Chapter 286: Evidence
Next, she arranged everything for him in the Capital, waiting for his return.
Jiang Ruanxi thought of everything she would have to face in the future, and her face involuntarily became pale.
“Crown Princess, oh, no, Madam Wei, His Majesty summons you.”
Suddenly, Eunuch Li’s voice came from outside the door.
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned, then smiled and said, “Eunuch Li is here, have some tea.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and poured a cup of tea.
Eunuch Li stood three steps away from her, coldly refusing, “Madam Wei, come with this servant to the palace quickly. His Majesty is waiting for you.”
Seeing his expression, Jiang Ruanxi also knew that Emperor Qin summoning her was probably not for anything good.
Just moments ago, Wei Chang had been demoted to a commoner, and now she was summoned to the palace—what was it really for?
Jiang Ruanxi’s brows lightly furrowed faintly, but she quickly composed her expression and smiled at Eunuch Li, “Eunuch Li, may I change my clothes before going to the palace with you?”
Eunuch Li looked up and saw her dressed in plain clothing with all color drained from her face; such demeanor and appearance were unsuitable for entering the palace.
“I hope Madam Wei will be quick.”
This was considered agreement, so Jiang Ruanxi stood up and nodded, “Thank you, Eunuch Li.”
After entering the inner chamber, Jiang Ruanxi picked up a brush pen, her gaze becoming sharp.
“Quickly find Grand Tutor Ling and bring him back.”
This was what she left for Yushui.
She had a premonition that entering the palace would likely bring more ill than good; now, the only one in the Imperial Court who could speak for her was Ling Lin’s father.
But Grand Tutor Ling had already set off for the Southwest; she hoped he could make it back in time.
After all, now the Jiang Family and those princes definitely would not let her off.
After writing it, she placed it on the desk, casually took a set of clothing and changed into it, then quickly walked outside.
On the way to the palace, no matter how she probed Eunuch Li, he remained tight-lipped.
Jiang Ruanxi stopped asking.
Anyway, meet soldiers with generals and earth with water.
They soon arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
As soon as she entered, she could feel the atmosphere inside was extremely solemn.
Seeing her come in, their eyes all revealed scorn.
As if she had done something heinous.
Seeing Jiang Minghuai’s smug and provocative look toward her, Jiang Ruanxi understood it was probably related to Jiang Minghuai, and it seemed he had learned something.
Jiang Ruanxi pretended not to see, calmly stepped forward, knelt down, and paid respects to Emperor Qin, “This humble woman pays respects to His Majesty.”
Emperor Qin’s gaze was like a venomous snake, staring fixedly at her without speaking.
The others were all gloating.
The hall below was so quiet it was as if a single needle dropped could be heard.
After a long moment, Emperor Qin’s thunderous voice rang out, “Jiang Ruanxi, you have such great courage to actually impersonate Grand Tutor Ling’s daughter.”
So he had learned of her identity.
Thinking of Jiang Minghuai’s earlier look, it was Jiang Minghuai who had denounced her.
He had only just returned to the Capital—how did Jiang Minghuai know?
Could it be that Jiang Kui told him?
But Jiang Kui only suspected she was Jiang Ruanxi and had no evidence.
So, this was just suspicion.
But no matter what, she could not admit it now.
Because no matter how one put it, this was the crime of deceiving the emperor, and with Wei Chang now demoted to a commoner, she could temporarily stay in the Capital because of Grand Tutor Ling; for any of those reasons, she could not admit it.
Jiang Ruanxi composed her emotions, quickly raised her head, and said with a bewildered expression, “Your Majesty, this humble woman does not know what you mean. This humble woman was sent by her father to the countryside to recuperate five years ago, and has not been back in the Capital for long. I do not know who has taken a dislike to our Ling Family to treat our Ling Family this way.”
After speaking, her eyes instantly reddened.
Thinking of the incident five years ago, which was all because of the Empress, back then he had chosen to let the matter rest for the overall situation, and Grand Tutor Ling’s loyalty over these years, he had seen it all.
He had long known Jiang Ruanxi was not Grand Tutor Ling’s daughter, but he had not expected her to be the Jiang Family’s daughter.
And why the Jiang Family had suddenly abandoned their own biological daughter, Emperor Qin could not quite figure out.
He suddenly found it increasingly interesting.
He continued in a loud voice, “Your Ling Family deceived me, and now you think you are in the right?”
“Your Majesty, you have wronged this humble woman. The Ling Family has always been loyal to Your Majesty and has never deceived Your Majesty. This humble woman truly is Grand Tutor Ling’s daughter.”
Jiang Minghuai recalled what Jiang Kui had told him: the current Jiang Ruanxi was no longer the woman who meekly endured everything before; she had become increasingly cunning.
Originally he thought Jiang Kui was overthinking it, but now it seemed Jiang Kui was more right.
If it were the old Jiang Ruanxi, she would have been trembling in fear long ago, not so composed like this.
Fearing she might deceive Emperor Qin’s pig brain with a few words, Jiang Minghuai gave an eye signal to Li Chaoyang nearby.
Receiving the signal, Li Chaoyang immediately stepped forward and said loudly, “Your Majesty, Jiang Ruanxi’s behavior is deceiving the emperor. Unexpectedly, she still shows no remorse even now. Please heavily punish her, Your Majesty, to convince the millions of common people throughout the world.”
Emperor Qin had always been displeased with Li Chaoyang for forcing him to depose Wei Chang; the scales in his heart immediately tipped toward Jiang Ruanxi.
“Censor Li, as a censor you should know that speaking requires evidence. Do you have evidence?”
Emperor Qin’s words stunned Li Chaoyang for a moment.
He had thought Emperor Qin now hated everyone related to Wei Chang, and with Emperor Qin’s pig brain, he would not think so much, but unexpectedly he was asked for evidence.
But he quickly reacted and said resolutely, “Your Majesty, of course this minister has evidence.”
After speaking, his gaze turned to Jiang Minghuai on the side, “General Jiang, Jiang Ruanxi is your daughter. Please look—does the woman before you look exactly like your daughter?”
Jiang Minghuai turned around, his eyes like a sharp sword staring at Jiang Ruanxi.
Jiang Ruanxi’s heart was extremely tense, her hands at her sides clenched tightly.
Actually, although Jiang Minghuai had left the Capital for many years, in her previous life she had unintentionally heard Jiang Xuerou say that Jiang Minghuai would secretly return to the Capital three or four times a year, but she had never seen him.
As for whether Jiang Minghuai had watched her from the shadows, she did not know.
She had actually never met this so-called father, because after the Jiang Family brought her back, Jiang Minghuai was at the border.
Taking a deep breath, she raised her head and met his gaze.
His angular, cold and hard face showed no trace of tenderness in the look directed at her.
Like a venomous snake eyeing her covetously, ready to bite her to death if she was not careful.
After a long moment, Jiang Minghuai shifted his gaze away, “Your Majesty, this minister has guarded the border for Qin Kingdom for many years and is not familiar with my little daughter, so this minister does not know if she is my little daughter.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s highly strung heart dropped a little.
“Since General Jiang does not know, then find someone familiar with General Jiang’s daughter to come. If Madam Wei is not General Jiang’s daughter, this will clear Madam Wei’s purity and General Jiang’s daughter’s purity, and also give justice to General Jiang’s daughter.”
