The Double-Chapter 613 - 178: Bosom Friend

"I’ve clung to life, survived to this very day, just for this moment," Du Juan raised her head, "to expose you and this treacherous bastard to the whole world for the heinous deeds you’ve committed in secrecy!"

"You!" Princess Yongning gnashed her teeth, seething with rage. But with government officers eyeing her like hawks, she dared not make a move. She was also shocked beyond belief, for she had thought that all of Xue Fangfei’s maids had been killed by her hand. Even Hai Tang should not be alive. Yet there she was, very much alive before her. How could this be?

Kneeling on the ground, Hai Tang recounted the events that had occurred over the years within the Shen residence, including how Shen Yurong had conspired with Princess Yongning. After devising a plot to frame Xue Fangfei, Princess Yongning brutally silenced every witness who knew too much.

Xue Huaiyuan listened, and couldn’t help but close his eyes for a moment, his palms trembling. Although Hai Tang had already told him once before, he still couldn’t help but feel heartache for his daughter when hearing it again.

How could he let Ah Li face these jackals and wolves alone!

After Hai Tang’s witness testimony was completed, another person stepped forward. This person was gentle and elegant, an attractive figure, none other than Xiao Deyin, the zither master from Mingyi Hall.

Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t hide his surprise, as he recognized Xiao Deyin, knowing she was a teacher for the daughters of the Jiang family, but he had no idea what she meant by coming forward.

Xiao Deyin also said, "I can testify that Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning indeed conspired together to frame Xue Fangfei for infidelity, and then proceeded to exterminate her lineage."

Upon hearing this, Princess Yongning burst into laughter, "Xiao Deyin, what are you pretending for? Weren’t you the one who framed Xue Fangfei back then? I gave you the drug, and you happily went along with it. Now that I have lost power, do you also want to kick me while I’m down? Don’t forget who you are. Once I get out of here, do you think you’ll live much longer?"

Xiao Deyin’s heart pounded fiercely, but she remained calm on the surface and said, "No matter how much dirt Your Highness tries to fling at me, I will not change my testimony. As for the baseless slander from Your Highness, no one will believe it. The fact that Fangfei and I are good friends is known to everyone. I have no reason to harm Fangfei, unlike you."

Enraged, Princess Yongning was at a loss for words. She had chosen Xiao Deyin to frame Xue Fangfei precisely because Xiao Deyin had the least motive, being the best friend of Xue Fangfei—a fact known to all. Even Princess Yongning herself had not expected Xiao Deyin to agree so readily. She had thought Xiao Deyin was savvy to the times, but it turned out that Xiao Deyin had been unafraid all along.

Even now, without sufficient evidence, and just her own word against her, everyone would likely believe Xiao Deyin’s innocence because there was simply no reason for Xiao Deyin to harm Xue Fangfei! freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Xiao Deyin spoke eloquently about the day Xue Fangfei became abnormal after drinking, and how Princess Yongning herself was present, though of course, she omitted herself from the narrative, only mentioning that Princess Yongning’s people had drugged Xue Fangfei. They staged a whole act that destroyed Xue Fangfei’s reputation and ensured she would no longer leave her home. This facilitated the subsequent cruel actions of the adulterer and his mistress against the poor Xue Fangfei.

With logical articulation, Xiao Deyin might have been so convincing because she was naturally intelligent, or perhaps because she had rehearsed the speech countless times in her heart. It sounded so natural, so real, that no one could find fault with it. After Xiao Deyin finished, Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong’s charges deepened, leaving them without a rebuttal.

Seeing the expressions on the faces of the three officials, Xiao Deyin knew that her gamble had paid off. She pretended not to see Princess Yongning’s furious glare, feeling relieved. It seemed that during today’s trial, Princess Yongning had no way out. Jiang Li was right; after this, there would be nothing left in the world that could threaten her.

Of course, Xiao Deyin’s defiant stance in court, testifying for Xue Fangfei against Princess Yongning’s accusations, would also spread, winning her an excellent reputation.

Xiao Deyin was extremely pleased with herself.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out, "That’s not right."

"What is not right?" Wei Mingyan asked.

"What Mr. Xiao said is wrong," Hai Tang spoke, "It’s true that Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning had an affair, and it’s true they conspired to frame my young lady for infidelity, causing her to bear a scandalous name. But from beginning to end, it wasn’t done by any of Princess Yongning’s servants. The one who passed the cup of wine was Mr. Xiao, the one who drugged it was also Mr. Xiao, and of course, the one who helped my mistress back to her room was still Mr. Xiao," Hai Tang spoke coldly, "Mr. Xiao, those involved in the incident back then are almost all dead, but not completely. Unfortunately for you, I am one who did not die, and I happened to know everything that happened. My mistress’s supposed infidelity was indeed a malicious plot orchestrated by Princess Yongning, but you are far from as innocent as you claim, for you are Princess Yongning’s Executioner, you knew all along, you were her accomplice!"

As these words were spoken, the entire room was astounded!

