"Does the Princess like drinking water?"
Sharp nails pierced into her skin, a fine, dense pain spreading outward. Wen Jiao's heart burned inch by inch, giving rise to a fierce, bone-deep hatred.
In this world, there were too many noble figures like the Grand Princess and Princess Yongjia, making people like her as cheap as ants and weeds.
Princess Yongjia took an exquisite dagger from her maidservant's hands, her voice contemptuous and venomous: "How about I peel the skin off your face?"
Wen Jiao dared not move, her voice trembling slightly: "The Princess inflicts torture on me without cause—are you not afraid of being impeached by the Censorate or questioned by the Court of the Imperial Clan?"
"What are you, anyway? Let alone peeling off your face, even if I killed you, no one would care." The sharp blade was already pressed against Wen Jiao's cheek.
Princess Yongjia was of imperial blood, born to privilege. She dared to abuse Wen Jiao at will because she knew no one would oppose Prince Ning for Wen Jiao's sake—even Wen Jiao herself would not dare to resist.
But Wen Jiao was determined to resist. She was determined to drag these nobles down to death with her.
But…
If she died, she could not clear her name, could not take revenge.
Then so be it—no clearing her name! No revenge!
Death would be clean and simple!
Just as the dagger was about to pierce her flesh, Wen Jiao suddenly asked:
"Does the Princess know how to swim?"
Princess Yongjia did not hear clearly.
"Then does the Princess like drinking water?"
This time Princess Yongjia heard it clearly. She was about to speak when, in the next moment, Wen Jiao grabbed her sash and fell backward, both of them plunging into the lake together.
Though it was late spring, the lake water was bitingly cold. Wen Jiao knew how to swim—she only gripped Princess Yongjia's neck with all her might, forcing her head down into the water.
The calm surface of the lake erupted in splashes. Princess Yongjia screamed shrilly, experiencing fear for the first time in her life. The lake water was murky—she usually found it filthy and never touched it—but now she swallowed mouthful after mouthful, even her nasal passages flooding with foul water.
Pain! Suffocation! Terror!
The maidservants in the pavilion finally reacted—some cried for help, some extended bamboo poles—but Wen Jiao would not allow Princess Yongjia to be rescued. She dragged the princess toward the center of the lake, pressing her head down relentlessly.
The onlookers saw water splashing wildly in the middle of the lake and assumed the two were merely struggling and flailing, unaware of what Wen Jiao was actually doing.
Someone came running along the lakeshore, and Wen Jiao released her grip on Princess Yongjia.
On the verge of death, Princess Yongjia had long lost all reason. She clawed frantically at anything she could reach, desperate only to keep from sinking!
Wen Jiao's head was shoved underwater. She struggled and shouted: "Princess, spare me! Help! Don't kill me!"
Several serving women, terrified by the scene in the lake, jumped in with splashes and swam quickly toward the two, pulling them apart. Wen Jiao let the serving women drag her toward the shore. Once on land, she was immediately wrapped tightly in thick quilts.
Princess Yongjia's rescue was not so smooth. Whoever came near, she clung to with desperate strength. Two or three serving women, afraid of being dragged under by her, dared not approach. Only when she finally exhausted herself was she hauled ashore.
Everyone from the front courtyard had rushed over, Madam Wu among them. Seeing Wen Jiao in such a wretched state, she hurried forward to embrace her, asking urgently: "How did you fall into the lake, of all things?"
Wen Jiao looked timidly toward Princess Yongjia, her whole body trembling as if in fear: "Aunt, please… don't ask. It was my own carelessness—I fell into the water."
The pavilion at the center of the lake had railings; even trying to fall in would not be easy. Seeing the handprint on her face and the nail marks, everyone present already had their own conclusions.
Madam Wu, seeing Wen Jiao in such a pitiful state, burned with anger. Though she wished to seek justice for her, she was still somewhat wary of Prince Ning's household. Fearing that Wen Jiao might catch a chill, she had Song Xiangyu support Wen Jiao, then bowed to Minister Yang's wife, Madam Liu, and said, "Given what has happened, I fear Jiao Jiao may take ill from the cold. I will take her back to the manor first. Madam, you should also hurry and return Princess Yongjia to Prince Ning's residence."
