Chapter 57: The Price of the Truth
Wang Gege quietly followed behind Xie Rong. The further they walked, the quieter the surroundings gradually became.
The bustling courtyards filled with servants slowly disappeared behind them, replaced by long stone pathways lined with towering trees. Even the occasional laughter from the maids could no longer be heard.
Wang Gege blinked as she looked around curiously, "This doesn’t seem like the way to the main courtyard."
Xie Rong nodded faintly. "It isn’t."
She tilted her head, "Then where are we going?"
"The Punishment Courtyard." He answered flatly.
Wang Gege instinctively slowed her footsteps. "The... Punishment Courtyard?"
She had imagined a gloomy prison hidden somewhere beneath the residence.
But when they finally arrived, what greeted her was a quiet courtyard enclosed by high stone walls.
Several guards dressed in black stood silently outside the entrance. The moment they saw Xie Rong, they immediately cupped their fists.
"Young Master." Xie Rong gave a faint nod.
Without another word, one of the guards stepped forward and pushed open the heavy wooden gates.
The gates slowly swung inward.
Wang Gege instinctively peeked inside. Contrary to her expectations, there were no iron cages. No bloodstained walls nor were there miserable cries echoing from within.
Instead, the courtyard appeared unexpectedly clean.
Several stone chambers stood neatly arranged along both sides, each secured by thick wooden doors reinforced with iron locks.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the rustling of leaves could be heard.
Wang Gege blinked several times, "This is the Punishment Courtyard?"
She had expected something far more terrifying.
Xie Rong calmly replied, "Only those awaiting investigation are confined here." His voice remained as steady as ever. "Until the truth is uncovered... No one is permitted to leave."
He then turned slightly toward Wang Gege. "Chuntao is inside."
Without waiting for another word, he slowly walked deeper into the courtyard.
Wang Gege quietly followed behind. The closer she drew toward the final chamber... The heavier her footsteps became.
When they finally stopped, Mo Yan stepped forward and unlocked the final chamber. The heavy wooden door slowly creaked open.
Wang Gege instinctively looked inside.
The room was simple. A wooden bed rested against one wall, while a small table occupied the center. Sunlight streamed in through the narrow window, casting long shadows across the stone floor.
Sitting quietly upon the bed was a young woman dressed in plain clothing.
The moment she heard the door open, she immediately lifted her head.
"Young Madam..." The instant their eyes met, Chuntao hurriedly climbed down from the bed.
Ignoring the pain from the wounds that had yet to fully heal, she stumbled forward before dropping heavily onto her knees.
"This servant greets Young Madam." Her forehead pressed firmly against the cold stone floor.
Wang Gege was momentarily stunned. She had imagined Chuntao would desperately defend herself the moment they met. Instead, the young maid simply remained kneeling there in silence. Her shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
"Please rise first." Wang Gege unconsciously stepped forward.
However, before she could help Chuntao up, Xie Rong’s calm voice sounded from behind. "Remain where you are."
Wang Gege paused. She turned her head in confusion.
Xie Rong remained standing by the doorway, his expression as composed as ever. "There is still suspicion upon her."
His reminder was calm, neither stopping Wang Gege out of cruelty nor distrust. It was merely a caution.
Wang Gege pursed her lips before quietly withdrawing her hand.
She looked back at Chuntao, "You wished to see me." Her voice softened, "What is it that you want to tell me?"
Chuntao slowly raised her head and her eyes had already turned red. She bit her lower lip tightly, as though struggling with herself.
After what felt like an eternity, two streams of tears finally rolled down her cheeks.
"Young Madam, this servant... did not poison the Young Master."
Wang Gege let out a soft sigh. "I believe you."
The moment those words fell, Xie Rong’s brows imperceptibly furrowed.
"You believe her so easily?" His calm voice echoed within the chamber. "What if she truly intended to take your life, Furen?"
Wang Gege fell silent. She understood his concern because the only evidence before them was Chuntao’s words.
Xie Rong slowly stepped forward. His footsteps came to a halt before the kneeling maid.
"There is one matter... I have yet to understand." His expression remained as indifferent as ever. "The wound upon your abdomen."
His voice was neither loud nor harsh. "The physician has already confirmed... It was inflicted from the front."
He paused briefly, "No signs of struggle... No hesitation." His blindfold concealed his eyes, yet Chuntao felt an overwhelming pressure, "It was like... You stabbed yourself."
It was not a question, more like a statement.
Chuntao’s body instantly stiffened. Her breathing became noticeably uneven. The fingers resting against the floor slowly curled into fists.
For a long while, not a single word left her lips. Only after several breaths did she cautiously raise her head. Her reddened eyes instinctively searched for Wang Gege.
The moment their gazes met, fresh tears quietly rolled down her cheeks.
"This servant..." She bit her lower lip, "truly asks Young Madam’s forgiveness."
She lowered her head until it touched the cold stone floor once again. "The one who stabbed this servant... was this servant herself."
Silence filled the room.
Wang Gege’s eyes widened slightly and Chuntao’s shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
"This servant had no other choice." Her voice gradually became hoarse, "If this servant had not done so... this servant would never have been given the chance to meet Young Madam."
Xie Rong quietly studied the trembling maid before him before he slowly lowered himself into a crouch.
The distance between them shortened and his calm voice echoed around the chamber, "What is it... that you wished to tell your Young Madam?"
Chuntao’s body visibly trembled. She tightly bit her lower lip, her fingers digging into the cold stone floor.
She remained silent for a few moments, only after gathering every ounce of courage did she slowly raise her head. Her tear-filled eyes did not look toward Xie Rong, they stopped upon Wang Gege.
"Y—Young Madam..." Her voice trembled uncontrollably, "Can you save my younger sister?"
Wang Gege was taken aback. "Your younger sister?"
Chuntao nodded repeatedly. "She... she is sick." Fresh tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. "This servant knows... This servant has no right to ask anything of Young Madam after everything that has happened."
She lowered her head once again. "But... If Young Madam is willing to save her... This servant... will tell you everything."
The final four words rang heavily within the chamber.
Xie Rong remained crouched before her, his expression unreadable.
"So..." He spoke unhurriedly. "You truly do know the truth."
Chuntao slowly closed her eyes.
"Yes." Her answer was barely above a whisper, "But... This servant can only tell it... after Young Madam promises to save my younger sister."
Once again... Silence descended upon the chamber.