Chapter Fourteen: False Accusation

At this point, you still dare to defend her here? If she hadn’t secretly handed you the token to the library pavilion, how could someone of your lowly status have had the chance to steal the family’s secret manuals?

Moreover, if you hadn’t used her name, how could you have so easily entered the lady’s courtyard? Today’s matter must be thoroughly investigated; we cannot tolerate traitors!

The Grand Elder’s face was filled with fury. With a sweep of his hand across the table, several papers stained heavily with the scent of blood were sent flying toward Ouyang Xiaoyue.

She tried to dodge, but under the spiritual pressure imposed by Ouyang Tianxing, she could only freeze in place, allowing the papers to brush her face before falling to the ground.

“Grand Elder, it was all done by the servant girl, I—” Her deep eyes slightly closed as the papers slipped away, her voice calm yet oddly discordant amid the cries of the bamboo grove. “Yes, it was all her doing.”

“Miss Wu, Miss Wu?” The maid, her forehead smeared with blood, trembled violently as if struck by lightning, staring at Ouyang Xiaoyue in disbelief.

Her gaze brimmed with astonishment and confusion, as if Ouyang Xiaoyue’s words were a thunderclap from the heavens, leaving her speechless.

Yet, in the next instant, the maid seemed to make a resolute decision. Clenching her teeth, her face set with a resolute, sacrificial expression, she shouted loudly, “Yes! It was all me!”

Standing nearby, Ouyang Tianxing furrowed his brows deeply, his face dark with anger.

He already harbored great disdain for Ouyang Xiaoyue, and now his displeasure only grew stronger! Shaking his head, he pointed at her with a trembling finger, his face turning ashen as he roared, “The illustrious Fifth Miss is not even worthy of a lowly maid!”

Yet, in response to his scorn, Ouyang Xiaoyue remained remarkably calm.

She regarded the unfolding scene with a cold gaze, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer curling the corner of her lips.

When Ouyang Tianxing demanded proof of her innocence, she simply uttered two words flatly: “None.”

Her voice was steady, devoid of any wavering. Blood slowly seeped from the corner of her mouth, trickling down her chin and staining her pale lips with a vivid red.

Inwardly, Ouyang Xiaoyue reflected that she had already spoken far more today than she had in the past month combined.

She had always disliked arguing and detested such confrontations under the scrutiny of many eyes.

To her, the more witnesses there were, the more complicated and troublesome matters became.

She truly wished she could just end it all!

“Mistress, you can’t defeat them,” the little spirit said timely, sensing her thoughts.

“Xiaoyue, you have no evidence, but we do!” Lu Huiya suddenly interjected, her face brimming with triumph.

With a flick of her wrist, a token shimmering faintly with spiritual energy streaked through the air like a shooting star, landing firmly before Ouyang Xiaoyue.

Fixing her gaze on the token, she recognized immediately the exquisite character “Moon” engraved on it.

Her heart sank—the token belonged to her, the entry pass to the library pavilion.

At that moment, Ouyang Tianxing, who had been restraining his anger, finally lost control. His eyes blazed as he ground his teeth and snarled, “This is your library pavilion entry token!

And it was found on your personal maid! At this point, do you still intend to deny it?”

Ouyang Xiaoyue’s eyes merely flickered over the token. She hadn’t planned to say much—such framing and slander were not unfamiliar to her.

However, when her gaze inadvertently met Ouyang Xiaofeng’s, she saw the concern and worry reflected there. She couldn’t help but press her lips together, forcing herself to remain calm before speaking slowly, “This token... was stolen by her.”

Having said this, as if summoning all her strength, she gritted her teeth, resisting the overwhelming pressure exerted by Ouyang Tianxing.

With great difficulty, she took a small step forward—toward where Ouyang Xiaofeng stood.

But just as she managed to move, a violent surge of blood erupted in her chest, a metallic sweetness filled her throat, and with a sudden “pft,” she spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Seeing this, Ouyang Tianxing’s fury boiled over. He shouted, “Impudent wretch! How dare you be so insolent! Do you even respect me as the head of this family?”

As his voice fell, a vast surge of spiritual energy burst out from him, rolling outward like a raging tide, sweeping across the surroundings.