Xiao Deyin never expected that someone like this would suddenly emerge in the middle of a courtroom trial. Jiang Li had already shared the evidence regarding this case with her beforehand, to assure her that the case was as good as sealed. It was because of this evidence that Xiao Deyin believed Jiang Li and stepped forward. But what Jiang Li did not disclose was that among the witnesses was Xue Fangfei’s personal maid, who was revealed at this very moment. Only then did Xiao Deyin take a proper look at Hai Tang’s face, and she was filled with shock.

Hai Tang? She’s still alive!

"What... what are you talking about? Why would I do such a thing? Fangfei is my friend; we’re as close as sisters. How could I harm her!"

"It’s all because you pride yourself as Yanjing’s first zither master, yet my lady’s zither skills far surpassed yours. You don’t care about wealth, but you love fame above all else. Afraid that my lady would steal your limelight, you grew jealous and even conspired with Princess Yongning, fully aware that the wine would ruin my lady’s life, yet you still let my lady drink it."

"Nonsense!" Xiao Deyin was panicking deep inside as Hai Tang unabashedly exposed the secrets she held close to her heart. She felt like a snail without its shell, exposed to the daylight, knowing it wouldn’t be long before she dried up.

She was terrified.

"What sisterly affection? My lady treated you as a confidante, yet you returned kindness with malice. What deep marital love? My lady was wholeheartedly devoted to her husband, yet he conspired with others to murder his bedfellow. My lady has always treated people with a genuine heart, only to encounter the most ungrateful wretches. All the bad people in this world seem to have crossed her path. Only my lady is the most pitiful, the most tragic, the most laughable!" After spilling out these words in one breath, Hai Tang couldn’t help but burst into tears at the end, her cries of sorrow and hatred touching all who heard.

Princess Yongning started laughing uproariously, seemingly delighted to see Xiao Deyin in such a quandary, she gleefully said, "Xiao Deyin, do you see now? Did you think by bringing me down no one else would know about your misdeeds? You’re even more despicable than I am. At least I don’t care for Xue Fangfei; she’s just a stranger to me. But you, you’re Xue Fangfei’s sister. And you claim your zither music is pure and noble? What a joke! You’re killing me with laughter!"

Xiao Deyin was at a loss for words, looking as if she might collapse any moment. She could only stammer repeatedly, "No, it’s not true," but the instant panic in her demeanor and her incoherence betrayed her and showed that she wasn’t as innocent as she claimed.

The people present suddenly felt the absurdity of the situation. Back when Xue Fangfei was rumored to have had a clandestine affair, Yanjing City was abuzz with gossip. Everyone spoke ill of the woman who, relying on her beauty, was not content, despite Top Scholar Shen treating her so well; she was regarded as the shame of Yanjing City. Yet now it seemed the whole world had been mistaken. The woman anonymously tarnished by scandal was actually the most pitiful.

Such a beautiful, intelligent, and gentle lady had been deceived by a friend she considered a sister, ruthlessly murdered by a husband who had promised to spend a lifetime with her, and humiliated by a princess using the cruelest methods. What wrong had she done? She had done nothing wrong. If she truly had done something wrong, it was probably that she fell in love with someone who was heartless and cold but who pretended to be deeply in love and without regret.

"And my young master," Hai Tang continued. "Upon learning that my lady was in trouble in Yanjing City, he immediately rushed to the capital, thinking that he had found a clue and by finding the Mayor of Jingzhao, he could avenge my lady. Little did he know that the Mayor was in cahoots with this venomous princess, and they ended up killing the young master, making it look like the work of bandits." Hai Tang said with a bitter laugh, "What kind of world is this! At the very feet of the Emperor, such absurd things happen! If all the officials are like this, with citizens unable to bring their cases forward and suffering injustices whenever they do, then why bother having a government at all? Just tell the populace that if they are commoners who have suffered great injustices, they might as well remain silent, for speaking out is futile. There is no one brave enough to stand up for the common people, because these officials, they all judge by looking at one’s face!"

Upon these words, He Qin barked out a command to "Stop this insolence," while the three others present couldn’t help but break out in cold sweat. Hai Tang’s speech was no longer just about the crimes of Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning. It was a denouncement of the entire officialdom, an accusation against the Emperor himself. It said that the Emperor allowed corrupt officials to harm the populace.

The reputation of the Son of Heaven cannot be smeared like this, but the day’s events could not be concealed, and soon Hai Tang’s words would spread to the palace.

Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t help but look towards Hai Tang; after pouring out her speech, tears streamed down her face, yet she stubbornly met the gaze of the three high officials and did not back down. She knew that her words might bring disaster upon herself, but the tragedy befalling the Xue Family over the past year had all but confirmed her point.

Talk of a golden age of peace, of a world well-governed, it’s all a façade as fragile as paper, easily punctured with a single poke.

What Emperor Hongxiao would feel after hearing this, who knew? Perhaps he would reflect on the past; perhaps what followed would be a reform of the civil administration, to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

The maid of Xue Fangfei seemed to be clever, Jiang Yuanbai thought, what a pity.