How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

The fourth concubine twisted the truth and tried to absolve herself of responsibility with just a few words. Yanru was disgusted and decided to let them fight like dogs.

Yan Ru looked at Master Song and said, "Master Song, the little thing says it's the fourth concubine, but the fourth concubine says it's not her. Both sides have their reasons, and it's hard to say. Let's call the police."

Master Song stared at Yan Ru's eyes. Calling the police was obviously not going to work, so he said to the fourth concubine, "You really don't know?"

"I really don't know anything, sir. This girl is just trying to harm me." The fourth concubine opened her innocent eyes, on the verge of tears.

The little girl was in pain all over, and she couldn't help but get furious when she heard what the fourth concubine said. She had been caught red-handed and had lost face in front of the master. There was no hope for her to become a concubine, so she couldn't let the fourth concubine have an easy time no matter what. She had just spoken up for the fourth concubine.

"It was clearly you, sir, it was she who ordered it."

Why would I order you around? What benefit would I get?

The little thing pointed at the fourth concubine and said, "Master, it's her. She said that if I kill the sixth concubine, I can sit in this position. It was her who said it."

Fourth Concubine shook her head, looking wronged. "Why are you trying to frame me? Are you trying to drag someone down with you before you die? Master, this won't do me any good. I don't even know Sixth Concubine, and I've never had any dealings with this girl. Why would I say something like this out of the blue? Do you think there aren't enough women in the manor?"

Seeing the fourth concubine's high-sounding words, the little girl felt only sorrow in her heart and said bitterly, "Master, I have her handkerchief on me. I was afraid that she would deny everything after I did the deed, so I took her handkerchief and jade bracelet. If you don't believe me, go and search my residence. There are even the fourth concubine's fingerprints on the cloth that wrapped the jade bracelet. I left those fingerprints just in case I was trying to deceive her. If you don't believe me, send someone to check."

Master Song nodded and ordered the steward to investigate.

After the butler left, Master Song said to his fourth concubine, "You must explain this matter clearly to me, or don't blame me for not showing any mercy."

"Yes, sir, please don't listen to this girl's accusations against me. You know I'm always very generous with my money. I've lost countless sums of money playing cards. It's perfectly normal for me to casually give away a jade bracelet. This girl is clearly just making baseless accusations."

"Then why did she only talk about you and not others?" Master Song continued to press.

The fourth concubine's expression shifted unpredictably, her eyes darting around, but she refused to admit it.

Yanru felt disgusted looking at their accusatory faces. And what did the little thing mean when it said that it was the second concubine? What did the second concubine have to do with this?

Yan Ru stepped forward and said to Master Song, "There are doubts about what this little thing said. Before you all came, I pretended to be dead to trick her, and she said that she was instructed by the second concubine. But just now, as soon as you came, she said that the fourth concubine was instructed. Her words are contradictory and incoherent, which shows that she is used to lying."

Master Song looked at the little one with a cold face, "Is the second concubine involved in this?"

Fourth Concubine was taken aback, not expecting this wretched woman to drag Second Concubine into this. She hurriedly explained, "Master, this girl is really full of lies. I think she just said whatever came to mind. Everyone knows that since Second Concubine took charge of the household, everyone praises her. It seems she has offended you somewhere, and even she is being wronged."

Yan Ru pondered that very few of their words were true. Rather than listening to their clever arguments, it was better to look at the evidence directly. Evidence that cannot speak is the one that cannot lie.

"Master Song, you decide for yourself. I'm exhausted." Yan Ru was physically and mentally drained and wanted to end the matter as soon as possible. Anyway, she would be leaving the Song residence soon, so right and wrong no longer mattered.

Just then, the butler arrived and dumped all the items he had found in Xiao Dong's room onto the floor for everyone to identify.

When Yan Ru saw the jewelry boxes scattered on the ground, her heart skipped a beat. Weren't these all her things? Even though they were gifts from Master Song.

Master Song coldly surveyed the items on the ground, his eyes flashing with icy malice. "Did you steal these things from Sixth Concubine's room?"

The little thing hurriedly knelt on the ground, crying and shouting, "I'm innocent, sir! I'm innocent! These were all given to me by the sixth concubine."

When Master Song went to look at Yanru again, Yanru turned her head away in disgust, and he knew that the little thing had lied.

"Master, this girl is just making excuses. She's clearly betrayed her former master, yet she's making baseless accusations. You dote on Sixth Concubine so much, and now you've confined her. Maybe this girl thinks she can take advantage of the situation to kill Sixth Concubine and seize all the wealth for herself." Fourth Concubine hurriedly added fuel to the fire.

Master Song ignored Fourth Concubine's words and looked at the white handkerchief he found among the things. Inside was a translucent white jadeite bracelet, which was extremely valuable and could not be owned by a maid like Xiao Dong. Looking at the handkerchief, there was indeed a small bright red fingerprint on the edge.

"What's going on?" Master Song asked in a cold voice.

The fourth concubine hurriedly said, "Master, this handkerchief is mine, but I have several handkerchiefs like this. It's possible that one or two of them have my lip rouge on them. Yes, it's the white kind. I always use it to wipe my hands when I get lip rouge on them, so it's normal to have fingerprints on the handkerchief. Besides, it doesn't necessarily mean it's mine. It's unreasonable to try to frame me with this."

She spoke with such certainty, as if it were the truth, but Yanru felt she was hopeless.

Mr. Song squinted. "Are you sure you wiped it on with a handkerchief?"

The fourth concubine said firmly, "Of course, sir, how could I possibly use my own things to slander the sixth concubine? Please don't believe her words; she just wants to take this opportunity to get rid of the sixth concubine. You must believe me, sir!"

"That little bastard is a beast! Not only did he steal my things, but he also slandered me and dared to lie to you! Sir, you must not tolerate this!"

"Nonsense, sir! It was she who instructed them! Don't be fooled by her, it was she who said it!" the little creature cried out hastily.

Master Song glanced at the things on the ground and said to his fourth concubine, "Don't worry, I will investigate thoroughly. If this little thing has wronged you, I will not let it go easily." Then, he looked at the little thing and said, "Take her away and lock her up."

At Master Song's command, someone immediately went to carry it out.

As for Yanru, the aggrieved party, Master Song wanted to hold her hand to comfort her, but she dodged away.

"As for you, I won't stop. I'll call everyone back to serve you. We're all family, so don't hold it against me."

Yan Ru was both angry and furious, but this was not her home, and her words carried no weight. Did she expect Master Song to do anything to the fourth concubine who had borne her children? She could only swallow this bitter pill.

"Whatever you say goes, I have no objection."

Looking at Yan Ru's icy face, Master Song felt a pang of pain in his heart. He ordered her small building to be cleaned and then prepared to leave.

"Today is New Year's Eve. Let's keep the family together and not make too much of a scene."

Yan Ru turned her back, afraid that if she listened any longer, she would be unable to resist slapping him.

Du Juan saw Master Song and his entourage off on Yan Ru's behalf before returning to serve Yan Ru.

"Don't be sad. Master has his own concerns. After all, Fourth Concubine gave birth to the Second Young Master. Even if she did it, Master will still consider the Second Young Master's reputation."

Yan Ru felt extremely tired and didn't want to dwell on these things. "Well, let's just be careful ourselves. Anyway, harming me won't get us any punishment, and maybe there will be more in the future."