Chapter 94: A Trial
’Mini...’
Wang Gege quietly called out to the little system within her mind, ’Are you sure you couldn’t sense anything at all?’
A brief silence followed. Only after several heartbeats did Mini’s hesitant voice finally sound.
’Host... Mini is sorry... Mini truly could not distinguish it.’
Wang Gege frowned slightly. ’Not even now?’
’No...’ Mini’s voice became noticeably softer, ’However, Host... there is another possibility that could explain this.’
Wang Gege’s brows knitted together, ’What do you mean?’
Mini hesitated for a moment before answering, ’Perhaps... what Host perceived as misfortune... was never misfortune to begin with.’
Wang Gege’s frown deepened, her gaze remaining fixed upon the three women standing not far away, ’How could this possibly not be misfortune?’
Mini fell silent for several moments before cautiously answering, ’Host... Mini senses fluctuations of fortune and misfortune. However... If an event is not born from genuine malice toward Host... Mini may not recognize it as misfortune.’
Wang Gege’s brows furrowed even tighter. ’You’re saying... this wasn’t done to harm me?’
’Mini does not know.’ The little system answered honestly, ’Mini can only sense the fluctuation. Mini cannot determine a person’s true intentions.’
’But...’ Mini hesitated, ’This incident feels... different.’
’Different?’ Wang Gege blinked, her heart was beating fast every second eventhough she tried to calm down.
’Yes. Mini cannot sense the hostility that usually accompanies misfortune. It feels as though...’ The little system paused again, seemingly unable to find the right words. ’Someone has created a trial...’ Rather than a disaster.’
Wang Gege’s pupils contracted slightly.
’A trial...’ She slowly lowered her gaze.
If that was true...Then whoever had orchestrated today’s events had never intended to destroy her from the very beginning.
But, if that was the case... Why go to such lengths?
And more importantly... Who would do such a thing?
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the three women before her.
Gu Ruyan... Shen Yurou... Xie An’an... before finally settling upon the Princess Consort herself.
At that very moment... The Princess Consort was already looking at her. Their eyes met across the Flower Pavilion.
The Princess Consort’s expression remained calm and unreadable. There was neither disappointment nor suspicion upon her face, making it impossible for anyone to discern what she was thinking.
"Young Madam Xie..." Her gentle voice broke the suffocating silence that had settled over the pavilion. "Do you have anything you wish to explain?"
The Flower Pavilion fell into complete silence.
Every noble lady’s gaze gathered upon Wang Gege. Some watched out of curiosity and others could barely conceal the suspicion in their eyes.
Even Miss Zhao looked at her with reddened eyes, the embroidered pouch still clutched tightly against her chest.
Wang Gege slowly drew in a breath. She knew... Every word she spoke from this moment onward would determine not only her own reputation, but also that of the Xie Residence.
She lowered herself into a respectful curtsy, "This subject does."
The Princess Consort remained silent, allowing her to continue.
Wang Gege slowly raised her head. "This subject has never seen Miss Zhao’s betrothal token before today." Her voice was neither hurried nor flustered, "Nor does this subject know how the pouch came to be inside the gift box."
A faint murmur immediately spread throughout the pavilion.
One of the noble ladies frowned, "But the pouch was discovered inside Young Madam’s gift box. That is a fact."
Another lady nodded lightly. "Indeed. If Young Madam cannot explain how it arrived there... it is difficult for others not to become suspicious."
Wang Gege did not immediately respond. Instead, she looked toward Miss Zhao. "May this subject ask Miss Zhao a question?"
Miss Zhao hesitated before looking toward the Princess Consort.
Receiving a slight nod of approval, she quietly answered, "You may."
Wang Gege smiled faintly. "When Miss Zhao realized the pouch was missing... Did you immediately search for it?"
Miss Zhao blinked, "I..." She thought back carefully before shaking her head. "No. I only noticed it after everyone had already taken their seats."
Wang Gege nodded thoughtfully, "In other words... Miss Zhao believes... The pouch could have gone missing at any point between entering the palace and the moment Miss Zhao checked her waist."
Miss Zhao slowly nodded, "Yes."
Before anyone could react, Wang Gege continued.
"Then..." She slowly swept her gaze across everyone gathered within the Flower Pavilion. "May this subject ask another question?"
No one spoke.
The Princess Consort simply gestured for her to continue.
Wang Gege’s eyes finally settled upon the palace maid who had searched her gift box.
"When the pouch was discovered... Where exactly was it found?"
The palace maid respectfully stepped forward.
"Replying to Young Madam... It was beneath the silk lining at the bottom of the gift box."
Wang Gege’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Beneath the lining..." She repeated softly. Then a faint smile slowly appeared upon her lips. "I see..."
The moment those words left her mouth... Several people unconsciously frowned.
Because Young Madam Xie did not look like someone who had just been cornered. She looked as though she had just realized something.
Even the Princess Consort’s gaze subtly changed.
"Young Madam Xie..." Her voice remained calm. "Have you thought of something?"
Wang Gege slowly lifted her eyes.
Instead of answering immediately, she looked toward the embroidered gift box once more before turning her gaze toward the palace maid who had searched it.
Finally, her eyes swept across everyone gathered within the Flower Pavilion.
Only then did she smile. "I have."
A ripple immediately spread through the pavilion.
Gu Ruyan’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the teacup in her hand. Shen Yurou’s composed expression stiffened for the briefest moment. Even Xie An’an’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Wang Gege slowly drew in a breath. "If this subject’s guess is correct..." She paused, "then the answer to who placed Miss Zhao’s pouch inside this gift box... is far simpler than everyone has imagined."
The entire Flower Pavilion fell silent. Every noble lady unconsciously held her breath.
The Princess Consort looked at Wang Gege steadily. "Then... Speak."
Wang Gege slowly parted her lips, "Whoever placed the pouch inside this subject’s gift box... had access to the Xie Residence before we left for the palace."
The Flower Pavilion once again fell into silence.
Several noble ladies exchanged puzzled glances, quietly pondering Wang Gege’s words.
Before anyone could utter a single word... Xie An’an abruptly rose from her seat.
"What?!"
Her voice rang sharply throughout the pavilion.