Chapter 93: The Target
Far away from the Flower Pavilion, atop a two-story viewing pavilion overlooking the imperial garden, two men quietly watched everything unfolding below.
From where they stood, the entire Flower Pavilion lay clearly within sight. Every movement made by the noble ladies, every palace maid entering and leaving, and even the growing commotion surrounding Wang Gege could all be observed without obstruction.
One of them was dressed in a dark blue robe.
The other...
Was Xie Rong.
Pei Shuheng stood quietly beside him, his brows gradually drawing together as he watched the unfolding scene below.
After several moments of silence, he finally spoke, "I still do not understand."
His gaze shifted toward Xie Rong, "Why? Why would Young Master test his own wife?"
Xie Rong’s eyes never left the distant figure standing amidst the crowd.
Even from where he stood, he could clearly see Wang Gege remaining beside the opened gift box while countless pairs of eyes rested upon her.
His expression remained as calm as ever. Only after a long silence did he quietly answer, "Because one day." His voice was low and steady, "Sooner or later... I may no longer be by her side."
Pei Shuheng frowned, "What does Young Master mean by those words?"
Xie Rong lowered his gaze slightly, "I cannot remain beside her forever." His fingers slowly tightened behind his back, "If she cannot overcome something like this..."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Then what will become of her after I leave?"
Silence settled between the two men once again.
A gentle breeze swept across the viewing pavilion, causing the hanging curtains to sway softly.
After a long while, Pei Shuheng finally let out a quiet sigh.
"This one truly cannot understand Young Master’s intentions."
He rested both hands upon the wooden railing before looking toward the Flower Pavilion once more.
"Most husbands would do everything within their power to shield their wives from the schemes of the inner court."
His brows knitted together, "Yet Young Master... personally arranged one."
There was neither accusation nor ridicule within his tone. Only genuine confusion.
Xie Rong’s gaze remained fixed upon the distant figure standing alone within the pavilion. "Precisely because of that."
Pei Shuheng slowly turned toward him, "I still do not understand."
"If I resolve every danger for her..." Xie Rong’s calm voice carried almost no emotion, "She will eventually come to rely upon me."
Pei Shuheng was momentarily stunned, "But... Is that not what a husband ought to do?"
Xie Rong slowly lowered his gaze, "For today... perhaps."
His eyes rested quietly upon the wooden railing before him. "But no one can promise a lifetime."
Several moments passed before he spoke again, "There may come a day... when she calls for me... yet I am no longer able to answer."
Pei Shuheng’s expression gradually became more complicated.
He pondered those words for a long while before asking, "Does Young Master believe... His Majesty intends to summon you to the battlefield once more?"
Xie Rong did not answer. His gaze remained quietly fixed upon the Flower Pavilion, as though the question had never reached his ears.
Seeing that he had no intention of responding, Pei Shuheng did not pursue the matter further.
Instead, he let out a faint sigh.
"Even if Young Master truly has his reasons..." He paused briefly before looking toward Wang Gege once more, "Is this not too risky?"
His brows slowly knitted together, "The moment the betrothal token was found inside Young Madam’s gift box... she had already become the prime suspect."
He turned toward Xie Rong, "If she fails to prove her innocence... Not only will she bear the accusation of theft... even the reputation of the Xie Residence will inevitably suffer."
The breeze gently stirred the hanging curtains of the viewing pavilion.
Xie Rong remained quiet. His eyes never once left the slender figure standing within the Flower Pavilion.
After a long while, he finally spoke. "That is why... I chose today."
Pei Shuheng frowned, "I do not understand."
"The Princess Consort." Xie Rong’s voice remained calm, "Values fairness above all else."
"As long as there is no irrefutable evidence... She will not convict anyone based solely upon suspicion." He paused briefly before continuing, "And my wife..." His gaze softened almost imperceptibly, "Is not someone who waits helplessly for others to decide her fate."
Pei Shuheng looked at him in silence, "You trust her that much?"
Xie Rong answered without the slightest hesitation, "I do."
Meanwhile, the entire Flower Pavilion remained deathly silent.
Miss Zhao still held the embroidered pouch tightly against her chest, as though afraid it might disappear again if she loosened her grip even slightly.
Wang Gege could feel countless pairs of eyes lingering upon her.
Some were filled with curiosity and some with disbelief.
Others... Had already begun to carry suspicion.
Wang Gege slowly lowered her gaze toward the opened gift box. Her thoughts became a tangled mess.
’Impossible... it would be impossible for someone to slip the pouch inside while they were talking earlier, since Qing’er was there all the time.’
She glanced at Qing’er’s pale face before leaning and whispered, "Is there anyone who approached you when we arrived just now?"
Qing’er blinked several times, clearly caught off guard by the sudden question. She quickly lowered her voice, careful not to let anyone else overhear.
"No, Young Madam." She shook her head firmly, "Ever since this servant entered the pavilion, this servant has remained behind Young Madam."
Her brows gradually drew together as she desperately tried to recall every moment since they had arrived.
"No one came near this servant..." She paused before correcting herself, "At least, no one touched the gift box."
Wang Gege frowned slightly, "Think carefully."
Qing’er immediately lowered her head again, "This servant remembers placing the gift box beside Young Madam’s seat before standing behind Young Madam. After that..."
Her voice grew quieter as she searched her memory, "When Young Lady Gu asked Young Madam to give up the seat... This servant picked up the gift box and followed Young Madam to the next seat."
Wang Gege’s eyes flickered. "And then?"
Qing’er bit her lower lip, "Then... This servant placed it beside Young Madam once more."
She shook her head repeatedly.
"After that, this servant never left Young Madam’s side. There was simply no opportunity for anyone to approach it."
Wang Gege slowly lowered her gaze.
’No... There had to be an opportunity.’
Otherwise... The pouch could never have appeared inside the gift box.
Her eyes slowly swept across the Flower Pavilion.
Gu Ruyan.
Shen Yurou.
Then... They finally settled upon Xie An’an. Her pupils contracted ever so slightly.
’Xie An’an... Inside the carriage...’
She suddenly remembered. They rode the carriage together.
Wang Gege instinctively took half a step forward but then, she abruptly stopped.
’No...’
Her brows slowly knitted together.
’That doesn’t make sense.’
Earlier, Miss Zhao had clearly said the betrothal token had only gone missing after she arrived at the Flower Pavilion.
If that was true... How could the pouch have already been inside the gift box while they were still in the carriage?
’Unless...’
Wang Gege’s breathing unconsciously hitched. Her eyes slowly widened as one terrifying possibility surfaced in her mind.
’Unless... the pouch inside the gift box and Miss Zhao’s missing pouch were never the same one to begin with.’
Wang Gege’s eyes once again swept across everyone gathered within the Flower Pavilion.
’And this had all been planned from the very beginning... Obviously I was the target!’