Jade Without Fragrance - Chapter 11 : Defection

The gold hairpin was sharp, and with the tap, the warm, translucent pink jade petals at its end trembled slightly.

Wen Ping knew very well that even a single item from the Second Miss was worth a fortune, so she could easily fetch ten thousand taels of silver. What surprised him even more was what the Second Miss said next.

He stared intently at Wen Hao, waiting for her to continue.

Wen Hao didn't keep him in suspense, saying in a nonchalant tone, "You've emptied my father's stash of many valuable things, haven't you?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ping was struck dumb, his entire body stiffening. It took him a while to refute, "Second...Second Miss, you've wronged this old servant! How could I possibly do such a thing?"

Wen Hao wasn't in a hurry, "Whether you did something wrong or not is easy to resolve. I'll go home and make up some excuse to have my father check the storeroom. But by then, Steward Wen will probably be too busy to care about your son."

Wen Ping held the keys to Wen Ru Gui's private storeroom, and in her previous life, Wen Hao had known about his embezzlement thanks to her special abilities.

But what did this have to do with Wen Hao, whose relationship with her father was strained? As long as he didn't extend his greedy hand to her mother, it was fine.

And now, she could use this to make Wen Ping switch sides.

Wen Hao's words struck Wen Ping's heart like a heavy hammer.

His defenses finally crumbled completely, and his legs went weak as he knelt down: "Second Miss, spare my life!"

Wen Hao leaned back slightly, her tone still calm and unhurried: "Steward Wen, you're wrong. I'm clearly saving lives. Saving your life, and saving your son's life."

"Yes, yes, yes, Second Miss is right." Wen Ping raised his sleeve, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Wen Hao smiled: "Steward Wen, don't kneel."

Wen Ping quickly stood up.

Wen Hao pushed a cup of tea towards him: "Steward Wen, please sit down; it'll be easier to talk."

Wen Ping sat down as instructed, secretly alarmed.

He had to admit that he had been under the Second Miss's thumb the whole time.

The Wen family had four masters: the Master was shrewd and calculating, the Mistress was shrewish but lacked cunning, the eldest daughter was gentle and steady, and the Second Daughter, being born mute, was considered a somewhat strange and aloof girl by the servants.

He never expected that after the Second Daughter could speak, she would become so formidable.

No, no, no, it wasn't just formidable; it was prodigious.

Where did she know these secrets?

Wen Ping's rationality returned, and the more he thought about it, the more complicated it became. He didn't regret his decision after regaining his composure; rather, it was precisely because he made the decision first that he jumped from a desperate situation to a predicament, allowing him to think more calmly.

"Does Steward Wen have many questions?" Wen Hao asked with a smile, taking in Wen Ping's constantly changing expression.

Wen Ping immediately focused his attention: "This old servant does have some questions..."

"Then keep it to yourself."

Wen Ping choked, once again experiencing the little girl's unpredictable moods.

"Yes... I wonder what the Second Miss wants this old servant to do?"

"It's very simple. When the time comes for a showdown and you're questioned, all you need to do is tell the truth."

Wen Ping almost blurted out, 'How did the Second Miss know?' but he swallowed it back under the girl's cold gaze.

"A thousand taels of silver for a single truth, isn't that a good deal?"

Wen Ping clutched the silver note and smiled bitterly. "This old servant is just worried that the Master..."

"Worried that my father will punish you?" Wen Hao glanced at him casually.

Wen Ping nodded with a forced smile.

Wen Hao's lips curled slightly, a mocking smile flashing across her face.

This was asking her for a way out.

How wishful thinking!

"Steward Wen, have you heard a saying?"

"Please tell me, Second Miss."

"You can't have your cake and eat it too," Wen Hao said, enunciating each word clearly.

As she spoke, she casually picked up a peach blossom hairpin and twirled it. "One is the immediate, fatal crisis; the other is a small difficulty in the future. If Steward Wen doesn't know which to choose, then I'll be a little disappointed."

Wen Ping smiled with difficulty.

A small difficulty?

He would have to bear the consequences of betraying his Master.

However, the Second Young Lady was right. If he hadn't gone with her, the son and the father would be finished.

"This old servant will obey the Second Young Lady," Wen Ping said, bowing his head.

Wen Hao called out, "Bao Zhu..."

Bao Zhu pushed open the door and entered.

"See Steward Wen out for me,"

Wen Ping hurriedly said. "I wouldn't dare trouble Bao Zhu."

After Wen Ping left, Bao Zhu couldn't help but ask, "Miss, you just gave him a thousand taels like that; aren't you worried he'll go back on his word?"

"His embezzlement is far more than a thousand taels; he's already beyond redemption," Wen Hao said casually, glancing out the window.

If Wen Ping's embezzlement were discovered by her father, his fate would be far worse than if her son had fallen into the hands of those scoundrels.

He had only stolen and sold rare and precious items, hoping her father wouldn't notice.

But she had found out anyway.

"Bao Zhu, let's go home."

Having dealt with Wen Ping, the next target was her father's cousin.

Ironically, Wen Ping aided and abetted the wicked for his son, and her father's cousin also aided and abetted the wicked for his son.

Oh, even Father, he drove Mother to the brink mostly for his son's sake.

Wen Hao returned to the Wen mansion, had lunch, and rested for a while before Wen Chan arrived.

"Eldest sister, you're back so early."

"Those banquets happen more than ten times a year; they're not very interesting," Wen Chan held up the oil paper package in her hand, "Wanji Shop's crispy abalone and snails; I remember Second Sister loved theirs the most..."

Her lips curved slightly, so similar to the curve of Wen Hao's smile, her pure black eyes full of affection.

Wen Hao stared intently at her elder sister, tears streaming down her face.

Her sister and she looked so alike.

The man Lian Xiang mentioned who had taken liberties with her sister... was he the Crown Prince?

This guess tore at Wen Hao's heart.

"What's wrong, Second Sister?" Wen Hao's reaction left Wen Chan completely bewildered.

"Are you thinking about the mistress Father kept? Don't be afraid; Grandmother will stand up for us..."

"Eldest sister," Wen Hao hugged Wen Chan, her hot tears staining her clothes, "I wasn't thinking about those things; I just feel that you've been so good to me. I couldn't say it before, but now I can finally say thank you to you."

What she really wanted to say was sorry, to apologize a thousand, many times.

Although she knew the fault wasn't hers, but those heartless beasts, the thought that if she hadn't gone to see the street performer on this day in her past life, perhaps her eldest sister wouldn't have been in trouble, filled her with guilt.

Wen Chan gently patted Wen Hao's back, feeling both heartache and sorrow: "Don't talk nonsense. I'm your older sister; isn't it only right that I'm good to you?"

She opened the oil paper package, took out a piece of crispy abalone, and handed it to Wen Hao.

"Eldest sister, have some too."

After the two sisters finished their snacks, Wen Chan said, "Second Sister, let's tell Grandmother tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow, Mother said she'll take us back to Grandmother's house tomorrow."

Wen Chan nodded: "Then let's go secretly the day after tomorrow."

Her mother was deeply in love with her father and had a quick temper, so it would be safer to inform Grandmother first.

Wen Hao had other considerations besides this.

Tonight, she should also show her face to that uncle.