The Slender Waist-Chapter 527 - 377: One Step Ahead

"It was my cousin who gave it to me..."

Yang Lingxiang’s voice was feeble, she obstinately refused to change her story.

He Chuandong pushed through the crowd, loudly defending himself.

"Nonsense. I lost my jade pendant long ago, and that note wasn’t written by me."

With that, he suddenly turned to look at the servants and guards around, and said coldly,

"Although I don’t know where I lost the jade pendant, it certainly did not leave the Governor’s Office. Whoever took it, or stole it, whatever their intention, there is still a chance to come forward. But if I find out myself, I won’t let them off easily."

The He Family’s servants all lowered their heads.

The people present were somewhat alarmed.

One can guard against a thousand things, but a thief within the family is hardest to guard against.

If one of the He Residence’s own betrayed their master and caused such a farce, it likely wasn’t as simple as trying to help a down-and-out noble girl become a concubine.

There must be a deeper conspiracy behind this.

The Grand Princess also realized something.

Her gaze swept past Feng Yun, and her expression had become ice-cold.

"Madam Yang, are you not going to confess? Who instructed you, and what is their purpose?"

Yang Lingxiang shook her head.

"No, I didn’t. The child is indeed my cousin’s, truly my cousin’s..."

He Chuandong had already calmed down.

He ceased his arguments and bowed respectfully to the Grand Princess.

"On my wedding day, such baseless slander. If it was just me suffering, that would be one thing, but if there is heart of discord in Yecheng, meddling in this matter, it is no longer a private issue, but one of the state. I implore the Grand Princess to investigate thoroughly..."

The Grand Princess slowly nodded her head and turned to look at a serving girl.

"You, explain clearly, how did Madam Yang bewitch the Marquis of Xuanping?"

She didn’t say seduced into an affair or in a clandestine relationship, instead, she used the word "bewitch," clearly intending to place all the blame on Yang Lingxiang alone.

The serving girl was already terrified.

Upon hearing the Grand Princess call her out, she hurriedly came forward, knelt on the ground, and confessed everything she knew, things she should and shouldn’t divulge.

"Madam Yang didn’t let me know every single thing, but regarding her dealings with the Marquis of Xuanping, I witnessed it with my own eyes..."

The Grand Princess’s expression darkened.

"What did you see?"

The serving girl lowered her head, not daring to look at Yang Lingxiang.

"The Marquis of Xuanping visited Madam Yang’s residence late at night..."

Grand Princess: "How many times?"

After some thought, the serving girl said, "Several times."

"Several times? How many exactly?"

"Roughly... four or five times."

"How long did he stay each time?"

The cheeks of the serving girl flushed slightly.

"Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for half an hour, sometimes even shorter. But he never stayed overnight."

The Grand Princess looked at Yang Lingxiang coldly.

"Do you have anything else to say..."

"No, it’s not like that." Yang Lingxiang’s voice was hoarse, as she still attempted to excuse herself.

Staring at the serving girl, she asked, "Did you ever personally see me engage in improper acts with the Marquis of Xuanping?"

With her head lowered, under the scrutiny of the crowd, the serving girl bit her lip and shook her head.

"Every time the Marquis of Xuanping visited, Madam Yang sent me far away, I couldn’t hear anything..."

If she couldn’t hear anything, how could she have seen any indecent acts?

However, how many masters would allow a serving girl to witness such private matters?

The Grand Princess snorted coldly, her gaze slowly lowered to Yang Lingxiang’s abdomen.

"Since you deny it, let me ask you. What was the Marquis of Xuanping doing visiting you late at night? Surely you weren’t appreciating the beauty of the wind and moon, discussing poetry and literature?"

Yang Lingxiang’s face turned slightly pale, her mouth twitched with a bitter smile, "Whatever I say today, no one will believe me. If that’s the case, then I can only... prove my innocence with death." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Before her words were finished, she suddenly sprung towards the doorpost in an attempt to dash her head against it.

Xiaoman, quick to react, stretched out an arm to stop her, pulling her back.

Feng Yun smiled faintly.

"How can Madam Yang think of suicide so easily?"

If she died without explaining things clearly, wouldn’t it waste her elaborate plotting and everyone’s curiosity?

Yang Lingxiang struggled fiercely a few times in Xiaoman’s arms, crying out in despair, her lips trembling as she looked to Feng Yun for mercy.

"Princess... spare me..."

She still remembered Feng Yun’s gentle, shallow smile in the banquet hall.

It was as if spring breezes blew, with no hint of malice detectable.

At this point, to say that the Princess of Yonghuai had nothing to do with it was something she could no longer believe.

She was foolish, deceived by Feng Yun’s pretense of purity and kindness.

Otherwise, how could she have let her guard down and allowed herself to be manipulated like this?

But these things, without proof, she could not articulate.

Only a plea for mercy, directing the spearhead at Feng Yun...

"It was my blindness that offended the Princess. I should never have indulged in wishful thinking, hoping to stay by my cousin’s side as a concubine..."

Her body swayed, appearing extremely fragile.

While her words sounded like a plea, they were indirectly accusing—Feng Yun had framed her.

"Even if the Princess blames me and resents me, how could you be so cruel as to seek my death..."