The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

Those watching the commotion in the flower hall couldn't help but scrutinize Hua Sirong from head to toe. This girl didn't seem like a pushover or an insignificant nobody.

Seeing that everyone's attention had turned to her, Hua Sirong reached out to Pei San, "May I borrow the jade pendant in your hand for a look?"

Pei San was worried again that there might be a trap, and Miss Qin even stood up from her seat, fearing that the evidence in Pei's hands would be tricked by Hua Sirong. She also glanced nervously in the direction of He Zhizhu.

Thinking that Hua Sirong wouldn't be able to pull any tricks under everyone's watchful eyes, Pei San hesitantly handed over the jade pendant.

Hua Sirong took it and examined it carefully in front of everyone, muttering to herself, "It looks just like it, so much like it."

At the same time, he took something out of his pocket, and some busybodies stood right next to Hua Sirong.

"Oh dear, these two jade pendants look exactly the same to me?"

Two or three more people came over and said, “It really is true. The material of the jade pendant is almost the same, and the small characters engraved on the back are also almost the same.”

"Why are there two identical jade pendants?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Hua Sirong held up the two jade pendants and asked, "How can they be exactly the same?"

There is a difference. This one was taken out by Guard Pei, and this one is the one I carry with me at all times.

If you hold them in your hands, you'll be able to feel the difference between these two jade pendants.

Curious, someone took it and placed it in their palm. "Oh my, sure enough, one piece feels cool to the touch, it's cold jade. The other piece feels warm to the touch, it's warm jade."

"really?"

"..."

Hua Sirong looked calm and slowly said, "It's the dead of winter, and I've always been weak. If I go out, I always have to bring a warm jade pendant."

"I only wear cold jade when it's hot in the summer."

"So, Miss Rong's jade pendant wasn't lost, and the jade pendant in Guard Pei's hand can't be used as evidence of their relationship!"

Hua Sirong then retorted, "I have to admit that both of these jade pieces are mine."

At that time, my mother had just passed away, and I was in poor health. My father was afraid that I would be difficult to raise, so he spent a lot of money to find these two pieces of jade for me.

One cold, one warm.

I don't know how the jade ended up in Guard Pei's hands, but I'm certain I didn't bring it with me when I went out today.

Miss Qin couldn't help but jump out again, "You say you didn't bring it? Apart from one being cold and the other hot, these two pieces of jade look exactly the same."

Perhaps you've decided to pledge your love to Guard Pei today, which is why you brought two pieces of jade with you, one for each of you, as tokens of your betrothal.

After all, you yourself admitted before that after you went to the Marquis's residence, it was difficult for you to leave the house!

Today, I finally got the chance to come to the Jiang residence. The Jiang residence is also where the Second Prince is married. Pei San has feelings for you, so he will naturally take this opportunity to find himself a job at the Jiang residence so that he can meet with you in secret.

"Speaking of which, you two seem to be on the same wavelength."

Hua Sirong was not annoyed when she heard this. She just stared at Miss Qin and smiled, "Miss Qin is so young, yet she knows so much about matters between men and women. It must be because your mother taught you well."

Upon hearing this, everyone covered their faces and laughed.

Madam Jiang frowned slightly, but she focused her gaze more on Da Bailian, as if blaming her for not teaching her own daughter well.

Miss Qin's rude behavior today has truly disgraced the Jiang family.

At this moment, Da Bailian wished she could be as timid as a quail, and dared not say another word.

Qinqin puffed out her cheeks in anger and said with a weak voice, "Could it be that I hit the nail on the head? You're feeling guilty, so you're going to bring up my upbringing!"

There's no need for that. No matter how well-mannered I am, my own mother taught me.

Unlike you, you lost your mother at a young age and had no proper elder to teach you manners, which is why you couldn't wait to get engaged to someone else as soon as you arrived in the capital.

Seeing her extremely disheveled appearance, Hua Sirong figured that neither Madam Jiang nor any of the noble ladies in the capital would extend an olive branch to this Miss Qin again.

As for Madam Jiang, she still has another trick up her sleeve.

Hua Sirong ignored Qinqin's words and brought up the theft at the Muqing Marquis's residence to everyone again, "As everyone knows, a theft occurred at my aunt's residence on the day of my cousin's wedding."

Now that I think about it, maybe this piece of cold jade was lost that day.

Because I used very little of this cold jade, I didn't publicize it widely.

What a coincidence! If it weren't for this upsetting incident, how could I have gotten it back after losing it?

Qinqin laughed loudly, "You're really good at talking nonsense. The Marquis's mansion has countless good things. Why would a thief want to take a fancy to the little things of a merchant's daughter like you?"

Would they really risk everything to steal it?

Don't say that out loud, it'll be hilarious!

Facing the suspicious gazes of the crowd and the warning look in Madam Shen's eyes, Hua Sirong continued to explain, "As everyone knows, the inner study usually contains important letters and other items from the mansion."

The study in the Marquis's mansion was burgled, and the thief has not been found to this day. I am now beginning to suspect that this was the work of a malicious person with ill intentions towards the Marquis's mansion.

After all, the marriage alliance between the He and Meng families was ruined because of the theft, which was tantamount to cutting off one of the Hou family's arms.

However, one cannot blame the Meng family for being heartless and only valuing inanimate objects. After all, it was something the Meng family had cherished for many years, and anyone whose long-cherished wish was dashed would have no way to explain it to their ancestors.

Regarding this matter, one can only say that Meng Silang and the second daughter of the Marquis's mansion were not destined to be together.

Many onlookers nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes. The one who suffered the most in this matter is actually the second daughter of the He family."

What wrong could she have done? She was looking forward to a joyous wedding, but then this book thief showed up and ruined the marriage between the two families. It's truly hateful.

"Yes, yes, the two families' children are not meant to be together. Let's not gossip about them anymore, or the second daughter of the He family will be heartbroken." The incident of falling into the water was not mentioned at all.

He Zhihuan was present, and she originally thought that Hua Sirong would bring up this matter again, which would embarrass her again. However, to her surprise, no one used any sharp words to slander her. Instead, they sympathized with her.

At this moment, she actually regretted not standing up for Hua Sirong like He San had done.

After all, in the Marquis's mansion, she and Hua Sirong were the two who first became acquainted.

Unfortunately, the confidant I once cherished has gradually drifted away in the course of daily life.

No, perhaps only Hua Sirong has never changed her original intentions. On the contrary, she herself had impure motives from the very beginning when she first met Hua Sirong.

Never mind, if she ever has any way to help Hua Sirong in the future, she will definitely repay this favor.

Qinqin was already annoyed at being ignored, and now that she finally found an opening, she jumped out again, "Miss Rong, what does all that you've said have to do with the jade pendant in your hand?"

Everyone was speechless. Although, it seemed to make sense.

I feel like Hua Sirong has steered the discussion off-topic...

Hua Sirong smiled, giving everyone a reassuring smile, "How could it be unrelated!"