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CHAPTER 426

The young maid who had spoken on behalf of Alix instantly felt heartbroken when she heard Li Jing thank Wang Ju.

'This young miss really do not know Alix's true service. If only Mr Lin was okay. I bet he can vouch for Alix. She would never betray them.' She thought to herself.

Her eyes dropped and she took in a deep breath. She knew this was injustice or Alix was framed or perhaps Alix did something wrong to the young miss and that was why she blamed her like this and refuse to listen to reason.

'I pray all will be well for Alix's sake.' She thought again.

"I am sorry for speaking out of turn ma. It seems you have decided and I believe you must have your proof and you know better. Forgive this young maid but please review this matter again, ma."

"Thank you too. I trust my decision."

The young girl spoke no more. She could see from the corners of her eyes how Wang Ju smiled in triumph.

"Now. I just want to give a gentle reminder to everyone. Please and please, be warned. I would treat you as my own but if you go against me and become a traitor, I would not hesitate to fling you in jail. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clear ma."

"Good. Now that we are all on the same page, please you may all get back to your chores. Also, we would be having a new maid join us at the later hours of today. I trust you all would be accommodating and would help her familiarize herself with things. For now, the position for the head maid is…"

They all paused. Some even stopped breathing, just so they could hear what she had to say next.

"Umm, do not worry. I would relate to you all again if there are changes. Just be good, disciplined and no fights, I must warn. That would be all, now."

"Thank you, ma."

She managed a small smile at them before turning around and exiting the living room to tend to other things.

As she left, unknown to them her eyes still remained on them and her ears, perfectly open.

She had set the pace for them. All that was remaining was for whom to fall prey.

"Oh no," exclaimed one of the maids. " I can't believe this."

"What would happen to Alix now?" Another one chipped in. 

"Hey, why are you guys behaving like it is the end of the world," one of the maids, a chubby looking lady but beautiful and fair to behold on said.

"What do you mean by that?" Another asked.

"It is not the end of the world you know."

"There you go again Ding Baozhai. You would say something that does not make sense in a dire situation," the second maid scolded.

"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down, girls. There is no need to start talking down on each other."

"But she was the one who started it, Chang Chu Hua."

"She did nothing wrong, Bei Ai. You guys just misunderstood her. In case you did not pay proper attention, the young miss only made mention of the fact that Alix wasn't here. Never did she say anything like Alix was the traitor and more importantly, she did not say she was taking her to jail."

"Oh."

When Chang Chu Hua said that, all the other younger ladies actually felt so stupid. They had their hearts worrying over nothing it would seem.

"But how sure are you?" Bei Ai asked again, not fully convinced that was the matter.

"Because it is called simple logic. You are smart, Bei Ai, I expected that you would use your head and think properly before jumping to conclusions."

"Chang Chu Hua!" Her face turned into a grimace as she stared angrily at the older made who just unintentionally, intentionally insulted her.

"Do not get me wrong. I wasn't insulting you. Just stating an obvious fact. You are smart, Bei Ai, so please think that way. Let's not all panic and await young miss' next words. Who knows there still may be another spy here as we speak."

"And what are you insinuating?" Wang Ju suddenly voiced out. "We all are innocent."

"As I said, I am not assuming. Speak for yourself and do not vouch for others so easily. Let everyone carry their cross. I believe the young lady is smart and would be able to see through all of us and find the spy," Chang Chu Hua concluded.

"Chu Hua!" Wang Ju stepped forward but before any action could be taken or hurtful words said, the head butler intervened.

"That is enough!"

Everyone turned mute instantly and coordinated themselves.

"It seems you have forgotten I can dismiss you as well. All it takes is to bring up your indiscipline to young miss and you are out. Not only traitors get to leave, people that do not know their place as well."

Knowing full well that what he said was true, they all nodded at him and apologized. 

"I suggest we all take a breather. Get back to work within the next fifteen minutes and avoid any form of confrontation like young miss said. We need to be strong for her and remember to employ what Alix told us. Things would be fine and remember, young miss has the final say. I suggest we be good and mind our business rather than engage in meaningless chatter. Dismiss everyone."

No one waited for a second to even test themselves. Instantly everyone made their way out of the room to take that fifteen minutes to break that he gave and get back to work.

Meanwhile, they did not know that immediately Li Jing left them, she rushed to her grandfather's study to check on the CCTV camera.

Not long after their dismissal, she studied everyone's movement to see their next course of action.

Of course, many of them fidgeted and even went for comfort from each other but one of such groups or gatherings struck her chord and she smiled.

BINGO!

"I see you have found your answer, young miss.. There was indeed another spy."