The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 386: Like Grasping at a Lifesaving Straw
Upon seeing Qi Xiangsi, Jun Yang was completely dumbfounded.
How could this be?
Qi Xiangsi was clearly kept in the small woodshed at the back of the Prince Mansion, a very secluded spot not easily noticed by those not belonging to the Prince Mansion.
It was impossible for Qi Xiangsi to have been rescued from there.
But facts are facts.
Qi Xiangsi was indeed rescued by people sent by Jun Ning.
Her leverage was gone.
The arrogance, confidence, and pride on Jun Yang’s face just moments ago was instantly replaced by confusion, fear, and terror.
Without Qi Xiangsi as leverage, Jun Yang had no way to use Qi Xiangsi to threaten Jun Ning for silver. And naturally, she couldn’t repay that large gambling debt either.
Her creditors were beasts who would do anything. In their anger, they really might cut off her hands and feet.
Thinking of this, Jun Yang trembled with fear, unwilling to accept that she had ended up in such a situation.
She bit her lower lip and shook her head, looking at the newly arrived Qi Xiangsi.
Qi Xiangsi was easy to deceive. If she denied ever capturing Qi Xiangsi and then played the victim, saying some nice words and humbly pleading with Qi Xiangsi, she thought Qi Xiangsi would surely soften and help her.
Yes, that was how it should be.
Jun Yang decided to act immediately.
"Xiangsi, I finally see you..." Jun Yang acted as if she had never seized Qi Xiangsi nor knew what had happened to her.
With a face full of joy, she looked at Qi Xiangsi, who had walked over to Jun Ning after entering, "Xiangsi, I haven’t seen you for so long. Where have you been? I thought you didn’t like me anymore and wanted to separate from me?"
Qi Xiangsi, having endured the torment earlier, still had severe trauma in her heart and could no longer trust anyone other than those who had raised her.
Especially Jun Yang; she was very frightened of her.
She completely ignored Jun Yang’s affectionate words, obediently standing by Jun Ning’s side, holding onto Jun Ning’s sleeve without saying a word.
"Xiangsi, we’re still good sisters, right?" Jun Yang kneeled and moved closer to Qi Xiangsi, "Since we’re good sisters, shouldn’t you help me with my issue now?"
Nanny Zhang sneered at the side, "Jun Yang, you’re really shameless. You kidnapped our lady and used her to threaten Her Highness the Princess, yet you still have the nerve to say such things?"
"I didn’t." Jun Yang shook her head in denial, "Xiangsi and I are best friends. I treat her like my own sister. How could I have kidnapped her and used her to threaten people?"
Pausing for a moment, Jun Yang added, "You must have misunderstood me due to someone impersonating me to capture Xiangsi and framing me."
Looking at Qi Xiangsi, she continued, "Xiangsi, that person is ill-intentioned, trying to sow discord. You must not believe them!"
Heh... What a big lie...
No blushing, no heart racing.
Everyone present who knew the truth was already rolling their eyes hard.
Qi Xiangsi still did not speak, but she released her grip on Jun Ning’s sleeve and looked up at Jun Yang. Seeing Jun Yang in such a sorry state, she felt a bit of pity in her eyes.
In response, Jun Ning sipped her tea and said calmly, "Jun Yang, Nuan Nuan was rescued from the woodshed in the backyard of your Prince Mansion. May I ask, has the Prince Mansion been sold to someone else? Is that why you and your dad aren’t in charge and someone else dare disregard you both, the rightful owners of the Prince Mansion, and do such vile things like kidnapping there?"
"This..."
Jun Yang couldn’t answer.
If she said the Prince Mansion was indeed sold, she could foresee Jun Ning using her words as an excuse to have Emperor Yongning confiscate the last thing they possess, their Prince Mansion.
From then on, she and her dad would have no home.
And if she said the mansion wasn’t sold and they were in charge, she’d indirectly admit that she was the one who captured Qi Xiangsi and used Qi Xiangsi to threaten Jun Ning.
So, Jun Ning’s question was really hard to answer! It was too tricky.
Jun Yang, looking hesitant, bit her lip and didn’t respond for a while.
Jun Ning wasn’t in a hurry for her to answer, she just said, "You don’t know how to answer this question, do you?"
Jun Yang still didn’t speak, tacitly acknowledging it.
Jun Ning looked at Qi Xiangsi, "Do you still think Jun Yang is innocent? That she didn’t send someone to abduct you? And wasn’t planning to use you to threaten me?"
Qi Xiangsi didn’t expect Jun Ning to see through her bewilderment from Jun Yang’s explanation and her momentary sympathy that made her want to plead for Jun Yang.
"Sister Ning, I..." Qi Xiangsi didn’t deny it. She straightforwardly said, "I was indeed momentarily confused, momentarily deceived. But I’m not stupid. Since Jun Yang didn’t say the Prince Mansion was sold, that proves the Prince Mansion is still hers. She’s in charge, and she kidnapped me and forced that rancid water on me..."
Qi Xiangsi couldn’t help but cry as she spoke.
The taste of being forced to drink rancid water was unbearable.
She would never forget it for the rest of her life.
She hated Jun Yang to death.
"Jun Yang, for all my sincere feelings towards you, you treat me like this? I’ll never forgive you in my life." Qi Xiangsi said angrily and then threw herself into Jun Ning’s arms, saying full of guilt, "Sister Ning, it was my fault before, not listening to you, even defying you. Please punish me heavily; I won’t say a word in protest."
Jun Ning patted Qi Xiangsi’s back, "You’ve called me sister, how could I have the heart to punish you? All right, go rest. Once you’re well-rested, draft a petition and request my father to issue a decree to have your father’s body exhumed for autopsy."
Qi Xiangsi stood up and wiped her tears, nodding as she said, "Okay, I’ll follow everything Sister Ning says. Sister Ning, I’ll leave for now."
"Go on!"
Qi Xiangsi left.
Jun Ning watched Qi Xiangsi leave, then lazily leaned back against the Taishi Chair behind her, looking at Jun Yang kneeling there.
"Jun Yang, with Nuan Nuan gone, there’s no one here to plead for you, and no one to save you or give you hope for survival."
"Now the only person who can keep you alive is me, why don’t we discuss some terms?"
"Maybe if you tell me where to find what I’m looking for, I’ll help you pay off those gambling debts and give you a chance to live?"
Jun Ning said enticingly, her goal being the missing wedding gown.
The wedding gown, which the Empress Dowager had painstakingly made for her, she couldn’t bear to lose it just like that; she was determined to find it.
And since it was Jun Yang who stole and sold it, only Jun Yang knew where it was sold to, so she had to get some information from Jun Yang to find the wedding gown.
After hearing Jun Ning’s words, Jun Yang, like grasping at a lifeline, eagerly said, "I—I know where that wedding gown was sold, as long as you help me pay off all my gambling debts, I’ll tell you..."
