Chapter 28: Counterattack
Xue Sui found it amusing that they were clearly in the wrong but still put on such a show of authority.
“Father had better have a compelling reason to barge in, otherwise, late at night, it might affect your daughter’s reputation.”
Xue Qingzhi felt his heart tighten with each of her questions, his cheeks burning as if on fire.
“Did you go to Vermilion Bird Street tonight? Did you go to Qiong Tower?”
Xue Sui smiled, “Daughter went to Shou An Courtyard to see Grandmother and Third Uncle. I haven’t left my room since returning. Vermilion Bird Street, Qiong Tower? What places are those?”
Xue Qingzhi stared intently at her calm face.
Having led troops in his younger years, he had cultivated a pair of sharp eyes.
It was difficult for a teenage girl to lie with composure under his gaze, without showing a hint of panic.
“Someone saw you, following Third Uncle to Qiong Tower at night?”
Xue Sui said, “Who is slandering me? Father should punish them severely.”
Fu Shi sneered, “Master, I think she won’t shed tears until she sees the coffin.”
Xue Qingzhi, with a somber face, clapped his hands.
The servant then squeezed through from behind the crowd, bowing slightly, not daring to look at Xue Sui.
“Yes, yes, I personally saw Sixth Miss go to Qiong Tower. She must be the one who killed Third Master…”
Xue Sui let out a low scoff, “So it was you. Unable to steal, you framed me instead. Xiao Zhao, you tell them.”
Xiao Zhao stepped forward in response, staring at the servant.
It was worth her young lady losing sleep over, replaying scenarios, and writing so much; these scoundrels indeed fell right into the trap.
“First Master, this scoundrel was assigned by First Madam to do odd jobs in Li Xiang Courtyard. He’s always been lazy and bullied the servants. When someone was unhappy, he’d claim to be First Madam’s confidant and threaten them with dire consequences. Yesterday, he was bold enough to sneak into the inner room and steal Sixth Miss’s golden hairpin, a gift from Old Madam. Sixth Miss was kind and let him go, but this wretch actually harbored resentment…”
The servant’s face changed drastically, and he fell to his knees with a thud.
“I didn’t. I didn’t steal. First Master, please judge fairly. First Madam… you, you speak for me.”
Fu Shi’s eyes flickered, her expression indifferent, “Sixth Miss claims she hasn’t left this courtyard since returning from Shou An Courtyard. Is there a witness?”
Xue Sui: “Everyone in Li Xiang Courtyard can testify for me. And Aunt Jinshu…”
Everyone then saw Jinshu emerging from the room.
Xue Sui said calmly, “Since I returned to the mansion, Grandmother has shown me much care. As spring is approaching, I wanted to make a set of clothes for Grandmother. Not knowing her measurements or preferred patterns, I invited Aunt Jinshu over. We spent the entire night in the room tailoring clothes and making shoes, completely unaware of the incident in the mansion…”
Initially, First Madam had assigned the most remote Li Xiang Courtyard to Xue Sui to be harsh and humiliate her.
An incident occurred at night, and no one came to inform them. It was natural for them to be in the room, completely unaware.
Aunt Jinshu, upon hearing of Third Master Xue’s accident and Old Ancestor’s fainting, burst into tears.
“Heaven forbid, this servant is deserving of death. When I came to Li Xiang Courtyard, I spoke with Old Madam. She heard Sixth Miss was making clothes for her and was quite happy. How could this happen, how could such a mishap occur in just a few short hours…”
Xue Qingzhi could disbelieve the people of Li Xiang Courtyard. But Jinshu was a person close to Old Madam, having served in Shou An Courtyard for seven or eight years. She wouldn’t lie for Xue Liu. Old Madam was also involved; Old Madam couldn’t possibly lie.
Xue Qingzhi glared fiercely at Fu Shi, pointing at the servant:
“Guards, drag this slave who framed his master and spoke nonsense away. Give him twenty heavy planks and sell him off!”
The servant turned ashen with fear and immediately wailed.
“I didn’t steal Sixth Miss’s bracelet, I didn’t talk nonsense. I really saw it… First Madam, First Madam, save me, First Madam, save me, save me…”
Fu Shi had not expected things to escalate to this point and turned her head away, unable to watch any longer.
“First Madam, you told me to monitor Sixth Miss and report everything to you. You can’t abandon me! I didn’t steal the hairpin…”
The servant’s cries were deafening in the dark night.
Xue Qingzhi frowned, “Since it has come to this, let’s rest early.”
With that, he put his hands behind his back and prepared to leave with his retinue.
Xue Sui let out a cold laugh, “Father! Is that all there is to it after ruining my reputation?”
Xue Qingzhi, already feeling stifled, looked back at her, his anger intensifying, “What do you want? Do you expect your own father to kneel and beg for your forgiveness?”
Xue Sui bowed slightly, “Daughter would not dare.”
She slowly turned her gaze to Fu Shi, “Why did First Madam send someone to monitor me and slander me? What are you trying to cover up? Regarding Third Uncle’s death, who was truly responsible? Daughter would also like to ask First Madam!”
She would not back down.
This gave Xue Qingzhi a severe headache.
He asked Fu Shi, “What do you say?”
Fu Shi looked at his indifferent expression, her eyes reddening, “Master, we are one in marriage. You refuse to believe me? I have been married into the Xue family for so many years. How I treated my second and third brothers is known to everyone in the mansion. How could I harbor such malicious intentions?”
