Zhu Zhuqing remained silent. Tears slid soundlessly down her cheeks, yet her straight back and stubborn gaze silently declared her unyielding spirit.
She had done nothing wrong! She would never bow her head for a crime she did not commit!
Lin Xia took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the surging emotions within him.
He understood Zhu Zhan's intentions, but he could no longer stand by and watch.
He strode forward through the servants, who automatically stepped aside, and positioned himself between Zhu Zhan and Zhu Zhuqing.
His appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.
When Zhu Zhuqing saw Lin Xia, the hopeless dead silence in her eyes seemed to ripple slightly, as though a small stone had been tossed into still water. A faint trace of emotion surfaced, so faint that even she herself did not notice it.
"Patriarch Zhu."
Lin Xia's voice was calm, yet it carried a weight that could not be ignored, echoing clearly through the silent corridor.
"Please forgive this junior for speaking out of turn. But perhaps there is more to this matter than meets the eye?"
Zhu Zhan frowned deeply and looked at Lin Xia with a complicated expression.
Of course he knew Lin Xia had seen through everything. However, Lin Xia's earlier "agreement" at the teahouse had made him believe the young man would tacitly approve of this kind of "tempering."
"Young Friend Lin Xia, both witness and evidence are present. What hidden truth could there possibly be?"
Zhu Zhan's tone carried a trace of displeasure and a warning that said, You should not interfere.
Lin Xia did not retreat. He met Zhu Zhan's gaze calmly, his tone becoming even more earnest, as though he were sincerely trying to mediate the situation.
"Patriarch Zhu, please consider this carefully. Little Sister Zhuqing is the Second Young Lady of the Zhu family. She enjoys fine clothing, luxurious meals, and a bright future ahead of her. Ten Gold Soul Coins are insignificant to her. Why would she resort to theft? That is the first point."
"Furthermore, although Little Sister Zhuqing is young, she possesses an upright and kind nature. Though I have not known her for long, I can still tell that she is absolutely not the sort of person who would sneak around stealing from others. That is the second point."
Lin Xia paused and glanced meaningfully toward "Nanny Zhang," whose eyes were flickering nervously.
"Besides, there are many people within the mansion, and all sorts of individuals come and go. Although losing money is certainly distressing, it does not necessarily mean the culprit was someone nearby. Perhaps an outsider slipped in?"
"Or perhaps Nanny Zhang simply remembered the hiding place incorrectly for a moment? This junior dares to ask the Patriarch to investigate thoroughly. Do not allow a small matter to become a greater one, wrongly staining Second Young Lady's innocence and chilling the hearts of truly loyal servants."
Lin Xia's words were logical and well-reasoned. He pointed out the absurdity of the accusation, elevated Zhu Zhuqing's character, and at the same time offered Zhu Zhan a graceful way to step down while subtly warning him.
He deliberately positioned himself as a concerned outsider who did not wish to see a misunderstanding escalate, rather than openly challenging Zhu Zhan's authority.
The corner of Zhu Zhan's mouth twitched uncontrollably once more.
Of course he knew Lin Xia was speaking blatant nonsense, but he also knew the points about "chilling the hearts of loyal servants" and "damaging the family's reputation" were genuine weaknesses.
His original intention had been to "temper" his daughter, not truly destroy her reputation. Nor did he want people within the mansion to spread rumors that the Patriarch was foolish enough to falsely accuse his own daughter.
Especially not while an "outsider" like Lin Xia was present.
The atmosphere became tense and awkward.
Zhu Zhan looked into Lin Xia's clear yet incomparably determined dark golden eyes, then at his daughter's tear-streaked face filled with stubborn defiance.
At last, the trace of deliberate "acting" deep within his gaze seemed to fade somewhat, replaced by a heavier sense of exhaustion and helplessness.
He let out a heavy snort. Much of the anger he had deliberately displayed disappeared with it, making it sound more like an unwilling conclusion to the scene.
"Hmph! This matter will be investigated further later!"
