Spring Peach looked at the empty silk and satin shop, then glanced at Cousin Lady, who seemed nonchalant.
She felt resentful but couldn't express it.
She could only sit down on one side, pouting her lips so high.
Ruan Jiu thought she looked rather cute when angry.
Of course she knew that Spring Peach was worried about her.
With her hands behind her back, she stepped forward, poking out her small head. "Are you angry?"
Spring Peach turned her body to the side without saying a word.
Ruan Jiu sat down beside her, looping her arm through Spring Peach's and resting her head on her shoulder.
She coquettishly said, "My dear Spring Peach, don't be angry anymore."
Spring Peach sighed and said, "Cousin Lady, now that all the people have left, I'd like to see what you're going to do."
"This is called taking the essence and discarding the dross."
"What does that mean?" Spring Peach was puzzled.
Ruan Jiu didn't explain it to her. She just took her hand. "Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Go home and get scolded."
Spring Peach shook her head helplessly. She really had no way to deal with her cousin lady.
Not long after they returned to the Xie Mansion, Old Master Xie sent for Ruan Jiu to go to the main hall for questioning.
She had just returned to the mansion when the news of what had happened in the silk and satin shop reached Old Master Xie's ears.
She couldn't help but sigh at the speed of the spread of the news.
A few days ago, the quality problem of the Xie Family's silk and satin shop had been making a big stir, and today the shop assistants had all left together.
It inevitably caught Old Master Xie's attention.
In the main hall, Xie Chong sat in the center.
Looking around, except for the Second Branch's family, everyone else was present.
It really looked like a three - party inquisition.
Ruan Jiu hung her head, waiting for the onslaught.
"A Jiu, what on earth happened to the silk and satin shop?" Xie Chong asked coldly.
"Grandfather, recently many people came to return inferior brocade, but I found that those silks and satins were not from our Xie Family's silk and satin shop," Ruan Jiu replied respectfully.
"Are you saying that someone is selling fake brocade?"
Ruan Jiu nodded.
Just then, Xie Jing rolled his eyes and immediately said, "But I heard that the patterns of those silks and satins are exactly the same as our Xie Family's brocade."
Ruan Jiu couldn't deny it.
The reason the Xie Family's brocade was famous was that only the Xie Family had the craftsmanship blueprint for the brocade, and others couldn't imitate it.
Xie Jing continued, "According to what you said, all the brocade on the market is fake. Could it be that the craftsmanship blueprint of the Xie Family's brocade has been stolen?"
After saying that, Xie Jing pretended to be surprised.
At this time, Xu Qing immediately chimed in, "But the craftsmanship blueprint has always been in Cousin Lady's hands. Could it be Cousin Lady..."
Xu Qing covered her mouth, hesitating to speak.
As if she had revealed a great secret, she carefully looked at Old Master Xie.
Ruan Jiu could tell at a glance that the couple from the First Branch were singing in chorus.
However, she was a bit confused. Now that she and Xie Yanchuan were engaged, the First Branch also intended to use her to deal with the Fourth Master.
If the accusation was proven true at this time, it would do no good to the First Branch.
Did they want to take this opportunity to annul her engagement with Xie Yanchuan?
Thinking carefully, she was brought back by Xie Jingchu. If she became a sinner of the Xie Family, Xie Jingchu would surely be implicated.
In this way, the actions of the First Branch made sense.
Hearing this, Xie Yanchuan immediately stood up. He was so anxious that he even forgot to salute.
He directly said, "Grandfather, I believe A Jiu is definitely not such a person!"
Ruan Jiu was surprised. She didn't expect Xie Yanchuan to stand up for her.
Xie Jing immediately glared at Xie Yanchuan, then stood up and bowed to Xie Chong. "Father, everyone knows that Cousin Lady is not a member of the Xie Family. It's not impossible for her to be blinded by profit."
Xie Yanchuan wanted to speak for Ruan Jiu again, but Xu Qing grabbed him and shook her head at him.
