殿下您可真是个戏精

The atmosphere in Cian Xuan suddenly turned deathly quiet, as if time itself had come to a standstill. The only sound that pierced the stillness was Pan Yueqing's composed and measured voice. "Well... Daughter has been away from the capital for over a month. During this period, it was Concubine Liu who took charge of my courtyard. As for who did this, Father, perhaps you might as well inquire of Concubine or Third Sister." Her words were delivered with a calmness that belied the storm of emotions roiling beneath the surface. Each syllable was carefully enunciated, like a well - placed chess piece on a complex board, subtly shifting the focus of the situation onto those she suspected.

Pan Haiyun, his brows knitted in a deep frown, tightly grasped the withered roots of the double - petal jasmine. His steely gaze then slowly swiveled towards Pan Miaoqian, who was standing nervously to the side. With just one penetrating look, Pan Miaoqian's knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground with a resounding thud. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest, for she was all too familiar with what her father held in his hand. Just two days prior, driven by a combination of envy and a sense of entitlement, she had stealthily entered Pan Yueqing's courtyard, scissors in hand, and mercilessly snipped off the blooming double - petal jasmines. At the time, she had thought herself clever, believing that her actions would go unnoticed. But now, confronted with the evidence, a wave of panic washed over her. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she stammered, "Daddy... it's not... Miao'er truly has no idea why..." Her voice was laced with a feigned innocence, but her trembling hands and the evasive look in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Is that so?" Pan Yueqing shook her head slowly, a hint of derision glinting in her eyes. She then clapped her hands briskly, the sound echoing through the room. "Gu Pan, bring forth the double - petal jasmine that was retrieved from Concubine and Third Sister." Her tone was firm, leaving no room for hesitation or disobedience. As soon as the words left her lips, Gu Pan, accompanied by two other young maids, stepped forward gracefully, each carrying a crystal vase. In the vases, the double - petal jasmine, though its roots had been severed, still retained a faint glimmer of its former glory, despite the telltale signs of withering at the edges of its petals. The once - vibrant blossoms now served as a silent testament to the injustice that had befallen them, a poignant reminder of the perfidy that lurked within the household.

Pan Miaoqian, unwilling to yield so easily, continued to play the role of the wronged victim. She wiped her tears pitifully, her voice quivering with false distress. "Second Sister, if you harbor ill feelings towards me, you surely cannot plot against me in such a manner... Perhaps it was you, Second Sister, who picked the flowers with the intention of framing me! Daddy, you must believe me. I truly know nothing of this..." Her words were a desperate attempt to shift the blame, but her overly dramatic performance was a transparent facade that fooled no one who was paying close attention.

"Third Miss, it takes approximately two days for the flowers to reach this state when they are cut from their roots and placed in water, and our girl has only just returned today," Gu Pan interjected meekly, her eyes downcast in a show of deference. Her voice was soft yet carried a weight of undeniable truth. "Miss, I implore you not to cry. Alas, even your tear - stained face cannot resurrect these precious double - petal jasmines." Gu Pan's words were a simple yet powerful counter - argument, effectively undermining Pan Miaoqian's feeble attempts at deflection.

"You!" Pan Miaoqian's face flushed with anger, and she glared daggers at Gu Pan. "When the masters are engaged in conversation, what right do you have to interject?" Her outburst was a clear indication of her growing frustration and the realization that her position was rapidly deteriorating. She then swiftly turned towards Pan Haiyun and the old lady, her expression transforming instantly into one of abject misery. She sobbed loudly, "Grandmother, Daddy, I truly am innocent... I know nothing of these accusations." Her hands clutched the old lady's sleeves tightly, as if seeking refuge from the storm of suspicion that was closing in on her.

