Bai Sheng considered that, after all, Bai Zheng still held the identity of the future wife of the Marquis of Dingyuan. If there was no proper reason, when Feng Linyuan returned and learned that something had happened to her, he would surely not let it go easily.
This was how Bai Sheng came up with the idea of borrowing the imperial red - gold plum blossom hairpin bestowed by the emperor to frame Bai Zheng for stealing the imperial gift.
Who would have thought that just as Concubine Zhao had given the order to search, before anyone even touched Bai Zheng, Feng Linyuan returned!
Moreover, he brought Feng Linche and Empress Chu with him, giving Bai Zheng a backer and making it impossible for others to bully her easily.
Concubine Zhao was even forced to have her side hall searched. The hairpin was not found, but the affair between Bai Di and Chen Jianzhi was discovered!
Thinking of this, Concubine Zhao suddenly seemed to understand something. She looked down in disbelief at the young girl standing quietly beside Su Muxiao with her head bowed.
The so - called affair of Bai Di must have been framed by someone. After all, Concubine Zhao knew best about Bai Di's feelings for Feng Jingxuan.
But why was Bai Di framed? And who brought Chen Jianzhi into the palace?
If this had happened somewhere else, it might have been okay. But it happened in her own Wenrui Hall, where all the servants were hers...
Concubine Zhao's eyes scanned everyone in the hall. Now all her personal palace servants had been taken away by Feng Linche for interrogation, and even Ziyan was not by her side.
Her eyes gradually filled with a blood - red haze as she looked at Bai Zheng.
"It's you," she gritted her teeth, hardly able to speak through her throat.
Bai Zheng looked up blankly. Seeing Concubine Zhao glaring at her, she was stunned for a moment. "Your Ladyship?"
"It's you! In order to get rid of the guilt of stealing the jade hairpin, you not only framed Di'er but also tried to frame me! You, such a young girl, have such a cruel heart!" Concubine Zhao raised her voice, pointing at Bai Zheng with a red face in excitement.
Bai Zheng frowned slightly and was about to speak when she heard Feng Linyuan's dissatisfied voice. "Your Ladyship, Zheng'er is as timid as a mouse. Don't scare her with such words."
"Timid as a mouse?" Concubine Zhao was almost furious.
Others might not know, but now she knew clearly.
Bai Zheng was not a timid and inexperienced girl at all. She was extremely capable!
"If it weren't for her, how could Mingzhao's red - gold plum blossom hairpin be missing? If it weren't for the search for the hairpin, why would so many people break into Di'er's room, ruining Di'er's reputation? She bribed Cuizhu, seduced Chen Jianzhi, framed Di'er and even framed me. Her scheming is simply outrageous!" The more Concubine Zhao thought about it, the more she believed this was the case, and the angrier she became.
Yes, this must be the truth!
Since Su Muxiao still had a slight case of food poisoning, it meant that she had just escaped from the family temple after eating spoiled food and hadn't had the time to join hands with anyone.
So the mastermind of this incident was very likely Bai Zheng!
Maybe, as Bai Di said, Bai Zheng had joined hands with Princess Yunxi to harm her and her niece.
Feng Linyuan's eyes were cold, and his tone was even colder. "Your Ladyship thinks too highly of Zheng'er!
You said she bribed Cuizhu? Cuizhu has been by Your Ladyship's side for many years and has seen all kinds of rare treasures. It would be very difficult to bribe her. Zheng'er is just the daughter of a third - rank official. Even if she took out ten years of her monthly allowance, Cuizhu might not even look at it.
As for seducing Chen Jianzhi, hehe! Your Ladyship had better not say such nonsense in the future.
Although Miss Bai Di is indeed no match for Zheng'er, Zheng'er is beautiful and kind - hearted. It's only natural for Young Master Chen to be attracted to her.
But if Young Master Chen had really seen Zheng'er, how could he have laid a hand on Miss Bai Di?
Moreover, Zheng'er only came here today to celebrate Princess Mingzhao's birthday whole - heartedly. Who would have known so many things would happen later?
This was her first time coming to your Wenrui Hall. How could she have known that His Majesty would bestow that red - gold plum blossom hairpin? Could it be that before she came to this banquet, she had the idea of stealing something no matter what?
For something she didn't even think about, could Zheng'er have the ability to bribe Cuizhu and arrange for Chen Jianzhi in advance?
Your Ladyship might as well say that Zheng'er is a fortune - teller who predicted that Your Ladyship and Miss Bai Di would frame her today, so she decided to turn the tables and set a trap for the two of you?"
Feng Linyuan's words were like precious pearls, full of sarcasm.
Concubine Zhao felt like she had swallowed a fishbone. She felt extremely uncomfortable in her chest, unable to swallow it or spit it out.
What could she say? Could she say that this time she had indeed invited Bai Zheng into the palace with the intention of framing her, only to find that Bai Zheng had noticed and struck first?
If such words were spoken, the outcome might be no better than secretly bringing Chen Jianzhi into the palace!
Bai Zheng's lips curved slightly as she tried hard not to laugh.
"Even if Zheng'er doesn't have such ability, but you, Marquis of Dingyuan, might not be the same," Bai Sheng, who had been watching coldly for a long time, suddenly said leisurely. Her eyes were like poisoned arrows as she stared at Bai Zheng and Feng Linyuan. "Otherwise, why did Your Lordship come so punctually today? You were just in time to rescue Zheng'er from Aunt's hands. You know, that red - gold plum blossom hairpin still hasn't been found!"
"Sister still suspects that Zheng'er stole the hairpin?" Bai Zheng said coldly.
Bai Sheng sneered. "Now that even the side halls have been searched, there's no trace of the hairpin anywhere. Only Zheng'er's body hasn't been searched yet..."
"Does the eldest miss still want to search Zheng'er's body?" Feng Linyuan's face was as cold as an ice - cold pool.
"What red - gold plum blossom hairpin?" Princess Yunxi couldn't help but interrupt.
The reward from Feng Linche had come after they were drunk and taken to the side hall. Naturally, Princess Yunxi and Feng Jingxuan didn't know about the hairpin.
Bai Sheng replied, "It's a white jade hairpin personally made by His Majesty and bestowed to Mingzhao. It was properly inserted in Mingzhao's hair, and after Zheng'er took care of it for a while, the hairpin disappeared. It's nowhere to be found in the entire Wenrui Hall..."
"Sister is sure that the entire Wenrui Hall has been searched?" Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows slightly.
"The entire main hall, all the side halls, the yard, and even the bodies of all the palace servants who came and went today have been searched. Now the only one whose body hasn't been searched is you, Zheng'er." Bai Sheng didn't back down at all.
Bai Zheng raised a slender finger and shook it. She said crisply, "Sister, there are so many people in this hall. It's not just the palace servants and me."
Bai Zheng frowned. "Zheng'er might as well say that we should search all the noble guests who came today first? Or should I, your sister, also be searched?"
As soon as these words were said, the looks in people's eyes towards Bai Zheng immediately turned contemptuous.
The third princess, with her straightforward personality, even sneered at Bai Zheng on the spot. "The daughter of a mere third - rank official dares to question this princess!"