Grand Tutor Cao was a senior statesman who had served three dynasties. He was well - known for his uprightness and had an excellent reputation. With him as a witness to the "fortune - telling inquiry", the result would be more credible when it came from his mouth.
"You..."
Zhao E was so angry that her hands were shaking. "How could you be so muddle - headed! How dare you involve my father - in - law? Once he's involved, there'll be no room for maneuver!"
Qian Fangxue thought that Madam Cao was exaggerating. The reason why the couple had finally decided to invite Grand Tutor Cao to be the witness was mainly that he was Cao Sheng's grandfather. No matter how upright Grand Tutor Cao was, Cao Sheng was his own grandson. He wouldn't harm his own flesh and blood, would he?
Even if the fortune - teller changed her story at that time, for the sake of his grandson's reputation, Grand Tutor Cao would cover up the matter.
"It won't be like that," Qian Fangxue said confidently. "Although Grand Tutor Cao is sometimes too rigid, he hasn't come to break off the engagement between the two children. This shows that he still cares about their reputations."
"Heh~" Zhao E was so angry that she laughed. This Madam Ye could be really stupid sometimes.
"It's not about caring for the children's reputations. The reason he hasn't broken off the engagement yet is that Ye Xi's marriage - matching horoscope is in my hands!"
"I've tried so hard to calm my father - in - law down and persuade him to wait until we find evidence before dealing with this matter. But you're good! You're just shoving the evidence into his hands!"
"How... How could this be?"
Qian Fangxue's face turned pale.
But now the arrow was on the bowstring and had to be shot. Moreover, she had already reached an agreement with the Slow - Ping Fortune - Teller. Just in case, she had discussed with her husband for a long time last night and made full preparations. By then, black could be turned into white, and this plan would surely succeed!
Thinking of this, Qian Fangxue forced herself to remain calm and said:
"Evidence or no evidence, I've already reached an agreement with the Slow - Ping Fortune - Teller. She has promised to help. As long as she cooperates according to the original plan, this so - called evidence will prove the innocence of the two children."
"Moreover," Qian Fangxue said with a smug smile, "I've got a backup plan. Even if she changes her story, I have a way to make her words invalid!"
"Really?" Zhao E really doubted that Qian Fangxue could come up with any good ideas. But the situation was already like this, and she had no choice but to treat the dying horse as if it were a live one.
"I wonder what brilliant plan Madam Ye has?"
Qian Fangxue leaned close to Madam Cao's ear mysteriously and whispered a series of words.
Zhao E's eyes lit up involuntarily.
She didn't expect that Madam Ye wasn't completely stupid and had really come up with a way.
"Okay, then Sheng'er and I will wait for the news at home."
Although Zhao E thought that Qian Fangxue had finally been reliable once, she still felt a little uneasy. She had to come up with a backup plan.
"One reason is to prevent Ye Xi from getting angry and causing trouble. Second, if something goes wrong again, we can just break the pot and still have a last chance to save the situation."
Qian Fangxue also agreed with Zhao E's idea.
Mainly because Ye Xi had been a bit out of control these days. She was also afraid that Ye Xi would suddenly cause trouble when seeing Cao Sheng and Ye Jueyao together. She didn't know what Ye Xi might do.
After the two women had discussed, Ye Pengcheng had also reached an agreement with Grand Tutor Cao. After a lot of arrangements, they finally waited until the time they had set with Ye Xi in the afternoon.
Since Sai Xing would accompany Jiang Ning, who was pretending to be Ye Xi, Ling Yan temporarily replaced Sai Xing as the Xing'er Fortune - Teller. But Ling Yan was two or three inches taller than Sai Xing, and their figures were really different. Ye Xi simply said that the Xing'er Fortune - Teller had gone to do something for her and that she had replaced her with another disciple.
Qian Fangxue didn't say much. Instead, she seemed even happier and happily led Ye Xi to the main hall.
Everyone had already sat in their seats waiting. Jiang Ning, wearing a veil hat, and Sai Xing were sitting behind the screen. Ye Jueyao, looking as weak as a willow, was sitting below next to Qian Fangxue, looking aggrieved.
After greeting each other in turn, Ye Xi asked symbolically:
"May I ask, Madam, is this the young lady for whom I'm supposed to 'inquire about the fortune'?"
"Yes," Qian Fangxue replied gracefully.
"Although it's all baseless rumors, the gossips outside are really unpleasant. So today, I've specially invited the fortune - teller to come to the mansion to inquire, so as to prove the innocence of the two children and reassure my suspicious second daughter."
Even at this moment, she still didn't forget to step on Ye Xi. Ye Xi rolled her eyes secretly.
Not wanting to say more, Ye Xi got straight to the point:
"I guess you all are busy people. Let's start now."
"Okay, okay." Qian Fangxue said with a big smile. "Please start, fortune - teller."
Ye Xi made a series of hand gestures as before and then said calmly:
"Madam, please ask your questions."
"I..."
"Mother," Jiang Ning behind the screen interrupted Qian Fangxue.
"Since this is my own business, I sincerely hope that mother will let me ask the questions myself. After all, elder sister has always doted on me the most. We've had more than a decade of sisterly affection. No matter what the result is, I won't be able to let it go if I don't ask personally."
According to what Ye Xi had taught her, Jiang Ning said nervously.
"This..."
"Ask!"
Qian Fangxue's words were interrupted again. This time, it was Ye Jueyao who said hatefully:
"You just won't believe me anyway. All the love I've shown you over the years can't match your heartless nature! Now that the fortune - teller is here, ask whatever you want!"
Qian Fangxue had to swallow her words back.
Jiang Ning was a little frightened by Ye Jueyao's venomous look, but she quickly calmed down. According to what Ye Xi had told her, she ignored Ye Jueyao and directly asked:
"Fortune - teller, I'd like to ask when Young Master Cao started having an affair with elder sister? Have they had any physical contact?"
"During the Qixi Festival and other festivals over the years, Young Master Cao always left in a hurry after a brief meeting with me. And elder sister was always nowhere to be seen. Were they having secret trysts?"
"Xi'er!"
Jiang Ning's questions were so explicit that Qian Fangxue couldn't help shouting angrily, trying to make Jiang Ning watch her words and not talk nonsense.
Jiang Ning didn't even look at Qian Fangxue and continued without pausing:
"Every time we celebrated our birthdays together, Young Master Cao always gave us the same birthday gifts. Were those gifts really identical? How much more did he favor you?"
"Last year, I accidentally saw a jade wolf - hair brush with a lucky - cloud pattern in your room. You said it was yours. But was it really the one I saved up my monthly allowance for a whole year and bought for Young Master Cao?"
Ye Jueyao's face visibly showed panic and paleness. She never expected that "Ye Xi" would ask such explicit and detailed questions. Cao Sheng treated her differently from others, and she was used to it. She had even forgotten many of those old things.
She never thought that Ye Xi remembered every single thing so clearly.
However, after a brief moment of panic, Ye Jueyao quickly calmed down.
Mother had said that she had bribed this fortune - teller, and she was on their side. Even if something was asked, she wouldn't really say it. Moreover, even if she told the truth, mother had a backup plan.
She wasn't afraid!