C12 A Child Without a Mother!

Main Hall.

Jing Yeli sat at the head of the room, with Hua Gongfeng standing to one side, and Xia Wen standing behind Jing Yeli. Hua Xiangxue and Hua Yunjin knelt below.

Jing Yeli's expression was calm and unreadable, giving no hint of his thoughts. Xia Wen spoke up:

"Now, Miss Hua, please describe how your jade pendant was taken—"

Upon hearing this, Hua Yunjin immediately wiped her eyes in distress. "I was just in the garden admiring the peach blossoms when my sister approached me. We chatted, and she even tasted a petal. But then, when I wasn't paying attention, she snatched the jade pendant from my waist. I tried to get it back, but she refused. Later, I chased her to the front yard and ran into the Duke and Father. That's what happened. If you don't believe me, ask Father. This pendant was a birthday gift from him last year."

Hua Gongfeng let out a small sound but didn't dare to speak.

Hua Xiangxue blinked slowly, nodding as she thought: So those were peach blossoms! They really were fragrant and sweet. Quite tasty, actually. I'll have Jiaojiao pick some later to make tea!

Seeing Hua Xiangxue nod, Hua Gongfeng immediately frowned and said, "Xiangxue, since you've acknowledged it, shouldn't you quickly return the pendant to Yunjin?"

Hua Xiangxue looked at Hua Gongfeng and replied, "Are you afraid of my argument?"

Hua Gongfeng: "..."

Back in the day, Hua Xiangxue was known for her sharp wit and eloquence at school. Now, facing the timid Hua Yunjin, could she really lose to her?

A smirk played on Hua Xiangxue's lips, a glint of cold determination in her eyes. When it came to acting, her skills were unmatched.

In an instant, she was sobbing, tears streaming down her face—

Jing Yeli, sitting nearby, twitched his lips, trying to suppress a laugh.

"Yunjin, how can you lie at such a young age? You only wanted this jade pendant because you thought it was pretty. How could you accuse me?" Hua Xiangxue wiped her tears, looking at Hua Yunjin.

"That pendant can't possibly be yours, Hua Xiangxue. Where did you get it?" Hua Yunjin, seeing Hua Xiangxue's more convincing act, grew anxious.

Seeing her opponent flustered, Hua Xiangxue felt a tinge of mockery and cried, "Do I have to explain every little thing to you just because you think I'm poor? I'm the eldest daughter, and you're just a concubine's child. I have what you don't!"

Hua Yunjin: "..."

She looked desperately at Hua Gongfeng, waiting for him to speak up for her.

At the door, a woman anxiously requested an audience.

Hua Gongfeng noticed and turned to Jing Yeli, bowing slightly. "Your Grace, my concubine, also Yunjin's mother, Mrs. Lau, is waiting outside. May she—"

"Announce."

Mr. Hua immediately allowed Yuemei Lau to enter.

Mrs. Lau entered with her head bowed, then knelt to pay her respects.

"Mrs. Lau, do you have something to say?" the person in charge asked, looking at her.

Mrs. Lau bowed her head and spoke softly, "I, Lau, heard that my daughter, Yunjin, had a dispute with the eldest lady, so I came here."

After speaking, Mrs. Lau bowed again, appearing particularly humble and nervous. "I wish to plead on behalf of Yunjin and the eldest lady."

The person in charge glanced at Jing Yeli, momentarily unsure of the situation.

Jing Yeli spoke slowly, "Go ahead."

With permission from the person seated in the main chair, Yuemei Lau bowed in gratitude.

Xiangxue Hua was curious about what Yuemei Lau was up to.

Yunjin Hua was also puzzled and quickly looked at Mrs. Lau. "Mother?"

Mrs. Lau, half-bowed, admonished Yunjin Hua, "Yunjin, you are a concubine's daughter. How can you have conflicts with the eldest lady? Even if the jade pendant was taken by the eldest lady, you should not act this way. How have I taught you?"

Both Xiangxue Hua and Yunjin Hua's expressions changed.

The former understood Mrs. Lau's intentions, while the latter was simply incredulous.

"Your Grace, my lord, I have failed in my daily teachings and overstepped. I willingly accept punishment," Yuemei Lau said, bowing her head in request for punishment.

Hua Gongfeng's eyes were filled with concern. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jing Yeli spoke first.

"Mrs. Lau has a point. A daughter from a lesser branch shouldn't compete with the eldest daughter. This punishment is deserved."

Hua Gongfeng: "..."

Lau Yuemei was startled, but she remained expressionless, prostrated on the ground.

"However, since I've decided to handle this matter, it must be fair," Jing Yeli continued, looking at Hua Gongfeng and Lau Yuemei. "Tell the truth, where did this jade pendant come from?"

Hua Gongfeng, harboring resentment towards Hua Xiangxue for Lau Yuemei's punishment, was determined to protect Lau Yuemei and her daughter at all costs.

"Your Grace, this jade pendant is indeed something I casually gifted to Yunjin last year for her birthday."

Lau Yuemei stayed prostrated, silent.

Jing Yeli smirked slightly and turned to Hua Xiangxue. "And you, what do you have to say?"

Hua Xiangxue first glanced at Hua Gongfeng, who was turned slightly away, maintaining a composed demeanor. She then looked at Hua Yunjin, catching a fleeting glimpse of smugness in her eyes. Finally, she turned to Lau Yuemei, who seemed to sense her gaze and lowered herself even further.

Yes, they were the real family unit, and she felt so out of place among them.

Hua Xiangxue chuckled softly, her laughter echoing through the room. Her gaze finally landed on Jing Yeli, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"In that case, shall we leave the decision to Duke Li?"

Perhaps it was a lingering sadness from the original owner of her heart, but Hua Xiangxue felt an overwhelming heaviness, almost suffocating.

A child without a mother is like a blade of grass, so fragile and alone.