The Double-Chapter 33 - 31 Fake
33: Chapter 31 Fake
33 -31 Fake
In the hush that fell, a crisp voice suddenly rang out, clear and loud.
It was Tonger, the little maid standing in front of Jiang Li.
Tonger loudly proclaimed, “This servant believes in the young lady!”
Jiang Li was taken aback, and before she could speak, another female voice sounded, “I also believe Miss Jiang the Second has not done this thing.”
Turning around, Jiang Li saw Madam Liu from Green City Mountain, with whom she had made acquaintance.
Seeing Jiang Li look her way, Madam Liu gave her a comforting smile.
Madam Liu said, “After all, the so-called witness at present is just this maid’s word.” She glanced at Xiangqiao, who was cowering at her feet, and continued, “This maid can accuse Miss Jiang the Second of committing the act, and Miss Jiang the Second can also deny it; in the end, it is merely a matter of one’s word against another’s.
Lord Jiang, as the Imperial Cabinet Grand Scholar, does not trust his own daughter, yet believes a maid with no ties of kinship.
Such actions would hardly be accepted by the court.”
This was a clear move to stand up for Jiang Li.
Jiang Yuanbai too was momentarily stunned, aware that the Liu family, despite their animosity with the Ji family, had no quarrels with the Jiang Family.
Yet, Madam Liu did not hesitate to speak for Jiang Li, risking offending the Jiang Family.
A warm current surged in Jiang Li’s heart.
She and Xue Huaiyuan had grown up in Tongxiang, where Xue Huaiyuan was the local magistrate and had dealt with no small number of cases.
He did not shield her from such matters.
She knew of the evils of the world, yet was often moved by the kindness in people.
In the cold Jiang Family, at this moment, she was not alone.
She had Tonger, a maid of utter loyalty, and Madam Liu, who had drawn her sword on Jiang Li’s behalf.
That was enough to make up for the darkness she felt here.
Jiang Yue saw that it was not easy for Ji Shuran and Jiang Youyao to speak up, so naturally the matter fell to her.
She said in a tone that was neither light nor heavy, “It is a matter of word against word, but it is not as if Jiang Li has never done such things before; it indeed might have been her doing!”
Right, Jiang Li had once caused harm that led to a miscarriage for her legitimate mother.
Now, cursing a legitimate sister, what was so impossible about that?
People believed what they wanted to believe; they saw what they wished to see.
Jiang Li, with a malevolent heart and violent temperament, harsh and ungrateful, was an ingrate well known to all.
For such a person to do such deeds was quite ordinary, quite natural.
In the absence of other evidence, even if it could not be proven that it was her doing, the accusation would still fall on her head.
Madam Liu furrowed her brow, having realized this point.
But the matter had arisen so suddenly that searching for evidence to prove Jiang Li was not responsible from the start was exceedingly difficult.
Seeing no way out of the predicament, Jiang Li finally spoke slowly.
She asked, “Xiangqiao, I will ask you once more, did you truly see with your own eyes as I carved each and every line on this headdress?”
Xiangqiao lifted her head and, for some reason, trembled upon meeting Jiang Li’s calm gaze.
She steadied herself, and with forced bravado said, “This servant saw it with her own eyes.
Second Miss spoke of her hatred for Madam and Miss Third, thinking Miss Third had stolen the Lord’s favor and wanted to curse Miss Third…”
A murmur arose among the crowd, someone said, “It’s just as expected, how vicious…”
Lord Jiang’s expression grew even darker, while Jiang Youyao and Ji Shuran wept louder.
Lady Ji Chen cleared her throat and said, “Lord Jiang, you must give an account on this matter.
Youyao also has Ji family blood in her veins.
If this issue is not resolved, we will go to the palace and let Consort Li adjudicate!”
It was a blatant pressure tactic on Jiang Yuanbai.
Lady Ji Chen’s intimidation did not frighten Jiang Li.
She only softly said, “Xiangqiao was a maid bestowed to me by Mother, if Xiangqiao is lying…”
“Impossible,” Ji Shuran shook her head.
“Xiangqiao is born and raised here, I watched her grow up.
Her character and temperament are trustworthy, and she’s also hard-working.
If it weren’t for the fact that Lili had just returned home and needed maids, I had intended to keep Xiangqiao for myself.”
Tonger couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
Trustworthy character and temperament, hard-working?
Go fool some ghost!
Jiang Li lowered her gaze to Xiangqiao, who was still prostrate at her feet.
With her head down, Xiangqiao felt the scrutinizing gaze from above, a chill slowly crawling up her spine.
What was supposed to be a surefire scheme became, at this very moment, a source of sudden unease for Xiangqiao.
This unease quickly magnified, giving rise to the urge to retreat in her heart.
Of course, that was impossible, and she could only continue to play her role in this drama.
“I also think highly of Xiangqiao.
In these days by my side, she’s always been there to chat and relieve my boredom.
Thanks to her, my time back at the family home hasn’t been dull.
Hence, when she betrayed me, I felt deeply hurt,” said Jiang Li.
Xiangqiao quickly said, “Second Miss, it’s not that this servant has betrayed you, but this servant… this servant just couldn’t watch you continue to make mistakes.
I truly couldn’t go against my conscience!”
“Conscience?” Jiang Li echoed quietly, and suddenly laughed.
She said, “Do you have one?”
Xiangqiao grew more anxious, replying, “This servant doesn’t know what she has done…”
“Nor do I know what I have done for you to betray me.”
“Enough, Second Miss,” Madam Jiang the Elder finally interjected, “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Jiang Li removed her gaze from Xiangqiao, looked around, and slowly said, “Since no one believes me, I must find evidence that proves I did not do this.
Otherwise, I will have suffered these groundless accusations in vain, and my deceased mother’s spirit in heaven would also grieve.” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Hearing this, Jiang Yuanbai’s complexion turned even grimmer.
Jiang Li extended her hand and walked over to Jin Xiang, Jiang Youyao’s maid.
It was this maid who had initially taken out the Ruby headdress from the box.
Jiang Li approached her and picked up the headdress once more from its box.
The gem glinted in the sunlight, its blood-red hues shimmering, intended to be translucent but now marred and ugly with erratic slashes.
As Jiang Li held the headdress in her hands, Ji Shuran suddenly realized something was amiss, but before she could speak, Jiang Li had already started speaking.
She said, “This headdress itself is the evidence.”
Her hand caressed it, gentle and proper, the smile at the corner of her lips as bright as ever, yet mocking.
“This headdress is fake,” she lowered her gaze, “It’s not mine.”
