Chapter 59: Acting – Your Majesty, Please Allow This Official to Prove His Innocence
“No! The Jiang Family had previously mistreated Lord Jiang, and now they emerge pretending to be victims. I don’t believe a single word from this woman – I trust Lord Jiang!”
“Precisely because the Jiang Family wronged Lord Jiang before, he must harbor resentment… This woman has been filing petitions all the way here – how could an ordinary village woman accomplish this? It shows she possesses extraordinary determination. If she weren’t truly wronged, she wouldn’t go to such lengths…”
The accompanying officials observed Emperor Jingrui’s expression, their faces turning ashen as they sternly rebuked: “Audacious common woman! Without evidence, you dare slander an imperial official and disturb His Majesty’s procession? What crime is this!”
Yuan Yuexian suddenly raised her head, a barely perceptible fierceness flashing in her eyes before being immediately drowned in tears. Holding the petition high, she pleaded mournfully: “This humble woman has evidence! Through immense hardship, I have obtained correspondence between Jiang Qingshi and the mountain bandits! I swear upon my life that every word I speak is true! If there is even one false word, may I suffer death by a thousand cuts! I only beg Your Majesty… to look upon this blood-soaked petition!”
She raised the petition high above her head, her posture both humble and resolute, as if it were her only hope.
That petition was strikingly crimson – it had actually been written in blood. The surroundings fell into silence, all eyes turning toward the emperor.
Emperor Jingrui found himself cornered by this mere village woman – he had no choice but to accept the petition.
Jiang Zhimiao clenched his fists, but Xie Qinghe remained extremely calm, holding Jiang Zhimiao tightly: “Miao Ge’er, don’t be anxious. Let’s wait and see how things develop.”
Emperor Jingrui extended his slender fingers from the palanquin, signaling to the accompanying eunuch with his eyes: “Bring it here for me to see.”
The eunuch hurriedly took the petition and presented it to Emperor Jingrui with utmost reverence.
The emperor opened the blood-written petition, his expression neither sorrowful nor joyful, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking at that moment.
Since the emperor had accepted the petition, it appeared the case would be tried on a selected date. As Jiang Qingshi was currently a court official, the case should be handed over to the Court of Revision for deliberation.
“Officials of our Great Liang Dynasty naturally cannot be subjected to slander. This matter requires investigation to clear Jiang Qing’s name,” Emperor Jingrui spoke slowly, his gaze contemplative. “I will naturally give the people an explanation, selecting a day to investigate this matter thoroughly until the truth is revealed.”
“Your Majesty.”
A deep, melodious voice resembling the chime of jade sounded as a man parted the crowd and stepped forward slowly. The man possessed jade-like features and bright eyes, his eyebrows like distant mountains, his lips as red as cinnabar. His mere appearance drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.
The man approached, first performing a deep bow to Emperor Jingrui, then rising to speak calmly: “Since this matter concerns your subject, I beg Your Majesty to allow me to prove my innocence. Today was originally meant to display Your Majesty’s heavenly grace and share joy with the people. Never did I imagine my affairs would disrupt everyone’s enjoyment. As it is already the New Year, there’s no need to let my matters become the first unresolved case of the year, occupying everyone’s thoughts and weighing on their minds. Nor do I wish to suffer false accusations unjustly, much less have anyone question my loyalty to Da Liang.”
This man turned out to be today’s main character – Jiang Qingshi!
The folk rumors were indeed true – Tanhua Jiang truly possessed jade-like elegance, like morning clouds shining in solitude. Even the brilliant fireworks and lantern lights filling the streets couldn’t compare to the captivating spring mountains reflected in his brow.
“With such striking looks, Tanhua Jiang truly doesn’t seem like someone who would hire assassins. I certainly don’t believe it! Look at this village woman – she has such a vicious appearance. She was probably sent here to frame Tanhua Jiang!”
“Exactly! With such refined elegance and peerless beauty, he would never commit such crimes… This must be malicious slander from this peasant woman!”
“Moreover, after achieving his scholarly honor, Tanhua Jiang never abandoned his lawful wife. Instead, they remain deeply devoted to each other. How could such a good man commit such cruel acts?”
“Indeed! The Jiang Family wronged Tanhua Jiang before. Though this woman’s story sounds plausible, what performance doesn’t come with thorough preparation? We shouldn’t follow her in wronging an innocent man!”
Jiang Zhimiao had been fuming, her small face flushed crimson as she squirmed restlessly in Xie Qinghe’s arms like an octopus. Only after hearing these comments did she calm down somewhat. It seemed… the world was indeed composed of countless mothers – there were plenty of people who judged by appearance, just like her mother.
Not that she could blame their superficiality, after all, her father’s face was truly devastatingly handsome.
“Oh?” Emperor Jingrui lounged lazily. “I wonder how Tanhua Jiang plans to prove his innocence?”
“Your Majesty, to be perfectly honest, I have actually known about this matter for some time.”
Jiang Qingshi looked at Yuan Yuexian, meeting her vicious glare. Suddenly, he realized he felt completely numb inside. No matter how ferocious or malicious Yuan Yuexian’s expression became, everything that happened in Fanjiazhuang was in the past. Those past hardships and humiliations could no longer hurt him.
“Everyone knows the Jiang Family treated me poorly. To prevent me from taking the Metropolitan Examination, they even instructed my brothers to slander me. Disheartened, I established my own household and removed myself from the Jiang family register. However, there remains the debt of their upbringing. Though the Jiang Family never gave me anything, I still couldn’t abandon my family completely.”
