Chapter Twenty-Nine: Caught Red-Handed

Seeing Luo Yunqiao arrive late, a flicker of certainty crossed Luo Yunzhen’s eyes. Today, she was determined to cast Luo Yunqiao out of the Marquis’s estate once and for all.

Once everyone had gathered, Luo Chao signaled the accountant, who immediately understood and stepped forward. With great flourish and detail, he recounted how he had discovered a thief in the storehouse and how the culprit had managed to escape.

Luo Zefeng spoke up impatiently, "If the ledger is lost, go find the ledger. Why drag us all here for this?" Having been hauled out of bed in the middle of the night, no one was in a good mood, and Luo Zefeng was no exception.

The accountant bowed respectfully and said, "Second Young Master, you may not be aware, but when we were pursuing the thief, we noticed that they were very familiar with the estate's layout, moving through it with ease. It is highly likely that… it was someone from within the house." He added a final note: "Come to think of it, it is strange. Yesterday, the Eldest Miss was asking me for this very ledger, and today it has vanished. It is quite a coincidence."

Every word was clearly intended to cast suspicion on Luo Yunqiao.

Luo Chao was incensed. "Absurd! My estate has become a thief’s den? If word of this gets out, where will my reputation be? Search! I want a thorough investigation!"

Hearing this, Jin Xin shrank back in terror. Others might not know the truth, but she knew it all too well. When they had left, her mistress had taken the ledger with her, and it was likely still hidden in the courtyard. If the Master insisted on searching the grounds, what would happen if it were found?

Perhaps, the more one fears something, the sooner it arrives. Luo Zefeng suddenly spoke, "Jin Xin, what are you nervous about?"

Called out by name, Jin Xin trembled, a chill rising from her feet to the top of her head. "I… I am not nervous."

Luo Zefeng narrowed his eyes, looking at her with suspicion. "Not nervous?" he sneered. "You are shaking like a sieve and you still say you aren't nervous? Speak! Was it your mistress who stole the ledger?"

Unable to withstand Luo Zefeng’s intimidation, Jin Xin immediately knelt, yet she firmly insisted that Luo Yunqiao had not stolen anything. However, her state of mind stripped her words of any credibility, only convincing Luo Zefeng further that the stolen ledger must be in Luo Yunqiao’s possession.

Having learned from previous encounters, Luo Zefeng did not waste time arguing with Luo Yunqiao, as he knew he would gain nothing from it. He turned to Luo Chao and bowed. "Father, I believe we should conduct a strict search of Luo Yunqiao’s quarters."

"No," Luo Yunqiao interjected before Luo Chao could speak.

Luo Zefeng wore a look of triumph. "What? Are you feeling guilty?"

Luo Yunqiao shook her head. "I am not feeling guilty. On the contrary, it is precisely because I have a clear conscience that I refuse this demand."

At these words, everyone’s eyes fell upon her, waiting for what she had to say next. Jin Xin was so frightened she was on the verge of tears, blaming herself for causing trouble for her mistress.

Luo Yunqiao gave her a reassuring look before continuing. "My younger brother assumes I stole the ledger, but surely I must have had a motive to do so? May I ask, for what reason would I take such a massive risk?"

Luo Zefeng opened his mouth but could not find a single word to say. He certainly did not know what motive she might have. Luo Yunzhen, standing nearby, knew exactly why, but unfortunately, she could not bring it into the light—she could hardly admit that it was because the accountant had been skimming Luo Yunqiao’s monthly allowance.

Luo Yunqiao added, "Furthermore, I am not refusing to have my quarters searched, but if we are to search, we should search the entire estate. Whether it is the quarters of the masters or the servants, we should search every corner. Otherwise, if the focus is only on my courtyard, even if I am eventually proven innocent, the rumors will be impossible to clear up."

Her words were logical and well-founded, yet Luo Zefeng persisted, "I don't think there is any need for that."

Luo Zeting, however, stepped forward to offer a fair opinion. "Father, Mother, Yunqiao’s suggestion is reasonable. Since the whole family is gathered here, we might as well search everything to clear my sister’s name."

To Luo Yunqiao’s surprise, even Luo Yunzhen stepped forward to speak for her. "Indeed, this is a serious matter. We shouldn't just make baseless accusations; it is better to be thorough."

Luo Yunqiao glanced at her and saw a trace of hidden mockery at the corner of her lips. She immediately understood: Luo Yunzhen was certain the ledger had been stolen and wanted to catch her red-handed. *Very well, let us try,* she thought.

Fortunately, Luo Chao did not show favoritism this time and ordered the search to proceed throughout the entire estate as Luo Yunqiao had requested.

The first to be searched was naturally Luo Yunqiao’s courtyard. Luo Yunzhen stood to the side, quietly waiting for the moment of triumph. As the minutes ticked by, the servant in charge of searching Luo Yunqiao’s residence returned to report that the ledger had not been found.

The faint smile on Luo Yunzhen’s lips froze. *How is this possible?*

Luo Zefeng could not accept the result either. "Are you certain you searched carefully? Did you check the flowerbeds and dig them up?"

The remark was too pointed, and Lady Luo cast him a sharp look, telling him not to speak nonsense. Throughout it all, Luo Yunqiao stood in the center of the courtyard, neither servile nor overbearing, showing no signs of surprise or relief.

Time passed, and the servants responsible for searching the other courtyards returned one by one; the ledger was nowhere to be found. The final group, those tasked with searching Luo Yunzhen’s own courtyard, returned with expressions of utter confusion.

"Reporting to the Master, we found this in the Second Miss's courtyard..." As they spoke, they held out a ledger covered in mud.

Upon seeing the book, Luo Yunzhen felt a wave of dizziness. *How could this be?! Shouldn't this have been taken by Luo Yunqiao? Why is it in my own courtyard?*

She instinctively looked at Luo Yunqiao, who raised an eyebrow at her with a look of distinct provocation. Only then did Luo Yunzhen realize she had been played.

"This… how did this happen?" Luo Zefeng stared at the ledger, speechless.

Luo Yunzhen, however, reacted quickly and stepped forward to do what she did best—shirk responsibility. "Father, Mother, Brother, Younger Brother, you must believe me! There is no reason for me to steal the ledger!"