Grace, Your Words Are So Heartless

That hairpin inlaid with Spirit Jade was a birthday gift from Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu herself! He remembered it clearly.

There were also several other pieces of jewelry, all of which Chloe often wore.

Now, all of these were lying in this bundle.

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu lifted her sharp gaze and looked at Serena Jane, her expression unreadable. "Did Grace give you these pieces of jewelry?"

"Yes! That's right! The eldest miss handed them to me herself." Serena Jane knelt, unable to see what was inside the bundle, and continued, "She promised this was just a down payment. Once things were done, she'd pay me a thousand taels of gold and even more jewelry."

"You're lying!" Grace retorted, her face flushed with anger. "When did I ever give you anything? You're a nun, and you lie so easily—aren't you afraid of going to hell after you die?"

"Miss, there's proof and witnesses. Just admit it! Explain to Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu and the Prime Minister what you've been up to lately. They're your family—they'll definitely forgive you!" Serena Jane wore a compassionate look, as if urging her to repent.

Grace's eyes suddenly reddened at those words. She turned and threw herself onto Minister Zhuo's knees, sobbing miserably. "Dad, I really haven't been to the General's Manor! I never bribed Serena Jane—they're framing me! Someone wants me dead! You have to believe me! You're my father—if even you don't trust me, I don't want to live anymore!"

Seeing his beautiful daughter crying as if her life depended on it, Minister Zhuo darkened his face and turned to Wan Xuezhen. "Did you know anything about this beforehand?"

"I had no idea!" Wan Xuezhen shook her head. "I only heard about it from my brother and thought it was serious, so I brought Serena Jane here to ask. Who knew Serena Jane would say such things! I was worried about Grace, so I immediately reported it to Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu."

"Is that so?" Zhu Minghan asked with a dark expression.

"Yes!" Wan Xuezhen replied.

Bang! A loud crash echoed through the room.

Everyone in the Longevity Hall was startled.

Minister Zhuo suddenly threw the bundle of gold and jewelry to the floor in front of Wan Xuezhen, shouting angrily, "Take a good look—whose jewelry is this?"

Gold and jewelry spilled everywhere. Wan Xuezhen stared at it, her face suddenly changing as she blurted out, "Isn't this Chloe's jewelry? How did it end up with Serena Jane?"

"Maybe you should ask your precious daughter!" Minister Zhuo snapped.

"I know!" Grace suddenly shouted, as if she'd found the real culprit.

"I know exactly what happened! Ever since Grandma's birthday banquet, when it was announced I'd be entering the palace, Chloe's been upset! Her words have been sharp, and she even said Grandma was senile and made everyone feel cold-hearted. I never thought she'd go so far as to frame me!"

Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu's face grew even darker at these words.

Last time, everything Chloe said had already been reported to her by Aunt Autumn.

Things like 'old and useless' and 'makes people lose heart.'

Wan Xuezhen was usually calm, but after a brief panic, she quickly regained her composure and said, "Grace, there must be more to this! Chloe—"

"And you, Auntie—are you really clueless? Or... were you the one pulling the strings behind this? If you want Chloe to enter the palace so badly, I'll let her have it!" Grace interrupted sharply.

"Grace, how could you say something so heartbreaking!" Wan Xuezhen's eyes reddened as she spoke emotionally. "The Empress is my own daughter. If I truly wanted Chloe to enter the palace, I could make it happen with just a word—why go through all this trouble?"