Chapter 88

Chapter 88 Xiaoshu let out a cold laugh, a hint of mockery and confidence showing on her face. "You're lying! You never went to my house!" Xiaoshu bowed to the person above with an easy expression, "I beg the Princess Consort to send someone to check right away, and it will prove that this servant is innocent!" There really was something on the wall?! Sang Cao panicked, never expecting that she had guessed wrong. She immediately changed her tune: "There was only one lamp lit at the time. I was afraid of your scheme—how could I possibly see clearly what was on the wall?" "In my memory, there was nothing on the wall!" Xiaoshu affirmed, "You are lying!" "Anyone who has ever set foot in my house knows this!" "There are quite a few household-born servants in the manor. The Princess Consort can simply ask anyone who has visited this servant's home!" At that moment, Fangse, the maidservant beside Consort Yun, stepped forward. "To report to the Princess Consort, this servant visited the side room of Xiaoshu's home as a child and vaguely remembers a red-tasseled spear and a tiger skin hanging on the wall." Fangse glanced at Sang Cao and said slowly, "That tiger skin was said to have been hunted by Xiaoshu's elder brother when he was ten years old. It was extremely lifelike and fierce—anyone who entered the room would be startled by it." "Not to mention at night—even in broad daylight, it would give one a fright." Xiaoshu followed up, "It was precisely because that tiger skin was so frightening that my parents felt it carried ominous energy, so they had my brother move to another room!" Then, several other household-born servants who were close to Xiaoshu came forward one after another to corroborate Fangse's words. The Princess Consort raised an eyebrow. "So saying, Sang Cao is lying?" Sang Cao knelt on the ground crying out for justice: "If this servant had never seen Xiaoshu, then where did the bracelet and silver come from?!" "It's not as if this servant could have conjured them out of thin air!" Xie Run's expression was perfectly composed, with not a trace of urgency. She only suddenly said, "I wonder if everyone still remembers the sachet stuffed with musk that was found in Concubine Li's possession?" "A perfectly good item was locked away in a sealed chest, and yet it was silently swapped out by someone." Xie Run's calm gaze turned toward Prince Jing, gentle yet composed. "The manor has such a formidable thief. Setting aside this concubine's mere bracelet, any item in my storehouse could silently disappear and just as silently appear in another person's hands." Concubine Han said in surprise, "Sister Xie's meaning is that your bracelet was stolen? But what if it wasn't?" "Yesterday Sister Xie lost a jade pendant and made such a fuss that the entire manor knew about it. The Prince even rushed over specially to comfort Sister. This sister was simply green with envy." Concubine Han deliberately revealed a look of envious admiration and said softly, "If the bracelet had been lost, even if Sister didn't make as much of a scene as yesterday, I'd think she would have at least mentioned it, wouldn't she?" "But this sister is dull-witted, and yet I never once heard Sister bring it up." The others remained silent. Either agreeing with Concubine Han's words, or waiting to watch the show unfold. Xie Run lowered her head and let out a soft laugh. "Prince, this concubine can prove that the bracelet was taken by someone, and can also find out who took it." Prince Jing remained in that same inscrutable expression, asking only in a flat tone, "How will you prove it?" Xie Run lifted her chin slightly. "Everyone should know that I have a divine physician sister, should they not?" Thanks to Xie Jiang's formidable skill, she had quickly made a great name for herself in the capital. Using her reputation now was quite effective at intimidating people. Xie Run took in everyone's expressions before speaking slowly, "Some days ago, she sent me a letter and also included some New Year's gifts, among which there was one item that was extremely special." As she said this, Xie Run kept her eyes fixed on the Princess Consort. All letters and gifts sent by Xie Jiang had to pass through the Princess Consort's hands. Whether something was there or not, the Princess Consort knew perfectly well. If the Princess Consort were to expose a flaw in her words, it would be difficult for her to continue. Seeing that the Princess Consort's expression remained calm, Xie Run continued, "This item is poisonous. Once a person comes into contact with it, it will silently seep into the skin, and after a year or so, the poison will reach the lungs and organs, and the person will die bleeding from all five orifices." As Xie Run said this, she could vaguely hear many people drawing in sharp breaths. "As it happens, after musk was placed in Concubine Li's chest, I had a layer of powder applied to the chest where I store my jewelry." "Now it will be easy to find out who touched this item." "All that's needed is to soak both hands in hot water mixed with a special powder. If one's hands turn black, that person is the one who stole the bracelet. If not, they are innocent." Xie Run slowly bowed to Prince Jing and removed a sachet from her waist. "The powder is right here. I ask the Prince to have everyone present tested one by one, and the culprit will soon be found." Prince Jing said coldly, "Bring hot water." The Princess Consort lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought. The expressions of everyone else present varied. Some were nervous, some were waiting to watch the show, and some were inwardly anxious while putting on a calm facade. Xie Run's gaze swept around the room, finally landing on Feihua, who stood behind Concubine Li. "Concubine Li, this maid behind you—she's not often seen?" Concubine Li was startled. She glanced at Feihua behind her before saying, "Feihua is a second-class maidservant given to this concubine by the Princess Consort. She's of a quiet and taciturn nature. Today Feixu was feeling unwell, so this concubine brought Feihua instead." Xie Run smiled and said, "I find her rather unfamiliar. Why don't we let her come up and try first?" Feihua, who had been keeping her head lowered the entire time, suddenly looked up. Her overly calm, pitch-black eyes fixed on Xie Run, sending a chill down everyone's spine. As soon as Prince Jing gave the order, six basins of hot water were quickly brought forward. Consort Yun glanced left and right. "I'll go first." Concubine Li and Concubine Wan followed suit. Only Concubine Han seemed to move with some difficulty, lagging behind at the rear. As the several women rose simultaneously, their figures crossing and robes rustling against one another, Concubine Han cast a long, steady gaze at the silent, taciturn Feihua. Before they could even reach the basins of hot water, Feihua raised her hand and knocked over the hot water in front of her. The old woman holding the basin suddenly let out a startled cry. A knife had appeared in Feihua's hand without anyone noticing, and without a word, she lunged at Xie Run. "Guards! An assassin!" Xie Run was caught completely off guard, but Xiaoshu, who stood before her, instinctively stepped forward to block: "Mistress, be careful!" Thud! The knife plunged into Xiaoshu's body, and Feihua was simultaneously sent flying by Jing Wu's strike. Her body crashed to the ground like a kite with its string cut. Jing Wu gave chase, using his long blade to knock aside Feihua's dagger, then twisted her arm behind her back to subdue her. Before anyone could react, Feihua ruthlessly threw herself onto Jing Wu's blade. Blood sprayed across the ground. And just like that, she was dead.