Madam Liu nodded and hastily instructed the servants to prepare the carriage. As Madam Wu and the others were about to leave, a stern male voice rang out from afar:
"To conspire against the reigning princess is a capital crime. Let me see who dares to leave today!"
Wen Jiao followed the sound and saw a middle-aged man in a crimson python robe striding toward them. His eyes were filled with murderous intent, his entire bearing radiating menace, pressing down on the crowd until breathing became difficult. When he drew near, everyone prostrated themselves on the ground:
"We pay our respects to Prince Ning!"
Prince Ning swept his gaze over the crowd like a hawk and wolf—no one dared meet his eyes. Wen Jiao lowered her head as well.
"Tell your father what happened just now," Prince Ning said as he helped the disheveled Yongjia to her feet. But Yongjia, still shaken, could not utter a single coherent sentence—yet her trembling hand pointed directly at Wen Jiao.
As the crowd held its breath, a pair of dark black boots embroidered with golden cloud patterns stopped before Wen Jiao. Prince Ning's voice was icy: "Was it you who harmed Yongjia?"
It felt as though a mountain pressed down on her shoulders. For the first time, Wen Jiao could not lift her head. Her throat tightened as she forced herself to say, "In reply to Your Highness, this common woman did not harm Princess Yongjia…"
"Clang!" The sword was drawn from its sheath, its cold blade already pressed against Wen Jiao's neck.
Prince Ning's status was exalted and his temperament overbearing—no one dared speak a single word of justice for Wen Jiao.
But Madam Wu could not watch Wen Jiao die unjustly. Gritting her teeth, she straightened her back and said, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Today the two of them falling into the water was an accident—how can there be talk of conspiracy? I beg Your Highness to investigate carefully and not wrong an innocent person."
"Yongjia pointed her finger at her personally—how can that be wronging her?" Prince Ning sneered, waving his hand. "Take her back to the residence for interrogation under torture!"
The guards immediately stepped forward to seize her. Wen Jiao struggled and shouted, "It wasn't me who harmed Princess Yongjia! It was Princess Yongjia who pushed me into the water!"
Many had witnessed today's events, and even Prince Ning, with his exalted status, could not silence so many mouths.
Wen Jiao only hoped that Prince Ning would exercise restraint for fear of repercussions—but instead, she only provoked his fury!
"Guards! Drag her out and beat her to death!"
The guards had already seized Wen Jiao by the shoulders and were about to drag her away when a clear voice rang out:
"Hold on!"
Wen Jiao looked up and saw Song Langyu striding forward quickly, leading Minister of Justice Sun Chengyuan, Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review Meng Xu, and others.
Song Langyu bowed to Prince Ning, then looked at Wen Jiao's disheveled state and asked with neither humility nor arrogance: "May I ask how my cousin has offended Your Highness?"
Prince Ning said darkly, "This woman has audacity beyond measure—she dared to conspire against Yongjia. Her crime warrants death."
Before Song Langyu could inquire further, Wen Jiao had already begun to sob: "I didn't—I would never dare harm Princess Yongjia. She suddenly pushed me into the water, and in my panic and fear, I grabbed hold of the princess and pulled her into the lake with me."
The clear handprint on her face, her disheveled hair, and her bedraggled appearance made her words all the more credible.
Prince Ning flicked his sleeve and roared, "Nonsense! Why would Yongjia push you for no reason? Clearly you are spouting wild accusations to escape punishment! Guards! Slap her mouth!"
Song Langyu stepped in front of Wen Jiao first, clasping his hands in a formal bow with a respectful demeanor, yet refusing to yield an inch.
"The matter has not yet been investigated. I beg Your Highness to allow this official to ask a few questions."
Prince Ning naturally refused, but when Sun Chengyuan, Meng Xu, and others also stepped forward to plead on her behalf, he had no choice but to allow Song Langyu to question her again. His hawk-like eyes fixed darkly on Wen Jiao, the warning unmistakable.
Song Langyu crouched down, his gaze gentle and soothing.
His voice was soft as well: "Why did Princess Yongjia push you into the water?"
By now, Yongjia had recovered some of her strength. Hearing Song Langyu's question, rage surged through her, and she struggled to rise and lunge at Wen Jiao. Song Langyu extended an arm to shield Wen Jiao, while the maidservants held Yongjia back, preventing the scene from turning too ugly.
