Chapter 30: This Grudge Must Be Settled

This outcome was clearly beyond anyone’s expectations. Even Luo Zefeng was stunned, failing to speak up for Luo Yunzhen immediately.

However, Luo Zefeng ultimately trusted her. Once he regained his composure, he stepped forward to defend her. "Zhen'er has grown up under our eyes; I know her temperament and character better than anyone. Father, Mother, and Big Brother should know this as well."

"Zhen'er would never do such a thing!"

Luo Zefeng’s words were resonant and forceful, striking a chord with Luo Chao and the others. Emotionally, everyone present—with the exception of Luo Yunqiao—was unwilling to believe that Luo Yunzhen could have committed such an act.

Luo Yunqiao let out a mocking laugh. Everyone turned to look at her.

Luo Yunqiao said, "That is quite a novelty. Just a moment ago, I stated that I had no reason to steal the ledger, yet my younger brother refused to accept my explanation. Now that the person has been caught red-handed and the ledger has been unearthed from Luo Yunzhen’s own courtyard, my brother is using my own logic to exonerate her."

Luo Zefeng’s face flushed red as he tried to retort, but Luo Yunqiao had no interest in wasting words on him. She simply said, "As for whether there was a reason or not, wouldn't checking the ledger reveal everything?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunzhen’s heart skipped a beat, as if a bad omen were impending. But what could possibly be wrong? The real ledger had long since been burned by her.

Luo Chao remained silent for a moment, then ordered the ledger to be brought to him. The spacious courtyard fell into a profound silence, broken only by the rustling of pages as Luo Chao turned them. Luo Yunzhen watched him, trembling with anxiety, and saw his expression grow increasingly grim.

"Preposterous!"

Luo Chao suddenly roared, throwing the ledger at Luo Yunzhen’s feet. This was the first time Luo Chao had ever lost his temper with her, and she shuddered in terror.

"Father... what is the matter?" Luo Zefeng asked, his tone laced with resentment, dissatisfied with his father’s harsh attitude toward Yunzhen. Even Madame Luo looked on with clear disapproval.

Luo Chao was livid. He flicked his sleeve and snapped, "What is the matter? Look for yourself!"

Luo Zefeng picked up the ledger from before Luo Yunzhen, and his own face turned just as grim as his father’s.

"This is impossible..." Luo Zefeng muttered while staring at the ledger. "How could Zhen'er have withdrawn so much silver from the accounts..."

Hearing this, Luo Yunzhen felt her temples throb. She immediately stood up and snatched the ledger away. At a single glance, she knew the ledger was a fake! To avoid suspicion, she had only skimmed off Luo Yunqiao’s portion of the monthly allowance, which amounted to a mere fifty or sixty taels. Yet, the ledger showed a flow of three hundred taels!

This was a forged account!

Luo Yunzhen realized the truth and immediately looked at Luo Yunqiao. It was her! She must be the one behind this. She had intentionally buried this fake ledger in her courtyard!

Luo Yunqiao, however, remained unmoved. Her eyes were indifferent, devoid of joy or anger, as if she were a mere bystander. She did not even spare Luo Yunzhen a glance.

Indeed, it was she who had plotted against Luo Yunzhen. She had commissioned a man in black to alter the fake ledger that Luo Yunzhen had originally intended to use to frame her, and then had Yinxin bury it in Luo Yunzhen’s courtyard while everyone was in a state of panic and distraction.

This was a calculated, overt trap. After all, if Luo Yunzhen wanted to prove her innocence, she would have to produce the real ledger. But for the sake of caution, Luo Yunzhen had long since reduced the real ledger to ashes; how could she possibly prove her innocence? Even if she hadn't burned the real one, she couldn't possibly produce it now to prove her innocence—how would she explain why the ledger was in her possession instead of the treasury?

This was an unsolvable dilemma.

Luo Yunzhen’s eyes turned blood-red, and she nearly ground her teeth to dust, but she had no choice but to swallow her bitterness.

It was no wonder Luo Chao was so furious. Three hundred taels of silver was a small matter, but withdrawing money from the accounts without authorization was a grave offense. If it were three hundred taels today, what would it be next time? Could three thousand or thirty thousand taels be withdrawn just as easily?

Thinking of this, Luo Chao shot a look at the accountant that boded ill. After today, the entire staff of the treasury, including the accountant, would likely be replaced.

Once the situation was clear, even Madame Luo and Luo Zeting could not find the words to plead for mercy and had to submit to Luo Chao’s judgment. Though angry, Luo Chao could not bear to punish her too severely; he simply docked three months of Luo Yunzhen’s allowance and confined her to her quarters for a week.

Luo Yunzhen did not rely on that allowance to live, so to her, this was merely a painless warning. Yet, she felt utterly humiliated! In her heart, she swore that she would make Luo Yunqiao pay for this shame a hundred, a thousand times over!

...

The day’s events were finally resolved without further mishap; it was well past midnight by the time they returned to their quarters. Jinxin was still confused, not understanding how the situation had reversed so dramatically. Hadn't the ledger been taken by their mistress? How did it end up in the Second Miss's courtyard?

In the end, it was Yinxin who explained the mystery to her. Jinxin finally had an epiphany.

Luo Yunqiao spoke up, "It wasn't that I intended to keep you in the dark; this ploy was truly risky, and I feared you might not be able to keep the secret."

Jinxin shook her head with a smile, "Do not worry, Miss. Jinxin understands."

Still, her mistress was truly brilliant to have devised such a scheme, leaving Luo Yunzhen unable to voice her grievances. Yinxin laughed heartily, "This is the first time that woman in the West Wing Courtyard has been bested! It is a pity I wasn't there to see the look on her face."

Luo Yunqiao, however, felt no joy. In the end, today’s success was only possible because of Xiao Muyuan’s assistance. Without the help of the man in black, she likely would have had to leave the Marquis’s estate in a humiliating manner, which was not what she wanted.

Though Luo Yunqiao did not know why Xiao Muyuan had helped her, she knew he wanted something from the Luo household. Perhaps... they could become allies.

Reflecting on this, Luo Yunqiao wrote a letter and instructed Yinxin to send it out at dawn the next day. It was time to meet Xiao Muyuan and talk.

The next day, Yinxin went out early in the morning and handed the letter to the servant responsible for delivering messages. Just as the servant took the letter, he was intercepted.

...

Xiao Muyuan’s reply came quickly, and by the following day, the time and place for their meeting were set. Luo Yunqiao disguised herself and headed to the rendezvous.

Inside the Tingchun Pavilion, Xiao Muyuan had been waiting for some time. Luo Yunqiao removed her veil and sat opposite him.

"Has the Prince been waiting long?"

Xiao Muyuan sipped his tea, his voice cool and detached, "No, I just arrived."

He raised his eyes. "Miss Luo, what is the reason for seeking me out?"

Seeing him get straight to the point, Luo Yunqiao did not bother with pleasantries. "Yesterday, there was a theft in the manor. It was only thanks to the Prince’s help that I was able to clear my name, and I have come to express my gratitude."

Xiao Muyuan raised an eyebrow. "Help? How exactly did I intervene in the affairs of your Jing'an Marquis residence?"