Chapter 164: Madam Liu’s killer
"This one believes every one of you knows this servant here... Yun’er, Madam Liu’s maid."
Xie Rong broke the silence that had settled over the main hall ever since Yun’er stepped inside.
His voice was calm, yet there was an unmistakable weight behind it.
Yun’er immediately lowered her head, her fingers tightly intertwined in front of her.
"This servant greets Master Xie, Old Madam Xie, and Young Miss."
No one answered her immediately.
Old Madam Xie stared at Yun’er with a complicated expression, while Master Xie’s brows slowly furrowed.
As for Xie An’an... She had gone completely still.
Her fingers were still clutching the broken piece of porcelain, but the trembling that had shaken her moments ago had disappeared.
Wang Gege noticed it. She glanced at Xie Rong, then back at Xie An’an.
Xie Rong continued, "Yun’er was Madam Liu’s personal maid before Madam Liu’s death. She was also present at the moment Madam Liu died."
Old Madam Xie’s expression changed. "She was there?"
Yun’er immediately bowed, "Y–yes, Old Madam."
"And why have I never seen you since then?" Old Madam Xie asked.
Yun’er lowered her head even further. "This servant was afraid."
Old Madam Xie’s eyes furrowed, "Afraid of what?"
Yun’er’s lips parted, but she hesitated. Her gaze briefly flickered toward Xie An’an.
That tiny movement did not escape Wang Gege’s eyes.
Nor did it escape Xie Rong’s.
"Speak," Xie Rong ordered calmly.
Yun’er swallowed, "This servant was afraid that whoever caused Madam Liu’s death would come looking for this servant next."
The atmosphere in the main hall instantly became heavier.
Master Xie’s expression darkened. "Are you saying Madam Liu was murdered?"
Yun’er immediately nodded. Her lips trembled as she tried to lift her gaze toward Xie An’an again. "Yes, Master..."
The moment her eyes met Xie An’an’s, Yun’er quickly lowered her head again, as though she were frightened of being caught staring.
Xie Rong noticed the movement. "So you saw something that time?"
Yun’er swallowed hard. "Yes, Young Master."
"What did you see?"
Yun’er hesitated.Her fingers twisted nervously together, and her voice became barely audible.
"That afternoon, after the Shen Family left the residence... Madam Liu left to follow..." She stopped. Her gaze slowly drifted toward Xie An’an, "Young Miss Xie."
Xie An’an’s head jerked up immediately.
"What are you saying...?" Her voice was low, but the sudden change in her expression sent an instant chill through Yun’er.
Yun’er instinctively stepped backward, her body trembling.
"Young Master, please protect this servant!" She suddenly rushed toward Xie Rong, hiding behind him as though Xie An’an might attack her at any moment.
Xie Rong’s expression immediately darkened. "An’an."
Xie An’an’s lips parted.
"I..." She looked around the hall, seemingly realizing that everyone’s attention had shifted toward her.
"I didn’t do anything!" Her voice became defensive. "This one only asked what she meant!"
Yun’er remained behind Xie Rong, trembling as she clutched the edge of his sleeve. "This servant... this servant did not lie..."
"Nobody said you were lying," Wang Gege spoke calmly.
She looked directly at Xie An’an. "But sister An’an, your reaction just now was rather interesting."
Xie An’an’s face paled. "Sister-in-law, what are you implying?"
"Nothing." Wang Gege smiled faintly. "I am merely wondering why you became frightened before Yun’er even finished speaking."
The hall fell silent again.
Master Xie’s gaze shifted toward his daughter. "An’an. Let her finish her words."
Xie An’an’s lips trembled. "Father, this one..."
"Let her finish." Master Xie’s voice became firmer this time.
Yun’er remained behind Xie Rong, still looking visibly frightened. She cautiously raised her head, glancing toward Xie An’an before quickly lowering it again.
"Yes, Master..." Yun’er swallowed hard. "That afternoon, after the Shen Family left the residence, Madam Liu left her chamber to follow Young Miss Xie."
She gulped again, her fingers twisting nervously together.
"When we followed Young Miss Xie, Madam Liu discovered that Young Miss Xie was trying to plot to..."
She paused again, seemingly struggling to force the words out.
"Young Miss Xie plotted with Elder Miss Shen to eliminate... Young Madam."
The weight of Yun’er’s revelation settled over the entire main hall.
Silence.
Complete and suffocating silence.
Master Xie’s face changed immediately.
Old Madam Xie’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Even Qing’er stood frozen, her lips slightly parted.
Wang Gege remained still, staring at Yun’er.
As for Xie An’an... The color had completely drained from her face.
"Liar!" she suddenly shouted. "How dare you, a mere servant, accuse this Young Miss of the Xie Residence?!"
Yun’er flinched violently. She shook her head hard, tears already gathering in her eyes.
"This servant did not lie... Young Miss really did it..." Her voice trembled, "This servant hid in the bushes while Madam Liu confronted Young Miss, but—but..."
Her words suddenly stopped. Her breathing became rapid, and her face turned pale as the memory came rushing back.
She remembered the way Madam Liu had confronted Xie An’an.
She remembered the moment Madam Liu threatened Young Miss Xie.
She remembered Xie An’an’s expression changing when she realized that someone had overheard everything.
And then... She remembered the moment Madam Liu fell.
Yun’er’s entire body began trembling.
"But..." she whispered again, unable to continue.
Wang Gege noticed the fear spreading across her face and immediately stepped closer. "Yun’er."
Yun’er looked at her, her eyes filled with terror.
"You don’t have to rush. Tell them what you saw." Wang Gege tried to calm her down.
Yun’er swallowed hard.
"I saw..." Her voice cracked. "I saw Young Miss kill Madam Liu."
"You foolish servant!" Xie An’an suddenly screamed.
Her expression twisted with panic and anger as she lunged forward, her hand clenched tightly around the broken piece of porcelain.
"How dare you accuse this one of such a crime?! This one will make you pay for slandering me!"
Everything seemed to happen in an instant.
For a heartbeat, everyone in the main hall felt as though time had stopped.
Then instinct took over.
Wang Gege’s body moved before her mind could catch up. She rushed forward and threw herself in front of Yun’er.
"Young Madam!" Qing’er’s horrified scream rang through the hall.
At that exact moment, Xie An’an swung her arm wildly, the jagged piece of broken porcelain cutting toward the person standing directly in front of her.
"No!!!"