Wen Jiao cowered as she looked at Yongjia, her hand covering the red mark on her cheek, and said in a pitiful voice: "It was my ignorance that offended the Princess, so she punished me."
She had a face that seemed utterly harmless, and now, drenched through and utterly pitiable, anyone would believe whatever she said.
Song Langyu pressed further: "What did you do to offend the Princess?"
Wen Jiao covered her face with both hands and burst into sobs, her voice choked and muffled: "Cousin, please don't ask. I… I can't say!"
Seeing that there were too many prying eyes around, Song Langyu suggested they move to the warm pavilion. Thus, aside from the few people involved, everyone else returned to the main hall.
Inside the warm pavilion.
Princess Yongjia, having changed into fresh clothes, sat at Prince Ning's left hand. Her expression had regained its composure, but her teeth were clenched as she glared at the kneeling Wen Jiao, wishing she could flay her alive.
Wen Jiao wore a dark cloak draped over her shoulders, water dripping from her clothes and pooling into a puddle before her.
Meng Xu, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, spoke up: "There are no outsiders here now. Please, Miss Wen, speak frankly."
Wen Jiao appeared listless, her head hanging low as she murmured: "Just now… the Princess's maidservant came to find me and brought me to the pavilion at the center of the lake. Once I entered, Sister Zhong Hui told the Princess… that I was always clinging to Cousin, hoping to become his concubine."
Zhong Hui was present as well. Hearing Wen Jiao's words, she trembled violently, her face turning ashen.
She had only been furious that Wen Jiao had ruined her plans, so she had tried to use another's blade to kill—letting Princess Yongjia teach Wen Jiao a lesson to vent her anger. Now that the matter had blown up, and Prince Ning knew it was she who had incited Yongjia, how could she possibly survive? Even if Prince Ning spared her life, once word of this spread, her reputation would be ruined, and any hope of marriage would be gone!
Before any interrogation could proceed, Zhong Hui collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale, unable to utter even a single word in her own defense.
"The Princess said she admired Cousin, and that I was merely relying on my face, daring to covet what I shouldn't, and that she would ruin my looks." Wen Jiao raised her tear-filled eyes to look at Song Langyu, her voice choked with grievance: "I never once harbored any intention of seducing Cousin. I am truly wronged!"
"You're lying!" Yongjia, furious, charged at Wen Jiao and raised her hand to strike her in front of everyone, but her wrist was firmly seized by Song Langyu.
Song Langyu's face turned cold and grim. His narrow, elongated eyes fixed on Yongjia as he asked in a frigid tone: "May I ask the Princess, which of my cousin's words is a lie?"
Princess Yongjia did indeed admire Song Langyu. Now, with her beloved so close at hand, yet in such an unseemly state, her heart was in turmoil, and her momentum faltered. She pressed her lips together and said: "I didn't push her. She pulled me into the lake."
Song Langyu released her and frowned: "Did anyone see her pulling the Princess into the lake?"
Wen Jiao had chosen her angle cunningly—the maidservants in the pavilion at the center of the lake had not seen it. But having received Yongjia's signal, one of them immediately stepped forward and said:
"Reporting to Lord Song, this servant was right there at the time. I saw with my own eyes that she pulled the Princess into the water, and after going under, she pressed the Princess's head down tightly, not allowing her to come up for air."
Song Langyu pressed further: "Which hand did she use to pull the Princess?"
The maidservant gritted her teeth: "Her right hand!"
"Where exactly did she grab?"
The maidservant looked to Princess Yongjia for help. Princess Yongjia glanced at her own sash, and the maidservant immediately answered: "The sash."
"Can you point to the specific spot?"
How would the maidservant know that? Her eyes darted about nervously. Seeing that Wen Jiao was about to be cleared of the charges, Prince Ning bellowed: "Enough! Since Yongjia has said she was pulled into the water by her, why ask further! Guards! Seize her!"
The guards moved to obey and stepped forward to arrest her, but Song Langyu took a step forward to block them, shielding Wen Jiao. The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Meng Xu, and the Minister of Justice, Sun Chengyuan, also stepped in front of Prince Ning:
"Your Highness, why be so angry? It's merely a quarrel between young ladies, and nothing serious has happened. Why make such a big matter of it?"
"Your Highness, please calm down. Today we are here to offer birthday congratulations. Do grant the host family some face and let this matter rest!"
