C12 Steal

After speaking, Meng'er hurriedly left the shop without waiting for the clerk to respond. The onlookers watched her retreating figure, momentarily stunned, before realizing what had happened. It was clear to everyone that Meng'er didn't have enough money. If she had admitted it outright, it would have been better, but her attempt to save face only drew disdain.

Watching from the rooftop, Mo Yi couldn't help but be impressed by Rongyan. No wonder the master had him follow her. She was indeed remarkable. With just a few words, she managed to secure her position.

Rongyan leisurely wandered around the city for a while before finally heading back to the Duke Mansion. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard Mrs. Lee's angry voice and Meng'er's sobs coming from the main hall. Though secretly pleased, Rongyan put on a concerned expression and entered the hall, pretending to be unaware of the situation, and looked towards the elderly lady in the main seat.

"Grandmother, what's wrong with my sister?"

"Yan, you're back." The old lady's expression softened upon seeing Rongyan and was about to speak when Meng'er, kneeling on the ground, suddenly pointed at Rongyan and cried out, "It's all her fault! If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have..."

"Meng'er, what did I do wrong? I just got back from outside, and you can't just accuse me without proof."

Chi Rongyan looked innocent, her eyes welling with tears. "I thought maybe you had a reason for spreading rumors about me stealing. I considered us sisters and even thought about covering your expenses. But now, why are you blaming me?"

Stealing?

Chi Meng'er suddenly remembered how generous Chi Rongyan had been at the shop today. How could a girl from the countryside have so much money? She must have stolen it!

With this thought, Chi Meng'er felt she had caught Chi Rongyan red-handed. She turned to the matriarch seated at the head of the room and loudly accused, "Grandmother, I only spent five thousand dollars, but Chi Rongyan spent ten thousand!"

"Ten thousand?!"

Mrs. Lee only knew her daughter had spent five thousand dollars without paying, and the shop had come to the house to collect. She had to ask the matriarch for the money but hadn't had time to get the full story.

Now, hearing her daughter's words, Mrs. Lee saw an opportunity to turn the situation around. She pointed at Chi Rongyan and scolded, "Yan, do you know what you've done?"

"Yes, I do."

Chi Rongyan met Mrs. Lee's gaze without fear.

Mrs. Lee saw Chi Rongyan's reaction and felt even more justified. She stood up abruptly, pointing at Chi Rongyan and scolded her:

"Yan, how can you be so stubborn! You just got back from the countryside, where would you get ten thousand dollars? Earlier, your sister said you stole a hairpin, and since no one saw it, I thought she was just making things up. But now... you dare to steal such a large sum of money!"

After saying this, Mrs. Lee was convinced that Chi Rongyan was finished. No matter how much the old lady doted on Chi Rongyan or remembered her deceased parents, she wouldn't tolerate someone with sticky fingers in the Duke Mansion.

Once Chi Rongyan was gone, Chi Meng'er would be the only young one left in the mansion. If she continued to show her devotion to the old lady every day, surely even the hardest heart would soften.

Then, Mrs. Lee thought, she could find an opportunity to poison the old lady. Once the old lady was out of the picture, their branch of the family could finally become the true masters of the Duke Mansion!

Mrs. Lee had everything planned out in her mind, but before she could revel in her scheme, Chi Rongyan's tears began to fall one by one.

"I never thought, in Second Aunt's eyes, I would be seen as such a person!"