Chapter 95: The One Who Have Access
"Sister-in-law, are you implying that I was the one who placed the pouch inside your gift box?"
Xie An’an abruptly rose to her feet, her face flushed with anger, "Sister-in-law has gone too far!"
"Silence."
Before Wang Gege could utter a single word, the Princess Consort’s calm voice echoed throughout the Flower Pavilion.
Xie An’an immediately lowered her head, "This subject spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
The Princess Consort’s gaze remained upon her, "From beginning to end... Young Madam Xie has not uttered your name."
A suffocating silence descended upon the pavilion, "Yet you were the first to believe she was speaking of you."
Xie An’an’s expression instantly stiffened. "This subject... Merely misunderstood."
The Princess Consort’s voice remained gentle, "Then allow Young Madam Xie to finish."
Wang Gege once again lowered herself into a respectful curtsy. "This subject thanks Your Highness for allowing this subject to speak."
The Princess Consort gave a slight nod, "You may continue."
Wang Gege slowly straightened before turning her gaze toward the embroidered gift box resting upon the table.
"This subject dares not accuse anyone." She paused briefly, allowing her words to settle. "This subject merely wishes to present what this subject has observed."
The Princess Consort remained silent, indicating for her to proceed, "The palace maid discovered Miss Zhao’s pouch beneath the silk lining of the gift box."
The palace maid immediately stepped forward and bowed. "Replying to Your Highness, that is indeed the case."
Wang Gege inclined her head slightly. "Then may this subject ask Qing’er a question?"
"Proceed."
Qing’er hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. "This servant is here."
"When preparing the gifts at the Xie Residence this morning..." Wang Gege asked calmly, "Did you lift the silk lining at the bottom of the gift box?"
Qing’er immediately shook her head. "No, Young Madam. This servant merely arranged the gifts one by one according to Young Madam’s instructions. The silk lining remained untouched."
Wang Gege nodded thoughtfully.
"In that case..." She slowly turned toward the Princess Consort, "The pouch could not have been hidden beneath the gifts after they had already been packed."
A murmur immediately spread throughout the Flower Pavilion. Several noble ladies exchanged glances as they quietly considered Wang Gege’s reasoning.
After a brief silence, one of the older madams slowly spoke.
"If Qing’er speaks the truth... then the pouch must have already been beneath the silk lining before the gifts were placed inside."
The Flower Pavilion instantly fell silent once more.
Wang Gege lowered her head respectfully toward the Princess Consort. "That is precisely what this subject wished to say."
She slowly lifted her gaze, allowing it to pass over everyone gathered within the pavilion.
"Therefore... the person who concealed Miss Zhao’s pouch within this gift box... must have had the opportunity to access it while it was still inside the Xie Residence."
As soon as those words fell, countless gazes instinctively shifted once more.
Wang Gege then turned toward Miss Zhao. "Miss Zhao, this subject wishes to ask you one more question."
Miss Zhao gently nodded. "Please ask."
Wang Gege met her eyes, "May this subject ask... are you certain the pouch was already with you when you departed from your residence this morning?"
The question caused Miss Zhao’s eyes to widen slightly. She lowered her gaze, carefully retracing the events of the morning in her mind.
After a long while, she hesitantly spoke. "Young Madam Xie... This... I am no longer certain."
A ripple of whispers immediately spread throughout the Flower Pavilion.
Miss Zhao’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the embroidered pouch.
"I met my fiancé before coming to the palace this morning." She slowly shook her head.
"But... It could not have been him." She hurriedly looked toward the Princess Consort before turning back to Wang Gege. "This young lady truly knew nothing of this matter. I merely believed I had accidentally misplaced the pouch somewhere within the palace."
Her voice gradually became anxious, "This young lady never intended to implicate Young Madam Xie."
Wang Gege smiled gently and gave a slight shake of her head. "Miss Zhao has misunderstood. This subject did not ask that question to cast suspicion upon Miss Zhao."
She paused briefly before continuing, "This subject merely wishes to determine one thing. If Miss Zhao herself cannot be certain when the pouch went missing... Then no one can conclude that it disappeared only after arriving at the Flower Pavilion."
The moment those words were spoken... The expressions of several noble ladies subtly changed.
Because they suddenly realized, from the very beginning... They had all accepted Miss Zhao’s assumption as though it were an established fact.
Wang Gege slowly lowered herself into another respectful curtsy.
"Therefore..." She raised her head once more, her gaze remaining calm, "This subject dares to reach a conclusion."
The Princess Consort looked at her steadily. "Speak."
Wang Gege slowly drew in a breath, "If Miss Zhao herself cannot determine when the pouch went missing... And if the pouch had already been concealed within this subject’s gift box before this subject departed from the Xie Residence..."
She paused briefly, "Then this subject believes... the pouch was never meant to be lost."
A ripple of whispers instantly spread throughout the Flower Pavilion.
Wang Gege continued before anyone could interrupt, "It was deliberately hidden inside this subject’s gift box." Her eyes slowly swept across everyone present, "The purpose... was not to steal Miss Zhao’s betrothal token."
"It was to ensure that, once the pouch was discovered... all suspicion would fall upon this subject."
Silence.
The Flower Pavilion became so quiet that even the rustling leaves beyond the pavilion could be heard.
One of the noble ladies unconsciously covered her mouth. "You mean... someone deliberately framed Young Madam Xie?"
At that moment, a soft chuckle sounded.
"Pfft..." Gu Ruyan lowered her gaze as she gently brushed the rim of her teacup with her fingertips. "Who would go to such lengths merely to frame Young Madam Xie?"
Although she spoke softly, the silence within the pavilion allowed every single person present to hear her words clearly.
Wang Gege slowly turned toward Gu Ruyan. Instead of showing the slightest trace of anger, the corners of her lips lifted into a faint smile.
"Perhaps..." She paused for a brief moment, "this subject believes that person has yet to settle an old grievance with this subject."
Her calm answer caused Gu Ruyan’s fingers to pause almost imperceptibly.
Wang Gege continued gently, "Otherwise... Why would they spend so much effort devising such a scheme... only to place the blame upon this subject?"
Once Wang Gege’s dropped the question, several noble ladies exchanged meaningful glances.
They believed Young Madam Xie’s words were not without reason. No one would go to such elaborate lengths... Unless they had a reason to do so.