"Grandfather, A Jiu has absolutely no ill intentions!" Ruan Jiu knelt on the ground, her eyes firm and her words sincere.
After hearing this, Xie Jing sneered contemptuously. "Then tell us how those fake goods came about?"
At present, her suspicion was indeed the greatest.
She bit her lip, looking embarrassed and unable to defend herself.
Just then, Shen Tang suddenly spoke up. "Father, I believe Cousin Lady."
On weekdays, the Third Branch never participated in such things. Unexpectedly, they also stood up for her today.
Ruan Jiu couldn't help but cast a grateful look at Shen Tang.
But who would have thought that the next second, Shen Tang would overturn what she had thought.
"Cousin Lady treasures the craftsmanship blueprint very much on weekdays. She locks it in the cabinet and never lets outsiders get close."
This statement by Shen Tang was undoubtedly telling everyone that unless Ruan Jiu herself gave the craftsmanship blueprint to others, it would never have been leaked.
However...
Ruan Jiu looked at Shen Tang.
Her gaze fixed, with a deep meaning.
Xie Jingchu, who had been silent all this time, gave Shen Tang a slight glance.
He thought to himself that she was being too hasty.
Xie Jing laughed twice and said, "Look, even Third Sister - in - law knows that no one else can touch your craftsmanship blueprint. If it's not you, then who else could it be?"
The craftsmanship blueprint of the brocade was a secret of the Xie Family.
Xie Jing really didn't believe that Ruan Jiu would leak the craftsmanship blueprint to others.
Now he said this just to kick Ruan Jiu out of the silk and satin shop and use this to make things difficult for Xie Jingchu.
In the past few days, he had discussed with Xu Qing that as long as Ruan Jiu was no longer the manager of the silk and satin shop, she would have no use value.
They also wouldn't have to wrong Yan'er to marry a beggar picked up from outside.
It was killing two birds with one stone. Why not do it?
"No... I didn't mean that," Shen Tang waved her hands repeatedly, looking flustered. "Although Cousin Lady is an outsider, she always knows what's important."
What a good word "outsider"!
Ruan Jiu looked at Shen Tang, her eyes full of sarcasm.
She didn't even know when she had become a thorn in the side of the Third Branch.
They wished they could step on her twice and grind her down.
"Eldest Uncle," Ruan Jiu bowed slightly to Xie Jing. "It's true that I'm in charge of the craftsmanship blueprint, but I swear I've never leaked it." Her tone was neither overbearing nor humble.
"Then how can you prove it?" Xie Jing paused and then continued. "Now that you've driven away all the shop assistants in the silk and satin shop, isn't it because you're guilty?"
"They left on their own!" Ruan Jiu immediately explained.
But Xie Jing looked like he didn't believe it. He taunted, "Look around. Who here will believe you?"
"If you don't believe me, you can call them all here for confrontation." Ruan Jiu's eyes were red with eagerness.
Xie Jing sneered contemptuously. "Even if they left on their own, it's because you've ruined the reputation of the silk and satin shop and its business has declined sharply."
Ruan Jiu sneered. "Eldest Uncle, this hat is too big. I really can't wear it."
"Enough!"
Just as the two were arguing, Old Master Xie's voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone fell silent.
They saw Old Master Xie closing his eyes, his brows tightly knitted.
One hand propped up his head as he gently rubbed his temple.
He looked like he was trying his best to suppress his anger.
No one present dared to say a word. They even breathed carefully.
After a moment, Old Master Xie opened his eyes. His solemn eyes scanned everyone.
Finally, his gaze fell on Xie Jingchu.
"Fourth, what do you think of this matter?"
After hearing this, Xie Jing immediately showed dissatisfaction on his face.
So all his words just now had been in vain?
Why did the old master only have Xie Jingchu in his heart? He was the eldest son of the Xie Family!
Xie Jingchu didn't stand up. His expression was calm as he slightly parted his thin lips.
"A Jiu is involved in this matter. Until she can prove herself, the silk and satin shop will be temporarily closed."