Chapter 30: Entangled in a Murder Case

Originally, Xia Jiujiang stayed at the Xia residence because of the scar on Xia Chan’s face. Since Xia Chan showed neither self-pity nor any intention to take the medicine Xia Jiujiang prescribed, and even turned around to plot against her, Xia Jiujiang saw no reason to remain in the Xia household.

Youhua and Green Lily were packing up in the Guest Courtyard. Meanwhile, Prince Jin kept a close eye on the Seventh Prince, Jun Qianye. Xia Jiujiang, having nothing to do, wandered idly around the Blossoming Spring Garden, the family’s lush grounds interwoven with hills and water, quaint bridges over flowing streams, artificial rockeries, and elegant courtyards.

From the memories of this body, back when her mother Jiang Ruan was alive, the garden was nothing like its current picturesque state. It had hydrangeas lovingly planted by Jiang Ruan, osmanthus trees that perfumed the air come autumn, and graceful calla lilies. Now, though the scenery was more refined, it lacked the warmth it once had.

It was strange—was Xia Jiujiang so influenced by these memories that she still felt indignant at the injustices suffered when she was the legitimate daughter of the Xia family? Was it why Jiang Ruan's death seemed so peculiar to her?

The Jiang family was destroyed, Jiang Ruan fell gravely ill, and it all seemed too coincidental. Yet, the Xia family, who had depended on the Jiangs, only prospered after their downfall. Clearly, the depths of intrigue ran far deeper than she had imagined.

Lost in thought, Xia Jiujiang found herself wandering the garden when, out of nowhere, a flustered maid seized her arm and pleaded, "Your Highness, please help! Haitang is about to throw herself from the rockery to end her life after her face was ruined by the Third Miss. I have tried to dissuade her, but she will not listen. Please, help save her!"

Xia Jiujiang eyed the unfamiliar maid warily, but her curiosity was piqued. She asked, "Where is Haitang?"

"She's right by the rockery near the pond ahead," the maid replied anxiously. "I’ll fetch more people for help."

Haitang, attempting suicide? That was the maid from Mistress Wei’s quarters in Qinlin Court.

Xia Jiujiang’s tone grew cold. "Why must I go to the rockery? You could stay there and keep her talking while I go for help."

The maid dropped to her knees. "I beg you, Your Highness, only you can save her. Haitang has been blamed for the Third Miss’s injuries after trying to help her in the Guest Courtyard, and now she’s hated for it. You’ve just had Mistress Wei expelled and sent the Third Miss to a convent. Only you can dissuade Haitang from ending her life."

As dusk fell, the hour likely between four and five, Xia Jiujiang realized the maid was insistent that she go to the rockery herself. How intriguing.

The whole situation felt off. Mistress Wei and Xia Chan’s scheme against her had already failed, and both women had been punished. Now, suddenly, word of Haitang’s suicide attempt? Whose plot was this?

With caution, Xia Jiujiang headed toward the rockery. Sometimes, even knowing there are tigers in the mountain, one must go there, for if she avoided this trap, another would surely await her. Better to meet it head-on.

Yet, she hadn’t expected what awaited her. She thought she’d see Haitang, but instead, as she arrived, she found Chun’er lying in a pool of blood—already dead.

The scarlet spread over the ground. Xia Jiujiang’s eyes widened in disbelief. Chun’er, though Mistress Wei’s child, was only four years old—a vibrant life, snuffed out as collateral damage in the household’s internal strife.

Chun’er would never have wandered to such a dangerous spot alone. Who lured her there? And who pushed her from the rocks just as Xia Jiujiang arrived?

Suddenly, a shout rang out behind her: "Chun’er!"

A figure hurled herself to the child’s side in shock and horror—it was Haitang, the very person supposedly about to end her own life.

A cacophony erupted behind her. Xia Jiujiang turned to see a crowd gathering near the rockery, those who had been in the front hall now drawn to the scene.

Censor Zhou looked at the scene in astonishment. "A maid ran to the front hall, crying that the Princess Consort had killed someone. What is going on here?"

Xia Jiujiang frowned. So, the excuse to summon everyone here was that she had killed someone. The Prime Minister’s household never let a storm pass before conjuring another. Such calculated schemes.

It was now clear: there was no maid running to the front hall with news of murder. Haitang had gone herself to bring everyone to the rockery in the Blossoming Spring Garden.

Prime Minister Xia rushed to Chun’er’s side, trembling violently. His voice hoarse with pain, he cried, "Chun’er, Chun’er! Xia Jiujiang, you’ve already made Mistress Wei and Xia Chan pay. Why won’t you spare Chun’er?"

Xia Jiujiang’s face turned pale. "It wasn’t me. I arrived just as Chun’er fell from the rocks."

Lin Baixue looked at her in puzzlement. "Weren’t you in the Guest Courtyard, packing your things? How did you end up at the rockery?"

Xia Jiujiang quickly replied, "A maid told me Haitang was about to commit suicide and begged me to come."

Xia Yue’er asked, "A maid? What did she look like?"

"She wore a pale blue dress and had two buns in her hair," Xia Jiujiang replied.

Xia Yue’er frowned. "But our household maids all wear pink or green. None wear blue. Sister, did you just make someone up?"

At those words, Xia Jiujiang’s expression turned icy. The maid had only been there to lure her to the rockery and clearly wasn’t one of the Prime Minister’s servants. Even a thorough search would yield nothing.

She had fallen into their trap, only this time it was Xia Yue’er and Lin Baixue working in tandem. Anyone with sense could see who her adversaries were now.

With Mistress Wei and Xia Chan dealt with, only the main wife Lin Baixue and her daughter remained—and they wasted no time baring their fangs.

Xia Jiujiang drew a deep breath to steady herself. "That’s a strange thing to say, sister. If there was no such person, why would I invent a maid who doesn’t even belong in this house? If she hadn’t told me Haitang was about to take her own life, why would I have come to the rockery?"

A cold, thin smile curled her lips. If Lin Baixue and Xia Yue’er hadn’t acted, she would almost have believed them harmless—yet here they were, showing their true colors.

Haitang stepped forward, pointing at Xia Jiujiang. "You’re lying! I saw it with my own eyes—you pushed Chun’er from the rockery. How can you deny it?"