Chapter 224: I Act Righteously And Sit Uprightly, Why Should I Fear?
“What’s the rush?” Jiang Ruanxi caught sight of the figure darting at the Eastern Palace entrance and couldn’t help but curl her lips. “Even if First Madam Lin says this jade pendant isn’t yours, that’s just First Madam Lin’s one-sided statement.”
“You and First Madam Lin were originally sister-in-law and sister-in-law. Who knows if First Madam Lin would show favoritism and deliberately say it’s not yours?”
“You… you… you’re talking nonsense.” Lin Tingting grew anxious. “No matter what, my sister-in-law is from the He family. How could she do something like deceiving His Majesty? Crown Princess, the facts are right before your eyes. I advise you not to struggle anymore. If you want to quibble and stall for time here, that’s wishful thinking. If there really is something between you and Sir Qi, you’d better confess early. The Empress has said she won’t hold it against you for the Crown Prince’s sake.”
His Majesty also frowned slightly. “Crown Princess, what exactly is going on here? Is what First Madam Lin said true?”
Everyone could see that Emperor Qin was extremely angry at this moment.
Ready to erupt at any moment.
Even Marquis Yongning felt a bit uneasy at this point.
“Your Majesty, what First Madam Lin said is naturally false,” Jiang Ruanxi said affirmatively.
Seeing her still so stubborn, Lin Tingting said angrily, “Since the Crown Princess still won’t admit it even now and insists that this jade pendant is mine, why doesn’t the Crown Princess produce evidence to prove that this jade pendant is mine?”
“I will naturally prove it.”
“Is the so-called proof from the Crown Princess just making things up here?” Lin Tingting mocked. “Or is the Crown Princess deliberately stalling for time and toying with everyone?”
She was very skilled at inciting others’ anger.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qin was indeed very angry. “Crown Princess, what exactly is going on? If you can’t give a reasonable explanation again, I will punish you the same as Qi Wu.”
Lin Tingting curled her lips, and the Empress’s eyes flickered slightly.
Before Jiang Ruanxi could speak, the chief eunuch who always followed Emperor Qin came to relay a message. “Your Majesty, Madam of Zhenguo Marquis requests an audience.”
Emperor Qin’s brows furrowed tightly, somewhat displeased at the interruption.
Jiang Ruanxi said, “Your Majesty, Madam of Zhenguo Marquis is here. I, your daughter-in-law, can prove that what First Madam Lin and the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis said are all lies.” Lin Tingting and He Sheng exchanged a glance, both seeing tension in each other’s eyes, especially Lin Tingting, whose hand at her side involuntarily clenched tighter.
Because her second sister had always looked at her unfavorably, and she appeared precisely at this moment, she must have been called by Jiang Ruanxi.
She stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the evidence in this matter is conclusive. Please do not listen to slander and grant this subject wife justice.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s lips curled in mockery. “What’s this, Heir Apparent’s Wife? Are you afraid now?”
“What a joke. I act upright and sit straight. Why should I be afraid?”
To prove she had no guilty conscience, Lin Tingting raised her neck, putting on an arrogant demeanor.
“Since you’re not afraid, why the rush? Just wait for Madam of Zhenguo Marquis to arrive. She is your sister and should recognize this jade pendant. If she says then that the jade pendant isn’t yours, won’t that clear your purity, Heir Apparent’s Wife?”
“Why go to such lengths?”
“Summon Madam of Zhenguo Marquis to speak.”
Before Lin Tingting could speak, Emperor Qin directly interrupted her.
“Announce Madam of Dingbei Marquis Manor to have an audience with His Majesty.”
As the eunuch’s voice rang out, Jiang Ruanxi and Lin Tingting exchanged a glance. Seeing the provocation and smugness in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes, Lin Tingting ground her teeth in anger.
Soon, Lin Qingxu arrived. She curtsied neither humbly nor arrogantly. “This subject wife pays respects to Your Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Princess.”
Emperor Qin nodded. “Madam of Zhenguo Marquis, no need for formalities.”
Lin Qingxu raised her head, and upon seeing Jiang Ruanxi’s face, she was stunned for a few seconds.
But having seen all sorts of things, she quickly composed her emotions.
The Empress pointed at the jade pendant and said indifferently, “Madam of Zhenguo Marquis, do you recognize this jade pendant?”
Lin Qingxu picked it up and examined it from all sides.
Lin Tingting knew Lin Qingxu’s personality and feared she might say something unfavorable, so she subtly reminded her before she could speak.
“Sister, take a look at this jade pendant. Though it looks like mine, it’s clearly not. Yet Sir Qi insists it’s mine. Even sister-in-law said this jade pendant isn’t mine. The Crown Princess insists on having you confirm it again. I say it’s unnecessary. Don’t you think so?”
Lin Tingting spoke at length, hinting very obviously in her words.
Even if Lin Qingxu didn’t understand what had happened, from her few words, she knew what she wanted her to say.
Glancing at the tense Lin Tingting, then at Qi Wu slumped on the ground, she seemed to understand something.
Jiang Ruanxi stepped forward with a smile. “Madam of Zhenguo Marquis, you must think clearly. With His Majesty and the Empress here now, if you don’t tell the truth, it’s the crime of deceiving the emperor. Do you know the consequences?”
These words struck Lin Qingxu’s heart like a muffled thunderclap.
Lin Tingting looked at Jiang Ruanxi discontentedly. “Crown Princess, I didn’t expect you to resort to any means, even threatening my sister to give false testimony for you, just to achieve your objective.”
“Heir Apparent’s Wife, you’re making it too serious. I’m just stating the facts to inform Madam of Zhenguo Marquis. Surely you don’t intend to lie here.” Jiang Ruanxi said indifferently.
Lin Tingting’s face flushed alternately pale and green from the retort.
She wasn’t a fool. How could she say deceptive words to His Majesty at a time like this?
“I just hope sister won’t listen to others and will tell His Majesty the truth directly.” Despite saying this, Lin Tingting’s gaze still lingered on Lin Qingxu, pleading with her to speak carefully.
Unfortunately, Lin Qingxu never looked at her from start to finish, nor gave her any response.
“Madam of Zhenguo Marquis, have you looked carefully? Is this jade pendant the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Yongning Marquis Manor’s or not?”
Knowing the matter was of great importance, Lin Qingxu didn’t dare be careless. She felt it repeatedly in her hand and even examined it closely again.
During this process, Lin Tingting’s heart felt like it was in her throat.
Soon, she set down the jade pendant and knelt before Emperor Qin. “In response to Your Majesty, this jade pendant is indeed from our Lin Family, and it belongs to my Third Sister.”
As her words fell, Lin Tingting’s body swayed involuntarily.
The Empress watched coldly, inwardly cursing her a waste.
Lin Tingting’s voice trembled as she questioned, “Third Sister, we are sisters with no grudge. Why do you spout nonsense to harm me?”
“Heir Apparent’s Wife, mind your words!” Jiang Ruanxi kindly reminded. “Before His Majesty, Madam of Zhenguo Marquis couldn’t possibly lie.”
Sun Tina’s face showed surprise, while the Yongning Marquis Manor’s face showed disappointment and shame.
