Mo Lan's smirk froze the moment Lin Xu snapped.
"Just because I wore white doesn't mean anything," Lin Xu shot back, her voice sharp with anger she could no longer hold in. "Anyone who had bad intentions toward me could have dressed like me and attacked Lady Xu. So the color of the clothing proves nothing."
The room fell silent for a second.
Mo Lan's eyes widened, clearly not expecting Lin Xu to raise her voice.
Madame Mo stepped forward. "How dare you speak like that—"
But Lin Xu didn't back down. Her hands were trembling, not from fear, but from the constant blame being thrown at her.
"You all keep accusing me without thinking," Lin Xu said, breathing hard. "If someone wanted to frame me, wearing white would be the easiest way. And since Lady Xu said it was dark, how can she tell exactly who it was?"
Lady Xu lowered her eyes, her fingers clutching her blanket.
