye was sincere. That he cherished her, worshipped her like a goddess. That as long as she deigned to ask, he would do anything for her.’
’That was why, even though she felt nothing for him, she had patiently coaxed and deceived him, putting on a gentle, timid act.’
’She did it only because she was certain it was the way to get what she wanted from him!’
’She wasn’t entirely unaware that the servants would secretly report things about her to him, but she never imagined he knew such minute details!’
Ye Shixian was filled with disappointed fury, but so was Murong Ye.
’He wasn’t an idiot. He had only turned a blind eye before because he was fond of her.’
’He knew she harbored a deep-seated hatred for Ye Chutang, so he had tacitly allowed her secret acts of revenge, thinking it was for the best if she could vent some of her resentment.’
’But who would have thought she’d drag him down with her!’
’Now he was the laughingstock of the entire Capital City!’
Murong Ye laughed as if he’d heard a joke. "What nonsense are you talking about? You live in my house, use my people, and every single thing you eat, wear, and use is paid for with my silver. And you call that spying?"
Ye Shixian’s face flushed red and pale with anger; it was quite the spectacle.
A thousand retorts rose in her throat, but she forced them all back down.
She took a few ragged breaths. The resentment in her eyes slowly faded, replaced once more by shimmering tears.
She gave a bitter laugh and said softly, "You are right, Mr. Murong. This is what I owe you."
’The moment the words left his mouth, Murong Ye felt a pang of regret, feeling he had gone too far.’
Now, hearing her say this, he couldn’t help but feel a fresh wave of guilt.
He paced back and forth, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he softened his tone. "That’s not what I meant. I just think you’re already caught up in so much, you can’t afford any more trouble! Do you think the people from Shuntian Prefecture are easy to deal with? Even if there’s nothing wrong with the tea, the fact that they took it means I’ll be investigated from top to bottom!"
Ye Shixian looked at him, and in the next moment, she fell rigidly to her knees.
"I had no idea this would cause so much trouble for you, Mr. Murong. It’s all my fault! Please, don’t worry. I will go to Shuntian Prefecture right now and explain everything to them, no matter what it takes. They can lock me up, they can punish me—as long as I can clear your name, I am willing to bear full responsibility!"