Xue Qingzhi snorted coldly, “Whether I believe you or not is not important right now. What’s important is whether Lord Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture and Prince Duan can believe you. Your coin purse was found on the perpetrator, after all.”
He added, “Furthermore, if this case is tried together with the case involving Grand Tutor You’s family, things will become troublesome. Old Duke You is already searching the entire Jingzhao Prefecture for his third son’s body. If he learns of this, won’t he come knocking on our door?”
In Shangjing, the You family was notoriously difficult to deal with.
Old Duke You was also the esteemed teacher of the current Emperor Chongzhao.
Even if he complained to the Emperor, the Emperor would be helpless against him.
“If this blame falls on the Xue family, and we cannot find the real killer, the You family might seize the opportunity to cause trouble…”
Fu Shi’s expression shifted repeatedly, her hand clutching the handkerchief stiffening. If looks could kill, Xue Yueying would have been riddled with holes by now.
Seeing this, Xue Yueying lowered her eyes and walked over, saying softly, “Father, if it’s absolutely necessary, I will take the blame for Mother…”
Fu Shi’s mouth twisted in anger upon hearing this, “What crime have I committed that requires you to take the blame?”
Xue Yueying’s face flushed, and she said cautiously, “Daughter means, if Jingzhao Prefecture insists on imprisoning someone, I am willing to suffer this hardship in Mother’s stead…”
Xue Qingzhi glanced at her, “Your filial piety is commendable. But you cannot help with this matter.”
Xue Yueying covered her face with her handkerchief, her eyes glistening with tears, “But with so many things happening in the mansion, though I am incapable, I still wish to share my parents’ worries.”
Xue Qingzhi waved his hand, “Go back and rest early.”
Xue Yueying curtsied, “Thank you, Father.”
Fu Shi looked at Fourth Miss Xue’s behavior, her heart filled with frost.
Fourth Miss Xue bore a striking resemblance to her deceased mother, which was also why she was favored by Xue Qingzhi among so many daughters.
Even her name, compared to her eldest sister’s, was no less impressive.
One was “Yuechen,” the other “Yueying.” In those years, the Master’s favoritism was all directed towards these two sisters, evident even in their names.
He even insisted on explaining that Yuechen meant “chen” from “chen yu luo yan” (a phrase meaning captivating beauty), which almost drove her mad.
If that woman hadn’t passed away long ago, the Xue Mansion might not have had these years of peace.
Fu Shi thought of Xue Yueying’s deceased mother and, craning her neck, sneered in retort.
“If I didn’t do it, then I didn’t do it. Even if it’s brought before the Taiji Hall, I dare to swear to His Majesty…”
“What use is swearing to heaven? Eldest Sister-in-law, can your oath bring my husband back to life?” Qian Shi stepped over the threshold, her swollen eyes filled with hatred.
Her head was wrapped in a five-finger-wide white gauze. Supported by a maid, she swayed precariously and knelt before Xue Qingzhi in public.
“Please, Eldest Uncle, seek justice for my Xiu Lang. The child is still young. With Xiu Lang gone, how will we, a widowed mother and child, survive…”
As she cried, others began to shed tears.
Only then did Xue Sui step forward to offer Qian Shi a clean handkerchief.
“Third Aunt, please accept my condolences. Father, as the Minister of Justice, is in charge of the empire’s penal laws and is known for his fairness. With Prince Duan presiding over Jingzhao now, justice will surely be served for Third Uncle.”
This statement put Xue Qingzhi on the spot.
In fact, no matter how much he disliked Fu Shi, there was one thing Fu Shi was right about – they were one in marriage.
He could not possibly drag his wife to Jingzhao Prefecture for legal proceedings.
Fu Shi’s dignity was the Xue family’s dignity, and it was also his dignity as the Minister of Justice. He could not afford to lose this face, nor could the Xue family.
Xue Qingzhi looked at the somber atmosphere in the room and sighed, not taking Xue Sui’s subtly sarcastic words, “You all stay here and take good care of Old Madam. I will handle the matters at Jingzhao Prefecture.”
He then put his hands behind his back and comforted Qian Shi, “Third Brother’s case will be thoroughly investigated. Sister-in-law, please accept my condolences. With Third Brother gone, the Xue family will protect you and your child.”
Upon hearing this, Qian Shi burst into tears again.
Tenth Young Lady Xue Yuezhen held her mother, dragging a young brother, Xue Yi. The three of them embraced, a scene of utter desolation.
Xue Qingzhi’s eyes ached at the sight and he ordered Qian Shi and the two children to be escorted back to the West Courtyard.
“Everyone disperse.”
Xue Qingzhi went to Shou An Courtyard to see his still-weeping elderly mother, comforted her, and served her some food before leaving. He then ordered a horse to be prepared, intending to go to Jingzhao Prefecture late at night to make some arrangements.
Regardless, the matter of the coin purse had to be suppressed first.
He walked quickly, and just as he passed the covered walkway, he saw Xue Sui.
In the night breeze, his daughter, with whom he had never been close, stood quietly on the pavilion bridge, wearing a moon-white cloak.
See you tomorrow, sisters, please interact with the story a lot. It’s the new book period, and I need everyone’s love in all aspects~~ Mwah!
