She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Jiang Ruining frowned.

Xu Nianyin's gaze was frank as she swept over everyone present: "I was also thinking of everyone. What if we didn't find anything on us, and you weren't searched either? People would probably be suspicious of you!"

"You all act cautiously and treat others kindly in your daily lives, all to build a good reputation. What if you become suspects because of this? Cooperating fully with the search will only demonstrate that you have a clear conscience!"

No one could refuse; Madam Cui made the final decision: "Search! Everyone present at the time must be searched!"

The dozen or so girls were divided into four groups and entered four rooms on the left and right sides.

Jiang Ruining paused in front of Xu Nianyin, his gaze sharp as a knife as it swept across her face, his voice low: "Miss Xu, quite capable."

Xu Nianyin met her cold eyes and realized that the other woman had seen through her.

But so what?

Speculation without evidence is slander!

With so many eyes watching, she had no chance to throw the things away and could only wait to be found and face the Cui family's revenge!

Feeling pleased, a smug smile crept across his face: "I don't understand what you're saying!"

He turned and went to the house on the right.

The gloom on Jiang Ruining's face dissipated, replaced by a blatant mockery in her raised eyebrows.

The hand holding the purse twisted it hard, and it deflated!

The girls were personally supervised and inspected by several ladies.

"Found it!"

The old woman came in from the right side of the room, carrying a tray with a pure black porcelain bottle on it.

The head maidservant beside Madam Cui reached for the porcelain bottle, uncorked it, sprinkled some powder onto a handkerchief, and then tossed it into the sunlight.

In just a few breaths, the handkerchief caught fire.

The head maid stomped on the fire to mark it, but failed to extinguish it completely, preventing the silk from being burned to ashes. Only then did the fire go out on its own.

Just then, Miss Xu San walked in and saw the scene. Her eyes lit up, and she deliberately gasped loudly.

When others looked at her, she quickly glanced at Jiang Ruining, then quickly lowered her head, pretending to be scared.

This easily drew a lot of suspicious glances to Jiang Ruining.

Jiang Ruining kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Zheng Lingyi nudged her, a little worried: "Ningning? Xu San pointed you out, explain yourself quickly!"

Jiang Ruining snapped out of her daze, feigning panic, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Stop with all that useless feinting. Just tell me, did you see me make my move or not?"

Seeing her expression, Miss Xu knew that everything was settled, and her eyes relaxed.

She twisted the handkerchief in her hand, took a deep breath, and made a desperate statement: "Yes! I saw it! There was a maid screaming on the riverbank, and everyone's attention was drawn to it. I was standing right next to you at the time, and I saw you reach out your hand out of the corner of my eye..."

"But I didn't see any powder at the time, so I didn't dare to say anything earlier."

Among the women who were close to the Xu sisters, a round-faced one jumped out and pointed at Jiang Ruining, saying, "It must be her! When Nianyin suggested searching everyone, she was the most guilty! That screaming maid must have been arranged by her to divert everyone's attention!"

Jiang Ruining's face darkened: "Then go find that maid and interrogate her. That will tell you whether I ordered her or not! If it has nothing to do with me, your 'I saw it out of the corner of my eye'... doesn't prove my guilt. On the contrary, it can prove that you intended to frame me!"

Miss Xu waved her hands repeatedly, looking utterly wronged: "I didn't! I'm not lying!"

Madam Cui, growing impatient, grabbed a teacup and slammed it to the ground, shards flying everywhere. "Madam Wen, go and find that wretched maid immediately!"

Madam Wen took a deep breath. She was quite angry that a dignified second-rank imperial lady was being yelled at like a maid.

But since it happened in her territory, she could only endure it.

"If anyone clearly saw the maid's face at the time, please go with the Wen family to look for her. Thank you!"

Miss Xu did not move.

The round-faced girl exchanged a glance with her and then went out the door.

The important task left behind was thought to be delayed for a while.

Unexpectedly, the next second there was a loud "bang," followed by Xu San Guniang's exclamation: "Ah!"

Everyone got up and went out to check the situation.

There was a maid with a silver orchid hairpin in her hair, thrown outside. She was not injured, but she was on the verge of death.

The others were startled.

The girl by the window recognized her: "It's the maid who almost fell into the river. Looks like she's already been questioned. Who moved so quickly?"

They were curious and discussing it.

Then they heard someone shout, "The Regent is here!" The people inside immediately went out to respond, bowing and greeting him.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Regent!"

Xiao Che's gaze fell on Jiang Ruining. Seeing that she was alright, he gave a faint "hmm": "Those who are not involved, leave."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Although they were eager to see the spectacle, they dared not disobey the Regent's orders.

Those who felt they had nothing to do with the matter started to walk outside.

The round-faced girl who was on good terms with the Xu sisters felt a little guilty when she saw the Regent interfering in the matter. She also wanted to leave, but someone stopped her: "Since you've gotten involved, there's no reason for you to stay out of it."

The round-faced girl turned pale, wanting to argue but not daring to speak, and stood frozen in place.

Shi'an went inside, brought out a chair, and placed it on the porch.

Xiao Che sat down with an air of authority.

He didn't go inside, so the others could only stay outside. They couldn't stand next to him; they had to step down from the eaves and stand in the bright sunlight.

Xiao Che raised his hand, which was resting on the armrest of the chair, and gently flicked his long, slender fingers.

The old woman from the Wen family, who had come along, immediately stepped forward and kicked the maid: "Who ordered you to deliberately scream and shout by the river? Speak! Don't play dead in front of the Regent and all the nobles, answer me now!"

The maid was in so much pain that she was exhausted and lay on the ground unable to move. But when she heard the words "Regent," it was as if she had encountered a ferocious beast in a desperate situation. She squeezed out the strength from between her bones and struggled to kneel down, speaking almost in a breathy voice.

"It was...it was the maidservant of Miss Xu who bribed me!"

"She gave me a gold ingot... and told me to stand by the river and shout, pretending I almost fell in... If anyone asks, I should say it was the veiled girl who told me to do that!"

"As for the rest, this servant truly doesn't know... I don't know!"

These words were spoken.

All eyes turned to Xu San Guniang.

When Xu San Guniang saw the Regent arrive, she already had a vague sense of foreboding. After all, few people who fell into the Regent's hands could keep their secrets!

But hearing the maid's confession with his own ears still made his mind buzz.

An overwhelming fear swelled violently in her chest, choking her throat, her teeth chattering: "Your Highness, please understand, this has nothing to do with my daughter! The phosphorus powder clearly came from her..."

He pointed his finger sharply at Jiang Ruining, who was standing to the side, seemingly unconcerned.

Suddenly meeting her smiling eyes, I felt like I'd been punched in the head, the pain leaving me dazed.

Her panic just now was faked!

Therefore, the bottle containing phosphorus powder has most likely been transferred to the elder sister!

Finished!