The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 631: Stealing Even Daughter’s Belongings—Can’t Even Afford Food?

Chapter 631: Stealing Even Daughter’s Belongings—Can’t Even Afford Food?

There were many people in the flower hall.

When this sentence was suddenly heard, everyone turned their gaze toward Chu Hanming.

The look in their eyes wasn’t one of suspicion but rather filled with disdain.

After a while, Grand Lady shot Chu Hanming a sharp glance before asking, "Shuo, what’s going on?"

Chu Shuo replied, "I was at the pawnshop and saw a fish scale pearl. Its size was identical to the one I gave to seventh sister earlier, and the shopkeeper only mentioned that someone brought it in to sell. I immediately came back to ask seventh sister to take a look at it, only to find that it was missing!"

Madam Shen, showing her kindness, asked, "Ying’er, was it really missing? Have you checked thoroughly?"

Maybe it was just placed in a different box?

When Madam Shen asked, Chu Nanying’s eyes immediately turned red.

She bit her lip, feeling uncomfortable about lying in front of Grand Lady and Madam Shen. She could only say, "Yes... it’s gone. Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law searched the whole room, but we couldn’t find it."

She looked at Chu Hanming, her eyes filled with resentment.

How could she still raise her head in the family with a father like this?

Moreover, Second Brother had said that if her things were sold off by her father in the future, he wouldn’t give her any more gifts.

Oh no, she was about to lose her brothers’ affection!

Thinking of this, Chu Nanying began crying uncontrollably, cursing Chu Hanming: "You thief! You never change! I hate you! I hate you so much!"

Lu Yanyan hurriedly went to comfort Chu Nanying, taking her aside.

Lady Tian was also furious and hit Chu Hanming a few times, "You old fool! You’re even stealing your daughter’s things! Are you so desperate that you can’t afford food?!"

Chu Hanming covered his head, "What are you talking about! I didn’t! Don’t slander me!"

Chu Shuo’s gaze turned cold. "I asked the servants, and three days ago when you came to the Xianghe Courtyard to greet grandmother, you took the opportunity to look around seventh sister’s room. Who else could it be?"

Chu Hanming said, "The weather’s been warming up and getting chilly. I was worried Ying’er might not have enough blankets, so I went to check! I didn’t take anything! Jin Xiang was there too. Jin Xiang was with me!"

He called out to Jin Xiang, hoping that this senior maid would vouch for him.

Chu Hanlin waved his hand, signaling for Jin Xiang to be brought in.

Jin Xiang had been with the household for many years, and since she had been assigned by Grand Lady to take care of Chu Nanying, her words were naturally credible.

Chu Hanming fixed his gaze on her. "Jin Xiang, you must tell the truth!"

If he got another beating, he wouldn’t be able to get up.

No, if they removed him from the family tree, even his daughter would disown him, and he would have nothing left.

Jin Xiang furrowed her brows, then turned to face Grand Lady and Chu Hanming, saying, "Although I was in the room at that time, Second Master said that I was being disrespectful by staring at him, so I stayed outside and didn’t look closely."

She then knelt down and weakly added, "It’s my fault. I should have paid more attention, but now seventh miss has lost something, and I should be punished."

Chu Hanlin couldn’t be bothered to deal with the maid.

Furious, he slammed the table so hard that it nearly shattered. "Chu Hanming, you really disappoint me!"

Grand Lady sighed heavily, looking disappointed. "Enough, send him to the authorities. Eldest son, remove him from the family tree."

Chu Hanming immediately began to cry loudly. "Mother, eldest brother! I didn’t do it, please believe me!"

The government’s prison was filthy, and he would have to endure punishment and lose face. If they really sent him there, it would be better if he died!

Most importantly, Grand Lady would really disown him!

Lu Yanyan had just entered the room and had never seen such a scene before. She watched with great interest.

But Grand Lady no longer wished to hear Chu Hanming’s excuses. She had already ordered the guards to drag him away.

"Eh..." Lu Yanyan opened her mouth, but she hadn’t had enough of watching yet.

Across the room, Nanli also spoke, "Grandmother, please wait. Father, please calm down. I think we should clear this up properly within the mansion first. Otherwise, if there’s a misunderstanding, not only will Second Uncle suffer, but others will also laugh at our family."

Chu Hanming, with teary eyes, looked at Nanli. He was so grateful and emotional at that moment, nodding continuously. "Yes, yes, we should get to the bottom of this! How can we be so hasty!"

Chu Shuo sneered, not expecting Nanli to speak up for Second Uncle today.

He wasn’t happy and said, "Sixth sister, what’s the point of investigating this further? Who else in the mansion could be dirty-handed except for him?"

Ye Siheng interjected, "When investigating a case, it’s most important not to jump to conclusions. Even if Second Uncle has made mistakes in the past, we can’t always pin the blame on him every time something happens."

Chu Hanming nodded again. "Yes, I’m being wronged!"

Chu Shuo thought for a moment, and his anger somewhat eased.

Grand Lady and Chu Hanlin also felt that they had rushed to judgment, and their expressions softened as they reconsidered.

Chu Ye then asked, "Second Brother, are you sure that the fish scale pearl is the one you gave to seventh sister?"

Chu Shuo replied, "When the fish scale pearl first came into the Capital, I spent a lot of money buying many. Some people also bought them, but the size wasn’t the same as the ones I bought, so I’m certain."

Everyone’s eyes turned back to Chu Hanming.

He quickly thought of something and turned to Nanli, saying, "A’Li, you have the True Word Talisman, right? Use it on me. This way, we can prove my innocence!"

The others realized this too late.

Chu Hanlin nodded, "That’s a good idea."

If it could be proven that the fish scale pearl wasn’t stolen by Second Brother, then they could investigate other possibilities.

At this point, Jin Xiang, who had been kneeling to the side, trembled slightly.

However, everyone’s attention was on Nanli and Chu Hanming. Only one person noticed.

Ye Siheng, resting his chin on one hand, suddenly smiled faintly. He leaned slightly toward Nanli’s ear and whispered, "That maid."

Nanli looked over, raising an eyebrow.

She tossed a talisman toward her.

It didn’t land on Chu Hanming but instead stuck to Jin Xiang’s back.

"Sixth sister, what’s this?" Chu Shuo asked, his eyes wide.

Nanli then asked, "Jin Xiang, how much did the fish scale pearl sell for?"

Jin Xiang, still thinking about how to respond, suddenly heard herself being called out and asked this question. Her first instinct was to say that she didn’t understand, but to her surprise, she answered, "It sold for fifteen hundred taels."

This answer shocked everyone.

In one question, it not only proved Chu Hanming’s innocence but also revealed the thief.

Grand Lady was furious, gripping the armrest tightly. "Jin Xiang, did you really steal it?!"

Jin Xiang, with the True Word Talisman on her, could not deny it. "Yes... yes, it was me."

Chu Hanlin’s face darkened. "Why? Did something happen in your family?"

Jin Xiang had been with the Grand Lady for many years, and she was a trusted maid.

Earlier, when Ye Chengyan surrounded the mansion, Jin Xiang had been loyal, willing to face danger alongside the Chu family.