Chapter 26: When They Take Me, the Masterful Young Lord, for a Fool

Xia Jiujiang’s words struck a blow to those who had been poised to mock her: Xia Wentao, who was full of pride; Lin Baixue, whose joy was palpable; Xia Yue’er, who snickered quietly; and Wei Concubine and Xia Chan, both brimming with fury and eager to see Xia Jiujiang torn to shreds. Yet with a single sentence, their hearts raced and their faces turned pale.

Censor Zhou examined the ink traces on the pear-blossom paper and remarked, “This is an ink transfer.”

Xia Jiujiang’s lips curled into a smile. “Indeed. When I was prescribing medicine in Qinlin Courtyard, I placed Qiyang paper atop the pear-blossom paper to write. Qiyang paper is rough, so the ink bled through, leaving a print on the sheet below.”

Upon hearing this, Jun Qianye’s expression faltered. He stared at Xia Jiujiang with astonishment; he had thought she was cornered, yet it now appeared everything was under her control.

He had assumed Xia Jiujiang had no way out, but he had misjudged her. He had never imagined she possessed such ability.

Wei Concubine, flustered, shouted, “What ink transfer? What nonsense is this? There’s no such thing in my Qinlin Courtyard! And besides… the prescription is in Dongling’s hands—what use is this pear-blossom paper?”

Xia Jiujiang’s gaze sharpened. “The ink transfer on this pear-blossom paper clearly shows the prescription I wrote yesterday when treating Xia Chan. It contains amaranth, not ox-tail grass.”

Wei Concubine had gone out of her way to avoid seeing Xia Jiujiang write the prescription, allowing Xia Jiujiang to employ her little trick and hide the inked pear-blossom paper in the crevice of a bookshelf. A search of Qinlin Courtyard would easily reveal this odd sheet, exposing the truth.

When Xia Jiujiang left Qinlin Courtyard, she glanced at Dongling and the bookshelf. She looked at Dongling because she suspected her; she looked at the bookshelf because of where she had stashed the pear-blossom paper. Xia Jiujiang’s counterattack was only beginning.

Imperial Physician Hu approached Censor Zhou, took the pear-blossom paper, and scrutinized it. “Though it’s an ink transfer, it is clear that this prescription treats the scars on Xia Chan’s face. There is nothing amiss.”

Jun Qianye inexplicably clenched his fists. He realized events were not unfolding as he had intended.

He had agreed to accompany Xia Wentao to the Xia residence to witness Xia Wentao’s scheme against Xia Jiujiang. His goal was the Princess of Jin. If Prince Jin came to beg him for Xia Jiujiang’s sake, Jun Qianye could grant him a favor and win the support of the Embroidered Guards.

But Jun Qianye had not anticipated that, in the absence of Prince Jin, Xia Jiujiang could control the situation.

Xia Jiujiang retorted, “What’s strange is that I left an ink transfer of amaranth on the pear-blossom paper, yet the prescription Dongling took was for ox-tail grass. Why is that, Dongling?”

Suddenly, the tide shifted. The previously cornered Xia Jiujiang was now pressing her opponents. Xia Wentao’s face stiffened, his former arrogance gone.

Wei Concubine snapped, “That pear-blossom paper must be fake! Dongling’s prescription is the real one. You must have used tricks to plant the pear-blossom paper in my Qinlin Courtyard!”

Xia Jiujiang laughed lightly. “Why must the pear-blossom paper be fake? Why not the paper in Dongling’s hand? Besides, Wei Concubine just said herself—I didn’t return to Qinlin Courtyard after treating Xia Chan. So what means could I have used to place the pear-blossom paper there?”

Wei Concubine was suddenly at a loss for words. From the start, Xia Jiujiang had watched the Xia family perform their charade, mocking their feeble excuses in silence. Now, she was reaping her reward.

Dongling knelt and said, “I don’t know what happened. After the Princess gave me the prescription, I took it to Tianbao Pavilion for the medicine. I can’t read, so I don’t know why the prescriptions don’t match.”

Wei Concubine ground her teeth. “Isn’t it obvious? Xia Jiujiang tampered with things. Dongling is a maid in Qinlin Courtyard and has served me for years—she’s illiterate. How could she produce a prescription in Xia Jiujiang’s handwriting?”

Xia Yue’er said, “Could it be that Elder Sister wrote two prescriptions in Qinlin Courtyard? One for ox-tail grass, one for amaranth. She deliberately left traces on the amaranth prescription on the pear-blossom paper and hid it, then gave Dongling the ox-tail grass prescription.”

Xia Yue’er would not let Xia Jiujiang turn the tables.

Her explanation fit the ink transfer incident perfectly. Wei Concubine agreed, “Yes, that must be it.”

Xia Jiujiang laughed. “Sister Yue’er, you do explain things well. Someone unfamiliar might think you wrote the prescription yourself, coming up with so many schemes.”

Xia Yue’er’s face fell. “I’m only drawing conclusions from the mismatch between Dongling’s prescription and the ink transfer. Why do you make it sound as if I’m the culprit?”

Xia Wentao shielded Xia Yue’er and shouted at Xia Jiujiang, “You’re trying to shift blame for your own misdeeds onto others!”

Wei Concubine declared loudly, “Dongling took the prescription right in front of Xia Jiujiang and left Qinlin Courtyard for the medicine. Even if you find evidence on the pear-blossom paper, it only proves you wrote two prescriptions—you deliberately set up Chan’er!”

Dongling kowtowed. “I don’t know what deep hatred the Princess has for Chan’er, nor why there are two prescriptions with different properties…”

Xia Jiujiang’s gaze turned cold, interrupting Dongling. “You don’t know, Dongling? But I do. Green Radish, go to Anke Courtyard and bring Youhua.”

She was done acting with the Xia family. Upon mentioning Youhua, everyone was stunned. Youhua was Prince Jin’s secret guard, now at Xia Jiujiang’s side—what could she want with Youhua?

Wei Concubine protested, “What are you up to now? You clearly made two prescriptions and still want to deny it. Do you think that having Youhua from the Prince Jin’s residence can change the fact that you harmed your sister?”

Xia Jiujiang smiled calmly. “Aunt, you jest. You don’t even know why I’m bringing Youhua to the front hall—why are you so afraid? Since I said I have proof, the pear-blossom paper is the physical evidence, but I must also bring forth a witness.”

As Youhua entered the front hall, a man appeared behind her—a stranger, unfamiliar to all.

Yet the man clearly recognized the people present. Upon seeing Dongling kneeling before Xia Jiujiang, his expression changed. He rushed forward and shouted, “You little maid! You asked me to imitate handwriting, promised me a hundred taels of silver, then gave me stones instead! Do you take me, Master of Fine Penmanship, for a fool?”

Dongling’s face darkened at the sight of the man before her. Terror and dread crept into her eyes and brow. How… how could he be here?