"Your scheme was very thoroughly laid, with great attention to detail. First came the clash with Xiao Hong, then the discovery of the crime scene, where clues had to be left pointing to him. But if those clues were too obvious, they would look like an attempt to frame him. So you used coal as the lead.
If I hadn't noticed the coal, Young Duke Shen would have reminded me, wouldn't he? But although coal could point to Xiao Hong, it could also turn our attention toward his Ironworks. Your ultimate aim was to search that residence of his, so you also arranged the wheel tracks to lead us all the way to Xiao Hong's estate-"
Lady Shen's expression remained unchanged as she interrupted:
"Everything you have said, Young Master Wang, is a deduction based on the premise that we devised the scheme. But why would you suspect us? Was there something wrong with our scheme?"
Wang Yang smiled.
"Do you really think there wasn't? You chose the Peach Grove, and the second trial was kept secret beforehand. Unless Xiao Hong had learned of it in advance and prepared to abduct someone, how could he have found the Peach Grove and carried you off? How did he know you were there? And how did he know we would enter the grove alone, one by one, giving him the chance to strike so brazenly? Don't forget, his quarrel with Young Duke Shen arose on the spur of the moment at the Cuju Field. His clash with Le Pang over the ball happened there too-"
Lady Shen was about to speak, but Wang Yang anticipated her meaning and said:
"We had indeed clashed with Xiao Hong before, but I was the one who had truly made an enemy of him. Before that