And among those accessories, there was even a Spirit Gem.
Honestly, for someone like Jing'an, giving her a Spirit Gem is just a total waste!
Minister Zhuo found Grace Wan's words surprisingly reasonable and couldn't help but frown.
Grace never really planned to mess with Cindy Zhu. Seeing the tension, she grinned, "Auntie, don't worry! Cindy's my little sister. Even if she did something, it's just because she's young and clueless. I won't blame her."
Both Grace Wan and Cindy Zhu visibly relaxed.
Grace switched topics with a sly grin, "Grandmother, Father, I have a tiny, shameless request. Would you hear me out?"
"Go ahead!" The Dowager Lady was starting to see Grace in a new light today, her tone softening.
"Since Cindy Zhu wants to enter the palace so badly, why not let her go instead?" Grace declared, finally revealing her real reason for framing Cindy Zhu.
With everyone staring in shock, Grace continued, "I've thought it through. I'm just an ordinary girl with no Spirit Root. If I go to the palace, not only will Cindy Zhu be upset, but the Emperor's other consorts will probably look down on me too. So let's just let Cindy Zhu go!"
Cindy Zhu's eyes lit up at those words, and she stared eagerly at the Dowager Lady and Minister Zhuo, practically bouncing in her seat.
Grace Wan's gaze darkened ever so slightly.
What's gotten into Grace lately?
She used to chase after Colin Gu like a woman possessed, and now she suddenly wants Cindy Zhu to enter the palace instead?
"Nonsense!" Minister Zhuo snapped. "The list of palace entrants has already been sent to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. Do you think I can just swap someone out on a whim?"
So the list's already been sent up...
Grace clenched her fists in frustration.
Cindy Zhu's face fell, disappointment written all over it.
"That's settled then!" Minister Zhuo stood up. "Grace, from now on, you're not to leave the house. Just wait at home for the imperial edict to enter the palace."
Grace ground her teeth. "...Alright!"
All that effort for nothing...
"As for the jewelry..." He turned to Grace Wan. "Your suspicions have some merit. Go investigate thoroughly!"
Grace Wan finally relaxed, nodding and letting out a long, deep breath.
...
The five—Nanny, Pan'er, Xi'er, and the others—were brought back to the manor and immediately isolated for questioning.
Before they returned, Grace had already warned them: grit your teeth, and everyone will survive!
If even one person cracked, they'd all be doomed!
So, even though the manor guards were pretty skilled at interrogation, the servants stuck to their story: they'd been at Moonwater Abbey the whole time and never left...
Not long after Grace returned to Forget-Worry Pavilion, the servants were released and sent home.
Grace breathed a sigh of relief—well, that mess was finally over...
...
The rear garden of Forget-Worry Pavilion was especially beautiful in autumn.
Layers upon layers of emerald green, fiery red, and golden yellow leaves created a dazzling tapestry.
White, yellow, and purple flowers bloomed in wild competition, each trying to outshine the rest.
Early the next morning, Grace sat on the swing in the rear garden, rocking back and forth as she mulled things over.
What she was pondering was none other than the Lawrence Family Jade Ring hidden close to her skin.
The ring belonged to her grandfather.
Back when her grandfather was alive, he held the very same rank Evan Xiao holds now—the Grand General of the Blue Moon Kingdom.
But back then, the emperor was the late ruler, not the current Emperor Colin Gu.
The Blue Moon Kingdom had a sworn enemy: Windspire Kingdom.
During a war with Windspire Kingdom, her grandfather led a hundred thousand soldiers, only to be trapped in Soulbreaker Valley at the border between the two kingdoms.
Because reinforcements never arrived, the entire army was wiped out—blood flowed like rivers.