On the wooden tray lay a jade bracelet of good quality, which shimmered with a faint emerald green light under the sunlight, and had a delicate, warm texture and a lustrous sheen.
Lu Bai presented the bracelet to Song Zhiyu, her slightly cold and sharp gaze slowly sweeping over the green-clad maid below, her eyes filled with malice.
“Miss, this jade bracelet was found in Chun’er’s room. If I’m not mistaken, it should be the one you lost.”
As soon as Lu Bai finished speaking, the green-clad maid hiding among the servants suddenly looked up, her face full of disbelief.
"Second Miss, I absolutely did not steal your jewelry. Please investigate!" Seeing that she could not escape, Chun'er stumbled out and knelt down with a thud, her eyes filled with uncontrollable panic.
Song Zhiyu picked up the jade bracelet and examined it closely. His voice was completely flat, and he could even guess Chun'er's expression without her looking up. "If that's the case, then explain the origin of this jade bracelet so that I have reason to believe you."
However, I imagine with your current monthly salary, you probably can't afford a jade bracelet of this quality.
Upon hearing this, Chun'er's face showed no sign of panic. She bit her lower lip until it turned white, and her mouth moved as she murmured, "This servant...this servant..."
She hesitated for a long time, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.
This jade bracelet was a gift from the eldest young lady to bribe her to monitor the second young lady and pass on her news and whereabouts to Songyun Courtyard.
But she couldn't say that her family was still in the eldest young lady's hands, and she absolutely couldn't leave any leverage for the second young lady.
The two young ladies have always been at odds. If the second young lady finds out that she has been in contact with the eldest young lady, the second young lady will probably be wary of her.
At that point, she will have lost all her usefulness.
People who have no value are simply not worthy of the young lady's attention.
If she confesses to the theft, the worst outcome would be that she herself would be sacrificed.
It's better to offend the second young lady than the eldest young lady. When those old nannies stole the second young lady's things, she simply asked them to return them and didn't make things too difficult for them.
But the young lady is different. If she exposes the young lady and ruins the young lady's plans, she and her family will not have a good ending.
Everyone says that the eldest young lady is gentle and kind, while the second young lady is vicious, but Chun'er knows in her heart that the eldest young lady is the one who hides a knife behind a smile.
Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, Chun'er quickly made a decision.
Although she didn't know why the jade bracelet that the second young lady lost was exactly the same as the one that the eldest young lady had given her, she had no choice but to admit to the crime.
As long as she pleads with the second young lady and plays the victim, given the second young lady's personality, this matter can be put to rest very quickly.
She can also continue to stay in Songxi Courtyard and deliver the necessary messages to the young lady.
Thinking of this, Chun'er calmed down and stopped arguing, which was tantamount to admitting it.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Is there some unspeakable secret about this bracelet?" Lu Bai stared wide-eyed at Chun'er kneeling on the ground. She hated traitors the most.
The young lady treated her well, but she never expected to raise such an ungrateful child.
The people in the Marquis's mansion, whether masters or servants, were indeed all birds of a feather; not a single one of them was any good.
Chun'er moved step by step to Song Zhiyu, her face contorted with distress as she grabbed Song's skirt, tears streaming down her face. "Second Miss, I was just confused for a moment and made a mistake. Please forgive me this time."
My mother is seriously ill and urgently needs money, but we are starving. I had no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure. Please forgive me this time.
Song Zhiyu looked down at her with cold eyes, feeling nothing as he listened to her sobs.
Compared to Shen Jinshu, Chun'er's skills are clearly not up to par.
She saw through this clumsy tactic at a glance.
Song Zhiyu smiled slightly and slowly spoke under Chun'er's expectant gaze, drawing out the last syllable, "So you're a very filial daughter after all."
Chun'er was overjoyed upon hearing this and nodded vigorously.
She knew that Song Zhiyu was much easier to fool than the eldest young lady. As long as she played the victim a little, the second young lady would forgive her. What a fool!
Chun'er smiled disdainfully to herself, looking down on Song Zhiyu even more.
With a master like that, when will she ever have a chance to rise in the world?
Fortunately, the eldest young lady had already promised that once the matter was settled, the third young master would elevate her to the position of concubine and release her from slavery.
Thinking of the good days to come, Chun'er couldn't help but blush with excitement.
But the joy on her face didn't last long before Song Zhiyu abruptly changed the subject, instantly plunging her into despair: "But what does that have to do with me? Those who make mistakes should be punished."
"Second Miss, you..." The color drained from Chun'er's face instantly, her eyes filled with astonishment, as if she hadn't expected Song Zhiyu's attitude to change so drastically.
Song Zhiyu slowly squatted down, her long, slender fingers gently pinching Chun'er's chin, forcefully lifting her face. "I already gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. Once is never twice, you should learn your lesson."
"A servant with dirty hands is useless to keep around." Song Zhiyu released her hand, her beautiful face covered with ice, making people feel a chill run down their spines.
"Let's deal with Lu Bai according to the rules of the Marquis's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Chun'er collapsed to the ground as if all her strength had been drained, her face turning deathly pale, and her lips trembling uncontrollably.
Her thoughts were in disarray, her mind blank, and she never imagined things would develop to this point.
It wasn't until several tall, burly guards grabbed her by the back of the neck and slammed her with thick boards that the intense pain brought her back to her senses.
She struggled desperately, but was firmly pinned to the wooden chair and could not move. She could only let the board hit her body again and again, and the pain swept over her whole body.
The other old women also suffered the same fate. Their calloused hands were swollen and red from being clamped by the instruments of torture, and their screams came one after another, shocking the other servants in Songxi Courtyard.
They looked at Song Zhiyu with a mixture of respect and fear, and couldn't help but wonder if they had ever been disrespectful to her in the past.
Only then did they gain a deeper understanding of Song Zhiyu's character and no longer dared to harbor any illusions.
"Second Miss, please spare me! I will never dare to do it again." Beads of sweat slid down Chun'er's pale face, splashing a small puddle on the ground.
The sharp pain in her back filled Chun'er with fear, and she pleaded repeatedly with a sob in her voice.
Unmoved by her wailing, Song Zhiyu simply stood there quietly watching, her expression unreadable.
Once unfaithful, always untrustworthy.
Being betrayed is a terrible feeling, and Song Zhiyu would never allow herself to be in a passive position again.
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