"She dared to harm Yongjia—whoever speaks up for her today is opposing me!" Prince Ning's hawk-like eyes swept across the room, murderous intent radiating from him.
As the situation grew tense, the door to the warm chamber suddenly pushed open, and Shen Xiao strode in.
He glanced at Wen Jiao, then smiled at Prince Ning: "I saw the dispute at the lake pavilion clearly. It was indeed the Princess who first ordered someone to strike Miss Wen. Strictly speaking, this is a matter between the Prince Ning's estate and the Duke Zhenguo's estate, and I should not meddle. But I owe Miss Wen a favor. Your Highness, would you grant me this face and let the matter rest?"
Prince Ning wanted to vent his anger for Yongjia, but he was not entirely reckless about the consequences.
With Song Langyu firmly protecting Wen Jiao, Meng Xu and Sun Chengyuan blocking his way, and even Shen Xiao getting involved, if he truly burned all bridges, he might not come out ahead either.
As for Wen Jiao—though it would be difficult to punish her openly, killing her in secret would be simple.
Prince Ning gave a cold snort and took the opportunity to back down, waving off the guards.
"Since the Commander speaks thus, I shall grant him this face."
He then said to Song Langyu: "As for today's matter, I want you all to keep silent. If a single word of this leaks out, I will not let it rest!"
Song Langyu bowed slightly: "Your Highness need not worry. Not a word of today's matter will escape."
Prince Ning slowly drew his sword and advanced step by step toward Wen Jiao. Song Langyu stepped forward, and Shen Xiao also moved to block in front of Wen Jiao. The air instantly froze.
He walked slowly to Wen Jiao's side, then suddenly swung his blade—but it struck the maidservant of Princess Yongjia instead.
Before the maidservant could even cry out in surprise, she spat blood and collapsed to the ground.
Blood splattered across Wen Jiao's face, so hot it made her flinch violently.
Prince Ning narrowed his eyes at Wen Jiao, murderous intent in his gaze like a blade: "This worthless slave failed to protect her mistress. No use keeping her."
Prince Ning and Princess Yongjia left, and the guards dragged the maidservant's corpse away, leaving a stark trail of blood on the floor.
The others in the warm chamber were shaken as well, and no one spoke for a long time.
Song Langyu helped Wen Jiao to her feet, thanked the others in the chamber, and then guided her by the shoulders toward the door.
"We're returning to the Duke's estate."
Wen Jiao's wet clothes clung tightly to her body. She was shivering with cold, and her legs had gone stiff—she could not take a single step.
"Cousin… my body has gone rigid."
Song Langyu hesitated for a moment, then bent down and lifted her into his arms, carrying her quickly out of the estate and into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Wen Jiao hugged her knees with both arms, leaning against the carriage wall. There was still blood on her face, and she looked terrified—clearly shaken by what had just happened.
Song Langyu knew Wen Jiao had never experienced anything like this. The trouble with Zhong Hui had all started because she was investigating a case on his behalf, so he couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty, and a measure of pity for her as well. His voice was gentle: "It's over now. No need to be afraid."
Wen Jiao raised her red-rimmed almond eyes, her voice choked with sobs: "Cousin, I… I'm scared."
Her whole body trembled as she clung tightly to Song Langyu's waist, weeping and wailing.
Wen Jiao was truly frightened. She had thought she could once again talk her way out of it, but she hadn't realized that before absolute power, all her cunning arguments and all her reasoning were useless.
If Song Langyu hadn't protected her today, her head would have already rolled on the ground.
But how far was Song Langyu willing to go for her? Would he really fall out with Prince Ning for her sake? Would he really disregard the future of the Duke of Zhenguo's household for her?
Wen Jiao regretted it. She should have been more cautious today.
Or perhaps… she should have been even more ruthless, drowning Princess Yongjia outright. Then there would be no witness and no evidence—the threat would be eliminated forever!
"Princess Yongjia was arrogant and rude, and Zhong Hui deliberately provoked the situation. It was not your fault." Song Langyu's palm paused for a moment before gently resting on Wen Jiao's shoulder.
"Cousin, you don't blame me for angering the princess and causing you to make an enemy of Prince Ning?"
The carriage rolled on steadily, and the compartment fell silent. Suddenly, Song Langyu let out a cold laugh.