At that thought, Han Xiangru struggled to suppress her panic and said calmly, "Your Highness, I bought this. Is something wrong?"
She actually dared to keep lying!
Chu Hongle sneered. "Second Miss Han, might I borrow the bracelet for a look?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out all over Han Xiangru.
Could there be something unusual about this bracelet?
What if Prince Yu recognized it? How would I explain myself?
But she had no reason to refuse to let Prince Yu examine it!
Seeing her hesitation, Chu Hongle immediately mocked her. "What is it, Second Miss Han? A guilty conscience?"
Han Xiangru's thoughts raced, and she quickly came up with a plan.
She readily slipped the bracelet off her wrist. As she handed it to Prince Yu, she explained, "You misunderstand, Your Highness. It's just that I wear this against my skin, and Your Highness is a man, so I hesitated for a moment."
Chu Siqing inwardly cursed the scheming bitch:
[Father, Father! Whatever you do, don't take that bracelet from her yourself! What if Han Xiangru stages an accident to pin the blame on you? What if she takes the chance to cop a feel?]
Hearing her daughter think the words "cop a feel," Han Wanqing's expression turned odd.
Since when did anyone talk about a woman copping a feel of a man?
Holding back her laughter, she said, "In that case, little sister, give the bracelet to me. I'll examine it on His Highness's behalf."
Chu Hongle promptly nodded, then added pointedly, "Careful now. Don't deliberately drop it."
Why did that bitch Han Wanqing have to meddle so much?
Han Xiangru gritted her teeth, seething with resentment.
She had intended to use the opportunity of handing over the bracelet to get close to the prince.
Better still, she could have an "accident" and drop it on the ground. Once the bracelet shattered, no one would be able to tell anything!
Who could have known that all her schemes would die in the womb? Now she could neither touch the prince nor deliberately smash the bracelet.
If they recognized the bracelet, how would she get out of this?
Han Wanqing savored Han Xiangru's colorful expressions, then deliberately urged her, "Little sister, what's wrong?"
Pale-faced, Han Xiangru forced a smile. "Sister, I'm fine." After thinking it over, she decided the prince must be deliberately making things difficult for her.
She had held and admired that bracelet many times. It was flawless throughout, evenly colored, and bore no patterns or markings whatsoever. That was precisely why she loved it too much to put it down.
How could anyone determine who owned a bracelet like that?
The prince must be toying with me! This is all that damned Han Wanqing's fault!
Though indignant, Han Xiangru dared not try any more tricks. Forcing herself to remain calm, she handed the bracelet to Han Wanqing.
Once Han Wanqing had the intact bracelet, Chu Hongle said, "Someone bring a basin of clean water."
Hearing that they would use water to verify it, Han Xiangru's heart, which had just settled, immediately leaped into her throat again.
Prince Yu seemed so certain. Could there really be something unusual about this bracelet?
If it proved to be the Jade Bracelet Prince Yu had given Han Wanqing, and people learned that she had ordered someone to steal her elder sister's betrothal gifts, her reputation would be ruined!
Then, never mind marrying into the prince's household-not a single noble family in the capital would allow one of its sons to marry such a morally corrupt, light-fingered woman!
For a moment, Han Xiangru bitterly regretted her actions, while resenting her sister all the more for being so petty!
Han Wanqing had already married into the prince's household. She had everything!
I'm her little sister! It's just one lousy bracelet, yet she insists on humiliating me in front of the prince. She has no regard whatsoever for our bond as sisters!
Regardless of Han Wanru's regret and resentment, a maid soon brought over a basin of clean water.
Chu Hongle motioned for the maid to carry the basin before his consort, then said to Han Wanqing, "Wanqing, put the bracelet in the water."
Han Wanqing did not understand why, but she did as he said.
However anxious and uneasy Han Xiangru felt, she could not let anything show. She could only join everyone else in looking at the bracelet in the basin.
As the emerald-green Jade Bracelet entered the water, a small character slowly emerged on its inner surface. The white character stood out clearly against the jade: it was unmistakably "Wan."
The truth was now plain. Even the maid holding the basin knew who owned the Jade Bracelet.
No matter how one looked at it, a bracelet bearing the character "Wan" could not possibly belong to Han Xiangru!
Chu Hongle picked the bracelet out of the water and waved for the maid to take the basin away.
Looking pleased with himself, he said, "I specifically had an artisan craft this bracelet using a secret method. Characters appear in the jade when it enters water-this special technique belongs to the imperial family alone."
Chu Siqing stared in amazement from her father's arms. She had never imagined that such miraculous techniques existed in ancient times. How fascinating!
[Father really does put his heart into things for Mother!]
Hearing his daughter's thoughts seemed to remind Chu Hongle of something.
He hurriedly said to his consort, as though seeking praise, "Wanqing, I put a great deal of thought into those betrothal gifts, all to please you!"
Only then did Han Wanqing realize how much care he had taken. He had never mentioned it to her before.
Touched, she said, "That was very thoughtful of you, Your Highness. I like it very much."
Han Xiangru sat rigidly on the embroidered stool, so consumed by jealousy and hatred that she nearly tore the handkerchief hidden in her sleeve to shreds.
That bitch is just putting on an act!
What virtue or ability does Han Wanqing have? Why does the prince treat her so well?
Why wasn't I, Han Xiangru, the one who married into the prince's household?!
Chu Hongle turned toward Han Xiangru, his expression changing in an instant, and demanded coldly, "Second Miss Han, how do you explain this bracelet? Surely you didn't also hire an imperial artisan to make a bracelet bearing the character 'Wan'?"
Han Xiangru's face burned red. His words left her flustered and humiliated, and for a moment she had no idea how to respond.
She lowered her head, feeling two probing gazes fixed on her, as though they had already seen through every thought in her mind.
Han Xiangru wished she could faint on the spot. Even that would be better than facing such a disgraceful scene.
Thinking that the little sister she had once treated with such sincerity could possess so low a character, Han Wanqing was bitterly disappointed. A young lady from a respectable family had actually ordered someone to steal-and from her own elder sister, no less.
Seeing Han Xiangru merely lower her head without speaking, Han Wanqing personally added fuel to the fire. "Xiangru, tell the truth. What exactly happened?"
Han Xiangru stammered, "I... I..."
In her panic, a sudden flash of inspiration gave her an excuse. "I bought this bracelet from a pawnshop. Since Your Highness has established that it belongs to my sister, let it be returned to its rightful owner."
She knew this excuse would not hold water, so she hurriedly took her leave after explaining. "Sister, it's getting late. Father and Mother may be worried, so I'll head home first."
Han Xiangru tried to leave as soon as she finished speaking, only to be stopped by a shout. "Stop!" "There's no need to rush off just yet, Second Miss Han. I still have questions for you."
Chu Hongle's expression chilled, and his imposing presence suddenly bore down on her as he demanded, "Which pawnshop did you buy the bracelet from? Do you have a receipt? Today, I intend to find out who had the gall to reach beyond the heavens and steal from my household!"
Han Xiangru turned deathly pale. Waves of dizziness washed through her head, and she had no idea how to answer.
Her lips moved a few times, but before she could say anything, she fainted outright.
Before you continue