Chapter 28: One Step Ahead in the Game

Madam Wei collapsed onto the floor, trembling, never expecting that she would become the victim of someone else's scheme. Her face turned deathly pale in an instant. Censor Zhou fixed his gaze on Dongling, displeased. "You maid are nothing but a liar; your crime deserves death."

Dongling kowtowed repeatedly. "I truly don't know what happened. I have not done any of these things. I beg you, master, to see the truth."

Madam Wei stammered, "My lord, please have mercy! This so-called Master Pen must be the Princess Consort's man—she and her people have colluded to frame us. Poor Chan'er, her face ruined, yet she must suffer such slander."

Xia Jiujiang asked, "How have I slandered her?"

Madam Wei faltered, "Surely the Princess Consort wrote two prescriptions in advance, then put on an act with this Master Pen."

Master Pen snorted. "I knew you would try to deny it. I still have the rubbing of the prescription Dongling held, which matches exactly as evidence."

Those who had plotted against Xia Jiujiang were all ashen-faced.

Master Pen continued, "When I received the Qiyang paper, I knew it was easy to take an imprint onto the sheet below, so I was careful. After all, I was copying handwriting, and they even asked me to change the ingredient Cynanchum auriculatum. Fearing trouble, I kept the sheet with the imprint."

He then produced the rubbed paper. When compared with the prescription Dongling submitted, they matched perfectly. This proved Master Pen's words: the prescription with Cynanchum auriculatum originated from him, not Xia Jiujiang.

Master Pen's appearance was meant to prove that Dongling had someone copy the prescription and alter the ingredients.

With Dongling's sachet and the rubbing as evidence, Dongling was left utterly speechless.

Madam Wei paused only briefly before turning and slapping Dongling across the face. "Wretched servant! Tell us who paid you to set up the Third Young Lady! And to think I trusted you so."

Xia Jiujiang said sharply, "Why pretend, Madam Wei? Dongling is a maid from your own Qinlin Court. Would she have dared to pay a hundred taels for someone to copy a prescription without your orders? His Highness the Seventh Prince and Censor Zhou are no fools. Pushing a maid out to take the blame is laughable."

Madam Wei was left speechless by Xia Jiujiang's words. A hundred taels—a sum Dongling could not save in years—why would she spend such a fortune just to have a prescription copied?

Xia Jiujiang's gaze fell on Xia Chan, who, bitterly resentful that her scheme had failed, was glowering. Jiujiang remarked with a hint of pity, "The greatest pity is Xia Chan's face. She missed the best time for treatment. The medicine I prescribed would have cooled the blood and reduced inflammation, perfect for healing facial wounds. But Xia Chan, in her eagerness to frame me, willingly took the wrong herb. Now her wound is festering and swollen. Even with later remedies, a scar will remain."

Xia Chan was stunned. "What did you say?"

Xia Jiujiang sneered, "You don't believe me? Why not ask Imperial Physician Hu?"

Physician Hu spoke up, "Just as the Princess Consort said. Had the Third Young Lady followed the original prescription, there would have been no scar. But now, with festering evident—it is unlikely her face will ever be as before."

Xia Chan cried out in alarm, "Impossible! Mother, didn't you say my face was only temporarily swollen? That after slandering Xia Jiujiang and taking a few doses of medicine, I would recover? Why does she say it's hopeless?"

In her panic at the mention of a permanent scar, Xia Chan blurted everything out. Madam Wei was too late to stop her daughter's mouth.

Xia Jiujiang looked at Xia Chan with a strange smile. "So, the whole plan was a collaboration between Madam Wei and Xia Chan, plotting to frame me. So that's the truth."

Xia Chan clenched her fists, trembling—Xia Jiujiang was trying to drag her down as well!

Censor Zhou turned to Prime Minister Xia. "I came to the Prime Minister's residence to admire paintings, never expecting to witness such a scandal. For the concubine and third young lady of the Prime Minister's household to conspire against the legitimate daughter, now the Princess Consort herself—this is truly astonishing."

Xia Wentao had thought he could use Madam Wei and Xia Chan to eliminate Xia Jiujiang today, but she had outmaneuvered them once again.

He approached Xia Jiujiang. "Jiang'er, it was your father's fault for not noticing you were being plotted against. But the less made of this, the better. If the matter blows up, the Prime Minister's estate will be shamed. For the sake of our family, I hope you can pardon Madam Wei and Xia Chan."

Xia Jiujiang replied coldly, "What do you mean by that, Father? At Grandmother's birthday banquet yesterday, in the Anke Courtyard, I already spared Xia Chan once. But she only escalated her attacks against me. Had it not been for Censor Zhou's perceptiveness in uncovering the truth, I would have been framed yet again."

Her words displeased Jun Qianye. Was she implying that Censor Zhou saw clearly while he was willfully blind? Perhaps she already knew he was protecting the Prime Minister's estate, since they supported him. He could not allow his own supporters to be harmed.

Xia Jiujiang enunciated each word, "Let us follow the rules, then. When Father thought I was at fault, he insisted I leave the Prince Jin's residence, report to His Majesty, and tell the capital I was ruthless. If so, let Father's words now be applied to Madam Wei and Xia Chan."

Despite Xia Wentao's humble pleading, Xia Jiujiang would not relent.

Jun Qianye spoke first, seizing the initiative. "This Dongling, for framing the mistress of the household, shall be beaten to death as a warning to others. Xia Chan, twenty strokes of the cane. Madam Wei, return to Qinlin Court for reflection."

Xia Jiujiang looked at Jun Qianye, her expression darkening.

Jun Qianye glanced at her, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Does the Princess Consort have any objections to this punishment?"

He was, after all, the Seventh Prince. In the Liyan Kingdom, imperial authority was absolute. As a prince, his word was law—no matter how dissatisfied Xia Jiujiang might be.

With his words, Jun Qianye helped the Xia family out of their predicament. Xia Wentao immediately beamed with joy. It seemed all of Xia Jiujiang's efforts had yielded her no benefit in the end.

Xia Yue'er sneered. Even if Xia Jiujiang had proven her innocence and exposed Madam Wei and Xia Chan's schemes, what of it? In the Prime Minister's residence, the Seventh Prince held the greatest power. His light, dismissive punishments were of no consequence.

Xia Jiujiang clenched her fists in furious helplessness. Though she was indignant, there was nothing she could do. Liyan was not the modern world—there was no law, only the supremacy of the throne. One word, and the coffin was sealed. Still, she could not resign herself to it.

Madam Wei and Xia Chan, delighted at the Seventh Prince's verdict, prepared to kowtow their thanks. But before they could, a cool, clear voice rang out: "Since when has the Seventh Prince become so merciful?"

It was the voice of Jun Buwen. The people in the front hall shuddered; Xia Wentao's face froze.

When Xia Jiujiang saw Jun Buwen appear, her face immediately bloomed with a happy smile, all her previous frustration suddenly swept away in excitement.

Thank heavens, her savior had finally arrived.

Jun Buwen noticed Xia Jiujiang's look of anticipation at his arrival, and his heart skipped a beat for reasons he could not name.

He entered the hall tall and imposing, his natural air and presence so striking that even the Seventh Prince, in comparison, seemed diminished. It was as if he was bathed in light, radiant and impossible to ignore.