Xing Xiuyan Cleverly Traced the Truth

The tea gathering did not end until the afternoon.

The others felt nothing in particular, but Xing Xiuyan had forced a smile throughout and was already exhausted in body and mind. She longed to return to her guest room at once and collapse into bed.

Yet how could she sleep peacefully before the matter of the Golden Hairpin was resolved?

But how exactly should she handle it?

For a moment, Xing Xiuyan felt at a loss.

She was clever enough, but she was still young and alone in a strange place. Even if she could think of some solution, how could she put it into action?

Sigh~

Could she really take these ornaments back to Rongguo Mansion and let her father use them as gambling stakes?

Yet Xing Xiuyan was utterly unwilling to squander someone else's kindness in such a way.

Thus, after returning from the tea gathering, she sat blankly before her dressing table, racking her brains over how to make Zhui'er submit obediently without alarming either the Sun or Jia families.

Little did she know that while she fretted, Zhui'er was equally anxious.

She paced about outside like an ant on a hot pan, making well over a hundred circuits. As the sun gradually dipped westward, she finally lost patience and lifted the curtain to enter the inner room.

"Miss."

At that call, Xing Xiuyan did not turn around—because she had yet to decide what attitude to take toward Zhui'er. She casually picked up a powder compact and pretended to touch up her makeup, replying in an indifferent tone, "What is it? Do you need something?"

This cool and distant attitude left Zhui'er somewhat at a loss.

She felt even more resentment in her heart. *Isn't she only distantly related to Madam Xing? Her family is poor as