The courtyard fell into silence.
Chu Ruoyan's heart steadied; Yun Lang had made his move.
Prince Yu was the first to jump out. "What are you saying?"
Princess Roumin also bit her lip. "Is it true?"
Clearly, she had already directed all the evidence towards Chu Ruoyan.
How could anything have gone wrong?
Shi Hong said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Princess, this matter is absolutely true. Just one hour ago, the culprit turned himself in. It was Zhang Ji, a disciple of Xue Gui. His elder brother committed the crime, claiming he set the fire to wipe out the family to avenge his brother!"
"What?!"
The whole assembly erupted in an uproar. Xue Baiqing's slender frame trembled, followed by a long sigh of relief.
Thank goodness... thank goodness it wasn't her...
Prince Yu's temple twitched violently. "But why did the Xue boy accuse her then? Could there be some mistake?"
"Your Highness! That Zhang Ji's brother has already confessed. It was him diverting the blame, trying to frame the County Lady of Changle to escape punishment!"
"Nonsense! If he wanted to escape blame then, why would he jump out and confess now? Isn't that contradictory?" Prince Yu's usually dull mind happened to work well for once.
Shi Hong replied, "This official asked him the same. He said the Zhang family was previously ruined by Xue Gui, leaving him as the sole survivor. After taking revenge, he felt life held no more meaning, hence he came to confess... Furthermore, according to him, he also mentioned the Cao family at the time, though it's unclear why Young Master Xue didn't speak of it..."
All eyes turned to Xue Baiqing.
The young man clenched his lips tightly, finally nodding after a long pause. "Yes... I... I also heard them mention mother... but I didn't think mother would do such a thing..."
He had once been adopted by Chu Jing. Although the formal ceremony was disrupted, Chu Jing had still acknowledged him.
Therefore, when the other party falsely accused Chu Jing and the Cao family, he deliberately omitted that part.
But this way, the testimonies of Xue Baiqing and Zhang Ji's elder brother aligned perfectly.
Prince Yu was both furious and regretful; he should never have gotten involved in this mess!
Dou Sicheng and the others were also deeply embarrassed. Fortunately, the Emperor had been foresighted, not allowing them to disrespect the County Lady, otherwise they would have truly faced the consequences of her earlier warning about how it's easier to invite trouble than to send it away!
"County Lady of Changle, today's matter was our grave impropriety. We hope Your Ladyship, in your great magnanimity, will not hold it against us."
The shrewd Dou Sicheng hurriedly apologized. Shi Hong also spoke up for his superior: "County Lady, Lord Dou was also acting on orders. However, yesterday, when this official reported the matter of the Duke of Chu's mansion being falsely accused to him, it was he who granted permission for this official to continue the investigation, leading to the discovery of the true culprit. Therefore, we beg Your Ladyship's understanding."
Chu Ruoyan said indifferently, "This County Lady understands Lord Dou's difficulties. But should my people not be released now?"
They were jolted awake, remembering they still held Nanny Zhou. "Release, release! Your Highness—"
Dou Sicheng immediately reminded Prince Yu, who waved his hand with a cold face.
The officers brought the person before Chu Ruoyan, but she raised an eyebrow. "Whoever arrested her must be the one to return her."
A deathly silence fell for a moment.
Prince Yu flew into a rage. "You want this prince to personally return a servant?!"
"If Your Highness does not return her, this County Lady can go to the Prince Yu's mansion to fetch her tomorrow. However, today's events of forcibly breaking into a residence, slandering a County Lady, and using someone as a scapegoat might not be so easy to cover up then."
"You!!"
Prince Yu was so angry he felt his lungs might burst. After Dou Sicheng whispered persuasions for a long time, he finally heard the prince say stiffly, "Today, this prince was at fault. Let's go back!"
These few short words seemed like a profound humiliation. Nanny Zhou curtsied, turning back to see her mistress, her eyes welling up.
Where in the world was there such a good master, who would seek justice for mere servants like them!
