Chapter 122: The White Lotus Meets Her Match.
The silence within the hall was so suffocating that no one dared to breathe too loudly.
It was Wang Gege who finally broke it.
"But before this granddaughter-in-law leaves..." She slowly lifted her head, meeting Old Madam Xie’s gaze without the slightest intention of retreating, "Please allow this granddaughter-in-law to clear my name. Whether Grandmother ultimately believes I am a blessing or a calamity to the Xie family..."
"At the very least, this granddaughter-in-law does not wish to depart bearing a crime I did not commit." Her voice remained weak from her recent ordeal, yet every word rang with unwavering clarity throughout the hall.
"This granddaughter-in-law has neither pushed Sister An’an into the lotus pond... nor have I ever harbored any intention of harming her."
Xie An’an’s fingers instinctively tightened around the handkerchief resting upon her lap.
Although Wang Gege’s voice was soft, the composure with which she spoke caused an inexplicable unease to stir within her heart.
Old Madam Xie remained silent for a long moment. At last, she let out a quiet sigh.
"This old one never intended to ask you to leave." Her expression had softened ever so slightly. "This old one merely wished for an explanation."
Her weathered eyes settled upon Wang Gege. "An’an claimed that you accused her of harboring improper feelings toward her own Elder Brother." She paused before asking solemnly, "Tell this old one... Did such words truly leave your mouth?"
Old Madam Xie’s weathered eyes remained fixed upon Wang Gege, waiting patiently for her answer.
For a fleeting instant, Wang Gege lowered her gaze, as though gathering the strength to speak. The hall had become so silent that even the servants standing at the very back unconsciously held their breath, fearing that the slightest sound would shatter the fragile atmosphere.
At length, Wang Gege slowly nodded.
"Yes."
The answer fell softly, yet it was enough to cause a subtle stir throughout the hall.
Xie An’an’s fingers, hidden beneath the wide sleeve of her robe, relaxed ever so slightly. A trace of relief quietly surfaced within her heart. Wang Gege had admitted it with her own mouth. Regardless of what explanation followed, those words could no longer be taken back.
However...
Before anyone could interrupt, Wang Gege gently lifted her head. There was no trace of indignation upon her pale face, nor any attempt to defend herself in panic. Instead, a faint, self-deprecating smile gradually curved the corners of her lips.
"This granddaughter-in-law did indeed question Sister An’an." She paused briefly before continuing in an even gentler voice. "But... does Grandmother know why?"
Old Madam Xie remained silent. Not because she refused to answer, but because she genuinely did not know.
Seeing that, Wang Gege slowly clasped her hands together before her.
"This granddaughter-in-law entered the Xie family only a short while ago. Everything here was unfamiliar, and the only person this granddaughter-in-law could truly rely upon... was Husband."
As she spoke those words, her eyes instinctively drifted toward Xie Rong for only the briefest moment before quietly moving away again, as though even meeting his gaze had become difficult.
"Yet before this granddaughter-in-law could even begin to understand him, there was already someone beside him who knew his habits better than I did, who worried over him more readily than I could, and who seemed to understand every thought crossing his mind without needing a single explanation."
Her voice remained soft, but every word seemed to sink deeper into the hearts of those listening.
"This granddaughter-in-law is only an ordinary woman." A faint smile touched her lips once more, though it carried more bitterness than amusement.
"I would be lying if I claimed my heart never felt uneasy." Silence continued to linger throughout the hall.
Even Qing’er lowered her head, her eyes gradually reddening.
Wang Gege slowly turned toward Xie An’an. "That was why this granddaughter-in-law asked whether Sister An’an’s feelings toward Husband were truly no different from those of a younger sister looking upon her elder brother."
She lowered her eyes once more. "But this granddaughter-in-law also said..." Her voice became almost inaudible, "that I hoped I was mistaken."
After a brief pause, she looked once more toward Old Madam Xie. "Because no wife wishes for such a suspicion to be true. If this granddaughter-in-law had truly intended to ruin Sister An’an’s reputation, why would I have spoken those words only after ensuring no one else was present?"
Her smile grew increasingly bitter. "Why would I end those words by saying that I hoped I had misunderstood?"
She slowly shook her head. "This granddaughter-in-law was not seeking to expose Sister An’an. I was merely... seeking reassurance for my own heart."
The hall fell silent once more.
Xie An’an’s fingernails dug deeply into her palm beneath the cover of her sleeve.
No... This was not the direction the conversation should have taken. Before she could stop herself, the words escaped her lips.
"How could this sister possibly pretend as though nothing had happened?" Her breathing had become noticeably uneven.
"Sister-in-law says you hoped you were mistaken, yet every word you uttered forced this sister to bear such suspicions. If Grandmother or Father had overheard those words that day, how would this sister have continued to conduct herself within the Xie family?"
"You may claim you had no intention of ruining this sister’s reputation, but once such words are spoken... how could they ever be taken back?"
"Would Sister-in-law have been willing to bear such accusations if our positions had been reversed?"
The questions poured from her lips one after another, each sharper than the last.
"This sister has done nothing but treat the Elder Brother with the respect due to an elder brother. Yet because of a mere glance, a few moments of concern, and words spoken out of familial affection... Sister-in-law concluded that this sister harbored improper thoughts."
"Tell this sister... is that not unjust?" The final words echoed throughout the hall.
Then... Silence. A suffocating one.
Xie An’an’s chest rose and fell as she struggled to steady her breathing.
It was only then that she realized, everyone was looking at her.
The hall had become so quiet that not even the servants dared to lift their heads.
Her heart skipped a beat. She had spoken far too much and hasty.
The composure she had painstakingly maintained since entering the hall had cracked without her even realizing it.
Xie An’an instinctively lowered her eyes, her fingers tightening around the embroidered handkerchief as she forced herself to take a slow, measured breath.
When she looked up again, the agitation that had filled her face moments earlier had disappeared as though it had never existed.
In its place was the familiar gentle smile, accompanied by eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"This granddaughter..." Her voice had once again become soft and restrained, "merely felt wronged."
Wang Gege remained silent for a long moment before softly inclining her head.
"This granddaughter-in-law understands Sister An’an’s grievance. If this sister-in-law’s words caused An’an to feel wronged, then this sister-in-law is willing to apologize."
She paused before continuing, "However..."
Her calm gaze slowly settled upon Xie An’an. "There is one matter this sister-in-law has yet to understand."
The hall unconsciously grew still.
"After our conversation had already come to an end, this sister-in-law had clearly turned to return to the East Courtyard. Why then... did Sister An’an suddenly seize this sister-in-law’s wrist?"
Wang Gege’s voice remained as gentle as ever, yet every word seemed to weigh heavily upon the hall.
"And before this sister-in-law could even free myself... Why did Sister An’an suddenly rush toward this sister-in-law?" She lowered her eyes briefly. "In the end... both of us fell into the lotus pond."
Wang Gege slowly looked back up.
"This sister-in-law has pondered over it countless times after awakening... yet I still cannot understand. May An’an explain it to this sister-in-law?"