When her revenge plan shattered like glass, scattering into countless fragments, Milady had no time for disappointment or resentment. She couldn't afford to show even the slightest hint of pain.
Because behind the shattered glass stood a middle-aged woman dressed in brilliant red.
'I absolutely cannot panic.'
Milady stared straight into those small, beady eyes, deliberately slowing her blinks. She had seen how her peers' eyelids would flutter like a butterfly's wings whenever they were nervous.
'She came prepared.'
Once her head cleared, Milady realized just how greedy Aunt Hong's eyes were. They roamed slowly across her face—watching, observing, analyzing... The slightest twitch of her lips wouldn't escape them.
'Her suddenly bringing up the "Chang'an Letter Paper"—was it to catch me off guard and see my reaction?'
'Just how far does her suspicion go?'
'Even though I've been careful every step of the way, it's impossible to do something and not leave a single trace.'
'If an investigation into me has begun, it's only a matter of time before my actions are connected and the truth comes out. As long as Aunt Hong keeps digging, she'll eventually find her way to the clerk at the Clan Affairs Office. Then, the fact that I knew about the casino can no longer be hidden—wait, maybe she's already found out?'
'No, it can't be that bad yet... The information Aunt Hong has right now shouldn't be enough to seal my fate.'
'Besides, I can't be the only suspect. I might not even be the primary one. After all, common sense dictates that only someone close to the casino could describe its inner workings so clearly, and I don't fit that description.'
'If Aunt Hong were certain that I was the one who sent the letter, she wouldn't be in my home, beating around the bush and testing me. This is the clan handling its own affairs, not a court of law. They don't need proof. If the clan decides I'm a problem, I'm finished.'
'The question is, how much does she know?'
Although Milady felt as if every muscle in her body had a will of its own and was about to start trembling violently despite her efforts to suppress it, she forced herself to lean back in her chair and adopt a relaxed posture. By repeating the other woman's words, she bought herself a precious moment to breathe and formulate a response.
"Letter paper? Imported from Chang'an?" she asked, pretending not to notice Aunt Hong's gaze. She fought to remain calm. "Auntie, why do you ask all of a sudden? No, I haven't bought any. My family doesn't normally use that kind of paper."
Aunt Hong's smile made it seem as if she had already seen right through her.
'Is the panic showing on my face?' Milady desperately wished she could look in a mirror. 'Or was the child who ran the errand for the letter paper coaxed into telling the truth? Did they give me away?'
'I was so careful. From the printing ink to buying the paper, I made sure to be discreet. This has to be just my paranoia acting up.'
'I can't dwell on the letter paper.'
Milady smiled at Aunt Hong, secretly hoping the corners of her lips weren't trembling. "Terry really invited me to the ball? I won so much money from Wei Lian last time... She was pretty mad at me."
Aunt Hong leaned forward. "It was a poker game, wasn't it?"
'So she really did a round of investigations before coming here.'
"You knew about that too, Auntie?"
"I do." Though plump, warm, and friendly—seemingly no different from the other enthusiastic, gossipy aunts of the clan—she made Milady's heart pound with terror. "I just don't understand why you, of all people, would suddenly go looking for Wei Lian to play poker. You're usually at home around that time."
Milady hoped she looked suitably astonished.
"Yes... how did you know that, Auntie? I'm usually home in the evening, making dinner for my mom," she said softly. "But lately, I haven't needed to make dinner. It's unbearable, facing these four walls all alone in this empty place. I thought I'd go for a walk in the park..."
Aunt Hong maintained the exact same smile, her cheeks looking as if they were frozen in place.
Milady abruptly cut herself off—she had just realized she'd nearly made a terrible mistake.
She had almost blurted out that she'd "happened to run into Terry."
'That night, I had specifically tracked down Terry's whereabouts. I only headed out after learning she was at the park... Aunt Hong probably knew before she even came over. She knew I went there looking for Terry.'