Second Master Xie followed her in, pushed in his wheelchair by a young servant.
His face was grim.
"If I hadn't thoroughly questioned the servants in the courtyard, I never would have known she dared to make such a decision on her own. Brother, her punishment is entirely up to you."
Hearing her husband's icy words, Second Madam Xie's heart filled with bitterness.
She faced the cold, sharp gazes of Xie Suzhi and Xie Ming'an.
She stammered, pleading her innocence.
"Th-this… you can't blame it all on me. None of you were home that day. Someone came to visit, saying they were here to see Ming An. They even claimed to be his colleague."
"At the time… I didn't think much of it. They said it was a greeting gift, so I just accepted it for him."
"Ming An, you have to believe your Second Aunt. If I had known it was a bribe for you, I wouldn't have dared to even touch it!"
A flash of anger crossed Xie Ming'an's usually cold, impassive face.
