Wen Xinya thought to herself with a derisive smirk on her face, The owner is really good at pretending. I’m sure she knows that Xia Ruya was planning to set me up during the gala.
The truth is not hard to guess.
Xia Ruya and Lin Yingxin were planning to lay a trap for Wen Xinya during the Heiress’ Gala. Xia Ruya managed to spike her drinks and snacks because she was close to the owner of Boya Pavilion. Being well versed in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xia Ruya knew just the right amount of jimsonweed to use in order to create the effects that she wanted. Hence, Xia Ruya’s plan was to let me shine and become the winner of the gala before getting Lin Yingxin to compete with her. By then, the toxic effects of jimsonweed would have already begun spreading and affecting her performance. As a result, she would definitely lose.
Once Lin Yingxin won, the effects of jimsonweed would be in full swing and Wen Xinya would be the one losing control of her emotions and behaving manically. Her reputation would then be ruined and Xia Ruya would get to use the opportunity to salvage her reputation righteously.
That was the other part of Xia Ruya’s plan.
She could only clear her name by making use of Wen Xinya as well as her talent in brewing floral tea.
It was indeed a brilliant plan.
Unfortunately for Xia Ruya, she had forgotten to take Du Ruoxin into consideration.
She had no idea how Du Ruoxin had managed to find out about Xia Ruya’s and Lin Yingxin’s plan, but Du Ruoxin had indeed given her a hand. Previously, Du Ruoxin deliberately knocked into the waitress and caused her to spill the tea while serving some snacks and tea. Although it may seem like an accidental slip-up to everyone else, Wen Xinya knew that there was something more to it.
Although she did suspect that Du Ruoxin had intentionally caused the waitress to spill the tea, she did not think too much of it.
However, it was also at that moment that Du Ruoxin pushed the tray of snacks in front of her towards Wen Xinya so that the waitress could clean the table. With just a simple action, she managed to swap the position of the trays.
At last, Wen Xinya ended up eating the set of snacks and tea that was originally meant for Lin Yingxin while the latter consumed the set that had been spiked with jimsonweed.
As a result, chaos ensued.
That was why Du Ruoxin said that Lin Yingxin was just having a taste of her own medicine, for she had ended up harming herself instead.
Xia Ruya had already calmed herself down. “Madam, please believe me. I didn’t poison anyone. I don’t know why Lin Yingxin is maligning me, either.”
The owner stared at Xia Ruya without saying a single word, clearly finding it hard to believe her explanation.
Xia Ruya and the owner had put on an act that allowed the owner to look like the innocent party as if she had nothing to do with the incident at all.
Wen Xinya was way too familiar with those tricks.
At this moment, Xia Ruya cast a glance at Wen Xinya and said, “Wen Xinya, Lin Yingxin accused me of spiking your snacks and tea, but I’d like to know why Lin Yingxin was the one who had gotten poisoned instead of you? Logically speaking, if Lin Yingxin and I were out to harm you, why would I have spiked Lin Yingxin’s snacks and tea?”
At this point, Xia Ruya finally realized that Du Ruoxin was the reason Lin Yingxin was the one who had gotten poisoned instead of Wen Xinya.
Du Ruoxin had used the opportunity to swap the trays of snacks and tea while the waitress was busy cleaning up.
At that point in time, Xia Ruya did not think much of the incident because she merely thought that it was a minor slip-up. However, after the chaos broke out, she began to recall everything carefully and finally realized the reason for the mistake.
Wen Xinya glanced at Xia Ruya nonchalantly before asking, “What are you trying to say?”
Xia Ruya was undoubtedly just trying to push the blame to Wen Xinya, just like she often did. No matter what happened, Xia Ruya would never fail to shirk the responsibility. Wen Xinya had no choice but to take her hat off to Xia Ruya.
A lump formed in Xia Ruya’s throat when she saw the look on Wen Xinya’s face. “Lin Yingxin’s accusation doesn’t tally and it’s completely illogical. She’s obviously just trying to malign me.” Xia Ruya argued.
Xia Ruya sounded extremely confident. So what even if she said that Du Ruoxin was the one who had swapped the trays? No one would believe her without any evidence.
Wen Xinya smiled and retorted. “The person who maligned you is Lin Yingxin and yet, you dragged me into this for no reason. Actually, it just looks like you’re feeling guilty and trying your best to defend yourself. Since you think you’re right, why don’t you confront Lin Yingxin instead!?!”
Xia Ruya did seem like she was trying too hard to defend herself by giving an unreasonable explanation.
Wen Xinya’s words made a lump form in Xia Ruya’s throat. She knew that her words were not convincing even though they did make sense.
After giving it some thought, she explained in a mellower tone, “I just don’t understand why Lin Yingxin framed me for drugging you in front of everyone. What evidence does she have to prove that she was right? Just like what you said, the toxins of jimsonweed will remain in the body for four to six hours. The gala has already begun for more than six hours. How can you prove that she had really been poisoned and that she’s not just pretending to be crazy just so she can accuse me?”
Lin Yingxin was gradually returning to her normal behavior as the toxins of the jimsonweed began to dissipate. Without any evidence, no one could accuse Xia Ruya and hence, she would not be accused of poisoning others.
Everyone was flabbergasted by Xia Ruya’s words which had made sense. Without any evidence, no one would be able to prove that Lin Yingxin’s claims were true.
Even Wen Xinya could not help but be impressed by Xia Ruya. She felt that Xia Ruya was really intelligent to have pointed out the lack of evidence. She even managed to use the properties of jimsonweed to shirk the responsibility.
What an intelligent move.
Without any evidence, nothing could be done even if everyone doubted her. No one could pin her as the culprit.
Xia Ruya sounded as if she had been harshly mistreated. “She kept accusing me of poisoning others to harm them. I just want to know, who exactly did I harm?”
She then covered her face and began weeping uncontrollably. She had clearly expressed that she was the actual victim of the incident and that Lin Yingxin’s accusation was false because Wen Xinya was unharmed.
