Chapter 461 - 148 Sincerity
"Xiao Deyin, and everyone in the Shen family," said Hai Tang. The lamplight was faint, perhaps because the wick had grown too long. A slight breeze from outside fluttered the flame, which seemed on the verge of extinguishing for a moment. Jiang Li steadied herself, took up the silver scissors beside her, and trimmed the wick a bit shorter. The flame thus stabilized, no longer causing the shadows in the room to flicker.
"Why do you say that?" asked Jiang Li.
Hai Tang did not answer immediately but looked at Jiang Li and asked, "Can I trust you?"
Hai Tang was a calm, rational, and decisive girl; otherwise, she would not have had the heart to destroy her own beauty to evade the soldiers’ pursuit. But her asking this question now indicated that, with the world so vast, she no longer knew who she could trust. She had to find someone to rely on, a reason to keep living.
Jiang Li’s heart ached as she looked at Hai Tang, seeing her own past self. She said gently, "You can trust me. I am like you, wishing for the truth to be revealed to all, hoping that Xue Fangfei can be vindicated."
Hai Tang seemed moved by the sincerity in her eyes. After a long pause, she slowly said, "That day, during Madam Shen’s birthday banquet, Xiao Deyin was there. She and Miss Shen were good friends, often competing in zither. That afternoon, Xiao Deyin kept drinking with Madam Shen. Madam Shen was pregnant and not good at drinking, so she only wanted a little. Xiao Deyin, however, feigned anger, insisting on finishing the drink with Madam Shen."
"I found it strange, for Mr. Xiao had always been so gentle and considerate, never forcing anyone to do anything, especially not Miss Shen. But Miss Shen noticed nothing amiss, and I, being a servant, had no place to accuse Xiao Deyin."
"Later, Miss Shen got drunk, and I needed to help her back to her room. Xiao Deyin’s maid detained me, claiming she couldn’t find her way to the kitchen and wanted to get some sobering soup. When I returned from the kitchen, Miss Shen was gone, said to have been taken back to her room by Mr. Xiao’s Miss Shen."