Shen Jinhua confidently opened the box, a smug smile playing on her lips. "This is the gift I wanted to give to the old lady."
She raised her chin slightly, her eyes smiling as she looked at Old Madam Ling. Her gaze did not linger on the congratulatory gift for a moment, and she was naturally unaware of the strange atmosphere around her.
The guests stared in astonishment at the congratulatory gift in Shen Jinhua's hand, then turned their gazes to Song Zhiyu, their lips pursed in a speechless manner, and they began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Isn't this the golden nanmu Buddha statue that Miss Song lost?"
"It's true what they say, you can guard against anything day or night, but it's hard to guard against a thief within your own family." The guest who spoke couldn't hide his disdain, clearly rejecting Shen Jinhua in his heart.
After today's birthday banquet, she will definitely make a big fuss about it to keep the younger generation of her family away from the people of the Marquis of Chengen's mansion, so as not to make a fool of themselves.
"Miss Song just mentioned the missing golden nanmu Buddha statue, and then Shen Jinhua presented it as a congratulatory gift to Old Madam Ling. Isn't that directly admitting to stealing the Buddha statue? Is she that stupid?"
Many guests felt that Shen Jinhua's actions were extremely foolish and not something a normal person would do.
Most of the guests at today's banquet had been invited to the recent auction and were naturally aware that Song Zhiyu had purchased the golden nanmu Buddha statue.
By presenting a Buddha statue as a congratulatory gift in full view of everyone, Shen Jinhua was essentially digging his own grave.
Some guests disagreed, saying, "If she can fool people with a fake, it's not surprising that she would do something so stupid."
"Maybe she stole Miss Song's Buddha statue, and the maid took the wrong one."
"..."
The clamor of voices spread throughout the main hall like ripples on a lake.
At this moment, Shen Jinhua finally realized that something was wrong. She looked down and her face turned pale instantly. The brocade box in her hand flew out like a hot potato.
"How could this thing be here? I clearly..." She stopped abruptly, her reason returning and her composure returning.
Song Zhiyu caught the brocade box that had slipped from Shen Jinhua's hand. Although she had a smile on her face, it inexplicably sent a chill down one's spine.
"Shouldn't my fourth sister explain this to me?"
"I……"
Before Shen Jinhua could defend herself, Song Zhiyu pressed her advantage and launched a series of questions.
"Why did the golden nanmu Buddha statue that I bought at the Treasure Pavilion auction disappear the day before the birthday banquet, and why is it in my fourth sister's hands?"
Song Zhiyu's eyes were deep, and his tone was calm but carried a strong sense of pressure, leaving Shen Jinhua speechless.
A normal person wouldn't be foolish enough to steal someone else's things and then show them off, and Shen Jinhua certainly wouldn't.
However, the matter of the Buddha statue was intentional on Song Zhiyu's part, and it was also a key element in her plan to turn the tables on him.
After the counterfeit was exposed, Shen Jinhua would definitely try her best to make amends and minimize the impact of the matter. The other congratulatory gift in the hidden compartment of the carriage was her opportunity to make amends.
She never expected that the backup plan she had left behind would become the last straw that broke her back.
Song Zhiyu had already made preparations for both possibilities after discovering that the Buddha statue had been switched.
Treat them as they treat you.
With the jade ruyi incident preceding it, her theft of the Buddha statue and its use as a congratulatory gift didn't seem so strange after all.
As long as the guests present believe that Shen Jinhua was responsible for stealing the Buddha statue, the truth is no longer important.
Song Zhiyu smiled and said, "Start your sophistry... no, start your explanation."
Shen Jinhua panicked for a moment, her heart pounding, and her eyes filled with a sense of helplessness.
But she quickly forced herself to calm down, her hands clenching her dress tightly at her sides. "This Buddha statue isn't yours; I bought it. There's more than one golden nanmu Buddha statue in the world. What proof do you have that this Buddha statue is yours?"
She stubbornly denied stealing Song Zhiyu's golden nanmu Buddha statue, figuring that Song Zhiyu couldn't do anything about it.
Even worse, she wanted to turn around and bite Song Zhiyu.
Lu Bai was a little angry, her face flushed red. "Nonsense! Who in the capital doesn't know that my young lady bought a golden nanmu Buddha statue at the Treasure Pavilion a few days ago?"
"It's too much of a coincidence that just when my young lady's Buddha statue was lost, the fourth young lady acquired the same golden nanmu Buddha statue."
She couldn't believe that someone could be so shameless, refusing to admit it even with the evidence right in front of them.
“I am also very sorry that my second sister’s Buddha statue is lost, but that doesn’t mean I have to be accused of theft.”
"I'll say it again: if Second Sister has any evidence to prove that this Buddha statue is yours, then I am willing to accept any punishment." Shen Jinhua was certain that Song Zhiyu could not produce any evidence, and immediately felt confident.
Seeing that Shen Jinhua was speaking seriously with a straight face, the guests present couldn't help but waver, and the situation gradually reversed.
"Could it be that we have misunderstood Miss Shen?"
"I always said no one would be stupid enough to steal someone else's things and then brazenly display them. That would just give people something to gossip about."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jinhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Song Zhiyu had a brilliant plan, and she had her own way to overcome it.
If Song Zhiyu cannot prove the origin of this Buddha statue, then she has not lost.
Thinking of this, Shen Jinhua turned to Song Zhiyu and said understandingly, "They are both golden nanmu wood Buddha statues and are identical in appearance, so it is understandable that Second Sister made a mistake."
But Second Sister, you should be more careful in the future. Fortunately, I was the one who was wronged today. If I had accidentally misunderstood someone else, it would have been difficult to explain.
Shen Feng quickly agreed, his words carrying a hint of admonition, "Your sister is right. It's good that you know your mistakes and can correct them. Just don't cause any more trouble. Neither of us can afford to disturb the old lady's birthday banquet."
He knew what had happened, and in order not to implicate the Marquis's family, he had to help Shen Jin cover up the lie.
I just hope that Song Zhiyu can prioritize the overall situation and stop there.
Song Zhiyu ignored Shen Feng's words, letting them go in one ear and out the other. "If I can prove that this Buddha statue is indeed the item I bid for at the Treasure Pavilion that day, what will Fourth Sister do then?"
She smiled at Shen Jinhua, her expression unchanged, revealing no hint of anything amiss.
“Then I will do as you please,” Shen Jinhua blurted out without the slightest hesitation.
“Alright, then please have the old lady and all the guests present as witnesses. I have won, so you are at my disposal.” Song Zhiyu nodded, her smile carrying a deeper meaning.
Her cool fingertips gently caressed the back of the Buddha statue, and with each word she spoke, Shen Jinhua's face paled a little more.
"As you can see, after I bought this Buddha statue, I spent a lot of money to have the master carver from the Treasure Pavilion carve Madam Ling's name on the back of the statue. The engraving is still there today."
As everyone looked up, they could faintly see a golden light shimmering behind the Buddha statue, which complemented the strands of gold thread inside the statue.
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