Chapter 303: I Ask You, Where’s the Proof!

Chapter 303: I Ask You, Where’s the Proof!

Xingxing suddenly recalled something, her face fell, and she nervously stirred her spoon in the bowl. She glanced guiltily at Bai Ge’er: "...By the way, there’s something I need to tell you, Second Brother. Please don’t be mad."

Bai Ge’er was amused by Xingxing’s cautious demeanor: "Oh, what’s going on? Did you break the sky, Xingxing?"

"Not exactly," Xingxing’s eyes shifted nervously, and she whispered, "It’s just that a few days ago, when I went out shopping, I passed by a restaurant where people were placing bets. Tan Jingqian actually had better odds than Third Brother, and I couldn’t take it, so..."

Xingxing quickly added, "I didn’t mean to gamble; I was just so mad..."

Bai Ge’er chuckled: "I thought something big had happened. That’s all?"

Xingxing stirred her chicken soup again, guiltily saying, "...I know gambling’s bad... Just this once..."

Bai Ge’er picked up a piece of spare rib with the serving chopsticks and placed it in Xingxing’s bowl, a bit helpless: "Are you scared I’ll scold you for gambling? But Xingxing, Second Brother knows you well. You’re not the gambling type. I trust you. You’re a good kid with self-control."

Xingxing was taken aback, then she broke into a bright smile and shook her little head: "Second Brother is so nice!"

Liu Ge’er, who had been listening quietly, suddenly asked, "Xingxing, how much did you bet?"

Xingxing froze again, then timidly held up two fingers.

Bai Ge’er guessed, "Two hundred taels of silver?"

Xingxing shrank her neck.

Bai Ge’er was slightly surprised: "Two thousand taels? ...Well, two thousand taels isn’t too much. If you run out of money, just tell Second Brother. I’ve been saving some of your yearly earnings for you..."

Before Bai Ge’er could finish, he noticed Xingxing still shrinking like a little quail.

Bai Ge’er took a sharp breath and tentatively asked, "Sweetie, did you bet... twenty thousand taels?"

Not only Bai Ge’er, but even Liu Ge’er was stunned.

He was holding a piece of shrimp, and in his shock, it plopped onto the table.

Xingxing lifted her little face, giving Bai Ge’er and Liu Ge’er a pitiful look, and sniffled weakly: "...They were just too awful. That Tan Jingqian is so despicable, trying to ruin Third Brother’s life. And those people were betting on him to be the top scholar. I... I couldn’t take it..."

Bai Ge’er was at a loss for words.

His ten-year-old sister had just wagered twenty thousand taels on her brother’s victory.

Should he be touched by his sister’s faith in him, or should he laugh it off?

Liu Ge’er put down his chopsticks, feeling a deep sense of being profoundly trusted. He smiled helplessly: "...Xingxing, do you really believe I can win the top scholar? What if I mess up and don’t get it?"

Xingxing didn’t hesitate, replying with absolute certainty: "...No, Third Brother will definitely win the top scholar, the provincial scholar, and the national scholar! You’ll achieve the triple crown!"

Even Liu Ge’er was moved by this deep trust, his chest swelling with emotion, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

Finally, all of Liu Ge’er’s thoughts condensed into one sentence: "...It seems I’ll have to work even harder. I can’t let our Xingxing’s expectations be dashed."

Bai Ge’er also smiled, exchanging a glance with Liu Ge’er, and said with a laugh: "It seems I’ll have to work harder to earn more money too. If Third Brother really causes Xingxing to lose her bet, I’ll have to make up for her savings."

The two brothers spoke lightly, as if discussing the weather.

Xingxing looked at Bai Ge’er, then at Liu Ge’er, and seeing that neither of them blamed her, she buried her face in her bowl and secretly smiled.

After the meal, none of the three siblings mentioned the twenty thousand taels again.

Liu Ge'er was naturally exhausted and had planned to rest after eating. However, one of the maidservants came to report, looking both confused and panicked, saying that a young master with red lips and white teeth had arrived at the door with a group of guards.

A young master, you say?

Xingxing only knew one young master in the entire city.

Could it possibly be Tan Shaomeng?

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er exchanged glances before instructing the maidservant to invite him in.

Soon enough, the wealthy young master strode into the courtyard.

It was indeed Tan Shaomeng.

He was followed by two guards, both with swords at their waists.

Xingxing, feeling cautious, stood beside Liu Ge'er and looked at Tan Shaomeng with caution, clutching the protective sachet Daxisipo had given her.

Under normal circumstances, Xingxing wouldn't be on guard against Tan Shaomeng.

But Tan Shaomeng wasn't merely Tan Shaomeng—he was also Tan Jingqian's younger brother.

"Might I ask what brings Young Master Tan to our home?" Bai Ge'er asked with a smile.

Tan Shaomeng took a deep breath and said, "Second Young Master Yu, I'm not here for you. I'm here for him."

He pointed directly at Liu Ge'er.

Liu Ge'er raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently, "For me? What's this about? We don't seem to know each other."

Tan Shaomeng stared straight at Liu Ge'er, his voice rough: "Yu San! Tell me, did you poison my elder brother?!"

Liu Ge'er couldn't help but laugh, as if he had just heard the most absurd thing.

Bai Ge'er also gave a cold chuckle.

Only Xingxing, upon hearing Tan Shaomeng's twisted accusation, became like an enraged little lion, her entire body bristling in anger. She shouted, "How dare you even ask that!? What does your elder brother's situation have to do with my third brother? Do you even have any evidence?!"

Tan Shaomeng was momentarily stunned by the fiery anger blazing in Xingxing's round eyes, and his aggressive questioning stance faltered.

He stammered as he explained, "...My elder brother is renowned in the city for his literary talent and is the top candidate for the highest scholarly honor this time. My elder brother said that your third brother might have done it for the sake of the top scholar, so..."

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er were both utterly astounded.

How could Tan Jingqian be so utterly shameless?

These were things he had done, yet now he was trying to shift the blame onto the person he had nearly harmed?

Xingxing was so furious that she seemed to be burning with rage. She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with anger: "Whatever your elder brother says, you believe it?! I'm asking you, do you have any evidence?! Without evidence, how dare you come here and accuse my third brother like this?!"

Tan Shaomeng, as if scalded, took a step back, stammering even more and not daring to meet Xingxing's gaze: "N-no, I mean, if it really was your third brother who did it, he should come with me to my home and apologize to my elder brother... If my elder brother can forgive him, wouldn't that also spare your third brother from imprisonment?"

Xingxing glanced at the two guards behind Tan Shaomeng and suddenly understood: "Oh, so you brought these guards to arrest my third brother?!"

She took another step forward.

Tan Shaomeng nervously stepped back.

The two guards behind him also retreated with their master.

Xingxing's clear black-and-white eyes were filled with fury: "I'm asking you, where is the evidence?!"