Chapter 422

Chapter 428: Affection (Part 2)

Lady Eleven did not hold back, eating two pieces and drinking several sips of chicken soup before setting down her chopsticks.

“Lord Xu, since you’ve returned at this hour, does that mean there’s progress on the matter?” She looked at him, her gaze faintly tinged with concern. “I heard from the maids that a mask was found behind Yanrong’s room. Or is there something you wish to ask me?”

She did not protest or complain. Lady Eleven spoke unhurriedly, her manner sincere and forthright.

Lord Xu was rather surprised.

When he had left, beneath her seemingly docile demeanor had been an icy detachment that kept him at arm’s length. Yet in the blink of an eye—perhaps even after learning about the mask discovered behind Yanrong’s room—that coldness and distance had melted away as if their rift had never existed, replaced instead by a sense of shared understanding.

Given his own wavering, it was no wonder Lord Xu felt uncertain.

Lady Eleven thought of how he had still trusted her despite the situation involving Chun Ge’s safety, and then reflected on her own doubts about him, feeling a faint pang of guilt.

To correct a mistake is the greatest virtue.

Besides, she wasn’t one to hold grudges.

Reflecting on this, she cast a sidelong glance at Lord Xu with her large almond-shaped eyes, then lowered her lashes with slight embarrassment and murmured, “Earlier, when my lord gave orders yet kept glancing at Mother Xu, I thought you suspected me of being involved in this matter, and I couldn’t help but feel my spirits sink…”

Lord Xu was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected Lady Eleven to openly admit her displeasure to him like this, but what moved him even more was the sincerity with which she treated him, stirring an emotion deep in his heart.

“Dear fool,” Lord Xu’s voice softened, warm and rich like molasses, comforting to the soul. “At the time, I thought Chun Ge had acted on impulse but was frightened, and I was afraid someone might take advantage of the chaos to scare you, so I asked Mother to look after you.” Finding Lady Eleven’s cautious demeanor quite charming, he chuckled and ruffled her hair, unable to resist asking, “So when did you realize I didn’t suspect you?”

Lady Eleven smoothed her hair and said with mock severity, “My lord!” before continuing, “I heard from the maids that you found a mask behind Yanrong’s room but ordered the search to continue. That’s when I knew I’d misunderstood you.” Her cheeks flushed pink. “If my lord had suspected me, you could have readily used Yanrong as the scapegoat and ended it there. But the truth would have emerged eventually—Yanrong’s false accusation would surely come to light sooner or later. By then, I would inevitably face gossip. Because my lord believed I had nothing to do with this, because you did not want a blemish on my reputation, you resolved to keep investigating after hearing that figure had fled toward the main house…”

Knowing his careful intentions had been understood, Lord Xu felt a surge of joy.

He pulled Lady Eleven into his arms. “You… so slow to understand, so unaware!”

Though his words were reproachful, his tone was affectionate.

Lady Eleven, embarrassed, wrapped her arms around Lord Xu’s waist and pressed her face into his shoulder, laughing softly.

Yet she couldn’t help but think that since marrying into the Xu family, she had never done anything particularly remarkable, so Lord Xu’s absolute faith in her still felt somewhat reckless.

After wrestling with the thought twice, and given how openly they had spoken earlier, she could restrain herself no longer and whispered, “How could my lord be so sure this matter had nothing to do with me?”