Before Noble Consort Wei could speak, Wei Yu exploded first.
"Consort Chen, what do you mean by that? Everyone saw the Sheng Hua hairpin fall from the Princess of Ding'an's person. The evidence is irrefutable. Does the Sheng Hua hairpin have legs to walk by itself?"
Consort Chen snorted, "The Princess of Ding'an is not that kind of person."
The Empress Dowager also nodded and looked at Wang Qingyao, "There must be some misunderstanding here."
She hoped Wang Qingyao would offer an explanation.
Wang Qingyao looked at Wei Yu, the corner of her lips curling into a faint smile. "Miss Wei suspects me of stealing the Sheng Hua hairpin, but… why would I steal this hairpin? It holds great significance for Noble Consort Wei, and for me… well…"
As she spoke, she casually adjusted the filigree inlaid with gems and a golden phoenix hairpin in her coiffure.
Everyone's gaze followed her movement to her hair.
Instant understanding dawned.
The filigree inlaid with gems and a golden phoenix hairpin on Princess Ding'an's head was far more valuable than Noble Consort Wei's Sheng Hua hairpin.
Wasn't the Prince of Ding'an the richest man in Da Sheng!
Wei Yu chuckled lightly, "I've heard that some people, who were not wealthy in their youth and suffered much, even when they grow up and gain status, cannot resist pocketing good things when they see them. It's a kind of illness, incurable."
Wang Qingyao smiled inwardly. Wei Yu was quite cultured, even knowing about kleptomania.
"If you want to think that way, I can't help it. It seems Miss Wei is determined today that I stole the hairpin. This is Huayang Palace, Noble Consort Wei's territory. If you find someone to plant the hairpin on me, it would be as easy as pie."
She put on a look of helplessness.
Noble Consort Wei couldn't help but protest, "I did not."
She was still somewhat bewildered, thinking Wei Yu had acted on her own to frame Wang Qingyao.
But at such a sensitive juncture, what use would framing Wang Qingyao for theft serve?
And with such an obvious ploy.
Who among the influential people inside and outside the palace who could enter Huayang Palace was not a shrewd individual?
Even Noble Consort Wei herself did not believe Wang Qingyao would steal her hairpin.
Wei Yu was too arrogant and too impatient!
Noble Consort Wei cast a reproachful glance at Wei Yu. The play had reached this point; could she let Wei Yu admit to her scheme? She could only play along.
Noble Consort Wei also appeared helpless, "I think this is all a misunderstanding… Heh heh, let's just let it go. It's a fine time in the first lunar month; there's no need to ruin the mood over such a matter…"
Noble Consort Wei tried to smooth things over, hoping to gloss over the incident.
Wei Yu was stunned. She understood Noble Consort Wei's intention and was momentarily confused about what Noble Consort Wei was trying to achieve.
After all the trouble to hide the hairpin on Wang Qingyao, in the end, it was called a misunderstanding?
Was it to showcase Noble Consort Wei's kindness and magnanimity?
While Wei Yu was still contemplating, Wang Qingyao's voice drifted out, "Noble Consort, I am, after all, the Princess of Ding'an. Someone has slandered me with theft, damaging my reputation. How can such a serious matter be simply let go?"
Cold sweat beaded on Noble Consort Wei's forehead. She was a little nervous.
She always became nervous when a situation was beyond her control.
Wang Qingyao suddenly knelt with a "plop" before the Empress Dowager, blinking her eyes until they turned red. "Empress Dowager, I know my humble origins. Some people use my background to attack me and slander my character. If it were before, I would have tolerated it. But now, I am the Princess of Ding'an, Xiao Yun's legitimate wife. If someone slanders me again, it is clearly an insult to the Prince of Ding'an and the Xiao family! I beg the Empress Dowager to uphold justice for me!"
"Oh dear, get up quickly, get up!" The Empress Dowager quickly reached out to help her.
How could Wang Qingyao let the Empress Dowager help her? Consort Chen, in perfect coordination, stepped forward before the Empress Dowager and helped Wang Qingyao up.
"My child, we all know you. Get up quickly. Your body hasn't fully recovered, and the ground is cold. Don't fall ill again from kneeling."
In reality, the room was heated by underfloor heating, and kneeling was not cold at all.
However, Consort Chen mentioning her not being fully recovered reminded everyone that Wang Qingyao's lingering illness was caused by that concubine from the Wei family.
This was interesting.
Some people began to understand the implications.
Wang Qingyao, now supported, dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and said aggrievedly, "Noble Consort, are you perhaps resentful of me because of the death of Consort Wei? Is that why you devised this scheme to slander me?"
Wang Qingyao had a habit of speaking and acting very clearly, leaving no room for ambiguity.
She was direct and straightforward.
Noble Consort Wei's mouth tasted bitter. "Princess Ding'an misunderstands. I did not…"
Did not what?
Did not resent her, or did not slander her?
Noble Consort Wei was truly furious with Wei Yu at this moment, calling her a self-proclaimed clever fool!
"Then how did this hairpin end up on me?"
Wang Qingyao looked at Noble Consort Wei with innocent wide eyes.
Wei Yu frowned, something felt wrong.
Before Wang Qingyao married Xiao Yun, she had once framed Wang Qingyao for stealing Wei Qing's Hetian Furong Jade.
Although it was unsuccessful, at that time, she was aggressive, firmly believing that if the jade was found on Wang Qingyao, it would be considered stolen by Wang Qingyao.
But now, the hairpin had clearly fallen from Wang Qingyao's person, yet Wang Qingyao was not flustered at all. Instead, she was determined to investigate how the hairpin got onto her.
And Noble Consort Wei, her aunt, seemed a little flustered.
Was she mistaken?
Wei Yu hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but exclaim, "Since the hairpin was on you, you took it! How would we know why it was on you?"
Noble Consort Wei closed her eyes in exasperation. Idiot!
"I didn't take it!" Wang Qingyao stated firmly.
Wei Yu sneered, "Just because you say you didn't, does that mean you didn't? Thieves never admit to being thieves!"