Chapter 127: Is It Easy to Talk When You're Not the One Suffering?

The appearance of Ming Ningzi struck Xia Jiujiang as peculiar, and she immediately focused her attention on the woman.

Hearing Xia Jiujiang’s question, Ming Ningzi stomped her feet in annoyance. "You’re asking me why I’m here? If I had known this Jiangmantang belonged to you, I wouldn't have stepped foot in here to buy clothes for all the money in the world!"

"The Princess of the Southern Kingdom is here to buy clothes?" Xia Jiujiang asked, eyeing her with surprise.

Ming Ningzi clicked her tongue. "What, is that not allowed? Does your shop have a rule against people from the Southern Kingdom entering?"

Naturally, Jiangmantang had no such rule, but Xia Jiujiang did not believe for a moment that Ming Ningzi’s presence was a mere coincidence.

Ming Ningzi huffed. "Do you think I wanted to be here? I ordered some fabric to be made into a dress a few days ago, and I happened to run into this farm woman buying clothes for her child. Now that I’ve come to pick up my order, this woman insists that I am some sort of witness and refuses to let me leave. Do you think I enjoy being stuck here?"

Ming Ningzi looked impatient, showing no signs of guile, yet her words caused Xia Jiujiang to furrow her brow. The fact that Ming Ningzi had encountered the farm woman from Taoxiang twice could no longer be dismissed as a coincidence; it was clearly intentional. However, if the woman were working for Ming Ningzi, there would be no reason to keep the Princess trapped at the scene, as it would only invite suspicion upon her. Furthermore, Ming Ningzi was not the type to openly discuss such a matter.

When Bai Zhi noticed Xia Jiujiang, she hurried over and bowed. "Princess Jin."

Xia Jiujiang helped her up. "Rise."

Bai Zhi’s face was pale, and beads of sweat stood out on her forehead; she was clearly exhausted by the situation. "Princess," she whispered, "it is my fault. I was careless and fell into a trap."

Bai Zhi possessed a keen business sense; she had realized that selling fabric alone was not enough, so she had started selling ready-to-wear clothing, which had boosted their business. But tall trees catch the wind. Xia Jiujiang already had countless enemies in the palace, and it was expected that someone would use her shop, Jiangmantang, to strike at her. Open attacks were easy to dodge, but hidden arrows were hard to guard against—especially with Ming Ningzi caught in the middle.

Xia Jiujiang’s suspicions deepened. She intended to probe Ming Ningzi for more information, but the farm woman, seeing Xia Jiujiang, burst into wailing tears. "Oh, my poor child! A happy birthday celebration turned into a funeral—how am I supposed to go on?"

Xia Jiujiang turned to the woman. "Ma'am, Jiangmantang is my property, managed by my personal maid, Bai Zhi. I do not know what grievance you have."

The woman sobbed, "What grievance could I have? It’s all because of my son... I bought these clothes at Jiangmantang, and as soon as he put them on, he was gone!"

Bai Zhi said sternly and indignantly, "How can you be so sure, Ma'am, that your child’s passing has anything to do with the clothes from Jiangmantang?"

Having sold so many garments, it was suspicious that only this one woman appeared claiming there was a problem. It was an obvious scheme. To the woman, the logical question sounded harsh. She flew into a rage. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying a simple, ignorant farm woman like me is just making trouble? I knew it! Our lives as country folk mean nothing to you, so you think we’re just causing a scene and trying to smear the reputation of Jiangmantang."

The surrounding crowd began to murmur. "They say never fight with officials; this woman really doesn't know her place."

"Jiangmantang belongs to Princess Jin; she really shouldn't be making trouble here."

"Her child is dead; it's only natural she wants justice. That's understandable."

"Why shouldn't she demand justice? Is the life of a farmer not a life?"

"A small child died, and yet the Princess dismisses her as a troublemaker. It seems that in the eyes of Princess Jin, we commoners are nothing."

What began as a simple inquiry was quickly twisted by the onlookers, fueling resentment against Princess Jin and making it appear as though she were bullying the woman. Xia Jiujiang frowned, watching the easily incited crowd. She suddenly realized that the people behind this incident were far from simple.

The woman shouted, "My child was perfectly fine! He put on these clothes from Jiangmantang and immediately collapsed, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. If this has nothing to do with your shop, then whose fault is it?"

Xia Jiujiang stared coldly at the woman, a sharp glint in her eyes. "I never said it had nothing to do with the shop. I am simply trying to understand the sequence of events. Aren't you being a bit too hysterical, Ma'am?"

The woman suddenly pointed at Ming Ningzi. "This young lady was here choosing fabric at the time; she can testify that I bought these clothes at Jiangmantang!"

Ming Ningzi rolled her eyes. "I testify? Why would I do that for you? I was busy picking out fabric; who would pay attention to what clothes you bought? You're acting insane."

Ming Ningzi was clearly losing patience. Her reaction puzzled Xia Jiujiang; if Ming Ningzi were there to target the shop, shouldn't she be siding with the woman?

The woman flew into a tantrum at Ming Ningzi’s words. "You... how can you deny it! Is it because you know Princess Jin and you're afraid of trouble, so you claim you don't remember? Aren't you afraid of your own conscience?"

Ming Ningzi was furious. "My conscience? I didn't even notice you!" She rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for a fight.

The woman shrieked, "What are you doing? Why are you acting so fierce? Are you trying to hit me?"

The crowd began to clamor. "Oh look, she's going to hit her!"

"Just as I thought, officials protect their own. This woman knows the Princess, so she’s doing everything to defend the shop."

Ming Ningzi’s face turned livid. "A bunch of ignorant rabble!"

Seeing Ming Ningzi’s raw, impulsive reaction, Xia Jiujiang realized that the woman likely had nothing to do with her. If she were involved, she would have certainly tried to shift the blame onto Xia Jiujiang. Ming Ningzi’s personality was straightforward and devoid of cunning; her reaction proved she was not the mastermind behind today’s disturbance.

Xia Jiujiang raised her voice to cut through the noise. "I did not deny that these clothes came from Jiangmantang. Please, calm down."

The woman acted like a shrew, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Princess Jin, it’s easy for you to talk standing there! It was my child who died, so of course I’m anxious. If it were your child, you’d be even more frantic than me!"

Youhua said coldly, "How dare you compare yourself to Princess Jin? Who do you think you are?"

Xia Jiujiang pulled Youhua back. The woman had been making a scene for quite some time, and the crowd was now firmly on her side; it was better to say as little as possible.

Xia Jiujiang looked at the woman and asked, "How much did you pay for this set of clothes, Ma'am?"

"Fifteen taels of silver," the woman replied.

Xia Jiujiang was puzzled. "Fifteen taels for a single set of children's clothes? Don't you think that is a bit extravagant, Ma'am?"

Xia Jiujiang inspected the clothes on the child. The material and workmanship were exquisite. Jiangmantang’s target customers on Vermilion Bird Street were wealthy families. Why would a farmer’s child be wearing such expensive attire?

The woman put her hands on her hips. "What is that supposed to mean, Princess? I thought you came here to resolve my child’s matter, but it seems you look down on us. You think I can't afford expensive clothes for my own child? I see—you’re trying to imply that I’m here to make trouble!"

Xia Jiujiang did not believe that a farmer’s child couldn't wear fine clothes, but Taoxiang was a village on the outskirts of the capital with limited living conditions. Any extra money would usually be saved for household expenses; why would a family spend several months’ worth of income on one outfit? The woman’s presence was suspicious, but by framing her questions this way, the woman made it seem as though Xia Jiujiang were a villainous person questioning her integrity.