Yan Shiman stayed in Shen Yunjiao's room for a short while before quietly climbing out the window.

Shen Yunjiao was preoccupied with the Xie family matter, so she decided to go to Xie He's room to ask her for clarification.

Xie He was sewing insoles in her room when she saw Shen Yunjiao visiting. She was overjoyed and warmly pulled Shen Yunjiao to sit down at her desk.

Shen Yunjiao stepped into Xie He's room, casually glancing around the room.

Xie He's room contained only a bed, a table, and two stools.

Some hoes and axes leaned against the corner of the wall, raincoats hung by the wall, and clothes were neatly folded on a small table in the corner.

The bed was very simple, with just a blanket and a pillow, and not even a bed curtain.

This room is even more shabby than my own; it doesn't seem like the place a young lady would live in for over a decade...

Xie Yunwen is a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and his salary should be at the level of a second-rank official. The Xie family is also a prominent family in the capital and should not be short of money. Why doesn't he come to take care of his daughter and let her suffer here?

Shen Yunjiao casually pulled up a chair and sat down, then asked Fuxia to bring some pastries from her room.

Xie He was simple-minded by nature. As soon as she heard there was food, her eyes lit up, but then dimmed again.

"Yun Jiao, I'm really sorry that I keep eating your food," Xie He said in a low voice. "I don't have anything good in this house to offer you."

“It’s alright. The weather isn’t cool enough yet, and those pastries will spoil anyway. We might as well use them up together and avoid wasting them.” Shen Yun smiled, her tone quite sincere. “Besides, I should thank you for pretending to be sick today so that I could go down the mountain.”

After hearing what she said, Xie He's expression relaxed a bit. "It's alright, but I forgot to remind you, there's a cook named Ruan over there in the kitchen. She has a bad temper and is always sucking up to the powerful and bullying the weak. You weren't bullied by her, were you?"

Shen Yunjiao recalled the fat woman's miserable state later and smiled faintly, "No, you don't need to worry."

She looked at Xie He's bed. Beside the pillow were several yellowed books, which looked like they had been turned over countless times and were all wrinkled beyond recognition.

Shen Yunjiao's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Xie He and asked, "You've lived here for so many years, have any of your family members come to visit you?"

Xie He hadn't expected Shen Yunjiao to talk about her family affairs. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. "My grandmother used to send people to deliver things to me, but I don't know why that stopped."

Fu Xia then brought over the golden pea cake on a wooden plate, and Shen Yunjiao moved the cake to Xie He's front.

But Xie He lost his appetite as soon as he mentioned family matters.

Seeing her listless appearance, Shen Yunjiao asked softly, "Yesterday, Qin Youran said that you plotted to harm your stepmother by pushing her into the water. Is that true?"

“Absolutely not!” Xie He suddenly raised his head. “I have been framed.”

Shen Yunjiao paused, placed her hand on Xie He's hand, and said solemnly, "If you trust me, tell me what happened. Perhaps I can help you get out of this courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Xie He's eyes widened slightly. After a long pause, she lowered her gaze and replied, "My mother died early, and I was raised by my grandmother from a young age. When I was seven, my stepmother, Madam Pang, suddenly invited me to the garden to admire the lotus flowers..."

Xie He could never forget that scene.

It was a hot summer afternoon. She was playing with the servants in the courtyard when she was suddenly taken by Granny Liu, who was standing next to Madam Pang, to the pavilion in the garden to see her stepmother.

She assumed her stepmother was simply asking about her studies and her grandmother's recent situation, so she didn't take any precautions and followed her.

At that time, her stepmother waved and called to her, and she happily ran to her stepmother's side.

Unexpectedly, the next second, her stepmother fell into the water right in front of her and cried out for help.

When her father and the doctor arrived, her stepmother said that Xie He had heard her mention that she was pregnant and, in a fit of anger, pushed her into the lake.

Xie He felt wronged, but at the time only Madam Pang and her maid, Granny Sun, were present, so she had no way to defend herself.

Later, the stepmother lost her baby and caused a huge scene at home. The father, unable to bear the criticism from outsiders, sent Xie He to Qingxin Pavilion.

This stay lasted for fifteen years.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. "Your father is also confused. How could he believe your stepmother's words? How much strength could a seven-year-old child have to push someone into the water?"

Xie He's face was pale. She spoke with difficulty, "I originally thought that my father would not believe my stepmother, but for some reason they found a small doll with my stepmother's name written on it and covered with needles in my room. My father was furious and sent me here directly."

It seems that all of this was premeditated.

Xie He was just too young at the time and didn't know how to protect herself.

Once sent to Qingxin Pavilion, she lost the chance to step out of this courtyard.

Xie He had tried to escape once, but was caught by the nuns in the temple and the news was reported directly to the Xie family.

That evening, Liu's mother stormed into her room with a rattan cane and whipped her severely.

Later, after living in Xuanqing Temple for a long time, she got used to it and forgot about her days in the Xie family.

Xie He's only worry was her elderly grandmother.

She really wanted to go back to the Xie family to see her grandmother, but Madam Pang would definitely not let her into the house.

Seeing Xie He's worried expression, Shen Yunjiao sighed and said softly, "Your stepmother is vicious and orchestrated this whole thing, probably just to kick you out of the house. But what is her real motive?"

What kind of motive would drive her to harm a seven-year-old child?

Xie He smiled bitterly, "I never really understood why my once loving stepmother suddenly became so vicious. But before I left, I overheard the servants saying that she wanted to turn my room upside down. That's when I realized she was after the inheritance my mother left me."

Xie He's biological mother, Liu, was once a well-known merchant in the capital. Unfortunately, the Liu family members did not live long, and Xie He's mother also passed away at a young age.

Before she passed away, she left all her vast fortune to her only daughter, Xie He.

This secret was originally unknown to anyone, but a distant relative of the Liu family came to inquire about the Liu family's property, and Pang happened to overhear it.

Perhaps from that moment on, she made up her mind to seize Xie He's property.

Upon hearing this, a plan spontaneously formed in Shen Yunjiao's mind.

She came up with a plan that could help both Yan Shiman and Xie He.

Shen Yunjiao looked at Xie He earnestly, "Tell me about your stepmother's situation, and I'll give you some advice."

Xie He frowned. "I only remember that there was a confidante named Liu Mama by my stepmother's side. Liu Mama had been with my stepmother for many years, but her husband seemed to be a gambler who frequented gambling dens in the capital."

"Oh, I see. Then I have an idea." Shen Yunjiao stroked her chin and said meaningfully.