Lin Zhengyang’s face turned red, unsure whether from anger or shame.
“Mother is right,” he said, looking at Ning Wan’wan, “Wan’er, are you feeling well?”
Ning Wan’wan smiled sarcastically, “Thanks to father’s concern, this daughter is fine.”
Lin Zhengyang became even more embarrassed.
“Come in!” A sudden angry shout came from outside.
Due to the commotion, everyone in the courtyard looked towards the door. Four servants escorted a black-clothed person, tightly bound, around the screen.
The moment He shi saw the black-clothed person’s face, she was stunned, as if struck by lightning.
[Chapter 7: Confession]
After three days and two nights, Lin Yutong had been guarding her bedside, her eyes red and swollen from crying, blaming herself for remembering the time incorrectly, which led to her encountering the thief.
She felt that things were not simple, but with no evidence and her reputation ruined, she could only swallow her grievances. Now, she understood why the thief could silently infiltrate the Ning Guogong Mansion and vanish after alarming the servants—it was orchestrated by Lin Yutong and her mother.
Ning Wanwan’s eyes flashed with cold light. They had used outsiders to damage her reputation; their methods were truly vicious.
Lin Yutong shrank back, not daring to make eye contact, stammering, “You, you, you’ve got the wrong person.”
The thief was stunned upon hearing this. Another board came down, causing the thief to jump.
He dodged the board like a monkey, rolling to He Shi’s feet, hugging her legs and crying: “Aunt, please save me, they will beat me to death!”
He Shi’s expression changed as she glanced at Old Lady Ning and saw her sharp gaze. Panicking, she kicked the thief, saying, “Where did this ruffian come from? Go away!”
The thief glared at He Shi, and a servant chased after him with a stick, shouting, “You—Ah—”
The thief rolled to the bottom of the stairs and shouted urgently: “I’ll tell, I’ll tell!”
He pointed at Lin Yutong, cowering nearby, and at He Shi, who wanted to hide behind Lin Zhengyang: “They gave me a portrait of a woman, telling me to wait in the Lotus Cave. I was supposed to tear her clothes if I saw her enter.”
The thief suddenly fell silent, glancing at Ning Wanwan.
“Could what?” Old Lady Ning asked sternly.