Observing Pan Miaoqian's histrionic display, Pan Yueqing decided to press her advantage. She immediately turned towards Pan Haiyun, her eyes brimming with well - feigned sorrow, and sobbed, "Father, the double - petal jasmine is an extremely rare and delicate flower to cultivate. It was only due to the unusually warm weather this year that we were fortunate enough to witness its growth. With a mere 'I don't know,' Third Sister has squandered Daddy's golden opportunity to gain favor in the eyes of the Emperor! Oh, well. After all, we are sisters, and I have not the heart to be overly harsh. But as a daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion, I have been away from the capital for but a short while, and already my courtyard lies in utter disarray. Mother's precious hairpin has been brazenly stolen, the double - petal jasmine that I painstakingly nurtured with my own hands has been wantonly destroyed, and even this maid has dared to insolently crawl onto my bed to mock and ridicule me! What she has besmirched is not just my personal honor; it is the very reputation and dignity of our Prime Minister's Mansion!" Her voice trembled with a potent mixture of sorrow and indignation, and her words struck a deep chord in Pan Haiyun's heart, resonating with his sense of family pride and the importance of maintaining order within the household.

As she continued to speak, Pan Yueqing's tears flowed freely, adding an air of authenticity to her performance. At this moment, she delicately wiped her tears with a silk handkerchief and said, "Since Third Sister vehemently claims that she did not steal this hairpin, then there must surely be a thief lurking within my courtyard, someone with malicious intent who seeks to drive a wedge between our sisterly bond! This Yingying is truly despicable. She has not only mocked and bullied me but, even now, remains steadfast in her refusal to tell the truth. It is an age - old adage that it is exceedingly difficult to guard against a thief from within. Countless precious items have vanished from my courtyard, and she must surely be implicated. If she is not drowned in the pond as a fitting punishment, what other form of justice can there be?" Her words were like a noose tightening around Yingying's neck, and everyone present could feel the palpable tension in the air, as if a thunderstorm was on the verge of breaking.

Afraid of being ensnared in the web of accusations, Pan Miaoqian, who had always been astute when it came to self - preservation, promptly clamped her mouth shut. She dared not utter a single word in defense of Yingying. Sensing the sudden shift in the tide, Yingying, who had been trembling in fear all along, was now terrified out of her wits. She struggled forward with all her might, her eyes wide with terror, and clung to Pan Yueqing's thigh. "This hairpin has nothing to do with me! It was Caiyan and Nanny Mei who were behind it! They said that the girl possessed an abundance of jewels and jewelry, far more than she could possibly use, and that it would be better to sell some of them. When Caiyan was in the act of selling the girl's jewelry, Third Miss caught her red - handed. So, Third Miss threatened Caiyan to hand over this hairpin as a means of silencing her..." Her words tumbled out in a rush, like a dam that had finally burst, revealing a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and greed that had been festering within the household.

Upon hearing this astonishing confession, Pan Yueqing couldn't help but sneer. She thought to herself, Yingying had unwittingly proven to be more useful than she could have ever anticipated. Caiyan was also a trusted senior maid in her service, someone she had once placed great faith in, and Nanny Mei, her wet nurse, whom she had regarded almost as a surrogate mother. However, in the past few days, Nanny Mei and Caiyan had taken leave and returned to their homes, presumably believing that they could evade any potential trouble. Originally, Pan Yueqing had thought that today she would only be able to deal with some minor miscreants and that it would be impossible to implicate these two major figures. But now, Yingying had unexpectedly dragged them both into the quagmire, and Pan Yueqing saw this as an unexpected boon in her carefully laid - out plan.

"Don't spout such nonsense! I... Daddy! You mustn't lend credence to what Second Sister says! Second Sister was responsible for harming Mother's child before. That was Daddy's first son! Daddy returned home and did not stand up for Mother. Why, then, are you now listening to Second Sister slander Miao'er..." Pan Miaoqian, who had been seething with suppressed anger, finally erupted. Her face was flushed a deep shade of red, and her once - delicate features were now distorted with rage. Her voice rose to a shrill pitch as she desperately tried to defend herself and turn the tables on Pan Yueqing. Her words were a desperate attempt to remind Pan Haiyun of the past incident, hoping to evoke his sympathy and sway him to her side.

"I did not wish to broach this topic originally, but since Third Sister has so boldly brought up the matter of harming offspring, why don't we lay all the cards on the table today in front of Grandmother and Father?" Pan Yueqing countered, her voice calm yet resolute. She appeared even more aggrieved than Pan Miaoqian, her eyes welling up with fresh tears. "When I saw Concubine at the gate today, her complexion was ruddy, and she seemed in robust health. That Doctor Li had said that Concubine has soft skin a