Hu Haoran stared at Hu Rui'an, who looked like a frightened little white rabbit. No! That was impossible! Hu Rui'an had always been so gentle and kind-hearted, he wouldn't even harm a tiny ant. How could he possibly kill someone? Hu Lihua was truly skilled at making up nonsense!
Meanwhile, Hu Zhangwei immediately flew into a rage upon hearing his second son's response. Without hesitation, he jumped up from his seat, walked over to Hu Haoran, and smacked him hard on the head.
"You idiot! With logic like that, how do you expect to become an official in the future?!"
"Ah! Father! Have mercy! I know I was wrong! Please don't hit me again!" Hu Haoran hurriedly covered his head, afraid of another blow.
On the other hand, Hu Lihua and Song Xiuyan sat back comfortably, enjoying the show in front of them.
[Tsk! Who told him to accuse someone without proof? He really asked for that beating!]
Hu Haoran winced as he rubbed his head, which had just been hit by his father. He could already feel a lump forming. Complaining inwardly, he gave Hu Zhangwei a look of protest but didn't dare to say anything. However, when he heard Hu Lihua's inner thoughts mocking him, he immediately looked up and glared at his younger sister. Damn it! His eldest younger sister was actually enjoying his misery!
After composing himself, Hu Haoran turned to his parents and said, "Mother, Father, even though I didn't investigate it myself, Qinqin saw Xixi enter Xiangyu Pavilion to steal the jade hairpin!"
As soon as Hu Haoran finished speaking, Xixi immediately knelt before Hu Zhangwei and Song Xiuyan, her voice trembling with fear. "Master, Madam, this servant did not do it! I have been wrongly accused! Please, Master and Madam, investigate further!"
Qinqin, who had remained silent until now, also knelt beside Xixi. "Master, Madam, this servant is not lying! I swear I saw it happen!"
Hu Lihua stood up, rolling up her sleeves as if she were about to hit Hu Haoran. "Phei! You believe a servant's words without investigating first?"
[He really deserves to be kicked to death by a horse!]
Hu Haoran tried to meet her gaze with a firm look, but upon hearing Hu Lihua's inner thoughts, a chill ran down his spine. Would he really die from being kicked by a horse? Wait… could Hu Lihua actually predict the future?
Shaking his head, he forced himself to think rationally again. After a brief pause, he spoke in a softer tone, "Hua'er, Second Brother knows that you really like An'er's jade hairpin. But it's her treasured possession, so you can't just take it." He tried to sound persuasive. "How about this? If you return the jade hairpin, Second Brother will buy you a new one."
Hu Lihua looked at him with undisguised disgust. Her gaze made Hu Haoran feel uncomfortable, as if he were nothing more than a pile of trash.
"Second Brother, if you want to believe Hu Rui'an's nonsense, that's your business. But even if you search this entire place, you won't find anything because I didn't steal it," Hu Lihua said calmly.
"Father!" Hu Rui'an looked at Hu Zhangwei with teary eyes, her voice full of grievance. "An'er is not lying. Qinqin really saw Xixi come and take the hairpin." She then stepped forward and stood beside Hu Zhangwei. "Father, you have always trusted me. I grew up before your eyes. You know my character…."
"Hah!" Song Xiuyan let out a cold sneer at these words, chuckled, and asked, "So you mean, because Hua'er grew up elsewhere, we don't know her well?"
"Mother, that's not what I meant!" Hu Rui'an quickly denied.
"Not what you meant? That's clearly what you were implying!" Song Xiuyan snapped, making Hu Rui'an tremble slightly.
Hu Zhangwei felt a headache coming on from all the arguing. He rubbed his temples and said, "Enough, stop fighting!"
[Tsk! Looks like my father really came here to defend Hu Rui'an.]
"An'er, stand over there, don't get too close to me. You're making my head hurt!" Hu Zhangwei ordered. He had already tried his best; he didn't want his daughter to blame him again.
Hu Rui'an was stunned. Her tears fell like broken pearls. Had… had she just been pushed aside by her own father?
Hu Haoran noticed Hu Zhangwei's increasingly sour expression. He stepped forward, quickly pulling Hu Rui'an back, and said, "Father, in that case, let the servants search Yufeng Pavilion."
Hu Lihua shrugged casually. "Go ahead." Then, in an indifferent tone, she added, "But I will have my own servants supervise them. I'm afraid the servants you brought might steal something from my place."
Hu Haoran was slightly confused by Hu Lihua's confidence. However, he still nodded in agreement. "Alright, they can follow the servants during the search."
"Eh, don't forget to tidy up my things afterward!" Hu Lihua reminded.
Hu Haoran nodded, then ordered the servants he had brought to search Yufeng Pavilion.
Hu Lihua remained completely unbothered. She looked so relaxed that Song Xiuyan let out a quiet sigh of relief. Her daughter must have already found a way to handle this situation.
"Father, Mother, let's have some more tea," Hu Lihua said as she refilled the three teacups on the table. She also handed out pastries to her parents. "Father, Mother, try these. I made them myself."
Hu Zhangwei took a bite and immediately exclaimed with bright eyes, "Delicious!"
"Hua'er, Mother never expected you to have so many skills!" Song Xiuyan praised, unwilling to be outdone.
Hu Lihua stood up and helped Xixi to her feet, completely ignoring Qinqin, who was still kneeling. "Stand up first. The weather is freezing. Don't end up losing your legs from kneeling on this cold ground for too long."
Hearing this, Qinqin was terrified and hurriedly stood up. She didn't want to lose her legs! However, her relief was short-lived.
"Hey, who gave you permission to stand? Get back on your knees!" Hu Lihua ordered, standing with her hands on her hips.
Qinqin nearly burst into tears but had no choice but to kneel again. She glanced at Hu Rui'an for help, but seeing the state her miss was in, she knew there was no hope. She could only grit her teeth and endure it.
"Drink this so you don't catch a cold," Hu Lihua said as she handed a cup of tea to Xixi.
"Thank you, Miss!" Xixi accepted it gratefully.
The atmosphere around the stone table was warm and cheerful, while Hu Haoran and Hu Rui'an stood stiffly in place. They had nothing to drink to warm themselves, and the bitterly cold wind had been piercing their bones for some time. Their faces were starting to feel stiff—not just from the freezing air, but also from the utter indifference of the three people happily chatting in front of them.
Hu Haoran's eyes gleamed with greed as he looked at the pastries Hu Lihua had made. Their father and mother had given such high praise—he wanted to try them too. But remembering how his younger sister's temperament had changed, he decided against it.
Hu Rui'an clenched her teeth in frustration, seething with anger. Tsk! Hu Lihua was getting more arrogant! Let's see if she can still be smug once the jade hairpin is found in her room!
She glared toward Yufeng Pavilion in frustration. The servants had been searching for long enough to finish a cup of tea, yet they still hadn't come out. The longer they took, the longer she had to stand out here in the cold.
Before long, the servants finally returned, making Hu Rui'an's eyes light up with excitement. She immediately rushed toward them and asked eagerly, "Well? Did you find it? Hurry and give it to me!"