With so many coincidences piling up, how could Hongli not suspect Jin Minjing? However, there was indeed no evidence at the moment, and even as the head of the family, he had no reason to punish Jin Minjing arbitrarily.
In the end, Hongli did not punish her, but only kept her in Pixia Pavilion and forbade her to leave until the result was in.
So this matter was just swept under the rug like that? Su Yushan was greatly disappointed, but she couldn't disobey Hongli's arrangements.
There was no other way at the moment, so they could only wait. Su Mingfeng comforted her sister, telling her not to worry, "Heaven is fair. Just wait a little longer. I believe Xin'er will wake up soon and be your witness."
Whether Xin'er will wake up is still uncertain, and it's also unclear whether she will be willing to identify Jin Minjing after waking up. Su Yushan wanted to encourage herself not to lose heart, but she really didn't dare to have any hope.
To avoid worrying her brother, she forced a smile and agreed. Hongli invited them to dine there. Su Jiafeng really wanted to stay, as he wanted to see how Xin'er was doing and whether she would wake up. However, Su Mingfeng could tell that the Fourth Prince and Yushan were both in low spirits and probably had no mood to entertain guests.
These were just polite words and shouldn't be taken seriously. So Su Mingfeng declined Hongli's invitation, citing other matters, and then left the mansion with her younger brother.
Once outside the gate, Su Jiafeng couldn't help but complain, "Fourth Master invited us to have a meal, why did you refuse, elder brother?"
Su Mingfeng raised her eyebrows impatiently, "This matter hasn't been resolved yet, how can I be in the mood for a meal?"
Huh? What kind of logic is this? "This matter is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, and we can't just go without food and water forever, can we?"
Su Mingfeng had been thinking about how to help her younger sister, but her second brother kept bringing up irrelevant things, which made Su Mingfeng shake her head and scold him angrily, "How dare you say that? It's all your fault!"
Su Jiafeng spread her hands innocently, "What does this have to do with me? It wasn't me who harmed my sister."
"If you had brought Xin'er directly to Fourth Master last night and identified Princess Jin, none of this trouble would have happened today. Because of your selfishness, Yu Shan is unable to catch the person who harmed her. Don't you feel guilty?"
Su Jiafeng, who was being reprimanded, was speechless. After a long pause, she finally argued, "I was thinking that Xin'er was just being careless. The one who really harmed my sister is Princess Jin. Xin'er made a mistake, but she knows how to repent. That's why I was thinking about whether to give her a chance."
As an observer, Su Mingfeng saw things very clearly and sneered disdainfully.
"Do you really think she just let it slip unintentionally? Don't forget, she has always served Princess Jin and is of one mind with her. Moreover, her mother committed suicide because of plotting against Yu Shan. She has many conflicts with Yu Shan. How could she not hate Yu Shan?"
Her deliberate approach to you is the best evidence. You're usually quite clever, so why are you being so foolish now? Tell me honestly, do you like her?
Su Jiafeng's dark eyes narrowed, and she coughed dryly, clearly feeling somewhat uncomfortable. "I didn't. I just consider her a friend."
“It’s best if there’s no chance,” Su Mingfeng said, taking the opportunity to remind him. “If you have any ideas, give up as soon as possible! You have a deep grudge against her, there’s no possibility of anything. Don’t worry about her affairs. Fourth Master will make his own judgment.”
Feeling guilty, Su Jiafeng dared not disobey her brother's wishes and nodded absently, replying, "Oh! I understand."
With her elder brother and younger brother both gone, Su Yushan stared at the pillars in front of the door, feeling empty inside. Hope was just around the corner, but the clues suddenly went cold. How could she accept this?
Exhausted, she slowly sat down on a vermilion round stool, rested her forehead on her hand, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply.
In a daze, she felt knuckles gently kneading near her temples, the pressure just right.
When Su Yushan opened her eyes, she saw Hongli standing to her side and behind her. His massage came just in time, which made her head feel a little better, but she still couldn't get over her inner turmoil.
Hongli understood her thoughts and asked softly, "Are you blaming me for not punishing Kim Min-jung?"
She was dissatisfied, but what good would it do to voice it? He would definitely bring up the rules, something she'd heard too many times to count, so she simply stopped arguing and gave a bitter, sorrowful smile.
"You have your reasons, and I shouldn't blame you. Perhaps this is fate! Even God is protecting her, so what can anyone do?"
Hongli's hand slowly descended from her forehead, slid to the back of her neck, put his arm around her shoulder, and gently patted her to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry too much. When Xin'er wakes up, everything will be clear."
He was talking about the best possible outcome, but she couldn't help but imagine the worst. "What if she doesn't wake up? Demin said her wound is in her heart, and even the most skilled doctor might be powerless to save her."
"Even if Xin'er is really dead, I will continue to investigate and clear your name."
His promises sounded good, but things always change unexpectedly. "While you're investigating, she might continue to try to trip me up."
Su Yushan was in a very pessimistic mood. No matter how he tried to persuade her, she didn't smile at all, which made Hongli feel quite troubled.
"Then tell me what I should do? She was also a maid given to me by the Emperor. I can't just divorce her without a reason. Yushan, I understand your feelings, and please understand my situation as well. This doesn't mean that this matter ends here. I will continue to investigate. Jin Minjing will be confined to her quarters, and I will have people closely monitor her every move. I will also increase the number of guards protecting you and will not put you in danger again."
Hongli had already said so much; if she continued, it would be considered unreasonable.
Clenching her fingers tightly, Su Yushan closed her eyes, suppressing her grief and indignation, and finally stopped discussing the matter. "Forget it! Let it be! I'm going back to my room now."
When she argues with him, he feels that she doesn't understand him; when she doesn't argue with him, he feels uneasy and uncomfortable.
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