Zhu Zhan flicked his sleeve and cast Zhu Zhuqing a complicated glance. Hidden deep within that look was a faint trace of heartache, though even more of it carried a cold message of:
You must understand.
"Zhuqing, reflect on yourself carefully!"
After speaking, he no longer looked at anyone. Turning around, he strode away from the farce he himself had orchestrated, carrying with him an oppressive and heavy atmosphere.
Once the leading actor left the stage, the play naturally came to an end.
The surrounding servants felt as though a great burden had been lifted from them, though some also carried a hint of lingering disappointment that the spectacle had ended so quickly. Lowering their heads, they hurriedly scattered like frightened birds and beasts.
That "Nanny Zhang" fled even faster than the others, afraid she might be stopped and questioned.
In the blink of an eye, the commotion faded away.
Under the now-empty corridor, only Lin Xia, Larvitar, and the small figure who still stood rooted in place remained.
It was as though all strength had been drained from Zhu Zhuqing's body. Slowly, she crouched down and buried her little face deeply into her knees.
Suppressed sobs, like the cries of an injured little beast, escaped intermittently from the small body curled tightly into itself. In the silent corridor, the sound was especially clear and especially heartbreaking.
Larvitar circled around Zhu Zhuqing somewhat helplessly, then carefully rubbed its small head against her cold arm.
Lin Xia silently sighed and walked over to her side.
He did not speak immediately. He merely stood there quietly, allowing the soft sobbing to linger in the air.
Only after quite some time did he slowly crouch down and gently place his hand atop Zhu Zhuqing's slightly trembling, tear-soaked black hair, as delicately as though he were touching a fragile treasure.
The cool softness of her hair and the faint trembling beneath his palm were clearly transmitted to him.
Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened abruptly, and even her sobbing paused for a moment, yet she did not move away.
"Zhuqing."
Lin Xia's voice was extremely soft, as though afraid of startling something delicate.
"It's too stifling here. The air isn't good either."
He paused, sensing that the trembling beneath his hand had eased ever so slightly before continuing in a gentle, inviting tone.
"Do you want to go out for a walk with me? Just the two of us, and Larvitar. We can go outside and get some fresh air. I know of a special kind of ore that glows like stars. Larvitar said it wants to take you to see it."
Lin Xia deliberately mentioned Larvitar and the "glowing ore," trying to use something new, something belonging to the world outside to temporarily draw her attention away and give her a reason to leave this suffocating environment behind.
The small curled-up figure remained silent for a long time.
The suppressed sobbing gradually quieted until only faint sniffles remained.
Then Lin Xia felt the small head beneath his hand give the slightest nod, so faint it was almost imperceptible.
"…Mm."
A nearly inaudible response, thick with nasal congestion from crying, came muffled from between her knees.
Though still filled with sadness, it was a clear answer of agreement.
A trace of relief surfaced in Lin Xia's heart, and the tightly wound tension within him eased somewhat.
He said nothing more. He simply continued gently stroking her head and waited patiently.
After a while, Zhu Zhuqing slowly lifted her head, as though using every ounce of strength she possessed.
Tears streaked across her small face. Her eyes were swollen red like peaches, and even the tip of her nose was crimson.
Yet those black eyes, washed clean by tears, no longer contained only lifeless emptiness when they looked toward Lin Xia.
Though they were still overflowing with sorrow and grievance so deep they seemed impossible to dissolve, there was now also a faint trace of dependence and cautious hope, like a lost lamb finally glimpsing a distant guiding light.
She did not wipe away the tears on her face.
Instead, she slowly reached out a cold little hand and tentatively grasped the corner of Lin Xia's clothing, as though it were the only driftwood she could cling to in that moment.
"Larvi…"
Larvitar moved closer at the perfect moment, rubbing its head gently against Zhu Zhuqing's leg while letting out a soft, obedient cry.
Meeting her gaze, Lin Xia revealed a warm smile, one free of pity, containing only calm reassurance.
"Then shall we go?"
He gently held the cold little hand clutching his clothes and carefully helped her to her feet.
Her body still swayed slightly, but she stood firmly.
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