Jiang Qingshi’s expression was sorrowful. The soft marketplace light gently illuminated his face, softening his sharp features and giving him a fragile, crystalline quality.
Jiang Zhimiao felt somewhat relieved. Her father rarely acted, but when he did, it meant he was getting serious.
Though this incident had occurred suddenly and even her all-capable father couldn’t have prepared in advance, gaining some public sympathy and trust before this large crowd would still benefit them.
“Though my wife is capable, since the Jiang Family had bullied her, I couldn’t use her money to support them. My monthly salary is seven dan and five dou of grain, from which I set aside two dan to exchange for silver, entrusting our neighbors, the Fan Brothers, to deliver it to the Jiang Family. But my heart had been too wounded by the Jiang Family, so I asked the Fan Brothers not to reveal the source, saying it was from a benevolent donor. The Fan Brothers can testify to this. If I intended to harm the Jiang Family, why would I squeeze these provisions from my salary to support them, especially when I have my own large family to feed?”
“Official Jiang is truly a good man!”
“Indeed! Even after how the Jiang Family treated him, he still fulfills his moral obligations!”
“Nonsense!”
Yuan Yuexian’s shrill voice pierced through the air, painful to the ears.
“You’re a scholar, so naturally you’re quick-tongued, making all the good and bad arguments yourself!” Yuan Yuexian pointed at Jiang Qingshi. “Jiang Qingshi! You’re always so hypocritical in setting up schemes. Perhaps you’ve long harbored ill intentions toward the Jiang Family, deliberately creating confusion to make people think you’re kind-hearted, just to make it easier for you to strike later. Oh no…”
Yuan Yuexian’s eyes darted around. “It must be that you treated the Jiang Family so well just to build your reputation among the common people. I used to wonder who that kind-hearted person was, sending monthly supplies to the Jiang Family—turns out it was all an act by you!”
“Second sister-in-law.” Jiang Qingshi smiled faintly, his demeanor calm and scholarly. “If I truly wanted to put on an act, I wouldn’t have asked the Fan Brothers to keep this matter confidential. Instead, I would have hired people to spread the word far and wide. The Jiang Family has truly broken my heart, and I have no desire whatsoever to be associated with them. I simply didn’t want to see them struggle too much, and I had no intention of letting them know I was the one behind it.”
“Then you’re also…”
“Second sister-in-law,” Jiang Qingshi directly interrupted Yuan Yuexian, “but I will always remember the Jiang Family’s kindness in raising me. Although I can’t claim to have returned good for evil without any resentment, I’ve done my utmost to help the Jiang Family live better. The Fan Brothers were my closest friends when I was in Fanjiazhuang, and we’ve kept in touch frequently since I came to Jingshi. Just a few days ago, they suddenly sent me an urgent letter delivered by express courier. Knowing the matter was critical, I opened it immediately, only to be struck by thunderous news—the Fan Brothers informed me that the entire Jiang Family had been massacred by Yu Country. I understood the gravity of this matter, involving the relationship between Yu Country and our Da Liang. After all, Yu Country had previously only harassed our borders and plundered resources—such brutal killing was unprecedented. As a subject of the state, I had to handle this with extreme caution.”
“Jiang Qing is steady and thoughtful in his considerations.” Emperor Jingrui nodded approvingly. “This deliberation is most appropriate. To have such a subject is a blessing for our Da Liang.”
The accompanying officials, seeing the emperor speak up, realized that Emperor Jingrui was clearly siding with Jiang Qingshi. The rumors were indeed true—Jiang Qingshi was highly regarded by the emperor and would be entrusted with important responsibilities in the future.
Yuan Yuexian, after all, was merely a peasant woman with no understanding of imperial authority. Seeing the emperor suddenly take Jiang Qingshi’s side, she immediately panicked: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must not do this! You mustn’t be deceived by Jiang Qingshi’s sweet talk!”
As she spoke, she strained forward, trying to approach the emperor. The accompanying guards, witnessing this scene, immediately blocked her sternly with their spears.
“Audacious commoner! How dare you act so recklessly in front of His Majesty!”
Seeing the gleaming spear tips and blades, Yuan Yuexian’s legs went weak. She collapsed to the ground, putting on a pitiful act: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty must uphold justice for this common woman!”
“Though my heart is filled with sorrow, recalling the voices and smiles of my departed kin, I know the best way to restore their honor is to uncover the truth and clear their names. With matters at the Hanlin Academy temporarily settled, I handled my pending affairs and entrusted some duties to my colleague Xie Qinghe… then began investigating this case. The Fan Brothers wrote to me that, several days before the incident, their second sister-in-law Yuan Yuexian had taken the children back to her maternal home. While she often visited her maternal home, her family now only consisted of a married brother living in modest quarters, so she typically returned the same day. This time, however, she did not come back—and soon after, the entire Jiang Family was slaughtered, leaving Yuan Yuexian as the sole survivor. Yet moments ago, she claimed both her son and daughter were killed, contradicting the Fan Brothers’ account. Seeing her cause such a public scene earlier already roused my suspicions, so I’ve sent someone to fetch the letter the Fan Brothers gave me.”
“Tanhua Jiang is truly a righteous official of Da Liang! With such officials, our Da Liang will surely prosper!”
“Indeed, this woman is full of lies, and this Jiang Family repeatedly schemed against Tanhua Jiang—how shameless! Their wholesale slaughter must be retribution!”
“Judging by this woman’s demeanor, it seems less like retribution and more like an inside job!”