noffsinger Chapter 165 Han Nian'an's Calculations and Accusations
Chapter 165 Han Nian'an's Calculations and Accusations
Because it happened so suddenly, Jiang Suining couldn't dodge in time, and the tea in the maid's hand spilled all over Jiang Suining.
"I deserve to die, I deserve to die." The maid quickly knelt down and apologized.
"It's okay." Jiang Suining shook his head, but frowned as he looked at the tea on his body.
Fortunately, there were spare dresses in the carriage, and Jiang Suining planned to change into one.
Because she had just walked a little further away, the others did not notice what had happened. When Chu Jingyue saw Jiang Suining coming over, she hurried forward and asked, "Suining, what happened?"
"It's okay. A maid bumped into me and spilled tea on me."
"Miss Jiang, did you bring spare clothes?" Qin was not far away. She came over after hearing the voice. "Miss Jiang, I'm so sorry. Which servant was so clumsy? I will definitely punish her."
"Madam, you are too polite. It's just a small matter. I will take my leave and change my clothes first." Jiang Suining looked calm.
Qin looked at Jiang Suining's dress and didn't say anything else. She just asked someone to remind the maids to be careful again.
Everyone thought it was just a minor incident and didn't take it seriously, continuing to chat and drink tea.
However, Han Nian'an was secretly staring at the direction where Jiang Suining left, with a smug look in his eyes.
Jiang Suining changed her clothes and returned to the garden to drink tea.
Half an hour later, today's banquet ended. Just as everyone said goodbye to Qin and prepared to leave, Han Nian'an, who had left at some point, suddenly ran over with a nervous look and said to Qin: "Mother, I lost something."
"Lost something?" Qin frowned. "What was lost?"
"It was a night-shining pearl from my dowry. It was originally placed together with all the other dowries. When I passed by the room where the dowry was placed just now, I saw the door was open. I was worried so I went in to take a look. As a result, I found that the night-shining pearl was gone!"
When Han Nian'an entered the mansion before, her dowry was carried in along with her. There were only six or seven loads in total. Qin was too lazy to take care of it and simply asked someone to find an empty room nearby to carry the dowry in.
Hearing Han Nian'an's words, he frowned and said, "It's just a night-shining pearl. It's nothing. It's not worth you making such a fuss. Maybe it fell somewhere."
"Mother, even though it's just a night-shining pearl, it was given to me by my father. It has a special meaning. I have searched the entire room but didn't see the night-shining pearl. Could it be..."
Han Nian settled down and looked at the people present. When he glanced at Jiang Suining, he paused for a moment before continuing to speak.
"Maybe someone stole it."
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the officials' wives present all turned unhappy.
After all, they are all from official families, so why would they steal night pearls? This statement is clearly an insult to them!
Qin's face changed, and she immediately rebuked: "What nonsense are you talking about? It's ridiculous. If you continue to talk nonsense, don't blame me for being rude."
"Mother, I don't want to suspect others casually, but it is impossible for a night-shining pearl to disappear out of thin air."
As he spoke, Han Nian'an suddenly turned his head and looked at the maids around him.
"Did you take advantage of the fact that there were many guests in the mansion today and sneak into that room to steal my night-shining pearl?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the maids hurriedly shook their heads, and one of them changed her expression and looked very nervous.
Han Nian'an's eyes immediately locked on her, "Why are you so nervous? Did you steal it?"
"I didn't, I didn't!" The maid shook her head quickly, but then she stammered, "But I, I..."
"Just say whatever you want to say." Qin frowned.
Could it be that there really is someone in this mansion with dishonest hands? If so, no matter whose things were stolen, they must be severely punished.
"Madam, Aunt Han, I really didn't steal the Night Pearl, but I just saw...saw that young lady coming out of the room where the dowry was stored."
Following the direction the maid pointed, everyone looked at Jiang Suining.
"Ms. Jiang?" Han Nian'an was surprised, and then immediately said, "It was you who stole my night-shining pearl?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Chu Jingyue said immediately, "How could Sui Ning care about the Night Pearl, let alone steal anything!"
"Princess Chu, I know you have a good relationship with Miss Jiang and you will definitely protect her, but my night-shining pearl is indeed missing, and this maid saw her enter the room..."
Han Nian'an's gaze stayed on Jiang Suining, and he spoke with a helpless look on his face.
"I'm afraid we need to investigate this. If we don't figure it out, Miss Jiang's reputation will be damaged."
"Then I wonder how Aunt Han wants to investigate?" Jiang Suining looked at Han Nian'an calmly.
The latter smiled inwardly, "That's easy, just search and you'll know."
"How dare you!" Chu Jingyue frowned. "If you randomly search me when I am visiting the Hou family today, it will be embarrassing if it gets out."
Chu Jingyue looked at Qin again, "Madam, you should know that although the Jiang family is not a family of officials, they are also imperial merchants. Moreover, considering the financial resources of the Jiang family, how could Sui Ning care about a mere night-shining pearl?"
Qin naturally knew this, and looked at Han Nian'an with suspicion, and she began to wonder if Han Nian'an was deliberately looking for trouble.
She had heard before that Han Nian'an had personally gone to the Jiang family to send an invitation to Jiang Suining. Perhaps because she saw that her attitude towards Jiang Suining was unusual, Han Nian'an deliberately targeted her?
Qin frowned, "I believe Miss Jiang will never do such a thing."
"Mother, I believe it too, but as I said just now, people's words are scary. If we don't investigate thoroughly, I'm afraid Miss Jiang's reputation will really be damaged. Check it out and make sure that Miss Jiang did not steal the night pearl. This way she can be cleared of all charges." Han Nian'an had already thought of an excuse in his mind.
After these words were spoken, many people understood that this was indeed the truth.
Han Nian'an continued, "Besides, I didn't ask for a body search. The Night Pearl is quite large. It's very heavy and easy to be discovered. I don't think Miss Jiang would keep it on her all the time. However, I seemed to have seen Miss Jiang leaving the house just now..."
"So you want to search the carriage?"
Jiang Suining took over Han Nian'an's words and glanced at the maid who had just pointed out him. She was the one who had splashed tea on him before.
"Although I just walked around the garden, I never went to the room you mentioned. And the tea on me, now I think about it, maybe you spilled it on me on purpose?"
The maid frowned and said in confusion: "Miss Jiang, I don't know what you mean. I did see you come out of the room with my own eyes, and it was you who suddenly bumped into me and splashed tea on me."