Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Marchioness sat in the main hall, dressed in simple, unadorned clothes, with only a palace matron attending at her side.

I gave her a proper curtsy, then blurted out, “Madam, you look so much like the bodhisattvas I’ve seen. You have the same solemn, compassionate air.”

The Marchioness’s hand trembled around her teacup. The palace matron shot me a sidelong glance.

I pinched the corner of my sleeve. “I’m sorry. Was that too forward of me? I’m not very good with words. Back in the village, everyone said so too.”

“My mother died when I was eight, and my father died when I was fifteen. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen someone as kind and loving as you, Madam. You’re like the spring breeze-warm wherever it touches.”

The Marchioness hurriedly waved her hand. “No, no, that’s not- you…”

I immediately supplied, “He Shanhua. My name is He Shanhua. Madam can just call me Shanhua.”

“Shanhua. What a lovely name.”

“Isn’t it? My mother gave it to me. She said that when I was born, the back mountain was covered in wildflowers, and it was especially beautiful.”

From wildflowers in the mountains, I talked all the way to wild boars in the forest. The Marchioness kept covering her lips as she laughed, and even the frost in the palace matron’s eyes gradually melted away.

Only after spending a full half hour in the Marchioness’s room did I return to my own courtyard.

But the moment my front foot crossed the threshold, my back foot was surrounded by the people waiting in the yard.

The old servant woman leading them screeched, “You wild girl from some mountain ditch! Sticky fingers and filthy hands! You’ve only been in the marquis manor a few days, and you’ve already stolen from your betters!”

My maid stepped in front of me, wanting to defend me, but I pulled her aside.

Smiling, I asked the old woman, “May I ask which noble person I stole from, and what I stole?”

The old woman took a jade pendant from her sleeve. “This was found in your room. The Lord Marquis’s jade pendant!”

I blinked. “Even the Emperor knows I’m the Eldest Young Master’s savior. I won’t ask the marquis manor to treat me as an honored guest, but at the very least, you shouldn’t be barging into my room without permission, should you?”

“Since you could barge in, who knows if this jade pendant wasn’t secretly planted in my room by someone who can’t stand me, just to frame me?”

The old woman had weathered plenty of storms. “Stop twisting words! Get out of the marquis manor at once!”

“How wronged I am. None of you believe me. It seems only the upright judges of Dali Temple can clear my name.”

I grabbed the old woman and started dragging her outside. “You found the item, so you’re the witness. Come with me!”

She stumbled several steps before she finally reacted, sticking out her backside as she tried to drag me back.

But in the end, she was no match for my youth and strength. I subdued her and dragged her along.

Not only did I keep walking, I even shouted, “Honorable judges! Please clear my name!”

After leaving the courtyard and turning through several gates, we happened to run straight into the Old Marquis and his party.

The Old Marquis asked with a stern face what was going on. I told him everything from beginning to end, then showed him the jade pendant.

The old woman tried to speak, but the Old Marquis glared her back into silence with a single look.

He took the jade pendant. “This is something I lost two days ago. I imagine someone took it and formed crooked intentions. Miss Shanhua, don’t take it to heart.”

I lowered my head, then lifted it again and glanced at He Yan behind the Old Marquis before saying, “I won’t take it to heart, Lord Marquis.”