Prince Yu left in a huff, angrily flicking his sleeve. Dou Sicheng, Shi Hong, and the others hastily took their leave.
Xue Baiqing said shamefully, "County Lady, I'm sorry..."
"I don't blame you. To have your eyes blinded by someone's scheme and still not betray your aunt shows you have a conscience." Chu Ruoyan patted his shoulder and had Yulu take him down to rest.
Turning around, her gaze towards Roumin was as cold as ice. "Princess Roumin, now, shouldn't we settle our accounts?"
Roumin, still somewhat distraught, snapped to attention upon hearing this. "What is the County Lady saying? Roumin doesn't understand..."
"Don't understand? Then let this County Lady speak more plainly. Princess Roumin, the one who should be bowing in confession today was originally you."
The sharp words pierced her painfully.
Princess Roumin's chest heaved violently twice. "The County Lady must not speak nonsense. Roumin doesn't comprehend..."
"Still pretending? Princess, you are intelligent. You should understand who found this so-called elder brother of Zhang Ji to take the blame, don't you?"
Princess Roumin's face instantly paled, unable to maintain her previous composure any longer. "Yun Lang... You actually sought out Yun Lang? And he actually agreed to help you?!"
She had executed this plan flawlessly; in theory, there should have been no chance for a reversal.
Unless it was Yun Lang. Only he had the capability to fabricate a person who never existed and shoulder all the blame without revealing the slightest flaw.
But why?!
Why would he betray her?!
"It was you... it was you, wasn't it?" That mask of false benevolence was torn off, the young girl's eyes turning venomously fierce. "What method did you use to make him betray me? Gold and jewels? Or did you sleep with him?"
As these words fell, a figure outside the courtyard wall shuddered violently.
Slap!
Chu Ruoyan backhanded her across the face.
Huarui and Piaoxu rushed to protect their mistress, but a black shadow flashed, and Shadow blocked them with his sword.
"Don't think I'm as despicable as you!"
Chu Ruoyan said coldly, "You followed the Noble Consort Dowager to Mount Wutai to study Buddhist teachings since childhood, yet learned not a shred of her compassion! What grudge did you hold against my aunt, to incite the Xue family to harm her? And what grudge did you hold against the Xue family, to use the Bai Xiao Pavilion to wipe them out? Princess Roumin, your hands are stained with blood. Don't you have nightmares when you sleep at night?"
Princess Roumin let out a cry and stumbled backward, tripping over a stone, only to fall into a familiar embrace.
"Careful!"
The voice, mellow as fine wine, held concern. But she pushed him away violently, crying out mournfully, "Second Brother, even if you cut me to pieces, I never imagined it would be you who betrayed me... Don't you know she is our formidable enemy? Don't you know that missing this opportunity, we can never again bring her to her death!"
Yun Lang's heart ached seeing her obsession turned demonic. "Roumin, I've long told you, what you desire will not come to pass..."
"Why not? Once she dies, Yan Zheng will surely go mad, and the Duke of Chu will also lose heart in court affairs. That would be the perfect time for us to rise in the chaos!" Roumin cried hoarsely. Yun Lang closed his eyes. "Even without Yan Zheng and Chu Huaishan, there are still Cao Yang and Prince Qin. The Xia Dynasty is far from what it was in the past. Why must you stake everything for a vague and distant family name?"
"What's vague and distant about it? We bear the name Yun! Those things rightfully belong to us!" Roumin's eyes turned fierce, and she suddenly looked up. "I won't argue that with you. I only ask you, in your heart, who is more important, her or me?"
Yun Lang answered without hesitation. "My little sister is the most important."
"Good, then kill her! Kill her and I'll believe you!"
Yun Lang remained motionless. As if she had long anticipated this, Roumin suddenly pulled the hairpin from her head.
"What are you doing?" Yun Lang's face changed color, but he saw her pressing the blade against her own neck as she said coldly, "Now that she knows our true identities, she must die. Second Brother, I'm giving you two choices: either she dies, or I die. You decide!"
