Chapter 532: Chapter 175 Framing (2) Song Yanqing’s Help
Xie Ruotong just watched as the house servants searched her room.
Inside and out.
They left no place unchecked.
They searched for the duration of an incense stick.
But found nothing.
However, Xie Ruotong dared not to let her guard down even for a moment.
Even though nothing had been found now, she was well aware that this was merely Xie Ruilin’s Blinding Technique.
If the evidence was found too arrogantly, it would certainly raise suspicions.
"Reporting to the madam, we found nothing," a servant respectfully reported.
Ming Yufang nodded.
She said, "Actually, I didn’t really think that Ruotong’s room would hide these stolen goods, and you, Ruotong, are not this kind of person. However, the reason for doing this search was to prove your innocence, to avoid others’ gossip. Ruotong, you must understand, my intentions are for your own good."
"Mother, I understand," Xie Ruotong echoed.
But she did not dare to say more.
She certainly did not feel that Xie Ruilin would just let this go.
"Let’s go," Ming Yufang intended to leave with everyone.
Just as she was about to turn around.
"Wait, madam," Chun Tao, who was standing to the side as a punished servant, suddenly spoke up.
Xie Ruotong felt a tightness in her chest.
Ming Yufang’s expression also turned ugly.
Chun Tao’s lack of respect irritated her greatly.
If it were not for the fact that Xie Ruilin was now pregnant, she would not have tolerated Chun Tao’s behavior.
"Madam, I’ve just noticed that they have searched through everything in the young madam’s room, but there is one place that has not been searched," Chun Tao quickly said.
"Where?!" Ming Yufang’s expression darkened.
She actually hadn’t been paying attention at all.
Instead, she was a bit annoyed by Chun Tao wasting time.
Without Ming Yufang’s permission, Chun Tao stood up from the ground and quickly walked over to the charcoal that Qiao’er had just brought back to the room. Then, in front of everyone, she began searching through the charcoal.
Just as Ming Yufang was dissatisfied with Chun Tao’s lack of decorum and was about to scold her.
Chun Tao suddenly found a white figurine within the charcoal.
The figurine was now gray due to being stained by the charcoal.
And this discovery.
Made everyone hold their breath.
Xie Ruotong’s clenched fists, which she had not relaxed up to this point, suddenly let go.
Just as she had anticipated.
She had already prepared for being framed.
"Madam, the servant has found something!" Chun Tao exclaimed loudly.
Ming Yufang glared fiercely at the dirty white figurine.
Then turned to look at Xie Ruotong, her voice uncontrollably filled with anger, "Xie Ruotong, what is this all about?!"
Xie Ruotong faced Ming Yufang’s fury.
She replied calmly, "Mother, I do not know."
"Xie Ruotong!" Ming Yufang ground her teeth in rage, at this moment extremely infuriated with Xie Ruotong.
She had always thought that Xie Ruotong was educated and virtuous.
She could not possibly do something so vile.
However, the evidence was right in front of her eyes.
And yet, Xie Ruotong was still defending herself.
"This charcoal was just brought back from the storeroom by Qiao’er, before mother arrived here, we have not touched this charcoal at all," Xie Ruotong explained calmly and steadily.
The determination in her eyes almost made it impossible to doubt her.
Ming Yufang frowned.
She, too, began to have some thoughts.
Chun Tao promptly said loudly, under Xie Ruilin’s gaze, "There is also a needle here."
Intending to divert Ming Yufang’s attention and further aggravate her emotions.
Ming Yufang quickly looked over.
The figurine represented a pregnant form.
A needle was clearly stuck in the belly of the figurine.
It was evidently a curse for a miscarriage.
"Absolutely outrageous, lawless!" Upon seeing this, Ming Yufang burst with rage. She shouted at Xie Ruotong, "Since marrying into the Song Family, my Song Family has never mistreated you once, yet you commit such an atrocity without any regard for the heirs of the Song Family; Xie Ruotong, you have truly disappointed me!"
Xie Ruotong clenched her teeth.
She remained calm in the face of Ming Yufang’s accusations and rage.
Ming Yufang loudly ordered, "I command you to seize the young madam and lock her in the ancestral temple to await judgment!"
"Wait," Xie Ruotong’s voice became stern.
She met Ming Yufang’s gaze.
Without a hint of fear.
In fact, her demeanor exhibited a powerful presence.
Ming Yufang’s expression visibly worsened in the face of Xie Ruotong’s defiance.
Xie Ruotong stated plainly, "Mother, I have already said that this charcoal was just brought back from the storeroom; if you don’t believe me, you can ask the storeroom keeper. We haven’t used the charcoal yet and had no idea what was inside of it. Furthermore, as Chun Tao just mentioned, a talisman was found under my aunt’s pillow. Since it was found under the pillow, it means that someone went to my aunt’s room. But mother, from the time I was punished by you to kneel in the snow for two hours until today, I have not left this room. I believe all the house servants can bear witness, even Song Yanqing can testify for me."